Old Josephs Is a New Members Only Whiskey Club
If you’re a brand owner dealing with the recent whiskey market struggles, why not try something completely new? That’s not to say that Pinhook Bourbon, which was founded by Sean Josephs in 2010, has had it any worse than any other whiskey brand. Still, the former sommelier and restaurateur has decided to start a new venture, a members-only whiskey club called Old Josephs which allows consumers to join at different tiers and—most importantly—get a new, limited-edition bottle of bourbon a couple of times per year.
Josephs actually views the current downturn in the whiskey market as more of an opportunity than an obstacle. “The surplus of aging barrels has set the stage for what I believe is the golden age of American whiskey, and provides a unique opportunity to blend bourbon and rye across different distilleries, mashbills, and states,” he told Robb Report. “We have been afforded a window of exploration that allows for layering flavor and complexity in new ways that will push American whiskey forward in exciting way.”
Pinhook, a successful brand in its own right, is built upon Josephs’ skill in sourcing and blending bourbon and rye from different distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana, often releasing batches with increasingly older age-statement expressions. But he said that Old Josephs is a more personal endeavor. “I was struck by the desire to make something on an extremely small scale,” he explained. “That allows me to explore and connect directly with the community of folks that are interested in joining me on a journey of taste.”
So here’s how it works. As mentioned earlier, Old Josephs is only available to members, and there are three tiers: Founding Members get a three-year membership at $1,100 with two bottles allocated for each spring and fall release (this is capped at 250 members); Annual Members get a one-year membership at $400 with two bottles allocated for each spring and fall release; and Access Members get a one-year membership at $60, but are only able to get a bottle if there are any left. The whiskey in those bottles is what Josephs is calling “double solera bourbon,” meaning it combines whiskey from two solera tanks—one that is a blend of barrels from Kentucky distilleries, one that has whiskey from distilleries around the country. Each batch will combine whiskey from both “at the precise ratio that best expresses the whiskey at that moment in time” that has been married and proofed in used barrels. There will also be occasional single-barrel releases, but the focus will be on the blends.
We were able to sample the first release, and it’s a very tasty bourbon—and it’s limited to just 210 bottles. Look for notes of leather, maple, toasted almond, dark roast espresso, and cherry on the palate, along with some spice and heat at 110 proof. In addition to the bourbon, Josephs is also launching Josephs Family Wines, and the first release is a run of 600 bottles of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’re interested in signing up and trying the new bourbon and wine for yourself, you can inquire about a membership at the Old Josephs website now.
