April is a special month for whiskey fans, particularly for those who appreciate Chattanooga Whiskey. On April 11, the distillery released its 13th edition of the Founder’s Blend, a notable addition to their lineup. This year, the distillery was recognized as the Icons of Whisky – Craft Producer of the Year by Whisky Magazine during its 2023 World Whiskies Awards.

Tim Piersant, the founder of the distillery, crafts a unique blend each year, symbolizing the history of the distillery by utilizing a solera process involving three large charred oak casks. The solera method, often seen in rum and sherry production, allows distilleries to integrate younger spirits repeatedly into the older stocks, thereby creating a dynamic blend while never showcasing a specific age statement on the label.

Chattanooga Whiskey employs this technique differently. The smallest solera cask (625 gallons) contains whiskey from its original recipe, known as 1816, which was originally sourced from Indiana’s MGP distillery. The production process includes combining this aged whiskey with their flagship Barrel 91 Tennessee High Malt recipe, which incorporates three specially roasted and toasted malted grains and is housed in a larger cask of 4,000 gallons, representing the current production stage of the distillery.

In addition, Chattanooga Whiskey’s "Infinity Barrel" contains 1,645 gallons of experimental creations. This year’s blend incorporates not just the historical 1816 whiskey but also includes five new experimental recipes, including a malt whiskey made from Italian barley and a variant of their 99 Rye recipe.

For this specific Founder’s Blend, Piersant has created a blend that consists of 23% Past (1816), 58% Present (Barrel 91), and 19% Future (Infinity Barrel). The result is a standout among the previous editions, showcasing rich flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and toasted s’mores, accompanied by notes of anise and fruit from the experimental blends.

Whiskey enthusiasts in Nashville are fortunate to find the Founder’s Blend available for around $60 a bottle, making it a worthwhile addition to any collection.

For more information about Chattanooga Whiskey, visit Chattanooga Whiskey.