Metzes Select was a limited release (6,000 bottles) of 3 different bourbons of various ages and mashbills that was bottled at a rather mild 93 proof. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. CL Financial Group (also affiliated with Angostura Limited) reached an agreement with them and bought the LDI plant and the Charles Medley Distillery in Owensboro, KY towards the end of 2007. MGP Ingredients Rossville Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana has been making whiskey at the same location since 1847. All of it is aged 6-7 years, with the light whiskey being up in the eights., At 88 proof, its made for cocktails, but David confessed its great for cooking. From the outside, its easy to see that one of the buildings has a concrete floor and (painted) brick/block walls. Qualified candidates who are detail oriented and quality minded are encouraged to apply. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The core part of its business will always be to supply other brands, but it has made the decision to make room for its own products in its business as well. The headlines from January 2020 were awash with the news that MGPs stock had plummeted 24% after a report came out of the shortfall in the sales department of whiskey to customers. Enjoy a Coastal New Years Eve Celebration at Fly N Fish Latin Jazz Gala A New Years Celebration, Cozy Up with Old Brea Chop Houses New Fall/Winter Cocktails. But even with the cost savings being realized, Seagrams as a beverage producer was on uneasy legs as a company. This has led to an interesting spattering of small craft distilleries around the US offering limited amounts of highly-aged MGP bourbon and rye whiskey for a year or two before running out completely. It may never be known if the data influenced the management at MGPI to lean in one direction or another. In addition to the majority bourbon (a high-rye mashbill, of course), theres rye, light whiskey (aged in a used barrel), and corn whiskey (also aged in a used barrel). MGP already had a large distilling operation in Atchison, Kansas, but looked favorably upon its acquisition of an aged whiskey producing powerhouse. Heres a closer look at MGP Distillerys whiskey brands. Heres what I learned. E. Seagram Lawrenceburg Plant in Indiana began churning out various distillates including whiskey, clear spirits and other malted beverages for the Seagrams portfolio right away. It was a very different product from the modern day Seagrams 7, which now has a large percentage of Grain Neutral Spirits blended into it (nowadays believed to be 75% of the volume of a bottle). Its well-balanced and an easy sipper. George Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskies are made by MGP Ingredients at their historic 170-year old distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN. Remus Repeal Reserve, George Remus (both bourbon and rye whiskey) Rossville Rye Whiskey, Eight and Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey, Tanners Creek Bourbon. Today MGP Distillery produces whiskey, vodka, gin, neutral grain spirits, and industrial alcohol. In the same podcast, he also elaborated on the fact that the V yeast strain (internally known as Strain 133) is shared between Four Roses and MGPI to this day. MGP is the country's largest producer of rye whiskey and is known for producing some of the best. Posted by: But to truly understand the modern-day history of the distillery at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, you must first look back to 1933. URLs automatically linked. The most publicized incident occurred under Pernod Ricards ownership as they began to sell rye whiskey to the Templeton Rye Whiskey brand based out of Templeton, Iowa. The nose is full of clove, mint, and some dried fruits, while the palate shows more baking spice and brown sugar. (Good to know!) The Bamboo Club Presents World Cup Grand Finale Screening. Even at a distance, the red-brick stillhouse towers over a field of several rickhouses, which are themselves six stories tall and massive. Thus began the business model that continues to this day with MGPI; contract distilling and sourced whiskey sales as the main focus of the plant. View our large selection of wines, spirits, and sake. But its outright mind-blowing when I realized that wasnt the only fermentation room! There are approximately 1,600 vodka distilleries in the United States. Almost all large distilleries have these kinds of rooms with various control stations overseeing automation across several stages of distilling and fermenting, and almost all of them look like some version of Homer Simpsons work station at the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant. HOURS & TOURS Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. . Early history behind the plant and distilling operations in this part of Indiana can be found in many different online articles. Yet there are no manicured grounds, no craft cocktail bar, no tours and no visitors allowed. Quality control and efficiency were built into every step of the distilling process. This second release is at 100 proof, and MGP plans to keep future releases at that proof point. Atlanta's first legal distillery since 1906, Old Fourth . Light Whiskey also didnt have a set mashbill or barrel entry proof, but Seagrams elected to barrel theirs at 140 proof. The other distillery, located in Atchison, Kansas (the site of the company headquarters where it was founded) distills neutral spirits and makes gin. Michael stokes | 3. Again, theres hints of smoke with baking spices, plus a lingering spice finish. Most guests can visit about three bourbon distilleries per day. Several of these improvement drawings remain in the archives at the Lawrenceburg, Indiana plant to this day. Here youll find travelogues, food guides, travel tips, and more all with a side of whisk(e)y. Whiskied Wanderlust is a whiskey and travel site based in Chicago. Many of the main industrial buildings that make up the MGP property still have the Seagrams name emblazoned at the top. MGP is well known in distilling circles for providing startups and some of the world's best known brands around the world with bourbon and rye whiskies. LDI was listed for sale again, looking for its 4th owner in just over a decade. No ownership change is complete without a headache or two. In addition, MGP has positioned all of their products at a super-premium price point to allay the concerns of some clients who are selling below or above that level. The Rossville Distillery was founded there in 1847, which then became the Seagrams Distillery in 1933. Please enable JavaScript if you would like to comment on this blog. Also present is the code 10 K 16 which likely stands . It makes quality products that make brands money and consumers happy. The Federal government wanted the companys assets split instead of being sold to one beverage producer to avoid creating a monopoly. More Information Contact News & Press. Nose: This is a caramel bomb on notes of oak, vanilla . You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post. Comments (5). This distillery produces spirits for private labels to sell. And of course they added a blended bourbon to MGP Distillerys whiskey brands: Eight & Sand. That's very convenient as in the hot summers the water is still cool to run through the condensers. The company was purchased by Seagram in 1933 and has changed hands a few times since then.</p> <p>The company makes most of the country's rye-based whiskeys, along with a wide range of other spirits . Theres a reason why everyone from Bulleit and Templeton to WhistlePig and High West sources from MGP. Copyright 2020 Kelli Nakagama. But in a small pocket of Indiana, nestled next to Kentucky and Ohio along the Ohio River stands a large brick campus with the words Seagrams Since 1857 still spelled out in white bricks on the tops of the buildings that poke up across the hilly horizon. Thus, the names were born for each. Rossville Union Straight Rye This rye whiskey is a blend of MGPs 51% rye mashbill with the more well-known 95% rye mashbill found in Bulleit Rye, among other products out there. July 29, 2021 at 01:00 PM. They make a range of different kinds of spirits, with a focus on a variety of types of whiskey . Four Roses rounds down their low and high rye bourbon mashbill to 20% rye for E mashbills and 35% for B mashbills whereas MGPIs ryed bourbon mashbills are often quoted as 21% for E mashbills and 36% for the B.. The historic distillery is not open to the publicbut I was given a rare look inside. Yeah, it's not my jam either. While Indianas neighbor directly to the south may get all of the American whiskey glory (ahem, Kentucky), the tiny town of Lawrenceburg has played an important role in American whiskey production for the past 200 years. Check out our daily deals and features. Bike Park Tickets & Passes: 10% Off Snowshoe Retail and Dining Outlets. The scientists at Seagrams were always testing and tinkering to produce the best tasting spirits that they could make and tailor them to the locations that would distill them the best. Rossville Union rye whiskey is a blend of their 51% and 95% rye whiskey mashbill whiskeys aged about 5-6 years. However, front and center was a barrel with a very visible "DSP-KY-20037" stamped on the barrel head. While it has confidentiality agreements with its customers and does not disclose brand names, it is estimated that close to 130 different whiskey brands use MGP sourced whiskey. Little did most consumers realize that this may have actually been a test to see how the public would respond to a product that was made, bottled and sold entirely by the company that produced it. Interestingly they're not all under MGP as a brand name but under various names including George Remus bourbon, Till vodka, and Rossville Union rye whiskey. The George Remus Straight bourbon, Remus Repeal Reserve, and Remus Volstead Reserve honor his history. | We visited just the one warehouse that was racked. Seagrams also produced a large amount of light whiskey at its Canadian distilleries with the Valleyfield Distillery in Quebec still producing large amounts of it for Diageo today. Their barrels are from a variety of producers but all are #4 char level, although this is likely also negotiable for some clients. Comparison Joint Review (Batch 9 vs Batch 13). Save 80% Off on your MGP Discount Code & Deals purchase with the MGP Discount Code & Deals coupons. It gets immediate feedback from client brands about what is selling across the country. I got lots of burnt sugar, caramel, and hints of dill, with cinnamon and chocolate. Named Metzes Medley Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey, under 1000 bottles of 80 proof bourbon were blended by master distiller Greg Metze and were sold off with all proceeds going to the United Way. The CL Financial ownership period experienced this as well. Master Blender David Whitmer described the George Remus Straight Bourbon as high alcohol content with a lot of flavor.. Whereas a majority of Kentucky warehouses were built out of wood, the warehouses at the Lawrenceburg distillery were all brick structures with concrete floors separating each level. The distillery was formerly owned by Seagrams, which was the propertys longest tenant to date. But all that changed in 2001 when Pernod-Ricard took over. The distillerys new business model was now to make whiskey (and other spirits) that would be sold to other companies for them to bottle under their own label. With CL Financial (CLF) in control of the plant, it was a gamble on if they would be able to move the large stores of whiskey that now filled their warehouses. But teams were dispatched in the early 2010s to begin the search for suitable facilities to expand the limited storage space at the Lawrenceburg facility. The other reason has to do with variances in the warehouses. The Vodka Distillery Industry in the United States (2016-2021) and industry outlook (2021-2026). An advantage to MGP now out of hiding is that it can release its own spirits, like its George Remus Repeal Reserve bourbon that launched last November. April 09, 2019 in bourbon, distilling, rye, trips, vodka, whisky | Permalink They also have a wheat whiskey mashbill that has already been bottled by a few NDPs (such as Backbone Bourbon) and instantly showcased its captivating potential despite still being young. He murdered his wife but was acquitted for 'temporary insanity.' The MGP team is clearly honored to be one of the leading distillers in the country and a force in the rye whiskey boom around the world. Even though we werent far from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the maturation process is actually closer in comparison to Scotland. Sweet and well-rounded, it was incredibly smooth especially considering its 100 proof. Related ::Touring High West Distillery in Utah, Glengoyne Distillery in Scotland, and Teeling Distillery in Dublin. There may be struggles and hiccups still on the horizon for the Lawrenceburg plant, but as long as the processes stay the same, some of the best whiskey in the US should continue to flow from the barrels produced there. The Kentucky rickhouses lose more water, as opposed to the humid ones here. The aging barrels are stacked vertically, one upon the other, in imposing towers above our heads. The history of MGPs Lawrenceburg distillery officially dates to 1847 but some records indicate the distillery started as early as 1809. "Eight and Sand" refers to a train going full-throttle (the eight) with added traction (sand on the tracks). There seems to be a widely held rumor that the distillate has changed from what was being produced during the LDI days compared to what is being produced today under MGPI ownership. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. I believe that this is not the case anymore. There are also slight differences in a barrel stored upright versus a barrel stored on its side. This invitation was clearly a rare opportunity to visit a 170-year-old distillery with a rich whiskey past, but with all of this secrecy, would we really get a feel for the inner workings of the place? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. About David Whitmer With a background spanning nearly 30 years in the food and beverage industries, David Whitmer is a walking encyclopedia of the science, history and craft behind spirits and . And getting the opportunity to taste my way through all of these while sitting next to them was unbelievably memorable! But ever since the switch to European sources was established, the consistency of the congener profile has allowed the rye whiskey coming out of Lawrenceburg to remain world class. While outwardly less industrial than I anticipated, the check-in procedure at the distillery was something more akin to visiting a power plant. The sea of fermentors and the number of gallons of each one was hard to comprehend. Some Indiana-bourbon lovers who swoon about older barrel proof bourbons with low ABV numbers would probably find out that their barrels came from the warehouses (and sides of the warehouses) that were especially close to Tanners Creek. The distillery was opened in 1847 , and has undergone such significant upgrades, expansions, and modifications over the years that little of the original remains. At the same time, they began pulling the curtain back on their distilling operations at the former Seagrams Distillery, inviting media to tour the facility and introducing the world to the first MGP products the company can actually talk about. Luckily there is a clear point of differentiation. What became increasingly clear was that the success of MGP lies in the fact that it can pretty much customize whatever its clients desire. And the Eight & Sand story? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This series is 100 proof and, David explained, is a little sweeter than [Series] two. And MGP added their own brands to the list in 2016. But by 2014-2015, it began to appear that perhaps MGP had let too many barrels roll out too quickly. Meaning a blended whiskey with majority bourbon (at least 51%) but no neutral spirits or coloring. After distillation, Seagrams aged it in previously used barrels for as long as was necessary. That the distillery is so automated, just six people can run the entire place! So why Germany? Like most brands, each MGP brand has a story, but they emphasized that here they are all true. This meant that Americans would soon have much more money to spend on things like distilled spirits while also being legally allowed to buy them again. Seeing inside MGP Distillery in Indiana is like experiencing Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory. Everything after that part, however, was pretty familiar. I knew before touring MGP Distillery that they are the largest producer of rye whiskey in the country, but seeing that size firsthand is amazing. MGP whiskies were so sought after that any product aged for more than 10 years was guaranteed to sell out instantly and fetch huge premiums on the secondary marketplaces. At some point in the early 70s, Seagrams along with the other distillers, approached the TTB about officially creating the category of Light Whiskey along with its production standards and received an approval for it. And same with Indiana: as the whiskey ages, the alcohol percentage goes down since alcohol evaporates faster than water. Welcome to New York City's largest wine & spirits store online. MGPI swung open their doors and the barrels began to roll out. Rossville Union rye and George Remus bourbon both have several bottles to their lineup (but more on those below). Any blending done after the fact is done by them or at their direction on contract. Even the Mother Yeast it uses to ferment with was inherited from Seagrams. It should also be noted that Seagrams owned other Kentucky distilleries, but would eventually shutter many of them due to the decrease in whiskey sales across the years. By 2006, Pernod Ricard had paid for an independent study to be conducted across its brands to determine which operations they could trim the fat from. While theyre pretty tight-lipped on the subject, its a safe estimate that their whiskey has been labeled under more than 120 different brands, all of which should have the tell-tale Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana on the label. The latest company information, including net asset values, performance, holding & sectors weighting, changes in voting rights, and directors and dealings. Straight vanilla and maple with caramel on the nose, with candied fruits, smoke, leather, and spice on the palate. The high proof that Light Whiskey was being distilled at stripped away much of the body and character and left behind a very light tasting spirit. At the Lawrenceburg distillery (outside Cincinnati but on the border of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana) they mostly produce the aged products - whiskies- though they also do some gin and neutral spirits. An enjoyable sipper or cocktail companion, especially for $30. Even though their many rickhouses are slightly different from each other, all of them are designed so barrels age the same regardless of location within them. After touring the MGP Distillery campus, we came inside for a tasting of all MGPs brands led by Master Blender David Whitmer. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Realizing they could capitalize on their own expertise, they released a handful of bourbons, ryes, and even a vodka. Larry Ebersold, the Master Distiller for LDI, did depart with the company during this transition (and later went on to advise New Riff on how to run their distillery), but he left behind a fully trained mentor in the form of Greg Metze. The company has gone out of its way to ensure that their own products dont compete with those of their clients in the whiskey space. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. North American rye grain on the other hand tends to be dirtier and much more variable in their key components. On September 29, 2021, MGP's historic distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, officially became the Ross & Squibb Distillery. Company: Old Fourth Distillery. This brought to light a fact that rye whiskey that was not labeled as straight was allowed to have a certain percentage of flavor or color enhancers added in, cheapening the allure of how whiskey traditionally got its taste. But with the large capacity of the bottling plant on site at the Indiana facility, Pernod Ricard switched bottling operations there until 2006 when they switched operations to Arkansas. OLD FOURTH DISTILLERY Address 487 Edgewood Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 Get Directions Phone (844) 653-3687 Tasting Room Hours: Thursday 12PM - 7PM Friday 12PM - 10PM Saturday 12PM - 10PM Sunday 12PM - 7PM Tours run at the following times: 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm Walk-ins are welcome, or book your tour online. We visited one warehouse - there are seven on-site and I think 5 more elsewhere (though I'm not confident in those numbers). MGP is the countrys largest producer of rye whiskey and is known for producing some of the best. And the Eight & Sand whiskey has a story all its own. The largest vodka distillery in the United States is located in Portland, Oregon.. Drinkhacker was founded in 2007 by Christopher Null, a longtime entertainment, technology, and lifestyle writer, award-winning winemaker, and the finicky proprietor of what has been called "the best home bar in San Francisco". In 1933, a Canadian company named Seagrams (owned by Samuel Bronfman) purchased the Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery. My day at MGP concluded with a full tasting of MGPs complete portfolio. MGP Distillery's whiskey is all non-chill filtered and barreled at 120 proof (but the resulting bottling proofs vary). However, with contract distilling for new whiskey customers reaching new highs, it was imperative that MGPI expand their facilities. For years it has focused on producing quality spirits for other brands and have enjoyed sitting just out of the glow of the intense spotlight that has been shining on the flourishing spirits industry in recent years. Indiana's Oldest Distillery now Called called Ross & Squibb Oldest Distillery in Indiana Announces Facelift - and not to its Whiskey Madison Kopta Sep 30th, 2021, 12:02 pm Effective immediately, the distiller of George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey will go by a new name: Ross & Squibb Distillery. This led to a wave of distilleries looking far and wide for large stocks of aged whiskey to supplement their operations before their own whiskey could be aged and released. He ended up selecting the 5th profile variety and the 7th profile variety as the ones that Seagrams would produce. What is this place and why does it exist right here? Actually, I lied. After Pernod Ricards purchase of LDI, the bond with Four Roses may have been broken, but they soon found themselves collaborating with the other distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky: Wild Turkey (Pernod Ricard had purchased WT in the 1980s). $25 Off all your purchase. After our tour, we tasted a range of aged whiskies, including its new release, George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and a preview of its most recent launch, Remus Repeal Reserve, in honor of Repeal Day, December 5. In the beginning, production was geared toward their two flagship whiskey products: Seagrams 5 Crown and 7 Crown. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Why not in Kentucky? MSRP: $50 (2019) Official Website. So although nobody from the 1930s is still around to say for sure, it is a very real possibility that the same bourbon and rye whiskey recipes were invented in the 1930s. The distillery was officially founded in 1847 by George Ross as Rossville Distillery, though they've found evidence that there has been distilling on the site going back to at least 1808. Media Kit Sitemap News Find It Connect. Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. March 14, 2021 at 06:52 PM, Posted by: Most consumers believed that this product was distilled in Iowa. Will these metal clad warehouses eventually produce whiskey that strays away from the typical MGP profile? Carefully crafted at the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana - just miles from Cincinnati where Remus ran his Prohibition empire - each bourbon is made to meet the uncompromising standards Remus' bourbon was famous for during his reign. The buildings are all attractive red brick, like at Buffalo Trace, and along the rooflines of the large rackhouses are the words Seagrams and Since 1857, reminding you that this place is no newcomer to whiskey-making. |. Event Information. As recently as 2020, MGPI took yet another step forward by recognizing the whiskey enthusiasts thirst for single barrel products. In Kentucky, youre likely to hear about the importance of a barrels location in the rickhouse because it affects maturation. Now blended bourbon legally means it must be at least 51% bourbon, no neutral grain spirits, no caramel coloring, and no added sugars. This is not an unexpected move at a time where the industry still sees shortages and high prices for aged products. These companies typically have one thing in common; they have a large umbrella corporation that theyre under that increases their buying power. We're tasting all of MGP Distillery's five whiskey brands with Master Blender Pam Soule, plus starting with [] tasting. This may not make a lot of sense because of the steps that Seagrams took back in the day to have warehouses that would age consistently throughout the floors. Error type: Deeply Nerdy Stuff About Jack Daniel's Production - Charcoal, Souring, Fermentation, 95% rye whiskey (a mashbill of 95% rye, 5% malted barley), 51% rye whiskey (51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malted barley), bourbon 36% rye (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley), bourbon 21% rye (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley). To many buyers, MGP bourbon (or any sourced/non-distiller produced bourbon) is an abomination to the art, craft, handmade, or small-batch bourbons and whiskeys. While Indiana's neighbor directly to the south may get all of the American whiskey glory (ahem, Kentucky), the tiny town of Lawrenceburg has played an important role in American whiskey production for the past 200 years. That is, until recently. Whisky Brands That Are Made at MGP. Most of their clients, according to Andy, are buying a single mashbill. Craft distilleries were now obtaining legal status to open across the US. Luxco wasn't exactly hurting prior to this, as their reported 2020 net revenue being $202M. This gives these products a point of differentiation from their many clients' products. They fascinate me even more when gloves sit atop them with shadows. A very strange relationship ensued whereby Diageo now owned a large majority of the brands that Seagrams once made, but Pernod Ricard now owned a major facility that produced the spirits that were used for those labels. It is not exactly known why the producers felt the need to develop a new category of whiskey, but production costs and the changing tastes of American drinkers (to lighter drinkers) were certainly at the forefront.
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