The Next Big Pinot Noir From New Zealand

Tracking down a bottle of Littorai Pinot Noir these days requires both a retail connection and an allowance of $100+ a bottle. Yet, what many don’t know is that Littorai’s owner and winemaker Ted Lemon has long been involved in a New Zealand Pinot Noir project called Burn Cottage, working with the husband and wife team of Marquie and Dianne Sauvage to biodynamically farm 20 year old vines in Central Otago. 

Whatever they’re doing down at Burn Cottage has not only impressed our wine staff, but also famed critic James Suckling who actually rated the most recent vintage of the Moonlight Race higher than any Littorai release, despite the sizable price difference. Obviously, the prestige of Littorai and the relative anonymity of Burn Cottage plays a role in that $50+ swing, but Suckling has been consistent with his praise, rating vintages back to 2017 with similar gusto. 

If you’re looking for the next cult classic Pinot Noir that’s still seemingly affordable, grab a bottle of the Burn Cottage while we still have some. You can buy two bottles for less than most local stores sell their Littorai allocations.

Single Barrel Bourbon From The Big Boys

While NAS (no age statement) single barrel Bourbon picks from NDPs (non-distiller producers) have become rather blasé in the American whiskey world, there is a bit of a backstory about our latest Jefferson's selection that will intrigue you. 

 Kentucky Artisan Distillers, where we went to make our barrel selection last September, starts the experience with a tour of the bottling line where many brands (not just Jefferson's) are dumped, vatted, and put into glass. The Pinhook Vertical Series 7 year old was being bottled as we walked through the facility and there was some Cream of Kentucky lined up as well. While Jefferson's distillery has a pot and column hybrid like some of the other small Kentucky producers, none of that juice has been bottled for public consumption under the Jefferson's label. All of the Jefferson's juice currently in bottle was sourced from other distillers. 

Before tasting through the available single barrels, we asked Jefferson's Chief Barrel Officer Dan Burke if we could walk through the warehouse where the barrels are matured to get a sense of their operation. We hiked through the lush green tress that separate the tasting room from the rickhouses and proceeded to tour the buildings. This is where things get interesting if you're someone who likes to know where your whiskies come from. 

 We didn't ask permission to share the information we gleaned from walking through the warehouse (so we can't write about any specifics here), but what we can say is that a great number of the barrels from the Jefferson's rickhouses have tags on them. Those tags also designate which brands own which barrels, so you can easily tell which barrels are owned by Jefferson's specifically and which are being stored for other brands. Based on the tags we saw under the Jefferson's lot, we couldn't wait to head back into the tasting room for our single barrel sampling. 

While the standard Jefferson's Reserve is a marriage of four different Bourbons from four different distilleries, the single barrel selections are taken from a single distillery. According to Dan, one particular Kentucky distillery makes up 65% of the Jefferson's Reserve Blend with the other 3 comprising the remaining 35%. The single barrels allocated by Jefferson's to retailers come from that 65%. We can't say for certain what that majority Bourbon distillery is because it's a proprietary secret, but via deduction from what we saw in the rickhouse it's one of the big boys. 

Even if we're wrong with that educated guess, the barrels we saw all came from the core distilleries in Kentucky. The barrel we picked was more than six years of age and it wasn't distilled in Indiana, so you can narrow it down from there. 

This Jefferson's Single Barrel Bourbon has an inviting aroma of bread pudding drizzled with bananas foster - making way to hints of butterscotch and baking spices. On the palate, it has a rich flavor profile of hot cocoa with a generous dose of vanilla bean. As the whiskey developed, slightly oaky notes and some mixed berry jam added depth and complexity. The finish is malty and creamy with a subtle, refined, sweetness. Overall, this Jefferson's Single Barrel is a welcomed addition to any whiskey cabinet, especially at 100 proof. 

Highly-Allocated Walter Scott Chardonnays Arrive

Ken Pahlow and his wife Erica Landon have been making wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley since 2008 when they first launched Walter Scott. Back then they shared a facility with Patricia Green Cellars, before transferring over to Evening Land alongside Dominique Lafon, and later Bethel Heights in the Eola-Amity Hills sub-AVA. Like many modern winemakers, Ken and Erica strive for a sense of place, a representation of terroir, and a purity of flavor in each of their wines. However, the big difference between Walter Scott and other winemakers in the region has been the reaction from critics and consumers alike, both of whom are completely freaking out over the Chardonnays from the 2021 vintage. 

 From the entry level La Combe Verte, fermented with 100% ambient yeast with full malo in French oak, to the Cuvée Anne marriage, to the single vineyard selections of Freedom Hill and Koosah, each of these Chardonnays delivers a complexity that is on par with some of the best wines of Burgundy—many of which sell for triple or even quadruple the price! As devotees of the Burgundian style, Ken and Erica have paid homage to the French profile, but the fleshiness of fruit from Oregon in 2021 adds an entirely new dimension.

Currently available only in our main warehouse, our limited allocations have just hit the web and we highly recommend placing an order for shipping or pick up now. We don’t expect these to hit the store given both the demand and the press.

The Noise In The Void

Something incredible has happened over the last few years in the Tequila industry. First off, sales have now outpaced Bourbon in America. Second, the consumer focus has now entirely switched to unadulterated Tequilas like Fortaleza, G4, Cascahuin, and Tapatio (see our blog post on diffusers with over 50,000 reads for more information about that). 

 Because natural Tequilas that use ripe agave are not easy to make, the demand for unadulterated Tequila has stripped the market dry of its top brands. Getting a basic bottle of Fortaleza or G4 today is akin to what happened with Weller and Blanton’s a decade ago. In that vacuum is an opportunity for new stars to shine and new faces to become familiar. There’s no better example of that phenomenon right now than Cazcanes Tequila.

Cazcanes Tequilas are made at NOM 1614 in Amatitán, Jalisco without additives or the use of a diffuser, using only natural spring water for cooking and proofing. Zesty, fresh, and vibrant on the palate, the pepperiness and spice of each expression is a testament to its hands-off production philosophy. From the crystal clean blanco to the oak influenced reposado and añejo Tequilas, Cazcanes has become a rising star in the void of other popular non-additive brands and is set to become a major name in the industry.

Just this past month, the Tequila Wanderer—one of many major influencer accounts in the agave world—ran a March Madness Tournament for non-additive Tequila brands, allowing its 30K+ followers to vote for which Tequila advances. Not only did Cazcanes beat Ocho in a head-to-head match up, it also knocked off fan favorites Fortaleza and G4! A total shocker.

 Cazcanes is primed to explode in our industry and we’re excited others are taking notice. Anything can happen in the void of shortages due to demand. Do you remember when the rye shortage of 2009 paved the way for High West, Templeton, Bulleit, and other MGP-sourced brands? The same phenomenon is happening again, but this time with Tequila.

-David Driscoll

Spring Has Sprung

If you're looking for a Spring whiskey suggestion, what better place to start than with the new limited edition Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Bourbon celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's 1973 win. Secretariat is considered one of the greatest thoroughbreds of all time. A Triple Crown winner, he still holds the record for the fastest race time at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. The bottle features the artwork of Kentucky native Jaime Corum, known for her stunning horse portraits. Her painting featured on the bottle captures Secretariat in the Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs, with the famed Garland of Roses draped over the horse. 

For a limited time we're offering the Derby 149 Edition at the low price of $39.95, with most retailers coming in between $53-$58 on this bottle. 

Limited Edition Siete Leguas Back In Stock

Siete Leguas Decadas Blanco Tequila 700ml - $124.95

Distilled entirely from highly-concentrated, small Criollo agave piñas, the Siete Leguas Decadas isn't just a more delicious version of its heralded Blanco Tequila, it's decidedly more difficult and expensive to make. Criollo agaves, part of the Blue Agave family, require more piñas per batch and aren't cultivated, but rather collected in the wild, requiring extra time and effort. The result is worth it, however, as the intensity and nuance are unparalleled to a standard Blanco. The Decadas production starts with a three day cooking process in stone over, then a Tahona crush with traditional horse-drawn press. 

Bottled at 42% ABV, the texture is creamier, yet the flavors more pronounced and electric on the palate. For fans of "real" Tequila, meaning no additives or diffusers, the Decadas was already one of the most coveted bottles of 2022 and it sold out fast then! We're expecting a repeat performance this time around. Don't wait on this one. 

A Gin So Beautiful You Can Drink It Neat

When Germany’s Monkey 47 first hit the American market a decade ago, it was a revelation for gin drinkers because the spirit stood entirely on its own. As complex as any whiskey, yet divine in any cocktail, it redefined what gin could be for a number of adventurous drinkers. Grown men and women were drinking it neat for the first time in their lives.

Since that moment, the gin category has expanded beyond the limits of our imagination, but rarely has it demonstrated the same level of beauty. Hendrick’s Lesley Gracie has concocted a number of memorable gins from her Cabinet of Curiosities collection over the last few years, but the new Flora Adora is by far the most complete. Brimming with rose petals, lavender, and other floral intoxications, never once does it encroach the soapy or sudsy elements that turn off many drinkers. Instead, it dials up the red fruit elements, bringing raspberry notes that seamlessly meld with tangy spices on the finish, then morph into a subtle sweetness, almost like strawberry shortcake. It’s difficult to truly put into words, but the effect is one of the most engaging and satisfying gin experiences of the year—by far.

The entire journey, from the front of the palate to the backend finish, is a rollercoaster of all the senses, one that stands entirely on its own—no tonic water or vermouth needed. By all means, make a cocktail with the new Flora Adora, but make sure to appreciate it neat. Few gins ever come this close to virtuosity. Even fewer warrant their reputation as a straight sipper. Passionate gin drinkers will surely agree: Hendrick’s knocked this one out of the park.

Our First Distillery-Direct Single Barrel Of Laphroaig

It’s an exciting day here at the office. We’re finally ready to tell you about our first ever single barrel of Laphroaig, direct from the distillery. It’s not just our first single barrel, it’s one of the first single barrels the iconic Islay producer has ever bottled for private retail.

As a result, it isn't inexpensive. 

But before you freak out, let’s talk about some of the benefits of buying a single barrel directly from the distillery rather than from an independent bottler.

1. Rather than aging on the Scottish mainland in the warehouse of an independent bottler, this single cask of Laphroaig was distilled in 2013 and aged at the distillery for the entirety of its maturation.

2. This particular barrel came directly from warehouse #1 - the warehouse you see in images right next to the coast with the name Laphroaig in black paint. It’s no accident that Laphroaig’s Cairdeas release was also called “Warehouse #1” after we insisted on this as part of our barrel selection (and we selected our barrel many months before the Cairdeas was released or even advertised).

3. The intrinsic value of any distillery-direct release is always greater than that of an independent in terms of any future evaluation. Look at the difference in OB Macallan releases versus those bottled by Gordon & MacPhail or other independents. If you’re a collector, you know this to be the case.

$239.99 wasn’t anything to sneeze at for a 9 year old cask strength single malt whisky. But we weren’t going to turn down the opportunity either. This was a historic moment both for Mission and for Laphroaig, so we met that moment with enthusiasm and decided to let the customers decide what was and wasn’t worth spending.

Laphroaig 'Mission Exclusive' Warehouse 1 1st Fill Bourbon #0896 Single Cask Selection Single Malt Whisky 700ml - $239.99

Let's talk about the specifics:

• First-fill ex-Bourbon barrel

• Distilled in 2013

• Matured entirely in Warehouse #1

• Cask No. #0896

• 54.1% ABV

• Only 254 bottles

For those who like their iodine and Islay salinity, this is the one of the most maritime-influenced Laphroaig barrels we’ve ever tasted. Considering it was aged entirely next to the sea, that makes sense. It’s peaty, briney, salty, medicinal, and you can almost make out the kelp! There is indeed some vanilla from the oak and a sweeter malt character at play, but this experience is all about the terroir. If Laphroaig is going to charge us more for a single barrel aged in its famed #1 warehouse, matured next to the sea, then it had better damn taste like it! And it does. 

Even with the 108.2 proof heat, the intensity and complexity of the whisky itself is far more intense than the alcohol. There’s a lot to unpack in Laphroaig’s first single barrel experience and if there’s one thing we can promise you, it’s this: you won’t ever be bored drinking this whisky.