SAN FRANCISCO, September 17, 2025: Bourbon Heritage Month gets a French accent this year thanks to the newest expression from award-winning HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys: The Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon (750ml; $180 SRP), created in collaboration with the revered HINE Cognac house. This limited-release expression has been aged 5 years, 8 months, before finishing in 30-Year-Old HINE Cognac XO barrels for 1 year, 10 months, in Bardstown, KY. Only 3,900 bottles will be released, beginning in September in honor of Bourbon Heritage Month; available in AZ, CA, NV, NM, WA, NJ, TX, LA, WI, IL, TN, MN, ND, SD.

“The creation of HIRSCH The Cask Strength was an exciting opportunity to bring together the legacy of a 20^th century American visionary and an 18^th century French icon,” says Kevin Aslan, Head Distiller for HIRSCH, referring to the legacy of Adolph Hirsch, an investment banker and the consummate whiskey explorer, who commissioned the highly regarded A.H. Hirsch bourbon in partnership with a distillery in 1974, and the HINE Cognac house, which was founded in 1763.

“The marriage of exceptional Kentucky straight bourbon with the elegant XO cognac casks embodies the HIRSCH mission to explore the world of possibilities through experimentation balanced with craft,” Aslan continues. “The French Oak casks add a layer of almond, light nutmeg, citrus, and tannic structure that leads to a dry finish. The cognac that these casks absorbed over the 30-year aging period balance out the bourbon’s vanilla and baking spice quality into a nicely balanced yet complex whiskey.” HINE XO Cognac is premiere cru cognac from Grande Champagne, made exclusively from Grande Champagne grapes; it boasts aromatics of ginger, orange, honey, cinnamon and floral notes.

The Cask Strength is crafted from 72 percent corn, 13 percent rye and 15 percent malted barley; it is double distilled in small copper pot stills, aged for 7 years, 6 months in both new char #3 and toasted American oak barrels.

●      Aroma: Plum, rich baking spice, complex

●      Palate: Caramel cherry, soft vanilla, mild cinnamon, muscat grape, rich mouthfeel

●      Finish: Peach rings, cedar, fig, gentle tannin structure

This year’s The Cask Strength follows the 2022 release – the inaugural collaboration between HIRSCH and HINE – which won a Gold medal in 2023 from the Beverage Testing Institute.

For more details about HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys and where to find The Cask Strength, please visit www.hirschwhiskey.com and follow along on Instagram at @hirschwhiskey. To purchase online or be notified when available in respective markets, visit the HIRSCH ecommerce website.

‍About HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys
The story of American whiskey is not complete without mention of A.H. HIRSCH Reserve 16-Year-Old, widely considered the best American bourbon ever produced–even inspiring revered whiskey expert Chuck Cowdery to write the book, The Best Bourbon You'll Never Taste. The True Story of A. H. Hirsch Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Distilled in the Spring of 1974. Today, HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys are inspired by the A.H. Hirsch’s adventurous mission is to source exceptional liquid at the finest distilleries to produce a modern and transparent range of Straight Kentucky Bourbon that is designed to be the best bourbon you will taste. Visit www.hirschwhiskey.com for more information.

About HINE Cognac
Founded in 1763, HINE is armed with 259 years of attention to details, from the early work in the vineyards to the art of blending the finest eau-de-vie. The House of HINE cherishes a solid belief: that a great cognac is above all, a great white wine. The fine and delicate style is garnered by the careful growing of grapes in Grande Champagne, the heart of the Cognac region’s most desired areas, and the use of oak wood to enhance, not mask, the eau-de-vie’s flavors.  HINE has always been acclaimed by connoisseurs and sommeliers for cognac blends and for being the specialist in single vintage cognacs. In its cellar in Jarnac, France, HINE preserves an unequalled collection of exceptional cognacs dating back to the 1850’s. A team of 30 dedicated people ensures the uncompromising longevity of one of the world’s most praised cognac house, independent and family owned.

About Hotaling & Co.
A born and bred San Francisco original, Hotaling & Co. is the leading distiller and importer of artisanal spirits and cocktail essentials. With dedication to artisanal spirits first started in 1993 under the name Anchor Distilling Company, which heralded the return to copper pot distilling in the U.S. with the original craft introductions of Junipero Gin & Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, Hotaling & Co. carries on a pioneering legacy through its name, giving a nod to the local legend A.P. Hotaling, who ventured West during the Gold Rush and quickly became one of the most reputable spirits dealers in the country and a notable figure in American drinking culture. Fueled by a passion for beverage expertise, education, and hospitality, Hotaling & Co. carries on this tradition of artisanal excellence by bringing together a family of like-minded spirits that share a commitment to craft and care. Today, Hotaling & Co.’s portfolio is synonymous with brands of unmatched quality and character, including Luxardo Liqueurs & Cherries, Nikka Whisky, HIRSCH Selected Whiskeys, Junipero Gin, HINE Cognac, Convite Mezcal, Fiero Tequila, Kavalan Whisky, Denizen Rum, Dingle, BarSol Pisco, Christian Drouin, Old Pulteney Whisky, Arran Whisky, Old Potrero Rye Whiskey, Silvio Carta, and more. Visit www.HotalingandCo.com to explore the full range of brands.