Quite Possibly the Best White Wine in the Store Right Now

It’s one of the most common questions we get asked here at Mission, but it’s continuously difficult to answer: what’s a world-renowned white wine to give to a white lover that ISN’T Chardonnay?

The short answer: Condrieu. If you can afford it.

Those seeking something truly delicious, interesting, off-the-beaten-path, rare, renowned, and still somewhat affordable should look no further than the 2022 Condrieu “Jardin Suspendu” from Pierre-Jean Villa.

A legend in the business, Pierre-Jean Villa is a solid, well-built man, and maybe that’s why he gravitates toward elegance in wine. He grew up surrounded by vines and vignerons in the Northern Rhône town of Chavanay, but learned to make wine in Burgundy, which may also explain his bent for finesse. He first learned the ropes working at Mommessin’s Clos de Tart, which explains his winemaking prowess.

Of all the wines that Pierre-Jean makes each year, the Condrieu is the most limited at around 7,000 bottles in total for the entire planet. From three parcels totaling five acres, 50% of which are 50+ year old vines, this extremely-steep vineyard produces some of the most incredible Viognier we’ve ever tasted.

If you’re new to the Northern Rhône’s Condrieu region, it’s a tiny AOC of just a few hundred acres planted on extremely steep hills with microscopic production levels, and dedicated entirely to white wine. The best wines often clock in well over $100 per bottle and even the entry-level options start at around $60.

Today at Mission, however, we have the 2022 Pierre-Jean Villa Condrieu “Jardin Suspendu” at just $69.99 while supplies last—$20+ cheaper than the MSRP and most national retailers.

However, we only have a few six packs available and when they’re gone, they’re gone!

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate has counted Pierre-Jean’s whites as “some of the region’s finest wines.” The Guide to Wine called him “one of the most gifted winegrowers of his generation.”

If you’re looking for a super special bottle of white wine that doesn’t cost hundred of dollars, but comes with a pedigree well-beyond its price tag, this is it.

CHECK OUT THE WINE HERE

Limited Edition Green River Bourbon Army Release

Originally started in 1885, Owensboro-based Green River is the 10th oldest distillery licensed in Kentucky and has an incredible history, despite the fact that most folks only discovered the brand within the last few years. One of the most popular American whiskeys at the turn of the 20th century, a terrible fire destroyed the distillery and warehouse in the early 1900s, followed by Prohibition soon after. The business has changed hands several times over the last 100 years, but in 2014 the remaining assets were sold to a new owner who—with the blessing of the original family—changed the name back to Green River.

The brand’s return to glory over the last few years has been predicated entirely on two important marketing components: quality and price. The Bourbon is very affordable and the quality is extremely high. When Green River recently announced its U.S. Army Anniversary Release, a special edition crafted to honor 250 years of the U.S. Army's service and sacrifice, we started receiving emails and phone calls about when it might arrive.

Bottled at a symbolic 111.1 proof to commemorate Veterans Day (11/11) and crafted from hand-selected barrels aged 4 to 7 years, this limited edition release is a celebration of everything that has made Green River Bourbon (and America!) successful since its inception: sheer grit and determination!

CHECK OUT THE NEW GREEN RIVER 250TH ANNIVERSARY ARMY RELEASE

Mission Donates to Pasadena Educational Foundation Eaton Fire Response Fund

Last month, the team at Mission joined our friends from the Arnold Schwarzenegger Institute to deliver our first donation to the Pasadena Educational Foundation Eaton Fire Response Fund. With over $14k raised thus far, we’re still working every day to support families in the area who were affected by the fire. PEF works directly with these families on the ground, so we’re grateful for their partnership.

Helping rebuild the Altadena community is incredibly important to us, so we’re inspired to continue the work and the rebuilding process.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Private Whisky Stash Comes to Mission for Eaton Fire Victims

We dropped the big news this past Friday as part of our pre-sale, now you can come shop in person to help us raise money for our local Eaton Fire victims. If you missed the last email, here’s the gist:

• Alexander Murray & the Schwarzenegger Institute put together a very special whisky specifically for Arnold, his friends, and his political colleagues (with a good cigar, of course)

• After the Eaton Fire ravaged Altadena, both parties reached out to Mission about using some of Arnold’s private stash as a way to raise money for the PEF Eaton Fire fund for local families

• When you purchase the MacSchwarzenegger from Mission, $50 from each bottle goes directly to the cause

• The whisky itself is Speyside-distilled single malt right at 10 years of age that was finished for an additional four months in brand new, custom Austrian oak casks (the first whisky to do so)

As of today, the remaining inventory has arrived at all five Mission locations. We’ve already sold hundreds of bottles over the last five days, raising tens of thousands of dollars for Altadena, but we need your help to finish the job! Stop by any Mission store this week to get your collectable MacSchwarzenegger bottle—or buy two and you’ll be contributing $100!

One of Mission’s longtime customers Brian Gardner (pictured above) stopped by this week to grab his bottle, and invited us back to see the damage at his property.

Brian is a bit of a legend both at Mission and in the local Altadena community. Having built a western-themed bar into the basement of his home (dubbed the “Hye West Saloon”), Brian was at our Washington Street location sometimes two or three times a day, grabbing bottles of whiskey for his highly-popular TikTok videos.

Today, Brian’s home (along with his spirits collection) has been reduced to rubble and his family forced out of our Altadena neighborhood while they look to rebuild. We’re hoping that, along with Alexander Murray and the Schwarzenegger Institute, we can use Arnold’s private collection of MacSchwarzenegger single malt to help rebuild Altadena, one family at a time.

Altadena will be back, to paraphrase Arnold’s signature line. When we all work together for a good cause, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.

PURCHASE YOUR BOTTLE OF MACSCHWARZENEGGER SINGLE MALT WHISKY HERE

-Your friends at Mission Wine & Spirits

Mission to Donate 100% of Altadena Strong Proceeds to Local Fire Relief

It's taken us a few weeks to pick up the pieces here at Mission. We've been checking in on our colleagues, friends, family members, and many of our own homes, scrambling to keep our doors open for the Altadena customers who depend on our business. 

This week, however, we're beginning a series of different charity drives to raise money for the rebuilding of Altadena, beginning today with our new 'Altadena Strong' T-shirts. 

100% of all proceeds from the sale of these shirts goes to the Pasadena Educational Fund for Eaton fire victims to help local families in need, and 100% of what we give them goes directly to those who have been displaced. 

Working alongside our recently updated logo's design firm, the Thirty O' Ninebranding and merchandising agency, the 'Altadena Strong' shirt pays homage to our Washington Blvd storefront as it looked in the 1970s, with the mountains rising up behind it. Mission's vintage vertical sign has been a fixture of the neighborhood for many decades and served as the inspiration for the graphic. 

Help us give back to the community by purchasing one of our new ' Altadena Strong' T-shirts and wear it with pride as we work together with the community to rebuild. Mission is thankful to have such credible customers helping to distribute the necessary resources directly to those in need, and working to make this next drive a success! 

Pre-order your 'Altadena Strong' T-Shirt below and select your size and preferred shipway – either via shipping or in-store pickup. We're expecting all shirts to be ready by the end of this week and we're ready to print more if need be.  Click on the link below to order…

'Altadena Strong' Mission Fundraiser T-Shirt

$30.00

"Donations to the PEF Eaton Fire Response Fund will support our Pasadena Unified School District community during this crisis. Our district leadership is currently assessing the needs of our students, staff, and families. PEF and PUSD are committed to working together to ensure that resources reach those who need them most."

Oban's Limited Edition Delivers

Under Diageo’s Johnnie Walker empire there are many great, iconic single malt distilleries: Lagavulin, Talisker, and Clynelish—just to name a few.

But only one of Diageo’s distilleries is so prized as a single malt that almost none of it ever finds its way into the Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky releases. That special distillery is Oban, the 230 year old facility located along Scotland’s western coast. 

Oban’s single malt whisky is prized not just because the distillery itself is quite small, but also because the whisky itself is so delicate and fine. With graceful notes of fruit, vanilla, and subtle spices, its delicate character is easily overpowered when blended with other, more expressive malt whiskies.

In fact, Oban is so coveted that you’ll almost never see it as an independently-bottled single barrel or private label. As a result, limited editions from Oban have been few and far between over the years, which is why Diageo’s latest 10 year old cask strength edition named “Coastal Orchard” really got our attention!

Finished in Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at a whopping 58% ABV cask strength, this is a side of Oban we’ve never witnessed before. It combines the saltiness of Oban’s maritime influence along with ripe orchard fruits and viscosity from the Sherry cask aging. It reminds us quite a bit of Springbank, in that regard!

We think you’ll want to try a bottle while they last. Oban is always few and far between, especially outstanding editions like this one.

Oban 10 Year Old Coastal Orchard Special Release Single Malt Whisky 2024

Larceny C924 Out-Ranks Pappy 15 For Best Whiskies of 2024

When renowned whiskey critic Fred Minnick released his list of the Top 100 American whiskies of 2024 last month, there were more than a few surprises.

One of the biggest shockers was the 125.1 proof Batch C924 of barrel proof Larceny from Heaven Hill beating out the legendary Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year, which came in at #13, Van Winkle 10 year at #10, and just behind the Weller Millenium at #6 (which runs for $7500+).

All of these selections are wheated Bourbons made at two of Kentucky’s most popular distilleries, but one of them is a LOT cheaper (and more readily available) than the others. Believe it or not, we still have an ample supply here at Mission and our $59.99 price is one of the best in the nation.

If you want to do your own review and see if you agree with Minnick, grab one of the remaining bottles while we still have them in stock. Big, sweet, powerful, mature, cask strength wheated Kentucky Bourbon is always in short supply. According to Fred Minnick, your money will go a lot further with the Larceny!

After all, it’s better than Pappy!

Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Wheated Bourbon C924 750ml

Insane 49 Year Old Single Malt Whisky Pre-Sale

For those of you who dream about the $10,000+ Macallan editions and the incredibly mature, luxurious single malt whiskies that retail for five figures or more, we’ve got the best deal of 2025 just two days into the new year. This bottle lives up to that level of quality. 

A rich, unctuous, mouth-coating 1973 vintage single Sherry barrel of cask strength 49 year old Highland single malt whisky for just $999.99, bottled by the highly-reputable Alexander Murray private label.

While a thousand bucks is no small ask for a bottle of booze, you have to consider two very important details when considering this value proposition:

1. This same whisky also exists as an official bottling under a different label and retails for well over double our $999.99 price today. With that discrepancy, you could buy two bottles from us today and still have $500 left over.

2. Even the most affordable sherry-matured 40 year Highland single malt whiskies start at around $1200 a bottle (i.e. Glenfarclas). Yet, this is a single Sherry barrel bottled at 49 years of age at a cask strength ABV of 41.5%.

And….we’ve vetted it. It’s utterly outstanding. Comparing it against the great Highland whiskies of a similar age and quality, it more than holds its own. Per our NDA, however, we cannot tell you where it came from. 

Having tasted the barrel sample late last year, we couldn’t get over the complexity and utter deliciousness of this whisky. Layers of dark cacao, toffee, and spice cake with an earthiness that balances out all those decadent notes, yet with enough sweetness to match the alcohol on the finish. The finish goes on for minutes and we can only imagine how much more this whisky will offer those of you lucky enough to nurse an entire bottle of it, let alone a small sample!

This barrel is set to arrive in California very soon, with a pick-up/shipment ETA at Mission of January 31st.

There are very, very few of these bottles available, which is why we’re taking advance orders starting today. Don’t miss out on the best single malt deal of 2025! Lock down your 1973 vintage bottle today and drink the epitome of Scotch whisky luxury while supplies last.

1973 Alexander Murray Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Highland Single Malt Whisky $999.99 (PRE-ORDER)