Woodford Reserve has released the fall 2024 Master’s Collection release – Madeira Cask Finish. This bottling features Woodford Reserve Whiskey that was finished in Madeira casks and blended with wheat whiskey. Madeira Cask Finish marks the 20th release in Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection. “Madeira Cask Finish is a tremendous way to celebrate 20 years of …
By Richard Thomas Among bourbon nerds, Jeptha Creed Distillery is best known as the craft-scale farm distillery that was an early revivalist of the Bloody Butcher strain of corn. The distillery is built around the Nethery family’s farm properties in Shelbyville, and since part of the problem with using exotic grain varietals is persuading a …
Tennessee’s Uncle Nearest has announced the release of a more mass market-oriented whiskey to supplement their existing offerings, all of which are better described as premium: Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey. While Uncle Nearest’s current premium whiskeys boast proof points starting at 93, Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey was crafted by rafted by four-time Master Blender of …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A- In 2023, I chose to do a rare batch review for the 14th installment of Bruichladdich’s famously smoky Octomore series. This year, I chose to tackle October 15.1, 15.2 and 15.3 separately, which brings me to the third and final chapter of Octomore 2024: the ultra-peated Octomore 15.3. Bruichladdich has …
Speyside’s Tamnavulin Distillery, with a lineup rooted in distinctive double cask maturation, is adding a Port Cask Edition to its core range. Every expression from Tamnavulin undergoes a meticulous ageing process in two distinct casks. The first maturation in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels crafts a rich and layered foundation. The whisky is then masterfully finished …
By Richard Thomas At the end of 2020 and in the midst of the Pandemic, the US Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) announced that they would alter regulations allowing for the sale of spirits in 700ml bottles in the United States. For decades prior, the US had a singular requirement for the …
Diageo’s Orphan Barrel brand continues to reach outside its American origins with the new Woven Honor 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, a bottling of Linkwood Distillery’s malt. Most of what Linkwood makes goes into Diageo blended whiskies, such as Johnnie Walker. As a distillery, Linkwood is a curiosity in that it was founded …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A When I established The Whiskey Reviewer in 2011, it was already inconceivable to stay on top of both the growing realm of world whiskey and the burgeoning American craft distilling scene. The American small distilling sector was already too large and growing too fast, although the new distilleries popping up …
Brother’s Bond Bourbon, founded by actors, real-life friends, and now whiskey makers, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, has announced the release of its newest expression, Brother’s Bond 7-Year Old Bottled In Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey. “The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 was one of the first consumer protection laws in the United States–it allowed …
By Doug Fraser Rating: A- Four Branches Founders Blend Bourbon is the result of a culmination of four prior US service members from the four major branches of the US Military (i.e. not the Space Force). The bourbon represents those four branches–Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy–with the intent to be enjoyed by all while still …
