Rogue Spirits | Mashing In

Rogue Spirits Introduces Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule as Newest Canned Cocktail

Posted on October 14, 2020October 14, 2020 by mashingin

Rogue Spirits (Newport, Oregon) has officially announced that it will add Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule to its lineup of Sparkling Craft Cocktails in mid-October 2020.

Arriving just in time for the holiday season, Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule (7.5% ABV) is a Sparkling Craft Cocktail that uses Rogue Spirits Whiskey – “a blend of 4 to 6 year old Rogue Whiskey that was distilled and aged at the Rogue Spirits distillery in Newport, Oregon” – as the base spirit “while ginger and lemon provide a refreshing balance of citrus and spice.” Like all of Rogue’s Canned Craft Cocktails, Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule is “made with Rogue Spirits and 100% natural ingredients, [and offers an] authentic, gluten-free, bar quality recipe in the convenience of a can.”

“Released just in time for the holiday season, our Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule is made for those special occasions when you want to spend less time making drinks and more time celebrating with the ones you love,” says Hagen Moore, VP of Marketing & Creative. “Dressed for a holiday party, the shiny copper packaging evokes a feeling of celebration from the outside in. On the palate, the warming ginger and lemon flavor provide a refreshing balance of citrus and spice. These are sure to be a welcome addition at any holiday gathering.”

Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule is rolling out now and will be available Year-Round alongside Rogue’s other Sparkling Craft Cocktails: Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda, Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz, Grapefruit Vodka Soda and Ginger Lime Vodka Mule. You can expect to find Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule available in 4-packs of 12 oz. slim cans at craft spirits-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s nationwide distribution network. Prost!

Vital Information for Ginger Lemon Whiskey Mule from Rogue Spirits

Release – Year-Round; launching October 2020
Style – Canned Sparkling Craft Cocktail
ABV – 7.5%
Ingredients – Rogue Spirits Whiskey, Ginger, Lemon, Simple Syrup & Sparkling Water
Availability – 4-packs of 12 oz. cans
Beer/Cocktail Finder – https://finder.rogue.com/

Rogue Converts Distillery into Hand Sanitizer Production Facility

Posted on March 31, 2020 by mashingin

Rogue Spirits (Newport, Oregon) has officially announced that it has begun production of Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer to provide local emergency response and public safety officials with much needed hand sanitizer during the public health crisis caused by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Produced to “keep those servicing the community safe and healthy so that they can protect the rest of the country” during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rogue’s Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer is made with “80% ethanol, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide and distilled water.” This initiative at Rogue Spirits was made possible due to “the Food and Drug Administration [changing] their guidelines on March 18 to give distilleries permission to start making hand sanitizer for distribution as long as they were abiding by the formula outlined by the World Health Organization.” At this time, Rogue has already donated its Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer – packaged in 375ml, 4 oz. and 16 oz. bottles – to “fire departments from Newport, Toledo, Waldport, Yachats, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City, police services, county offices, local ambulance services and Life Flight.”

“There’s a massive shortage of so many life-saving supplies right now and we wanted to do something to help,” adds Brian Pribyl, Head Distiller of Rogue Ales & Spirits. “As a distillery, we make alcohol every day, so a hand sanitizer was an obvious way to help. It’s been amazing to watch the entire distilling community come together during this crisis. We can’t make gowns, gloves or medical equipment but we can keep a steady supply of alcohol flowing. If we can supply a hand sanitizer to the front-line of this pandemic, even if that means one less thing they have to worry about sourcing, we’re calling that a win.”

“What’s really great about our hand sanitizer initiative is that it came about as an employee passion project and their dream became a reality thanks to a collaborative team effort,” adds Jack Waibel, Vice President of Production at Rogue Ales & Spirits. “Since day one we have been dedicated to giving back to our community and are so honored to be able to step up and help in this time of need.”

Rogue’s Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer is currently available to first responders in Oregon’s Lincoln County and the distillery is “working to make it available throughout the nation to businesses and consumers to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus.” Prost!

Rogue Ales & Spirits Releases 2020 Batch of Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout & Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey

Posted on January 31, 2020 by mashingin

Rogue Ales & Spirits (Newport, Oregon), the only farmer-brewer-distiller-cooper in the world, has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of this year’s Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout and Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey in February 2020.

Established in 2015 when Rogue “acquired vintage French WWII-era coopering equipment and built a barreling facility,” Rolling Thunder Barrel Works is a barrel making operation anchored by longtime employee Nate Linquist who was “tapped to be Rogue’s first cooper and spent six months apprenticing, learning the ancient art of barrel making.” Working exclusively with Oregon Oak, Linquist “assembles, raises, toasts, chars, hoops, heads, hoops again, cauterizes, sands and brands each barrel, one at a time, all by hand.” Once completed, these barrels go on to serve as aging vessels for a selection of Rogue’s handcrafted beers and spirits.

“With our culture of relentless curiosity comes the desire to create, innovate and do things differently,” says Bliss Dake, Vice President of Marketing. “At Rogue we come up with some wild ideas and then we make them happen. We are makers with a ‘Do It Yourself’ attitude and are always asking ‘What If?’. This ‘What If’ mentality pushed us to experiment and ultimately create something special with the Rolling Thunder family.”

Representative of “the culmination of all things DIY from Rogue,” Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout 2020 is a meticulously crafted Imperial Stout that “was aged for 9 months in one of these handmade Rolling Thunder Barrel Works barrels previously used to age Rogue’s Dead Guy Whiskey.” This treatment allows the Imperial Stout’s “rich, viscous notes of chocolate and coffee [to combine] with the flavors of whiskey-soaked Oregon Oak.” Weighing in at 13.6% ABV, Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout “can be enjoyed immediately or cellared for years.”

Taking the Rolling Thunder Barrel Works program “one step further,” Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey is an American Single Malt Whiskey “that was distilled at Rogue’s distillery then aged in barrels built at Rogue’s Rolling Thunder Barrel Works cooperage that had already aged Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout, which was brewed at Rogue’s brewery.” This full circle approach lends the whiskey “prominent notes of chocolate that complement the flavors of whiskey-soaked Oregon Oak.” Coming in at 97.5 PROOF, Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey is “big, bold and a true one-of-a-kind whiskey that bridges the gap between Single Malt and Bourbon.”

Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout and Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey are both scheduled to release in February 2020 and will only be available as long as supplies last. Rolling Thunder Imperial Stout will be available in 500ml (16.9 oz.) bottles and on draft at select craft beer-focused establishments located in Alabama, Florida, Oregon and throughout the rest of Rogue’s distribution network. Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey will be available in 750ml bottles at select liquor retailers located in areas that normally see offerings from Rogue Spirits. Prost!

Rolling_Thunder_Charring_FULL-31 — Nate Linquist, Rolling Thunder Barrel Works Cooper at Rogue Ales & Spirits, charring a barrel. Photo Credit: Rogue Ales & Spirits

Tasting Notes – Spirits Edition: Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz from Rogue Spirits

Posted on October 3, 2019 by mashingin

For this special edition of Tastings Notes, we get acquainted with the new line of Sparkling Craft Cocktails from Rogue Spirits (Newport, Oregon) by getting into a can of Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz.

Crafted to “embody the spirit of the DIY ethos of mixology”, Rogue’s new selection of gluten-free Sparkling Craft Cocktails are made “with award-winning Rogue Spirits and 100% natural ingredients.” Coming in at just 7.5% ABV, each Sparkling Craft Cocktail “delivers a sophisticated, yet refreshing experience with bona fide craft cocktail credentials.”

This new line launched back in August with the following three offerings (descriptions sourced directly from Rogue’s press release):

Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz – Inspired by cucumbers grown on Rogue Farms, Rogue Spirits Gin forms the base of this cocktail while the cucumber and lime provide a farm-fresh citrus balance. ABV – 7.5%
Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda – Inspired by the cranberries that grow on the Oregon coast, Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka forms the base of this cocktail while the cranberry, elderflower and lime add a refreshing tartness. ABV – 7.5%
Ginger Lime Vodka Mule – Inspired by a favorite at the Rogue Pub in Newport, Oregon, Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka forms the base of this cocktail while ginger and lime provide a refreshing balance of citrus and spice. ABV – 7.5%

All three Sparkling Craft Cocktails listed above are currently available in 4-packs of 12 oz. slim cans at select retailers located in Florida, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Michigan only. Nationwide availability is scheduled to begin in January 2020.

With all of that background information now out of the way, what do you say we crack open a cold one . . . er, cocktail and get into these Tasting Notes?

Tasting Notes for Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz from Rogue Spirits

Appearance: Poured over ice into a highball glass, this Sparkling Craft Cocktail is a foggy, icy white in color and builds a 1/2 finger of spritzy bubbles that dissipates almost immediately. Despite its cloudy appearance, you can still see a steady carbonation presence bubbling away within. It basically looks like a mix between a cocktail made with soda or tonic and a hard seltzer.

Aroma: The aromatics are pretty subtle overall, but you can immediately pick up on an incredibly clean note of fresh cucumber. Juniper and a mix of nondescript botanicals then surface to hint at the presence of gin. The profile closes with the soft minerality of quality sparkling water.

Taste: That gin note blooms a bit more here to offer soft tones of juniper, citrus peel, coriander, and various other botanicals, This sets the stage nicely for a refreshing note that can only be described as slices of cucumber dressed with fresh squeezed lime. Everything wraps up in the finish with a wash of sparkling water. All of these notes may be light, but they still somehow remain distinct and absolutely present.

Mouthfeel: Light in body with a bright carbonation presence, this Sparkling Craft Cocktail is wonderfully easy drinking. None of the flavors are aggressive or dominating on the palate. Everything is just nice and balanced against a backdrop of very clean sparkling water. The 7.5% ABV is nearly undetectable, further adding to this offering’s high level of refreshment and drinkability. The aftertaste is just a soft whisper of fresh cucumber.

Final Thoughts: Just like its appearance, the overall experience provided by Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz falls somewhere between a hand-crafted cocktail and one of those hard seltzers that are so popular right now (yes, we have dabbled in the dark art that is hard seltzer). With that said, this Sparkling Craft Cocktail quickly sets itself apart from those often-artificial tasting hard seltzers by showcasing nothing but good ole natural ingredients. The cucumber and lime notes combine with the gentle gin character to create a genuine cocktail experience that reads similarly to a bit of Hendrick’s Gin topped off with a heavy pour of high-end sparkling water.

All in all, Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz has quite a bit going for it:

It is filled with fresh and natural flavors and aromas
It is ridiculously easy drinking
It is wildly refreshing
AND it conveniently scratches that cocktail itch with just a pull of the tab on a can

It is a truly unique and delicious offering, and – if you are at all a fan of cucumber and/or gin – we highly recommend that you give it a try whenever Rogue Spirits’ Sparkling Craft Cocktails hit your area. Prost!

Rogue Spirits Rolls Out New Line of Sparkling Canned Cocktails

Posted on July 19, 2019October 3, 2019 by mashingin

Rogue Spirits (Newport, Oregon) has officially announced that it is entering the ready-to-drink arena with the launch of three Sparkling Craft Cocktails – Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz, Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda and Ginger Lime Vodka Mule – in select markets on August 1.

This new line will launch with the following three offerings (descriptions sourced directly from Rogue’s press release):

Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz – Inspired by cucumbers grown on Rogue Farms, Rogue Spirits Gin forms the base of this cocktail while the cucumber and lime provide a farm-fresh citrus balance. ABV – 7.5%
Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda – Inspired by the cranberries that grow on the Oregon coast, Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka forms the base of this cocktail while the cranberry, elderflower and lime add a refreshing tartness. ABV – 7.5%
Ginger Lime Vodka Mule – Inspired by a favorite at the Rogue Pub in Newport, Oregon, Rogue Spirits Bayfront Vodka forms the base of this cocktail while ginger and lime provide a refreshing balance of citrus and spice. ABV – 7.5%

“As brewers we love the convenience of beer in a can, and as distillers we enjoy the complex flavor profiles of a good mixed drink, launching a line of canned cocktails just felt right. Leaning on our 16 years of distilling experience, we developed three amazing cocktails and put them in a can, so you don’t have to worry about mixing up your favorite drink on the go,” says Rogue President Dharma Tamm. “Made with flavors that rival our freshly made bar equivalents, our sparkling craft cocktails are perfect for summer, whether it be camping, at the beach or in your backyard. They can be enjoyed right out of the can or poured over ice.”

Cucumber Lime Gin Fizz, Cranberry Elderflower Vodka Soda and Ginger Lime Vodka Mule will all experience an initial launch on August 1 in Florida, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Michigan only and a nationwide release is scheduled to follow in January 2020. All three Sparkling Craft Cocktails are available in 4-packs of 12 oz. slim cans. Prost!