The Whiskey Artisans: Pioneers of the Craft

Breaking the rules of tradition isn’t for the weak-hearted. The pioneers in this box wear boldness like a badge of honor, pushing boundaries while never losing sight of whiskey’s soul.

First, there’s Stauning Smoke Single Malt, a Danish marvel that showcases its local terroir with a heather-and-peat smoke combo so subtly complex, you’ll wonder if Denmark’s West Coast was designed just for whiskey-making.

Then there’s St. George Baller American Single Malt, a California renegade that flips the script on the new American classic with a Japanese-style umeshu-cask finish, yielding a subtle smokiness with a signature burst of plum that feels like a whole new category of whiskey.

Finally, meet Corn Trooper United Craft Bourbon Batch #1, a 7-state, 7-bourbon blend that’s a buttery, sweet tour across American whiskey tradition—but totally reimagined for a modern palate.

This is where the mavericks live, blending creativity and tradition in ways purists only dream about. Bold ideas, big flavors, and heaps of guts.

EXPLORE MORE: This box is part 1 of the Whiskey Artisans trilogy—an immersive journey into the world of craft, heritage, and mastery. To complete your deep dive into the world of whiskey craftsmanship, make sure to check out the other two boxes in the series: Timeless Heritage and Mastery Refined.

SMARTASS CORNER

1. If you sailed a boat directly west from the town of Stauning, Denmark, you would sail right into the Firth of Forth with Edinburgh on your left. Stauning Whisky makers would feel right at home in the Highlands of Scotland!

2. Stauning's all about keeping it real and local. They're the only active Danish whisky creators using malted Danish barley and rye. Focusing on using only local ingredients, they’ve effectively created a new whisky category: the New Nordic Terroir Whisky.

3. St. George Spirits was one of the first craft distilleries in the U.S., founded in 1982 in an old airplane hangar.

4. The umeshu cask finish in St. George Baller Single Malt is inspired by Japanese plum wine, a traditional liqueur made by steeping unripe ume plums in sugar and shochu or sake.

5. American single malt is the wild child of whiskeys! It uses any malted grain it likes. It disregards the Scottish pot distillation rule and distills in its own way. Geography? Anywhere goes!

6. Corn Trooper is a mix of 7 Straight Bourbons from 7 bourbon-making states, which, if you’re keeping count, technically makes it the only 700% Straight Bourbon in the world.

7. A portion of Corn Trooper's proceeds supports the Michael James Jackson Foundation, promoting diversity in the spirits industry.

8. Bourbon and Single Malt Whiskey differ in their base. Bourbon is corn-based (51% of the grain bill or higher), while single malt uses barley exclusively. When it comes to taste, bourbon tends to be sweeter than single malt. This is because corn has a higher sugar content than malted barley.