LeClaire, Iowa, February 24, 2012 - Mississippi River Distilling Company is ready to release their second batch of Cody Road Bourbon Whiskey on Friday, March 2, 2012.
When the first batch released in December, the whiskey sold out across Iowa in Illinois in only three days with 120 bottles selling out at the distillery in less than four hours. There are 899 bottles in this second batch. MRDC's retail shop in Le Claire will have 90 bottles for sale starting at 10 a.m. Friday. Due to the high demand, sales at the distillery will be limited to one bottle per person. The Iowa Alcohol Beverage Division is limiting retailers to six bottles per store, per week to help spread the supply.
Owner and distiller Ryan Burchett says to expect another quick sale. "Last time we released bourbon, people were lined up down the street waiting for us to open. We were sold out in four hours," said Ryan. "I'm not sure a day has gone by since that someone hasn't stopped in or called to see if we have any more. Unfortunately, this batch likely won't last much longer than the first."
While the supply is tight now, distillers say supplies will grow later this year. "It's so hard to tell our fans that we're out. But we're working on that. When we were first opening, our vodka was selling as fast as we could make it. So we didn't have much time to make bourbon to set aside for aging," said owner/distiller Garrett Burchett. "The good news is that our production has improved immensely over the past year. What used to take us a month to make, we are cranking out in a week. We are putting a lot more bourbon in barrels so by late 2012 it will be an easier bottle to find."
To help increase production, Cody Road fans now have the unique opportunity to "adopt" a bourbon barrel. For $400, bourbon fans can pick out a barrel, put their name on it or decorate it as they wish. Distillers then fill it with Cody Road Bourbon. After a year of aging, the bourbon will come out of the barrel and the purchaser is invited back to assist in bottling the bourbon from the barrel. The purchaser then gets six bottles of finished Cody Road Bourbon and gets to keep the empty barrel. Distillers are making 100 barrels available for adoption starting this week.
Distillers will also be celebrating the second release of Cody Road Bourbon at their monthly First Friday. This open house social will be held March 2 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the distillery in LeClaire. While the bourbon is expected to sell out during the day at the distillery, there will be some available for tasting during the First Friday event. MRDC's "spirited chef" Stephanie Godke is preparing two fabulous fondue pots - one with caramel fondue and the other with chocolate fudge, both prepared using River Baron Artisan Spirit. She'll also be featuring Cody Road Bourbon in a maple pork and beans recipe. There will also be two signature drinks for the evening, Cucumber Mint Press and the Baron Breakfast Tini. The Cucumber Mint Press features River Baron Artisan Spirit with a refreshing blend of cucumber, mint, Rose's Lime, sugar and a splash of Sprite. It's a refreshing drink perfect for thinking Spring! River Baron Artisan Spirit also takes center stage in the Baron Breakfast-Tini. It's then mixed with Woodchuck Hard Cider, amaretto and a hint of maple syrup. Free samples of both food and drink will be served and the complete recipes can be found at our website www.mrdistilling.com.
Mississippi River Distilling Company is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 5 PM Sundays. Free tours are offered to the public daily on the hour from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment. The tour takes visitors through the entire distilling process. Tours end in the Grand Tasting Room with free samples of products for those patrons over 21 years of age.
When the first batch released in December, the whiskey sold out across Iowa in Illinois in only three days with 120 bottles selling out at the distillery in less than four hours. There are 899 bottles in this second batch. MRDC's retail shop in Le Claire will have 90 bottles for sale starting at 10 a.m. Friday. Due to the high demand, sales at the distillery will be limited to one bottle per person. The Iowa Alcohol Beverage Division is limiting retailers to six bottles per store, per week to help spread the supply.
Owner and distiller Ryan Burchett says to expect another quick sale. "Last time we released bourbon, people were lined up down the street waiting for us to open. We were sold out in four hours," said Ryan. "I'm not sure a day has gone by since that someone hasn't stopped in or called to see if we have any more. Unfortunately, this batch likely won't last much longer than the first."
While the supply is tight now, distillers say supplies will grow later this year. "It's so hard to tell our fans that we're out. But we're working on that. When we were first opening, our vodka was selling as fast as we could make it. So we didn't have much time to make bourbon to set aside for aging," said owner/distiller Garrett Burchett. "The good news is that our production has improved immensely over the past year. What used to take us a month to make, we are cranking out in a week. We are putting a lot more bourbon in barrels so by late 2012 it will be an easier bottle to find."
To help increase production, Cody Road fans now have the unique opportunity to "adopt" a bourbon barrel. For $400, bourbon fans can pick out a barrel, put their name on it or decorate it as they wish. Distillers then fill it with Cody Road Bourbon. After a year of aging, the bourbon will come out of the barrel and the purchaser is invited back to assist in bottling the bourbon from the barrel. The purchaser then gets six bottles of finished Cody Road Bourbon and gets to keep the empty barrel. Distillers are making 100 barrels available for adoption starting this week.
Distillers will also be celebrating the second release of Cody Road Bourbon at their monthly First Friday. This open house social will be held March 2 from 5:30 - 8 p.m. at the distillery in LeClaire. While the bourbon is expected to sell out during the day at the distillery, there will be some available for tasting during the First Friday event. MRDC's "spirited chef" Stephanie Godke is preparing two fabulous fondue pots - one with caramel fondue and the other with chocolate fudge, both prepared using River Baron Artisan Spirit. She'll also be featuring Cody Road Bourbon in a maple pork and beans recipe. There will also be two signature drinks for the evening, Cucumber Mint Press and the Baron Breakfast Tini. The Cucumber Mint Press features River Baron Artisan Spirit with a refreshing blend of cucumber, mint, Rose's Lime, sugar and a splash of Sprite. It's a refreshing drink perfect for thinking Spring! River Baron Artisan Spirit also takes center stage in the Baron Breakfast-Tini. It's then mixed with Woodchuck Hard Cider, amaretto and a hint of maple syrup. Free samples of both food and drink will be served and the complete recipes can be found at our website www.mrdistilling.com.
Mississippi River Distilling Company is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 5 PM Sundays. Free tours are offered to the public daily on the hour from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment. The tour takes visitors through the entire distilling process. Tours end in the Grand Tasting Room with free samples of products for those patrons over 21 years of age.
