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St. Louis-based Luxco has launched Blood Oath Pact No. 3 – the third chapter in the limited release, ultra-premium bourbon series, Blood Oath. Pact No. 3 offers a union of three rye bourbons ranging in age from seven to 12 years. A 12-year rye bourbon is artfully joined by a seven-year rye bourbon and – to add an unforgettable layer of complexity – another seven-year rye finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels.
“These carefully selected bourbons come together for a spicy, yet incredibly smooth flavor profile. By finishing some of the bourbon in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels, I was able to drive more character and depth into the bourbon,” says John Rempe, creator of Blood Oath and Director of Corporate Research and Development at Luxco. “Not only will you taste the spiciness of the rye along with the sweet notes from the wine barrels, but you’ll also taste strong caramel and chocolate overtones, giving it a velvety, well-balanced finish.”
To make Pact No. 3, Rempe conspired with like-minded craftsmen in the heart of California wine country. Nestled in the Oakville region of Napa Valley, Swanson Vineyards has been making nationally known and limited small batch wines for more than three decades. These prized Cabernet Sauvignon barrels were the perfect choice to add a layer of complexity to the whiskey.
“I wanted to partner with a high-quality vineyard that specialized in small, limited releases and with a winemaker who shares the same passion and pride for his work,” says Rempe. “We found that in Robin Akhurst at Swanson Vineyards.”
Swanson Vineyards has a long-standing reputation for classical Bordeaux-styled wines with great finesse, character and elegance. “The level of expertise and devotion that goes into our wines mirrors the creativity and skill that goes into creating the Blood Oath series,” says Robin Akhurst, winemaker at Swanson Vineyards. “It was fantastic to see the character transfer from our barrels come alive in this ultra-premium bourbon.”
Blood Oath Pact No. 3, like its predecessors, is topped with a custom, eco-friendly natural cork, sealed and labeled with certificate-style paper stock signed by John Rempe. Each bottle of Blood Oath Pact No. 3 will be sold in a commemorative fire-branded wooden box. Pact No. 3, bottled at 98.6 proof, is available in limited quantities nationally in 750ml bottles, with a suggested retail price of $99.99.
Pact No. 3 is limited release, with only 10,000 cases (3-packs) created, and this bourbon will never be made again. The Blood Oath series launched in 2015 with Pact No. 1, and will highlight a different variant, or Pact, each year.
