Bourbon BoulevardChantilly

Nov 19

W.L. Weller Bourbon Tasting Event: The W.L. Weller name traces its roots to William Larue Weller, an early whiskey pioneer associated with the use of wheat in place of rye in the bourbon mash bill. Today, the W.L. Weller collection continues that wheated bourbon tradition at Buffalo Trace Distillery, with expressions ranging from age-stated releases to limited and highly sought-after bottlings. We invite you to explore the history and character of W.L. Weller through five distinctive expressions: Weller Antique 107, Weller 12 Year, Weller Full Proof, Weller Single Barrel, and Weller C.Y.P.B. 1. W.L. Weller Antique 107 A wheated bourbon bottled at a robust 107 proof, Antique 107 balances the softer character associated with wheat against greater proof and intensity. The profile opens with sweet oak, caramel, vanilla, and ripe fruit, followed by layers of baking spice and deeper wood character. Its higher proof creates a fuller, bolder expression while maintaining the smooth, rounded qualities that define the Weller family. 2. W.L. Weller 12 Year Aged for 12 years and bottled at 90 proof, Weller 12 Year demonstrates how extended maturation transforms the distillery’s wheated bourbon profile. Aromas of vanilla, caramel, toasted oak, and dried fruit lead into a mature palate with notes of cocoa, cinnamon, leather, and seasoned wood. The additional time in oak creates greater depth and complexity while preserving the softer character of the wheated mash bill. 3. W.L. Weller Full Proof Weller Full Proof is bottled at the same 114 proof at which the whiskey enters the barrel, offering a more powerful interpretation of the Weller profile. Rich caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, toasted oak, and baking spice develop across a full-bodied palate. The elevated proof provides additional concentration and warmth, followed by a long and expressive finish. 4. W.L. Weller Single Barrel Weller Single Barrel offers an opportunity to experience the individuality of a single barrel rather than a marriage of multiple barrels. Bottled at 97 proof, each barrel can display its own subtle variations while remaining rooted in Weller’s signature wheated bourbon character. Expect notes of cherry, vanilla, caramel, oak, and baking spice, with a balanced combination of sweetness and barrel influence. 5. W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B. C.Y.P.B., or “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon,” originated from an interactive Buffalo Trace project that asked bourbon drinkers to choose their preferred bourbon characteristics. The resulting consensus called for a wheated bourbon aged on the highest warehouse floors for eight years and bottled at 95 proof. Buffalo Trace used those preferences as the inspiration for Weller C.Y.P.B., creating a limited expression with notes of caramel, vanilla, citrus, light oak, and soft baking spice. Together, these five expressions offer an opportunity to explore W.L. Weller’s wheated bourbon tradition through differences in age, proof, barrel selection, and maturation, from the 12-year expression to the distinctive concepts behind Full Proof, Single Barrel, and C.Y.P.B.

Dec 3

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Tasting Event: Founded in Reims in 1772, Veuve Clicquot is one of Champagne’s historic houses. Its legacy became inseparable from Madame Clicquot, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin, who took control of the house after being widowed at just 27 years old. At a time when women rarely led businesses, she helped transform the Champagne house through innovation, international expansion, and an uncompromising approach to quality. Known as “La Grande Dame of Champagne,” her influence continues to define Veuve Clicquot more than two centuries later. We invite you to discover the history and character of the House through three distinctive expressions: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut, Veuve Clicquot Rosé, and La Grande Dame. 1. Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut The signature expression of the House, Yellow Label Brut represents the balance, structure, and consistency that have become hallmarks of Veuve Clicquot. Pinot Noir forms the backbone of the blend, contributing strength and structure, complemented by Chardonnay for elegance and Meunier for roundness. The Champagne opens with notes of ripe orchard fruit, citrus, and white flowers before developing layers of brioche, vanilla, and subtle toast. Fine bubbles and refreshing acidity carry into a balanced, persistent finish. 2. Veuve Clicquot Rosé Veuve Clicquot’s history with rosé Champagne dates to 1818, when Madame Clicquot created the House’s first blended rosé by adding red wine to Champagne rather than relying on the traditional method of coloring Champagne with elderberry preparations. Today, Veuve Clicquot Rosé continues that legacy with a vibrant expression combining fresh red-fruit character with the structure of the House’s signature Champagne style. Notes of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, and red currant mingle with citrus, subtle pastry, and spice, creating a lively yet elegant Champagne with freshness and depth. 3. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Created as a tribute to Madame Clicquot herself, La Grande Dame represents the prestige cuvée of Veuve Clicquot and celebrates her historic vision for the House. First released in 1972 to commemorate Veuve Clicquot’s bicentenary, La Grande Dame places particular emphasis on Pinot Noir, the grape Madame Clicquot believed had the ability to produce the finest wines. Elegant and precise, the Champagne develops layers of citrus, white and orchard fruits, delicate florals, mineral character, brioche, and refined spice. Its complexity, fine texture, and long finish embody both the heritage of the House and the enduring legacy of the woman remembered as La Grande Dame of Champagne. Together, these three Champagnes offer a journey through more than 250 years of Veuve Clicquot history, from the iconic Yellow Label and pioneering Rosé to La Grande Dame, the House’s tribute to Madame Clicquot and her extraordinary legacy.

Dec 17

Van Winkle Tasting Event: The Van Winkle name represents one of the most storied legacies in American whiskey. Its history is closely tied to Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle Sr., who entered the whiskey business in the late 1800s and later became an influential figure behind the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery. Pappy became known for his commitment to wheated bourbon, using wheat rather than rye as the secondary grain to create a softer, rounder style of whiskey. Today, the Van Winkle family continues that tradition in partnership with Buffalo Trace Distillery, producing some of the most limited and sought-after American whiskeys. We invite you to experience four remarkable expressions spanning bourbon and rye: Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year, Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot “B” 12 Year, Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year, and Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year. 1. Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Aged for 10 years and bottled at 107 proof, Old Rip Van Winkle offers a powerful introduction to the family’s celebrated wheated bourbon style. The use of wheat in place of rye contributes to a rich, rounded profile while the higher proof provides additional concentration and intensity. Expect layers of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, dark fruit, honey, and baking spice, followed by a warm and lingering finish. It is a bold expression that balances mature barrel character with the sweetness and softness associated with wheated bourbon. 2. Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot “B” 12 Year Often referred to simply as Lot B, this 12-year-old wheated bourbon is bottled at 90.4 proof and offers a more restrained expression of the Van Winkle profile. Extended aging brings together notes of caramel, vanilla, honey, toasted nuts, ripe fruit, and seasoned oak. The palate is smooth and layered, with gentle sweetness complemented by mature barrel character and spice. Its combination of age and lower proof allows the subtleties of the whiskey to emerge while maintaining the rich character for which the Van Winkle name is known. 3. Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year A distinctive departure from the family’s famous wheated bourbons, Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye is aged for 13 years and bottled at 95.6 proof. Long maturation gives the rye remarkable depth, balancing the grain’s natural spice with mature oak and developed sweetness. Notes of caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, tobacco, cinnamon, clove, and seasoned oak unfold across the palate, accompanied by the peppery spice characteristic of rye whiskey. The result is a complex and mature expression that offers a different perspective on the Van Winkle whiskey tradition. 4. Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year Aged for 15 years and bottled at 107 proof, Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year is one of the defining expressions bearing the Pappy Van Winkle name. Its wheated bourbon recipe undergoes extended maturation, developing a deeply concentrated profile of caramel, vanilla, dark fruit, toasted oak, leather, baking spice, and rich sweetness. The higher proof preserves intensity and structure, while 15 years in oak contributes considerable depth and complexity. The result is a full-bodied bourbon with a long, mature finish that showcases the relationship between the Van Winkle wheated recipe, proof, and extended barrel aging. Together, these four expressions provide a rare opportunity to explore the Van Winkle family’s whiskey legacy across age, proof, grain, and style—from the bold 10 Year wheated bourbon and elegant Lot B to the mature 13 Year Rye and the iconic Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year.