This Round's Mine How Honey Took Over Whiskey: A Short History and 56 Bottles To Explore What you’re about to see is my compilation of honey‑whiskey releases over the years, assembled after far too many late‑night searches and e-mail inquiries asking brands what kind of honey they used in their releases.
Tequila Reviews Flecha Azul Tequilas Form Unexpectedly Strong Lineup Sometimes I introduce newcomers to great tequila, but it's often wiser to start off with affordable quality pours they can find locally, turn into cocktails without regret or sip slowly.
Paid-members only Virtual Tasting Replay: Bespoken Spirits Virtual Tasting The other night we had Andrew Virgin and Jordan Spitzer from Bespoken Spirits out of Lexington, Kentucky join us for a virtual tasting. Three samples on the table, and none of them were made the way you think. Bespoken doesn't age in barrels. They start with young bourbon,
HQ Build-Out HQ Build-Out: Episode 6 Then this weekend happened, and it happened fast. The pantry went from studs and a plan to a finished room, cabinets, cubby, and all.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Four Roses Mizunara Cask Bourbon Succeeds as 1st 'Experimental' Release The aromatics are loaded with chocolate and nuts–think Baby Ruth candy bar–followed by freshly ground baking spices, hard cherry and orange candies and toasted oak. Mizunara oak sweetens and polishes the bourbon.
Honey Finished Bourbon Green River Honey Finished Bourbon Will Enjoy Sweet Success We all know the song, "Sugar Sugar" well, this nose is all honey, honey. The underlying bourbon is present, but it doesn't stand up to the big dose of good quality bee nectar.
BHM2026 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge 2026: Everything You Need to Know This isn't a checklist you rush through to say you finished. It's a month of trying bottles you've been putting off, revisiting ones you forgot you loved, and landing on a few new favorites along the way. Here's everything you need to know before September 1st hits.
Bourbon Reviews Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve Bourbon Is Delicious, But Is It a Homerun? Loads of caramel envelop vanilla, cinnamon, charred marshmallow and dried roses. Subsequent sniffs deliver spice that hints at a more powerful presentation than claimed in its 109 proof.
Rum Reviews 'Exceptionally Aged' Mount Gay 15 and 25 Year Rums Are Deeply Fruity Pours Here we have two rums that, despite aging 15 years and 25 years in oak, remain incredibly fruity, nicely funky and bargains at $90 and $199, respectively.
Town Branch 6-Year Wheated Bourbon Showcases Distillery's Blending Mastery This is super approachable with light caramel, summer fruits and lightly toasted oak bringing up the rear. Let this pour roam every nook and cranny of your mouth to pick up subtle cinnamon and buttery pound cake.
Bourbon Reviews Jackson Purchase Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Is Unexpectedly Delightful This bonded bourbon dazzles with fruit and spice and honey and a little pepper. It's also surprisingly weighty and rich for only 100 proof, and it's well balanced. Its complexity outdoes many of its peers' and would shame many older bourbons.
Sour Mash Whiskey Reviews Michter's Barrel Strength Sour Mash Delivers Sweet Surprises Any whiskey fan would love this: something that's a little off Michter's bulletproof whiskey flavor profiles; a serendipitous and delicious innovation.
Paid-members only Virtual Tasting Replay: Copper & Cask Virtual Tasting Last night we had Steven Corrigan, Barrel Master for Copper & Cask out of Rhode Island, join us for a virtual tasting, and I'll say this upfront: he was more than worth the invite. Four samples on the table, and every one of them had a story behind
American Single Malt Whiskey Reviews New Riff Pulls Flavor Levers aplenty with 2026 Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey This is a super unique whiskey that pushes and pulls your memory of American single malts–even those from Scotland–to and fro in an attempt to align and describe them. But broadly speaking of whiskies in general, this is its own animal.
HQ Build-Out HQ Build-Out: Episode 5 This week: the last wall finally gets painted, the building tells us a secret we didn't ask for, and a five-shelf science cabinet joins the collection.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Hard Truth Mizunara-Finished Wheated Bourbon dazzles and delights Just another great release from Hard Truth. That this distillery, without any bourbon heritage or family distiller history just keeps on cranking out great bottle after great bottle never ceases to amaze.
This Round's Mine Happy 15th Anniversary! Mostly, though, this one's a thank you. To everyone who's read something, shared something, emailed me, become a member, or just kept showing up.
Bourbon Reviews Commemorative Heaven Hill 13-year Bourbon Signals the End of Aging at its Deatsville site Everything that's good about Heaven Hill bourbon is in this bottle: caramel, honey, cooked apples, vanilla taffy, sharp spice and toasted oak.
Bernheim Wheat Whiskey Mission, Passion Combine in '26 Star Hill Farm Wheat Whisky Though there's no corn in this mash bill, candy corn and caramel corn notes hit hard on the first sip. The whisky makes no apologies about its 116 proof: it's plenty powerful and spice driven.
HQ Build-Out HQ Build-Out: Episode 4 This week: hammered copper gates finished, walls painted, and two Facebook Marketplace scores that saved us close to $10k. Plus a peek inside the office.
HQ Build-Out HQ Build-Out: Episode 3 In this episode, I walk you through the wall prep in all its unglamorous detail, the hammered-copper gate reveal (genuinely exceeded expectations — one coat of Rust-Oleum and I was standing there, a little stunned), and the new window treatments.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Wooler Whiskey Review: A bottle that hits the lower proof, lower price bullseye This is a prime example of the type of bottle I'd recommend to someone looking to drink lighter, lower-proof bourbon without breaking the bank.
HQ Build-Out HQ Build-Out: Episode 2 In this episode, I walk you through everything that happened in week one — the carpenter who knocked out the office and pantry build in about a day and a half, the wall repairs I tackled myself (manage your expectations), and where things stand on the whiskey wall.
