Bourbon News for January 10, 2025

Welcome to my first biweekly Distillery and Bourbon News Newsletter of 2025! I wish you all the best in the New Year, and I am glad you are joining me again! Things are starting to pick up, so there are a few new news stories this week and a couple of new bourbon releases. Without further ado, let’s get on with the Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025!

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Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

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Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

But First, Here’s What’s New on BourbonObsessed.com!

Before we get on with the news, I would like to share some of my latest bourbon reviews, as well as an article about our recent visit to the American Prohibition Museum.

• Over Christmas, we spent some time with family in Savannah, GA, and took some time to visit the American Prohibition Museum. It’s the first and only museum in the United States dedicated to the history of Prohibition. This fascinating museum delves into the era of the 18th Amendment, when the production and sale of alcohol were outlawed in the United States from 1920 to 1933. It has interactive exhibits, artifacts, and immersive displays, and even a speakeasy! We very much enjoyed our visit, and you can read all about it in our American Prohibition Museum Review!
• Ray Marcano, from The Bourbon Resource, reviewed Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon. The name and story behind the bourbon are deeply rooted in the historic mission of the “Horse Soldiers,” a team of elite Green Berets who were deployed to Afghanistan on horseback shortly after the 9/11 attacks. I won’t spoil the surprise (too much), but he enjoyed this bourbon’s potpourri of flavors. Learn more in his Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey Review!
• AJ Schreiner Heritage Rye truly has a unique history. I know, I know; you’ve heard that before. However, in this case, it is the real deal. AJ Schreiner was a renowned distiller in pre-Prohibition times. And, as it turns out, he took extensive notes during his career. Many years later, five of his notebooks were passed down to his great-great-grandson, Ken Schreiner, who wanted to pay homage to his ancestor’s legacy. Their first whiskey release was created to mirror the essence of its namesake’s pre-prohibition rye. To achieve that goal, the founders partnered with Alan Bishop, who serves as their master distiller and blender. For those who are not familiar with Alan, he is a renowned spirits historian and expert on classic distilling techniques. I had the opportunity to try this rye, and really enjoyed it. You can read all about it in my AJ Schreiner Heritage Rye Review!
• Wheel Horse Double Oak Bourbon was distilled at Green River Distilling, then aged for more than four years. It was subsequently transferred to char level 1 barrels made from staves which had undergone extensive air seasoning. After a little more than 6 months of additional aging in those barrels, the bourbon was dumped, blended and bottled, without chill-filtering. It’s flavors are a bit atypical for a double oaked bourbon, but are quite enjoyable. Learn all about it in my Wheel Horse Double Oak Bourbon Review!
• Ass Pocket Whiskey Holiday Proof Bourbon is the second release from this bourbon brand created by renowned guitarist Derek Trucks. Similar to the first release, it is a 10 year age stated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. However, it differs in that it is bottled at barrel proof. All Ass Pocket whiskeys come in 200ml bottles, which are intended to fit comfortably in their namesake pocket. I was not ecstatic about the first release, but that all changed with this second release, which I like very much. Learn more in my full Ass Pocket Whiskey Holiday Proof Bourbon Review!
• Copper and Cask is a brand that I knew nothing about, up until a couple of weeks ago. They are an independent bottler that specializes in single barrel expressions. However, they also produce limited edition small batch whiskeys, such as Copper and Cask Double Oak Bourbon. It’s a marriage of 20 barrels, all aged at least 8 years and then batched and re-barreled in both new and used charred barrels for finishing. It’s an enjoyable mix of fruit candy, hot cinnamon spice, some confectionary notes, dry oak and mild barrel char, with hints of mesquite smoke. Learn all about it in my Copper and Cask Double Oak Bourbon Review!
• Hidden Barn Slow Fade Batch Bourbon is the 10th release in Hidden Barn’s “Series 1”. Like all Series 1 releases, it was distilled at Neeley Family Distillery and blended by Jackie Zykan. Slow Fade is a 12 barrel blend of 5-6 year old barrels distilled from Neeley’s flagship bourbon mash bill. It’s got the full and rich pot still flavors that I so enjoy from Neeley bourbons! Read all about it in my Hidden Barn Slow Fade Bourbon Review!

Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

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Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

Now, on to the news!

We’ve got quite a few interesting news stories this week, including two about bourbon and your health. Read on to learn about them all!

Bourbon and Distillery News:

• Redwood Empire Whiskey announced the acquisition of Savage & Cooke Distillery. While increasing production capacity was part of the goal of the purchase, they are also acquiring Savage & Cooke’s spirits brand assets, a barrel room, tasting room, speakeasy bar, eatery and private event space. Redwood Empire’s new distillery is housed in two historic brick buildings on Mare Island, a former Naval base located just north of San Francisco. The Redwood team hopes to transition to their new home by late 2025. During the transition period, the distillery and restaurant will remain open for tours and tastings.
• Golden Sheaf Whiskey Co has been sold to private investors. The brand was founded by David Mark Young, who revived the historic brand, which was originally established in 1866, but shut down in 1920. He combined traditional techniques with modern and innovative blending practices to create his whiskeys. David already has his next venture in the works, which he says “will be epic for the spirits industry…specifically whiskey enthusiasts.” Press Release (via Facebook)
• There have been two related, but a bit contradictory, statements about alcoholic beverages and health released in the past couple of weeks. The first is the Review of Evidence on Alcohol and Health published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Requested by Congress, the report is intended to inform the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The committee that wrote the report examined evidence on the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and eight specific health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and certain types of cancer. They first evaluated the existing evidence and then conducted systemic reviews for each health outcome. While they did find that the available evidence base regarding alcohol and health is imperfect, they were able to draw some conclusions. You can read a nice summary of their study and conclusions here.
• The second statement seems to have gained much more publicity. The US Surgeon General issued an advisory on alcohol related cancer risk. It states that there is a direct link between alcohol consumption and certain increased cancer risks. “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.” He calls for a cancer related warning to be added to labels of alcoholic beverages, amongst other actions. You can read a summary and find the link to the full report and infographics here.
• New Riff Distilling has announced that their spirits will now be available in all 50 states! The new states being added are: Alabama, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. The roll-out will happen throughout 2025, and will initially include only their core lineup. New Riff whiskeys are also able to be shipped to certain states. Press Release.

Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

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Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

New Bourbon and Other Whiskey Releases:

This is generally a slow time of year for new releases, so there are only a couple:

• Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Volume VI is the latest in this limited release series. It is a blend of 12-, 13- and 14-year-old wheated bourbons finished in Limousin Oak cigar barrels, which are said to provide more whiskey to wood-to-surface contact for more pronounced flavor notes. It is presented in a ceramic bottle that features one of Bob Dylan’s paintings from his Brazil Series. Interestingly, its suggested price is $100 less than last year’s Bootleg Series release, although the price is still in the “super premium” range. 121.16 Proof. $499.99. Press Release.
• Old Forester 1924 Bourbon returns for 2025. This will be the second year for this 10 year old limited edition member of Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series. In addition to being the only member of the series to be age-stated and with limited availability, 1924 also uses a different mash bill than the other Old Forester bourbons. I really enjoyed this release last year and am looking forward to trying this year’s release. 100 Proof. $119.99. Press Release.

Distillery & Bourbon News For January 10, 2025

Well, that’s it! I hope you have enjoyed this week’s Bourbon News! If you would like our bourbon and distillery news delivered directly to your inbox, please sign up for our newsletter here. You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook. I hope you have a great weekend, and stay safe with all of the crazy weather and fires that we are having. We’ll see you again in two weeks! ! Cheers!🥃

If you would like to read some of my other recent newsletters, then check out my Bourbon News for December 27, 2024 and my Bourbon News for December 13, 2024. You can also head over to the Newsletter Archive to see all the prior editions.

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us? If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!