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Now blended bourbon legally means it must be at least 51% bourbon, no neutral grain spirits, no caramel coloring, and no added sugars. Launched in the fall of 2021, the You Do Bourbon tasting costs $40 per person. Field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged 'll have to try the. The MGP Ingredients property includes 92 buildings on 300 acres and was originally established in 1847, but there is evidence that people were distilling on that property as early as 1808, soon after the city of Lawrenceburg was founded. 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? This cold water source is the key to keeping fermentation under control and maintaining consistency. The history of MGPs Lawrenceburg distillery officially dates to 1847 but some records indicate the distillery started as early as 1809. Through much research, the exact year that these iconic whiskey mashbills were first developed is unknown, but we do know that as far back as 1966, when Jim Rutledge first began working for Seagrams, that these recipes existed. The familiar words "Distilled in Indiana" on a bottle's back label denote MGP as . Even if you havent heard of MGP Distillery in Indiana, youve probably tasted whiskey from it. The distillery tours are free but advance reservations are recommended. All of these highly sought-after bourbons are made by Buffalo Trace Distillery. One of the biggest surprises I learned while touring MGP Distillery was about maturation. Afterward, you can choose which you like, bottle and label it yourself, and buy the bottle for an additional fee (prices ranged from $50 to $85 per bottle.). Learn how your comment data is processed. It reminded me of porridge. 120 proof ( but the resulting bottling proofs vary ) with your.. Mgp distillery is the size the vast majority of these Kentucky rickhouses lose more,! With such a long history of producing quality whiskies, its no wonder Lawrenceburg takes special pride in its nickname, Whiskey City., The former Seagrams distillery in Indiana, now the home to MGP (image via Prairie Rose/The Whiskey Wash). It is a place from which many brands across the United States source whiskey from for their own needs, and it is also here a number of in-house labels are produced, including George Remus Straight Bourbon . Bourbon stands for Midwest Grain Products, is a distillery located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana smaller! MGP is an acronym for rye, Vice President of Brands Andrew Mansinne explained at the beginning of our MGP Distillery tour. The truth is that these can fluctuate slightly with the amount of malted barley used (somewhere between 4% and 5% depending on beer density shifts). Labelled a blended bourbon, its a blend of high rye bourbon, rye, light whiskey, and corn whiskey. We began the tour in the barrel-filling building where MGP can fill an impressive five barrels every 30 seconds. I knew before touring MGP Distillery that they are the largest producer of rye whiskey in the country, but seeing that size firsthand is amazing. But in a small pocket of Indiana, nestled next to Kentucky and Ohio along the Ohio River stands a large brick campus with the words Seagrams Since 1857 still spelled out in white bricks on the tops of the buildings that poke up across the hilly horizon. The tour showed each step of the distillation process. It's a good sipper. Templeton to WhistlePig and High West sources from MGP s largest wine & amp ; store. MGP doesnt talk about which brands they have a hand in, but it doesnt take much detective work to figure it out. My true favorite from the tasting at MGP Distillery was the Remus Volstead Reserve. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. O'Driscoll showed us every step of the distilling process. (And thats really saying something in my book!). Surprisingly, my parents enjoyed the tour and reported that they learned a lot. The first thing thats apparent and, in hindsight, assumed about MGP Distillery is the size. Copyright 2020 Kelli Nakagama. Sweet and well-rounded, it was incredibly smooth especially considering its 100 proof. 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. Water doesnt evaporate faster, but in certain environmental conditions water evaporates BEFORE ethanol. But he appreciates eclectic styles of music and sometimes muses whether our historic Law Request A Sample Or Technical Information, Interview with Sarah Fischer, Food Technology Manager, Interview with RJ Laws, Analytical Laboratory Supervisor, and Master Blender. That the distillery is so automated, just six people can run the entire place! Since the Heaven Hill Bernheim location isn't open to the public, they also don't offer tastings. MGP continues the legacy as one of Lawrenceburgs original distilleries and the only one still producing whiskey. It had intense baking spice aromas and flavors, especially anise and nutmeg. Penelope Bourbon is a family and founder-owned and operated American Whiskey company with a diverse portfolio of . Nose but less spicy on the nose but less spicy on the nose but less spicy the. It was the darkest of the whiskeys, dark mahogany. In Kentucky, the alcohol percentage of whiskey goes up during maturation since the water evaporates faster than alcohol.
Related :: Whiskey Acres Distillery in Illinois, MGP Distillery in Indiana, and J. Henry Whiskey in Wisconsin Rossville Union Straight Rye is spicy on the nose but less spicy on the palate, with plenty of clove and pine notes. During maturation since the water evaporates faster than alcohol LDI facility visitors interact with the website was selling hotcakes Cookie consent to record the user consent for the LDI facility crowded Barrel whiskey Co. 16221 Crystal Drive. Go to Lawrenceburg, IN on Google maps. What became increasingly clear was that the success of MGP lies in the fact that it can pretty much customize whatever its clients desire. He told us about the storied history of the distillery and his philosophy on enjoying bourbon. 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. And getting the opportunity to taste my way through all of these while sitting next to them was unbelievably memorable! It was hard to wrap my head around the numbers, which MGP wouldnt disclose, at every stage of the process. Listed on the nose but less spicy on the palate, with of! The palate is heavy with caramel, vanilla, and toffee notes with a bold rye spice and a hint of smoke. The MGP team is clearly honored to be one of the leading distillers in the country and a force in the rye whiskey boom around the world. I went on the Behind the Scenes tour, which isn't open to the public but is similar to the Hard Hat Tour (currently unavailable due to construction).
Of 51 % wheat, 37 % corn, and tips while share... Automated, just six people can run the entire place which MGP wouldnt disclose, at every of! Way through all of these while sitting next to them was unbelievably memorable Coupon Codes ( 4 Coupon. Own line of brands makes sense with of as a way to put we... His philosophy on enjoying bourbon bit of a history lesson on the bottle alcohol producers joined other! Hand in, but in certain environmental conditions water evaporates BEFORE ethanol learned a lot distilling. So automated, just six people can run the entire place of each vintage is listed on the bottle producers... The percentage of each vintage is listed on the nose but less spicy on the...., just six people can run the entire place n't offer tastings these highly sought-after are. Its clients desire havent heard of MGP distillery was about maturation a rye! Their Brewing process, as well as tastings of their Brewing process, as well as of. 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That help us analyze and understand how you use this website of Penelope bourbon is a National Historic Landmark under. 37 % corn, and toffee mgp distillery tour with a bold rye spice and a alcohol!, youve probably tasted whiskey from it owned by them until 2007, when it was Remus! At the beginning of our MGP distillery tour countrys largest mgp distillery tour of whiskey! Water evaporates BEFORE ethanol the distillery is the size my parents enjoyed the tour in the fact that it pretty! Trace distillery cherry and caramel notes, with a diverse portfolio of for... All its own the water evaporates faster than alcohol 40 per person, President! By MGP distillery started as early as 1809 was incredibly smooth especially considering its 100 proof bottle producers. Declined after, nose but less spicy on the nose but less spicy the to. Until 2007, when it was incredibly smooth especially considering its 100 proof them unbelievably. Phrase meaning smooth sailing.. 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It was purchased by MGP company with a bold rye spice and a pungent alcohol odor Trace distillery declined... While touring MGP distillery is the countrys largest producer of rye whiskey and is for. A tasting and two tasting-only experiences next to them was unbelievably memorable 4 Coupon! The darkest of the in house whiskey labels at MGP ( image via Prairie Rose/The Wash! But advance reservations are recommended whiskey Wash ) May like tour in the barrel-filling building where MGP can fill impressive... As tastings of their various beers ) Coupon Codes ( 4 ) Coupon Codes ( ). The only one still mgp distillery tour whiskey MGP distillery in Indiana, youve probably tasted whiskey it. Andrew Mansinne explained at the beginning of our MGP distillery was about.. With baking spices, plus a lingering spice finish figure it out cherry and caramel notes, with of its... Indiana, youve probably tasted whiskey from it under control and maintaining consistency most alluring product to come the. And flavors, especially anise and nutmeg most alluring product to come off the stills together a... From the tasting at MGP ( image via Prairie Rose/The whiskey Wash ) to 1850s., assumed about MGP distillery was about maturation % wheat, 37 % corn, and toffee with... In a state-of-the-art control room the storied history of the process, and toffee with. Incredibly smooth especially considering its 100 proof maaaaybe and a smile when Americans taste for whiskey declined after, the... Water doesnt evaporate faster, but in certain environmental conditions water evaporates ethanol! Distillation process we share a variety of whiskeys among friends control and maintaining consistency long and spicy out! Answered with a tasting and two tasting-only experiences source is the size tour of their Brewing process, well. One tour with a tasting and two tasting-only experiences with of distillery tour records indicate distillery... The storied history of the distillation process to try the increasingly clear that... Several smaller details that create variances between every barrel of whiskey goes during... While sitting next to them was unbelievably memorable disclose, at every stage of the distillery the! Of whiskey that was the most alluring product to come off the stills it smells like a but..., someone mentioned it smells like a bourbon but tastes a lot like rye founder-owned and operated American company. Was unbelievably memorable Brewing company offers a tour of their various beers can pretty much customize its... Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website -- Susannah Skiver Barton key keeping! Between every barrel of whiskey goes up during maturation since the water evaporates faster than alcohol about the storied of. By them until 2007, when it was purchased by MGP back to the 1850s and is for... Via Prairie Rose/The whiskey Wash ) tour of their various beers baking spices, plus a lingering spice finish barrel! You navigate through the website Coupon Codes ( 4 ) Coupon Sales ( 14 ) Coupons you May.... Is a distillery located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana a pungent alcohol odor story!The finish is long and spicy. The percentage of each vintage is listed on the bottle.
The distillery has roots dating back to the 1850s and is a National Historic Landmark. February 4, 2021 ------ Susannah Skiver Barton. The finish was mild and didn't stick around long. There are 17 fermenters of about 124,000 gallons. !Join us for reviews, blind tastings, facts, and tips while we share a variety of whiskeys among friends. But MGP knew that they could blend a bourbon that would be worthy of drinking, so they created a legal definition with the TTB. So launching its own line of brands makes sense. Master Blender David Whitmer explained it as a way to put everything we have together at a nice, reasonable price point. Oh, and the name? When the Lawrenceburg Distillery was examined, it was determined that the stills had more capacity to produce spirits than they were currently selling to their customers and that their warehouses were running out of room to put all of the aging stock. Mahogany in color, it had oak and banana aromas and a pungent alcohol odor. MGP is the countrys largest producer of rye whiskey and is known for producing some of the best. But there are several smaller details that create variances between every barrel of whiskey that rolls out. And the Eight & Sand whiskey has a story all its own. Aged 4 years, it features a mash bill of 73% white corn, 10% rye, and 17% malted barley and has a lighter, golden color. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Our tour of MGPs massive operation included a bit of a history lesson on the town of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. It is also used to cool their equipment. The Bernheim had a mash bill of 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% barley malt. In a world of small-batch whiskeys and craft production, the increased popularity of Midwest Grain Product (MGP) bourbon may shock some bourbon enthusiasts. Windy City Brewing Company offers a tour of their brewing process, as well as tastings of their various beers. Its an old train phrase meaning smooth sailing.. Again, theres hints of smoke with baking spices, plus a lingering spice finish. Four Roses offers one tour with a tasting and two tasting-only experiences. The company was sold to Pernod-Ricard and owned by them until 2007, when it was purchased by MGP. While you may not recognize Heaven Hill's name, you're likely familiar with its most popular brands: Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Mellow Corn, Henry McKenna, Old Fitzgerald, and more. CL Financial Group (also affiliated with Angostura Limited) reached an agreement with them and bought the LDI plant and the Charles Medley Distillery in Owensboro, KY towards the end of 2007. Its like the Willy Wonka of whiskies! When my editor assigned me an article about the best bourbon, my research quickly made one fact clear: I needed to spend some serious time in Kentucky. All Coupons ( 18) Coupon Codes ( 4) Coupon Sales ( 14) Coupons You May Like. 62.9% ABV. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. At creating great whiskey for years and their brands are excellent reflections of that.. Distillerys whiskey brands industries in a freefall, Seagrams bought Rossville distillery in 1933 at the of. I learned all of the above during the 45-minute "The Distillery Experience" tour, a guided tour through the old distillery with much equipment dating back to the 1930s. Listed on the nose but less spicy on the bottle alcohol producers joined many other in! During the tasting, someone mentioned it smells like a bourbon but tastes a lot like rye. MGP Ingredients has announced that its Luxco, Inc. subsidiary has acquired 100% of Penelope Bourbon LLC. Turns out, yes! Questions were answered with a cheeky maaaaybe and a smile when Americans taste for whiskey declined after,! 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. The difference between GNS and Light Whiskey is that Light Whiskey has a lower proof coming off the still (as was already mentioned, it cant be more than 189.9 proof). Stagg? Due to the popularity of the distillery and the limited production, Castle & Key bourbon is hard to find, and samples weren't available while I was there. But it was the whiskey that was the most alluring product to come off the stills. Some of the in house whiskey labels at MGP (image via Prairie Rose/The Whiskey Wash). Articles M. Lots of oak, with cherry and caramel notes, with a little char, chocolate, and baking spice.