Popcorn Sutton Distilling has released its first brown spirit – a limited edition, 92 proof, charred oak barrel finished liquid the company is aptly calling Popcorn Sutton Barrel Finished.
As mountain lore goes, legendary bootlegger, Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton, would sometimes "barrel finish" some of his finest small batch product to later share at special events or to give as gifts. Popcorn Sutton Barrel Finished represents a nod to this tradition and is being released to honor the anniversary of his passing on March 16, 2009.
"Today is a proud day for us," says John Lunn, Master Distiller, Popcorn Sutton Distilling. "Not just because we've created a unique, high quality barrel finished spirit which I believe people will truly enjoy, but because of what it means for carrying on the Popcorn Sutton legacy. It also marks our entry into the craft segment of an exciting and evolving brown spirits category."
This specialty product, which won a Gold Medal at the 2015 Global American Whiskey Masters competition conducted by The Spirits Business, was distilled by Popcorn Sutton Distilling and barrel finished in the hills of Cocke County, Tennessee. It will be available to consumers through select liquor stores in a limited number of markets starting this spring.
Finished for more than three years in new American oak casks with a hearty #3 char, Popcorn Sutton Barrel Finished is complex and smooth with a rich, deep brown color. It contains no caramel coloring, and like Popcorn Sutton's Original Small Batch Recipe, not a drop of grain neutral spirit.
"There's a tremendous amount of momentum right now behind craft-distilled brown spirits among both men and women, and we happen to have one of the top master distillers in the industry," said Megan Browning Kvamme, CEO of Popcorn Sutton Distilling. "When you couple this with the re-emergence of the classic cocktail culture, specifically among Millennials, and our ongoing commitment to Popcorn's legacy, we're confident in our decision to enter this segment."
The release of Popcorn Sutton Barrel Finished follows the company's recent unveiling of a new brand and bottle for its flagship product, Popcorn Sutton Original Small Batch Recipe, which won a prestigious Masters Medal at the noted 2015 Global American Whiskey Masters competition conducted by The Spirits Business. According to the company's Chief Marketing Officer, Peter Gyimesi, "The Trade has embraced the brand's new identity as well as the versatility and quality of the liquid."
Popcorn Sutton Barrel Finished will be available at select liquor stores in limited markets in Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, Colorado and Ohio. The product's retail price is $49.99.
