Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

King of Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon Review

The nose is huge, leading with that unmistakable Brown-Forman yeast note that's fruity, candied, floral and tropical. Browned biscuits, cinnamon, dark chocolate (yeah, it flirts with Mexican hot chocolate), confectioner's sugar, old oak and licorice.

Members only

Tequila Reviews

Annual Fortaleza Winter Blend Showcases Challenges of Cask Finishing

The result in Winter Blend 2023 is the still-strength blanco is nearly outgunned by all the varied wood influences. Francavilla has made a blend that’s undeniably Fortaleza, but in the glass, there’s a lot going on that keeps it from becoming a unified whole.

Book Reviews

Warehouse H Book Review

This book isn't just for Blanton's fans; it's a love letter to Bourbon's history. Guglielmi's a self-proclaimed "super fan" – think David Jennings and his Wild Turkey obsession, but with a Blanton's twist. He wears the "tater" badge with honor, and frankly, his dedication is contagious.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series 11 Review

Loads of tropical fruit and lilac lead on the nose followed by orange lemon zests and a hint of dried grain. The deeply toasted oak reminds you that a 13-year-old bourbon makes up the bulk of this blend.

New Brand Releases

CaskShare Unveils Exclusive Bottleling of Ultra Rare Macallan

A limited run of 190 bottles of the rare malt Scottish whisky will go on sale globally via ballot for $4,250 under its Collective Series label.  Members will have priority access to the bottles, which will be bottled in January 2024 and promptly dispatched to eager consumers in March 2024.

New Brand Releases

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Fall 2023 Edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series

The Fall 2023 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bares a bright burnished copper color, with a nose of brown sugar and toasted bread in addition to cinnamon and nutmeg.

Podcast

Bourbon & Banter Podcast #35 – Squatting on Bublé

We’re heading into the holidays with excitement following our first ever Bourbon & Banter Community Summit, that is until Bob hears about Michael Bublé’s new whiskey….

New Brand Releases

Blue Run Spirits 12 Days of Bourbon Returns

These highly limited edition bourbons have a variety of unique profiles inspired by the holiday season crafted by acclaimed distiller, Jim Rutledge.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Wild Turkey Generations Review

This bottle is so unique among the Wild Turkey pantheon that it really has to be experienced and shared, and until another release comes along that tastes this good and carries this kind of backstory, I'm going to say, albeit reluctantly, that it's worth the MSRP.

American Whiskey Reviews

Old Elk Wheat N' Rye Review

It's a lovely blend that I'm continuing to enjoy well after writing this review. In fact, I think I'm enjoying this blend more than when I drank its respective components alone. Proof once again that sometimes, 1+1 does equal more than just 2.

Industry News

Pursuit Spirits Launches Two New Immersive Distillery Experiences in Louisville

Guests will taste a variety of Pursuit's award-winning whiskeys, learn all about mashbills, blending, and maturation from our expert guides, partake in their own private barrel selection, and then fill a personalized bottle to take home.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Still Austin Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Review

It starts with a whiff of pine lumber—a surprising yet pleasant note discernible in other Still Austin releases—forest floor, sage, and some rosemary, all intriguing and without shortcomings.

New Brand Releases

The Glendronach Launches Grandeur Batch 12

The GlenDronach’s commitment to creating Single Malts using time-honored methods passed down through the generations for almost two centuries, is encapsulated in this hand-crafted limited release, with each individual bottle sealed with wax and numbered by hand to reflect its rarity.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Still Austin High Rye Bourbon Review

This bourbon is a multitasker, great neat, on the rocks, or in an old-fashioned. To make room for a little air in the bottle, I made three old-fashioneds for my guests. That they took notice of their drinks as "really good and spicy" says they caught on to this bourbon's difference.

New Brand Releases

Old Forester Releases its Rarest Bottle Ever in its 150th Anniversary Offering

For even more heritage on this limited run product, the decanter is packaged with wood recovered from the fire at Old Forester on Whiskey Row in 2015, and the bottle design is inspired by the Old Forester history holiday decanters from the ‘50s and ‘60s created by Raymond Lowey.

New Brand Releases

Frey Ranch Introduces Limited-Edition American Single Malt Smoke Whiskey

At 110 proof and aged for six years and seven months, Frey Ranch American Single Malt Smoked was produced using 100 percent of the slow-grown barley that is grown, harvested – and now smoked – and then milled and distilled –– on the Frey Ranch farm.

New Brand Releases

Aberfeldy Celebrates 125 Years of Scotch Distilling

The 25 Year Old limited edition, in a commemorative pack, celebrates the distillery’s heritage, with a whisky typical of Aberfeldy’s signature soft, honeyed waxy character, augmented by a finish in first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Still Austin Red Corn Bourbon Bottled-In-Bond Whiskey Review

The palate is simple, lovely, sweet, and oaky. It’s what bourbon at its simplest should be. No surprises, no disappointments, just goodness that’s so easy to drink that you extend your arm for a refill—before you need a refill.

Banter

Inaugural Bourbon & Banter Summit Recap

We recently wrapped our first annual Bourbon & Banter Community Summit held in Louisville, Kentucky.  We were thrilled to be able to mix and mingle with our community members from across the country IRL. If you’re curious what it’s like to be a member of our community, here are a few highlights.

Banter

Win V.I.P. Tickets to Whiskey In The Winter

Enter to win two V.I.P. tickets to Whiskey in the Winter and join us in sampling from over 400 whiskeys.

New Brand Releases

Old Overholt Announces the Release of Extra-Aged Cask Strength Rye

Old Overholt® Extra Aged Cask Strength Rye was barreled in the Winter & Autumn seasons of 2012 and laid down in one of the few remaining “Escalator Warehouses” in Clermont, Kentucky – Warehouse V. This style of warehousing has led to an incredible consistency and gentle mellowing over time...

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye Review

Michter's actually started the whole toasted finish craze back in 2014, but it wasn't until 2017 that the first toasted rye came along. With this latest release, Michter's has kept to three-year intervals (the second release hit shelves in 2020).

Bourbon Heritage Month

Bourbon Heritage Month 2023 – That’s A Wrap!

These are monster numbers for a niche community like Bourbon & Banter. Each of you deserves a round of applause for making Bourbon & Banter's 30 Days of Bourbon celebration the biggest and best month-long celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson F Review

Despite an MSRP jump of $50 from last year's already wallet-wounding price point, it's still a helluva bourbon. It's also priced to claim a piece of the secondary market pie.

Old Forester

Melissa Rift to have a say in Old Forester Birthday in 2024

Like a child celebrating its own birthday, Old Forester Birthday’s proof and age jump around a lot. The 2019 release was 11 years old with a proof of 105 (it remains one of my favorites, plus, I got to taste its brutish dump strength of 150 proof), while 2020’s age dropped to 10 years and 98 proof.