08/31/2024
Sir Davis. Rye whiskey
SirDavis is a new, limited-edition rye whiskey created by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter in partnership with Moët Hennessy. This inaugural release is crafted by Dr. Bill Lumsden, featuring a unique 51% rye, 49% malted barley mash bill. Pre-order now for a chance to own this exclusive whiskey, expected to ship in September 2024.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter — the artist with the most Grammy Awards of all time — has teamed up with Moët Hennessy to launch SirDavis, a new brand with an inaugural release in the rye category. It’s the first-ever Moët Hennessy brand developed internally and within the United States (as opposed to an acquisition).
The brand is named for Davis Hogue, Knowles-Carter’s paternal great-grandfather. According to a press release, Davis was a farmer and Prohibition-era moonshiner who once stashed bottles in cedar trees to avoid prying eyes.
To develop the first release, Moët Hennessy enlisted Dr. Bill Lumsden of its portfolio distilleries Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. Working with Knowles-Carter (who the brand says is a noted Japanese whisky drinker), Lumsden and his team settled on an Indiana-distilled straight whisky made from a mash bill of 51 percent rye and 49 percent malted barley. (The distillate comes from an unnamed Indiana-based producer, with all signs pointing to MGP.) Notably, some non-distilling producers, including Smoke Wagon, have previously released MGP rye from that mashbill. SirDavis reps have said that moving forward, the brand has exclusivity on that and a range of similar mashbills from its partner producer.
The non-age stated rye is shipped to Texas (Knowles-Carter’s home state) and finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Blending and bottling (at 88 proof) also takes place in Texas. Brand reps have confirmed that this release exceeds the minimum age requirements for straight rye (i.e. 2 years).
Nose: Slightly less herbal and a little more fruit-forward, with a dried oak quality that continues throughout.
Palate: The first sip is light and oak-forward, which could be a function of an aging lifecycle across multiple casks. A next progression is decidedly spice then fruit, the rye character bringing (again) cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish: The finish leans away from cereal grain and back into rye spice. It’s lengthy and tannic, reminiscent of a dry, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.
Alc. Vol: 44% ABV (88 Proof)
