Calling all whiskey enthusiasts! We’ve got some exciting news to share with you. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the arrival of the third annual release of our Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey, which has been lovingly finished in a Cognac Foeder.

THE JOURNEY OF THIS SPECIALTY FINISH

What makes this release so special? Well, it’s all about pushing the boundaries of whiskey craftsmanship. We’ve employed a modified solera process where only a portion of our specialty finished bourbon is harvested at a time, allowing the rest to harmonize with future blends of this exceptional whiskey.

This whiskey’s journey commences with Laws Four Grain Straight Bourbon, matured for a minimum of two years in freshly charred American oak barrels in our rackhouse in Denver, Colorado. Select barrels then undergo a secondary aging process in French oak casks that previously held Cognac. These distinct spirits are then harmonized in a 50-year-old French oak blending vat, known as a foeder. Each year’s release includes whiskey from prior vintages, ensuring a consistent style. Following each annual harvest, the foeder is replenished with Four Grain Bourbon finished in Cognac casks, perpetuating the cycle.

EVOLVING FROM YEAR TO YEAR

The French oak foeder staves contribute an elegant finish to this whiskey, with this year’s batch showing a more pronounced French oak influence compared to previous years. This balance enhances the solera process by accentuating herbaceous pepper and spice, leafy tobacco, and an overall toasted oak character.

For this third release, we harvested 400 gallons of finished spirit from the French oak foeder, yielding just 2,418 750ml bottles. This year’s release encapsulates the essence of previous batches while introducing fresh flavor nuances. When you crack open a bottle, you’ll be greeted by aromas of toasted oak, dry leaves, wet leather, fennel fronds, caraway seed, and dark fruits. Take a sip, and you’ll experience flavors of cinnamon raisin toast, salted Marcona almonds, fig jam, and sweet, nutty malt. It all wraps up with a dry finish, subtly influenced by the French oak, and lingers on the palate, offering complexity and depth.

A NOTE FROM LAWS HEAD BLENDER

Our Head Blender, James Kunz, has some advice for savoring this year’s release: “The true joy in savoring this year’s release comes when you allow the whiskey to rest and breathe in the glass. It must be brought to room temperature to truly shine. Initially, the tannin and spice take the spotlight, but they gradually yield to deeper sweet fruit notes with subsequent sips. Take your time with this one! It begins with an air of mystery but concludes with a beautifully sweet and warm finish.”

Our founder, Al Laws, wants you to know that continuous improvement is at the heart of what we do. He says, “One of our core principles is continual improvement. This whiskey exemplifies that philosophy, as with this release, we’re pushing ourselves and our whiskeys to new heights. It’s a truly unique release, and we’re excited to invite you on this journey to savor how this whiskey evolves over time, not only in the glass but from year to year with each release as well.”

This limited release is set to hit select markets nationwide in October 2023 and it comes with a suggested retail price of $79.99. Look for it at shop.lawswshikeyhouse.com in early November.

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