News Briefs for March 21, 2024
March 21, 2024•Aberfeldy single malt Scotch whisky, part of the Bacardi portfolio, has partnered with Argentinian vintner Finca Ambrosia on its latest cask finished release: 21 year old Malbec Cask Finished single malt Scotch. Distilled on November 14, 2001, and matured for just over 20 years in Sherry and Bourbon re-fill barrels and hogsheads, it’s finished for around eight months in the winery’s Malbec French oak wine casks. Aberfeldy 21 year old Malbec Cask Finish is bottled at 46% abv and is non-chill-filtered, with a suggested retail price of $280. It’s available in the U.S., the U.K., and other international markets, and at Aberfeldy’s gift shop. Whisky Advocate has more.
•California-based importer the Unfiltered Collection has launched 9diDante Paradiso, a rosé vermouth. The vermouth’s wine base is made from Piedmont DOC Cortese (88%) and Nebbiolo (12%) grapes infused with a proprietary blend of 27 botanicals and bottled at 18% abv. Paradiso carries a suggested price of $35 a bottle and is rolling out now in Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Vermont through Monsieur Touton. In California, the brand will be available through Southern Glazer’s with more states on the horizon.
•Scotch whisky player Compass Box has announced Celestial, the final bottling in the company’s Extinct Blends Quartet series. The 50% abv whisky, according to the company, is the peatiest of the four releases and includes malts sourced from Ardbeg and Caol Ila, among other distilleries. Celestial will launch in the U.S. on April 4 for a suggested price of $375 a 700-ml. bottle. Only 5,532 bottles will be released worldwide.
•Fifco USA has launched a new variety pack for Seagram’s Escapes featuring four “Jamaican” flavors. All four flavors in the Jamaican Me Happiness pack are at 3.2% abv and come in 12-ounce cans or 11.2-ounce bottles. The flavors include the brand’s most popular release Jamaican Me Happy, as well as three new offerings: Jamaican Me Smile (orange flavored), Jamaican Me Glow (passionfruit), and Jamaican Me Sunny (pineapple). The variety pack is now available across the U.S. with Jamaican Me Sunny and Jamaican Me Happy also available in 7.5-ounce cans.
•Penelope Bourbon, part of MGP’s branded portfolio, has announced the return of Rio, an annual release. This year’s iteration carries a suggested price of $90 a bottle with 5,000 6-packs released. The Bourbon is bottled at 49% abv and made from a mashbill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. After the whiskey’s initial maturation, Rio finishes in American oak honey barrels and new Brazilian Amburana barrels with the total finishing time lasting around two years. Penelope Rio is rolling out now and will be available across the U.S. Penelope grew 64% to 53,000 9-liter cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.
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