The Greatest New Whiskeys to Drink This July

Welcome again to our month-to-month information to all one of the best new whisk(e)y. For July, Hakata debuts a novel line of Japanese whiskies whereas Bib & Tucker crafts the perfect summer time BBQ bourbon.

Simply the second age-statement launch from this NY craft distillery — celebrating its twentieth anniversary this 12 months — this launch is pot-distilled from a mash of 95% corn and 5% malted barley sourced from native household farmers within the Hudson Valley. Coming in at 46% ABV, this one is stuffed with buttery caramel corn, vanilla, citrus, orange zest and even a cashew/nutty character. Enjoyable truth: This one can be kosher-certified and accessible as a part of Hudson’s Single Barrel Program.

A brand new whisky, distilled and matured in Fukuoka, Japan and hailing from the Hikari Distillery (est. 1912), Hakata’s expressions are all distilled from 100% barley and aged in sherry casks. The launch vary consists of 10-, 12-, 16- and 18-year-old bottles. The twist right here is {that a} fraction of that hardly mashbill is fermented with Koji, which is meant to impart an umami ingredient — which it actually does. These bottles (even the ten) are very darkish in shade and there’s a pronounced savory/meaty observe right here, one which appears to flourish, not diminish, with age. That is kind of just like the funky rum or mezcal of Japanese whisky…it appears ultimate for distinctive meals pairings or cocktails that lean into the savory character.

The northeastern Scottish distillery has introduced The Coastal Sequence, a group of 4 new whiskies matured in numerous “seaside” casks; the primary within the restricted sequence is an expression created with Pineau des Charentes casks. So what occurs when a Scotch, which begins out in ex-bourbon barrels, interacts with barrels that after held a lesser-known French aperitif? You get a decidedly sweeter observe that balances out the briny and meatier notes of the Outdated Pulteney but in addition accentuates the undercurrent of butterscotch, orange and vanilla.

The most recent ultra-rare expression from this James B. Beam Distilling Co. line is definitely a three-part launch: These 17-year-old bourbons (Clermont, Frankfort, Boston) all characteristic the identical mashbill and have been laid down on the similar time, however are differentiated by the place on the Beam campus the barrels have been aged. We will’t evaluate all three but — Clermont is out now, whereas Frankfort and Boston comply with in August and September, respectively — however the preliminary launch (55% ABV) is a spicy quantity, that includes notes of sawdust, tobacco, burnt caramel and vanilla. Add a little bit of water and let this sit for a bit. 

You not often discover peated whiskies this previous — that’s what the Benriach workforce advised me in 2021 when discussing their peated 21, 25 and 30-year releases. However they saved going: The Scottish Speyside distillery’s new 40-12 months-Outdated Peated Malt Scotch Whisky encompasses a whisky aged in a mixture of bourbon and port casks. With an inventory value of $4,500, this one’ll be a tough one to seek out, but it surely’s price it — that is wealthy with a creamy mouthfeel and notes of cherry, tobacco, chocolate and walnut. The smoke is current however modest. 

And 5 extra…

• Portland’s Westward newest launch for its Westward Whiskey Membership members — accessible as a direct-to-consumer membership in 35 states and permits entry to restricted releases — is Two Malts, which encompasses a mashbill of 12% malted rye together with their Pacific Northwest grown and malted barley. The nutty rye spice is highly effective however comes with a number of citrus.
• To rejoice attaining 100% solar energy on its Vermont farm, WhistlePig just lately got here out with a limited-edition mix referred to as SummerStock and teamed up with Pit Viper for a pair of customized sun shades. Ignoring the, uh, purposely retro shades, this mix of rye and wheat whiskey was completed in an uncommon toasted barrel “solara” technique, which they describe as “ reimagining the standard solera technique with ranges of toasted barrels – together with ones fairly actually toasted by the solar.” The whiskey itself? It’s a mellower rye, with hints of orange peel, oak, baking spices and cinnamon.
• Colorado’s 291 now has a “wheated bourbon experiment” referred to as E Colorado Whiskey Batch 12. Using two completely different mashbills, Batch 12 — which seems to be a distillery unique — is a four-grain wheater and the distillery’s first wheated bourbon since 2013. Coming in at 121.6 proof, this one has a number of graham cracker, cinnamon, marshmallow, mint and marzipan. 
• Bib & Tucker simply launched a Double Char Bourbon, a bourbon aged six years in new white American oak adopted by 5 in a closely charred and sugar maple smoked new barrel (it additionally undergoes the Lincoln County course of the place the liquid is filtered via sugar maple charcoal earlier than going into the barrels for growing old). This can be a smoky candy BBQ in a bottle, with an underlying savory/meatiness and a good quantity of wooden spice.
• Batch Proof 124.7 (named after its proof) is a part of Woodford Reserve‘s annual limited-edition Grasp’s Assortment sequence. Right here, the distillery blends barrels right into a batch after which bottles the whiskey at its precise proof. There’s a number of fruit and wooden spice right here, however even on the elevated proof that is as clean as it’s strong.