Pécharmant – The Best Alternative to Bordeaux Wine

King Charles III sampled a special Guyanese rum during a reception at State House in Georgetown, where President Mohamed Irfaan Ali welcomed him on the opening evening of the King’s two-day state visit.

The rum, Royal Welcome, is a limited-edition 2026 blend produced by Banks DIH in honor of the visit. After smelling and tasting it, Charles described the spirit as “very good.” The president encouraged him to take another sip.

Banks DIH rum plant executive Gregory Garraway said the blend was more than 20 years old, offering the King an example of Guyana’s rum-making craft. The bottling also drew attention to the company’s XM range: its five-, 12- and 15-year-old expressions received Gold Quality Awards at the 2026 Monde Selection competition, according to Banks DIH.

Guyana has a distinctive place in Caribbean rum culture, with a tradition closely associated with Demerara. The country’s rum heritage includes El Dorado 15, known for notes of brown sugar, coffee, oak and dried apricot, as well as El Dorado Single Barrel ICBU. El Dorado is made by Demerara Distillers and is separate from Banks DIH’s XM brand.

The visit came as Guyana marked 60 years of independence. After his stay in The Bahamas, the King was due to continue to Antigua and Barbuda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. In Georgetown, the aged, specially blended rum offered a memorable introduction to the country’s spirits and craftsmanship.

Nate Woodruff’s path to launching his own whiskey brand began with a yearlong road trip. Six years ago, the Boonton native left his job, sold his belongings and traveled across the country in a Chevy van with his dog, pursuing hiking, photography and fine whiskey.

Now known in the spirits world as Whiskey Nate, Woodruff is preparing to launch Wilder Heart, a brand inspired by his life outdoors. After working as a brand ambassador for whiskey producers including WhistlePig, he gained experience with the industry’s blending and production processes.

Woodruff describes Wilder Heart as “strictly whiskey.” The blend draws on American-made whiskeys—including bourbon, rye, wheat, corn and single malt—and contains no added flavorings. He sees the approach as a chance to create distinctive blends in a category he believes has room to grow.

The initial release includes two bottles: Wilder Heart Whiskey at 94 proof and Wilder Heart Cask Strength at 117.5 proof. Preorders are being accepted for delivery beginning in mid-November to more than 40 states, including New Jersey. The first retail sales are planned for Colorado, Missouri and Wyoming. Preorders are available online.

Woodruff’s connection to whiskey grew alongside his outdoor photography. During his road trip, he shared images of bottles set against landscapes he explored, attracting whiskey producers interested in featuring their brands in those settings. Wilder Heart also shares its name with a podcast series he launched earlier this year.

The brand is being produced in partnership with VCL North America, part of UK-based spirits company VCL Vintners. For Woodruff, the wilderness is central to the brand’s identity—and to the moments he hopes the whiskey will accompany, such as gathering around a fire after a long day outside.

He now lives in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountain region, where the nearest traffic is about 77 miles away in Jackson Hole. Though he misses friends and a favorite Boonton deli sandwich, Woodruff says the quiet, open country suits him: “I’ve just never been happier.”

D’YAVOL Spirits has launched in the United States with two products: Single Estate Vodka and Inception Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. The move follows the brand’s recent UK debut and is part of its effort to expand internationally.

The vodka is made in Poland from 100% winter wheat using a grain-to-glass process, then filtered through black pearls. The company describes it as crisp, with raisin notes, subtle sweetness and a smooth mouthfeel.

Inception brings together eight single malts from four Scottish regions. Aged for up to 12 years in first-fill tawny port and Madeira casks, the whisky is non-chill filtered and features fruity sweetness, gentle smoke and peat, with notes of pear, cherry, toffee and raisin.

Since its first product launched in 2023, D’YAVOL says its vodka, Inception and Vortex blended Scotch have received 53 international awards, including “Scotch of the Year” and “Vodka of the Year” titles, as well as Gold and Double Gold medals.

Both new releases are imported and distributed in the US by SG Worldwide and are available at select stores nationwide. The company plans to expand availability in the coming months. Its portfolio also includes Vortex, and it says luxury tequilas are planned for the future.

Woodford Reserve is adding its first permanent whiskey expression since 2019: Double Oaked Rye, a new release inspired by an idea from master distiller emeritus Chris Morris and developed under master distiller Elizabeth McCall.

The whiskey starts with Woodford Reserve Rye, made from a mash bill of 53% rye, 33% corn and 14% malted barley. After aging for five to seven years, it is transferred to a second charred white oak barrel for an average of eight additional months. The extra barrel aging is intended to bring richness and complexity to the rye.

Morris first imagined the expression years ago, hoping to create a full-bodied whiskey that would stand apart in the expanding rye category. McCall said the launch carried special pressure because she wanted to fulfill his vision while introducing a product expected to become an important part of the brand.

The new rye is part of Woodford’s Double Oaked family, which began with its bourbon expression in 2012. That whiskey is finished in a second barrel that is deeply toasted and lightly charred—a process that helped popularize toasted-oak whiskey.

At a media tasting, McCall described the new whiskey as a meeting of rye and Double Oaked richness. Its flavor profile emphasizes baking spices rather than the sharper spice commonly associated with rye, with notes likened to cinnamon rolls, caramel macchiato and glazed doughnuts. McCall also recommended it neat or in cocktails such as an Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye will be available nationwide beginning November 5, 2026, with a suggested retail price of $54.99. More information is available on the Woodford Reserve website.

Small-batch and single-barrel whiskey differ mainly in how they’re made—and how much their flavors vary.

Small-batch whiskey

There’s no official legal definition of “small batch,” so the number of barrels can vary widely by producer. One brand might use fewer than a dozen barrels, while another may blend hundreds.

Producers select and blend barrels to create a balanced, recognizable flavor that stays relatively consistent from batch to batch. Small-batch whiskey is often bottled at a more approachable proof and tends to cost less than single-barrel options. It can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails.

Single-barrel whiskey

Single-barrel whiskey comes from one cask, which may yield only about 220 to 240 bottles after proofing. Because each release is limited, these bottles are often more expensive, and labels may list the barrel or bottle number.

The flavor can differ from one barrel to another. Factors such as temperature, aging time, the wood grain, and a barrel’s location in the rickhouse all influence the result. That variation can make single-barrel bottles appealing to whiskey enthusiasts and collectors, though it’s worth researching a brand before paying a premium.

In short, small-batch whiskey is blended for consistency, while single-barrel whiskey offers a more limited and distinctive expression.