BOURBON & BANTER (Page 43)

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Black Skimmer Bourbon Review

Everyone is new at some point. When new whiskey brands come about, they have two choices: Source a whiskey now so you have something to sell (and help pay off the cost of the still), or distill now and sit on the product while it ages, and not recoup any money in the meantime.

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond 13 Year Bourbon Review

I’m among the many saddened by the disappearance of the 4-year-old Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond during 2017. Like most BIBs, it was a terrific bargain, a great sipper and one of my favorite cocktailers for recipes with citrus (think Gold Rush).

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Four Gate Whiskey Company Launches Small Batch Bourbon Brand

This April, Four Gate Whiskey Company will launch its very first variety of Kentucky Bourbon.

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Rye Whiskey Reviews

Riptide Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Review

There isn’t a glut of cask strength ryes out there and Riptide is an interesting addition to the category. You aren’t going to confuse it with Thomas H. Handy or Kentucky Owl. It tastes young, because it is. The intent was to showcase the rye flavor, not overwhelm it with oak.

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Rye Whiskey Reviews

Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Rye Review

In a field of what ended up being six rye whiskies, two stood out above the rest. The ultimate winner was Booker’s Rye, currently an $850 bottle. The consensus runner-up was a 3-year rye from a then-relatively unknown new distillery called “Wilderness Trail”.

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Bourbon, Banter & Jazz with Sean Jones

A friend of mine recently told a group of musicians “you never know how you touch people.” That’s often the case with musicians, especially jazz musicians. They communicate to the listener on a very intimate level, especially those that play in small clubs.

Introducing the Whiskey Review Hall of Fame

Anyone who’s been drinking whiskey for the last few years knows that the industry has gotten out of control.

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What to Taste at WhiskyFest 2019

It has been too long since I have written anything for Bourbon & Banter and it has been way, way too long since I have attended Whiskyfest. I am excited to correct both of these oversights this week.

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Buffalo Trace Distillery Releasing Weller Full Proof Bourbon

Fans of W.L. Weller Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery are in for a treat, as the Distillery announces a new bourbon offering from the original wheated brand, Weller Full Proof.

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Rhetoric Bourbon: All Six Releases Reviewed

There’s a lot to love about Diageo’s recent press-sample release of Rhetoric Bourbon. For one, the company’s generosity with old, pricey whiskeys can’t be overlooked.

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Coopers’ Craft Finds Itself in Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve

A few years ago, I wrote that Coopers’ Craft – a new lower proof bourbon to hit the market out of Brown Forman – was experiencing a bit of an identity crisis.

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Irish Whiskey Reviews

Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey Review

I’ve been a fan of Irish whiskey for about 20 years but have never drank a lot of it. During that time however, I have thoroughly enjoyed having a pour from time to time. My favorites include Jameson Rarest Vintage, Redbreast Cask Strength and Power’s John Lane 12 Year.

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The Dublin Whiskey Experience

Phil Lynott, the late lead singer of Irish rock band Thin Lizzy (pronounced Tin Lizzy in the Irish accent), is still revered in his native Dublin, Ireland. In fact, he is immortalized in a bronze statue that sits just outside Bruxelles Pub in downtown Dublin.

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Scotch Whisky Reviews

Son of a Peat Batch 02 Whisky Review

I would say that it is. Remember back when blended whiskies were in vogue and more sought after than single malts? Well, neither do I, but I understand that used to be the case.

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Scotch Whisky Reviews

Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

I first tasted Auchentoshan early this year. It was a 17-year independent bottling sold exclusively at Vom Fass, and I fell in love. I felt an immediate need to find other expressions of Auchentoshan to taste what I’d been missing.

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The Whiskey Rebellion Book Review

William Hogeland’s ‘The Whiskey Rebellion’ was published in 2006, well before the Bourbon Boom, and well before Lin Manuel Miranda had children rapping about Alexander Hamilton as a hero. Brilliant though Hamilton was, he was tone-deaf and out of touch with the people.

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Barrell Dovetail Bourbon Review

Barrell Dovetail is another #DrinkCurious story for me. I have never been a fan of cask finished whiskeys. I’ve never bought a bottle of finished whiskey and every time I’ve tried one I’ve been less than impressed.

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Things To Do In Wisconsin When You’re Frozen (But Not Dead)

Polar Vortex. Snowpocalypse. Armageddon. Hell. Whatever you want to call it, I think everyone was aware of the once-in-a-generation cold blast that recently hit the Midwest.

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Japanese Whisky Reviews

Nikka Coffey Still Whisky Double-Review and Comparison

As I was venturing into the world of Japanese whisky, I purposefully avoided two bottles produced by Nikka. Read why I was wrong and why you might really like "Coffey Whisky."

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Three Chord Bourbon Review

TONAL VIBRATIONS! Seriously, the moment I heard about tonal vibrations being used in the aging process for bourbon, one eyebrow raised up so far it could have hit an airplane passing by.

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Four Roses to Extend Permanent Lineup with New Bourbon

The fourth rose is being added to Four Roses’ permanent lineup of Bourbons. The introduction of Four Roses Small Batch Select will be the distillery’s first permanent product-line extension in more than 12 years, joining Four Roses Single Barrel, Four Roses Small Batch and Four Roses Bourbon.

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Barrell Craft Spirits Bourbon 15 Year Review

When I saw that Fred Minnick rated this Best American Whiskey of 2018, I knew I’d have to check it out. Either I’d be the cool kid who got to say he was terribly wrong, or I’d be the cool kid who snagged a bottle just in time.

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Booker’s 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Bourbon Review

From its explosive nose to its punch-in-the-mouth flavor and texture, this is what Booker’s fans love. Booker Noe himself created his namesake brand to be powerful, and it does not disappoint.

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Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Goodwood Stout Barrel Finish Bourbon Review

There is an old saying that goes: there is no use in crying over spilled milk and fallen bourbon rickhouses. Okay, so I may have taken artistic liberties with the latter half of the saying but you’ll see where I am going with this.

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Burns Night, or How to Auld Lang Syne

When you write for a bourbon website with a tagline of #DrinkCurious you get unique opportunities to do just that. When you’re an adventurous couple with the family motto of “We do not let fear determine our future” you relish those unique opportunities to #DrinkCurious and expand your worldview.