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In honor of St. Paddy’s Day – Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

The History

In 1805, William Mitchell purchased no.10 Grafton Street and set up a bakery and confectionary business.

In 1887, Robert Mitchell, a gentleman of not inconsiderable business acumen, expanded the business into whiskey bonding, moving shortly thereafter to new premises around the corner to No.21 Kildare Street. The family first commenced retailing the venerable Green Spot whiskey in 1933 at which time one could purchase “John Jameson & Son 10 Year Old Green Seal @ 180/-per dozen”

The Spot Range

Originally, there was a whole host of “Spot” whiskeys made by the Mitchell family back in the 1800s, including Green Spot, and Yellow Spot.  The whiskies were made at the Jameson Distillery and placed into a variety of empty barrels provided by the Mitchells then aged back at their cellars.

The casks would then be matured in their warehouses and they signified the age by a dab of paint.  That dab of paint is how the spot range got its name.  Blue is the youngest range, green was 10 years, yellow was 12 and red was 15.

Green Spot

green_spot_single_pot_still_irish_whiskey_2The nose has hints of peppermint, malt and sweet barley. Flavors of sugary porridge, creamy vanilla and citrus are also present.  On the palate, one can taste a combination of gentle bourbon oak, green wood, menthol and potpourri. Green Spot has a balanced spicy, yet soft, flavor. It has a very pleasant and light body.  Finally, Green Spot finishes long and creamy. Punches of vanilla, warm fruit and hazelnut are also present in the finish. It is known to leave one craving more.

Yellow Spot

Yellow Spot Whiskey

The nose of Yellow spot has notes of peach and apricot with honey and a hint of spice.  The palate is as fruity as the nose with flavors of milk chocolate, fresh coffee and notes of toasted oak.  The finish is again sweet with notes of apricots and red grapes that is sophisticated and complex.

 
Don’t miss out on your chance to have a piece of Irish whiskey history. It’s available in Payless Liquor Stores now , but to ensure you get your hands on this iconic whiskey, we recommend reserving a bottle through the Contact Us page.  Just include that you would like to reserve a bottle in the comment/question section.

When Oops becomes Ahh!

Orphan Barrel – The Gifted Horse American Whiskey

This product is something like one of those stories of a pregnancy that was neither expected or planned for but births something truly amazing that is immediately loved by all.

The Gifted Horse is the progeny of a mistaken mixing of a 17 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon with a 4 year old whiskey at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.  It’s “parents” being a blend of 39% 17 year old whiskey and 61% younger corn whiskey and Indiana bourbon whiskey.

Tgifted_horse_isolatedhis whiskey is bottled at a higher ABV, coming in at 115/57.5. 

Beginning with a nose hinting at apple skin, almond, toffee, raisins and slight milk chocolate, The Gifted Horse has unique tasting notes of creamy caramel, Bosc pear and fruit cake. This unusual blend’s fruity notes become more apparent with a splash of water.

The Gifted Horse’s package design reflects the lucky fortune in discovering such a unique whiskey, featuring a lighthearted illustrative style, a horseshoe and the prominently featured Gifted Horse image. Hinting at what’s inside the bottle, the weathered red label entices those to discover a whiskey bold and flavorful.

The Gifted Horse was hand bottled in Tullahoma, Tenn. and highly allocated, with no future releases planned.

Due to the fact that no future releases are planned, we are offering this product only via reservation.  Please Contact Us in order to reserve your bottle now.

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is made in the traditional style of Kentucky Ryes. It delivers bold flavors of pepper and tobacco with a long fruit and sweetly spiced finish. And it is now available for purchase in Indiana.

Five Sources of Flavorwdf6726_DistillersSelect_RYE_Front_asset-197x300

Woodford Reserve Rye is the third permanent line extension in their lineup following Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select and Double Oaked. They pride themselves on their original and contemporary approach to bourbon and whiskey while focusing on adjusting one of the five sources of flavor. The five sources are: grain recipe, water source, fermentation, distillation, and maturation. For this rye whiskey, the grain was sourced to produce the signature taste in each bottle of Woodford Reserve. The mash bill contained 35% rye which helped produce the spicy notes.

Tasting Notes

Proof: 90.4°

Appearance: Rich honey.

Nose: Spicy with distinct notes of rye, black pepper, cedar and cassia bark sweetened with a dusting of marzipan. Hints of pear, apple and almond dance in its depths.

Taste: Clove, rye, mint, molasses, sorghum and honey mingle together with hints of apple and malt.

Finish: Long and sweetly spiced.


Woodford Reserve Rye arrived in stores this week and is rolling out to stores now. Contact us to reserve your bottle today or visit your favorite Payless location!

The Balvenie DoubleWood 17

A New Sibling…

Like the famous 12-year-old expression, Balvenie DoubleWood 17 year has been matured in two types of casks.  The additional 5 years of maturation in these two casks gives a
perfect balance of fruit, oak, and malt.

A Bit of History…

The Balvenie distillery is located in Speyside in Dufftown, Scotland and is owned by balv130670_balvenie_17_003William Grant & Sons. In early 1892 work began to convert an 18th-century mansion, Balvenie New House, into a distillery. The building took fifteen months to complete, and on 1 May 1893, the first distillation took place at the Balvenie Distillery.  Balvenie produces whisky in a traditional style. The use of locally grown barley is preferred, and is floor malted.  Of the 100 or so distilleries in Scotland, Balvenie is only one of six distilleries with its own malting floor.

A Tale of 2 Casks…

The 2 cask technique is at the heart of The Balvenie DoubleWood. The whisky is first matured in American oak barrels to impart soft sweet vanilla notes. The European oak sherry casks, the second cask, adds rich spicy flavors, depth and fullness of flavor.

Tasting Notes from Balvenie…

NOSE
Elegant and complex with oak, vanilla, honeyed sweetness and a hint of green apple.

TASTE
Sweet with dried fruits, sherbet spice, toasted almonds and cinnamon, layered with a richness of creamy toffee notes, traces of oak and deep vanilla.

FINISH
Vanilla, oak, honey and a spicy sweetness.

Get your bottle today…

Contact Payless Liquors today to reserve your bottle of Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year today!

Spirit of America Bourbon

Good bourbon doesn’t have to come from Kentucky. In fact, you can find great bourbons right here in the heart of Indiana. Spirit of American Bourbon is produced and bottled in SpiritofAmerica_bs-150x300downtown Indianapolis. In fact, 100% of the product is made in the USA.  The bottle is made in Missouri, the cap in Michigan, and the shipper is from Minnesota and the bottles are screen printed in Chicago. Doesn’t get more Midwest than that!

Being a 100% made in the USA product was important to Lenny Roberts, one of the founders. His father, Mike, was a veteran and had a long career in the spirits industry. He filed the trademark for Spirit of American in 1980, but unfortunately he never saw the product come to fruition. He passed in 2012, but his sons found a partner in Heartland Distiller’s Stuart Hobson, and in 2013 Spirit of American Bourbon was born.

SOA partner, MGP, selects only the best Midwestern wheat and Indiana provides the perfect year-round climate for the crop.  Because distilling wheat is easier to use and will mature at a quicker rate, younger bourbons are able to provide a mellow tasting experience on par with longer aged rye and corn bourbons.

At 86 proof, Spirit of America bourbon has a mash-bill of 51% corn, 45% wheat and 4% malted barley. Bright woody notes with hints of caramel, and spice lead into a smooth and sweet finish.

Spirit of America bourbon is available at your favorite Payless store or you can reserve a bottle via our Contact us page. Cheers!

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection 1838 White Corn Bourbon

Woodford Reserve’s owner, Oscar Pepper, and Master Distiller, James Crow, have been credited with refining and defining many processes in the whiskey world. These processes include mashing, yeast propagation, copper pot distillation, and the maturing of whiskey in new charred oak casks. Together, Pepper and Crow redefined bourbon and the distillation process. Their legacy lives on even now, more than 200 years later.

To honor this legacy, Woodford Reserve created a Master Collection. Each year, a new bottle is released. The bourbon is made using their pioneering processes, gain recipes, and1838_white_corn-149x300 fermentation style. The result is a growing range of unique and delicious whiskies.

This year, Woodford Reserve released its 10th bottle in the series, the 1838 Style White Corn Bourbon. As the name suggests, this whiskey got its unique character from a change in the first source of flavor—the grain. Instead of the traditional yellow corn, the distillers chose to use white corn. The result is a flavor that perfectly complements the other grains and creates a sharper, yet lighter and sweeter whiskey with a full-flavored profile.

At first sight, one may not notice anything special about this whiskey. Its light, golden honey coloring is similar to most bourbons. However, the character and complexity is clear as soon as the bottle is opened. Scents of nutty grain pour out, softened and sweetened by hints of apply, sugar, and vanilla. All of this is tied together with spice and smoke. The taste is just as complex. Shortbread and lemon custard take the lead, balanced by hints of pepper. The finish is long and slightly dry, leaving a sweet, buttery texture behind.

This unique whiskey is the perfect choice to help celebrate the holidays! Reserve a bottle for yourself using our Contact Us form today.

William Grant & Sons Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve

Built in 1938, Inverleven was located just outside of the lowlands, distilling high quality scotch whiskies until it closed in 1991, mothballing in 1992.

Similarly, Ladyburn, an expansion of the Girvan distillery, was built in 1966, but closed less than a decade later in 1975 and was demolished in 1976. Both distilleries have been silent ever since.

Now, the two lowland distilleries’ products are being reintroduced into the market, but with a unique twist. William Grant & Sons’ Master Distiller, Brian Kinsman, has handpicked casks from each distillery to blend into one rare scotch whisky. This unique invention goes by the name Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve.

This singular blend scotch has been aged for more than a quarter of a century. Those 26 years allowed the flavors of each scotch to mold together, blending perfectly. Upon opening the bottle, the scent is sweet, but oaky. The flavors of each scotch are separate, yet blended. The taste is oaky and slightly oily from Ladyburn, yet sweet, fruity, and floral notes are present from Inverleven. The finish is long, intense, and smooth. Kinsman describes the overall experience on the palate as “deep and intense, with a creamy mouthful followed by delicate spice and toasted almonds.”

William Grant & Sons’ Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve is more and just a rare scotch, it is truly unrepeatable and something that Brian Kinsman is extremely proud of. “It bears testament to the vision and skills of the five Master Blenders who came before me. This exceptional release is a whisky that gives me enormous personal pride. I see it as truly a high point of what blending can bring to the finest whisky, and a spirit that would win the deepest respect of our founder, William Grant.”

Only 4,100 bottles of this special whisky were released throughout the world. With less than half of those in the United States, they are bound to vanish quickly. Don’t let this one-of-a-kind release slip away from you. Contact Us today to reserve a bottle.

Barterhouse & Rhetoric Available at Bourbon Women Sip & Shop

Based out of Tullahoma, Tennessee, The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Company was founded with the mission to share barrels of rare and delicious whiskeys. Every year, barrels are overlooked and nearly forgotten in the back of distilleries around the world. These “lost” whiskeys have become a legend and Orphan Barrel has made it their goal to bottle these rare whiskeys for the world to try.

In order to guarantee that these whiskeys are treated with the care they deserve, each barrel is hand bottled by knowledgeable and responsible curators. Due to their origins as forgotten barrels, many of the bottles produced by Orphan Barrel are only available once. Once they’re gone, they’re gone for good.

img-the-bar-collection_0055_orphan-barrel-barterhouseOne of these rare finds is Barterhouse. After being aged for twenty years in American oak barrels, most whiskeys are mellowed…but not this one. One barrel turned out perfect. For just one barrel, those twenty years were the right length of time to craft perfection. The distillers had written this barrel off as a failure. They believed that its perfection was just a false rumor. But Orphan Barrel didn’t believe them and wanted to give this barrel a chance. As it turned out, the distillers were wrong, and the rumors were true.

Barterhouse is bottled at just over 90 proof. Upon pouring a glass, scents of oak, almonds, nutmeg, and cherry fill the air. The first sip is heavy on the oak and spice, mixing well with mint flavors. The finish is long and warm with vanilla and caramel perfectly dulling the potentially overwhelming spice.

Unfortunately, this delicious whiskey is an extremely rare find due to the single barrel available for bottling. And once it’s gone — it’s gone forever.

But Orphan Barrel has recently released other unique whiskeys, including Rhetoric. Unlike img-the-bar-collection-_0076_orphan-barrel-rhetoricBarterhouse, Orphan Barrel has been releasing better tasting, more complex versions of Rhetoric each year. And each new year brings with it more mature flavors and character. This year, the whiskey has been aged 21 years.

At first sight, there isn’t much of a difference between last year’s Rhetoric and this year’s version. However, the difference and improvements are obvious with as much as the first smell. The scent is still dominated by oak, but the apple, caramel, cinnamon, and orange scents are more prominent. The taste is soft and well-rounded with baked apple, caramel, and oak mixing perfectly with the spices. The finish lasts just the right amount of time, not too long, not too short. It is fairly dry with strong citrus flavors.

It seems as though Orphan Barrel’s annual releases of Rhetoric are somewhat of a showcase, allowing their followers to see the process of aging for themselves. Many whiskey connoisseurs see this as a dream come true.

Both of these Orphan Barrel creations can be bought at our Bourbon Women event, December 5 at our Greenwood Mall store.

Angel’s Envy Rye with Limited Edition Caribbean Rum Cask Finish

There are so many whiskeys on the market that they can sometimes be indistinguishable. Bourbon after bourbon; rye after rye…so many, it all begins to taste the same. So how can a distiller make his whiskey stand out? This was the question Angel Envy’s Master Distiller, Lincoln Henderson faced. His answer: give it a unique twist.

Some distillers have tried to set their whiskey apart by blending a few straight whiskeys to rye34create a more complex flavor profile. Henderson wanted to do something different. After seeing the tremendous success from Angel Envy’s bourbon finished in port barrels, he knew a similar process with a rye whiskey would be just the thing to set his apart.

So, Henderson ran with this idea, deciding that a rum cask finish would be the perfect complement to his rye whiskey. After sampling more than 100 rums to find the perfect flavoring, the decision was unanimous among the team. They settled on casks used previously as a part of the 10-plus year-old bottling of Ferrand’s Plantation Rum XO 20th Anniversary release. However, this was not the casks’ first assignment. Originally, they were used as Cognac barrels, adding even more history and flavor to Angel Envy’s creation.

After aging the already-older-than-most rye for six years, it was moved to these Caribbean rum casks to age for an additional 18 months. This aging process in the rum casks really sets apart what would otherwise be a perfectly fine, middle of the pack rye whiskey.

The result is a crystal clear whiskey with a slight amber coloring. Mouthwatering scents of maple and brown sugar dominate the pour at an almost-but-not-quite overwhelming intensity, with hints of citrus, caramel, and spice underneath. The taste is slightly more conventional and controlled than the smell would suggest. The maple and brown sugar are still at the forefront, but better mixed with the rye base and mint, honey, and cinnamon flavors. Despite the bottle’s 100 proof, the finish is sweet, simple, and easy without being too drying.

Angel’s Envy Rye finished in Caribbean rum casks is a unique bottle, standing out in a saturated whiskey market. This dessert-like whiskey is perfect for special occasions like holiday parties, family gatherings, and more! Bring a bottle of this with you and you’re almost guaranteed to be everyone’s best friend at the party.

With only 30,000 bottles made so far, it could be tough to get your hands on. Use our Contact Us form to reserve a bottle…it’s up to you if you keep it for yourself or share with family and friends.

Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon

The Blanton family was one of the first families of bourbon history. In 1881, Albert Blanton was born into this family, putting him on the fast track to success in the industry. By the age of 16, he was working in the Distillery as an office boy and eventually worked his way up to become president of the company in 1921. He quickly became a pioneer in the development of bourbon. During his 31 years as president, Albert Blanton was able to expand the distillery from 44 buildings to 144 buildings, the largest distillery of its day.

This expansion wasn’t his only mark on the bourbon world during this reign as president. He also created his own very B_originallimited supply of bourbon, his private reserve. This bourbon was bottled for himself to enjoy along with his family and friends and important ambassadors and dignitaries. Albert Blanton spent countless hours tasting barrel after barrel until he found a pattern. He found that the best barrels came from the “center-cut” or middle sections of what is now Warehouse H. From then on, those were the only barrels he used for his single barrel bourbons.

Albert Blanton’s legacy lives on still today. In 1984, Blanton’s bourbon was the first-ever single barrel bourbon sold commercially. Still, only a handful of barrels annually from the center-cut of Warehouse H are selected to become Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon.

Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is reddish amber in color with a spicy aroma. The scents of dried citrus mixes perfectly with caramel and vanilla. The taste is sweet while still being full and soft. It is marked by a mix of burnt sugar, caramel, orange, and cloves making way for a balanced finish of vanilla and citrus.

Bottled at 93 proof, this bottle is truly something special. It has won internationally coveted awards, including a 2015 Gold Outstanding Medal from the International Wine & Spirits Competition and a 2015 Silver Medal from the New York Wine & Spirits Competition.

We want to help you get your hands on a bottle of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon! Contact us today to reserve yours today!

Jack Daniel’s Limited Edition–Frank Sinatra Century

Frank Sinatra was like no other. With his numerous hit songs and distinctive voice, he was one of the most influential musical artists of the 20th century. Even today, Sinatra is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 250 million records sold around the world. He has received 11 Grammy Awards and has even dabbled in acting, starring in 60 motion pictures. Frank Sinatra was truly one of a kind…and so is Frank Sinatra Century, the Limited Edition Jack Daniel’s release.

During the peak of his career, Sinatra toured around the world, playing concerts in London, Paris, and beyond. At these shows, it wasn’t uncommon for him to toast his audience with a glass of Jack Daniel’s. To honor his life, his music, and his dedication to the brand, Jack Daniel’s is celebrating his 100th birthday with this unique and desirable whiskey.

Jack Daniel’s has aged this whiskey in specially designed barrels containing deep groves inside. This allows the whiskey to have more contact with the layers of oak and adds to the complexity of flavors. Bottled at 100 proof, the whiskey itself is amber in color, with hues of deep orange. The smell is oaky with a pleasant smokiness while remaining sweet like honey and tropical fruits. The taste is refined and robust with complex notes of citrus and coconut mixing perfectly with those of spiced oak and soft smoke. The lingering taste of charred spice and ripe fruits will leave you wanting to take another sip.

As if the whiskey itself wasn’t enough, this limited edition release is encased in a unique collector’s box containing a hardbound book and a replica of Frank Sinatra’s tie clip. The box’s midnight blue coloring acknowledges Sinatra’s nickname “Ol’ Blue Eyes” while the book gives tribute to “the man, the music, and the whiskey”. The replica tie clip doubles as a USB containing a previously unreleased soundtrack of his 1966 concert at the Sands Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The soundtrack includes some of Sinatra’s greatest hits, including Fly Me To The Moon, It Was A Very Good Year, and My Kind Of Town.

According to Jack Daniel’s, Frank Sinatra Century is one of the most limited edition whiskeys they have ever released. With quantity limited and demand high, you don’t want to miss your chance at this bottle! Reserve yours today by using our Contact Us form! And don’t forget to visit the Jack Daniel’s website to register your bottle!

Pikesville Rye Whiskey

It used to be true that when one heard rye whiskey, they would immediately jump to Maryland Rye. The two were essentially synonymous. Some of the largest and most prestigious distillers were located in the state, dating all the way back to the 1700s. This was due in part to the large quantity of rye and wheat in the area as farmers planted these as cover crops for tobacco. These same farmers found it easier and more profitable to distill as opposed to ship the extra grain elsewhere.

The profitability of this industry led to the founding of L. Winn & Brothers Distillery. It was here in the 1890s that Pikesville Rye began being distilled. The brand was strong, until DSC04088__24984_zoomshattered by prohibition along with the rest of the Maryland Rye industry and reemerged after the ban. Now, Pikesville Rye is the last-standing brand from the Maryland Rye era.

After prohibition, Pikesville Rye was able to reestablish itself as a high-quality rye whiskey and continued distilling in Maryland. The distillery closed in 1972, but survived on existing whiskey stocks until 1982 when purchased by Heaven Hill, who moved the distillation process to Kentucky.

Among the whiskeys Pikesville Rye distills in Kentucky is the Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey. This whiskey is aged six years and bottled at 110 proof. Its coloring is a pale copper and smells of cocoa with oaky notes underneath mixing perfectly with green apple. The taste is dry and spicy with honey, rye, and cloves with a softer vanilla and spice finish. It bites your tongue immediately so there is no mistaking that this is a rye whiskey. The finish is slow to return, but is warm and steady with the honey and vanilla flavors continuing.

The Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey has won a Double Gold Award from the World Spirits Competition and Extraordinary and Ultimate Recommendation from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. This award-winning whiskey continues to live up to its honors.

Get a bottle today using our Contact Us form!

Macallan 25 Year Scotch Whiskey

Since its founding in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, Scotland, Macallan has built its reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. In order to maintain this reputation, The Macallan takes control of every step of the process—not just its distillation, even making the casks.

The Macallan buys only the best barrels made of sherry oak after a study proving that the casks used account for more than 60% of the final aromas and flavors. They spend countless hours and a small fortune in the sourcing, crafting, seasoning, and caring for their casks.
Macallan 25As for the product, The Macallan focuses on the “new make” spirit. Macallan has more than 40 farmers growing barley specifically to become Macallan whisky and distills their whisky in curiously small spirit stills. The unique size of these stills provides maximum contact between the whisky and the copper, giving it the rich, fruity, and full-bodied flavors that are characteristic of The Macallan.

These rich and fruity flavor are no exception in the Macallan 25 year scotch. With its bright amber coloring, it has a robust scent with orange, pear, and spicy notes that develop a smoky character. The taste is intense with flavors of coconut, vanilla, apricots, and lemon alongside hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, and honey. The finish is full and long, leaving oak, orange, and spicy flavors lingering.

The Macallan 25 year scotch has received a perfect 100 out of 100 scoring from the Beverage Testing Institute and Gold at the International Spirits Challenge. This makes it the perfect drink to take with you to your holiday parties! Your family and friends will love you for it!

Reserve yourself a bottle today by using our Contact Us form.

Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon

Evan Williams began distilling bourbon on the banks of the Ohio River in 1783. Little did he know at the time that this would lead to the crafting of a full family of bourbons, including the five-time Whiskey of the Year award-winning Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon.

Each year, the Master Distiller at Evan Williams Distillery hand selects the barrels that meet his exacting standards to be bottled as a single barrel bourbon. Each bottle is vintage dated with the year that it was placed in the barrel and the year it was bottled. Additionally, the bottles contain the exact serial number of the barrel from which the bourbon was taken.

This year, the bourbon is bottled at 86 proof and has a delicate amber gold coloring. Smells of dark caramel and charred wood entice you to take sip. At first, the bourbon contains maple syrup, vanilla and toffee notes which make room for a candied fruit, cinnamon spice, and refreshing mint taste. The finish is long, relaxed, and graceful.

While Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon can be enjoyed alone, it also mixes well as a part of these recipes.

TWIN PEAKS MANHATTAN

  • 1 1/2 oz. Evan Williams Single Barrel
  • 1/2 oz. Dubonnet Rouge
  • 1/4 oz. triple sec

Build and stir in cocktail glass or rocks glass over ice. Garnish with a cherry or lemon twist.

DIXIE TODDY

  • 3/4 oz. Evan Williams Single Barrel
  • 3/4 oz. apple liqueur
  • 5 oz. spiced cider

Pour all ingredients into a mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon is available at all locations, or you can reserve your bottle via our Contact Us form!

2015 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Old Forester is the longest-running bourbon brand on the market today. Since 1870, it has been continuously produced in the U.S., including through Prohibition when it was marketed as a medicinal product. To celebrate its founder, George Garvin Brown, the brand annually releases a limited edition bottle around his birthday, September 2nd. Now, the 2015 limited edition release is here and it’s even better than those in the past.

12049262_10153641050149287_4626671053312604773_nThis year makes the 14th straight year of the release of the birthday bourbon and the experience is obvious. In contrast with previous years, this release contains fewer sweet notes and more spice, creating an overall bolder pour. The Old Forester 2015 Birthday Bourbon is bottled from a single day of production (June 13, 2003) and was aged for 12 years in a single warehouse. During these 12 years, the barrels were placed directly next to windows and a heating duct, exposing the bourbon to unusually hot temperatures. This heat resulted in very intense wood-delivered characteristics dominating the palate.

With a medium amber coloring, Old Forester’s 2015 Birthday Bourbon is much less fruity than previous releases. Instead, the scent is that of toasted oak mixing with vanilla, burned caramel, and plenty of spices, namely cinnamon and clove. The warm spice taste is perfectly sweetened with hints of honey and creamy vanilla. The initial heat and spice dissolve quickly, making room for a long and sweet finish of caramel and hints of orange peel.

Just over 13,000 bottles of this unique bourbon were produced, making it a highly coveted find. You don’t want to miss your chance at acquiring one and we’re here to help. Stay tuned on our social media and check your email for information on how you can enter for the chance to win the right to purchase a bottle for yourself!

Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon

Yellowstone Bourbon has a lengthy history dating back to the late 1800s. At one time, the American whiskey brand was the largest selling brand out of Kentucky and was in association with legendary distiller J.B. Dant.

In 1993, Luxco, an alcohol distributor, took possession of Yellowstone. They never distilled the bourbon themselves, opting to simply buy in it in bulk & bottle it under the brand’s name. But now, Luxco has invested in half ownership of the Limestone Branch distillery, whose president and distiller, Steve Beam, happens to be a fourth generation descendent of J.B. Dant. Limestone Distillery has been assigned production of the Yellowstone brand and their first release is here! It is the Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon.

Yellowstone’s Limited Edition Bourbon is the perfect mix of a seven-year rye whiskey, a seven-year wheat whiskey, and a 12-year rye whiskey. Some of these whiskies were chill filtered while others weren’t and each brings a unique flavor to the mix. The result has great depth and complexity. To ensure greatness, Steve Beam hand-selected the barrels of 12-year bourbon that he thought would round-out the flavor profile, creating an experience for the drinker.

And he didn’t stop there. In order to maximize the flavor of this bourbon and ensure the three whiskies mixed perfectly together, Steve Beam removed the 12-year rye from its barrels and poured the seven-year bourbon in. This allowed the younger whiskey to pick up more mature flavors, like hints of cinnamon and caramel along with smoky notes.

Due to the historic ties between Limestone Distillery’s president and Yellowstone Bourbon and in honor of the 105th anniversary of his great-grandfather selling his Old Trump Distillery, Steve Beam opted to bottle this bourbon at 105 proof.

Yellowstone’s Limited Edition Bourbon pours with a dark, rich amber color and scents of sweet fig, cinnamon, vanilla, and oaked caramel. The taste is that of toffee, vanilla, and oak which makes way for a spicy finish containing notes of rye and cinnamon.

With just 6,000 bottles produced, this is truly a limited edition find. Make sure you don’t miss your chance! Reserve a bottle using our Contact Us form.

Russell’s Reserve Rye

Rye whiskey was America’s first indigenous whiskey style, but over the years, its popularity faded away. Until now. Rye whiskeys are back and are once again a hot topic in the whiskey market.

The use of rye adds a bold, spicy flavoring to the whiskey rather than the pure sweetness of a bourbon. In order to call a whiskey an American rye whiskey, it must be made with a mash containing no less than 51% rye. Since rye is not only expensive but also hard to use, many distillers use the minimum amount required…but not Wild Turkey. Wild Turkey’s Russell’s Reserve Rye is made with a mash that is 65% rye and aged for 6 years, giving it a complexity that is hard to come by.Image result for russell's reserve rye single barrelFrom the looks of it, Russell’s Reserve Rye is like any other whiskey with its coppery amber coloring. However, the taste sets it apart from the rest. Right away, it is clear Wild Turkey places a huge emphasis on their rye as the first sip tastes remarkably similar to rye bread. This flavor is joined by that of vanilla, caramel, and oak with just a hint of spice. The finish is long as the taste of caramel, dill, and of course rye mix and slowly fade.

Try these recipes to best experience what Russell’s Reserve Rye has to offer:

RUSSELL’S RESERVE MANHATTAN

  • 2 oz. Russell’s Reserve Rye
  • 1 ¼ oz. Southern Comfort
  • 1 oz. Sweet Vermouth
  • 1 dash of Angostura Bitters

Combine ingredients in a mixing glass filled with ice. Stir and strain into a chilled coupe. Garnish with three brandied cherries.

LA VINA

  • 1 oz. Russell’s Reserve Rye Whiskey
  • 1 oz. Amaro Nonino
  • 1 oz. Lustau East India Solera Sherry
  • 1 dash Regan’s Orange Bitters No. 6

Place all ingredients in a mixing glass. Add large ice cubes and stir. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with an orange peel.

Russell’s Reserve Rye Whiskey has a very limited availability. Use our Contact Us form to get yourself a bottle today!

Image result for russell's reserve rye single barrel

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep

Wild Turkey’s master distiller Jimmy Russell used to believe that bourbon is best when aged between 8 and 12 years, claiming that any longer and the bourbon loses its vanilla and caramel flavors. Well, it looks like he has changed his mind! Alongside his son, Eddie, he has released a new 17-year bourbon by the name of Master’s Keep.

Master’s Keep is the oldest bourbon that Wild Turkey has ever released to the American market. Originally distilled in 1996, Jimmy and Eddie were forced to place the barrels in a brick warehouse due to a shortage of space in their usual metal-sided warehouses. Over the years, the pair began to notice a different taste which they attributed to the lack of circulation and lower temperatures of the brick warehouse. Instead of dumping these barrels as a failure, they continued to allow the bourbon to age longer to what turned out to be near perfection.

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After 17 years, the father-son team discovered that unlike most bourbons, these barrels had lessened in proof over time. Bottled at a barrel-proof of around 87 proof, Master’s Keep still has the same light amber coloring and sour corn scent of the rest of Wild Turkey’s bourbons, but the difference is in the taste.

Proving himself wrong, Jimmy Russell’s Master’s Keep was able to maintain the caramel and vanilla taste throughout the aging process. These flavors mixing with honey, oak, and a chocolate bitterness make room for a slightly sour yet dry finish, setting it apart from other Wild Turkey bourbons.

Master’s Keep was released to the American market just last month! Request your bottle today by using our Contact Us form and be among the first to taste the newest Wild Turkey bourbon!

Hibiki Japanese Harmony

Founded in 1899, Suntory Whisky was founded with the desire to create a whisky embodying the true essence of Japanese nature. Over 100 years later, this blend has been released in the United States as the Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whisky.

img_hibiki01The Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whisky is a blend of the finest whiskies produced by the House of Suntory, each with at least 10 malts and grains with a variety of flavors and aromas that complement each other to perfection. With its amber color and hints of rosemary, fruitiness, and sandalwood in the aroma, this whisky will not disappoint. The flavor is a delicate mixture of honeylike sweetness, orange peel, and white chocolate, with a subtle spice that lingers, making you want to take another sip.

Earning many awards and honors, including the International Spirits Challenge Gold Award, Hibiki Harmony Japanese Whisky is held as one of the most prestigious whiskies in the world. Because of this, demand is high and the whisky can be very limited. Get your bottle today at our East Street store (3825 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227) or reserve it today by using our Contact Us form!

Slaughter House American Whiskey

Noted California winemaker David Phinney of Orin Swift Cellars is back with another release from his Splinter Group Spirits label. After spending 9 years in American oak, Slaughter House American Whiskey was further aged in Papillon barrels from Orin Swift wines.

SlaughterHouseBtlPhinney has a long history of winemaking at high-end wineries in Napa Valley including Opus One, Whitehall and Mondavi and started Orin Swift in 1998.  He and a few investors began Splinter Group Spirits and began consuming various spirits trying to figure out what they liked and decided to make bourbon their first release.  Straight Edge Bourbon was born and never one to sit still, Phinney knew he wanted to make a whiskey next.

As mentioned previously, Slaughter House American Whiskey was initially aged nine years in American oak before being finished in Orin Swift Papillion barrels which added perfumed aromatics and rounded out the Mouthfeel.  Papillion is Bordeaux blend whose components were sourced from a range of Napa Valley vineyards. The whiskey was then cut with water from a natural hillside spring found on Phinney’s property 2,000 feet above California’s Alexander Valley.

Slaughter House is intense and inviting with flavors of caramelized sugar, baking spices, dark fruits, butterscotch and vanilla notes. The palate is smooth, rich and layered. The finish is impressive with honey, toast and loads of caramel.

You can find Slaughter House American Whiskey at all Payless Liquors locations or you can reserve your bottle by using our Contact Us form on our website.

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