American Craft Spirits Association !00th Issue of Craft Spirits Weekly
Not One But Two J. Carver – Cruella Amaro and J. Carver Wheat Whiskey
WACONIA, Minn. – October 19, 2018– Today, J. Carver Distillery celebrates over four years of award-winning distilling by announcing the introduction of two new handcrafted spirits: Cruella Amaro, a rye whiskey-based Amaro and J. Carver Wheat Whiskey. Both products are distilled grain-to-glass and aged in our barrel room at our facility in Waconia, Minnesota, located 30 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
“We are thrilled to introduce these two new whiskies to Minnesota consumers,” stated Founder Bill Miller. “Each is handcrafted in very small batches and based on locally-produced grains and barrels manufactured in Avon and Park Rapids, Minnesota,” continues Miller. “We hope to add each of these new products to homes and cocktail bars across Minnesota.”
“Four years ago we planned and produced a sophisticated Minnesota Wheat Whiskey despite the lack of interest in wheat whiskies at that time. However, during a gathering of high-profile bartenders at our distillery in Waconia, we received great encouragement to bring this product to market. We believe that we have embarked on a new era where whiskey aficionados include wheat whiskey on their shopping list. Marvel Bar and Shorewood Liquor were so enamored by this endeavor they hand-selected barrels for blending, purchased privately, and the fruits of this collaboration are now available at Marvel Bar in Minneapolis and Shorewood Liquor,” stated Founding Partner Gina Holman. Additional barrels have been blended for release and are now available to restaurants and fine spirits retailers throughout Minnesota.
Cruella Amaro was designed to take whiskey based cocktails to a whole new level. As long time Amaro lovers, we were inspired to create another unique specialty spirit to compliment our Sevilla Liqueur. Using rye whiskey as the base for this product allowed us to introduce the viscosity of an aged whiskey and a spicy finish to the seductive amaro flavors of herbs, barks, and other spices. The result is a devilish interplay of sweet and bitter, as you would expect from a spirit named “Cruella”. This is our distinctive Minnesota twist on a classic Italian-style herbal digestif. Cruella Amaro is worthy of sipping on its own or elevating a pre-prohibition classic cocktail like a Manhattan, Old Fashioned or Negroni. “Our entire team is proud to launch these two new whiskey-based products as they round out our portfolio of unique whiskies introduced over the last four years,” states Holman.
Newly released J. Carver Distillery Wheat Whiskey 100 proof and Cruella Amaro are available for wholesale purchase exclusively through Minneapolis-based distributor Vinocopia, Inc. Consumers can search the store finder at www.jcarverdistillery.com for retailers by city or zip code including Surdyk’s, South Lyndale, Legacy Wine and Spirits, Shorewood Liquor, Dolce Vita, The Vintage, North Loop, and other fine spirit shops across the state.
Carver Distillery newly released spirits now available include:
Cruella Amaro
Cruella Amaro is an herbal liqueur made at J. Carver Distillery that is commonly consumed as an after-dinner digestif. It has a bitter-sweet flavor with a perfect kiss of sweetness. It is rye whiskey based, and infused with a blend of many herbs, spices and roots, including gentian, saffron, hyssop, rose hip, sweet and bitter orange, chamomile and galenga, with a few other botanicals to balance the many complex flavors. Enjoy the many tasty herbal flavors of Cruella on its own or use with our Sevilla Liqueur to elevate amazing flavors when making your Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or Whiskey Sour. (70 proof)
Carver Wheat Whiskey 100 proof
This 100 proof wheat whiskey has a mash bill of 71% local MN winter wheat, 20% MN corn, 9% malted barley, & has been aged for at least three years in charred oak barrels coopered in Minnesota. This is a sophisticated whiskey that offers rich, robust flavors from the influence of local MN winter wheat. This local J. Carver Wheat Whiskey is worthy of being included in every whiskey aficionado’s collection. 100 proof
About J. Carver Distillery
Carver Distillery crafts distinctive award-winning spirits inspired by a tradition of craft and curiosity, harkening back to the days of unchartered exploration and wonder. J. Carver Distillery is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Stop in and experience a tour and tasting and their grain-to-glass approach to distilling. Join their many enthusiastic customers in sampling locally made vodka, gin, barrel gin, apple brandy, grappa, bourbon, rye whiskey, liqueurs, and now small batch specialty spirits and hand-crafted cocktails in their cocktail room. Founded in 2013 in Waconia, Minnesota, partners include Bill Miller (Waconia), Gina Holman (Victoria), Beth Aschinger (Spring Park), and Dan Niesen (Waconia), Gregg Groechel (Wayzata), John Zupan (Waconia), Tom Kullman (Waconia) More information is available online at www.jcarverdistillery.com.
You must be at least 21 years of age to drink alcoholic beverages. Do not drink and drive, and please drink responsibly.
For more information please contact:
Gina Holman
mobile 612-306-7870/ office 952-442-2433/ ginah@jcarverdistillery.com
1320 MILL LANE, WACONIA, MINNESOTA , USA