Driven by increased interest from both whiskey lovers and leading mixologists, today J. Carver Distillery is announcing a full line of single barrel, cask strength spirits. Product availability is immediate at select retailers and restaurants across Minnesota.
“Our private barrel customers are increasingly seeking cask strength whiskies, which allow for greater flexibility for mixologists when creating unique craft cocktails”, said Bill Miller, a Founding Partner of J. Carver Distillery, located in Waconia. “With this introduction we are broadening the availability of our cask strength products of almost all J. Carver barreled products to all consumers”.
In addition to Cask Strength Brickyard Straight Bourbon and Runestone Straight Rye, which are already on the shelves at select retailers, Cask Strength J. Carver Bourbon Whiskey, Cask Strength J. Carver Rye Whiskey, Cask Strength J. Carver Wheat Whiskey, Wrath of Khanh Blended Whiskey and Cask Strength J. Carver Barrel Gin are now available. “We are excited to enhance our product line with these carefully-selected single barrel products in demand from our most discriminating customers”, said Gina Holman, a Founding Partner of J. Carver, “...and we are greatly appreciative of the collaborations and encouragement of several customers that have proven the usefulness of cask strength expressions of our unique grain-to-glass products.”
Wrath of Khanh Whiskey Now Available To Everyone!
Today, J. Carver Distillery is proud to announce “Wrath of Khanh” Cask Strength Whiskey is now available to local whiskey aficionados at select local retail partners, including Solo Vino and Henry & Son.
When passionate, creative minds collaborate, great things happen. With its renowned Chef and Owner Hai Truong, Ngon Vietnamese Bistro is a destination eatery on University Avenue in Saint Paul known for incredible and creative Asian fusion cuisine and unique craft cocktails based on locally-sourced ingredients. J. Carver Distillery, located on Highway 5 in the small lake town of Waconia is known for a broad line of unique, grain-to-glass spirits based on locally-sourced grains, juices and barrels. Both had a healthy appetite for local collaborations with a variety of suppliers to the hospitality industry, so a collaboration made sense.
A couple years ago, Ngon Bistro became J. Carver’s launch customer for its Cask Strength J. Carver Rye Whiskey, which became a staple at Ngon Vietnamese Bistro. While visiting to pick out another private barrel, Hai expressed a desire to develop a completely unique whiskey with a unique label to be his “house” whiskey for its craft cocktails. Hai knew J. Carver was the perfect fit for his prized whiskey to be a reality. After tasting a variety of aging barrels with the J. Carver team after visiting the J. Carver Barrel house, he landed on a unique blend of J. Carver’s “Brickyard” Bourbon and “Runestone” Rye Whiskey. The popularity of the whiskey at the Ngon Bistro Bar has resulted in its retail rollout at select locations in the Twin Cities.
Perhaps disappointing to Star Trek fans everywhere, this whiskey “was created to bear the name Wrath Of Khanh” named after Hai’s now eight-year-old son, Khanh. His bed-head photo, having just arisen after a mid-day nap, graces its label. Not disappointing to those who know Khanh.
Now the collaborations won’t stop there. Some of the whiskey barrels were used to age Wrath of Khanh hot sauce used in several dishes at Ngon Bistro, while others are being used to age a unique Imperial Stout at Lift Bridge Brewery in Stillwater.
J. Carver Distillery Wrath Of Khanh Whiskey now available:
Wrath Of Khanh Cask Strength Whiskey Tasting Notes:
Color: Mahogany
Aroma: Sweet nose, caramel, toffee, orange blossom honey, and dried fruits
Mouth-Feel: Creamy, elegant for a Cask Strength Whiskey
Flavor: An amazing balance of sweetness and spice. Rich with intriguing flavors of toffee, caramel, cocoa nibs, burnt sugar, Cola, toasted pecans, dried cherries, plums, and dark fruits.
Finish: Long, elegant finish.
Newly Released Cruella Amaro and J. Carver Wheat Whiskey 100 proof
It’s always exciting to bottle new J. Carver spirits for the very first time - and we have 2! Introducing Cruella Amaro: a bitter/sweet Italian-style herbal liqueur and J. Carver 100 proof Wheat Whiskey.
Cruella Amaro has been one of our favorites to develop, and now it can be one of your favorites at home too! Cruella Amaro is an herbal liqueur made at J. Carver Distillery that is commonly consumed as an after-dinner digestif. It has a bitter 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 several 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. Stop out and try a tasty libation or check out our website for delicious cocktails using Cruella Amaro. http://www.jcarverdistillery.com/cocktail-recipes/
Our newest release rounding out our line of whiskeys produced over the last 4 years is worthy of inclusion in every whiskey aficionado’s collection! J. Carver 100 Proof Wheat Whiskey is a sophisticated whiskey that offers the rich, robust flavors of local Minnesota winter wheat. This 100 proof spirit 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. Available in the J. Carver Cocktail Room and Marvel Bar now.
These two J. Carver spirits were released this week during Vinocopia’s Holiday Showcase at the Minneapolis Event Center. Look for Cruella Amaro and J. Carver 100 proof Wheat Whiskey on liquor store shelves beginning this weekend. If you don’t see it on store shelves, please ask your local spirits retailer to bring it in; we always appreciate your local support.
3 Must-Try Holiday Cocktails Featured on Fox 9 Morning Show
Fox 9 Saturday Morning Show featuring J. Carver Barrel Gin, Apple Brandy and Sevilla Liqueur
After months of mild weather in Minnesota, this week's cold snap is a welcomed change! Here are 3 must-try Holiday cocktails Featured on Fox 9 morning show just in time for your Thanksgiving FEAST!
3 Must-Try Cocktail Recipes for the Holidays
Cocktail No. 1 highlighting J. Carver Barrel Gin:
Barrel Gin Old Fashioned
2 oz J. Carver Barrel Gin
½ oz Rich Simple Syrup*
A dash of Easy & Oskey Aurora Bitters
In an Old Fashioned glass, add J. Carver Barrel Gin, Simple Syrup, and bitters. Add ice and stir. Garnish with a squeeze of orange and a cherry.
*Rich Simple Syrup for J. Carver Old Fashioned (Perfect with J. Carver Bourbon, Rye and Apple Brandy as well!!!)
2 cups sugar ( 1 cup granulated sugar and 1 cup demerara sugar)
2 cups water
1 cup frozen organic cherries. (In season I used fresh cherries but hard to come by now)
¼ of a vanilla bean
1 cinnamon stick
1 Rosemary sprig
3 teaspoons Wild Flower Honey
1/4 of an orange
Put all ingredients in a pot. Heat for approximately 10 minutes over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Turn of heat and let cool. Strain syrup. Keep refrigerated in a clean jar for up to three weeks.
J. Carver Barrel Gin is a whiskey lover’s gin. This unique spirit is distilled from local grains, wild rice, and a medley of hand-selected botanicals including locally-grown everlasting clover, star anise, cinnamon, sweet orange peel and cardamon. The gin then rests in white oak barrels made in Minnesota until a balance is achieved between the flavors from the botanicals and influences from the charred oak barrels. (96 proof)
Cocktail No. 2 highlighting J. Carver Apple Brandy:
Spiked Hot Apple Brandy Cider
2 oz J. Carver Apple Brandy
1/4 oz Honey Simple Syrup*
4 oz Hot Local Apple Cider
In a glass coffee mug, add J. Carver Apple Brandy, Honey Simple Syrup and hot cider. Stir. Garnish with an orange, cinnamon stick and candied cranberries.
J. Carver Apple Brandy is Minnesota’s first Apple Brandy based on apples from Sponsel’s Minnesota Harvest Apple Orchard in Jordan, Minnesota, about twenty miles from the distillery. (90 proof)
Cocktail No. 3 highlighting Sevilla Liqueur:
Sevilla Chocolate Cream Martini
2 oz J. Carver Sevilla Liqueur
1/4 oz Chocolate Syrup
1/2 oz Simple Syrup
3/4 oz Heavy Cream
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain in a martini glass. Garnish with shaved chocolate and candied ginger.
J. Carver Sevilla Liqueur offers a subtle blend of local J. Carver Wheat Whiskey aged in Minnesota Barrels with the addition of orange and vanilla. Enjoy sipping straight or try in a classic cocktail. (80 proof)
*Honey Simple Syrup: Heat equal parts honey and water in a small sauce pan over medium heat until dissolved. Cool to room temperature before using.
As reflected in its name, J. Carver Distillery, located in Waconia, is a grain-to-glass distillery featuring a distinct, local flavor in all aspects of its business. Artisanal Minnesota Craft Spirits include Vodka, Gin, Barrel Gin, Bourbon, Rye, Apple Brandy, Grappa and Liqueurs. Looking forward to having you visit J. Carver Distillery soon!!!
Martini Mondays at J. Carver Distillery
J. Carver Martini Monday
May in Minnesota is one of the most gorgeous months of the year. During winter, Minnesotans hibernate from the cold and wait for the days of summer. In May, the bees are buzzing, the tulips are in full bloom, and martinis at J. Carver Distillery are flowing.
Have you seen Martini Monday? For those of you who have tuned in to view the video on our FB page, thank you! If you haven't had the opportunity, "Like" us on Facebook and watch Gina teach you how to create some of the tasty cocktails served in our cocktail room. Here are a few of the recipes. Get ready for some summer sipping.