Heaven Hill launching unaged whiskey line

Maybe the marketing slogan will be "Whiskey for the impatient consumer." Maybe not.

In any matter, Heaven Hill Distilleries will put its new Trybox Series of New Make Whiskeys on retail sale beginning in May. Each of the whiskeys in the series is right from the still without being aged.

The first two releases in the series will be New Make and Rye New Make. If the distiller had completed the process by aging them, New Make would have been turned into Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage bourbon and Rye New Make would have become Rittenhouse Straight Rye.

"We believe our reputation and the breadth of our American whiskey offerings will make the Trybox Series an important addition to the national whiskey scene," Susan Wahl, brand manager for the whiskey portfolio at Heaven Hill, said in a news release. "The ability to offer not only a classic new make bourbon formula, but also a rye, wheat and corn whiskey new make, will make this a significant extension of the current available whiskey offerings and highly desirable to enterprising mixologists and whiskey connoisseurs."

The Trybox Series will be available in a 750-milliliter bottle, packaged three to a case. Suggested retail price: $24.99.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.

'Skinny' cocktails at The Cheesecake Factory

A typical Cheesecake Factory bar area

Usually, chain restaurants issue press releases for every new dish they put on their menus. Seldom do we hear much about new drinks. That situation, however, is beginning to change.

As I recently reported, Red Robin has begun putting new emphasis on its alcoholic drinks, with an expanded and updated menu and more drinks specials. Now, The Cheesecake Factory is following suit.

The casual dining chain launched five new "Skinny-Style Cocktails," each with 150 calories or less. They include:

• Cosmopolitan: Skyy Citrus and Cointreau with a splash of cranberry juice
• Margarita: Gold tequila, triple sec and lime juice
• Mojito: Cruzan Citrus Rum with fresh mint and lime, on the rocks
• Red Sangria: Housemade with red wine and fresh fruit, on the rocks
• Long Island Iced Tea: Vodka, rum, gin, tequila, lemon, lime and a splash of Coca-Cola

The restaurant company said that it has taken its five signature cocktails, and developed five new recipes using a proprietary blend of both sugar substitute and natural sweeteners that make the new cocktails. They are priced the same as the original versions.

To Dowd's Wine Notebook latest entry.
To Dowd's Tasting Notes latest entry.
Back to Dowd On Drinks home page.