This is the fourth and final Rare Release Batch from THE REVERIES in 2025. On the wings of colder air, crisp mornings and the paltry efforts of the sun to hang in the sky deep in the evening; Harrowing's final token arrives this week as the Raven release to end the year. There will be no more in 2025. This fourth chapter incorporates a new profile, a new formulation and a chilling embrace for the dark of winter to come. 

RETURN OF RAVEN

Like clockwork, the cooler weather has welcomed back the property's Ravens, the largest of which - Harrowing - has taken up their perch in the clearing across from the resting place of The Reveries. Far from the most vocal of the six, it's no surprise that nature at the farm still respects Harrowing's perch - geese no longer attempt to enjoy the flatland outside my warehouse, and even the other Ravens afford some consideration not to perch too closely. 

This Fourth and final Raven of 2025 is the result of nine months worth of blending work. I embarked on it in February and time and time again tweaked the blend. It's evident in the back label sent to print in anticipation of using seven and nine year bourbon in the formulation. The Ravens and the setting of the sun would see casks inch closer and closer to their birthdays, eventually marching squarely past them, as I finished the blend and left RIV to marry.

Raven IV incorporates favored micro-blends I produced, proceeding then once more to the blending floor to undertake a second exercise in marrying those to create Raven IV. There is more of RIV available in this chapter and for the first time, you'll see it more places - select shops in NY and NY will carry it this Holiday season as I now have a distributor in NY/NJ. If yours doesn't, ask them and I will connect them to embark on getting them some bottles. A few cases are reserved for other retailers in DC who have inquired in the past months. The lions share, by far, will go to this group as I hold to my commitment to make whiskeys that I strive to see people love, and love to actually get in their hands. 

The profile on this whiskey is deeper, older, it's more complex and it's more "spread out" - a departure from my summer exercise in concentration. Featuring seven to fifteen year Kentucky and Indiana bourbons, it's increased in age and variety and I am certain it's the most complex Raven to date. It pairs exceedingly well with an espresso or a cigar, as folks are likely to indulge in as the weather turns from acrid, humid summer to the pleasant and frost tinged fall. I've tasted numerous folks on this release in the past weeks in pursuit of feedback and each has agreed this whiskey has more tannin, more aged whiskey backbone, and balances the vibrant, syrupy, dark berry fruit driven profile of I-III that released in the warmer months. 

It's ready.