The Biggest Secret in Bubbles

From young drinkers to mature drinkers, casual shoppers to hyper-focused wine geeks, and budding novices to experienced professionals, there’s one wine just about everyone agrees on when it comes to the best bang-for-your-buck in bubbles:

The standard cremant from Domaine Allimant Laugner in France’s Alsace region for just $18.99 a bottle. 

Check with any serious wine store. Ask any somm in the business. Allimant Laugner is not a household name in America, but it’s available everywhere quality wine is being offered for a reason: it’s that damn good. 

Made with 80% Pinot Blanc—one of the original Champagne varietals—and 20% Riesling for an aromatic lift, Allimant Laugner’s bargain banger dates back forty years to when the domaine was founded, but wine has been made the property since the early 1800s. Throughout the 20th century, the Allimant family grew all sorts of crops, grapes being just one of many. The Domaine became official in 1984, but the family’s history of winemaking goes much deeper in this idyllic Alsatian commune. 

What makes the wine so delicious? A combination of clean and vibrant acidity coupled with a candied fruit note that creates a freshness of flavor with a richness of texture. It doesn’t have the bready or leesy notes that a true Champagne often has, but what it lacks in autolytic character it more than makes up for with zesty citrus and fine, tiny bubbles that feel luxurious on the palate.

Allimant Laugner has been an industry secret for the better part of a decade; what the insiders order when they’re out at dinner or drinking with friends. Today, we’re sharing that secret with you. We want you to see what the fuss is all about.

The Knob Creek "Floor Series" Grand Finale

We've been thrilled by the success of our Knob Creek Single Barrel "Floor" series, showcasing the impact of the warehouse floor level where the cask was aged with the dominant characteristic of the whiskey's profile. For our final act, we've saved three fantastic Mission Exclusive single barrels that divvy out the most exciting flavors of the campaign, in a stunning finale that we hope will please all of our shoppers! 

Let us tell you a bit more about Sixth Floor Concentration, Fifth Floor Wood, & Sixth Floor Richness.

Knob Creek "Sixth Floor Concentration" 6 Year Old Mission Exclusive Single Barrel 57.5% Kentucky Rye Whiskey 750ml $59.99

At the top of the Jim Beam rick house, the heat is the most intense and the ability for those scorching summer conditions to heavily concentrate the flavors in a single barrel is unique. With this 6th floor single cask of Knob Creek rye whiskey, we've hit the jackpot in terms of spice, sweetness, and intensity–all dialed up and in your face. Baking spices like clove and cinnamon, creamy cookie dough, spicy rye grains, and an herbaceous finish make up the DNA of this whiskey and at 57.5% ABV it's a doozy. If you like your rye whiskies big and loud, this is the single barrel for you.  

Knob Creek "Mission Exclusive-Fifth Floor Wood" 9 Year Old Single Barrel 120 Proof Kentucky Bourbon 750ml $59.99

Matured near the top, but not quite all the way up in the rick house racks, the dominant note in this 9 year old Knob Creek single barrel is oak. Big, sweet, charred notes of wood, melded with crème brulee and sweet maple notes. There's a nice level of spice on the finish, but the ultimate takeaway here is the intensity of the oak maturation and the power of the punch. If you prefer a big, boisterous Bourbon, that's chock full of woody flavors, we think you'll be quite pleased with this whiskey.

Knob Creek "Mission Exclusive-Sixth Floor Richness" 9 Year Old Single Barrel 120 Proof Kentucky Bourbon 750ml $59.99

There's a reason that Bourbon junkies love the top of the rick house for barrel selections. The hot, hot heat of a Kentucky summer, scaled over nine years of maturation, can squeeze more whiskey in and out of that charred oak barrel, resulting in a heavily-oaked and ultra-rich style Bourbon that stands out from whiskies aged at lower parts of the rick house. This sixth floor-aged Knob Creek 9 year has all the weight and texture you need to back up the intensity of the 120 proof power. It's supple and sweet on the palate, layered with vanilla, brown sugar, and baking spices, then it finishes with more notes of barrel spice and sweet oak. If you like your whiskey robust and substantial, this is the barrel you'll want to pick. 

Four Roses Finally Releases All 10 Recipes in Unprecedented Sample Pack

With two different mash bills and five yeast strains, Four Roses has long distilled ten different Bourbon recipes to create its core range of whiskies. The standard Yellow Label is actually a marriage of all ten, while the Small Batch focuses on just a handful, and the single barrel only with the OBSK. 

For years, retailers and restaurants who have traveled to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky to select a private barrel have been able to choose from all ten recipes at cask strength, but up until now the only way to taste them as a private consumer was to track down a store pick or private selection. 

But in a stunning development, Four Roses has finally decided to release all ten recipes as part of a fantastic gift set, featuring 10 50ml bottles of each Bourbon, each at 104 proof. Each box comes with a QR code for a guided tour by distiller Brent Elliott, who will walk you through the story. 

For serious Bourbon geeks, this is a dream come true. For the Bourbon lover in your life, this is one of the coolest gifts we've seen in years. Don't miss out! 

Four Roses The Ten Recipe Tasting Experience 10x50ml
$119.95

Our Summer Garden Is Ready For Harvesting

With the entire online Bourbon community going through a bit of barrel fatigue, we knew we wanted to shake things up at Mission this summer. 

There were so many single barrel offerings from non-distiller producers, private labels, and independent bottlers that tasted the same, over and over again. There are only so many 5-7 year old Bourbons from Indiana that Mission can purchase before our customers begin to burn out on cask strength MGP distillate. 

Having a healthy supply of Mission exclusive full proof whiskey isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but were there perhaps some more traditional options that we were overlooking? Maybe we should revisit a few old friends. Maybe there’s a sweet honey barrel waiting for us off the beaten path, where others haven’t been searching as of late. 

That’s what led us to Woodford Reserve. 

While Old Forester’s cask strength editions have won over legions of diehard Bourbon drinkers over the last few years, Brown-Forman’s other major label has never been able to capture that same excitement. There are reasons as to why. It’s bottled at a more mellow 45.2% ABV, for one. It’s also a blend of two different Bourbons: copper pot-distilled whiskey from Woodford mixed in with standard column still Bourbon from Shively, where Old Forester is distilled. That fact has always been a hurdle for some purists.

Still, with so many consumers hyper-focused on Buffalo Trace and the gravitational pull of the allocated Bourbon market, we thought it might be the right time to revisit Woodford Reserve’s single barrel program. And we were correct. Choosing from a healthy selection of 7+ year old single barrels, we had more fun selecting this Woodford cask than just about any Bourbon barrel we’ve chosen in the last year, simply because of the variety of flavors present and the quality for the dollar. 

At $49.99 for a LITER, not only do you get an additional 250ml of deliciousness for your dollar with this Mission Exclusive selection, you get a richness and roundness not present in any of our current store picks. Don’t get us wrong—we love cask strength Bourbon. Yet, what we love about this single barrel of Woodford is its supple texture and mellow grace. Bananas Foster on the nose with notes of Werther’s Original candy, a soft and creamy palate where the Woodford pot still component is allowed to shine, distinguishing it from other Bourbons with a subtle graininess. 

The finish is a seamless session of dark chocolate and vanilla bean with an ending so smooth you’ll need a second sip to confirm its presence. If you’ve taken a flier on Woodford Reserve in the past because the cool kids told you it wasn’t worth bothering with, we invite you to dispel that myth immediately. 

This whiskey has summer written all over it. With the hot sun roasting Southern California this week, we’re imagining a number of different cocktails with our Mission Woodford Reserve Bourbon. Given that it’s a liter format, we’ll have plenty to go around!

Madson Delivers Yet Again With Stunning Chardonnay

Cole Thomas and his team from Madson Wine in Santa Cruz are young winemakers to keep your eye on. In only a few short years, they've managed to secure access to a bevy of amazing fruit sources in the Santa Cruz Mountains, from a variety of elevations and locations, and turn that fruit into pure gold.  

Case in point: the 2021 Madson Misty Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay. 

Misty Gulch Vineyard sits in the Portola Valley at the base of a gap that earns the name Windy Hill from the maritime breeze that blows east and west. The salinity and purity of the Chardonnay being grown here has to be tasted to be believed and has garnered rave reviews from critics everywhere, including recently at the Wine Enthusiast. Farming these high-elevation sites is not easy and the vines are difficult to access. 

The care it takes to harvest these grapes properly is ultimately what you're paying for–and it's worth every penny! 

At just 31 years of age, Cole is a born-and-raised Santa Cruz local continuing the traditions of the generations before him. Inspired by the legacy of winemakers like Martin Ray, he's hyper focused on working naturally and hell bent on expressing the essence of what these legendary mountains have to offer.

Madson Misty Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains 2021 - $39.99

93 POINTS: VINOUS - Tightly alkaline aromas of chalk and lime pith meet with crushed sandstone and a hint of citrus on the nose of this bottling. The palate is all about the firm structural grip, which weaves through flavors of almond and lemon peel. 

MISSION NOTES: The aromatic notes of white lilies, kiwi, and chamomile are a thing of beauty with this wine. There are fewer than 100 cases of Misty Gulch Chardonnay made and the winery is already sold out. We hope those of you who take the plunge down this hedonistic rabbit hole enjoy the few bottles we have available today. 

Pét-Nat Is Taking Over The World

Whether you’ve heard the term Pét-Nat out and about at a bar or restaurant, but never knew what it meant, or you’re a die-hard fan who loves natty sparklers, we’ve got the bargain of the summer here at Mission today. 

For those just getting to know the category, Pét-Nat is short for pétillant naturel or “naturally sparkling,” meaning the wine was allowed to undergo a secondary fermentation naturally. Unlike Prosecco and many other inexpensive sparklers where the bubbles are the result of oxygen that is pumped into the wine, Pét-Nats are more like Champagne, albeit sourced from all over the world and made with a variety of grapes. 

Today, it’s not uncommon to find Californian Pét-Nats made from Gamay or Zinfandel, or regional microbrands from all across Europe that use a variety of local varietals. All the cool kids are drinking it, all around the world, and it shows no sign of slowing down! Whether you’re out for Sunday brunch, or chilling at the bar of your favorite restaurant, you’re going to find a variety of Pét-Nat options replacing the more boring commercial sparkling options no matter where you go.

While most Pét-Nats clock in well over $20 a bottle, we just discovered a new Pét-Nat from Catalonia for less than $15 that gives you all the bubbly deliciousness of Spanish Cava with the tanginess of the modern Pét-Nat style. Not only is it expressive and distinctive, it’s a downright bargain in terms of its quality.

2022 Oniric Entre Vinyes Pét-Nat $14.99 (Elsewhere $20+)

The Oniric Pét-Nat from Entre Vinyes is a refreshing blend of Xarel-lo and Muscat, bottled at 11% ABV, that offers a fruity aromatic lift with a fleshy and crisp profile. Located in the Penedes region, it’s sort of like Cava meets cider in terms of its character, albeit entirely from grapes. Sourced from 60+ year old bush vines, the fruit is entirely organic and the wine is certified vegan. This is the type of bottle that gets halfway finished within the first 15 minutes of opening it. Make sure you buy more than one!

Paso Roble’s Biodynamic Superstar Villa Creek is Back with Big Press

Villa Creek is making red and white wines entirely unlike the conventional archetype of Paso Robles these days. Rather than jammy fruit bombs or super smooth patio sippers, the biodynamic wines of the Maha Estate are earthy, mineral, and soulful above all else, reflecting both the care Villa Creek is taking in the vineyard and the location of the vines themselves.

Nestled in the hills at 1800 feet above sea level, Grenache vines make up the core of Villa Creek's vineyards, alongside other Rhône varietals like Carignan, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Clairette and Roussanne. Today their wines resemble Châteauneuf du Pape more than warm climate California reds, with a restraint and elegance that has wone over top critics.

Embracing biodiversity in the vineyards, it's not uncommon to find a flock of sheep roaming the land during Winter and Spring, nibbling on grass and fertilizing as they go. That attention to detail in the vineyard yields a purity of fruit that is unparalleled in many California red wines at this price point. 

Check out the glowing review from Vinous, or take our word for it. If you like Rhône style blends, then Villa Creek needs to be on your radar.

Villa Creek Cherry House Red Paso Robles 2020 750ml - $22.99

92 POINTS: VINOUS - Saturated magenta. High-pitched red fruit, floral and spice qualities on the incisive nose. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering zesty raspberry, boysenberry and candied lavender flavors sharpened by a spicy suggestion of white pepper. Finishes long and tight, with smooth tannins and lingering spiciness. Cris Cherry continues to refine his style at Villas Creek. One thing that has impressed me in recent years is the lack of what I would call a house style. These elegant wines, vary quite a bit, depending on variety, which I find impressive as many other wineries, including some of the best, do express a winemaker's signature, but not in this case. 

Two Exclusive Single Barrel Ryes For July 4th

While Bourbon is enjoying its time in the American whiskey limelight, many still consider rye whiskey to be the original American spirit. Cultivated and distilled in the American colonies before the Constitution was even written, rye whiskey has been a staple of American life for almost three hundred years!

During our last trip to Kentucky, we selected a large swatch of Bourbon barrels from Knob Creek that have been released over the last six months. However, we’ve been holding these two rye whiskey casks back in anticipation of America’s birthday. What better way to celebrate American whiskey culture than with two unique, high-proof single barrel rye whiskies that capture the essence of what whiskey is all about!

Each barrel is named after the floor of the rick house that it was matured on, along with the dominant characteristic of the whiskey itself. Both barrels were aged high in the Kentucky rick house, ensuring a rich flavor and high-power proof.

Knob Creek “Fifth Floor Fruit Orchard” Mission Exclusive Single Barrel 57.5% Kentucky Rye Whiskey $59.99

Brimming with poached apricots and a hint of Bing cherry, this round and supple rye whiskey combines the ripeness of a fruit orchard with the spiciness and ample baking spices that come from a rye whiskey mash bill. Loaded with punch at 115 proof, this Knob Creek single barrel captures the fruitiness and freshness reminiscent of the old Maryland rye whiskey style. 

Knob Creek “Sixth Floor Sweetness” Mission Exclusive Single Barrel 57.5% Kentucky Rye Whiskey $59.99

From higher up in the Kentucky rick house, the intense summer heat on the sixth floor coerced an intense sweetness out of this single barrel, embalming a vein of vanilla, brown sugar, and oak spices that permeates every aspect of this rye whiskey from front to back. Cinnamon and clove notes bring up the finish with a blast of heat from the 57.5% ABV. For those who like their rye whiskey more like Kentucky Bourbon, this is the barrel for you.