Members only Proof of Life Proof of Life: Scams, Scandals & Single Barrels It’s been a scorcher here in St. Louis—humid enough to proof down barrel strength bourbon with the air alone. But while the temps are boiling, this edition of Proof of Life is cooling things down with some smart sipping advice, a side of spirits scandal, and more new
Paid-members only BITB Club Replay: BDC Live Tasting #14 Our fourteenth Blind Drinkers Club (BDC) Live Tasting was held this past Monday. This month's dark and disturbing tasting kits included seven samples providing a fantastic range of expressions, including budget-friendly bottles and pricier, hard-to-find new releases. As always, hanging out with everyone to enjoy the samples and
Events INDY OR BUST: A Whiskey Weekend Recap Earlier this month, the Bourbon & Banter crew hit the road for another whiskey-fueled adventure—this time to Indianapolis. We’re talkin’ barrel picks, behind-the-scenes distillery access, ATV-fueled trail sippin’, and one late-night bottle share that wrapped around 3 a.m. (because of course it did). We kicked things off
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Jefferson's Reserve Cask Strength Review: The Cask Strength Bourbon You Didn't Know You Needed Jefferson’s finally gives Cask Strength its own spotlight. This 130-proof bourbon hits hard but drinks smooth—with a fruit-forward profile and a price that’s hard to argue with.
Members only Proof of Life: Declaration of Drinkdependence Surprise! We’re dropping this edition of the Proof of Life newsletter a little early so you can enjoy it with your Fourth of July coffee—or whatever you’re sipping before the fireworks start. Because nothing says "America" quite like bourbon, bold opinions, and a newsletter that
Bottle Elijah Craig B525 Review: Bold, Balanced & Barrel-Proof One immediately reached for an ECBP, pulled the cork, closed his eyes and took a long, patient sniff. He said that aroma was exactly the smell of the conflagration that awful day, and then poured himself a glass.
Members only This Round's Mine A Conversation with Kaveh Zamanian on Luxe Bottles, Coming Price Drops Is (the price of such bottles) going to get better over time? Absolutely, because when we move to our own distillate, it's going to get much better from a business standpoint. I think that benefit is going to get passed on to consumers as well.
Rye Whiskey Reviews Angel’s Envy Cellar Collection Rye Review: Tequila‑Cask Intrigue On the palate, it's clearly rye whiskey: slightly spicy, appropriately grainy and familiarly minty and dill-y. Its texture is what's unique: warm, soft and slightly viscous, not at all lean like many ryes.
Proof of Life Proof of Life: Get Lost Irregular Dispatches for the Drinking Class from Your Chief Drinking Officer
Tequila Reviews Nuestras Raices Agave Spirit Review The palate is delicious and adventurous, racing from sweet to tart to vegetal to minty to petrichor and back ... all in the first few seconds of sip No. 1.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Review – 2025 Release: One of the Best M10s Yet I've had the good fortune to sample several years of Michter's 10-year bourbon releases, and this is one of the best I've tasted yet.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Green River 250th U.S. Army Special Anniversary Bourbon Review Tasting this and knowing you've spent just $49.99 will make you wonder why you part with any more on any bottle. From sniff to sip, this is precisely what bourbon whiskey should taste like and cost in 2025.
Rye Whiskey Reviews Michter's 2025 Barrel Strength Rye Review: Big Spice, Bold Proof The nose on this Michter's Barrel Strength Rye takes me directly to the dump trough where tour guests get to stick their Glencairn glasses directly into the stream of whiskey glug-glug-glugging from the cask.
Proof of Life Proof of Life: The Last Refuge Irregular Dispatches for the Drinking Class from Your Chief Drinking Officer
Rye Whiskey Reviews Fear & Loathing Rye Review: A Smooth 95-Proof Sipper The nose is a soft blend of caramel corn, cotton candy, mint and a little burnt orange peel: truly pleasant. The palate is bolder with dark caramel, roasted corn, more mint and cherry Lifesaver. Again, quite nice. Nothing to dislike at all.
Tequila Reviews Wild Common Añejo Tequila Review: A Bold 94-Proof Sipper I've visited this distillery, and trust me, it's OLD old school. On a tour there, our guide pulled out a diagram of its process that was hand-sketched on an 8 x 11 piece of paper. No video. No fancy equipment with computerized monitors. Just a drawing.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Inside Gonzo Whiskey: Fear & Loathing Bourbon Review I'm like any reviewer who immediately wants to dislike celebrity whiskies because most are never good. So, since this one's actually good, is it because the celebrity wasn't involved in it at all?
Events National Bourbon Week Announces Schedule for Second Annual Celebration in Bardstown The BCG just announced the schedule for the second-annual National Bourbon Week, running this year from June 9-15. The event includes 20 events with 11 distilleries located within 16 square miles.
Proof of Life Proof of Life: Special Isn't Special Anymore Irregular Dispatches for the Drinking Class from Your Chief Drinking Officer
Rye Whiskey Reviews BHAKTA 1928 Review: A Unique Blend of Rye and Vintage Spirits The nose is warm with apple pie filling and dark, caramelized sugar. Despite a mostly rye recipe, it's quite plush, almost buttery, with little in the way of lively spice.
