By: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler
Good things come to those who wait! When Valentine Distilling Company first began operations in 2008, among its early acquisitions was a cask of straight bourbon whiskey from the former LDI distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. In 2011, that cask was moved into the 5000-square-foot renovated building at 161 Vester Street, along with Valentine’s distilling and tasting room operations. Now, after aging for 7 years and 10 months, this craft spirit is ready to be introduced as the inaugural release in Valentine’s Proprietors Select Series.
“With our recent expansion to a new 15,000-square-foot production facility at 965 Wanda Street in Ferndale, it seemed appropriate to release this cask now to mark the start of a new era,” says founder/distiller Rifino Valentine. “The Proprietors Select Series is a continual rolling line of limited-release bottlings designed to commemorate special events and to share our craft on a more intimate level with our most loyal supporters.”
The Proprietors Select Bourbon Whiskey offers a terrific color with a mild nose. According to the tasting notes: “The spirit immediately hits the tip of your tongue with cherry and strawberry jam, before giving way to biscuit, toffee and a hint of tobacco smoke. A viscous pour with a quick finish, the late-palate lingers with a faint note of menthol and fresh-cut wood, complementing the sweetness wonderfully. A superb dram selected at the peak of its maturity.”
“Aged for so many years in our unique Michigan climate and amongst the aromas of our production distillery, this cask seems to have absorbed some special notes sure to be appreciated by whiskey connoisseurs,” Rifino says. “We present this limited-edition spirit to the public as we often get to enjoy ourselves—straight from the barrel, non-chill filtered and uncut at cask strength.”
Only 132 bottles were produced, exclusively at the Vester Street Tasting Room.
Valentine Distilling Company is an American pioneer of small batch, handcrafted spirits. Consistently recognized for excellence in national and international competition, Valentine continues to produce some of the finest bourbon, vodka and gin in the world. In the tradition of Detroit City, Valentine Distilling remains dedicated to the manufacture and export of American Exceptionalism. Valentine Distilling products can currently be found in more than 3000 locations throughout Michigan, Illinois, Tennessee, New York, Maryland, Delaware and Washington DC as well as internationally in Italy, France and Belgium.
This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!
