Rye Whiskey Reviews

New Riff Balboa Rye 2025 Review: A Bold Take on Heirloom Rye

This liquid is its own animal, a whiskey that, tasted blind, might fool a few folks into thinking it's a low-rye bourbon. Get a bottle and let the fun begin.

New Brand Releases

Discover Kentucky Peerless's New Toasted Rye Whiskey Release

Peerless Toasted Rye is aged in two separate oak barrels. The small batch rye is initially aged in the distillery's standard, char level 3 barrel. This process develops the desired flavor profiles of caramel, brown sugar, and toffee.

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BITB Club

Replay: BITB Live Tasting #12

Our twelfth Bourbon in the Blind (BITB) Live Tasting of the Year was held this past Monday. This month's lineup included five samples that provided a fantastic range of expressions, including several from a single distillery.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 1924 Bourbon Review: A Decade of Depth and Flavor

If someone can find flaws in this, you're either a freak of nature who's going to teach us all something we didn't know or you're nuts and making things up.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Fitzgerald 11 Year Old Bottled In Bond Bourbon Review (Fall 2024): A Classic With a Twist

The fall edition is a return to form for Old Fitz worthy of its MSRP and probably a reasonable markup, too.

New Brand Releases

Green River Unleashes a Bold New Wheated Single Barrel Bourbon

Presented at barrel strength, ranging from 110 to 130 proof (55 – 65 percent alc. by vol.), and aged a minimum of five years, each Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Single Barrel selections burst with ripe apricot and tangerine over luscious barrel notes of oak, cinnamon, and vanilla creme.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

New Riff Winter Whiskey Review: A Bourbon Tailor-Made For Sweater Weather

Winter Whiskey is one of those bourbons you'll want to share with friends and keep in the bar for those occasions when your palate craves something really good but also something different.

New Brand Releases

Buffalo Trace's Experimental Release: Grain and Hops Spirit

“Hoppy beers are a playground for brewers; there are many techniques used to capture different flavors. It inspired us to play around with this essential beer ingredient as well,” Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley

New Brand Releases

Penelope Wheated Bourbon Joins Core Lineup at 95 Proof

“Wheated bourbons are more popular than ever, and we think we hit the mark with this one, from flavor to proof to price,” said Michael Paladini, Penelope founder and vice president of strategy for MGP. “It'll be a welcomed addition to our core line up."

New Brand Releases

Lux Row's PX Sherry Cask Bourbon: Nationwide Release at 112 Proof

“We wanted to meld the intensely sweet flavors of PX Sherry with the spicy, peppery flavor notes of our ryed bourbon,” said Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe. “The outcome is a delicious combination of two opposing yet complementary flavors that results in a truly unique expression.”

New Brand Releases

Discover Laws Whiskey House's New Super Wheater Bourbon

“SUPER WHEATER is a whiskey made for those who honor tradition but live in the moment – pour a glass, slow down, and enjoy the rich character of this remarkable grain,” says Al Laws, founder and president of Laws Whiskey House.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Elijah Craig A125 Barrel Proof Review: Is This the Best Batch Yet?

No one ever regrets buying a bottle of ECBP because it always delivers, never disappoints and always makes people smile when you pour them some.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Preservation Estate Wheated Bourbon Review: Bold Notes Beyond Its Age

If Preservation is already achieving that combination of rich fruit and ponderous dark notes at 6.5 years, that's exciting. To enter the Preservation Wheated Bourbon's flavor journey at the trailhead is a fun place to be, and now I look forward to every forthcoming release.

New Brand Releases

WhistlePig Snout-to-Tail Bourbon: Bold Innovation in Bourbon Craft

The only Bourbon aged Snout-to-Tail, WhistlePig flips its barrels 180 degrees in the warehouse to capture each barrel head’s unique toasted flavors and bring out the big, bold character in this palate-pleasing Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

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The Bourbon Drinker's Guide to Coping with February

I’m here for the party so I’m not leaving. Unlike Steve, I don’t have a curfew or a standing bedtime. Halftime is for bathroom breaks, bourbon refills, and another trip to the food spread to see if anything new hit the table while I was watching the game.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Sagamore Double Oak Rye Whiskey Review: A Bold Oak-Heavy Experience

The palate leads with cedar, bitter chocolate, new oak, clove and black pepper. It leaves the tongue tingling more than burning, but either way, it's spicy beyond what you normally encounter with 96 proof.

Industry News

Whiskey in the Winter 2024: Exploring the Future of Bourbon

Last December, Pops (@chief.drinking.officer) and Patrick Pho (@districtofbourbon)hit the Whiskey in the Winter Festival in St. Louis to dive deep into the hottest topic in bourbon: Is the bubble about to burst? Armed with cameras and questions, we connected with industry insiders to get their take on

Tequila Reviews

Alma del Jaguar Nocturna Tequila Review: A High-Proof Blanco Experience

Despite its 101 proof–a feistier number in tequila than in bourbon–it drinks nicely, and is quite supple, allowing more extended sipping. Have some dried spicy mango around to enjoy with this. Mexican desserts would be a plus.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 117 Series 'Warehouse I' Review: A Limited 11-Year Bourbon

This is flat-out delicious. Kudos to whoever chose 95 as this spirit's proof. It's bold and beautiful, complex and loaded with character, velvety, weighty and luxuriant but without the bite of cask strength whiskey. Sometimes you gotta love medium proof bourbon.

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Get To Know

Like a train, Chattanooga Whiskey Co.’s growth comes from strong momentum

Part of why he believes Chattanooga has enjoyed double-digit growth over so many years is its affordable price. The SRP of its flagship 91 proof, priced at $35, is well within the reach of everyday drinker preferences. Depending on age and quantity, its Experimental releases range from $50 to $80.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Middle West Spirits Dark Pumpernickel Rye Review: A Unique Cask Strength Experience

According to Middle West, this is the first dark pumpernickel rye whiskey made in North America, and its mash bill contains 80 percent of that grain. Want a rye that's not a dill Katz's Deli pickle? Try this.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Bulleit 10 Year Rye Whiskey Review: A Decade of Bold Rye Flavor

This also is a delight on the palate: tingly, tropical-fruity (ripe pineapple/cooked pineapple and under-ripe banana), cherry and orange hard candy, light caramel, white chocolate with a subtle hints of dill and toasted oak.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C924 Review: 129 Proof Bourbon Excellence

The finish ties it all together expertly with torched sugar, chocolate mint, and lingering notes of marmalade and chai tea. It's perhaps not the stunner we were given at the end of 2023, but there's certainly nothing to complain about here.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Bulleit 10 Year Bourbon Review: Aged Perfection at 91.2 Proof

I'd have an incredibly hard time understanding any bourbon fan wouldn't like this amazingly reliable, well-made and well-aged bourbon. It embodies everything that's right and unique about America's native spirit...

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Industry News

Bourbon slowdown is officially and undeniably real

Whether viewed from the 10,000 foot perspective of a publicly traded global company or the grass roots of 'Merica, the story is the same. The whiskey industry that we’ve fallen in madly in love with—and sometimes hatefully mad at—is no longer the juggernaut it was 10 years ago.