Release XI - "Legends Of The Fall"

x Sample A

SAMPLE A

Distillery: Vermont Spirits Distilling Co. - Quechee, VT

Whiskey: No. 14 - Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Pure Vermont Maple Syrup

Fun Fact: A match made in heaven, this Bourbon is finished with Maple Syrup sourced from an 8th generation family farm just 10 miles away from the distillery!

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Age Statement: 4.5 years old

Mashbill: 80% Corn, 10% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

Color/Appearance: Light Copper

Aroma Notes: Crispy French Toast, nice spice presence, fruit cake, juicy pears, oak, with the maple starting off subtle and making itself known more as it reacts with the air

Tasting Notes: Silky on the palate, rich maple syrup lingers on the tongue, balanced by homemade caramel, with grain notes in the background, canned pear syrup, cherry custard, strawberry Pop Tart™, and vanilla

Finish: Soft notes of clove, dark honey, and cognac lead to an elegant finish

Our Take: Is this the perfect “Fall” whiskey? Hard to beat the combo of two American classics, Bourbon and Vermont Maple Syrup! Vermont Spirits Distilling Co. is the state’s oldest distillery, and has been around since 1999, starting off distilling vodka from maple syrup (wow!) before getting into the whiskey game in the early 2010s. In a world of overly cloying flavored whiskeys, this No. 14 bottling (honoring Vermont as the 14th state to join the Union) is a breath of fresh air, being a bourbon-centric blend. Masterfully crafted by Head Distiller Don Kolp, whose palate was honed through 30 years of working as a chef, the goal of No. 14 is to have the maple complement the bourbon and not take over, working to match the previous batches by taste rather than a formula alone.

This is not your normal “flavored whiskey” by any means, but is meant to be an introduction to the category, a “bourbon with training wheels” in the best sense of the phrase. The Vermont climate provides an incredibly elegant aging process for the bourbon, leading to nuanced flavors that are augmented by the “the lightest touch of pure Vermont maple”, sourced from an 8th generation family farm just 10 miles from the distillery. An organic combination that makes for pleasant and easy drinking, but should not be confused as simplistic in any way. These two barrel blends showcase just how innovative and creative craft distilleries can be, embracing the ethos of their region while still providing a complex spirit that is broadly appealing to a wide variety of whiskey drinkers. Whether you’re drinking this neat, on a rock, in an Old-Fashioned (you can save time and hold the sweetener!), this whiskey will truly put you in an autumnal mood, and is a great way to kick off our “Legends of the Fall” release.



Distillery Story: Our love of Vermont is complete and shows through in everything we do. This is truly an enchanted land with incredible people creating amazing products. Everything we craft relies on Vermont to provide the special touch, and we in turn take our responsibilities as stewards to heart. We’re on a path to become a carbon-negative operation, and while we have more to do to achieve this we are steadfast in our resolve to create it.

Our leadership team includes a true renaissance craftsman with passionate dedication to creating the finest spirits on earth, and a business leader with decades of spirits invention and brand building expertise. Together they are on a mission to share the Spirit of Vermont across the nation.

We distill every small batch with the spirits connoisseur and lover of fine food in mind. Our goal is to produce spirits with true character and exceptional taste. We look forward to your enjoyment of our work.

x Sample B

SAMPLE B

Distillery: Kings County Distillery - Brooklyn, NY

Whiskey: Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Fun Fact: Located in the Navy Yard in Brooklyn, Kings County is New York City’s oldest operating whiskey distillery and the first to open since Prohibition! They utilize a rare (for America) 2 grain mashbill, sourcing all their corn from upstate New York.

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Age Statement: 4-6 years old

Mashbill: 80% New York-grown Organic Corn, 20% Golden Promise Malted Barley

Color/Appearance: Orange marmalade

Aroma Notes: Grape nuts, root beer candy, good grain presence, toasted cinnamon, bitter cherry, salted and pickled walnuts, vanilla bean in the background

Tasting Notes: Creamy and Christmasy, with light caramel, medium roast coffee beans, raisins, roasted walnuts, pleasant astringency with undertones of dark berries

Finish: Spicy caramel leads to dried mint, a “moreish” whiskey that leaves you wanting to take another sip

Our Take: It’s hard to think of a more perfect match for the Blind Barrels ethos than Kings County Distillery. One of the earliest craft distilleries, they are a titan of the movement and a phenomenal example of what we love about our partners: a willingness to be different and unapologetically pursue flavor by all means. This is a brand that rejects a lot of the BS about the current whiskey scene, viewing themselves as “myth-busting the status quo”. Their team, led by Co-Founder and Distiller Colin Spoelman, is working to bring back a style of American whiskey that was given up when the diversity that existed in the whiskey scene across the country was consolidated to just a few large companies after Prohibition.

And we love this style of whiskey! Kings County differentiates themselves from the same-old same-old in many ways, all leading to ways for them to have more control of their process and create flavor at every stage. Their pot still distillation process is pivotal for that, as they are basically making American whiskeys via internationally proven methods, leading to a distillate that is buttery, viscous, and rich in texture. Couple that with the intentionality they have in choosing the grains they distill, and you have a match made in heaven. Kings County has worked with the same farmers since their founding in 2010 to source their grain, 14 years of consistency. Their corn comes from the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York, and is an organic varietal bred by Cornell. The New York agriculture scene is an incredible asset, and something they very much take advantage of. The barley is English Golden Promise, and while it’s the only other grain in the mashbill, globally barley is the most common flavor grain in the whiskey world! The combination is incredible in this Straight Bourbon whiskey, leading to a rare 2 ingredient “high-malt” bourbon.

We could go on forever about Kings County, and it really is because of their innovative roots that they stand out from amongst a crowded whiskey landscape. Colin’s background is in making moonshine, and they are one of the few whiskey distilleries to actually sell it to the consumer! Moonshine is distilled to be drunk, and, spoiler alert, theirs is pretty fantastic. They have a lot of levers that they can pull when it comes to blending, as they mix in a variety of casks of different sizes and from various aging locations to get to the blend profile they’re looking for. And the NY climate definitely contributes to their house style, with the temps leading to slower aging that provides an incredible depth of character to their flavors. According to Colin, they have a “glacier of whiskey” coming, so look forward to many more exciting things from them in the future, including a blended bourbon (really nice) and some 10 year bourbon just released in their tasting room. We think that this bourbon stands up against almost anything on the market today, and are so thrilled to present it to our members!

Distillery Story: Kings County Distillery is New York City’s premier craft distillery and among the most acclaimed small distilleries in the United States. Focused exclusively on whiskeys, Kings County has made a name for its Bourbon, Peated Bourbon, Empire Rye and other creative whiskeys. We never sell whiskey made from any other source.

Kings County’s whiskeys have won numerous awards from the ASCOT Awards, the American Distilling Institute, the American Craft Spirits Association, and the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and have been praised by the New York Times, the New Yorker, Whiskey Advocate and many other sources. Kings County’s whiskeys are always mashed, fermented, distilled, and aged onsite in Brooklyn.

First located in a 325 square-foot room in East Williamsburg, Kings County began as the smallest commercial distillery in the country, with five 24-liter stainless steel stills making whiskey seven days a week, 16 hours a day. In 2012, the distillery moved into the Paymaster Building in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard, just steps from the legendary site of the Brooklyn Whiskey Wars of the 1860s and the former distillery district of the waterfront.

Kings County blends distilling practices from a variety of cultures into creative whiskeys that remain traditional while defying convention, using Scottish copper pot stills, open fermentation, and local grains to make American whiskeys that expand the category. One of the preeminent craft distilleries in the United States, the American Distilling Institute named Kings County Distillery of the Year in 2016. The New Orleans Spirits Competition (taking place during Tales of the Cocktail) bestowed this honor on us again in 2023, naming us Distillery of the Year.

x Sample C

SAMPLE C

Producer: Badwater Brands - Los Angeles, CA

Distillery: R6 Distillery - El Segundo, CA

Whiskey: Stock Exchange Club of Los Angeles Private Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey

Fun Fact: This is one of our favorite labels ever, and is a resurrected brand that dates back to the 1960s. The whiskey comes from a wildly adventurous craft distiller making spirit just 1.5 miles from the Pacific coast, and uses not one but TWO types of corn in their rye mashbill!

Proof: 117.8 (58% ABV)

Age Statement: 5 years old

Mashbill: 77% Rye, 20% Pink Corn, 3% Blue Corn

Color/Appearance: Ruby copper

Aroma Notes: Lavender, flambéed banana, dark chocolate ice cream, good spice presence, hint of coffee with cream and sugar in the background, a unique rye nose

Tasting Notes: Floral, meyer lemon, continues with vibrant lavender, toasted hazelnut, consistent from nose to palate, just dang good whiskey

Finish: Very solid length, spicy with notes of young port, corn bread, and leaving you with fresh mint tea

Our Take: Even in our own backyard, there continue to be “stealth distilleries” that we find doing incredible things beyond what we knew! This rye from R6 distillery that’s bottled by Badwater Brands is a perfect example of that, combining the innovation of a modern craft distillery with a retro label that’s a throwback to the days of single barrels for private clubs.

Located in El Segundo, CA, just 1.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, R6 distillery made the first legal bourbon in LA since Prohibition, opening up a decade ago. They are everything you want to see in a craft distillery, utilizing wildly-adventurous and multi-faceted mashbills (16 different ones, in fact!) and paying attention to all the components going into flavor to create magic in the cask. Founder and Distiller Rob Rubens named the brand in honor of his Father and Uncles (there are 6 Rubens!), and quickly got to work establishing the distillery as on the forefront of innovation in the California whiskey scene.

This Rye we selected, Cask #100, truly is a “showstopper rye”, as stated by Seth Benhaim of Badwater Brands. Seth came onboard to help the R6 team with a problem that so many craft distilleries deal with: it’s hard to stand out and attract the right consumers in the current crowded whiskey scene that favors the large conglomerates with overly restrictive regulations. Seth uses his brand knowledge to help the consumer see what they might otherwise miss out on, which in this case is an incredible rye that rivals bottles that MSRP for 3-4 times the cost. With 77% Rye being supplemented by both Pink Corn AND Blue Corn, this is creativity in a bottle, leaving to unique flavors that stand out from the “same-old same-old” bottles that are sourced from larger contract distilleries.

The Stock Exchange Club of Los Angeles brand is an ingenious resurrection of a brand from Seth, who also was the Founder of Broken Barrel Whiskey Co., featured in our December 2022 release. This is a brand from the 1960s, a throwback to the time when it was common for private establishments to not only get barrel picks, but also have a custom label for their club! The art deco styling is perfectly fitting for an R6 team that holds the trademark for reviving whiskey distillation in LA, staying true to their roots. Seth says that the Stock Exchange Club bottlings will always be single barrels of CA distillate presented at cask strength. These are not even available to the public, but solely being provided to hand-picked groups, so we are so honored to be able to present Rye Cask #100 to our members!

Distillery Story: Mission - To be of service. The mission of R6 DISTILLERY is to provide a memorable experience through service, education, and quality spirits. We strive to take our clients’ dreams and make them tangible by bringing family and friends together with the most creative, innovative, and profitable spirits and experiences in the world.

R6 is a Veteran & Family Owned Distillery in El Segundo, California. Master Distiller Rob Rubens founded the distillery a decade ago in honor of his father. Rob fell in love with the art of distilling after his first (unplanned) trip to New Orleans Rum Distillery. After spending the better part of a decade in corporate America and realizing that was not his path, Rob visited distilleries and breweries and decided it was time to make waves. Coupling his experience with his desire to bring quality spirits to Los Angeles, Rob opened a speakeasy inspired distillery for everyone to enjoy. In his spare time, Rob likes to hike, sky dive, tour live music, attempt the piano, and try to save his sanity by traveling the world.

Badwater Brands: Badwater Brands was recently founded by former spirits CEO, Creative Director, Strategic Advisor and industry veteran Seth Benhaim. With a dozen years at the helm of several well-known craft spirits brands, our team is surrounded by experienced senior leaders and advisors, each well-versed in nearly every aspect of launching a new spirits brand.

x Sample D

SAMPLE D

Producer: Art of Alchemy - Bardstown, KY

Whiskey: AoA Blend of Straight Whiskeys No. 2

Fun Fact: This beautiful blend of whiskeys from 3 states includes Rye distilled by legendary Master Distiller Jim Rutledge (formerly of Four Roses), as well as 9 year Bourbon from Ivy Mountain Distillery (our much-celebrated sample D from the June 2024 kit)!

Proof: 110 (55% ABV)

Age Statement: Blend of 4, 9 and 10 year old whiskeys

Blend Composition: 4 Year Kentucky Rye Whiskey (23 barrels), 9 Year Georgia Bourbon Whiskey (9 barrels), 10 Year Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey (4 barrels), for a total blend of 65% Rye and 35% Bourbon

Mashbill: 4 Year Rye - 80% Rye, 12% Corn, 8% Barley; 9 Year Bourbon - 80% Corn, 10% Rye, 5% Wheat, 5% Barley; 10 Year Bourbon - 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Barley

Color/Appearance: Yellow amber

Aroma Notes: Starts with vintage leather, leading into ripe cantaloupe, roasted cereal grains, savory herbs, lightly toasted almonds, a nose you want to sit with awhile

Tasting Notes: Velvety and unctuous, notes of apple (Apple Jacks™ anyone?), plum jelly donut, crushed pecans, toasted brown sugar, good oak presence, with tropical mango in the background

Finish: A long finish, leaving you with vibrant raspberry and strawberry notes, cocoa powder with a nice minerality lingering

Our Take: Blending is an art, where the end result is greater than the sum of its parts. When done well, it can seem like magic in a glass! And that’s why the Art of Alchemy name is so fitting, as they transform these 3 excellent component whiskeys to something that is truly stunning.

The story of Art of Alchemy’s founding really resonates with us, as it began with a group of friends who loved whiskey and wanted to create something special together. Their ethos is “With Friends, For Friends”, and that comes through especially with this Blend No. 2, drawing whiskey from the three founding partners’ home states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. They had the unique opportunity from their previous work with Blackberry Farm in TN (which has one of the most dynamic beverage programs in the world) to collaborate with many legends of the whiskey industry, and connected with Jim Rutledge, the former master distiller at Four Roses, in working with the Rye he was making at Castle & Key. This fantastic 4 year Rye serves as the backbone of this blend, laying down a foundation of fruit and spice. And if Georgia Bourbon sounds familiar to you, it should, as it’s sourced from the same now-closed distillery as sample D from our June 2024 lineup, Ivy Mountain Distillery, bringing notes of tropical fruits and nutty goodness! Add in some TN Bourbon (with a pretty recognizable mashbill) for some velvety texture, and this 36 barrel blend delivers with great flavors that play off each other so well.

The mere fact that we can give you all those details is a huge testament to the transparency of the team at Art of Alchemy! As Founding Partner Roy Milner says, “We are an open book.” It’s clear they have a passion for education and bringing knowledge to the consumer, knowing that we appreciate as much information as we can get about our whiskey. Contrary to many brands that push their products as collector’s items, Roy encourages people to be sure to crack open the bottles so that people can talk about them! It’s truly a labor of love for AoA, with the blending process taking months to get right, and they strive to build a community that is interested in fun stories and taking the intimidation factor out of the upper echelon of whiskey. After all, whiskey is for sharing and bringing people together, and this Blend of Straight Whiskeys is the perfect way to wrap up our “Legends of the Fall” release!

Distillery Story: None of this is about ego, celebrity, or glamor. We are friends who had a unique opportunity to crack into an extremely difficult business, and we said yes. We believe in saying yes more often. Time with friends, exploring new adventures, scratching the itch of curiosity, and taking some risks. We all have regrets, but this isn’t one of them, and our objective in living full lives is to have fewer as we age.

We aren’t going to tell you what to taste, because everyone is different. We believe in the idea of creative expression, but we are also fanatical about quality and flavor. All of our releases were made with awe, joy, humility, and purpose…things that we hold dear, and we hope you feel the same way when you are drinking our bottles.

Connection, collaboration, and community are at the center of what we dig…and we look for it in everything we do. We love our families and friends, and can’t wait to make more. May this be a vehicle that brings people together, as we are lucky to have a platform such as Art of Alchemy from which to share.