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.
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.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Still Austin Red Corn Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon 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.
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.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 Review The nose on this goes for days ... bitter chocolate, clover honey, oak, mincemeat pie, lavender, dried roses, chamomile, leather jacket and cooked apples. It's warm from front to back to down the hatch, but it drinks nowhere near its 133 proof.
New Brand Releases New Angel's Envy Cask Strength Rye and Bourbon are the Brand's Best Bottles The nose leads with grape candy, Concord jelly, purple iris bloom, confectioner’s sugar, blooming roses and toasted raisin bread. Ever had a whiskey you could nose and nose and nose? This is one of those.
Tennessee Whiskey Reviews Jack Daniels 12-Year Tennessee Whiskey Review The 12-year is a whiskey of tremendous complexity, character and texture, and the 10-year (review forthcoming) is barely less arresting. This Jack is mannerly, wizened, confident and worthy of standing alongside any American whiskey on a back bar.
American Whiskey Reviews Jack Daniel's American Single Malt Whiskey Review The nose and fish oil tablet flavor remind me distinctly of the malt whiskey made years ago by Jack's Brown-Forman kin, Woodford Reserve. I didn't come 'round to it then and haven't this time either.
Rye Whiskey Reviews Very Olde St. Nick Ancient Cask Rye: Faith + Conviction Review The rye spice launches like a honey-lemon toddy upfront before exploding like fireworks on the back palate. In it's wake is a trail of spice, demerara syrup and honey all the way down the throat.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Very Olde St. Nick 'Immaculata' Bourbon Review Immaculata (named after the Bible story about the immaculate conception of the Christ child within Mary, a virgin) is a big, bold whiskey that coats the whole palate with cocoa, hints of maple syrup and pleasant grain character.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Maker's Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon Review If you can find this bottle for a reasonable price, get it. If you're motivated spend unreasonably on stuff like this, you’re bound to find one. You’ll want to pour this bottle for friends who deserve a little spoiling. And this one will spoil any Maker’s fan for good.
New Brand Releases Four Roses releasing ’23 Limited Edition Single Barrel Sept. 15 This bourbon is a biggin’, a powerful and complex pour created from a commingling of 12-, 14-, 16- and 25-year-old barrels. Though the final proof is 108, it drinks higher than that.
Blue Run Spirits Who's Next? Fueled in part by social media hype and spirits competition medals, Blue Run expanded its market reach to 31 states as of this year—no mean feat for a small company. Few migratory monarchs ever cover as much ground as do butterfly-branded bottles.
Industry News Distiller and COO leaving Ky. Peerless to create Eastern Light Distilling “This is about far more than a single spirit brand. It’s about helping build Kentucky’s craft bourbon industry through a customized approach working hand in hand with craft distillers...”
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon A123 Review Larceny is a wheater that gets too little attention in my opinion. Even the “Wheated bourbon only because I like wheat only” crowd doesn’t seem to go for it. Given the 92-proof of its flagship, I get it; it’s a softy.
Irish Whiskey Reviews Glendalough Pot Still Irish Whiskey Review This Irish whiskey spends an unspecified time in used American oak barrels and as much as a year in new Irish oak casks. The combination of wood does little to influence a whiskey that, despite its good mouthfeel, is unassertive.
Northcross Triple Wood Irish Whiskey Review Rich on the nose, this whiskey has aromas of graham cracker and honey. Once sipped, the sweetness of the malt is immediately present with flavors of chocolate syrup and beignets, before giving way to the tastes of creamy butterscotch and lively orange zest.
Redbreast 12-Year Single Pot Still Whiskey Review Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills, Redbreast 12 boasts the flavour complexity and distinctive qualities of Pot Still whiskey.
Irish Whiskey Reviews Redbreast 21-Year Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Review There’s not a thing wrong with this. It’s a beautiful, elegant and indulgent whiskey. Having gone deep down into the rabbit hole of American single barrel, barrel-proof stuff, such soft but flavorful whiskeys take some adjustment.
Banter Wyoming Whiskey: Well Worth the Lone Prairie Journey The discussion to create a distillery was born of Kate Mead’s pitch to her husband to build a winery. Her notion was, in common spouse-dismissal fashion, prompt and pointed. According to co-founder David DeFazio, “Brad thought she was crazy and told her, ‘No one grows grapes out here.’”
Events Bourbon & Barbecue Louisville Equally overdue is a festival linking these two. This year’s inaugural Bourbon & Barbecue Louisville, however, will end that silly streak. On Nov. 11-12 (Friday-Saturday), 20+ chefs and pitmasters will team up with 20+ whiskey makers to show how well these two favorites go together.
On The Road Breckenridge Distillery & Laws Whiskey House – Worth the Visit and Purchase Our visit to Breckenridge Distillery began later that day with a tour. Our guide, Davis, was entertaining and generous with a tasting that regular tourists don’t get. (Yay, whiskey media!)
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Hardin’s Creek: Colonel James B. Beam Bourbon Review As a proof of concept, Freddie Noe knocked this expression out of the park. With notes of strawberry puree, that familiar Jim Beam peanut brittle, and flavorful baking spice to go along with a truly satisfying Kentucky hug, Hardin’s Creek: Colonel James B. Beam has a lot to like on the palate.
Drink Reviews Blind Barrels Box Is Creative, Clever and Professional The Blind Barrels tasting experience solves all that in a terrific and beautiful package. According to its owner, Bobby DeMars, the point is remove bias builders like brands and costs to let drinkers focus solely on the liquid before them.
