It’s been quite a week for Michter’s, which announced that master distiller Pamela Heilmann is stepping back and distiller Dan McKee will be taking her place. On top of that, the distillery is rolling out the newest release of its 10 year old single barrel bourbon. Priced at $130, it’s available in limited amounts.
Rebel Yell also has a new whiskey coming, a 50% ABV straight bourbon. Rebel Yell 100 Proof is the first in the brand’s lineup to sport new packaging. It’s widely available for $20. Simultaneously, the 2019 batch of Rebel Yell 10 year old Single Barrel bourbon is also rolling out.
A new trio of blended malt scotches are about to launch in the U.S. MacNair’s Lum Reek includes non-age-statement ($50), 12 year old ($60), and 21 year old expressions ($150), all of which are peated. The whiskies will be widely available starting this summer.
Finally, independent bottler Mossburn has seven new single malt scotches, each available in limited amounts. The whiskies include 10 year old Auchroisk ($99), 9 year old Glentauchers ($69), 10 year old Benrinnes ($99), 10 year old Glen Spey ($84), 10 year old MacDuff ($69), 10 year old Craigellachie ($69), and 9 year old Royal Brackla ($69).
Read on for full details.
Michter's 10 year old Single Barrel Bourbon (2019 Release)
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 47.2% ABV
Price: $130
Release: May 2019
Availability: Limited edition
Need to know:
This is the newest release of Michter’s 10 year old single barrel bourbon. As with all of Michter’s special-edition whiskeys, it’s available in limited amounts.
Whisky Advocate says:
The 2018 release of Michter’s 10 year old Single Barrel bourbon scored 92 points in the Whisky Advocate Buying Guide. This release will be the last one overseen by master distiller Pamela Heilmann, as she’s stepping back to an emerita role while Dan McKee becomes Michter’s master distiller.
Rebel Yell 100 Proof
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
Proof: 50% ABV
Price: $20
Release: April 2019
Availability: Widely available
Need to know:
A new whiskey from Rebel Yell, this bourbon is made with the same wheated mashbill as the rest of the lineup. It’s bottled at 50% ABV, as compared to 40% ABV for regular Rebel Yell bourbon. This whiskey is debuting with updated packaging, which will be rolled out across the Rebel Yell range.
Whisky Advocate says:
We’re big fans of higher-proof whiskey around here; the additional alcohol holds more flavors and gives each drinker the freedom to choose preferred proof level by adding or withholding water or ice.
In addition to Rebel Yell 100 Proof, the brand is also releasing the 2019 batch of Rebel Yell 10 year old Single Barrel, which was number 12 in the 2017 Top 20.
MacNair's Lum Reek Peated Blended Malt Scotch
Style: Blended malt
Origin: Scotland
Age: Not stated
Proof: 46%
Price: $50
Release: Summer 2019 in the U.S.
Availability: Widely available
Need to know:
This is a peated blend of scotch malt whiskies aged in first-fill ex-bourbon, oloroso sherry, red wine, and virgin oak casks.
MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 12 year old Blended Malt Scotch
Style: Blended malt
Origin: Scotland
Age: 12 years old
Proof: 46%
Price: $60
Release: Summer 2019 in the U.S.
Availability: Widely available
Need to know:
Similar to its non-age-statement sibling above, this is a blend of scotch malt whiskies—all aged at least 12 years—matured in first-fill ex-bourbon, red wine, and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks.
MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 21 year old Blended Malt Scotch
Style: Blended malt
Origin: Scotland
Age: 21 years old
Proof: 48%
Price: $150
Release: Summer 2019 in the U.S.
Availability: Widely available
Need to know:
Blending Islay and Speyside malts with single malt from GlenAllachie Distillery, this 21 year old whisky matured in oloroso sherry, red wine, and virgin oak casks.
Whisky Advocate says:
These whiskies (previously available overseas and now launching in the U.S.) were put together by master blender Billy Walker, the creative force behind the revival of BenRiach (in 2004), GlenDronach (in 2008), and Glenglassaugh (revived in 2008; acquired by Walker’s company in 2013)—which were later sold to Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve. In the wake of that deal, Walker moved on to buy GlenAllachie Distillery, launching its single malt range in 2018. Based on a historic blended scotch brand of the same name, MacNair’s uses GlenAllachie and other Speyside and Islay malt whiskies. The name comes from a Scots phrase, “Lang may yer lum reek,” which means “May your chimney always be smoking.” In other words, good fortune to you.
Mossburn 2008 Auchroisk 10 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 59.2% ABV
Price: $99
Release: April 2019
Availability: 570 bottles
Need to know:
This Speyside whisky aged for 10 years in refill hogsheads.
Mossburn 2009 Glentauchers 9 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 9 years old
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $69
Release: April 2019
Availability: 570 bottles
Need to know:
This whisky was distilled in 2009, aged in a hogshead, and bottled on October 12, 2018.
Mossburn 2008 Benrinnes 10 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 57.1% ABV
Price: $99
Release: April 2019
Availability: 570 bottles
Need to know:
Distilled in 2008, this whisky aged in a hogshead and was bottled on October 12, 2018.
Mossburn 2008 Glen Spey 10 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $84
Release: April 2019
Availability: 570 bottles
Need to know:
This whisky was distilled in 2008, matured in small ex-bourbon barrels, and was bottled on October 12, 2018.
Mossburn 2007 MacDuff 10 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highland)
Age: 10 years old
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $69
Release: February 2019
Availability: 600 bottles
Need to know:
Distilled in 2007, this whisky aged in hogsheads and was bottled on August 23, 2018. MacDuff is another name for Glen Deveron Distillery.
Mossburn 2007 Craigellachie 10 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Speyside)
Age: 9 years old
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $69
Release: February 2019
Availability: 600 bottles
Need to know:
This whisky was distilled in 2007 and aged in hogsheads before being bottled on August 23, 2018.
Mossburn 2009 Royal Brackla 9 year old
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Highlands)
Age: 9 years old
Proof: 46% ABV
Price: $69
Release: February 2019
Availability: 600 bottles
Need to know:
Distilled in 2009, this whisky aged in “smaller bourbon barrels” and was bottled on August 23, 2018.
Whisky Advocate says:
Mossburn is an independent bottler (IB), and like most IBs, it bottles whisky with no chill-filtration or coloring. Trying independently bottled whisky is a great way to discover distilleries whose output usually goes to blends (like Auchroisk, Glentauchers, Benrinnes, Glen Spey, and MacDuff), or to explore new sides of a familiar brand.
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