WORLD TOUR • PART ‖ •
Heaven’s Door
Heaven’s Door is a collection of super-premium craft American whiskeys, created in partnership with Bob Dylan. It’s his first and only brand partnership, featuring an ever-evolving portfolio of handcrafted whiskeys in collaboration with different master distillers and blenders from across the country. As the legendary musician explains, “We wanted to create a collection of American whiskeys that, in their own way, tell a story” (something Mr. Dylan knows a little something about). As an opening act, Heaven’s Door includes a Straight Tennessee Bourbon, a Double Barrel Whiskey, and a Straight Rye Whiskey finished in “cigar” barrels from Vosges, France. Dylan’s artwork is on the packaging, this year featuring his distinctive iron gates he created in his studio, Black Buffalo Ironworks. Next year they’ll introduce The Bootleg Series, showcasing Dylan’s paintings on proprietary bottles, available in limited quantities. In 2019, Heaven’s Door will open its distillery and brand experience center in a 140-year-old church in Nashville, where Dylan recorded four albums. We have no doubt we’ll be knock-knock-knocking on its door soon.
Maker’s Mark
Maker’s Mark Straight Bourbon Whisky is, if nothing else, a true family business, from founder T.W. Samuels (uncle to Frank and Jesse James) to current COO, Rob Samuels. While most distilleries use a modern hammer to break up their grains, Maker’s uses an old, antique roller mill — which isn’t very efficient, but it’s a lot less likely to scorch the grain and create a bitter taste. While Frank and Jesse were known for being fast, we’re betting Uncle T.W. lived a lot longer being anything but. The first bottle of Maker’s wasn’t available for market till fall of 1958, after six summers of aging–hand-dipped
