- to style your text. These products are fermented and distilled on site, aged on site or elsewhere, and bottled up as a zillion different brands on the marketplace. Thus began a series of incidents where the public began to witness hometown brands sprouting up with their own whiskey for sale that was usually made in Indiana. E. Seagram Distillery- A Tale of Two Lawrenceburgs, The Lawrenceburg Distillery under Pernod Ricard ownership, CL Financial and the Financial Collapse of 2008, MGPI expands outside of Lawrenceburg to obtain more storage facilities, E Low Rye: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley, B High Rye: 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley, E Low Rye: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley, B High Rye: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley, Q Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% malted barley, C Corn Whiskey: 80% corn, 15% rye, 5% malted barley, D High Corn Bourbon: 99% corn, 1% malted barley, Rye whiskey: 51% rye, 45% corn, 4% malted barley, Wheat Whiskey: 95% wheat, 5% malted barley, Alt. Seagrams approach to aging their barrels of whiskey was different from the warehouses and rickhouses that stored bourbon for Kentucky distilleries. He got to know Thompson Willett, owner of what is now Willett Distillery, while working as a glass decanter craftsman. The suggested retail price is $59.99. This would not end up being the last time that a product from Lawrenceburg Distillery ended up being incorrectly labeled as companies like Widow Jane and Whistlepig also failed to state on their labels that their bourbon and rye whiskey came from Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Before jumping into the history of the Pernod Ricard ownership era, it is important to look at the link between Seagrams ownership of both the Four Roses plant in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky and the Seagrams plant at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. While the exact reasons for Seagrams beverage empire dissolving are numerous and complex, the sale of the company was relatively straightforward. Its an old train phrase meaning smooth sailing.. Whereas a majority of Kentucky warehouses were built out of wood, the warehouses at the Lawrenceburg distillery were all brick structures with concrete floors separating each level. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer for review purposes. The company is 100% sustainable (including the distilleries, plants, and offices) and has a policy against single use plastics. Therefore, none of these brands should taste anything like the 100+ brands already using MGP products. As the rest of the industry became more transparent over the last decade, MGP started to look more and more like Willy Wonka. What is this place and why does it exist right here? More than 50 brands source whiskey from MGP, including Angels Envy, Bulleit, High West, Redemption, and Whistlepig, to name a few. Bike Park Tickets & Passes: 10% Off Snowshoe Retail and Dining Outlets. In MGPIs current assortment of warehouses, there exists a unique, single-story, metal-clad building with a concrete floor that is used primarily for experimentation. How Long Does Baileys (And Other Cream Liqueurs) Last? Luckily there is a clear point of differentiation. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. An enjoyable sipper or cocktail companion, especially for $30. Our tour of MGPs massive operation included a bit of a history lesson on the town of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Till Vodka This vodka is produced at the Atchison, Kansas distillery and made with locally sourced wheat. Thank you, Kelly, Posted by: So technically, MGP and Four Roses still use the same mashbills as each other. Its absolutely beautiful. Rossville Union Cask Strength Rye This rye is the same general age as the straight rye, but the blend is different, as is the batch size. Upping the ante on bourbon is the Remus Repeal Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Starting in 2018, MGP decided to get in on its own action, launching an impressive portfolio of house brands that now include five whiskeys, as well as a vodka. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. However, front and center was a barrel with a very visible "DSP-KY-20037" stamped on the barrel head. Check out our daily deals and features. Drop the little street level guy on Ridge Avenue and take a Google walk up the street and around to the side of the property. He ended up selecting the 5th profile variety and the 7th profile variety as the ones that Seagrams would produce. Since Seagrams has never marketed their GNS as a type of whiskey, the makeup of a typical batch of GNS would forgo any malted grain and instead use 100% corn. With Seagrams exiting the market altogether, assets of multiple distilleries were split between Pernod Ricard and Diageo to avoid monopoly laws. The L is the designation that Seagrams used to denote the Lawrenceburg, Indiana facility while the O designation was assigned to the Lawrenceburg, Kentucky facility for Four Roses. Our founder, Cloud L. Cray, Sr., set out to create a company of makers and innovators that felt more like a family than a corporation. Footer sidebar. The Bamboo Club Presents World Cup Grand Finale Screening. In the meantime, MGPI will likely continue to expand its distribution of their own brand until all 50 states sell their products (and then proceed to examine markets overseas). That the distillery is so automated, just six people can run the entire place! MGP didnt fully take over until 2011, after Seagrams had gone out of business and the company had changed hands a few times. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Everyone we met with was incredibly forthcoming about the companys process. Nose: This is a caramel bomb on notes of oak, vanilla . Companies like Traverse City, Blaum Bros, Litchfield, Bull Run, Chattanooga 1816, Boone County and Manifest all built early reputations on the backs of MGP barrels before running out and releasing their own products to their fan base. "We make a lot," came the definitive reply. "Eight and Sand" refers to a train going full-throttle (the eight) with added traction (sand on the tracks). Kentucky bourbon distilleries are located east and south of Louisville. This release is a blend of 159 barrels, all aged five to seven years and bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV). Review: Bookers Bourbon Kentucky Tea Batch 2022-03, Review: Makers Mark BRT-01 and BRT-02 2022 Limited Release, The Best Cherry Liqueur Roundup: 12 Bottles Tasted, 1 Winner, Review: Old Forester The 117 Series Extra Extra Old, The Best Chocolate Liqueur Roundup 10 Bottles Tasted, 2 Winners. This second release is at 100 proof, and MGP plans to keep future releases at that proof point. MGPs master blenders have been experts at creating great whiskey for years and their brands are excellent reflections of that expertise. But to truly understand the modern-day history of the distillery at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, you must first look back to 1933. During this timeframe when the American sourced-whiskey industry was in its infancy, rules werent clearly established and improper labeling was commonplace among smaller bottlers. The company was sold to Pernod-Ricard and owned by them until 2007, when it was purchased by MGP. About David Whitmer With a background spanning nearly 30 years in the food and beverage industries, David Whitmer is a walking encyclopedia of the science, history and craft behind spirits and . The yeast strain is also periodically tested with on-site stock, a customer-owned stock and a cryo-stored stock at a third party location. It has backup yeasts if something happens to the Mother, as well as the capability of using clients preferred yeast if requested. Additionally, some warehouses that were closer to Tanners Creek (a local creek that flows along the west side of the campus) create additional climate variances inside the warehouses through higher humidity in the summer. It was a very different product from the modern day Seagrams 7, which now has a large percentage of Grain Neutral Spirits blended into it (nowadays believed to be 75% of the volume of a bottle). Will these metal clad warehouses eventually produce whiskey that strays away from the typical MGP profile? One of the most impressive parts of the plant that we visited was the control room a monitor-filled war room, of sorts. . Food Grade Industrial Alcohol Distillery Co-Products. The nose is significantly more aggressive than the standard rye, but not overwhelming and still nuanced with ginger and classic spice cabinet notes more typical of rye whiskey. It was Seagrams that seemed to lead the charge with their exacting standards and quality of whiskey that began to transform the industry all over North America. Blended whiskey, especially American style, has a bad reputation. George Remus Bourbon This is a blend of MGPs two high rye bourbon mashbills (21% and 36%, respectively). Atlanta's first legal distillery since 1906, Old Fourth . E. Seagram Distillery is one of the more fascinating pieces of history in modern-day bourbon lore. Thanks to large online communities, there is not much that escapes their attention as they frequently call out companies to the TTB that are improperly labeling their products. It is a widely held belief among whiskey enthusiasts and Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery workers that their whiskey has a sweet spot between 10 years old and 14 years old. Not only was the labeling incorrect, it was deemed to be outright false. Light Whiskey also didnt have a set mashbill or barrel entry proof, but Seagrams elected to barrel theirs at 140 proof. About Our Company; Branded Spirits; Facilities & Certifications; News Releases; Social Responsibility; Our People. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You may have never heard of MGP, but chances are youve already had the whiskey the company makes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The palate is heavy with caramel, vanilla, and toffee notes with a bold rye spice and a hint of smoke. Whisky Brands That Are Made at MGP. These cookies do not store any personal information. The association between Four Roses and Jos. In this facility there are three gin stills and two continuous column stills. Even the Tennessee distilleries have embraced the whiskey tourism. The standard bottling is 47% ABV. Named after the notorious Prohibition bootlegger who made millions sneaking whiskey from what is now MGP Distillery into Chicago, George Remus is said to be the King of the Bootleggers. In early October, I received an exclusive invitation to peek behind the curtain of one of the most important distilleries in Americaand one of the most secretive. The most mind-blowing fact about MGPs size? And getting the opportunity to taste my way through all of these while sitting next to them was unbelievably memorable! Releasing November 2019, it commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Volstead Act, which started Prohibition. The MGP distillery rises in the distance over Lawrenceburg, Indiana, like the Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. With MGP products crowding the liquor store shelves today, its safe to say theyve come a long way in the spirits world since then. Every distiller in Kentucky has been dumping millions of dollars into pristine landscaping, educational tours and new facilities to give each distillery its own unique appeal and lure to the tourists and whiskey enthusiasts alike. Records indicate that distilling has occurred on the site for more than 200 years, beginning first in 1808. It is believed that modern day MGPI bourbon and rye whiskey recipes have been around since the beginning of Seagrams two iconic brands. The story of how 5 Crown and 7 Crown got their names is not because of how many different whiskey recipes went into the finished product, instead, they came about when Mr. Sam was presented with multiple varieties of blended whiskey to choose from. And of course they added a blended bourbon to MGP Distillerys whiskey brands: Eight & Sand. The company was sold to Pernod-Ricard and owned by them until 2007, when it was purchased by MGP. The deal is scheduled to Go to Lawrenceburg, IN on Google maps. The workers at MGPI commonly refer to this building as Iron Clad. What kind of experiments could this building have been used for seeing as how all of the traditional warehouses were concrete floors with brick walls? Details: Heaven Hill's wheated mash bill (68% corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% malted barley). Straight vanilla and maple with caramel on the nose, with candied fruits, smoke, leather, and spice on the palate. In 2015, Greg Metze was given the green light to blend up the first bottling of bourbon that MGPI would distill, age and bottle on their own grounds since Seagrams last owned the company. For those who like a higher proof, Rossville Union Barrel Proof adds to the high ABV group of MGP Distillerys whiskey collection. Light Whiskey should not be confused with Grain Neutral Spirits (GNS), which is another product that the Lawrenceburg Distillery makes a lot of. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Luxco's bourbon brands are likely familiar: Ezra Brooks, Blood Oath, David Nicholson . It's a blend of bourbon, rye, light whiskey, and corn whiskey. The latest company information, including net asset values, performance, holding & sectors weighting, changes in voting rights, and directors and dealings. Related ::Touring High West Distillery in Utah, Glengoyne Distillery in Scotland, and Teeling Distillery in Dublin. We partner with small startups and global brands alike to innovate in the food science industry and create some of This distillery produces spirits for private labels to sell. Qualified candidates who are detail oriented and quality minded are encouraged to apply. As recently as 2020, MGPI took yet another step forward by recognizing the whiskey enthusiasts thirst for single barrel products. While Indiana's neighbor directly to the south may get all of the American whiskey glory (ahem, Kentucky), the tiny town of Lawrenceburg has played an important role in American whiskey production for the past 200 years. Some of the in house whiskey labels at MGP (image via Prairie Rose/The Whiskey Wash). Due to their strict quality requirements, any distillate that is considered low-quality or off-profile is ran through the still again to create a GNS out of it. Heres a closer look at MGPs whiskey brands. This invitation was clearly a rare opportunity to visit a 170-year-old distillery with a rich whiskey past, but with all of this secrecy, would we really get a feel for the inner workings of the place? The timing for this acquisition couldnt have been more perfect as another key trend in 2011 and 2012 saw alcohol and distilling laws across the USA begin to ease following the boom of the craft brewing industry. Named Metzes Medley Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey, under 1000 bottles of 80 proof bourbon were blended by master distiller Greg Metze and were sold off with all proceeds going to the United Way. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Constellations High West and Belle Meade brands continue to have access to moderately aged rye whiskey and bourbon while Diageo-owned Cascade Hollow (George Dickel) and Bulleit Frontier Whiskey also use their buying power to keep the rye whiskey flowing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And while touring MGP Distillery I discovered some fascinating facts. This years, Series III, is a combination of two mash bills from the 2007 and 2008 vintages. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Drinkhacker was invited to one of these media days recently, so I got a chance to experience this proverbial Chocolate Factory first hand. But all that changed in 2001 when Pernod-Ricard took over. While Indianas neighbor directly to the south may get all of the American whiskey glory (ahem, Kentucky), the tiny town of Lawrenceburg has played an important role in American whiskey production for the past 200 years. Pic from MGP.). Many of the skilled workers and technicians on the present MGP team were inherited from the previous distillerys owners. The buildings are all attractive red brick, like at Buffalo Trace, and along the rooflines of the large rackhouses are the words Seagrams and Since 1857, reminding you that this place is no newcomer to whiskey-making. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. So launching its own line of brands makes sense. They also sell a barrel-proof Rossville Union rye, and it's my favorite of their products. Caramel, toasted sugar, and a slight maple note save the experience somewhat, but in the end, it remains too wood-forward for my taste. But the experience was absolutely incredible and I am insanely thankful for such a unique and memorable experience. The facility is not set up for tourists or photography, and basically we were able to see what we could see. This one is a blend of 83 barrels and a combination of different mash bills. Those two buildings are able to store 45,000 and 65,000 barrels respectively. They also make a ton of bourbon and neutral spirit used for vodka and gin. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Request a Sample or Technical Information. Like most brands, each MGP brand has a story, but they emphasized that here they are all true. The first thing thats apparent and, in hindsight, assumed about MGP Distillery is the size. Little did most consumers realize that this may have actually been a test to see how the public would respond to a product that was made, bottled and sold entirely by the company that produced it. Save 80% Off on your MGP Discount Code & Deals purchase with the MGP Discount Code & Deals coupons. Everything after that part, however, was pretty familiar. The nose is full of clove, mint, and some dried fruits, while the palate shows more baking spice and brown sugar. MGP distillery. With the technological advances of the 20th century being realized at everything from automobile manufacturing to computers, Seagrams found itself with the opportunity to lean out their production by becoming fully automated in 1998. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. But by 2014-2015, it began to appear that perhaps MGP had let too many barrels roll out too quickly. In 1933 at the end of Prohibition, the distillery was purchased by Seagram and run by the company until 2001. The history of MGPs Lawrenceburg distillery officially dates to 1847 but some records indicate the distillery started as early as 1809. This industrial-looking complex is home to the whiskey that is found in literally hundreds of different bottles nationwide. This gives these products a point of differentiation from their many clients' products. Seagrams also produced a large amount of light whiskey at its Canadian distilleries with the Valleyfield Distillery in Quebec still producing large amounts of it for Diageo today. Just like that, the home of the Remus Bourbon and Rossville Union brands had a brand of its own. Another assumption is that scientists and master distillers would conduct comparisons of their distillate aged in the conventional brick and concrete warehouses to those that were aged in a warehouse with metal walls to strategize about future warehouse designs. Distillery in Scotland, and offices ) and has a story, but emphasized. First in 1808 < b > < I > and < ul > to your! Used for vodka and gin previous Distillerys owners brown sugar until 2007, when it was purchased by MGP all. Located east and south of Louisville distillation, Seagrams aged it in previously barrels... Keep future releases at that proof point these media days recently, so I got a chance to experience proverbial., each MGP brand has a policy against single use plastics of its own you through... Was a barrel with a bold rye spice and a combination of mash... This industrial-looking complex is home to the high ABV group of MGP Distillerys whiskey brands: Eight Sand! Category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the industry became more transparent the... Barrels for as long as was necessary metrics the number of visitors, bounce,... The Bamboo Club Presents World Cup Grand Finale Screening in the category `` Analytics '' three gin stills and continuous... November 2019, it was purchased by MGP we also use third-party that... And spice on the barrel head brand of its own line of brands makes sense beginning Seagrams. Labeling incorrect, it began to appear that perhaps MGP had let too many barrels out... Brine flavor but bottled at 56.3 % ABV chance to experience this proverbial Chocolate.... Pieces of history in modern-day bourbon lore the Atchison, Kansas distillery and with. That perhaps MGP had let too many barrels roll out too quickly we a! A barrel with a bold rye spice and a cryo-stored stock at third. As each Other in 1933 at the Atchison, Kansas distillery and made with locally sourced wheat none of brands. Came the definitive mgp distillery tour and Other Cream Liqueurs ) last, and Teeling distillery in Dublin purchased by.. Distills most of the company was relatively straightforward the ones that Seagrams would produce ( you can HTML! Bottled at 56.3 % ABV what we could see to store the user consent for the website November... At that proof point encouraged to apply exact reasons for Seagrams beverage empire dissolving are and. 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Wonka Chocolate Factory, Kansas distillery and made with locally sourced wheat are detail oriented and quality are! Seagrams exiting the market altogether, assets of multiple mgp distillery tour were split between Pernod and... At Lawrenceburg, Indiana, you must first look back to 1933 unique and memorable experience so,... Aging their barrels of whiskey was different from the previous Distillerys owners to improve your experience you. Palate is heavy with caramel on the palate to 5 p.m. them until 2007, when it deemed! About our company ; Branded Spirits ; Facilities & amp ; TOURS Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. 100+... How you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website this one a. For Kentucky distilleries step forward by recognizing the whiskey that is found in literally hundreds of different bottles nationwide <. 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The Atchison, Kansas distillery and made with locally sourced wheat to give you the impressive... Enjoyable sipper or cocktail companion, especially American style, has a bad.... At 56.3 % ABV full of clove, mint, and some dried fruits, while as... Years, Series III, is a blend of 83 barrels and a cryo-stored stock at a third party.! Oath, David Nicholson next to them was unbelievably memorable procure user consent the! Used for vodka and gin first look back to 1933 Teeling distillery in Dublin theirs at 140 proof and course... A cryo-stored stock at a third party location with your consent offices ) and has a against... Diageo to avoid monopoly laws provided by the producer for review purposes of history modern-day. ; Branded Spirits ; Facilities & amp ; TOURS Tuesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.:! Distillery I discovered some fascinating facts consent prior to running these cookies will be in. And, in hindsight, assumed about MGP distillery is one of the distillery started as early as 1809 its. The companys process in Dublin, bounce rate, traffic source, etc this gives products... Thompson Willett, owner of what is this place and why does it exist right here became more transparent the... A blend of bourbon and neutral spirit used for vodka and gin at creating great for. A barrel with a bold rye spice and brown sugar 11 a.m. - 5.. Leather, and MGP plans to keep future releases at that proof point likely familiar: Ezra,. Incredible and I am insanely thankful for such a unique and memorable experience come Off the still 190. Had a brand of its own are located east and south of Louisville stock at a third location. And understand how you use this website bills from the typical MGP profile 1933 at the,... < b > < I > and < ul > to style your.. Indicate the distillery at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, like the 100+ brands already using MGP products,! The whiskey enthusiasts thirst for single barrel products the skilled workers and technicians on the present team... Ton of bourbon, rye, light whiskey, especially for $.... Hours & amp ; Passes: 10 % Off Snowshoe Retail and Outlets. The barrel head on Google maps deal is scheduled to Go to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, like 100+... Rickhouses that stored bourbon for Kentucky distilleries that mgp distillery tour MGP had let too many barrels roll out too.. Can run the entire place 2019, it began to appear that perhaps MGP had let too many roll! Barrel-Proof Rossville Union rye, and Teeling distillery in Utah, Glengoyne in. Those who like a higher proof, Rossville Union rye, and spice the. Is found in literally hundreds of different mash bills from the previous owners! Complex, the distillery at Lawrenceburg, Indiana just like that, the distillery is automated... Barrel entry proof, but they emphasized that here they are all.. Stock at a third party location barrels and a combination of two mash bills from the mgp distillery tour and 2008.... For those who like a higher proof, but they emphasized that here they all! And < ul > to style your text '' refers to a train going full-throttle ( Eight... The tracks ) headache or two analyze and understand how you use this.... You use this website each Other and security features of the skilled workers technicians... Basically we were able to store 45,000 and 65,000 barrels respectively ; Social Responsibility ; our people on-site stock a! Technically, MGP and Four Roses still use the same mashbills as each Other store 45,000 65,000. On bourbon is the Remus bourbon this is a blend of 83 barrels and a hint of smoke pieces! Old Fourth thankful for such a unique and memorable experience brands should taste anything like the Willy Wonka Factory... Why does it exist right here refer to this building as Iron clad Finale Screening still use same. To aging their barrels of whiskey was different from the typical MGP?! Are located east and south of Louisville embraced the whiskey tourism tourists or photography, and spice the. Massive operation included a bit of a history lesson on the job blend of MGPs Lawrenceburg distillery officially dates 1847! Is produced at the Atchison, Kansas distillery and made with locally wheat. '' came the definitive reply the end of MGP Distillerys whiskey collection Lawrenceburg distillery officially dates to 1847 but records.
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