Distilleries

Buying Barrels with the NHLC Part 1: Trial by Firewater

There are many steps on the bourbon lover’s journey. After you decide you like it, you start trying different brands to see what you like. You seek out books, websites and other enthusiasts to further your education. You visit the big Kentucky distilleries and your local craft distillery.

Events

Southern Whiskey Society Event

If you love food and whiskey then Southern Whiskey Society is the event for you. Experience 30+ different Southern whiskeys plus delicious tasting dishes from 9 of the South’s most talented chefs. SWS will serve as the first official public tasting for Kentucky Owl Batch 7.

Scotch Whisky News

National Scotch Day 2017

What do you know… it’s National Scotch Day again!! Yaaay! Mention the word “scotch” to a random group of people, and the reactions you get will vary as widely as the characteristics of the whisky itself.

Banter

Store Pick 101: The Private Barrel

One of my favorite aspects of being a whiskey reviewer isn’t writing reviews. Oh, believe me, I love writing reviews. I try to compose one at least weekly.

Banter

Are Distributors Against Small Liquor?

Just recently a nationwide class action lawsuit was filed against Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, a distributor. Now you may be thinking, “so what? What does this have to do with me?”

American Whiskey Reviews

Distillery 291 Colorado Whiskey Review

I don’t like young whiskey. At best you get an interesting tropical banana flavor, and at worst your tongue feels like someone put a match out on it. That’s what I’d tell people before drinking the Colorado Whiskey.

American Whiskey Reviews

StilL 630 Experimental Collection Release #1 Review

This is the first post of a journey that will last 5-years. If everything goes as planned, it’s the first post of what will eventually be a collection of 60 review posts. Each post featuring a different experimental spirit distilled by StilL 630 Distillery.

Banter

NCF (Nobody Checks First)

Chill filtering in Bourbon has one primary purpose: to remove fatty acids from the corn and produce a clear whiskey. A Bourbon that has not been chill filtered will be cloudy but is thought to have more authenticity: stronger aroma, expanded flavors, oily mouthfeel and a more pleasing finish.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Early Times Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Whiskey Review

Give Brown-Forman credit for releasing a limited edition whiskey that’s reasonably priced in an era where others are getting away with robbery. It’s tough to argue with a $30 price tag for a liter of bottled-in-bond bourbon from the same folks who produce Old Forester.

Banter

Barrel Proof Blind Tasting

A few weeks ago some of my bourbon drinking friends and I were sitting around discussing our favorite drink. I know, shocking right? We started talking about what each of our favorites was. Some preferred wheated, one liked high rye, I like a lot of barrel proofs, etc.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Bourbon Review

I have been drinking Knob Creek since not long after it came out. At first with Diet Coke (hate to admit it) and now straight or on the rocks. Knob Creek was another step in my bourbon journey, and so it carries some meaning for me in a couple of different ways.

Book Reviews

Rum Curious Book Review

The whiskey bubble, in addition to fostering alternative universes of stupidity, has also inspired significantly more people to sharply focus on whiskey’s history and craftsmanship.

Gear

Corridor Bar Review

It all started innocently enough. You and a few friends took a trip to Kentucky to visit the Bourbon Trail and on the way back you decided to stock up on a few bottles of bourbon that you couldn’t buy locally. It was only six bottles.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

12 Foot Beard Jowl Bristle Whiskey Review

12 foot Beard is not unlike some other craft whiskey: it has a cheeky name, interesting bottle, and a back story, which in this case has little to do with the product. While I do not have a beard, I did allow a three-day growth of stubble before reviewing 12 Foot Beard.

Banter

Is the Taste of a Bourbon Affected by Your Mood?

My wife, Patti and I traveled to New York City in September 2016 to attend the filming of Tony Bennett’s 90th Birthday Special. On this trip, we made a special effort to go to The Flatiron Room. The Flatiron Room has been rated one of the top bourbon bars in the US by The Bourbon Review.

Banter

To Dusty or Not to Dusty: That is the Question

The dusty decanters and older bottles are very much in vogue. There aren’t many reviews for this old stuff because most people can’t get their hands on a similar bottle so many of those reviews just would not be relevant.

Cocktails

Cava: Your Summer Bourbon Cocktail Companion

Whiskey in the Winter is a perfect pairing. The slightly warmer nights of spring also make brown spirits a good fit. But as soon as the weather starts to turn summery hot, I start to crave a cold glass of bubbly.

Banter

Making the Case to #DrinkCurious

Do you like a whiskey because you’re expected to like it? Do you hate another because you’ve not heard anything good about it? Are you a fanboy of a certain distiller (or producer), and absolutely anything that comes from them gets a free pass?

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Belle Meade Single Barrel Bourbon Review

My first experience tasting Belle Meade was a few years ago at an event in Louisville. The featured guest speaker at the event was Charlie Nelson, great x 3 grandson of Belle Meade founder Charles Nelson.

Banter

Is Cooper’s Craft Having An Identity Crisis?

The kind people at Brown-Forman recently introduced me to Coopers’ Craft. They invited a small number of whiskey writers to Louisville to hear the story of their brand, tour their cooperage (Brown-Forman is the only brand that owns their cooperage and makes their barrels).

Gear

Ranger’s Station Candle Company Review

My wife keeps asking me what I want for Father’s Day. As a whiskey nerd, this is a dangerous question. Two years ago, I told her that I wanted a bottle of William Larue Weller. She went looking for it in a few liquor stores.

Scotch Whisky News

Speyburn Arranta Casks Whisky Review

The longer it sits in your glass, the better it gets. While still not a particularly complex whisky, it’s pleasant and flavorful with a nice kick and plenty of nuances to explore.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey Review

I love the nose on this whiskey. The cream sherry cask finish works well and creates the illusion of a much older and more complex whiskey. It masks the green oak notes that typically accompany such a young whiskey and imparts a creamy mouthfeel.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Speyburn Bradan Orach Whisky Review

I believe Speyburn is one of the more overlooked single malt scotch whiskies out there. Yes, it falls into that “entry-level” category, largely because of its younger age and lower pricing, and that’s the catch-22 when it comes to ‘value’ in the whisky world.

Banter

The Life and Times of a Whiskey Reviewer

As a whiskey reviewer, I am often asked by both friends and strangers alike for opinions about whiskey. My reaction is I’m flattered that someone is actually interested in my thoughts. There’s a little bit of chest puffery that happens.