Announcement, Bourbon Review, Education, Event Invite, Luxury, Press Release, Spirits, Uncategorized
Celebrate The Derby with a Rough Rider Bourbon Mint Julep
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Announcement
Wild Turkey Unveils American Honey
The makers of premium whisky brand Wild Turkey are introducing an exciting honey-flavoured bourbon, American Honey to the UK this month. American Honey, is blended with real Kentucky Wild Turkey bourbon and hand-selected American honey and has been developed to be shared with friends, chilled from the bottle as a shot.
Unlike other honey flavoured bourbons, American Honey retains the taste and kick of straight bourbon but introduces subtle notes of sweet honey, caramel and orange giving it a much smoother finish. American Honey was the first ever bourbon liqueur with honey to launch in the US and is one of Wild Turkey’s signature drinks made in their distillery near Lawrenceburg in Kentucky, USA.
American Honey is smooth without being overly sweet and is perfect straight out of the bottle as a shot, chilled or over ice, or works well with mixers like cola.
American Honey will be touring University Student Unions around the UK with a branded American Honey photobooth and will also be offering the chance to win a US Road Trip in summer 2013. For more details go to www.facebook.com/americanhoneyuk
Studio Sq. Presents Smoke: Whiskey, Cigar & BBQ Festival
The management at Studio Sq. (Astoria Beergarden) recently announced another event in what has become a very popular string of events (take a look at the last one) hosted with Rocky Patel. “Smoke,” a Whiskey, Cigar and BBQ Festival will be hosted at Studio Sq. and will feature cigars from Rocky Patel, including the newly released “Freedom”, which is a fantastic blend.
Also at the event will be a four hour open bar featuring Chivas, Jameson, Glenlivet, and many other fine spirits. And of course, BBQ will be provided.
Tickets look like they are regularly priced at a little over $200, but you can get your ticket for under $100 at Groupon – but you have to act fast.
See the flyer below for more info.
New “Kentucky Fire Cured” Line from Drew Estate
Drew Estate is at it again. Nicknamed “KFC”, the new line, going by the name “Kentucky Fire Cured” features a wrapper of Kentucky Fired Cured tobacco. I don’t have an inkling of what this means with respect to taste besides spice/full flavor, but with all of the incredible releases from Drew Estate in the past couple of years, fans should be excited to find out.
Near the bottom of the release below, you’ll see that Jonathan Drew mentions a mystery country where Drew Estate tobacco is now being produced. For what it’s worth, my bet is Egypt, or possibly the Philippines (if I’m right, I’ll put up a complete post explaining).
The official release is below.
April 2, 2013 (Miami, Fla.) — Drew Estate Inc. announced today the impending release of Kentucky Fire Cured Cigars, an extension to the MUWAT brand also to be produced at the Joya de Nicaragua factory. In development for over 2.5 years, this extension to the popular MUWAT line of premium cigars was inspired during a trip to the Dominican Republic where Jonathan Drew and Steve Saka were visiting the Universal Leaf tobacco pre-industry facility.
“I remember it as if it were yesterday” states JD. “Fritz Bossert (President of Universal Leaf), Steve Saka and I were smoking Liga Privada T52’s in the fermentation area when I noticed a pilon of Kentucky Fired Cured tobacco. We took the wrapper off the T52 and placed a thick Kentucky Fire Cured leaf in its place. The taste and aroma were simply amazing, but there was just one huge problem – the cigar would not burn properly, and is one of the reasons of the lengthy process it took to get ‘KFC’ to market.”
Nicholas Melillo, Executive Vice President of International Operations, was tasked with working on a solution to the burn issue in conjunction with Fritz Bossert, experimenting with using the fire cured leaf in the wrapper leaf position as well as using limited amounts as part of the filler.
Six months later we were already producing blends and sharing samples with good friends throughout the cigar industry, while keeping the project completely quiet.
“In February 2011 we had the pleasure of smoking some of these early samples on the Corona Cigar Co.’s Cigar Safari tour,” says Jeff Borysiewicz founder & owner of Corona Cigar Co. ”My group really enjoyed the aroma and flavor profile and kept asking JD when this product would be ready to market. He kept me waiting until December 2012, when we smoked more KFC samples at my lake house during the Christmas holiday. They’ve really come a long way and we look forward to the release.”
“The My Uzi Weighs A Ton brand was the first true collaboration between Drew Estate and Joya de Nicaragua,” says Michael Cellucci, President of Drew Estate.
“The Fact that JD wanted to bring the ”MUWAT” franchise under the flag of Subculture Studios is a reflection of his love of working with other talented cigar makers. Subculture Studios is more than just a graffiti factory in Nicaragua, it is a ‘mental space’ that JD and Jessi Flores have cultivated throughout the years and reveals innovation, raw talent and creativity that you find throughout all of Drew Estate at every level.”
There is a lot we have experimented with and all shall be revealed in short order, but for now here is a little quote from Nicholas Melillo, the King of Broadleaf, “First off, Kentucky Fire Cured is from a stalk-cut tobacco. The initial firing of KFC is done at low heat between 100 F to 115 F degrees and maintained until the color reaches solid brown. Once color is set temperatures increase to 120F- 130F to completely cure down the midrib of the leaf and darken. Once the midrib is dried the temperature will be reduced and the smoke maximized with saw dust to finish the leaf. When KFC hits your olfactory nerve you know it! “
MUWAT Kentucky Fire Cured will be Available in three sizes:
6 x 52 “Just a Friend”, 5 x 56 “Fat Molly” and a 4 x 46 “Chunky” in the familiar MUWAT craft paper bundle. Americana style graphics adorn these new packs.
“Kentucky Fire Cured is not something new to the world of tobacco, as it has been grown for over 200 years. Easily compared to the smokey taste attributed to a “peaty scotch”, the KFC picks up nuances of the roasted hickory, oak or maple wood that makes you say ‘Damn, that’s tasty,’” expels Jonathan Drew.
“In addition to the fire cured tobaccos of Kentucky and Dark Fire Cured of Virginia, we are finishing the two year project of our fire cured tobaccos from another country which DE will not disclose until a time closer to the actual release of the brand. I’ll just say this: they don’t speak English, Italian or Spanish in this region of the world.”
Johnnie Walker Releases “The Gold Road”
Johnnie Walker fans should look forward to tasting a new blend from the makers of their favorite whiskey. “The Gold Route” is the second blend in the Explorer’s Collection, and is “inspired by rich adventures traversing the Gold Route through Latin America.” More information below – it looks like this will go for around $95 suggested.
JOHNNIE WALKER® UNVEILS SECOND BLEND FROM JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB – THE GOLD ROUTE™, INSPIRED BY THE RICHNESS OF LATIN AMERICA
- JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION™ – THE GOLD ROUTE™ launches, blended exclusively for travellers and inspired by rich adventures traversing the Gold Route through Latin America
March 2013: Today JOHNNIE WALKER, the world’s leading Scotch Whisky brand, unveiled the latest exciting blend from its Trade Routes Series: JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE GOLD ROUTE. The Gold Route takes inspiration from the journeys made by the Walker family and their agents – from Central America through the Andean mountains, passing the Inca pyramids and along the coast of the Pacific Ocean – where they witnessed magnificent scenery and diverse cultures whilst in pursuit of new businesses and rich experiences.
The blend is available exclusively for travellers in duty free stores, and like the other blends which make up the Collection, it pays tribute to the travelling heritage of the John Walker & Sons agents.
Crafted from the finest aged whiskies hand-picked for a luxurious smoothness and vibrant flavour, in the glass the JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE GOLD ROUTE evokes a sense of the exotic fruit flavours and beautiful rich golden colours of this region.
“We took inspiration from the richness of flavours, sights and experiences of Latin America to help us select the most precious liquids for this blend,” commented Master Blender Jim Beveridge. He added: “On the nose, there is an immediate wave of an exotic mix of bananas, mango and pitaya, complemented by a hint of vanilla sweetness. On first sip, the palate embarks on a journey that is as distinct and magnificent as the vistas of Latin America: tantalising flavours, a perfect blend of fruitiness with hints of pineapples, guava, passion fruit and raisins, all balanced perfectly by deep charred peaty notes, in keeping with the signature smoky JOHNNIE WALKER flavour. Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, the finish is smooth and luxurious, a fitting addition to the JOHNNIE WALKER lineage.”
Steve White, Marketing Director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “At the very heart of JOHNNIE WALKER lies a bold spirit of adventure which has given rise to a great number of epic journeys. Our blends have been inspired by tales of rich travel adventures, in this case, along the Gold Route of the Americas and the Caribbean.
JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE GOLD ROUTE is a premium blend made exclusively for the intrepid travellers of today. It is a whisky to remind them of their own travels and inspire them to plan new journeys.”
JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE GOLD ROUTE is the second blend in the collection of three whiskies, collectively known as the Trade Routes Series, inspired by the richness that could be found along the great trade routes. The first release, JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE SPICE ROAD™, which launched in November to critical acclaim and great retail success, is an evocative expression of the vibrancy, aromas and spices that the JOHNNIE WALKER agents would have discovered in the thriving markets around Asia. The third release in the Trade Routes Series – JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE ROYAL ROUTE™ will be available exclusively in duty free stores later in 2013.
With a recommended retail price of $95, JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION – THE GOLD ROUTE is available to travellers in duty free stores globally now.
Notes
Johnnie Walker Facebook: facebook.com/JohnnieWalker
Johnnie Walker Instagram: @johnniewalker
Twitter Hashtag: #JWGOLDROUTE
Campaign Video: http://youtu.be/tYzNryMTNRs
Further information on the history of the John Walker & Sons agent journeys
From the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world, JOHNNIE WALKER has always pushed boundaries to discover new horizons.
From 1820, the Walker family and their agents travelled the world, navigating their way down the famous trade routes: the Spice Road of Europe and Asia; the Royal Route from Europe to Persia; and the Gold Route of the Americas and the Caribbean, in pursuit of adventures bringing both new business and rich experiences.
Their efforts ensured that, by the 1920s, JOHNNIE WALKER had arrived in 120 countries and was being enjoyed on the great railways, luxury ocean liners and early transatlantic flights. Meanwhile, the striking image of the JOHNNIE WALKER Striding Man was becoming an icon all over the world.
Back in London, close to the shipping houses and docks from which the JOHNNIE WALKER agents travelled the world, Alexander Walker established the Travellers’ Room where his agents would convene to rest, talk strategy and exchange stories and samples from their travels. These colourful tales of exploration influenced the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blenders, who began to create different styles of whisky to reflect these exotic stories.
Today, this tradition continues as JOHNNIE WALKER produces the JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION, a range of whiskies made exclusively for travellers. The first three blends in the collection collectively known as the Trade Routes Series are inspired by the richness that could be found along the great trade routes.