Chip Tate, the man who put Texas whiskey on the map with Balcones, has been quiet for a while. Not anymore. After stepping into the role of Master Distiller for Innovation at Foley Family Wines & Spirits back in early 2024, he just dropped his first new project: Ampersand. Three small-batch spirits that don’t fit neatly into any box, and that’s exactly the point.
These aren’t your standard bourbons or ryes. Tate took premium American whiskey and married it with some of the most respected (and sometimes overlooked) spirits from across the ocean. The result is a lineup that makes you sit up, pour a second glass, and wonder why nobody did this sooner.
Let’s walk through them one by one.
Ampersand Malus – The Apple & Rye Masterpiece
Take an eight-year-old American rye whiskey, blend it almost fifty-fifty with an eight-year-old Calvados from Normandy, and you get Malus. For the history buffs: rye and apple brandy were two of the very first things distilled in the colonies. Tate calls it a nod to America’s original distilling roots.
The Calvados side comes from at least forty different varieties of apples and pears, picked dead-ripe, double-distilled in old copper pots, and aged in French oak. You smell fresh orchard fruit the second the cork pops, then the rye barges in with its peppery bite. On the tongue it’s dark toffee, baked apple, a little cinnamon heat, and a long dry finish that begs for another sip. 92 proof, non-chill filtered, and only 6,000 bottles in the first run. At $59 suggested retail, this one is going to disappear fast.
Ampersand Vinea – Rye Meets Cognac Country
Next up is Vinea, Latin for “vine.” Here Tate starts with the same eight-year-old rye but blends in a nine-plus-year-old 100% corn grain spirit that spent its life in ex-XO Cognac casks he hand-picked himself. The ratio is 75% rye to 25% corn spirit, and the balance is perfect.
The rye keeps everything bright and spicy while the Cognac cask influence brings in deep grape tannin, vanilla, and a touch of rancio that old Armagnac lovers will recognize instantly. Pepper on the nose, sweet corn and oak on the mid-palate, then a warm, slightly nutty finish. 92 proof again, non-chill filtered, 8,500 bottles produced. Another $59 bottle that drinks like something twice the price.
Ampersand Opimus – The Heavy Hitter
If the first two are conversation starters, Opimus is the closer. Start with fifteen-year-old Kentucky bourbon—already rare—and finish it in casks that once held Tokaji Aszú, the legendary sweet wine from northeastern Hungary.
At 117 proof cask strength, this one doesn’t whisper. Dark caramel, toasted oak, and dried fig hit first. Then the Tokaji magic shows up: orchard fruit, orange zest, floral honey, and a bright thread of acidity that keeps the sweetness from ever getting cloying. The finish is long, warm, and layered—oak spice and dried apricot hanging around like they never want to leave. 11,500 bottles at $150 each. For a fifteen-year bourbon finished in exotic wine casks, that still feels like a bargain to collectors.
The Awards Are Already Piling Up
Even though these just hit shelves, the medals are rolling in. Malus took Double Gold at both the 2025 TAG Global Spirits Awards and the 2025 Concours d’Spirits. Vinea grabbed Platinum at TAG. Opimus? Best in Show and 97 points at the 2025 Global Whisky Challenge, North America. When judges who taste thousands of spirits a year get this excited, you pay attention.
Why This Matters Right Now
American rye in the premium segment is growing double digits every year. Meanwhile, the U.S. has quietly become the second-largest export market for Calvados. People are ready for flavor adventures, and Chip Tate just handed them three of the best.
Jason Daniel, Foley’s Chief Marketing Officer, put it plainly: “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.”
And Tate himself? He’s already looking ahead. He told reporters he’s spending serious time in Mexico working on agave projects and new distillation techniques. Translation: whatever comes next will probably break the internet again.
Where to Get It
Ampersand is rolling out to retailers in most states right now. If your local shop doesn’t have it yet, you can order direct (where legal) at ampersandspirits.com. At these prices and with this kind of early buzz, sitting on the fence isn’t an option.
Chip Tate spent years proving he could build a world-class distillery from scratch in Waco, Texas. Now, backed by the resources of Foley Family Wines & Spirits, he’s free to chase the ideas most distillers only dream about. Ampersand isn’t just three new bottles—it’s proof that American whiskey still has plenty of wild territory left to explore.
If you’ve got a decent bar at home and you’re tired of the same old pours, go hunt these down. Your shelf (and your palate) will thank you.
