BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Black Velvet is introducing a collection of four aged Canadian whiskies and bringing back a familiar face to help launch it: supermodel Christie Brinkley, who first appeared in the brand’s advertising in 1978.
The Velvet Collection features blended Canadian whiskies aged 12, 15 and 20 years, including a 12-year-old finished in tawny port casks. The expressions will be available nationwide beginning in November in 700-milliliter bottles, with suggested retail prices ranging from $19.99 to $49.99.
The launch marks a new chapter for Black Velvet as the brand celebrates its 75th anniversary. Its new campaign combines recent photography of Brinkley with images from her original Black Velvet advertising nearly five decades ago.
“Christie is genuinely part of that story,” said Aaron Wilke, an associate vice president at Black Velvet Whisky. “Her return gives us an incredibly authentic way to honor our history while introducing the Velvet Collection and showing consumers where Black Velvet is headed next.”
Brinkley said returning to the brand was meaningful because of its place in her own history.
“I love that this moment celebrates the legacy Black Velvet has built over 75 years while looking ahead with something fresh, confident and exciting through the Velvet Collection,” she said.
The four whiskies in the collection are:
- 12-Year-Old Signature: Bottled at 80 proof, this blended Canadian whisky offers aromas of caramel, honey, rye spice, apple, pear and light stone fruit. The palate features vanilla, rye grain, pepper, corn and baking spice, followed by a smooth, dry finish.
- 12-Year-Old Tawny Port Finish: Also bottled at 80 proof, this whisky is finished in tawny port casks. Its aromas include toffee, mocha, tropical fruit, allspice and clove, leading to a lightly sweet, peppery and drying finish.
- 15-Year-Old Select Rye Recipe: Bottled at 80 proof and made with a select rye recipe, this expression offers rye spice, brown sugar, stone fruit, lavender and herbal notes. Flavors of caramel, baking spice, honey and cedarwood lead to a crisp, warming finish.
- 20-Year-Old Legacy: The oldest whisky in the collection is bottled at 90 proof. It features notes of honey, raisin, stone fruit, nuts and florals, with a creamy palate of rye grain, baking spice, flaxseed and vanilla.
Black Velvet was founded in 1951 and is part of the portfolio of Heaven Hill Brands, the family-owned spirits company based in Bardstown. The Canadian whisky brand is known for its “Blended at Birth” process and maturation in oak barrels.
