Bhakta Whiskey Tasting - 1928 Rye, 1973 Armagnac, 2013 Single Vintage Rye

Join us for a unique tasting event that includes a sampling of the three award winning sprits from Bhakta - Bhakta 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey, Bhakta 1928 Rye, Bhakta 1973 Armagnac (Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2023 - No. 1 Spirit of the Year!)

Raj Bhakta was the founder of Whistlepig Distillery back in 2008. He sold it in 2018, and in 2019, he and Leo Gibson founded BHAKTA Spirits and subsequently procured a collection of spirits, including whiskeys and brandies, dating back to 1868 and every year through 2023.

BHAKTA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey

Spicy American Rye Perfected in Calvados Casks

After igniting the rye revival of the ‘00s and ‘10s through the iconic success of WhistlePig Whiskey, BHAKTA Founder Raj Peter Bhakta has returned to the spirit which won him acclaim. . . ready to revive and reimagine rye, all over again. The distillate of one distinct American vintage, this bold, brash, and spicy 95% rye earned the right to a secondary finish in Calvados casks chosen from Château BHAKTA’s most noble stocks.

BHAKTA 1973 Armagnac - No. 1 Spirit of the Year! | Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2023

Exquisitely complex and astoundingly aged, BHAKTA 1973 Armagnac is our 50 Year, Golden Anniversary Armagnac vintage. A landmark year at every level— and a pure distillation of the spirit of celebration — this vintage shows a nose of baked apple, old books, cinnamon, and leather, followed by nutmeg and macerated raisins on the palate. In history, 1973 was defined by the opening of the World Trade Center, the sale of the New York Yankees to George Steinbrenner, and the departure of the last American soldier from Vietnam.

Bhakta 1928 Rye Whiskey

Ever tasted a nearly 100-year-old spirit?

Named “1928” for the oldest vintage in the blend, it also contains 1941, 1962 and 1973, fusing ancient French Armagnacs and Calvados to perfect this Rye whiskey.

Bold Rye Whiskey fortified with Ancient Armagnac. BHAKTA 1928 embodies the Spirit of the Roaring Twenties—Boom Times, Boundless Optimism, and Big American Dreams. In this breakthrough blend, America’s finest rye is unified with France’s oldest spirits, including Armagnac from the rare and exquisite 1928 vintage, to capture the essence of an iconic era’s je ne sais quoi.

There’s blending, and then there’s thinking way, way outside the box. Imagine sitting on some ancient stocks, going back almost a century, and wondering what you can do with them beyond just bottling them individually. Let’s say you get wild.

You start with XO Calvados. Calvados is a brandy made from apple or pear cider and exclusively in northwestern France’s Calvados region. While there are over 230 varieties of apple cider used in the production of Calvados, producers will use apples from four categories: bitter, used for flavor; tart, used for its acidity and freshness; sweet, used to aid fermentation; and bittersweet, used for its tannins.

Next, you peruse your stocks of ancient Armagnacs. Armagnac is France’s oldest distilled spirit, a brandy made from up to ten varieties of white grapes and made exclusively in the Armagnac region in southwest France. It was first recorded in 1310, and its name means burnt wine. You notice a cask that’s been aging since 1928. Nearby are barrels from 1941, 1962, 1973, and 1996. Take portions from each and blend those together.

Finally, you take an American straight rye whiskey from 2018. Use it as 60% of the base, add your XO Calvados to form 30% of it, and then the Armagnac as the remaining 10%. Then, barrel finish that concoction in virgin French oak twice, and voila! You have BHAKTA 1928.

Host or Publisher Erie Social Club