1. World Whiskey Society
Eco-friendly Green Code is the latest innovation from World Whiskey Society. The 96-proof Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey embraces a fully recyclable bottle that flaunts an 84 percent lower carbon footprint and is five times lighter than typical glass options. Its flavors of honey, butterscotch, and dark fruit culminate in a molasses and toasted oak finish.
SRP: $49.99 per 750-ml bottle
worldwhiskey.com
2. Veuve Clicquot Rich Rosé
Conjuring lighthearted balmy evenings, Veuve Clicquot’s food-friendly Rich Rosé is a blend of 50 percent Pinot Noir, 30 percent Meunier, and 20 percent Chardonnay that tastes of strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant, and peppermint. Ideally, the sweet Champagne (there are 55 grams per liter of sugar) should be savored poolside over plump ice spheres.
SRP: $72 per 750-ml bottle
veuveclicquot.com
3. Luxardo
Italians have long loved Luxardo Del Santo Herbal Liqueur, and it’s finally arrived stateside. Distinguished by a blend of infusions, including Achillea moschata, mace, galanga, cinnamon, carnation, and aromatic calamus, its minty and honeyed layers play well in cocktail favorites like the Last Word and Bijou.
SRP: $34.99 per 750-ml bottle
luxardousa.com
4. MaltyVerse
Storytelling is at the heart of MaltyVerse, a collection of limited-edition whiskies bolstered by comic artworks from British illustrator Carl Harrison. This fictional universe, inaugurated with Cambus Distillery’s Agent W and The Secret Auction, expands with a duo of two rare, 96-proof releases dubbed MaltyVerse Scenes. A Wreck in Kentucky is Green River Distilling Co.’s six-year-old single barrel bourbon, while No Pressure Whiskey, a five-year-old high-rye single barrel bourbon, comes courtesy of MB Roland Distillery, also in Kentucky.
SRP: $89.99 to $109.99 per 700-ml bottle
maltyverse.com
5. Tequila Herradura
Back in 1870, before the tequila category was recognized, Casa Herradura began producing a blanco, the distillery’s sole offering for nearly a century. Now it’s back with a 46% ABV bottling, a higher proof than the rest of Herradura’s 100 percent agave tequilas. In true commemorative fashion, the historic small-batch release honors the original packaging with a vintage design.
SRP: $44.99 per 700-ml bottle
herradura.com
6. Surfside
Surfside is ramping up its ready-to-drink portfolio with a handy variety pack of 100-calorie, 4.5% ABV green tea-based libations. In addition to the classic green tea and vodka showcasing real honey- and ginseng-inflected green tea, there are new ripe-for-summer flavors of peach green tea and vodka, mango green tea and vodka, and the half and half, green tea and lemonade with vodka.
SRP: $19.99 per eight-pack of 12-oz. cans
drinksurfside.com
7. Heaven’s Door
Housed in a ceramic bottle emblazoned with one of Bob Dylan’s lively paintings from The Brazil Series, the limited-release Bootleg Series Volume VI joins the Heaven’s Door lineup of whiskeys from the legendary musician. The 121.16-proof blend of 12-, 13-, and 14-year-old wheated bourbons is finished in Limousin cigar barrels and expresses dried fruit and baking spices on the palate.
SRP: $499 per 700-ml bottle
heavensdoor.com
8. Westland Distillery
Seattle’s Westland Distillery has unveiled the third edition of Solum. Part of Westland’s Outpost Range highlighting the Pacific Northwest terroir, the 100-proof American single malt whiskey, a year older than its predecessor, puts 100 percent Washington peated malt in the spotlight. Sustainably harvested from below the bog’s waterline, the peat is unusually earthy and balanced with fruit and jolts of oak imparted by Westland’s own refill casks.
SRP: $149.99 per 700-ml bottle
westlanddistillery.com
9. Töst Beverages
Along with its minimalist 750-milliliter and 250-milliliter glass bottles, Töst is now available in a versatile canned format. The dry, non-alcoholic bubbly, both the original made with white tea, white cranberry, and ginger, and the rosé melding white tea, ginger, and elderberry, can be conveniently sipped on beaches and at outdoor concerts alike.
SRP: $13.99 per four-pack of 250-ml cans
tostbeverages.com
10. On the Rocks
Effen Vodka is the star of the floral, herbal, elderflower liqueur-tinged Lemon Drop Martini (20% ABV), the most recent ready-to-drink concoction from On the Rocks Premium Cocktails. Subtly sweet and exhibiting hints of basil and vanilla, it can be shaken with ice and strained into a Martini glass, or simply poured over ice, and garnished with a complementary sugar rim and lemon twist.
SRP: $12.99 per 375-ml bottle
ontherockscocktails.com
11. Garrard County Distilling Co.
Garrard County Distilling Co. is relaunching its roster of whiskeys, beginning with the flagship All Nations Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Distillers from the likes of Jim Beam, Barton, MGP, and Bluegrass collectively weighed in on the 96-proof spirit’s three different mash bills. Comprising existing stocks from distilleries located along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the five-to-seven-year-old blend was matured in #4 alligator char barrels in Clermont, Danville, Owensboro, and Boston before a final resting session at Garrard’s Lancaster distillery.
SRP: $39.99 per 750-ml bottle
garrardcountydistillingco.com
12. 1800 Tequila
The 12th edition of 1800 Tequila’s collectible Essential Artist Series has debuted, and this time around Mexican-born, New York City-based multimedia artist Raúl de Nieves has whipped up six distinctly colorful artworks that explore the connection between earthly and ancestral realms. Building upon the stained-glass reminiscent pieces de Nieves created for his solo exhibition at the University of Washington’s Henry Art Gallery, the bottles are an ode to Mexican heritage.
SRP: $36.99 per 750-ml bottle
1800tequila.com
