During the dog days of summer, as the mercury reaches its zenith, tastes tend to change. Even passionate whiskey aficionados, when engulfed in a record-setting heat wave, are likely to reach for different spirit bottles now and again. That doesn’t mean whiskey can’t pair well with summer’s heat, however, and the following eight new expressions are proof that even when the temperatures skyrocket, there’s a bourbon, rye, or single malt out there primed and ready for hot-weather sipping.
WhistlePig Campstock Wheat Whiskey
Its name alone conjures up thoughts of summer, but WhistlePig’s latest limited-edition whiskey — one that boasts an exclusively wheat mashbill — is the perfect brown-spirit pour for summer, as it delivers bold aromas of honey, apricots and peaches. On the palate, this smooth, easy-drinking whiskey doubles down on the honey character and juxtaposes it with a touch of vanilla. Ultimately, this wheater makes an excellent straight pour for summer, but it’s also a great candidate for lengthened cocktails like a highball, especially if you add a splash of ginger liqueur.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye
The first time you taste Colonel E.H. Taylor’s straight rye, it’s almost hard to believe the whiskey is crafted from a predominantly rye-based mashbill. Sure, there’s a spice note that’s characteristic of the grain, but it’s nuanced — almost delicate — and balanced beautifully by hints of cinnamon and a sweetness typically reserved for wheated bourbons. The brand’s latest, limited release — a barrel-proof rye — is all the more confounding, as the added strength brings an oaky dryness. The sweetness also shifts away from the baking spice character of the brand’s standard bottled-in-bond rye and ventures down a path toward dried stone fruits and honey. In other words, should you be fortunate enough to procure a bottle of E.H. Taylor’s limited barrel proof rye, don’t expect it to merely be a more potent iteration of the brand’s standard rye. In actuality, this special release is a unique whiskey all its own.
Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series — The Heart Release
The latest release in the Wood Finishing Series by Maker’s Mark, The Heart Release is a whiskey all bourbon enthusiasts will love any time of the year. Even though it’s teeming with bourbon’s requisite caramel flavors — not to mention more unique notes of maple and chocolate — this overproof whiskey sports a medium body that makes it approachable in summer, though it’s likely to shine best during the season’s late-night fire pit sessions.
Westland Colere 4 Single Malt Whiskey
For more than a decade, the Westland Distillery in Seattle has been committed to making not just small-batch American whiskey, but American single malt whiskey, as the distillery’s founders long ago recognized that the climate in the Pacific Northwest is remarkably similar to that of the British Isles — where some of the world’s best single malt whiskies are produced. Over the years, the distillery has created limited-edition ranges that explore how variables like the species of oak used for barreling or the variety of barley used in the distillation impact the overall flavor and consistency of the finished product. The brand’s latest limited release, the 4th Edition of Colere, delves into the essence of barley. In particular, this light-bodied single malt celebrates the Fritz variety, one that was purposely cultivated by Washington State University. Whereas previous releases in the Colere lineup delivered flavors that include milk chocolate, marzipan and bright red fruits, the 4th Edition stands out with a cornucopia of flavors that range from honey graham crackers and ginger to black tea and apple turnovers. All in all, it’s an easy, warm-weather sipper, albeit one that packs a punch given its 50% ABV.
Wyoming Whiskey Outryder
Binge-worthy series television isn’t the only medium to be heavily influenced these days by the country’s expansive, untamed west. In fact, whiskey production expanded west several years ago. Today, the fruits of that labor are appearing on store shelves and Wyoming Whiskey’s new limited-edition Outryder stands out as the latest accomplishment. Effectively a blend of two mashbills — one that leans heavily toward rye and another aligning with bourbon — this straight American whiskey is likely to appeal to a diverse crowd, as it delivers flavors of hot chocolate, dark molasses, brown butter, and roasted cumin, among others. Better still, it’s light-bodied and sweet up front, two characteristics that pair well with sun-splashed summer days.
Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon II
For the second consecutive year, Vermont-based independent bottler Lost Lantern has released a collection of whiskies that celebrate what the company calls the “Summer of Bourbon.” Leading this second-annual collection is Far-Flung Bourbon II, a blend of straight bourbon whiskies sourced from Indiana, New York, Mississippi, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Uncut, this overproof bourbon (63.3% ABV) is rich, warming and highly viscous — three characteristics that ordinarily make it the ideal pour for a brisk fall evening. Add a splash of water, however, and the bourbon brightens, ushering forward the requisite bourbon notes of cherry cola and caramel corn and turning it into a round and sweet sipper with just a touch of spice. If you lean more toward a single-cask whiskey, we recommend Lost Lantern’s release of Corbin Cash, a 7-year bourbon that was crafted by a distillery in California’s Central Valley that is more famous for its sweet potato vodka and Merced-distilled rye. We were shocked to discover that this straight bourbon is approachable neat, only because it clocks in at a staggering 146.2 proof! Syrupy and laden with dark brown sugar notes, the whiskey transforms into a seasonally approachable bourbon with a dose of water, one that sings of ripe apples, honeycomb and floral vanilla.
Frey Ranch Single Grain Series — 100-Percent Wheat
In recent years, Frey Ranch has emerged as a producer of legitimate, award-winning whiskey, which catches a lot of consumers off guard given that the farm-to-glass distillery is based in western Nevada. Frey Ranch’s latest limited-edition release is certain to be just as much of a surprise, since it boasts a 100-percent wheat mashbill (using soft white winter wheat grown exclusively on the distillery’s farm) and it’s bottled at cask strength — a combination that’s hard to find. The bottle that we sampled clocked in at a robust 133.7 proof, which means it’s not for the faint of heart. Yet, while it’s syrupy and fiery (much like the Nevada desert), this flavorful wheater’s bold punch becomes decisively floral (and more summer-friendly) with a splash of water.
Brother Justus Single Malt Whiskey
Based in Minnesota, the Brother Justus distillery recently unveiled a quartet of whiskies — a traditional single malt, a cold-peated single malt, a silver whiskey, and a cask strength iterant (the Founder’s Reserve). In regards to summer sipping, the traditional single malt is the standout offering. It’s teeming with fruity and floral aromas and offers just a hint of cereal grains on the nose. Although light-bodied, this whiskey is surprisingly viscous, delivering rich, malted grain flavor with hints of under-ripe strawberries. Easily sipped — even when the mercury rises — this single malt epitomizes summer whiskey. The silver whiskey, although underwhelming when poured neat, adds a richness and a unique character to classic clear-spirit cocktails, such as white negronis and daiquiris. When gin or white rum is replaced with Brother Justus’ silver expression, the drinks become heavier in body but maintain the bright flavors that make them agreeable during the hot summer months.
