News Briefs for July 18, 2025
July 18, 2025•Foley Family Wines & Spirits-owned Minden Mill Distilling is launching its Single Estate Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey nationally. The 94-proof, non-chill filtered four-year-old whiskey is made from grains harvested from local fields cultivated and overseen by Minden Mill, and distilled at its estate distillery. The new rye is made by master distiller Joe O’Sullivan from a mash bill of 80% rye, 10% soft white wheat, and 10% estate-malted barley. Retailing at $45, it joins a Minden Mill single estate whiskey portfolio that also includes an American Single Malt Whiskey and a Nevada Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
•Ste Michelle Wine Estates is launching Estival, dedicated to aromatic white wines from the Columbia Valley region of Washington State. The first release is a Sauvignon Blanc sourced from the Horse Heaven Hills sub-AVA. The brand’s name is rooted in the Latin notion of “hibernating in summer,” according to the company. The first vintage of Estival is rolling out now in limited quantities and will be targeted to top restaurants across the country.
•Suntory Global Spirits’ Islay Scotch brand Laphroaig has launched the 2025 edition of Càirdeas, an annual limited edition from the distillery. This year’s version, Lore Cask Strength, is bottled at 59.6% abv and blends whiskies aged in five different casks, including ex-Bourbon, European oak casks, and ex-Oloroso Sherry casks. The limited release carries a suggested price of $110 and is now available in across the U.S.
•Beringer Vineyards, part of Treasury Wine Estates, has named Margo Van Staaveren director of winemaking. Van Staaveren comes to the new role with “45 harvests to her name,” says the company, and will steward the winery through its 150th anniversary next year. In addition to overseeing winemaking at Beringer, Van Staaveren is also Treasury’s director of winemaking, North Coast, covering Beaulieu Vineyard, Frank Family Vineyards, and Stags’ Leap Winery, among others. Last year, luxury-level Beringer Knights Valley was up 6.3% to 67,000 cases in the U.S., according to Impact Databank.
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