Tequila Reviews

Espanita Double Barrel Reposado Tequila Review

This is a nice tequila for the price and arguably the best liquid from Impulsora Rombo.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Milam & Greene Batch 3 Castle Hill Bourbon Review

I've never been a fan of the children's vitamin note common to whiskeys made there, and I assumed this would bring more of the same. It didn't. This is a delicious whiskey with unique virtues appreciated in its aromas and flavors.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Heaven's Door Bootleg Series Vol. V Review

I might recommend making this your only pour of the night or at least your first. It's a bourbon unlike most anything else on the shelves and requires, dare I say, deserves, some devoted attention.

Podcast

Bourbon & Banter Podcast #36 – Welcome to the Hellidays

We’re here to help you through the ridiculousness of the holidays, or “hellidays” as may be more appropriate. That’s right, we all learn a new word in this episode!

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon Review

Perhaps the big question for most is whether the whiskey is noticeably influenced by its journey to and rest in England. For me, at least, the answer is no. It tastes like a 6-year-old bourbon should–like any bourbon aged here for six years would taste.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve Bourbon Review

Too often secondary finishes are used to cover up mediocre juice and can leave an unbalanced sweetness with an unpleasant finish. This is not the case with the Cab Cask Reserve, and, to me, it tastes like a better-balanced, more nuanced Angel's Envy Port Finish.

American Single Malt

Frey Ranch American Single Malt Smoke Whiskey Review

This is a bold, distinctive and beautiful whiskey. But for some, it's 110 proof may be a bit too much for their palate. The good news is this whiskey holds up well to a dash of water to tame the heat while bringing out even lighter and sweeter flavors to keep you coming back for another sip.

New Brand Releases

Milam & Greene Whiskey Releases White-Tailed Buck Single Barrel Bourbon

It has a long viscous finish with hints of menthol, gingerbread, and candy corn. This is one of the highest-proof bourbons bottled by Milam & Greene Whiskey and the distilling team recommends adding a measure of water to open the flavors.

New Brand Releases

Old Forester Unveils New Product in 117 Series: Scotch Cask Finish

Old Forester 117 Series: Scotch Cask Finish is bottled at 93-proof and is available starting today (December 12) at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. and at select Kentucky stores.  The suggested retail price is $59.99

North American Whiskey Review

Fraser & Thompson Whiskey Review

The bottle tag states, "It's going to be strange liking whiskey," but I already like whiskey, and I don't like this one. It doesn’t bring anything new to the market, and adding 8% Kentucky bourbon to the 92% Canadian whisky does not add any dimension.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Michter's 10 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review – 2023 Release

The nose leads with sorghum molasses, raspberry tart, dark fired tobacco, glove leather, creamed corn, soda bread, macadamia nuts, chocolate graham cracker. Yeah, all that and more.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Remus Gatsby Reserve Review

Remus Gatsby Reserve leads with aromas of caramel, candied dark fruit and saddle leather, with slight brown sugar and very sweet candied notes.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Michter's 10 Year Kentucky Straight Rye Review – 2023 Release

A single sip shows off its super-soft mouthfeel, and as always, this whiskey is precision balanced with no single flavor rushing to the fore. Soon enough, though, toasted oak emerges arm and arm with candied cherry, sugar maple candy and graham cracker.

New Brand Releases

Chattanooga Whiskey Announces Annual Limited-Edition Release: The Vault Series

This year’s inaugural Vault Series releases include a trio of rare, 6-year-old single barrels, which showcase a few of Chattanooga Whiskey’s earliest, most cherished High Malt recipes, including Batch 001, Batch 007, and Barrel 91.

New Brand Releases

Puncher’s Chance: The Unified Belt Bourbon/Irish Blend Release

At the ring of the bell, The UNIFIED BELT enters with dark fruit, orchard fruit and cocoa, which are perfectly balanced with layers of warm oak and baking spice. The finish is long with hints vanilla and baked green apples.

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.