Fast Facts on the New Releases:
- Who is Savage & Cooke?
- Savage & Cooke is a distillery located in Mare Island, California. The distillery is located in a naval shipyard.
- What is being released?
- Howling Mob Botted in Bond Bourbon
- Bloody Butcher Bottled in Bond Bourbon
- Age: Both are aged four years.
- Price: Both are $99.00
Mare Island, CA (April 2, 2024)—Last fall Savage & Cooke Distillery’s patience finally paid off as they gave whiskey lovers a taste of what they have been working on for nearly a decade. Along with their new whiskeys, they also debuted a new look for the brand, but they aren’t stopping there. This spring two limited-release, bottled in bond bourbons are joining the three core Savage & Cooke products on the shelf of your favorite retailer. These bourbons are a limited-release and expected to sell out quickly.
Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey is a one-time release with just 31 barrels having been produced. Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey comes from 44 carefully selected barrels and will be an annual release each spring. Both products were made entirely at the Savage & Cooke Distillery on Mare Island.
“When we began distilling in 2018, we knew we only wanted to use the best ingredients in our whiskey. Now that we are at a place where they are ready for release, we can really see the value in this attention to detail,” said Distillery Owner Dave Phinney. “The heirloom corn we get from nearby Winters, California is the perfect example. It makes these bottled in bond whiskeys so special. It was a long wait, but with each new release, we see how our patience paid off. We can’t wait to get them into the hands of our fans.”
Spirits experts agree, Savage & Cooke is really putting out some top-quality whiskey. “Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey is a reserved yet expressive bourbon with structure and sophistication. It doesn’t bang down the door to introduce itself. It’s well-built, clearly matured. It has a brightness and a freshness and if ever a California style of whiskey were to emerge, this would be the model,” said Liza Weisstuch, spirits expert and journalist whose work appears in the New York Times and the Washington Post. Weisstuch also serves as a contributing editor to Whisky Magazine.
Chiming in with accolades for Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey, Christopher Null, spirits veteran and founder of Null media (www.drinkhacker.com) said this, “A huge winner, and one I returned to more than once to explore in greater depth.” Null went on to rate the bourbon an “A.”
For bourbon fans wanting a preview of what to expect from these two new Savage & Cooke offerings, here are some tasting notes from Master Distiller Jordan Via:
Howling Mob Bourbon Whiskey
Rich amber hues with bright aromas of fresh orange zest and Madagascar vanilla bean. Smokey charred oak mid palate finishes with cinnamon bark and ground peppercorn. Full bodied and balance. This whiskey was aged four years and is 100 proof. It retails for $99.
Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey
Deep caramel with an orange hue. Bright aromatics of ground cinnamon, dried orange peel and lilac blossoms. Finishes with a long, unctuous cherry flavor with pronounced minerality and a core of power. This whiskey was aged four years and is 100 proof. It retails for $99.
“These bourbons were painstakingly crafted and ushed to maturity over a period of four years, but in reality, the process was much longer because it took two seasons to research the ideal growing sites for the grain,” said Distillery General Manager Lauren Blanchard. “This bottled in bond series is a true grain to glass project in that we controlled every element in the process from the heirloom corn varietal and site selection to fermentation time, distillation and barrel regimen; no detail was overlooked. We are extremely proud and thrilled to bring these special bourbons to the market.”
Savage & Cooke Distillery was recently named California Bourbon Distillery of the year at the New York International Spirits Competition. To learn more about the distillery and their whiskey visit https://savageandcooke.com/.
About Savage & Cooke
The Savage & Cooke distillery, owned by Napa Valley winemaker Dave Phinney, is located on historic Mare Island and opened in 2018. The decision to locate the distillery on Mare Island was due to its fascinating history as a naval shipyard, the plethora of space, stunning brownstone buildings and its proximity to both the Napa Valley and San Francisco. Savage & Cooke distills, ages, finishes and bottles a range of brown spirits including bourbon, whiskey and rye. Savage & Cooke welcome guests year-round, offering them the opportunity to do tours, whiskey tastings and dine at the on-site restaurant. In addition, the facility also boasts rental space for events and gatherings.
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