Passport to Whiskey: Northern Smoke & Global Spirits

Whiskey is more than a spirit, it is a story of place, tradition, and people. This box takes you across three nations, each with a distinct whiskey identity.

We begin in Kentucky with Chicken Cock Straight Bourbon, a name that once graced the stage at Harlem’s Cotton Club and is now reborn for modern drinkers. Sweet vanilla, caramel, and charred oak notes echo bourbon’s timeless appeal while proving why this American classic deserved a comeback.

Next stop is Finland with Kyrö Wood Smoke Rye, a whisky unlike almost any other. Made from 100% malted Finnish whole-grain rye, the malt is alder smoked in a 100-year-old barn using an old Northern tradition. Double pot-distilled and matured in ex-bourbon, French oak, and new American oak barrels, it layers peppery rye spice, caramel sweetness, and crisp wood smoke into a bold Nordic pour.

Finally, Dublin awaits with Powers Gold Label. A trailblazer since 1791, Powers was the first Irish distillery to bottle its own whiskey, helping raise quality standards across Ireland. Crafted in the classic Irish tradition and bold in character, it delivers honey, orchard fruit, spice, and a peppery finish that captures Irish whiskey’s enduring character.

Together these whiskies show how geography shapes flavor, from Kentucky’s sweet oak, to Finland’s smoked rye, to Ireland’s honeyed spice. Sip them side by side and taste the world.

SMARTASS CORNER

1. Chicken Cock has earned modern critical acclaim while reviving one of America’s oldest bourbon names.

2. Kentucky has 17.1 million aging barrels of Bourbon and other spirits, more than three barrels for every person living in the state.

3. New charred oak barrels can only be used once for bourbon, which is why used bourbon barrels help shape whiskies around the world.

4. Finland has one of the highest rye bread consumption rates in the world, making rye a natural foundation for Kyrö’s whisky.

5. Kyrö’s distillery was famously conceived by friends in a sauna, now one of modern whisky’s great origin stories.

6. Kyrö whiskies have earned international recognition, including awards at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

7. Powers Gold Label is known for a robust, spice-forward house style that helped define classic Irish whiskey.

8. Irish single pot still whiskey, a style closely tied to Powers, is considered one of Ireland’s most historic whiskey traditions.

9. Irish whiskey became the world’s best-selling whiskey category in the 19th century, long before Scotch took the lead.