Old Fashioned Festival
We’re co-hosting a BIG event at the Castle Beloit November 23-24 and we hope you drop by!
Here’s our featured distilleries and a few notes about each of them if you’re curious:
J Henry and Sons: $10 neat, $14 mixed, best with anything honey and maybe add a little salt
Made just north of Madison Wisconsin, this is a family owned farm, turned whiskey brand. The husband, a farmer, the wife, a farmer too yes but also a professor in agriculture. She knew about a dormant corn varietal that grew in this area and is no longer around, so they revived it to make whiskey. It’s truly one of a kind and a must try for whiskey fans. They also slowly add water to bring the proof just right. By adding the water very slowly they’re preserving more molecular structure which translates into
What do we taste? Levi says he tastes sweet corn, a very dried corn aroma, there’s a little unsalted butter and white cheddar cheese curd flavor, no joke. We’d like to at least ask the question - is this the perfect bourbon for Wisconsinites?
Elijah Craig: $10 neat, $14 mixed, Old Fashioned or Hot Toddy
In 1771 (we love a good palendrome) Elijah Craig was ordained and became the pastor of Blue Run church. He was also jailed in Orange and Culpeper counties at least twice for preaching without the required Virginia license from the Anglican Church From their own website: “Reverend Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher, an educator, and an entrepreneur who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky. But for all his industries, it was his gift as a distiller and an innovator that brought him his greatest acclaim.”
What do we taste? Levi likes to tell a story about the charred wood and then talk about the nutmeg notes leading into graham crackers, and the sweetness and vanillin in the wood tasting like marshmallows, then brings together the story of Elijah Craig innovating the charred wood and talks about s’mores, but let’s allow him to wax poetic next time you chat with him over a sip or two.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-bond 7yr: $10 neat, $14 mixed
Awards such as: International Spirits Challenge Double Gold 2024, ASCOT Awards Double Platinum 2024, The Tasting Alliance Triple Still 2023, Bartender Spirits Awards World Whisky of the Year 2023, that should tell you what you need to know. But what is BottleIn-Bond you ask? Bottled in Bond (BIB) is a label for American-produced distilled spirits that meet specific legal requirements:
Aging: Aged for a minimum of four years in a federally bonded warehouse
Distilling: Produced by a single distiller during a single season (spring or fall)
Bottling: Bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV)
Additives: Only pure water can be added
The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 established these requirements to protect consumers from adulterated spirits. The act also provided tax incentives for producers and helped ensure proper accounting and tax collection
What do we taste? Smooth, warm and sweet, caramel and honey back and forth
Angel’s Envy: $12 neat, $17 cocktail, please have a Manhattan with the bourbon
The name "Angel's Envy" comes from the "angel's share", which is the portion of whiskey that evaporates during the aging process. After tasting the finished whiskey, Lincoln joked that they had struck a better deal than the angels. The distillery is located in a historic building in downtown Louisville that was once abandoned for nearly 30 years. The building was converted from 19th-century warehouses and features arched windows, exposed brick, and a wood beam ceiling.
What do we taste? Subtle vanilla, raisins, maple syrup and toasted nuts
Driftless Glen:
Located on the banks of the Baraboo River, this is an upscale and small town distillery. Smaller barrel aging than is common. They say its “Traditional Maryland style” which has to do with the mashbill, being 51% rye.
What do we taste? This one is tight and complex, some expected balanced rye spices and deep dark sugars
Heaven’s Door: $9 neat, $12 cocktail
It’s a funny story, the founder of Angel’s Envy started this brand as well, small world. Their Master Distiller has accomplished many things, including working with other brands like 1792, Bartson Brands. The property is gorgeous, using two aquifers that filter through limestone. Earning an ENERGY STAR from the EPA for their sustainability practices.
What do we taste? There are 6 releases in total. The Ascension is very clean, with soft toasting and caramels, grains and oak. The Revelation has fruity caramel, dough like, both dark cherry and vanilla
Our 5 Experimental Bar Options:
Cold Fashioned: $10 the name comes from a combination of Old Fashioned and cold brewed coffee, which pair wonderfully. It does have a bit of caffeine so be aware.
Old Fashioned Americano: $8 it’s like an Irish Coffee without the cream, but also like an Old Fashioned, so, there’s that
Black Tea Old Fashioned: $8 made with black tea from Rishi Tea in Milwaukee. We did a few variations and landed on serving it warm, since we are in November.
Oaxaca Old Fashioned: $11 maybe a little crazy this one is pretty different, using both mezcal (Montelobos) and a 12yr rum (Flor de Cana) together. With a touch of salt to help the two spirits mingle, we add 25% of the bitters we usually do, then finish with an earth lime peel
Caramel Pecan Old Fashioned: $8 we’ve been serving this in the fall for years, it just works so well.
If you like an Old Fashioned, try these similar options?
Sazerac: $9 so similar but served without ice, a lemon peel and a rinse of absinthe.
Hot Toddy: $8 Make it at home - 2oz Four Roses, 0.5oz honey, 0.5oz lemon juice, hot water, 1 dash aromatic bitters
Manhattan: $9 Make it at home - 2oz Four Roses, 1oz sweet vermouth, 2 dashes orange / aromatic bitters
Night Train: $11 Make it at home - 2oz overproof bourbon, 0.5oz Cynar, 0.5oz Amaro, 1 dash bitters.
Gold Rush: $8 Make it at home - 2oz Four Roses, 0.5oz honey, 0.5oz lemon juice, shaken
New York Sour: $11 Make it at home - 2oz Four Roses, 0.5oz honey, 0.5oz lemon juice, shaken, clean pour, float of dry red wine on top
“Low to No Proof” options for attendees:
Half-Manhattan: $10 Sweet vermouth, NA Whiskey, bitters, orange zest, cherry garnish
Hot Toddy Jr: $8 NA Whiskey, lemon juice, ginger, honey, water, bitters
Black Tea Tonic: $7 simple and refreshing, a sophisticated Arnold Palmer
Espresso Tonic: $7 a little pep, very complex, a Levi original dating back a decade
Zero Alcohol Brew: $5 PBR, Athletic
Sparkling Teas by Rishi: $5