Banter

Maybe it’s time to ditch the term ‘craft distillery’

If you’re a whiskey drinker who likes variety and isn’t hidebound to a single notion of what “bourbon should taste like,” then I’d love to pour you some whiskeys you probably haven’t had. Ryes and bourbons from distilleries making a 2,000 to 3,000 barrels a year—or less.

Banter

Heads & Tails: “Back in the Grave” Edition

In Chuck Cowdery’s early 2022 edition of his quarterly print piece, “The Bourbon Country Reader,” he says MGP should kill off the George Remus brand and find another name for the otherwise good bourbon created for that SKU.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Green River Bourbon Review

I’m pleased to report that after scientifically tasting about half the bottle of Green River Bourbon, I can confirm that it’s beyond good. A nose of enticing warming spices greets you thanks to the high-rye mash bill followed by the standard bourbon flavors.

Heads & Tails

Heads & Tails: I Wouldn’t Wish For It Edition

Ever played this whiskey dork game? You go to a bar or restaurant and rapid-survey the bottles while thinking, “Had it. Haven’t. Have it. Hate it.” When I looked at this list of 20 top-selling whiskeys in the U.S., I added a new response. “Who drinks that?”

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Limited Edition Bourbon Review

This bourbon is truly delightful to drink. Too many multi-whiskey blends lack the synergy and symmetry that this bottle presents in spades. Its sibling, Kentucky Owl: The Wiseman Bourbon, released last September, was one of those.

Bourbon News

Owensboro has ‘no regrets’ about Green River Distilling Co.

Roughly six years after Terressentia Corp. began making respectable whiskey at the O.Z. Tyler Distillery here, the properly renamed Green River Distilling Co. staged a blowout release party for its namesake 5-year-old bourbon.

Banter

Heads & Tails: Are Single Barrels Illegal Edition

That’s the growing concern at Kentucky distilleries, where thousands of whiskey fans sample whiskeys from thousands of barrels every year.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

From tasting O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon, I stand by my guess of it being MGP sourced, which is good. It has the sweet caramel taste of a wheated bourbon with a reasonable depth of other flavors such as apple, grain, and oak.

Podcast

Kentucky Fried Bourbon – Bourbon & Banter Podcast Episode #22

The 22nd episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Kentucky Fried Bourbon – is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure.

New Brand Releases

Uncle Nearest Debuts Its Own Whiskeys

Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, the most awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019 and 2020, confirmed today it has solidified this honor for the third year in a row, raking in a record 198 awards in 2021.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Sneaky Peat Whiskey Review

One of my favorite blended malts at any price is Johnny Walker Green, so when Sneaky Peat advertised itself as a Blended Malt with a bit of peat while being $15 cheaper, JWG became my instant point of comparison.

New Brand Releases

Chattanooga Whiskey Islay Scotch Cask Finish Release

Chattanooga Whiskey today announced the second release of its Barrel Finishing Series: Islay Scotch Cask Finish, crafted exclusively at the Chattanooga Whiskey Riverfront Distillery.

Banter

Whiskey Writer, Steve Coomes, Named Editor of Bourbon & Banter

Patrick “Pops” Garrett, founder of Bourbon & Banter, has appointed Steve Coomes editor for BourbonBanter.com. The global top 10 whiskey-centric website includes a podcast and virtual bourbon club for its nationwide membership.

On The Road

Get To Know: KO Distilling

Now that 2021 is in the rearview mirror, I thought it would be a good time to revisit one of the team’s favorite experiences from the past year – our road trip to visit KO Distilling in Manassas, Virginia, during Bourbon Heritage Month.

Banter

Whiskey Advent Calendar Scam

Christmas is over, the New Year is here, and you may have received a whiskey advent calendar that you ordered online after seeing multiple ads. The sales were terrific, and dammit, this was just a super-cool idea! You clicked on the ad.

Podcast

Storytime with Dan Gardner – Bourbon & Banter Podcast #21

The 21st episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – Storytime with Dan Gardner – is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure. The Bourbon & Banter team celebrated our 10th anniversary earlier this year, and we let the mics roll a few times.

Cocktails

Holiday Spice Old Fashioned Recipe

This time of year, I am frequently asked for holiday cocktail recipes. Though I have dozens of ideas, I love to come back to a simple twist on my all time favorite cocktail, the Old Fashioned.

Book Reviews

Buffalo, Barrels & Bourbon Book Review

Buffalo, Barrels, & Bourbon by F. Paul Pacult is a study of how the bourbon gods giveth and taketh away.

Podcast

This Little Piggy Drank Some Bourbon – Bourbon & Banter Podcast #20

The 20th episode of the Bourbon & Banter podcast – This Little Piggy Drank Some Bourbon – is now available for your listening and drinking pleasure.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Soul High Rye Bourbon Review

As the great Yogi Berra once said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” Here we have yet another bourbon with this mash bill. I think this may be the fifth I’ve tasted this year. This bourbon by Cathead Distillery is their second release of Old Soul Bourbon.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

KO Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey Review

This is a very good and interesting rye whiskey. Interesting because of the orange vanilla notes mixed with the rye spice. Creamy on the front of the tongue with the rye spice coming through on the back. It is very enjoyable.

Drinking Accessory Reviews

Whiskey Advent Calendar Review

This isn’t just your average flimsy cardboard advent calendar that is typically filled with chocolate or candy that you don’t really want to eat. This one is filled with your favorite type of spirits.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Bare Knuckle High Rye Cask Strength Bourbon Review

This is a great bourbon. Distilled by MGP, aged in Virginia. When KO Distilling opened, they sourced bottles from MGP and aged them here in Virginia. If care and feeding of aging barrels makes a difference, they nailed it on this one.

Tennessee Whiskey Reviews

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release: Coy Hill High Proof Review

Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher continues to hit it out of the ballpark with their end-of-year Special Releases.

New Brand Releases

Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill High Proof Release

Today, Jack Daniel’s announces the release of the 2021 Single Barrel Special Release, Coy Hill High Proof. This high-proof Tennessee Whiskey was aged on the top ricks of the oldest barrel houses on Coy Hill, the highest hill on the Jack Daniel Distillery property in Lynchburg, Tennessee.