Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo) is best known in the Kentucky bourbon industry for its position as the leading contract distiller, but it has also developed a reputable line of its own releases. Now it has unveiled the latest in its BBCo Distillery Reserve Series, Hokkaido Mizunara Oak Barrel Finish. After blending a thoughtfully chosen collection …
What the latest batch of Booker’s will be called has become one of those things enthusiasts make light humor of, since the legendary Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe seems to have an endless supply of personality quirks, colleagues, tales and life features to use in putting a title on each of the annual four batches. …
Lancaster Spirits Company, a Scottish craft distillery located on the edge of the ancient Forest of Bowland, has embarked on a defining partnership with Max McFarlane, one of Scotland’s most respected whisky makers. McFarlane’s career of more than four decades in the Scotch whisky industry saw him work as lead whisky maker for brands including Glengoyne, …
Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling’s Single Barrel line has grown, as now 6 year old bourbon barrels are available for selection. “For years, New Riff has offered an exceptional Single Barrel Experience — intentionality is a cornerstone of everything we do and that ethos certainly extends to the experience we offer to those who choose to pick …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ The full name for this bottle is 15 Stars Fine Aged Rye Founder’s Reserve, but most 15 Stars concoctions come with a tile of “Fine Aged” something. Another rye from 15 Stars is called First West. To simplify description and avoid confusion, I’ve dropped that part and zeroed in on …
By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A In late March 2025, Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson approved the release of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon. “Rather than on a strict age schedule, at Michter’s we bottle whiskey when our production team deems it fully matured. This continues the standards …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A- During the 2010s, Utah’s High West made a splash with whiskey nerds for their transparency. Although they were a negociant (or non-distiller producer, as bloggers who didn’t know there was a better term already in use in whisky circles preferred to call such a company), they had two characteristics that set …
J. Mattingly 1845 (formerly known as It’s Bourbon 30 of Georgetown, Kentucky) is purchasing the equity ownership of its founder, Jeff Mattingly. The transaction will leave 100 percent of the company’s ownership with an investment entity controlled by Andrew Varga and Carl Cordova of Gold Corn & Co. “We are honored and thrilled to be …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B The most approachable of the latest Lock, Stock and Barrel releases (I wrote up their 21 year old rye earlier this month) is their new Vatted Rye. Frankly, I adore the name. It is borrowed from the now outmoded Scotch whisky terminology of referring to a blend of malt whiskies …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B- The twist for this particular installment of Benchmark Bourbon, a Buffalo Trace whiskey made from the #1 bourbon mash bill and intended as a mass market, bargain shelf product, it draws from barrels aged on the top floors of their rickhouses. In describing Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon, Buffalo Trace Distillery …
