BHAKTA SPIRITS 'DRINK VINTAGE' COLLECTION
 

POULTNEY, VERMONT

Why Buy: From the man who founded WhistlePig Whiskey, a superlative trio of ultra-premium spirits capped off by the "No. 1 Spirit in the World," a mind-blowingly good, 99-point Armagnac that beat out thousands of spirits in all categories at the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, including the "best bourbon in the world." Bhakta's 1990 Jamaican rum and 97-point 2013 bourbon are, we think, every bit its equal, and we are proud to have partnered with Bhakta to bring you these extraordinary “vintage” spirits — which, like fine wines, will only continue to age and evolve in the bottle.
 

The Story: Raj Peter Bhakta sold Whistle Pig for a cool $1 billion in 2018, then went on sabbatical to India and Japan to ponder his next move. The world of spirits wondered: what would the guy who had single-handedly created the modern, high-end rye come up with? The eponymous BHAKTA is the result of his journey of exploration and endless tasting, a label built upon the idea of "vintage spirits." Unlike with spirits that bear an age statement, a vintage spirit is never going to be the same year to year and even from bottle to bottle; no two bottlings are the same, making each akin to a piece of art. Small batch production was important to him. So was the idea of wet-cask finishing — finishing the spirit in barrels that hold a small amount of Armagnac, to mute the presence of French oak and give the rum or bourbon greater balance.
 

Specs: 
 

• The BHAKTA 1973 Armagnac is only the 4th vintage ever crafted by Cellar Master Bernard Domecq. Monsieur Domecq is now in the 54th year of his exalted tenure.
   
• Aged in bourbon barrels for 26 years, the BHAKTA 1990 Jamaican Rum is made up of a 1985 25 Year Jamaican column still rum from Clarendon/Monymusk and a 1990 23 Year Jamaican pot still rum from Appleton Estates. Blended in 2014, it underwent an additional three years of aging in second-fill bourbon and rye barrels before receiving its signature cask finish. No coloring, sugar, or additives were allowed to corrupt the spirit
   
• The BHAKTA 2013 Bourbon was finished in ancient Armagnac casks, each of which previously held Armagnac vintages that date to 1868. It was released at cask strength and is just shy of 10 years of age. Only 2,000 cases have been released. It took home 97 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, with a commendation of "Ultimate Recommendation."
  
   

Proof: 1973 Armagnac, 100.6 proof; 1990 Jamaican Rum, 124 proof; 2013 Bourbon, 100.6 proof.
 

Our Tasting Notes: The Armagnac is impeccably done: a fully-realized expression with exquisite balance and a depth that at times feels endless. Depth, too, is a hallmark of the rum, whose potency and intensity do not come at the expense of complexity or subtlety. The bourbon delivers more than just power and richness, but, like the best small-batch expressions, also conveys charm, complexity, and even elegance.
 

Fun Fact: Bhakta appeared on 9 episodes of "The Apprentice," Donald Trump's TV show, before being "fired."
 

Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so you can be confident that your spirits will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Don't hesitate to secure yours today!

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2023 (December 21, 2023 - March 20, 2024). With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, NJ, TX & WI. This offer is valid for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund.  No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.