January 14, 2020 — New Orleans. Atelier Vie is pleased to announce a new release of Louisiana Single Malt, the inaugural release of Barrel Aged Calio Rum, and the return of our Orphan Street Brandy “El Jefe” Edition.
Louisiana Single Malt
Louisiana Single Malt is distilled solely from malted barley at a single distillery in New Orleans. The new make whiskey is aged in used cooperage and this 2020 release was aged for two years in an oak cask previously used for bourbon whiskey. Only pure water is used to bring the spirit from barrel strength to bottling proof. Louisiana Single Malt has no additives and has not been chill filtered.
“One of the interesting things about malted barley, compared to other grains typically used for whiskey, is that there is a tremendous variety available,” said Jedd Haas, President of Atelier Vie. “This variety includes numerous types of malt which have been dried, toasted, smoked, and given other treatments to create different flavors. Louisiana Single Malt incorporates several of these different malts, which creates the complex flavor of the whiskey. Atelier Vie is proud to distill the first single malt whiskey in Louisiana and this new release is a great continuation of our Louisiana whiskey tradition. We look forward to more releases of this whiskey in the future,” Haas continued.
What is Single Malt?
While the words used to describe many types of whiskey are highly regulated by Federal law, the term Single Malt does not yet have any legal meaning in the United States. However, in general use in the United States, and as used by Atelier Vie, the term “single” means that the whiskey was distilled at a single distillery; and “malt” means that only malted barley was used to make the whiskey. Using only malted barley is one of the most expensive ways to make whiskey, as the specialty malts used by Atelier Vie are costly.
Louisiana Single Malt is bottled in 750ml at 94 proof. The retail price at the distillery is $75, which includes all of our notoriously high sales taxes. Limited quantities of Louisiana Single Malt are available for wholesale purchase from our Louisiana distributor, International Wine and Spirits.
Barrel Aged Calio Rum
Calio Rum is pot distilled from Louisiana molasses at our New Orleans distillery. No sugar is added to Calio, either during fermentation, or after distillation. The new make rum is entered into barrels for a minimum of one year. No coloring, flavoring, or other additives are used. Just pure rum flavor, enhanced by barrel aging.
“The result is full of deep molasses flavor, but without any artificial sweetness from added sugar. For rum connoisseurs who want to taste the true terroir of Louisiana molasses, enhanced by barrel aging, our new Calio release will be an epiphany,” said Jedd Haas, President of Atelier Vie.
Barrel Aged Calio Rum is bottled in 750ml at 90 proof. The retail price at the distillery is $45. Barrel Aged Calio Rum is available for wholesale purchase from our Louisiana distributor, International Wine and Spirits.
Orphan Street Brandy “El Jefe” Edition
Orphan Street Brandy has been released in several editions, beginning in 2016. Each edition is barrel aged for a minimum of two years. Random factors inherent in the production and maturation process create subtle changes in each edition. Such minutiae can only be learned by visiting the Atelier Vie tasting room.
“We maximized the impact of our 2019 release, the ‘El Jefe’ edition, by bottling it at 100 proof in a full 750ml bottle, said Jedd Haas, President of Atelier Vie. “This new edition of ‘El Jefe’ is 37 bottles, at 100 proof, in 750ml, and each bottle is individually numbered. Our tasting room prices normally include all of our heinously high sales taxes; however, in the case of ‘El Jefe,’ the retail price is one hundred dollars plus sales taxes, because bosses can afford to pay sales taxes. This brandy is for those who have paid the cost to be the boss,” continued Haas.
A limited quantity of “El Jefe” is available for wholesale purchase from our Louisiana distributor, International Wine and Spirits.
One More Thing: Orphan Street Bourbon
As another point of minor interest, Atelier Vie has also released Orphan Street Bourbon, which is sourced from another distillery. This whiskey release came about due to some orphan barrels from a bottling project which were lingering around the distillery.
Orphan Street Bourbon was made to exacting standards on a giant column still. It was stored in new charred oak barrels, then sent down the river (by truck, of course) to begin its new life in New Orleans. We aged the barrels within walking distance of Bourbon Street, until they were two years old, which is required to call it Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Without further ado, we cut the spirit to proof and bottled it. This high-rye bourbon has a pleasant corn sweetness and a spicy rye note.
Orphan Street Bourbon is bottled in 750ml at 90 proof. The retail price at our tasting room is $30. Orphan Street Bourbon is available for wholesale purchase from our Louisiana distributor, International Wine and Spirits.
Visiting Hours at the Distillery
All of the new releases will be available during Atelier Vie’s regular Bottle Sales Hours. The distillery is open for tastings and discussion of the distillation process every weekend from 10-2 on both Saturday and Sunday. There is no charge to visit the distillery and the company’s full line of spirits is available for retail purchase during these weekend hours. Visitors should see the company web site for directions and additional details, https://ateliervie.com/visit.
Atelier Vie’s Spirits
In addition to Louisiana Single Malt, Barrel-Aged Calio Rum, and Orphan Street Brandy, Atelier Vie distills Riz, Louisiana Rice Whiskey and a clear version of Calio Rum. The Atelier Vie line also includes Euphrosine Gin #9, a flavorful American gin; a barrel aged version of Euphrosine, called Barrel-Finished Reserve, which is aged in American whiskey barrels; Toulouse Green, Absinthe Verte, a traditional-style absinthe inspired by French recipes from the 1800s and distilled with Louisiana wormwood; and Toulouse Red, Absinthe Rouge, a “new school” American absinthe colored red with hibiscus and excellent for cocktail mixing. Atelier Vie also bottles Buck 25 Vodka, an overproof cane vodka designed for creative mixologists to craft their own spirits flavors through rapid infusion.
The Company
Inspired by our renowned culinary culture, Atelier Vie creates flavorful new spirits in one of the greatest drinking cities of the world. “Liquor is art you can drink.” Atelier Vie was founded in 2011 by Jedd Haas.
Contact:
Jedd Haas
504-534-8590 (distillery line, leave message)
jedd@ateliervie.com
@AtelierVie (twitter)
@AtelierVie (instagram)
“Real New Orleans Spirits” is a registered trademark of Atelier Vie, LLC.
-30-