Santa Rosa, CA (November 18, 2025) – Today, Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS) announced a collection of unexpected spirits, crafted by visionary whiskey veteran Chip Tate. Ampersand is the highly anticipated, first release from Tate since he joined Foley Family Wines & Spirits as Master Distiller for Innovation in January 2024. Tate has created a portfolio of rare, small batch spirits that lean heavily into his deep knowledge of barrels and their impact on aging, finishing, and flavor profiles.

Designed with the connoisseur in mind, Ampersand includes three distinct expressions – Malus, Vinea, and Opimus – each inspired by the concept of combining complementary spirits to create an unexpected taste experience. Tate’s vision is to offer something to premium spirits enthusiasts who want to explore complex flavors that go beyond category conventions. These spirits are:

Ampersand Malus ($59 SRP for a 750 ml bottle): 51% American Rye Whiskey, 49% Calvados

Ampersand Vinea ($59 SRP for a 750 ml bottle): 75% American Rye Whiskey, 25% Grain spirit aged in XO Cognac casks 

Ampersand Opimus ($150 SRP for a 750 ml bottle): 15-Year-Old Kentucky Bourbon Finished in Tokaji barrels

Tate, who rose to prominence after founding Texas-based Balcones Distilling and was twice named Whisky Icon*, continues to push boundaries with the release of these expressions. “The Ampersand collection includes unexpected combinations that create something far more intriguing than their individual parts. The result for each distinct expression is a complex yet harmonious flavor,” said Tate.

Ampersand Malus (Latin word for the genus of apple trees) is a 92 proof, non-chill filtered blend of 51% 8-year-old American rye whiskey and 49% 8-year-old Calvados, a French apple brandy crafted from fruit grown in Normandy. Malus serves as an homage to America’s earliest distilling traditions, as both rye and apple brandy were among the first spirits distilled on American soil. Tate selected Calvados as part of the Malus blend as it is an underrepresented spirit with an appellation specific to the Normandy Region of France. Made from no less than 40 different types of apples and pears, the fruit is picked when it has reached optimal maturity, distilled in traditional Calvados copper stills, and aged in French oak barrels. With Calvados bringing a fruit-forward combination of apples and pear, coupled with the spiciness of the rye whiskey, Malus’ rich fruit and spicy aromas lend themselves to the dark toffee and apple notes on the palate enhanced by a long, dry finish. An initial run of 6,000 bottles of Malus was produced.

‍Ampersand Vinea (Latin for ‘vine’) is a 92 proof and non-chill filtered blend of 75% 8-year-old rye whiskey and 25% 9+-year-old grain spirit made from 100% corn and aged in XO Cognac casks chosen by Tate. Leveraging his blending expertise, Tate selected the rye whiskey to lighten up and round out the tannic properties of the grain spirit, resulting in a finished product that is balanced and robust. Inspired by the traditions of blended scotch, Vinea is a classic blend of grape and grain where the depth and complexity of the French oak from the XO Cognac complements the peppery rye spice and sweetness of the American oak. 8,500 bottles of Vinea were produced.

‍Ampersand Opimus (Latin for ‘rich or abundant’) is crafted for the collector from 15-year-old Kentucky bourbon finished in Tokaji casks from the Tokaj region in northeastern Hungary, known for its sweet dessert wines. This 117-proof cask strength whiskey is rich with layers of dark caramel, toasted oak and dried fig, evolving into orchard fruits, floral honey, and subtle acidity from the Tokaji influence. The palate is long and warm, as the spice and oak persist, while honey, dried apricot, and orange zest leave a sweet, wine finish. 11,500 bottles of Opimus were produced.

“Chip is a visionary talent, and his reputation for flavor and whiskey innovation manifests in Ampersand Spirits. The spirits in these three blends were chosen with spirits enthusiasts in mind who are looking for something new and unconventional to push them out of their comfort zones,” added Jason Daniel, Foley’s CMO. “From a category perspective, American Rye Whiskey in the $35+ range is experiencing double digit growth, and as the globalization of taste trend continues, the U.S. is the now the second largest export market for Calvados,” Daniel continued.

The Ampersand collection has already received numerous awards from prestigious spirits and whiskey competitions, including Double Gold Medals for Malus at 2025 TAG Global Spirits Awards and the 2025 Concours d’Spirits, a Platinum Award for Vinea at the 2025 TAG Global Spirits Awards, and a Best in Show/97 Points for Opimus at the 2025 Global Whisky Challenge, North America, among several others.

The introduction of Ampersand showcases Foley Family Wines & Spirits’ unique position of creating artisan spirits of exceptional craftsmanship to complement its portfolio of ultra-premium and luxury wines. Confirming his commitment to lean into his blending, barrel selecting, and technical distillation strengths in 2026, Tate teased, “We’re just getting started, as I am also spending time in Mexico working on developing new distillation techniques for my agave projects.”

Ampersand is available at retailers in most states and online, where permitted, at ampersandspirits.com.  

About Foley Family Wines & Spirits
Established by Bill Foley in 1996, Foley Family Wines & Spirits (FFWS) is a portfolio of highly acclaimed wines and spirits from some of the world’s greatest estates. The company owns more than 24 wineries and a distillery, each with its distinct style, legacy, and approach to hospitality. FFWS has expanded its portfolio significantly since its founding, now including such storied brands as Chalk Hill Estate Winery, Sebastiani, Roth, Banshee, Ferrari-Carano, Chateau St. Jean, Lancaster, and Sonoma Coast Vineyards in Sonoma; Merus, Silverado, Foley Johnson and Swanson in Napa Valley; Lincourt, Firestone, and Foley Estates in Southern California; Chalone Vineyard and Cosentino in central California; and Four Graces and Acrobat in Oregon. FFWS’s import wines include Lucien Albrecht in France, Nieto Senetiner in Argentina, and 14 wine brands spanning three of New Zealand’s most acclaimed winegrowing regions: Marlborough, Central Otago, and Martinborough. The growing global spirits portfolio includes domestic brands Minden Mill Whiskeys, High Ground Estate Vodka, Charles Goodnight Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Evil Bean Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur, Ampersand, and SABÉ canned cocktails. International spirits include New Zealand’s Lighthouse Gin, El Mexicano Tequila, the Loch Lomond Group portfolio of Scotch and spirits, Two Stacks Irish Whiskey and Killowen Distillery. FFWS also imports SABÉ canned cocktails and Tequio Tequila cocktails. To learn more about Foley Family Wines & Spirits, visit ffws.com.‍

*Whisky Magazine‍