January 23, 2022—New Orleans.
Atelier Vie starts the new year with a significant pair of new whiskey releases: Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey, Bottled in Bond, and aged over four (4) years; and a triple-barreled release of Louisiana Single Malt aged over three (3) years.
Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey, Bottled in Bond
Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey Bottled In Bond
To qualify as Bottled in Bond, the spirit must distilled and bottled at the same distillery; and be aged a minimum of four years; and bottled at exactly 100 proof (50% ABV). The whiskey must also be distilled during a single distilling season, which is defined as either the first half or second half of the year.
This release of Riz was distilled in the Fall season of 2017, and was entered into a 53 gallon former bourbon barrel on October 10, 2017. After aging for over two years, a portion of the whiskey was transferred to five gallon barrels and later released after it was three years old. The remainder of the whiskey that was entered in the original barrel was entered into a 25 gallon former wheat whiskey barrel on December 26, 2019. The whiskey then aged in this second barrel until the barrel was emptied on January 12, 2022. Overall, the whiskey was aged for four years, three months, and two days.
This release of Riz is Atelier Vie’s second Bottled in Bond release and it is our first Bottled in Bond whiskey release. This release is also believed to the first Bottled in Bond whiskey release by a Louisiana distillery and is Atelier Vie’s oldest whiskey release to date. In 2020, Atelier Vie had the first Bottled in Bond release of any kind by a Louisiana distillery, with a Bonded expression of Euphrosine Gin #9.
Riz is handcrafted in small batches from 100% Louisiana rice in our New Orleans distillery. The production process is similar to a corn whiskey or bourbon; the rice is cooked and gelatinized; the rice then undergoes liquefaction and saccharification. After being cooled to fermentation temperature, a whiskey yeast is added and a distiller’s beer of around 8% ABV is produced by the yeast. This whiskey wash is double pot distilled; the initial stripping run produces low wines at around 60 proof (30% ABV) and then the spirit run produces new make whiskey at around 150 proof (75% ABV). This new make is gently diluted to barreling strength and entered into the barrel. In the case of this Bonded release of Riz, the original entry strength was around 114 proof. After the initial aging, the proof had risen a couple points and was around 116 proof when it was entered in the second barrel.
Riz, Bottled in Bond, is available immediately at the Atelier Vie tasting room for purchase during visits. Riz and our other spirits can also be purchased for pickup via our online store. This new Bottled in Bond release of Riz is bottled in 750ml at exactly 100 proof, and is priced at $100. This price includes all of our notoriously high sales taxes.
Louisiana Single Malt
Louisiana Single Malt Three Year
Louisiana Single Malt is distilled from 100% malted barley at our New Orleans distillery. It is double pot distilled to less than 160 proof and aged in oak barrels at less then 125 proof.
After several previous releases of Louisiana Single Malt, this new release is the oldest to date and has been aged in a complex process involving multiple barrels.
After distillation in 2018, the new make Single Malt was entered into a 53 gallon former bourbon barrel for initial aging. After one year and six months, the whiskey was transferred into a number of six gallon barrels that were previously used for a different bourbon. After approximately thirteen months, the whiskey was transferred to a 25 gallon former rye whiskey barrel for approximately ten months of aging. The total aging time was three years, four months, and twenty two days.
This is our oldest release of Louisiana Single Malt to date and with the triple barrel aging process, it has gained a distinctive complexity and layering of malt, bourbon, and rye flavors.
Louisiana Single Malt is available immediately at the Atelier Vie tasting room for purchase during visits. Louisiana Single Malt and our other spirits can also be purchased for pickup via our online store. This new Louisiana Single Malt release is bottled in 750ml at 94 proof, and is priced at $75. This price includes all of our notoriously high sales taxes.