The Return of Evan Williams Single Barrel

It’s been so long since we’ve seen Evan Williams vintage single barrel Bourbon here at Mission that we can’t even remember the last time it was available! Having been limited to just the state of Kentucky beginning in 2022, it’s been at least two years since we’ve sipped on this magical elixir.

Granted, Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky has kept us well-stocked with a number of its fantastic whiskies, from Henry McKenna 10 year to the outstanding Elijah Craig and Larceny barrel proof batches. However, there’s always been something uniquely special about the vintage Evan Williams single barrel editions: their concentration and their texture. 

Aged between 7-8 years of age, each bottle from its own single barrel, and bottled at a very sessionable 43.3% ABV, there’s a suppleness to the whiskey that isn’t quite as apparent in the other Heaven Hill Bourbons. It’s absolutely loaded with caramel, brown sugar, and vanilla, and it just hits all the right notes. With a creamy mouthfeel and soft, candied finish, it’s a bottle that gets emptied far too quickly around these parts.

While supplies last we have the latest vintage of Evan Williams Single Barrel available for just $34.99 a bottle!

Grab what you need before Heaven Hill’s next shortage of EWSB hits California and we’re back to hoarding these again!

Celebrate McLaren's Big F1 Win!

For McLaren, this past weekend’s Miami Grand Prix was the culmination of continual innovation and patience. After early season struggles turned to a multiple podium year for McLaren in 2023, CEO Zak Brown stated that the 2024 campaign will begin with a stronger start. Brown’s words seemed to be the catalyst that the McLaren F1 team needed, as just six races into the 2024 campaign, McLaren has seen 3 podium finishes, with driver Lando Norris’s maiden F1 win in the Miami Grand Prix. The first win for McLaren since 2021, the Miami Grand Prix came to be cherry on top for McLaren’s ongoing racing program, with grander results destined to be achieved.

Celebrate McLaren’s race win with the Jack Daniel’s x McLaren’s Limited Edition 2024 bottle, commemorating the partnership between McLaren Racing and Jack Daniel’s. With a papaya color twist on the iconic Old No. 7 logo and dynamic striping, this bottle celebrates the new race season, which has proved to be successful for McLaren. Purchase your bottle today to celebrate this racing milestone.

Jack Daniel's x McLaren 2024 Edition 1L $39.95

Additive-Free Single Barrel Tequila from El Tesoro

For anyone doubting the impact that the additive-free Tequila movement is having on the industry, look no further than the recent raid on the Mexican home of the Tequila Matchmaker founders, the most popular online source for transparency within the category. One day it’s a small movement of agave nerds talking about quality, the next day it’s a serious economic force that is changing the way Tequila is being sold around the world.

There’s no way around it: most modern drinkers don’t want artificial coloring, chemicals, or sugar added to their Tequila and they’re searching online for better alternatives.

While “clean” Tequila is a relatively new interest for millions of Margarita drinkers, there are countless thousands of Tequila lovers who have long sung the praises of El Tesoro Distillery and its iconic master distiller Carlos Camarena. The family’s original brand El Tapatìo has been one of Mexico’s long-standing additive-free brands for almost a century, and its El Tesoro premium label is definitely the jewel in its crown.

As lovers of additive-free Tequila ourselves, nothing is more exciting from our perspective than traveling down to La Alteña distillery and picking out a barrel with Carlos himself. Our most recent expedition yielded this incredible Reposado selection, loaded with butterscotch and baking spices. Both of those flavor profiles are the result of nothing but pure agave, water, and time in an ex-Bourbon barrel, which makes their character even more thrilling.

With other additive-free Tequilas like Fortaleza Reposado selling out in seconds, we think fans of that style will love the OG alternative in this single barrel edition bottled exclusively for Mission. It has all the purity that serious agave lovers pine for, with just the right amount of vanilla and richness from its short time in an American oak barrel.

Don’t miss this one.

El Tesoro Mission Exclusive Single Barrel Reposado Tequila $74.99

The Archetype of Northern Rhône Syrah

While the Purple Label Combier Crozes-Hermitage has been one of the most popular wines we’ve sold at Mission over the last few years, rightly so given its supreme value for the quality, our wine team has recently gone crazy for the next step up on the hierarchy: the 2021 Domaine Combier Crozes-Hermitage, a wine that sees longer fermentation times and extra maturation in used oak.

The point of organic farming isn’t just to be kind to the earth, but also to bring out the true flavor of the fruits and vegetables being harvested—a full symphony of flavor, free of the muting chemical agents. Simply put, the flavors in the 2021 Domaine wine are the archetype for what Northern Rhône Syrah should taste like. Dark berries, smoked meats, freshly-cracked black pepper and violets galore.

If you note James Suckling’s glowing review below, you’ll see those are the flavors he clearly highlights in his description. In short, this is the wine you use to teach people what French Syrah is supposed to taste like.

If you’ve ever been curious as to why Northern Rhône wines are so expensive, and would like to test drive a beautiful bottle before plunging further down the rabbit hole, this is your wine.

Laurent Combier is a man who truly believes in the power or organics. "My father once had the dream to make the farm completely self-sustaining, making bio-fuel with the help of the animals on the farm," he stated during a conversation with importer Charles Neal. It’s clear from one sip of this wine that whatever he’s doing works!

2021 Domaine Combier Crozes-Hermitage $31.99

92 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - An aromatic nose of dark cherries, black pepper, smoked bacon and tons of violets. It's medium-bodied with silky tannins. Fresh and floral with elegance and poise. Well-rounded and transparent with a vivid finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

Limited Allocations of 2021's Top Wine

When famed critic James Suckling recently handed out a perfect 100 point score to Hirsch’s 2021 Raschen Ridge Pinot Noir, collectors everywhere took notice. When Antonio Galloni from Vinous followed suit with a second 100 point score, Jasmine Hirsch had everyone’s attention. The 2021 Hirsch Pinot Noirs were clearly something special.

Antonio Galloni wrote: “My tasting at Hirsch was one of the most impressive I have had at any property anywhere in the world. The 2021 Pinots are off the charts.”

While you had to be a member of Hirsch’s private wine club to secure the 2021 Raschen Ridge, the accolades didn’t stop with the members-only editions. The Block 8 Pinot Noir grabbed an almost-perfect 99 point score, and the esteemed San Andreas Fault Pinot Noir snagged a 96. More awards would soon follow.

It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that Hirsch Vineyards will win American winery of the year in 2024 and these Pinot Noirs will be the stuff of legend for years to come. Not only is the 2021 vintage a magical one for Hirsch, but it serves as a coming out party for Jasmine Hirsch who took over for her father David as head winemaker a few years back. Located along the remote Sonoma Coast with some of the best vineyards in the state, Hirsch’s long-burning star is shining brighter than ever.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t secure enough of the Block 8 to justify sending an email out to consumers, but we have managed to piece together a few small cases of the 2021 Hirsch San Andreas, while supplies last.

This is the type of wine where you buy as many as you can afford, put them away in your cellar, and thank your lucky stars that you managed to get what you got.

There are very few bottles available and they will not last.

Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault Sonoma Coast 2021 $74.95

96 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - So much fresh flowers with hibiscus and honey blossom. Dried citrus like lemon zest. Medium-bodied with fine tannins that are super integrated. Zesty finish. Lots of focus and beauty. The tannins are perfectly melted into the wine. Drinkable but even better in two to three years.

94 POINTS: VINOUS - The 2021 Pinot Noir Estate San Andreas Fault is a blend of thirty parcels across the vineyard. Vibrant and super-complex, the 2021 screams with precision right out of the gate. Dark red-toned fruit, dried herbs, mint and sage are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. The purity of the flavors here is so compelling. My tasting at Hirsch was one of the most impressive I have had at any property anywhere in the world. The 2021 Pinots are off the charts. To their credit, Jasmine Hirsch and Consulting Winemaker Michael Cruse have made all the right adjustments over the last few years. The 2021s were done with no stems, a departure from the past. Two thousand twenty-one is quite simply a magical vintage for Hirsch. The wines I tasted were all magnificent, to the point that picking favorites is really a matter of personal preference more than anything else. Readers will not want to miss these extraordinary wines. Bravo!

2023 Whisky of the Year Returns With Lower Pricing

When Glenglassaugh took home the Whisky Advocate’s prestigious #1 Whisky of 2023 award, people were in a bit of shock. How could this little Scottish distillery no one had ever heard of be making the best single malt on the planet?

While the resurrection of Glenglassaugh originally took place by a private owner back in 2008 (it had been shuttered in 1986), the real progress took hold when Brown-Forman purchased the distillery back in 2016, along with Highland stalwarts BenRiach and GlenDronach. The latter two names are quite familiar to most of our Scotch whisky lovers, but Glenglassaugh had remained quietly in the background until last year.

Even the Whisky Advocate had to acknowledge that it had “plucked a relative unknown from a group of big-name contenders,” adding “little did we know there was an upset in the making. Winning in a nearly unanimous vote, single malt scotch Glenglassaugh Sandend became our 2023 Whisky of the Year.”

Here’s the really exciting part: we originally sold the Sandend for $70+ after it won the big award, but we’re thrilled to announce today that we’ve secured another round of the record-breaking whisky for just $59.95 this time around.

Glenglassaugh Sandend Single Malt Whisky $59.95

95 POINTS: WHISKY ADVOCATE - #1 WHISKY OF 2023 - Glenglassaugh Distillery is situated on the north coast of Scotland, perched upon high ground overlooking the North Sea. The whisky is often described as a “coastal” Highland malt, which seems a fair assessment. This non-age statement expression, named for the bay offshore, is bright and delicate, with aromas of citrus and minerality leading to a luscious palate filled with layers of flavor revealing peach, apricot, honey, pound cake, and vanilla, all accented with a touch of sea salt. Rolling spices help create an explosive, long-lasting finish. It’s gentle yet complex, but above all it’s an easy sipper you can just sit back and enjoy. And at $70, it represents pretty fair value for a single malt scotch.

Why is Glenglassaugh so little known? Primarily because it has spent more time being closed than open in its nearly 150-year history. Founded in 1875, it was shuttered in 1907 for 53 years. It then reopened only for brief periods before closing in 1986, this time seemingly for good. But in 2008 Glenglassaugh was purchased by an investor group that restarted production, and it subsequently was acquired by Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman in 2016. It still hadn’t been heard from much until recently, because stocks needed replenishing. But now Glenglassaugh is ready to roll, and judging by this stellar release, patience is being rewarded in spades.

The Thing About Burgundy in California

The San Francisco Chronicle published an interesting article a few weeks ago about the California wine industry’s little-known secret: few of its winemakers seem to drink California wine.

So what are the professionals drinking? Burgundy—and tons of it. Somms and winemakers across the state are selling you California, while drinking all the good French Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. If you go to dinner at someone’s house in the CA wine business, you’re likely drinking Chablis or Savigny-les-Beaune.

Here’s the other dirty little secret about the California wine industry: many restaurants and retailers keep their top Burgundy allocations for themselves, rather than make them available to their customers.

Not at Mission, however. We’re not hoarding the Burgundy. In fact, we’re hunting out the harder-to-find, small production farmers so that you can drink something delicious and rare, yet affordable, and be excited about that experience.

Enter Alain & Cyril Gautheron, sixth generation farmers and winemakers located in Chablis who manage a tiny 25 hectare domaine with 15-55 year old vines planted in coveted Kimmeridgian soil, composed of fossilized sea creatures from thousands of years ago (it helps the grapes retain acidity and zest). Their wines are remarkable, and yet still within reach due to their insider status.

Cult Chablis winemakers like Dauvissat or Pinson sell their basic labels for $90+ a bottle, while even more reasonable producers like Fevre are at least $40 just to get in the entry level door.

To find a top quality Chablis for less than $30 these days—one that sings of lemon peel, oyster shell, and supreme salinity—requires diligence. Few selections these days give you that mineral drive, and that’s because they’re likely produced by large brands who purchase bulk wine and blend it for scale.

Yet, we’ve managed to bring in the 2022 Gautheron Chablis for just $27.99…AND…we’ve added in their stellar Bourgogne Blanc for just $21.99. Both wines represent everything we look for in Burgundian Chardonnay: depth, complexity, minimal oak aging, hands-on farming, and incredible grace. The only thing missing is the crazy price tag.

We don’t have much to offer, but you can be certain that we’re offering what we have and not keeping it in the back for our employees! **While the new 2022 vintage releases have yet to be reviewed, the Gautheron wines consistently receive 90+ point scores from Vinous, Suckling, and Parker—**you can easily look them up!

2022 Alain & Cyril Gautheron Bourgogne Blanc $21.99

Composed entirely of Chardonnay from vineyards around Chablis, this rustic and old school expression is a far cry from the milder, and rather tame Bourgogne blanc selections we find on the market these days. Crisp stone fruits, snappy acidity, fleshy fruit on the mid-palate, and a mineral tang on the finish. It’s like you’re sitting at a Parisian bistro getting a glass of the local stuff, rather than settling for the supermarket options in America.

2022 Alain & Cyril Gautheron Chablis $27.99

Using the 15-55 years old parcels across all 20 hectares of vineyards, Alain crafts this complex and calculated expression with elegance and style. Few straight Chablis wines offer this caliber of quality for less than $30. The quintessential flavors are clean and focused from the first sip: oyster shell, lemon, stone fruit, and a classic chalky minerality on the finish.

Dalmore 18 for Just $119.99?!

It’s been a while since the independent market offered a huge price discrepancy like this one! Fifteen years ago, it was quite common for independent labels like Gordon & MacPhail or Signatory to offer out aged Macallans or Laphroaigs at half the market price, but in the modern era those deals are long, long gone.

Today, however, we’re rolling back the clock with this stunning deal for Alexander Murray’s 18 year old Dalmore single malt whisky—coming in $180 cheaper PER BOTTLE than the official bottling!!

How is this possible, you ask?

There are a number of reasons. First off, Dalmore has been on a decade-long marketing campaign to compete with Macallan as Scotland’s top luxury whisky. As a result, they’ve raised their prices to be in line with Macallan’s top marks. When Alexander Murray purchased these stocks from Dalmore fifteen years ago, the price for those casks wasn’t anything near what they would cost today.

Second, while the Alexander Murray edition of Dalmore 18 year does have some Sherry cask maturation, it’s not the same dark, dense Sherry influence found in the official release. The 2001 Dalmore is a marriage of refill Bourbon and Sherry casks, creating a harmonious balance of fruit and texture. You do get the rich, raisiny flavors, along with the baking spices and the orange peel, but it’s done with far more restraint. For fans of a more classic Highland style, inline with the pre-luxe Dalmore of old, this is your malt. The finish is full of brown sugar and tobacco and the whisky demands your attention, even at 40% ABV.

At the end of the day, Dalmore is still Dalmore and a deal is still a deal. You can grab a bottle of the official Dalmore 18 year at $299.99 and do a little side-by-side comparison, or you can grab two of these incredible bottles from Alexander Murray and still have $60 left over.

While they last!

2001 Dalmore 18 Year Old Alexander Murray Single Malt Whisky $119.99