Old Forester King Ranch Edition Bourbon Now in Texas

Folks in Texas will now be able to sample the result of a partnership between two eight-generation families in the bourbon and ranching businesses. Old Forester Bourbonand King Ranch are teaming up to offer a limited-edition bourbon, only available in the Lone Star State. 

The King Ranch covers 825,000 acres in South Texas.

From the news release: “Bottled at 105 proof from a proprietary batch of Old Forester Bourbon using heavily charred barrels, the bourbon is finished through King Ranch mesquite charcoal. The charcoal was created from mesquite trees harvested from the ranch. The process brings a touch of Texas and helps highlight the bold flavor notes in this new bourbon.”

The Old Forester King Ranch Edition bourbon is bottled at 105 proof and will retail for $69.99.

Maybe they’ll call this “The South Texas Method.”

Lux Row Unveils Old Ezra Rye Whiskey

What’s new from  Lux Row Distillers this week? A limited release of Old Ezra 7-Year Straight Rye Whiskey.

The new addition to the Ezra Brooks family is charcoal filtered. The new whiskey comes in two rye mash bills (51 percent rye and 95 percent rye).

Bottled at 114 proof, Old Ezra will retail for $79.99 (750 ml) around the country. 

Campari Group Acquires Majority of  Wilderness Trail Distillery

Campari Group, a major player on the global spirits scene based in Italy, continues to be wild about bourbon. The group announced it now has a 70 percent stake in Wilderness Trail Distillery for $600 million. Campari Group acquired the Wild Turkey brand and distillery in 2008.

Wild about bourbon, indeed.

Wilderness Trail Distillery was launched ten years ago in Danville, Kentucky by Shane Baker and Dr. Pat Heist. Campari Group describes Wilderness Trail Distillery as a “‘premium craft distillery’ with a clear focus on making the highest quality bourbon and rye whiskey.”

Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Makes 11th Annual Appearance

For the eleventh year, Angel’s Envy has rolled out its Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon finished in port wine barrels from Portugal. A limited release of just under 17,000 barrels is available at select stores nationwide for a retail price of $229 (750 ml).

Angel’s Envy describes the 119.8 proof bourbon as offering “hints of leather, brown sugar and caramel on the nose, followed by crème brûlée and marshmallow with notes of green apple and orange.”

Basil Hayden Red Wine Cask Finish Debuts Next Week

Wonder how Basil Hayden high-rye bourbon would taste with bourbon partially aged in California red wine casks? 

You can find out starting next Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. That’s when Basil Hayden Red Wine Case Finish goes on sale at the American Stillhouse on the James B. Beam Distilling Co.campus in Clermont, Kentucky.