World Whisky Day

Balcones Baby Blue

In less than 10 years since opening in 2009, Balcones has emerged rapidly on the whisky scene, named for the Balcones Fault that runs near Waco. Awarded the best American craft whisky distillery in 2016, the distillery sought to make a uniquely Texan expression of whisky in copper pot stills and has earned many industry awards. The Balcones Baby Blue is their flagship, derived from the blue corn native to the state. Balcones and founder Chip Tate parted ways in 2014 amid great contention, yet the creativity and commitment of the distillery appears undiminished as their offerings expand.

By Adam | November 13, 2018 | Foreign | No Comments |

While not known for whisky on the international stage, South Africa has been the home of wine, gin, and beer for a great many years. The James Sedgwick distillery was founded in 1853 in Wellington but didn’t start to gain more attention until former English cricketer Andy Watts was made Master Distiller in 1991. Having trained at distilleries in Scotland, he saw the potential to further develop the distillery’s existing brand, Three Ships, throughout the 90s and early 2000’s. He launched Bain’s Cape Mountain in 2009, a single grain whisky made from South African maize. Named after Andrew Geddes Bain, Andy helped introduce South African whisky to the wider world. Thanks Andy!

By Adam | October 30, 2018 | Foreign | No Comments |

Masataka Taketsuru founded Nikka Whisky in 1934, fifteen years after traveling to Scotland to learn about whisky production. Nikka’s first distillery was in Yoichi and the company now owns seven distilleries. The Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries are where malt distilling takes place and the Nikka Taketsuru, named after the company’s founder, combines single malts from both locations. Nikka currently makes several No Age Statement kinds of whiskies around a similar price point, along with a few more expensive age statement whiskies.

By Adam | October 2, 2018 | Foreign | No Comments |

World Whisky Day

Balcones Baby Blue

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky

Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt