Beverly Spirits’ new Beverly Café is an unusual whiskey inspired by the Espresso Martini. Rather than being a flavored whiskey, it’s a blend of bourbon and rye finished in coffee liqueur barrels.
The whiskey was developed after founder Andrew Borenzweig tried a cocktail made with Beverly High Rye at a bar in Osaka. He later created a whiskey inspired by the drink, combining the brand’s bourbon-and-rye blend with straight bourbon and rye from Indiana. Its final mash bill is 54% rye, 38% corn, and 8% malted barley.
The blend spent six months in barrels that had held Laurel Canyon Spirits’ coffee liqueur, followed by six months in barrels previously used for its blood orange coffee liqueur. The finished whiskey is bottled at 110 proof.
Coffee is the first flavor that comes through, followed by dark chocolate, maple, brown sugar, cinnamon, and molasses. A subtle citrus note appears at the finish. While it doesn’t taste exactly like an Espresso Martini, its bold, rich character makes it a good choice for sipping after dinner or pairing with dessert.
Beverly Café costs $140 and is a limited release of 550 bottles, available from the brand and select retailers. It received a score of 86, placing it in the “Very Good” category.
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