# BOURBON & BANTER
> Looking to learn more about bourbon? Explore our extensive library of bourbon reviews, whiskey news, podcast episodes and more. #DrinkCurious
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).

## Pages
- [Amanda & Drew Duffer Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/amanda-drew-duffer-profile.md) - Amanda & Drew DufferContributors Amanda often tells people that she’s never met a spirit or a person she can’t get along with for at least a day. This mindset has been the starter for many drinking stories and led her to trying new drinks, in new places, with new people. While her o
- [Bourbon & Banter Podcast](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourbon-banter-podcast.md) - Are you seeking a bourbon podcast that will educate and entertain you without the extra bloat associated with kissing a brand's ass in search of advertising revenue or free samples? If so, welcome home, my friend.
- [BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourbon-heritage-month.md) - Whether this is your first year celebrating Bourbon Heritage Month or you're a seasoned pro, we're glad to have you drinking with us for the next 30 days. Pour yourself a drink and scroll down to explore what we've got in store for this year's celebration and how you can be a part of it all.
- [Bourbon Single Barrel Club](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourbon-single-barrel-club.md) - Single Barrel ClubWelcome to the Bourbon & Banter Single Barrel Club! For almost a decade, bourbon lovers worldwide have come to trust Bourbon & Banter for their unbiased reviews, barrel strength opinions, and honest, down-to-earth approach to spreading the bourbon gospel. We’re now thrilled to offe
- [Brent Joseph Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/brent-joseph-profile.md) - Brent JosephSingle Barrel Program Coodinator Brent was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in Journalism, he moved back to Indy where he eventually resurrected his family’s brand of all beef kosher style hot dogs and opened a r
- [Brett Atlas Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/brett-atlas-profile.md)
- [Corporate Whiskey Tasting Experience](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/corporate-whiskey-tasting-experience-2.md) - Make your next corporate event unforgettable by partnering with Bourbon & Banter to craft an unforgettable Corporate Whiskey Tasting Experience for your guests.
- [Corporate Whiskey Tasting Experience Thank You](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/corporate-whiskey-tasting-experience-thank-you.md) - Thank you for your interest in learning more about a Bourbon & Banter Tasting Experience. Someone will respond to your request for more information soon.
- [Erin Petrey Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/erin-petrey-profile.md) - Erin PetreyCocktail Editor / Sr. Contributor Born and raised in the Bluegrass, Erin has always held an affinity for her home state’s signature spirit. Throughout her world travels (35 countries and counting!), Erin delights in spreading the gospel of bourbon across the globe, from Spain to
- [Kyle George Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/kyle-george-profile.md)
- [Luke Castle Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/luke-castle-profile.md)
- [Matt Self Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/matt-self-profile.md)
- [Rev. Chris Thoma Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/rev-chris-thoma-profile.md)
- [Stelios Eliades Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/stelios-eliades-profile.md)
- [Steve Coomes Profile](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/steve-coomes-profile.md)
- [Tequila Tasting Experience](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/tequila-tasting-experience.md) - Make your next corporate event unforgettable by partnering with Bourbon & Banter to craft an unforgettable Tequila Tasting Experience for your guests.
- [The Bourbon Crusaders “Best on the Shelf” Starting Field of 60](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/the-bourbon-crusades-best-on-the-shelf-starting-field-of-60.md) - Our recent post titled “How the Bourbon Crusaders Determined the Best Bourbons on the Shelf” has garnered much attention and has resulted in some fantastic online discussions.
- [Whiskey Review Hall of Fame](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/whiskey-review-hall-of-fame.md) - Welcome to the Bourbon & Banter Whiskey Review Hall of Fame! A place where the hardest working people in the booze industry – whiskey review writers – are celebrated and immortalized in pixels.
- [Whiskey Tasting Experience Thank You](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/whiskey-tasting-experience-thank-you.md) - We hope you enjoyed your whiskey-tasting experience with Bourbon & Banter.
- [Whiskey Tasting Experience](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/whiskey-tasting-experience.md) - Make your next family event or private party one that guests will talk about for years by hiring Bourbon & Banter to guide them through an unforgettable whiskey-tasting experience.

## Posts
- [Four Roses Mizunara Cask Bourbon Succeeds as 1st 'Experimental' Release](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/four-roses-mizunara-cask-bourbon-succeeds-as-1st-experimental-release.md) - 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.
- [Green River Honey Finished Bourbon Will Enjoy Sweet Success](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/green-river-honey-finished-bourbon-will-enjoy-sweet-success.md) - 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.
- [30 Days of Bourbon Challenge 2026: Everything You Need to Know](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/30-days-of-bourbon-challenge-2026-everything-you-need-to-know.md) - 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.
- [Remus Lou Gehrig Reserve Bourbon Is Delicious, But Is It a Homerun?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/remus-lou-gehrig-reserve-bourbon-is-delicious-but-is-it-a-homerun.md) - 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.
- ['Exceptionally Aged' Mount Gay 15 and 25 Year Rums Are Deeply Fruity Pours](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/exceptionally-aged-mount-gay-15-and-25-year-rums-are-deeply-fruity-pours.md) - 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](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/town-branch-6-year-wheated-bourbon-showcases-distillerys-blending-mastery.md) - 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.
- [Jackson Purchase Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Is Unexpectedly Delightful](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/jackson-purchase-bottled-in-bond-bourbon-is-unexpectedly-delightful.md) - 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.
- [Michter's Barrel Strength Sour Mash Delivers Sweet Surprises](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/michters-barrel-strength-sour-mash-delivers-sweet-surprises.md) - Any whiskey fan would love this: something that's a little off Michter's bulletproof whiskey flavor profiles; a serendipitous and delicious innovation.
- [Replay: Copper & Cask Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-copper-cask-virtual-tasting.md)
- [New Riff Pulls Flavor Levers aplenty with 2026 Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/flavor-levers-get-pulled-with-new-riffs-2026-kentucky-single-malt-whiskey.md) - 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: Episode 5](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hq-build-out-episode-5.md) - 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.
- [Hard Truth Mizunara-Finished Wheated Bourbon dazzles and delights](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hard-truth-mizunara-finished-wheated-bourbon-dazzles-and-delights.md) - 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.
- [Happy 15th Anniversary!](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/happy-15th-anniversary.md) - 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.
- [Commemorative Heaven Hill 13-year Bourbon Signals the End of Aging at its Deatsville site](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/commemorative-heaven-hill-13-year-bourbon-signals-the-end-of-aging-at-its-deatsville-site.md) - Everything that's good about Heaven Hill bourbon is in this bottle: caramel, honey, cooked apples, vanilla taffy, sharp spice and toasted oak.
- [Mission, Passion Combine in '26 Star Hill Farm Wheat Whisky](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/mission-passion-combine-in-26-star-hill-farm-wheat-whisky.md) - 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: Episode 4](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hq-build-out-episode-4.md) - 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.
- [Replay: BITB Live Tasting #19](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-bitb-live-tasting-19.md)
- [HQ Build-Out: Episode 3](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hq-build-out-episode-3.md) - 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.
- [Wooler Whiskey Review: A bottle that hits the lower proof, lower price bullseye](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/wooler-whiskey-review-a-bottle-that-hits-the-lower-proof-lower-price-bullseye.md) - 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: Episode 2](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hq-build-out-episode-2.md) - 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.
- [Replay: BITB Live Tasting #18](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-bitb-live-tasting-18.md) - The 18th Bourbon in the Blind (BITB) Live Tasting of the Year was held back on 4/27/26. My apologies for the delayed posting of the replay video. The lineup included six samples that provided a fantastic range of expressions.
- [Replay: Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-kentucky-peerless-distilling-co-virtual-tasting.md)
- [Thirty-One Lengths Bourbon is a whiskey cocktail of history and art](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/thirty-one-lengths-bourbon-is-a-whiskey-cocktail-of-history-and-art.md) - "At the end of the day ... 31 Lengths is more about having a conversation piece and being associated with and reveling in something historic," Smith said. Whiskey and history such as horse racing are about "capturing the moment and having fun."
- [HQ Build-Out: Episode 1](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hq-build-out-episode-1.md) - We're locked in for at least 4 years, and the renovation is officially underway. Come take a look at what we're building — before the walls go up and the bottles find their home.
- [Japan Meets Kentucky: BBC Mars Single Malt Japanese Whiskey Blend Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/japan-meets-kentucky-bbc-mars-single-malt-japanese-whiskey-blend-review.md) - It's not a pairing that many folks are probably sitting around hoping someone would put some effort behind. But once it's in the glass, it's pretty clear that BBC and Mars figured it out.
- [Four Roses Is Swinging Big With Their New Anthology Series](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/four-roses-is-swinging-big-with-their-new-anthology-series.md) - Everything I've heard says it delivers. I'd love to get my hands on a bottle and tell you exactly where it lands. But $500 is where my enthusiasm and my wallet part ways. A lot of people who fell in love with Four Roses Yellow Label or Small Batch know exactly what I mean.
- [How Do You Like These Apples? — A Cautionary Tale for Brands Who Can't Handle Honest Reviews](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/how-do-you-like-these-apples-a-cautionary-tale-for-brands-who-cant-handle-honest-reviews.md) - So no, we're not keeping this one quiet. When someone drags one of our people through the mud in front of an audience, we're going to respond. Not out of spite. Not to manufacture drama. But because staying silent has a cost too, and we've already paid it once.
- [Did Wild Turkey Just Pull A Springsteen?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/did-wild-turkey-just-pull-a-springsteen.md) - Here's the thing about Wild Turkey. The brand has always meant something. Not just good whiskey — accessible good whiskey. Wild Turkey 101 is one of the best values in bourbon, full stop.
- [Replay: Log Still Distillery Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-log-still-distillery-virtual-tasting.md)
- [Double Share of Angel's Envy in '26: 10-year Cask Strength Bourbon & Rye](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/double-share-of-angels-envy-in-26-10-year-cask-strength-bourbon-rye.md) - Precision and intent is what master distiller Owen Martin has brought to Angel's Envy whiskies. Over the past few years, he's refined, sharpened and made them uniform in ways that yield them predictably delicious.
- [Garryana wood plays profound flavor role in Bardstown Bourbon Co. Cascadia Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/garryana-wood-plays-profound-flavor-role-in-bardstown-bourbon-co-cascadia-bourbon.md) - This wood and barrel toast strategy drives powerful flavors and aromas. The nose is surprisingly vibrant for its 107 proof. The whiskeys' 9 to 10 year age range emboldens the nose considerably with bruleed sugar, warm brownies, charred oak and overripe apples.
- [The First B&B Associate Bourbon Steward Class Is in the Books](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/the-first-b-b-associate-bourbon-steward-class-is-in-the-books.md) - Twenty people walked into B&B HQ on Saturday morning. All twenty are now Certified Bourbon Stewards. That's a 100% pass rate, which I'll take — though I'll also admit I was rooting hard for everyone in that room.
- [Lower Prices, Lower Proofs: The New Trend Bringing Bourbon To The Masses](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/lower-prices-lower-proofs-the-new-trend-bringing-bourbon-to-the-masses.md) - With the bourbon base pulling back from purchasing, brands need to expand to wider audiences to continue growing. To do that means coming to market with more approachable products.
- [Scarcity, quality make Rare Perfection 10 year Bourbon a Worthy Find](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/scarcity-quality-make-rare-perfection-10-year-bourbon-a-worthy-find.md) - Calling it "just another 10 year old bourbon" also is an understatement. This is a bold and beautiful cask strength pour that shows its maturity and complexity right from the opening. Most whiskies of this age need a little room to stretch out in the glass, but not this one.
- [New Orleans Bourbon Festival's Best-Kept Secret Exposed](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/new-orleans-bourbon-festivals-best-kept-secret-exposed.md) - This year, I returned to the NoLA Bourbon Fest (now outdoors!) and made the rounds again, and the brands came to play. I tried high‑proof single barrels, experimental finishes, and even one of the year's most anticipated releases.
- [Sweet and Spicy notes highlight Maker's Mark 2026 'The Stewards Release'](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/sweet-and-spicy-notes-highlight-makers-mark-2026-the-stewards-release.md) - Since Maker's makes no bad whiskey, what's in the bottle is good sipping whiskey. Not a fault with it. But I prefer the two others in the Wood Finishing Series, The Keepers and The Heart, better.
- [A Very Whiskey Wedding](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/a-ve.md) - "I was so surprised when Macaulay told me he was going to throw this impromptu wedding in less than 48 hours. But then again, it's the most Macaulay thing I could imagine." -Patrick Pho, District of Bourbon
- [A 'Ryeteous' and Powerful Pour: Frey Ranch Uncut Rye Whiskey](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/a-ryeteous-and-powerful-pour-frey-ranch-cask-strength-rye-whiskey.md) - The palate is delightfully sweet, candied even, with bubble gum, mint, lemon and orange rinds and white pepper roaming about and stalking your tastebuds. Along with its pleasant proof-warmth come bright, vibrantly fruity flavors that shift between tropical and stone fruits.
- [Tamworth Garden VSOP Apple Brandy Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/tamworth-garden-vsop-apple-brandy-review.md) - The Tamworth Apple Brandy's nose starts off with toasted oak, cedar, cinnamon and some discernible fruit. The palate fares better with light fruit, elegant body and a long and lingering finish. But there's nothing about it that screams apple brandy. Am I wrong to want that?
- [Booker's Big Easy Batch: Honest, Approachable Full-Bodied Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bookers-big-easy-batch-honest-approachable-full-bodied-bourbon.md) - This is neither a showy whiskey with cask-finished flavor vectors nor a particularly powerful pour. It's an honest, approachable, full-bodied bourbon that makes old school drinkers say, "Now that's bourbon!" It's the kind of whiskey Booker Noe liked and wanted to share with others.
- [Replay: Barrell Craft Spirits Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-barrell-craft-spirits-virtual-tasting.md)
- [Bourbon Classic 2026 Recap: Highlights From Louisville’s Whiskey Weekend](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourbon-classic-2026-recap-highlights-from-louisvilles-whiskey-weekend.md) - Louisville’s Bourbon Classic seems to zag where Bardstown’s Kentucky Bourbon Festival zigs. Where KBF marks the start of fall, the Bourbon Classic signals the end of winter. Where KBF leans into an outdoor, festival‑style experience, the Classic keeps it indoors with curated programming and events.…
- [Woodinville 8-Year Rye Whiskey Delivers Flavor Beyond Its Age](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/woodinville-8-year-rye-whiskey-delivers-flavor-beyond-its-age.md) - This is all rye, all rye, all rye, though without dill or mint. There's white pepper in there, a proper dose of baking spice, dried fig and bitter chocolate deposited by the barrel. Surprise guests of toffee and fruit character reminiscent of a nicely aged jammy Zinfandel join the party.
- [Fruit for Days: Masterful cask selection, blending highlight Blue Note Special Reserve  Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/fruit-for-days-masterful-cask-selection-blending-highlight-blue-note-special-reserve-bourbon.md) - Whether this is a Blue Note blender's nightmare or dream task, I don't know. But those who get to sip it will thank you–and may even kiss you–for creating it. It is special and spectacular, which justifies that $150 price tag.
- [Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bear-fight-american-single-malt-whiskey.md) - On the palate it creamy and fruity, laden with ripe pear and honey dew melon. The sherry cask involved gets a shout out from notes of golden apple and golden raisin, and baking spice amplifies the gentle 90-proof tingle. Nothing at all to dislike about the spirit itself: a great easy drinker.
- [BourbonCon 2026 Recap: Highlights and Takeaways From The First Bourbon Festival of the Year](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourboncon2026.md) - What makes BourbonCon unusual among major whiskey events is its origin story. It wasn’t launched by a nonprofit, a tourism bureau, or an industry group. BourbonCon was born inside a hotel.
- [Sweet, simple and soft sums up Shortbarrel Four-Grain Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/sweet-simple-and-soft-sums-up-shortbarrel-four-grain-bourbon.md) - There is a significant number of consumers who would like this and buy it repeatedly. It's enough flavor and spice for them; approachable as an everyday drinker. This is the kind of whiskey that becomes a good seller that pays a lot of bills at the distillery.
- [Jack Daniel's, Age Tastes Great On You! Reviewing the 2026 10-, 12- and 14-Year Releases](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/jack-daniels-age-tastes-great-on-you-reviewing-the-2026-10-12-and-14-year-releases.md) - Often nature ensures at least some whiskey becomes acrid and tannic, and so high proof that they're hazardous to drink. These display none of those characteristics. They're as balanced as a ballerina en pointe, miraculously fruity and truly easy to drink.
- [The Neck Pour Debate Might Be Over—Thanks to a New Packaging Innovation](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/the-neck-pour-debate-might-be-over-thanks-to-a-new-packaging-innovation.md) - “There’s a lot of interest in premium bourbon, but not everyone wants to hunt or pay secondary prices. A format like this gives people a legitimate way to engage with the brand.”
- [Bulleit Bourbon with Mesquite Wood-Smoked Malt Nails Savory and Sweet Notes](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bulleit-bourbon-mesquite-wood-smoked-malt-nails-savory-and-sweet.md) - This is a cool novelty that's worth the $50 price, and which I hope to see added to the main line someday. If you "drink curious," as we advise, you'll enjoy this.
- [Distiller Chip Tate's Ampersand Project Is Tasty and Innovative](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/distiller-chip-tates-ampersand-project-is-tasty-and-innovative.md) - "This is almost like doing a menu as a chef," said Chip Tate. "In some ideal world you want everyone to love everything, but that doesn’t happen. ... Variety is important to consumers."
- [Mystery mash bills and whiskey sources leave drinkers talking about Yellowstone Recollection Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/mystery-mash-bills-and-whiskey-sources-leave-drinkers-talking-about-yellowstone-recollection-bourbon.md) - The nose is simple: dark caramel, oak, ripe cherry, confectioner's sugar, cinnamon and a little ethanol punch that points to what awaits the palate. The caramel hints at richness and the oak whispers "age," and that's encouraging on both counts.
- [Michter's 2026 10 Year Bourbon Is Rock-Solid Terrific as Ever](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/michters-2026-10-year-bourbon-is-rock-solid-terrific-as-ever.md) - Were Michter's 10 Year Bourbon human, it would introduce itself saying, "Nice to meet you, madam, sir, my name is Bourbon, Proper Bourbon." The '26 release is Proper Bourbon's offspring, and it's eaten a lot of stone fruit and candy bars over the last decade or so.
- [Fruit and floral characters dominate Remus Master Distiller Exp. Series #2 Wheat Whiskey](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/fruit-and-floral-characters-dominate-remus-master-distiller-exp-series-2-wheat-whiskey.md) - This is a master work in secondary cask aging. The balance is impeccable, and the treatment of the source material–a delicious and unique 95/5 wheat-to-barley whiskey–is as good as it gets.
- [Age equals power, complexity in this 22-Year-Old Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/age-equals-power-complexity-in-this-22-year-old-heaven-hill-heritage-collection-bourbon.md) - Whiskies like this one happen mostly at distilleries with millions of barrels in rickhouses sprinkled across multiple sites. Yet even when you have that much inventory, sometimes the sweet spot is in one spot such as Rickhouse Y in Bardstown.
- [Tears of Llorona XA Tequila leaves lots to consider for $280](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/tears-of-llorona-xa-tequila-leaves-lots-to-consider-for-280.md) - I started tasting this tequila after a five-meeting/Zoom calls one day, so my clean and dry palate was ready for tasting. Once I started on it, I stayed with it for a full hour, pouring sip after sip into a tulip glass. With each tongue lashing, I enjoyed it more.
- [Before Bourbon & Banter, There Was Bourbon Club](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/before-bourbon-banter-there-was-bourbon-club.md) - October 2008 to now is nearly a third of my life. That's a weird sentence to sit with. A joke about Don Draper's bar cart set off a chain of events that became a business, a community, a podcast, a content platform, tastings across the country, and whatever comes next.
- [Life’s short, so drink your whiskey wisely, and have fun](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/lifes-short-so-drink-your-whiskey-wisely-and-have-fun.md) - Full abstinence from alcohol isn't essential, says Feldhaus. An occasional consumer of beer and wine in the company of friends and with food, he balances alcohol’s drawbacks and its benefits.
- [Lagrimas 'La Sabina' Reposado Tequila Focuses on Terroir](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/lagrimas-la-sabina-reposado-tequila-focuses-on-terroir.md) - It's fantastic on the palate: coating, honeyed and tingling with a little serrano pepper. You can't miss the dried pineapple and mango or butterscotch that migrates from the nose to the palate. There are no flaws in this reposado.
- [Widow Jane Decadence Bourbon Balances Sweet and Savory Perfectly](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/widow-jane-decadence-bourbon-balances-sweet-and-savory-perfectly.md) - The nose includes aromas like marshmallow, chocolate and charred oak. You're halfway to a s'more just by smelling it. The nose is expressive with dried cherry and raisin, along with lemon curd and pie crust. The balance between sweet and spicy is precisely dialed in.
- [HQ Update: 2nd time's a charm?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hq-update-2nd-times-a-charm.md) - What was supposed to become our long-term Bourbon Banter HQ has officially hit a wall — and not the good, newly-renovated kind.
- [Bernheim Wheat Whiskey Comes of Age at 10 Years](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bernheim-wheat-whiskey-comes-of-age-at-10-years.md) - It's the best Bernheim I've ever had. Much as I really enjoyed the 19-year Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Wheat Whiskey and its fruity-floral delicacies, I dig the broader and deeper barrel influence on this one.
- [Lagrimas 'La Sabina' Plata Tequila Might Leave You Lachrymose](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/lagrimas-la-sabina-plata-tequila-might-leave-you-lachrymose.md) - The nose is wide ranging and begins with roasted agave before moving to agua miel, then vinazes followed by freshly baked baguette and then off to tropical flowers and roasted green pepper. All of that rolls in atop a perpetual hum of petrichor mingled with peppermint.
- [Replay: Michter's Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-michters-virtual-tasting.md)
- [Collaboration on Single Mash Bill Yields 'Wow' Wheat Whiskies from New Riff and Chattanooga](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/collaboration-on-single-mash-bill-yields-wow-wheat-whiskies-from-new-riff-and-chattanooga.md) - The Chattanooga release brings a creamy texture to the Confluence. Where the New Riff iteration stands out is in its boldness. It is multi-dimensional and complex.
- [Your High-Proof Habit Might Be Wrecking Your Palate](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/your-high-proof-habit-might-be-wrecking-your-palate.md) - The more I leaned into high-proof, the less I could get out of everything else. Bottles I used to love started tasting flat. 90-proof expressions that once had real complexity felt thin and uninteresting. At some point, I realized I was no longer developing a refined palate—I was narrowing it.
- [Triple Casks Drive Flavor in Whiskey Row Small Batch Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/triple-casks-drive-flavor-in-whiskey-row-small-batch-bourbon.md) - Significant fruit and spice come in on the palate. Golden raisin and grape fill the mouth alongside baking spice. Mouthfeel is rich, weighty and viscous. Every room-temp sip makes you want another and confirms that neat always is the way to go with this bourbon.
- [Fourteen Years of Not Selling Out](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/fourteen-years-of-not-selling-out.md) - So tonight, wherever you are and whatever's in your glass — raise it. We made it fourteen years. That deserves at least a few pours.
- [Strange Raven 6-Year: A Bourbon Worth Paying Attention To](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/strange-raven-6-year-a-bourbon-worth-paying-attention-to.md) - Compared to many of the sourced NDP releases launched over the last six months, this is one of the better ones I've tasted.
- [Cambio Tequila Reposado Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/cambio-tequila-reposado-review.md) - I have to admit, I didn't immediately like this tequila, mostly because I thought it a little stingy on agave aroma and flavor. But sticking with this spirit over time taught me that this is as much about barrel choices as tequila production. This is an exceptional spirit.
- [Elijah Craig A126 Barrel Proof Rye Review: A Powerful and Focused Pour](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/elijah-craig-a126-barrel-proof-rye-review-a-powerful-and-focused-pour.md) - This is not just an outstanding whiskey, it's a terrific Kentucky-style rye on the order of the 115-proof single barrel Knob Creek beasts that roamed retailers' shelves several years ago.
- [Save the Date: The 2026 Bourbon & Banter Summit](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/save-the-date-the-2026-bourbon-banter-summit.md) - We're doing this again. The 2026 Bourbon & Banter Summit is officially on the calendar, and we're letting you know now — way earlier than we have in the past — so you can plan ahead, lock in your time off, and not have any excuses when registration opens.
- [Ingram Straight Rye Whiskey Review: A 'Fryeday' sipper](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/ingram-straight-rye-whiskey-review-a-fryeday-sipper.md) - The nose is candied and led by a combo of vanilla, caramel, white frosting and Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. It's a quick shift to bubblegum, warmed peaches and strawberries and lemon tart before moving to toasted oak, campfire and a breakfast toast.
- [Cambio Tequila Blanco Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/cambio-tequila-blanco-review.md) - The palate is even more exciting. It's simultaneously sweet and tart, coating yet refreshing. Imagine an adult version of Sprite that's alcoholic, tingly, lightly sweet but with the tang of tamarind–and you want to sip it neat all the time.
- [New King of Kentucky Small Batch: 3 proofs, 12-18 year bourbons](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/new-kentucky-of-kentucky-small-batch-3-proofs-12-18-year-bourbons.md) - What’s so appealing about King of Kentucky is that while mostly traditional bourbon notes are expressed in it, all are turned up to 11. That makes it one my favorite bourbons ever. It’s liquid goodness amplified by time, heat-cycled warehouses and a caretaker’s patience.
- [What the Four Roses Sale Actually Means](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/what-the-four-roses-sale-actually-means.md) - This isn't a disaster. It's not a guarantee of greatness either. Gallo has the resources and distribution muscle to make Four Roses bigger. Whether they make it better depends on how much they meddle.
- [I Tried Every Cocktail at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/i-tried-every-cocktail-at-the-kentucky-bourbon-festival.md) - Along the way, we hit a few unexpected twists: accidentally wandering into an allocated bourbon tasting, and navigating everything from meticulously batched cocktails to a full “choose your own adventure” bar where you could build your cocktail from the ground up.
- [Hard Truth 6-Year Sweet Mash Rye: A Rich, Sophisticated Sipper](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hard-truth-6-year-sweet-mash-rye-a-rich-sophisticated-sipper.md) - Whether such rye uniqueness is owed to sweet mashing, unique fermentation, barrel selection or a combination of all three, I don't know. All I know is this is a terrific whiskey in every possible way.
- [Which of the two Four Roses Barrel-Aged Beers is Our Favorite?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/which-of-the-two-four-roses-barrel-aged-beers-is-our-favorite.md) - Created in 2007 as a "secret" holiday gift for staffers, the "secret" got out quickly enough that it became a commercial line extension in 2008. When offered a 16-ounce sample of it this year, I didn't hesitate to accept.
- [Is this really the voice of reason?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/is-this-really-the-voice-of-reason.md) - So, in an effort to prove the critics wrong—or possibly confirm their suspicions—we decided to run an experiment. What happens if we intentionally include a voice of reason in our video tasting reviews?
- [El Tesoro Anejo Tequila Mundial: Yamakazi Edition Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/el-tesoro-anejo-tequila-mundial-yamakazi-edition-review.md) - Trust me, heavy hitters are involved in this release. I've been to La Alteña and met both Camarena siblings, and they are amazing people making amazing tequilas. So let's talk about this one.
- [Breaking Boundaries or Garanimals for Drinkers?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/breaking-boundaries-or-garanimals-for-drinkers.md) - Love it or hate it, this redesign opens up a bigger conversation about bourbon branding, usability, and how whiskey companies are trying to stand out in a market that’s only getting louder.
- [Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Review: The Rye We Waited For?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/elijah-craig-barrel-proof-rye-review-the-rye-we-waited-for.md) - Boldness does appear on the palate, with some heat and spice announcing their presence. Here, the spice from rye grain takes center stage along with white pepper, cinnamon Red Hots and flamed orange peel. Mouthfeel is rich, weighty and slightly viscous.
- [High West Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 Review: Worth $150?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/high-west-midwinter-nights-dram-act-13-review-worth-150.md) - There's zero wrong with this whiskey. Not only is it nicely balanced overall, fruit, spice and light tannin all get equal billing.
- [Jackson Purchase Bourbon Review: A 4-Yr Full Proof Surprise](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/jackson-purchase-bourbon-review-a-4-yr-full-proof-surprise.md) - I don't recall tasting or reviewing an American whiskey this good at 4 years old. If I were to choose a bottle as the best new market entry in 2025, it would be in the running. This is not just surprisingly good, it's outstanding.
- [Detroit City Distillery’s Homegrown Rye Seriously Caught Me Off Guard](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/detroit-city-distillerys-homegrown-rye-seriously-caught-me-off-guard.md) - A rye I didn’t see coming. Detroit City Distillery’s Homegrown Rye surprised the hell out of me, and I break down why in this video review. If you like discovering new bottles, this one’s for you. 🥃
- [Uncharted Wheated Bourbon Review: River Aged for Your Drinking Pleasure](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/uncharted-wheated-bourbon-review-river-aged-for-your-drinking-pleasure.md) - I'll bet money that the gradual rocking of a water-borne vessel will do far more to agitate liquids and gases forming inside those barrels than any exposure to bass-heavy metal music will ever do.
- [Hardin's Creek Warehouse Series Shows Microclimate Aging Produces Fantastic Effects](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/hardins-creek-warehouse-series-shows-microclimate-aging-produces-fantastic-effects.md) - This is a truly unique trio of liquids designed to showcase how even the smallest changes to aging environment and maturation profoundly shape a whiskey’s final character.
- [Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Bourbon Review — 134.2° Deep Dive](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/smokeye-hill-barrel-proof-bourbon-review-134-2deg-deep-dive.md) - As you'd expect from a 134.2 proof, 5-year-old bourbon, the ethanol practically roars on the nose, and it takes some patience to get behind it to discover notes of light caramel, orange peel, honey, toffee and cappuccino.
- [Sazerac Full Proof Rye Whiskey Review — 125 Proof Value Pick](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/sazerac-full-proof-rye-whiskey-review-125-proof-value-pick.md) - The nose practically says, "I'm a big whiskey, son, so strap it on." It's no-nonsense and straightforward, rich with dark caramel, oak, allspice, flamed orange peel, hot honey, toasted rye bread, and cooked grain.
- [Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 003 Review: Worth $200?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/whiskey-jypsi-legacy-batch-003-review-worth-200.md) - If you're looking for an indulgent purchase, consider this if you can find it. It is without flaws and endlessly drinkable.
- [An Interview with Chuck Cowdery: Made and Bottled in Kentucky](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/an-interview-with-chuck-cowdery-made-and-bottled-in-kentucky.md) - Chuck covers a lot of ground here: why the documentary came together, how bourbon storytelling has changed over the years, and why accuracy still matters—especially now.
- [Why Go Dry When You Can Go Rye?](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/why-go-dry-when-you-can-go-rye.md) - At the same time, we have watched Dry January grow in popularity. And to be clear, if taking a month off drinking is the right choice for you, we fully support that. No arguments here. But we kept coming back to one simple question...
- [Replay: Bourbon & Banter Holiday Blind Tasting & Trivia Gauntlet](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-bourbon-banter-holiday-blind-tasting-trivia-gauntlet.md) - Competition was lively as everyone participated in three rounds of trivia and four rounds of increasingly complex blind tastings.
- [The Last Drop Release No. 40 Extra Añejo Tequila Review: Rarity Is Never Enough](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/the-last-drop-release-no-40-extra-anejo-tequila-review-rarity-is-never-enough.md) - What made this brand believe that this liquid was special at all, much less so great that anyone slapped $2,300 price tag on it? Age and rarity? Both only go so far because often, overaged sprits become "rare: when someone figures out they should never go into a bottle on their own.
- [Old Overholt 12-Year Extra Aged Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Review: Built for Cocktails](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/old-overholt-12-year-extra-aged-cask-strength-rye-whiskey-review-built-for-cocktails.md) - Once the liquid eased below the shoulders of that glass Old Grand Dad-style bottle, it did come round and begin waking up. Dark stone fruits appeared on the nose, along with white pepper, cigar leaf, oak and flamed citrus.
- [Wilderness Trail Kentucky Straight 6-Year-Old Private Barrel Wheated Bourbon Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/wilderness-trail-kentucky-straight-6-year-old-private-barrel-wheated-bourbon-review.md) - It's not often you get to taste the flavor evolution of one of your favorite products, especially if your favorite hails from a heritage distillery. I've been an early adopter of Wilderness Trail, and the ability to taste - in real time - the arc of one of my favorite brands is incredible.
- [Pursuit United Triple Mash Rye Review: 121 Proof Blend Twist](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/pursuit-united-triple-mash-rye-review-121-proof-blend-twist.md) - The nose is clean and a little sharp thanks to that sturdy proof that presents as white pepper, but it moves quickly to sweetened cereal grain (think Frosted Flakes before they're drowned in milk), raisin, cinnamon, toasted oak and bitter chocolate.
- [Q&A with Jim Gaffigan on ‘The Bourbon Set,’ his new standup](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/q-a-with-jim-gaffigan-on-the-bourbon-set-his-new-standup.md) - I knew that I couldn't do an entire show just about bourbon. I mean, maybe I could in Kentucky and Tennessee and maybe Atlanta, or North Carolina. (Then) I was like, “You know what? I'm just going to do it for myself and for those people that are interested in this topic.”
- [Tours, tastings, bottle shares and BBQ highlight Bourbon & Banter ’25 Summit](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/tours-tastings-bottle-shares-and-bbq-highlight-bourbon-banter-25-summit.md) - Surely no one came to bourbon musing there would someday be drinkers like them; lovers of bourbon who want to see it made, meet the people who make it and then drink it with friends new and old. But that, in a nutshell, describes Bourbon Banter’s third-annual Summit.
- [Replay: 10th Mountain Distillery Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-10th-mountain-distillery-virtual-tasting.md)
- [Replay: BDC Live Tasting #16](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-bdc-live-tasting-16.md)
- [RD1 Spirits: An Amburana for the Haters](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/rd1-sp.md) - The finish isn't overwhelming, as Amburana usually is, and provides just enough spice and sweetness to keep it interesting. I'm not sure if it's the combination of my delight for cinnamon and my love for caipirinhas...but I just really enjoy this whiskey.
- [Ramble On: The 2025 Summit Podcast Special Edition](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/ramble-on-the-2025-summit-podcast-special-edition.md) - This wasn’t an “anniversary episode.” No balloons, no confetti, no commemorative T-shirt order (yet…). Just a damn good conversation fueled by great whiskey and even better company.
- [Cain carries on centuries of family whiskey-making at Nobeltons Distilling House](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/cain-carries-on-centuries-of-family-whiskey-making-at-nobeltons-distilling-house.md) - Lest you think Cain is some radical spirits maker, know that his grain choices and fermentation techniques are rooted firmly in family traditions. For more than a century, his family has used its own heirloom varietal born of Canadian rye “that’s similar to a brasado rye.
- [Pinhook 10-Year Vertical Series Bourbon Review – 115.9° Proof](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/pinhook-10-year-vertical-series-bourbon-review-115-9deg-proof.md) - This bourbon is a study in patience. Knowing the founders of this brand, they didn't expect this whiskey–the first barrels they ever bought before moving to distill at Castle & Key distillery–would turn out as well as it has...
- [Ingram Distillery Announces Floating Barrelhouse Built From Salvaged SS Edmund Fitzgerald](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/ingram-distillery-announces-floating-barrelhouse-built-from-salvaged-ss-edmund-fitzgerald.md) - Once completed, The SS Edmund Fitzgerald Barrelhouse will host guided tastings, overnight berths, and what Ingram calls a “nautical proofing program,” where barrels experience the constant temperature swings of Lake Superior’s famously unforgiving climate.
- [Angel's Envy 2025 '10' Cask Strength Bourbon Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/angels-envy-2025-10-cask-strength-bourbon-review.md) - Saying it's not a complex bourbon is not a sleight, rather it's a nod to whiskies that present as lean, lithe and elegant–which is no small feat for liquid resting 10 years in oak. In a world of double-oaked wood and tannin bombs, this measured approach is much appreciated.
- [At Wood Hat Spirits, better corn is the fulcrum of flavor](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/at-wood-hat-spirits-better-corn-is-the-fulcrum-of-flavor.md) - Gary Hinegardner has a problem with bourbon makers. He says the No. 2 yellow dent corn used by the vast majority of American whiskey makers is a subpar grain never intended for the distillation of America’s native spirit.
- [1792 Cognac Cask Finish Bourbon Review – $38 Value Pick](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/1792-cognac-cask-finish-bourbon-review-38-value-pick.md) - Truth is I prefer 1792 releases over anything from Buffalo Trace–outside of its incredible Antique Collection, of course. I'm like a lot of bourbon drinkers who love visiting Barton to duck cobwebs in dusty rickhouses to thieve whiskey eventually bottled as Full Proof single barrels.
- [Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925 Bourbon Review – 9yr/129-Proof Bargain](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/elijah-craig-barrel-proof-c929-bourbon-review-9yr-129-proof-bargain.md) - As good as this 9-year C925 is, it makes me long for the labyrinthine nuances of those earlier, older versions. This one is simpler, but still expectedly delicious.
- [Replay: J. Henry & Sons Virtual Tasting](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-j-henry-sons-virtual-tasting.md)
- [Blue Run Buck & Brush Review: Why This $125 Blend Misses the Mark](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/blue-run-buck-brush-review-why-this-125-blend-misses-the-mark.md) - In this case, Blue Run is asking $125 for a whiskey blend that's half Bourye's, age, lacking Bourye's well-earned reputation and triple the price for Knob Creek's iteration–all while delivering a product low on complexity and flavor compared to those.
- [Bourbon & Banter Podcast #39 – Gitche Gumee Cometh](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourbon-banter-podcast-39-gitche-gumee-cometh.md) - The biggest and most honest podcast in all of bourbon is back — this time live and in person (and we've got the video to prove it). That’s right, Pops and Bob are finally sharing a mic and a room again, kicking off fall with full pours, fresh rants, and faces made for radio.
- [Fortaleza 2025 Winter Blend Review: Reposado Reveal](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/fortaleza-2025-winter-blend-review-reposado-reveal.md) - On the nose is a battle between fruit and minerality, olfactory soldiers armed with aromatics derived from airborne yeast, cooked agave, tahona crushing and finishing in those ex-American whiskey, ex-PdC and ex-Madeira casks.
- [Replay: BDC Live Tasting #15](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/replay-bdc-live-tasting-15.md)
- [Booker’s The Reserves Review: 2025 Tequila-Barrel Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bookers-the-reserves-review-2025-tequila-barrel-bourbon.md) - Not only is it delicious, it's unique. This release marks the first time any spirit in the Beam portfolio was aged in ex-tequila casks, and it is–to my palate–an historically powerful bourbon that's beneficially tamed because of that.
- [2025 King of Kentucky Bourbon Review: 17-Year Majesty](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/2025-king-of-kentucky-bourbon-review-17-year-majesty.md) - This is one of those bottles that makes me want to say to Chris Morris, "Just do more of this, please. Lots more of it."
- [Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/jack-daniels-single-barrel-heritage-barrel-review.md) - On the palate, its 100 proof delivers satisfying spice and tingle while staying supple and enjoyable neat. Toasted oak is prominent, but not in the heavy-handed, newly sawn lumber way of many toasted barrels that dominate the maturate resting within them.
- [9 Trends From The 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/kentucky-bourbon-festival-kbf-2025-recap.md) - Distilleries jockeyed for headlines, unveiling new releases, launching new brands, and—most dramatically—Heaven Hill returned to making Bourbon in Bardstown. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival isn’t just a local event anymore; it’s a tentpole moment on the whiskey calendar.
- [BOTD Spotlight: Michter's US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/botd-spotlight-michters-us1-kentucky-straight-bourbon.md) - If you’re on the quest to complete the 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge, Michter’s US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a no-brainer addition to your lineup.
- [On Sale Now: Exclusive West Fork Whiskey Single Barrel](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/on-sale-now-exclusive-west-fork-whiskey-single-barrel.md)
- [BOTD Spotlight: Fear and Loathing Wheated Bourbon](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/botd-spotlight-dr-gonzo-wheated-bourbon.md) - Inspired by the rebellious spirit of Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing Wheated Bourbon is designed to be anything but ordinary.
- [The One Question You Should Always Ask At A Whiskey Festival](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/the-one-question-you-should-always-ask-at-a-whiskey-festival.md) - The Four Roses booth had its usual suspects lined up, but behind the staff, I spotted a plain brown bottle with a PC-printed label: Straight Bourbon Whiskey 20 Year. One polite ask later, I was holding a glass of 20-year-old Four Roses.
- [Bourbon & Banter Podcast #38 – Size Matters](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/bourbon-banter-podcast-38-size-matters.md) - Back at barrel strength: Pops & Bob return with bourbon news, Taylor Swift rumors, a Sniff Team reveal, and a bourbon bullshit rant that takes aim at the state of single barrels in today’s whiskey world.
- [Welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month 2025](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/welcome-to-bourbon-heritage-month-2025-2.md) - Whether you’re just discovering bourbon or have a cabinet full of well-loved bottles, welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month! We’re kicking off our 12th annual celebration, and we’re glad you’re here. Grab your favorite pour and get ready for 30 days packed with bourbon fun.
- [Proof of Life: The Calm Before the Bourbon Storm](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/proof-of-life-the-calm-before-the-bourbon-storm.md)
- [Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2025 Review: Fudge, Spice & Depth](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/makers-mark-cellar-aged-2025-review-fudge-spice-depth.md) - My shifting preferences also point out how delicious and keenly unique every batch of Cellar Aged actually is. And that has me thinking ... Maybe that $174.99 price tag isn't as high as I initially thought.
- [Old Forester 2025 Birthday Bourbon Review](https://www.bourbonbanter.com/old-forester-2025-birthday-bourbon-review.md) - If you're curious about how its blending team landed on 92 proof, Rift said she and her colleagues weren't happy with higher-proof iterations. When samples dipped below 100, it came alive, so they kept proofing it downward.

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