This weekend, it’s off to the races! The 148th Kentucky Derby takes place tomorrow at Churchill Downs, and we’ve got a variety of tips and tricks to help you celebrate. If you plan on attending, we have the inside track on making the most of your day (or weekend) in Louisville. For those watching from home, try your hand at a Kentucky Derby Classic: the Mint Julep. Regardless of where you are, take a deep dive into the thoroughbred stars themselves ahead of the big race. Of course, we can’t forget the big event on Sunday, either—raise a glass to Mom and wish her a Happy Mother’s Day.
Elsewhere, there’s new whisky aplenty this week. Westland debuts the second release of terroir-focused single malt Colere, Jack Daniel’s adds two new bottled in bond whiskeys to its repertoire, and New Riff unveils a sherry-malted rye. Read on for full details.
Westland Colere (Edition 2)
Style: American single malt
Origin: Washington
Age: Not stated
ABV: 50%
Price: $150/700ml
Release: May 2022
Availability: 3,000 bottles available on Westland’s website
Need to know:
Colere is Westland’s exploration of barley, with this second release made from Talisman, a 2-row winter varietal. It was matured exclusively in used barrels—42% second-fill Independent Stave Company Cooper’s Reserve (custom-built barrels) and 58% first-fill bourbon—to let the grain character become the primary focus.
Whisky Advocate says:
Colere comes from the Latin verb meaning “to cultivate,” which Westland has done in its pursuit of uncommon grains. In working with Washington State University’s Bread Lab, local maltsters, and local farmers, Westland has distilled from over 20 different varieties of barley in the past 10 years, and has committed nearly 40% of its annual production to them. The first edition of Colere scored 88 points. Given the use of an entirely new barley type, each batch can be expected to be different from the last.
Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Style: Tennessee whiskey
Origin: Tennessee
Age: Not stated
ABV: 50%
Price: $30/700ml
Release: May 2022
Availability: Nationwide
Need to know:
This whiskey takes the same mashbill as Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 (80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye), and bottles it at 100 proof. Jack Daniel previously released a Bottled in Bond whiskey (88 points) in 2018 as a Travel Retail exclusive, though this new release will have a different flavor profile.
Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash
Style: Blend of straight whiskeys
Origin: Tennessee
Age: Not stated
ABV: 50%
Price: $33/700ml
Release: May 2022
Availability: Nationwide
Need to know:
Triple Mash is a blend of three bottled in bond whiskeys: 60% rye, 20% Tennessee, and 20% American malt, all from the same distilling season. This is the first Jack Daniel’s malted whiskey.
Whisky Advocate says:
These two permanent expressions kick off the new Jack Daniel’s Bonded Series. Note the inclusion of malt whiskey in the mashbill, which may signal that a Jack Daniel’s American single malt is on the horizon. Chris Fletcher took over as master distiller in October 2020, looking to balance the legacy of Jack Daniel’s with an innovative approach to whiskey making. “People want to try new things,” he told Whisky Advocate shortly after taking the reins. With this Bonded Series, he is making good on his pledge to innovate.
New Riff Sherry Finished Malted Rye
Style: Finished rye
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
ABV: 56.35%
Price: $65
Release: May 2022
Availability: Limited
Need to know:
Following the release of its malted rye last May, New Riff unveils this sherry-finished 100% malted rye expression. While the age is not stated, the product details show that it was aged for 5 years before being placed in 12 oloroso sherry and three Pedro Ximénez casks for an additional year. Those casks were vatted together in the fall of 2021 and left to marry for several months before being bottled in the spring of 2022.
Whisky Advocate says:
New Riff views this whiskey as a malt first and a rye second, which explains the decision to turn to a sherry finish, a common practice with single malt whiskies around the globe.
Alias Straight Rye
Style: Straight rye
Origin: Indiana
Age: Not stated
ABV: 45%
Price: $28
Release: May 2022
Availability: Nationwide
Need to know:
This new straight rye from Luxco’s Ross & Squibb Distillery features a mashbill of 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley. The name pays tribute to the female distilling pioneers of America who often used initials to mask their gender. Alongside the launch of the whiskey, Ross & Squibb is conducting a contest in which applicants can win a six-day distilling course at Moonshine University by visiting the Alias website and explaining in 10 words or less what a scholarship to Moonshine University would mean to them. The contest started on May 2 and runs through August 30.
Whisky Advocate says:
The formerly named MGP Distillery, which is now known as Ross & Squibb, purchased Luxco in February 2021, gaining such notable whiskeys as Blood Oath, Yellowstone, Rebel Yell, and Ezra Brooks. In addition to that acquisition, Ross & Squibb had also been moving toward making its own brands, diversifying from its contract distilling business—most notably with its George Remus brand. Alias represents a continuation of the move toward a branded strategy.
Whiskey Del Bac Global Cask Collection Frontera
Style: American single malt
Origin: Arizona
Age: Not stated
ABV: 47.5%
Price: $90
Release: May 2022
Availability: 900 bottles
Need to know:
This single malt takes Whiskey Del Bac’s Classic expression and finishes it for an additional 13 months in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Frontera was formerly released as Whiskey Del Bac’s 2021 Spring Distiller’s Cut.
Whisky Advocate says:
Frontera gets its name from Jerez de la Frontera, a medieval Spanish city that is the capital of sherry wine. The whiskey is the first in Whiskey Del Bac’s new Global Cask Collection, which will include three limited releases each year, all inspired by European regions. The other two whiskeys set to join the collection this year are a calvados-finished single malt that’s a nod to Normandy and an Islay-inspired, heavily mesquited single malt.
Blue Run Reflection I
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
ABV: 47.5%
Price: $90
Release: May 2022
Availability: Limited
Need to know:
Contract-distilled at Kentucky’s Castle & Key Distillery by Blue Run master distiller Jim Rutledge, Reflection I is crafted from 200 barrels, each toasted to a #3 or #4 char.
Whisky Advocate says:
Since launching in October 2020, Blue Run has swiftly attracted a devoted fan base, thanks to Rutledge’s renown as whiskey maker—a fame long associated with Four Roses, where he made the whiskey for nearly 50 years before retiring in 2015. The Blue Run bourbon and rye reviewed by our panel received scores of 91 and 90 points, respectively, continuing his legacy of success.
Watershed Single Barrel
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Ohio
Age: 4 year old
ABV: Varies
Price: $60
Release: May 2022
Availability: Limited, exclusive to Ohio
Need to know:
These are six single barrel whiskeys, each aged for four years and hand-selected by Ohio Liquor (OHLQ) in partnership with Watershed Distillery. This year’s single barrel releases include:
- Confectioner’s Cask: 63.15% ABV
- Bourbon Buckeye: 63.1% ABV
- Ohio Dutch Apple: 70.3% ABV
- Malt Shop: 65.35% ABV
- Rich Lemon Pie: 64.15% ABV
- Crème de la Crème Brulée: 60.74% ABV
Whisky Advocate says:
This is the second time OHLQ has partnered with Watershed on single barrel selections. These will be allocated to 29 of its stores throughout Ohio. If you live in Ohio or are simply a Watershed fan and want a chance to try all six single barrel offerings, the distillery’s Kitchen + Bar in Columbus is hosting a tasting and dinner on May 11. Tickets are $125 a person.
