The Best New Spirit Releases from April 2019

We’re always trying to stay on top of the latest spirits to hit the liquor store shelf, and this month we saw a lovely variety of new expressions that are here to welcome spring.

Whether you’re a fan of añejo tequila or looking for a spicy new rye, these are some of the best bottlings we’ve tasted this month.

Copper & Kings A Song For You American Brandy ($50)

Copper & Kings recently released two luxury gins that we love, and this month it’s back with a new expression to celebrate its fifth anniversary. Copper & Kings A Song For You is a limited release American brandy that’s been matured in ex-Kentucky bourbon barrels for five years. The rich, velvety spirit has a fruity brandy profile and smooth bourbon finish that is a perfect gateway for whiskey lovers who want to open their palates to fine eau de vie.

---

Ron Barceló Gran Aَñejo Dark Series ($23)

Ron Barceló distills some of our favorite rums on the market, and this month it’s releasing its carefully crafted Gran Aَñejo Dark Series. This blend of rums is aged for six years in heavily charred ex-bourbon barrels to give it woody notes that are met with smooth flavors of caramelized fruits and nuts. It’s best enjoyed over ice or in a simple rum cocktail like the Daiquiri.

---

WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye Whiskey ($50)

This new release from WhistlePig was the whiskey that the late, great Master Distiller Dave Pickerell was most excited about, so we were thrilled to see it come to market this month. WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye is a 100 percent rye whiskey that’s been aged for six years in American oak barrels and bottled at 96.56 proof. Spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon hit the nose and open to flavors of cocoa, cardamom, and leather on the palate.

---

Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Marsala Cask ($80)

Knappogue Castle 12 Year Old Marsala Cask is the latest release in the brand’s Cask Finish Series, and there are only 1,020 bottles available for purchase. This expression is aged in ex-bourbon barrels for a minimum of 12 years before it’s finished in casks from the Marco De Bartoli winery in Sicily’s Samperi region. The wine casks give the Irish whiskey a juicy, fruity flavor that finishes with a dry, oaky bite.

---

Ragtime Rye Bottled in Bond ($49)

The lineup of spirits at New York Distilling Company is always excellent, and the latest expression from the Brooklyn-based distillery is one of our favorites yet. Ragtime Rye Bottled In Bond is a spirit seven years in the making that started with a careful barrel selection. The luscious whiskey brings flavors of raspberry, cocoa, crème brulee, and allspice to the palate, and it’s wonderful served simply on ice.

---

Próspero Tequila ($35)

This brand-new line of tequilas was recently launched by Conecuh Brands and Rita Ora, and we already can’t get enough. Próspero Tequila is available in three core expressions—Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo—that are produced at the Don Roberto Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. The beautiful bottles are a perfect addition to your spring spirits collection, whether you like sipping tequila neat or in cocktails.

---

Camarena Añejo Tequila ($30)

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Camarena Tequila has released the latest expression in its award-winning spirits lineup. Camarena Añejo is made from Blue Weber agave that’s harvested by hand in Jalisco’s Arandas Highlands, and it’s distilled using a mix of modern and traditional techniques. Beautiful flavors of sweet potato, toasted oak, and vanilla make this a perfect tequila for sipping neat.

---

Legent Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey ($39)

This beautiful new bourbon was created as a collaboration between Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe and Suntory Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo to bring together the best whiskey elements from the East and West. Legent starts with Kentucky straight bourbon that’s aged in wine and sherry casks before it’s blended with more Kentucky bourbon to give it a balanced, layered flavor. We love sipping this spirit neat and mixing it in cocktails like the Manhattan and Old Pal.