ST. LOUIS, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lebanon, Kentucky-based Yellowstone Bourbon announced the release of Small Batch 107, a new permanent addition to the Yellowstone family. The elevated expression pays homage to the brand's history while featuring several firsts for the family lineup. Small Batch is aged six years and the only variety in the Yellowstone portfolio to feature an age statement on packaging.

Bottled at 107 proof, the expression is one of the highest proof everyday offerings from Yellowstone. Due to the high proof, Small Batch is non-chill filtered, which allows the depth of flavors to stand out in this bold new bourbon. Yellowstone Small Batch 107 is available nationwide starting this month at a minimum suggested retail price of $44.99 per 750mL bottle.

Yellowstone Bourbon is one of the few bourbon brands available with a strong history of tradition and 150 years of continuous sales. To honor Yellowstone's heritage and values, seventh-generation Founder and Master Distiller Stephen Beam crafted Small Batch 107 with expert care. As one of the most experienced experts in the industry, Beam made deliberate choices from the six-year age statement to the 107 proof point and more to create a new release that achieves the ideal balance of flavor and depth.

"Yellowstone was the top selling whiskey in Kentucky in the 1960s, and at the time, it was bottled at six years old," said Beam. "I wanted to bring back that tradition and offer a product with a clear age statement, and the perfect entry level proof point at 107. This is a long time coming. We've had great success with special finishes but never had an age-stated product before Small Batch."

Together, Small Batch's six-year age statement, 107 proof point and non-chill-filtering process result in a bold flavor experience that's great neat or over ice, and stands up well in a cocktail. With notes of caramel and vanilla with hints of chocolate and oak on the nose, Small Batch features intensified flavors of caramel, oak, honey and Yellowstone's signature rich cherry notes.

"The higher proof brings out more flavors, and by non-chill filtering Small Batch we created a much more full-bodied product than a lower-proof chill filtered bourbon," said Beam. "It's the perfect addition to our family of offerings. Small Batch delivers on our heritage and tradition, bringing back memories of Yellowstone's history, while also representing a natural progression in elevating the portfolio."

As the newest member in the growing family of now seven highly acclaimed Yellowstone Bourbon expressions, Yellowstone Small Batch 107 joins the brand's flagship 93 proof Yellowstone Select, which won Double Gold at the 2024 SIP Awards and Gold at the 2024 ASCOT Awards. Yellowstone's Special Finishes Collection: Rum Cask won Platinum at the 2024 ASCOT Awards and Yellowstone Special Finishes: Toasted was awarded Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Gold at the SIP and ASCOT Awards. Additional award-winning Yellowstone expressions include Limited Edition, Hand Picked Single Barrel and American Single Malt, which won Double Gold at the 2024 SIP Awards and Gold at the 2024 ASCOT Awards.

Founded by pioneer distiller Joseph Bernard Dant, Yellowstone Bourbon was named after the United States' first national park in 1872. In 2011, seventh-generation Master Distiller Stephen Beam – a descendant of both the historic Dant and Beam distilling families – founded Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery and resurrected the Yellowstone brand with the creation of Yellowstone Select Bourbon. Since 2018, Yellowstone Bourbon has partnered with the National Parks Conservation Association and is one of NPCA's largest annual corporate sponsors, having donated $1 million to preserve national parks.

To learn more, visit YellowstoneBourbon.com

MONTREAL, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ - As it has done throughout its 100 years of existence, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) is once again adapting to a new business environment. Many Quebecers now have a different relationship to alcohol and demographic changes in Quebec also mean our stores are no longer an automatic stop on their outings. Increasingly, customers place greater value on accessibility and spontaneity, with their purchases not being planned in advance. Generation Z, which now outnumbers baby boomers in Quebec, has alcohol-related habits different from those of preceding generations, and that is as true when it comes to buying as to drinking. What's more, Quebecers have joined the worldwide trend toward reduced alcohol consumption, and a growing number are seeking alternatives to alcoholic beverages.

"To maintain our long-term performance, we have to evolve how we do business, be more in sync with all our customers, those of tomorrow as well as today," says Jacques Farcy, President and Chief Executive Officer of the SAQ. "It is crucial if we are to continue contributing to Quebec."

New concept: urban micro-agencies

To better meet the needs of customers who don't know or frequent the SAQ or who are looking for an alternative when our stores are closed, we will begin pilot-testing in April a new concept of six micro SAQ Agency stores in an urban setting. The micro SAQ Agency stores will be located in neighbourhoods less well served by the SAQ's retail network and will offer a convenient selection of around 30 SAQ products, including spirits-based coolers and a few sparkling wines, still wines and spirits.

If all goes well, we anticipate opening around 100 of these micro SAQ Agency stores in urban areas across Quebec in the coming year. The new points of sale will be located in establishments that already have a permit to sell beverage alcohol (grocery and convenience stores, for example). Strict application of our sales ethic will be a non-negotiable. The micro SAQ Agency stores will be complementary to the SAQ store network, which remains the preferred location for welcoming customers.

Pilot project: convenient delivery with collaborative platforms

In response to a growing demand for convenience, in June the SAQ will launch a convenient delivery pilot project in urban areas with a collaborative platform. The pilot project will test the efficiency and effectiveness of the approach, customers' receptiveness and whether a reliable service compliant with SAQ standards can be provided. Ultimately, the aim is to offer around 150 products for delivery through these platforms.

This type of partnership will enable the SAQ to tap into the platforms' popularity and reach customers where they are. The pilot project will launch in Montreal and, if successful, eventually be extended to the rest of Quebec and other platforms. As is already done elsewhere in Canada, most notably in Ontario, delivery persons from the platforms will buy the products in selected SAQ stores and deliver them to customers.

It should be noted that an absolute prerequisite will be the strict application of our sales ethic by the platforms' delivery personnel, as is currently the case with our warehouse-based home delivery service. Additionally, in a spirit of coherence and solidarity, the choice of the selected platform will take into account the current context with the American administration and the impact of its decisions on the Quebec economy.

Opening of 34 SAQ Agency stores

Serving all regions of Quebec is part of our mission. Each year we analyze our retail network to check its profitability and make sure our products are accessible to customers across the province. This year, we identified several areas that, while they could be better served, do not have the potential volume to justify an SAQ store. That is why we will be adding 34 new SAQ Agency stores across Quebec, specifically in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie and Chaudière-Appalaches regions.

Closing of five SAQ stores

We will be closing five SAQ stores that are no longer ideally located on customers' shopping routes and are therefore not seeing the expected traffic. We plan to close our operations at the Stanstead, Promenade du Portage (in Gatineau), Baie-D'Urfé, Campanile (in Quebec City) and Ville-Émard stores when their leases end in fiscal 2025-2026.

These actions reflect the SAQ's commitment to changing in sync with the retail environment and going where its customers are.

TAIPEI, March 11, 2025 /CNW/ -- Kavalan Distillery is launching its first-ever whisky with an age statement, matured in four unique casks: ex-Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry, Ruby Port, and Puncheon.

The release marks a milestone in the journey of this Taiwanese distiller, which has broken boundaries not just by region, but now also by time and maturation.
The whisky also pays tribute to the historic moment when Kavalan and Taiwan began whisky making. On this day in 2006, the first ever drops of Taiwanese-made new make spirit rolled off the stills, setting the stage for nearly two decades of innovation and craftsmanship.

Kavalan 15 Years Old Single Malt Whisky 2025 Edition, 43% ABV, 700ml will be released in just 30,000 bottles globally, representing rare stock from the subtropical distillery's ultra-aged whisky selection.

One of Kavalan's oldest bottlings, CEO Mr YT Lee said the 2025 edition has been masterfully blended using hand-selected aged whisky reserves, drawing on the four distinct cask types.

"We wanted to achieve extraordinary depth and balance with multiple layers of complexity befitting of a high-age statement whisky. So we created a formula based on a four-cask maturation that would maximise the characteristics of each cask and achieve a rich harmony in the final product," he said.

A tribute to 15 years of mastery, Kavalan presents this whisky as a timeless classic, capturing the true nature of time and craftsmanship. The packaging design embodies natural wood grain, symbolising the depth and maturity gained through years of ageing. The bottle design reflects the concept of 'fusion,' harmoniously vatted from four cask types, with textured oak patterns representing their distinct characteristics. The gold-foiled Kavalan logo adds a touch of luxury and sophistication, perfectly encapsulating the refined depth of this 15-year-old whisky.

The Kavalan 15 Years Old Single Malt Whisky 2025 Edition is available through Kavalan's official channels in Taiwan, including the Kavalan Distillery Shop, Kavalan Whisky shops, Kavalan Whisky Bar, and select local liquor stores.

Kavalan 15 Years Old Single Malt Whisky (2025 Edition)

Product Description:

Kavalan 15 Years Old, 700ml 43% ABV whisky is a testament to Kavalan's craftsmanship, showcasing the perfect balance of ageing, cask influence, and blending artistry in every sip.

Colour: Golden caramel

Nose: Captivating aromas of caramel apple mousse, fresh chocolate, walnut cinnamon rolls, and creamy popcorn, intertwined with subtle hints of dried tangerine peel and plum. The finish reveals the sweetness of toffee and black date fruit, evoking a warm, indulgent sweetness.

Palate: Lush citrus aromas of bergamot, lemon, orange, and grapefruit dance with the sweet whispers of dried cranberries, raisins, and longan, unfolding into velvety notes of dark chocolate gelato and caramel walnut coffee mousse. The finish lingers with the comforting warmth of woody cinnamon spice.

EDINBURGH, Scotland, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneering the next chapter in luxury spirits, Johnnie Walker, the world's leading Scotch Whisky[1], announces the global launch of Johnnie Walker Vault in the brand's most ambitious expression of blending artistry yet.

At the heart of the new platform is the artistry of Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Dr Emma Walker, and her craft of telling personal stories from a carefully curated selection of exceptionally rare whiskies. Her mastery builds on craft passed down through centuries, working from a hidden creative 'atelier' deep beneath Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh. The Johnnie Walker Vault holds, at any given time, a selection of 500 whiskies from our rare, aged and ghost casks, personally curated and rotated by Dr. Walker to showcase the very best of the 10 million casks of Scotch available to her as Master Blender.

Johnnie Walker Vault will bring its unparalleled creativity and craftsmanship to life through rare products, experiences and collaborations.

Bespoke Private Blend Experience

Under a newly launched Private Blend experience, Dr Walker will personally create unique made-to-measure blends for a select few, hand-selecting meaningful expressions from the invite-only Johnnie Walker Vault physical space, and crafting these into deeply layered blends. Each blend is tailored to the inspirations and individual palates of her guests.

For the first time, this experience will be launched and offered to the public with packages starting from £50,000, to include a luxurious agenda deeply rooted in Scottish heritage. From Michelin Star dining to a glamorous stay at the glorious Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, the programme is tailored to individual desires - culminating in the bespoke blending session with Dr. Walker. Following the experience, guests will be presented with their Private Blend in a crystal decanter handcrafted by artisans from the renowned French luxury house Baccarat. Their unique blend will also be chronicled in the Johnnie Walker Vault archive, leaving their own legacy alongside iconic whisky creations and allowing for future commissions.

Luxury Collaborations

Later this year, Johnnie Walker Vault will also invite its first creative partner within - a visionary artist in couture fashion - to co-create a limited-edition collection with Dr. Emma Walker, with further details to be revealed in Spring 2025.

Dr. Emma Walker, Johnnie Walker Master Blender, says: "Johnnie Walker Vault is our treasure trove. It's where I can curate and share our rarest and most exceptional Scotch whiskies, and from these create unique blends which sing to my guest and showcase the blending artistry at the heart of Johnnie Walker. It is a very special place to me, but it's also much more than just a physical space - it's a platform through which I can take deeply personal stories and translate them into beautiful, one-of-a-kind blends. It's a real privilege to be a part of capturing and bottling these wonderful stories."

Julie Bramham, Managing Director of Diageo Luxury Group, adds: "The Johnnie Walker Vault reflects our commitment to the evolving desires of the luxury consumer and to transforming luxury spirits through elevated personalisation, unique experiences and exceptional products."

She continues: "Building on more than 200 years of pioneering craftsmanship, Johnnie Walker has redefined quality whisky blending for the modern connoisseur. Iconic blends such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label and Johnnie Walker Black Label have consistently showcased the brand's commitment to pushing the boundaries of Scotch whisky, and Johnnie Walker Vault will now continue this legacy. This is an exciting day for luxury Scotch whisky as we officially launch Johnnie Walker Vault to a global audience."

Further information on Johnnie Walker Vault including registration for the bespoke private blending experience can be found at www.johnniewalker.com/en/vault. Registrations go live from 12th March.

1. IWSR 2023.