By Susannah Skiver Barton
This week brings an array of expressions, from bourbon, rye, and Canadian whisky to single malts from Ireland and Scotland—plus a whiskey liqueur, since it’s the holiday season and even die-hard whisky lovers enjoy a sweet treat from time to time.
Bushmills 16 year old and 21 year old single malts
Style: Irish single malt whiskey
Proof: 40% ABV
Price: $70 (16 year old), $121 (21 year old)
Release: December
Availability: Widely available, but in limited amounts
Need to know: Both whiskeys are triple-distilled, and both are aged in bourbon and oloroso sherry casks before undergoing secondary maturation. The 16 year old is married for nine months in port pipes, while the 21 year old spends two years in madeira casks.
Whisky Advocate says: Though technically not new products, Bushmills only releases these whiskeys once a year, and fans will want to snap them up quickly.
Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
Style: Straight rye whiskey
Proof: Varies—around 55.5 to 56% ABV
Price: $74
Release: December
Availability: Limited amounts for Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C., with permanent availability at the distillery once it’s open
Need to know: Sagamore Spirit released its first whiskey—a 41.5% ABV rye sourced from MGP—in May 2016, and this is the cask-strength version, aged over three years. The company is building a distillery in Baltimore’s Port Covington neighborhood.
Whisky Advocate says: Sagamore Spirit founder Kevin Plank is better known as the creator of Under Armour. He intends to shift production of the whiskey from MGP to the new distillery once it’s open, and in fact, former MGP master distiller Larry Ebersole has been consulting on the project.
Firestone & Robertson TX Straight Bourbon
Style: Straight bourbon
Proof: 45% ABV
Price: $50
Release: December
Availability: Limited; available at the distillery and select Dallas/Fort Worth retailers
Need to know: Aged four and a half years, this bourbon is made with corn and wheat grown in-state, and the distillery cultivated a wild yeast strain from a pecan tree located in Glen Rose, Texas.
Whisky Advocate says: Firestone & Robertson has previously released a blended whiskey made with sourced product. This is the distillery’s first whiskey made entirely in-house.
Glynnevan Cabot Triple Barrelled Canadian Rye Whisky
Style: Canadian
Proof: 45% ABV
Price: $55 (Canadian)
Release: December
Availability: Nova Scotia initially, with broader distribution in 2017
Need to know: This whisky is sourced from elsewhere in Canada and finished in barrels that previously held Fortress Caribbean rum.
Whisky Advocate says: Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company claims this is Canada’s only triple-barreled whisky. The company also offers Glynnevan Double Barrelled Canadian Rye Whisky.
Bowmore 1961 50 year old
Style: Single malt Scotch whisky
Proof: 40.7% ABV
Price: $23,000
Release: December
Availability: 50 bottles for the world
Need to know: This is the final release in Bowmore’s 1961 batch, but don’t fret: it’s also the first of a new six-part 50 year old collection. Bowmore will release a new 50 year old bottling each year for the next six years, starting with this one.
Whisky Advocate says: The price tag isn’t for the faint of heart, but when we last reviewed this whisky in the Spring 2014 Buying Guide, it was even higher. The whisky also scored a 95—one of many scores in the mid-to-high 90s for 1960s Bowmore—so for some, it may be worth the coin.
And because ‘tis the season…
Kerrygold Irish Cream Liqueur
Style: Irish whiskey liqueur
Proof: 17% ABV
Price: $25
Release: December
Availability: Widely available in 17 states
Need to know: Kerrygold is well known for its butter and other dairy products, so it makes sense that if they were to get into spirits, it would be with a cream liqueur. This one includes Irish cream, chocolate, and Irish whiskey.
Whisky Advocate says: Okay, it’s not a whiskey, but who doesn’t love an indulgent treat at this time of year? Splash some in your coffee or pour it over ice cream—trust us, you’ll enjoy it.
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