Whiskey – Pennsy Local

August 25, 2021August 25, 2021

Wigle Wipes Up at 2021 American Craft Spirits Association Awards

Wigle Whiskey won 40, yes FORTY awards at the virtual 2021 American Craft Spirits Association Awards show last night. That includes six bronze medals, 17 silver medals and a gold in the Whiskey category alone.

But Wigle Whiskey wasn’t the only winner for the evening. Manatawny Still Works took home six medals including three silvers for whiskey. Revivalist Spirits made a solid showing with five medals and Washington County’s Liberty Pole Spirits added three medals to Pennsylvania’s medal count.

Delaware saw multiple medals from Dogfish Head Distillery and Painted Stave Distilling.

More analysis to follow.

December 18, 2020

Kinsey Introduces Winter Whiskey

One of the more welcome trends of 2020 is definitely “Winter Whiskey.” A whiskey blended with warming spices suitable as a reward for shoveling snow, settling in by a fire, or simply with a couch and NetFlix.

Bluebird Distilling launched their Winter Whiskey with spices and brown sugar on Black Friday. Liberty Pole Spirits offers a Winter seasonal of their rye whiskey spiced with cinnamon, allspice, orange peel and then sweetened with a touch of brown sugar simple syrup. The spirits are a nod to the Pennsylvania Coal Country’s Boilo, itself a riff on a Lithuanian liqueur flavored with citrus fruits, herbs, spices, honey and ginger.

Now, New Liberty Distilling has announced and released its own limited release Kinsey Winter Whiskey. The spirit’s base is Kinsey’s American Whiskey and then has tea and mulling spices added, as well as a touch of honey, promising a warming sip with a pleasantly sweet finish. 750 ml bottles weigh in at 86.8 proof and are available for $27.99 each for pickup and delivery.

November 20, 2020November 24, 2020

Bluebird Drops Two Spirits for Black Friday

This year has seen the disruption of way too many traditions and norms. So we’re happy to report that Bluebird Distilling is holding on to their Black Friday tradition of releasing two new spirits on Friday, November 27. For the sixth year, the Phoenixville distillery is kicking off the holiday season with special releases.

At 9 am, Bluebird will begin selling its Winter Whiskey and Barrel Proof Straight Rye. The Winter Whiskey takes the distillery’s Four Grain Bourbon, adds a pinch of brown sugar and a blend of winter spices. Winter Whiskey is described as having “warm notes of vanilla, baking spices, orange zest and toffee fill every sip.”

For customers looking for a more straight ahead whiskey, Bluebird is bottling a limited amount of Barrel Proof Straight Rye. It weighs in at 114 proof and promises to be “big, rich and bold.”

750 ml bottles of Winter Whiskey are $39.99, The barrel proof Rye is $39.99 for a 375 ml bottle. There will only be 150 bottles of the rye available.

Purchases will be offered outside the distillery. Bluebird will also offer special breakfast cocktails on their heated patio, as well as straight pours and cocktails to go.

November 19, 2020November 30, 2020

Manatawny Has Two Thanksgiving Releases

Pottstown’s Manatawny Still Works has two bottle releases in time for your Thanksgiving feast. A year after releasing its first Bottled in Bond whiskey, the distillery is back with a second go-around, this one aged five years. Bottled in Bond is a kind of seal of quality and a technical term, meaning the whiskey has been distilled by one distiller, in one distilling season and aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and bottled at 100 proof.

This year’s Bottled in Bond is Manatawny’s oldest whiskey released to date and is described as having, “pleasing notes of sour cherries mix with oatmeal raisin on the nose, reminiscent of cherry cobbler. Bright flavors of apricots and dates fade to a deeper caramel and seasoned oak character with a mellow, dry finish.”

Bottles of the 100 proof whiskey are $70 and can be pre-ordered for pickup or shipping across Pennsylvania.

November 13, 2020November 12, 2020

New Liberty Uses Local Bakery Starter in Sour Mash Whiskey

New Liberty Distillery is releasing a Sour Mash Rye Whiskey aged two years. And in a local twist, the whiskey is utilizing sourdough starter from Philadelphia’s High Street on Market restaurant and bakery.

The whiskey is described as having notes of “black tea and orange blossom on the nose.” That’s followed by “creamy vanilla fudge, leather, spice, and candied citrus peel” on the palate.

High Street on Market has recently relocated from its original Old City home to 9th and Chestnut, so you can pair your whiskey with a loaf of bread made with the same starter.

750 ml bottles are $69.99. Order your bottle of Millstone Sour Mash Rye online for pickup or delivery.

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020

Two Six-Year Whiskeys for Wigle

Wigle Releases Two Six Year Aged Whiskeys

Wigle Whiskey is releasing two six-year aged whiskeys. Wigle in the Woods was distilled with local heirloom wheat and has been aging for six years in a full-size cask. The one-off whiskey is described as having tasting notes that include, “warming notes of vanilla, cherry, and freshly baked bread compliment chilly moments spent outside.”

This weekend, a purchase of a Wigle in the Woods can be combined with a venison dinner for two for $90. 750 ml of bottles of Wigle in the Woods are $49 and available at Wigle locations.

If you thought that would be enough for one weekend in early November, you haven’t been following this website for very long. Wigle Whiskey is also releasing a six-year aged Single Barrel American Whiskey. Described as having a “unique sweetness that conveys notes of caramel apples, pecans, cinnamon, vanilla, cardamom with undertones of earl grey tea.”

The 94 proof, 750 ml bottles are available for pickup or shipping in Pennsylvania for $65 each.

November 6, 2020

8 Oaks Veterans Cut Bourbon Coming on Veterans Day

Veteran-owned 8 Oaks Farm Distillery in the Lehigh Valley is releasing a special Veterans Cut, bottled-in-bond bourbon this Veterans’ Day. The four-year aged bourbon will be available at the distillery on Monday, November 11 between 6 pm and 8 pm for $79.99 a bottle. $20 from each bottle will be donated to building the Veterans Memorial in Ontelaunee Park in New Tripoli, PA.

Just 200 bottles are going to be on sale and if any remain after Veterans Day, they will be on sale via 8 Oaks’ website.

Watch owner Chad Butters describe the Veterans Memorial project.

November 6, 2020

Special Six-Grain Bourbon on Sale at Mason Dixon Distillery

Mason Dixon C.S. Reaser's Special Bourbon

In a frank post to Instagram, Yianni Barakos, co-owner and distiller of Mason Dixon Distillery in Gettysburg lays out the business realities of running a small distillery during a pandemic.

Barakos describes an October rush of sales but a reality of an early November of slump. So in order to get some more money coming in, he is planning on offering more whiskey and at a lower price than ever before.

Mason Dixon’s batch #7 of C. S. Reaser’s Special Bourbon is on sale today at the distillery and available for delivery across the state of Pennsylvania for a flat rate of $10. Mason Dixon’s bourbon has been consistently priced at $95 a bottle, but batch #7 will be $80 for one 110.8 proof bottle, two bottles for $140.

This bourbon will be unique in that it is made up of six types of Pennsylvania grain. Barakos blended three full-size barrels, including one made of malted bloody butcher corn. The bourbon is described as having caramel and toffee on the nose. “Candied spice on the tongue, perfect mouthful, and a beautiful lingering finish that makes you want to come back for another sip again and again.”

Mason Dixon Distillery is open for dining and drinks including in their tented and heated courtyard. The distillery also offers to-go ordering and curbside pickup.

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020

Liberty Pole’s Annual Spiced Whiskey Goes on Sale Sunday, November 1

Liberty Pole’s very popular Spiced Whiskey is set to go on sale this Sunday, November 1st at 10 am. But like most things in 2020, it will be different this year. In order to avoid crowding at the distillery, sales will only be available via Liberty Pole’s online store. Once ordered, bottles may be picked up at the distillery starting on Tuesday, November 3rd or they can be shipped directly to Pennsylvania residents.

Liberty Pole’s Spiced Whiskey is a blend of the distillery’s rye, cinnamon, allspice and oranges. That soaks together for about a week. Then brown sugar is added for a touch of sweetness. Think of it as a more sophisticated take on another Pennsylvania tradition, Rock & Rye.

The price of the Spiced Whiskey is $49 each and in addition to online, bottles will also be sold at PA Libations.

October 23, 2020

County Seat Maple Bourbon Is Out This Saturday

If you’re going to flavor a whiskey, you can do a lot worse than maple syrup. The natural sweetener brings out a host of whiskey flavors while adding a smooth but not overbearing sweetness. It really is a cocktail in a bottle. And Lehigh Valley’s County Seat Spirits is releasing its version on Saturday, October 24th.

They’ve blended their Hidden Copper Bourbon with organic maple syrup to create this fall delight. Bottles are $25 for 375 ml, and quantities are extremely limited. County Seat offers pickup, local delivery and shipping to Pennsylvania addresses.

And at the Easton cocktail and tasting room, you can have the maple bourbon in the pictured Old Fashioned garnished with maple candy floss. Hello fall!