Aberfeldy Wine Cask Series Bolgheri, Jack Daniel's Tanyard Hill Rye, & More New Whiskey

After several high-octane weeks, where the pace of new releases seldom faltered, we have a quieter week here, with just five new whiskies. Aberfeldy, the sole new scotch, has continued its exploration of wine casks, releasing a 15 year old single malt finished in Bolgheri red wine barrels. In Tennessee, Jack Daniel Distillery has added another whiskey to its coveted Single Barrel Special Release Series, this one a rye. Kentucky is well represented with five new whiskeys: three are from Beam, which has launched the latest terroir-driven series under its Hardin's Creek label; another comes from blender Frank August, which has a new Case Study bourbon; and the last is a blend of bourbons and ryes from independent bottler High n' Wicked.

Aberfeldy 15 year old Bolgheri Red Wine Cask Finish Highland Single Malt Scotch

ABV: 46%
SRP: $85
Availability: Limited; specialist retailers; imported by Bacardi

Tuscany is known for its breathtaking landscapes of rolling hills and cypress-lined roads, world-renowned vineyards, and rich Renaissance history. South of Pisa lies the Bolgheri DOC on the Tuscan coast, which is best known for its Super Tuscan wines. This region inspired malt master Stephanie Macleod to create the next addition to the Aberfeldy Wine Cask Finish series. Aged 15 years, the whisky was finished in Bolgheri wine casks for 2 years after an initial maturation in refill casks and hogsheads.

To date, the Aberfeldy wine cask series has scored well with our tasting panel, receiving 93 points for the Aberfeldy 18 year old French red wine cask finish, 92 points for the Aberfeldy 18 year old Cabernet Sauvignon Wine Cask Finish from Napa Valley, and 91 points for the Aberfeldy Argentinian Malbec Wine Cask Finish.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release: Tanyard Hill Rye

ABV: 65.1%–74.4%
SRP: $80
Availability: Limited, nationwide

The Single Barrel Special Release Series houses some of Jack Daniel’s most sought-after expressions, including Heritage Barrel Tennessee whiskey (now a core-range offering), Twice Barreled Heritage Rye, and the cult-classic hazmat Coy Hill Tennessee whiskey. The latest entry is a sibling of sorts to Coy Hill, representing a hazmat-proof rye that was aged in Warehouse 101 on Tanyard Hill.

Tanyard Hill is on the west side of the Jack Daniel campus, to the southwest of the now-famous Coy Hill. Here lie four of the distillery’s oldest-standing rickhouses, Warehouses 101 through 104, all of which were built in the 1960s and are seven stories high. The newcomer (which has the same mashbill as Jack’s other ryes) was aged for 10 years on the very top floor, experiencing wide temperature swings. Because this release is both a single barrel and cask strength, there’s a natural ABV variance from bottle to bottle, with proof points between 130.2 and 148.8 proof. Around 15,000 bottles were produced.

Hardin’s Creek The Warehouse Series Bourbons

ABV: 55%
SRP: $150 each
Availability: Limited

Hardin’s Creek, one of Beam’s sister labels that focuses on experimentation, continues its study of Kentucky terroir with The Warehouse Series. This is a trio of new bourbons that have identical mashbills, age statements (11 years old), and proof points (55% ABV). The key difference between them is where they were aged, at one of three warehouses located on Beam’s Clermont Campus. Each one has a slightly different label to help tell them apart:

• The Mushroom was aged in Warehouse R, an uncommon single-story rickhouse with no windows, that the brand says is cool and dark.
• The Beaver was aged in Warehouse W, a nearly century-old five-story rickhouse that, located near a creek, is fairly humid and damp.
• The Owl was aged in Warehouse G, an unusually tall nine-story rickhouse that looms over the campus. Beam fans may recognize this warehouse for the role it plays in the Booker’s label, with Warehouse G liquid popping up in expressions like Barry’s Batch, The Reserves, By The Pond, Springfield Batch, and others.

Frank August Case Study 06: Legacy Reserve Six Barrel Batch Bourbon

ABV: 54.62%
SRP: $125
Availability: In retailers across 17 states

Kentucky blending house Frank August has released the sixth entry in its Case Study series, which focuses on different aspects of the production process. This one centers on age, representing a blend of six barrels aged 8, 9, and 10 years old. These stocks come from three undisclosed distilleries in Kentucky, with each distillery having two barrels in the blend.

High n’ Wicked Warlander Blend of Straights

ABV: 49.5%
SRP: $55
Availability: Limited

Since its debut in 2019, Altamar Brands-owned independent bottler High n’ Wicked has focused primarily on straight ryes and bourbons, as well as single grain and single malt Irish whiskey. With Warlander, the brand is branching out and dabbling in its first blend. The new whiskey is a melding of 3 and 4 year old Kentucky straight ryes and high-rye straight bourbons. After blending, the whiskey was put into a combination of bourbon and rye barrels and finished for 2 months. The label’s artwork is by artist and professional skier Chris Benchetler; it features a fiery horse, a nod to the breed the whiskey is named for.