Campfire season is now officially underway, even here in Florida (which just means it's not sweltering), and we all know a good dram in hand can turn a good campfire into a great campfire. These four picks on offer today are all stunning hidden gems with style and character that match the season to a T, no matter what your preference is.
Scotch fans take note, the 94-point Lochlea Fallow Edition Single Malt is matured in ex-oloroso Sherry butts to bring forth a clear autumnal character, showcasing all the gorgeous oloroso depth and beautifully charming profile of Lochlea's malt. This is the final release of this bottling, as Lochlea is turning its focus to more experimental and single-cask expressions, along with their core line-up. It's impressively complex for a young whisky, but it's also just flat-out delicious. ""Lochlea’s Fallow Edition is in its final release," notes Whisky Advocate, "and boy, is it going out with a bang."
Hand-selected exclusively for B-21, Elijah Craig's 9 Year Old Barrel #6871256 shows the famed profile of this Heaven Hill benchmark at its pinnacle. Bottled at a full barrel proof of 120.4, this cask is full-throttle intensity and opulence from start to finish. A towering aromatic profile defined by deep red fruits and luxurious barrel character leads the way, while the palate is a kaleidoscope of depth and complexity riding a weighty but balanced texture to an incredibly refined, drawn-out finish, "arguably the most compelling B-21 single-cask bourbon in our inventory," according to Spirits Buyer Andrew Kitz.
For the rum fanatics, Mexico's Alambique Serrano may not be a household name, but the craftsmanship and work ethic of this third-generation distillery are undeniable, leading to the La Sociedad Florida Rum Society Cask, the very first Florida Rum Society single-cask selection from "south of the border." It's an 11 on the intensity scale, a full cask-strength stunner that's unlike anything else we've ever come across in the rum category. "Not one for the faint of heart, it's a big, brash powerhouse that challenges the established rum conventions in the best possible way," notes Andrew.
Finally, full still-strength mezcals and destilados are a relative rarity, and that's only one reason we jumped on PM Spirits Project's Destilado de Agave Espadin. More than anything, it's immediately apparent that this is artisanal Espadin desitlado of the highest order and the maestro who made it knows his craft. The varietal purity and focus are second to none, even for at a monumental 62% ABV, and the myriad layers of complexity are almost too much to describe in one go. As B-21's Andrew Kitz notes, "The push-pull tension is really something to experience, and I have no doubt that the more I go back to it, the more subtle nuances and facets I’ll find that I somehow missed the first time around." We secured all that was left at a must-see, market-best price and once this is batch is gone, we won't be seeing more of it.