Latest news with #Sauternes
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
This Whiskey Just Cleaned Up At The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
DENVER, CO -FEBRUARY 18: Whisky being poured into a shoot glass at Stranahan's Colorado whisky, in ... More Denver Colorado, on February 23, 2017. (Photo by Amy Brothers /The Denver Post via Getty Images) If there's one thing Stranahan's knows how to do—besides distill award-winning American single malt—it's keep whiskey nerds lining up in tents at high altitude every winter like it's the Great American Barrel Migration. Their ultra-limited Snowflake release has long been the stuff of cultish devotion. This year? The devotion paid off. At the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Stranahan's raked in seven Gold and Double Gold medals, including top honors for Snowflake Redcloud Peak, which was named a Best of Class finalist in the American Single Malt category. Not to be outdone, Mountain Angel 12-Year also earned a Double Gold and finalist status. Basically: if this were whiskey summer camp, Stranahan's just won all the merit badges. 'We stand in elite single malt territory, with a floor of Gold at SFWSC,' said Head Blender Justin Aden, who's been quietly blending up a storm inside a former Denver theater-turned-barrel room called Rackhouse 215. 'It's all a testament to our 21 years of toil, perfecting one recipe and one recipe only.' Let's pause there. One recipe. Twenty-one years. Multiple awards. And an entire rickhouse dedicated to barrels finished in everything from Sauternes to mezcal. No big deal. Red Cloud Peak Stranahan's Snowflake is an annual release that hardcore fans camp out for, sometimes days in advance, with lawn chairs, whiskey-fueled optimism, and a collective tolerance for Colorado winter. Redcloud Peak, this year's edition, is a high-wire blend of sherry, port, Sauternes, and other fortified wines that—somehow—doesn't tip into sticky sweetness. During a tasting when the whiskey was released, Aden described the process of creating Snowflake sort of like a whiskey séance. 'It starts to reveal itself to you,' he says. 'Some barrels you think you'll use for sure don't make the cut. Others surprise you.' He tasted through hundreds of barrels to build the final blend, composed of about a dozen casks. Stranahans Aden, who joined Stranahan's in May 2022, dove headfirst into the distillery's extensive barrel inventory to shape Red Cloud Peak. 'You have all year to work on it. You keep sampling and sampling and trying things mixed together, and it starts to reveal itself to you,' Aden explained during a tasting of the components that went into the whiskey. Unlike the previous year's Snowflake, which leaned heavily into smoky, mezcal-cask influences, Aden knew he wanted this year's blend to steer clear of peat and smoke. Instead, he focused on fruit-forward barrels and an array of fortified wine finishes, including Sherry, Sauternes, and Madera. 'All I knew for certain was there'd be no smoke, no peat in this year's version,' Aden said. 'But other than that, you come in completely unencumbered.' Stranahan's Snowflake releases are built from what Aden calls 'miniature blends' — smaller coupes that each showcase a specific flavor style. Red Cloud Peak's final composition includes: 'Building the blend is like building a house — you start with a cornerstone,' Aden said. 'Sometimes you think you're going one way, and the barrels lead you somewhere completely different.' The process is painstaking. Aden and his team tasted hundreds of barrels over the course of the year (tough work, I know), narrowing them down to about 12 to 16 for the final blend — a manageable number that allows the character of each cask to still be felt. Stranahan's Stranahan's Colorado location gives its whiskey a distinctive aging profile. Unlike the humid rickhouses of Kentucky, Denver's dry climate pulls more water than alcohol from the barrels, gradually concentrating the proof over time. 'We fill our barrels at 110 proof, which is a big departure from the industry standard,' Aden explained. 'It enables the fact that our whiskey proof goes up as it ages to be very gradual.' This slow and steady evaporation results in spirits that maintain bright fruit and vibrant structure — characteristics that shine through in Red Cloud Peak's lush, layered palate. Barrels at Stranahan's Snowflake isn't just about rare barrels and special finishes. For Aden, it's also about carrying forward a pioneering craft whiskey legacy. 'Twenty years ago, if you didn't have a little nepotism in Kentucky or Tennessee, you just weren't breaking in. Craft distilling changed that,' Aden said. 'Stranahan's deserves to be recognized at the top of that list.' As craft distilling in America boomed from just a handful of operations to more than 2,000 today, Stranahan's stayed the course: refusing to source whiskey, focusing exclusively on American single malt, and pushing creative boundaries year after year. Snowflake's continued success — and the dedicated fans who camp out to get a bottle — are proof that Stranahan's spirit of innovation and adventure is alive and well under Aden's leadership. 'We have people who haven't missed one in ten years,' Aden said. 'That kind of loyalty — that's rare. That's something you have to earn every single time.' Stranahan's Lineup Snowflake may get the Instagram buzz, but Stranahan's other bottles are no slackers. Here's how the rest of the lineup performed: 'It's easy for me to wax about this part of the job,' Aden says. 'To take the culmination of so much hard work, put it together, and have it sing—there's nothing like it.' He's talking about blending, of course—but it's also a fair way to describe what Stranahan's is up to more broadly. In a still-emerging category, the distillery isn't chasing trends so much as quietly refining its voice – and winning some awards in the process.
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Save nearly £20 on specialist prices by buying this whisky from Amazon
The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is a bargain on Amazon right now | Amazon This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Whisky suppliers have this lovely Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish on sale at well over £40 - but there's a much better deal on Amazon Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This gorgeous single malt whisky could be worth listing for Father's Day gift ideas - because it's an absolute bargain on Amazon right now. Thanks to a limited-time deal knocking 35% off the price, you can get a 70cl bottle with a presentation box for just £29.99. And, if you shop around, you'll soon see why that's a fantastic price. For example, major whisky purveyors Master of Malt has the identical bottle listed for £43.40 plus delivery, and Threshers has it on for £45 plus delivery. Look out for notes of citrusy lime and creamy vanilla on the nose | Amazon So it's a genuinely premium Scotch for not a lot of money. And it really would make a stunning gift. The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is bottled at 43% and has vibrant tropical flavours of pineapple and zesty orange, adding a rich, fruity complexity, afforded to it by the maturation process, in 225-litre French Sauternes casks that previously held sweet dessert wine. It gives the whisky a smooth, creamy mouthfeel from its rich and fruity flavour and lingering finish. Delivery is free if you buy the bottle on Amazon, and it's available next day if you're a Prime member. Another appealing bottle with a decent discount is this Caisteal Chamuis blended whisky. It's one for those who like a bold and smoky dram, and aren't so fussy about single malts. Currently it's discounted down from its £38.50 price to £32.71, if you manage to catch the 15% discount in time. Raise a glass to Dad with these standout whisky picks 🥃 If you're buying for a whisky-loving dad this Father's Day, a well-chosen bottle can go a long way. Retailers like Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange, and The Whisky Shop have all launched seasonal offers across single malts, small-batch blends and collectible gift editions. Whether you're after something peaty, sherried or smooth and sweet, there's a dram to suit every taste — and budget. Some retailers also offer personalised engraving, gift wrapping or limited-time bundles — ideal if you're sending a gift direct. Just bear in mind that delivery cut-offs for Father's Day tend to fall midweek, so don't leave it too late. ⏳ Need ideas? Look out for Glenfarclas, Aberfeldy, Clynelish or Talisker expressions, which are frequently discounted this time of year and rarely disappoint.
Scotsman
09-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Save nearly £20 on specialist prices by buying this whisky from Amazon
The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is a bargain on Amazon right now | Amazon This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Whisky suppliers have this lovely Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish on sale at well over £40 - but there's a much better deal on Amazon Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This gorgeous single malt whisky could be worth listing for Father's Day gift ideas - because it's an absolute bargain on Amazon right now. Thanks to a limited-time deal knocking 35% off the price, you can get a 70cl bottle with a presentation box for just £29.99. And, if you shop around, you'll soon see why that's a fantastic price. For example, major whisky purveyors Master of Malt has the identical bottle listed for £43.40 plus delivery, and Threshers has it on for £45 plus delivery. Look out for notes of citrusy lime and creamy vanilla on the nose | Amazon So it's a genuinely premium Scotch for not a lot of money. And it really would make a stunning gift. The Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish is bottled at 43% and has vibrant tropical flavours of pineapple and zesty orange, adding a rich, fruity complexity, afforded to it by the maturation process, in 225-litre French Sauternes casks that previously held sweet dessert wine. It gives the whisky a smooth, creamy mouthfeel from its rich and fruity flavour and lingering finish. Delivery is free if you buy the bottle on Amazon, and it's available next day if you're a Prime member. Another appealing bottle with a decent discount is this Caisteal Chamuis blended whisky. It's one for those who like a bold and smoky dram, and aren't so fussy about single malts. Currently it's discounted down from its £38.50 price to £32.71, if you manage to catch the 15% discount in time. Where will you land? Wowcher's £199 beach holiday could take you to the Maldives (aff) Not sure where to go on holiday? A new deal from Wowcher could make the decision for you – and potentially save you hundreds. The Mystery Beach Holiday offer includes return flights and hotel accommodation for just £199 per person. You won't know the destination until closer to departure, but options include the Maldives, Mauritius, St. Lucia and several other popular sunshine spots. It's a gamble, but for the price, many see it as a fun and affordable way to book a last-minute escape. Plus, the package covers everything major – you just turn up at the airport.
Irish Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Wine with ice cream? It's all the rage and works way better than you think
The short answer is: yes, of course you can. You should always feel free to drink wine any way you please. Now pairing wine with ice cream seems to be a growing trend on social media. It's a Gen Z thing apparently. TikTok and Instagram are going crazy with people mixing ice cream with wine in the same glass. Does a red wine milkshake sound appealing? Or a 'float' of white ice cream in a glass of Chablis? Apparently, it started with Folderol, an establishment in Paris that sells scoops of ice cream in vintage metal coupes alongside natural wine. With an eclectic range of oolong tea, carrot cake, fig hibiscus or spicy melon, the choice of ice cream seems endless. Now ice cream parlour and wine bars are popping up in London and New York. I am very fond of both ice cream and wine, but rarely enjoy the two together. Ice cream is sweet and wine is usually dry, so surely the two won't mix? I do like wine sorbets, but they don't contain cream. READ MORE Most wine drinkers will automatically pair a dessert of any kind with a sweet wine of some sort; Sauternes with fruit tarts, Port with chocolate desserts. There is a traditional wine and ice cream mix of very sweet Pedro Ximénez sherry with vanilla ice cream – a delicious hedonistic mix of cream, raisins, figs and dates. I bought a half a dozen tubs of ice cream and conducted my own experiments. The best matches did involve sweet wines, although there were a few nice surprises with red wines. If you want to try mixing red wine with ice cream, I would suggest a merlot or pinot noir, both of which have lighter tannins. My red wine went best with a raspberry ice cream. My four favourite matches were as follows: Sauternes with Supervalu Signature Passion Fruit Ice Cream. I suspect that any fruit ice cream would go well with Sauternes, Moscato d'Asti, or an off-dry Riesling. PX Sherry with vanilla ice cream was excellent; Chocolate Fudge Brownie was nice but not as good as the vanilla. Tawny Port went really well with the Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Ben & Jerry's Brookies too. Raspberry ice cream with a light, ripe pinot noir. Lastly, my siblings swear by vanilla ice cream with a small dose of whiskey and freshly ground pepper.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Bill Blatch obituary
My brother, Bill Blatch, who has died aged 76 of a heart attack, devoted himself joyfully to the wine trade in Bordeaux for 40 years, selling across the world and supplying the influential Southwold annual tastings for the UK wine trade, which he organised each year with the London traders Farr Vintners. Bill – described as 'the wine whisperer of Bordeaux' – made Sauternes his life, and played an important role as a bridge between Bordeaux wine houses and their many followers in the UK and the US. Never pretentious, he had the habit of decanting fine vintages into plastic cola bottles he carried around for the job, most memorably a 1964 Moët that he produced for a Masters of Wine meeting. He relished his American road trips promoting his beloved petits châteaux. Born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, Bill was the son of Pamela (nee Beachcroft), a Wren in the second world war, and John Blatch, later company secretary to the fishmonger business Mac Fisheries. He boarded at Bradfield college, Berkshire, then spent a year teaching in France. An early entrant into the wine trade, he worked for a period with Stowells wine merchants in Gerrards Cross before starting a modern languages degree at Magdalen College, Oxford in 1967. Beginning a pattern throughout his life of generosity and conviviality, he befriended his college cellar master, who recognised his palate early on. Bill could not resist the allure of France. In 1973 he married Tita Marsan, a Frenchwoman, and the following year they set up home in Bordeaux, where Bill became an established wine personality. He qualified as a master of wine and worked for two different wine merchants before founding his own business, Vintex, in 1982. After selling the company in 2006, he established an online business, Bordeaux Gold, specialising in Barsac and Sauternes. This is where he is best remembered, working with his beloved Sauternes, about which he was incredibly knowledgable; in 2014 he was made a Chevalier de L'Ordre Nationale du Mérite for his services to the wine trade. Two of Bill's great passions were fishing and scuba diving. He loved his annual expedition into the Canadian wilderness, setting up camp at various rugged locations, where he fished and lived off the land, once unexpectedly shooting the rapids in Hudson Bay. Bill had a huge and varied cohort of friends, one of whom described him as a 'joy to be with', remembering his 'incredible wealth of stories and information'. Bill's life ended doing what he loved, watching the fishes and swimming among them while snorkelling off Tahiti. He is survived by Tita, his nephew, Adam, and me.
