This Week’s New Whisky Releases

This week the new whisky releases include:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Heaven Hill has released a new batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof…and Batch B523 is different from all of the previous batches in that it’s not at least 12 years old. 

Heaven Hill has added an age statement to the bottle for this and all future batches. B523 is 11 years and 5 months old, but don’t look at this as a sign that Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is getting younger. Heaven Hill says the September batch will be 13 years old.

Dalmore King Alexander III

The Dalmore is out with its latest version of the King Alexander III travel retail exclusive single malt. As with the previous King Alexander editions, it’s the only six-cask finish single malt in the world.

The Drinks Business reports it’ll be available at airport shops starting in July. 

Highland Park Cask Strength

Highland Park is out with its fourth Cask Strength release, Each one is different from the previous versions, and this one uses first-fill ex-port wine hogsheads in the cask mix along with first-fill Sherry seasoned, ex-Bourbon, and refill casks. 

It’s available now through the Highland Park website and the distillery shop in Kirkwall, Orkney for 80 pounds a bottle. There is no word on U-S availability yet. 

Douglas Laing and Company’s The Smokehouse Edition

Douglas Laing and Company has unveiled this year’s Big Peat Feis Ile bottling. The Smokehouse Edition is finished in red wine casks, and is the first Big Peat expression to be finished in wine casks. It’ll be available at whisky shops in the U-K, Europe, and Asia with a recommended retail price of 65 pounds a bottle. 

Still Waldos Single Malt Whiskey

Lagunitas Brewing and California’s Griffo Distillery have teamed up on a special edition of “Still Waldos” single malt whiskey. Griffo took Lagunitas’s unhopped Waldos Ale mash and infused it with hops before distilling it three years ago.

It’s available only in California through the Griffo web site.

Alternative Takes Volume 4

On the East Coast, Delaware’s Dogfish Head Brewing and Distilling is out with Alternate Takes Volume 4. It takes Dogfish Head’s standard American Single Malt and finishes it in a combination of Oloroso Sherry and Samuel Adams Utopias barrels that were used to barrel age the high-end beer. 

It’s available in limited amounts in the mid-Atlantic region. There’s no word on pricing. 

The JRNY

Finally, with the Stanley Cup playoffs in full swing, Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Pronger and his brother Sean have teamed up with Niagara Falls Craft Distillers on a new Canadian whisky.

The JRNY is meant to signify the journeys we all go through, and carries Chris Pronger’s number 44 on the label.

It’s available starting this month in the St. Louis area for around 25 dollars a bottle. Chris Pronger is the former captain of the St. Louis Blues, and lives in the area. Expanded distribution to other states and Canadian provinces is planned in the coming months.