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Friday, April 29, 2016
New Whiskey Labels: Whistlepig, Templeton, Compass Box and More
This week's most interesting new labels from the federal TTB database:
Whistlepig cleared a label for Whistlepig Farm Stock, a blend of their ten year old stocks and whiskey they distilled in Vermont.
Templeton cleared a label for Templeton Special Reserve, a 10 year old MGP rye.
Compass Box issued a label for 5th and Harrison, a special bottling for K&L (the name is the location of their new San Francisco store) made up of 76% sherried Glen Ord and 24% Caol Ila, bottled at cask strength.
Pernod Ricard cleared a label for Longmorn 23.
Luxco issued a number of new labels including Yellowstone 2016 Limited Edition, a 7 year old, 101 proof bourbon composed of 12 year old and 7 year old rye recipe bourbons, Daviess County Bourbon, a brand they have owned for some time but haven't marketed recently, and a Rebel Yell 2016 Limited Edition, though there is no indication on the label of what makes it any different than regular Rebel Yell.
Beam Suntory cleared a label for Jim Beam Double Oak, finished in a second, new, charred oak barrel.
And just in case you thought the days of ridiculous labels getting through the TTB process were over, here is Circa Straight Bourbon, described as "the finest blend of orchard fruits, ryes, corn and spices."
Note: The fact that a label appears on the TTB database does not necessarily mean it will be produced. In addition, some details on the label, such as proof, can change in the final product.
If Circa "Straight Bourbon" uses fruits and spices how can it be a "straight?"
ReplyDeleteAlso, aren't they obligated according to TTB rules to declare on the label state of distillation?
I don't understand how TTB enforces/doesn't enforce their own guidelines/rules.
Dan
Dan,
ReplyDeleteState of distillation doesn't seem to be a requirement, Sku can talk to that. Circa (as described) can't be a bourbon. Neither could it be called a whisky as the TTB classifies as: "Spirits distilled from a fermented mash of grain." Maybe they've gone literalist and anything with "grain" in it is considered a mash of grain.
The state of distillation is required to be listed if it's different from the state listed on the address. And Dan is right, it's not straight, not bourbon, and if it really has fruit in the mash, it's not whiskey either. If fruit or spices are added, it would be flavored whiskey.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the circa label is meant to imply they used fruit in the process of making it, but rather that it has those particular tasting notes.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the way I read the label I'm not sure if the whiskey is indeed 8 years old, or that they used 8 year old grains to make the mash. The wording is either skillfully chosen or just downright poor. Either way I don't see myself going out of my way to find this one.
Actually....my bad. I reread the first label and I see what you're talking about. Again....not sure whats going on here.
ReplyDeleteDON'T FRUIT THE BOURBON!