There are certain bourbon bottles you can recognize from across the room. That squat bottle. The cream-colored label. And, of course, that unmistakable red wax dripping down the neck. Maker’s Mark has been a fixture on bourbon shelves for generations. …
One of the things I enjoy most about bourbon is finding a bottle that drinks well above its price point. That’s exactly what happened when I came across this bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel OESF. Even better, I found it on sale at a major Kentucky g…
One of my favorite parts of visiting Kentucky bourbon country is discovering bottles that never make it to the shelves back home. During a recent stop at the Wild Turkey Distillery gift shop in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, I found a bottle that immediately …
Earlier this year, I was at an equestrian competition – along with 80,000 of my closest horse-crazy fans where Castle & Key was also a sponsor with their mobile bourbon bars interspersed around the course. I’ve toured and tasted Castle & Key bo…
Every now and then, you come across a bourbon that reminds you proof isn’t everything. Sure, bourbon enthusiasts love to chase big numbers. Higher proof often means bigger flavor, bolder character, and more intensity. But occasionally, a bottle manages…
There are some bourbons that try to knock your socks off. Barrel proof monsters. Oak bombs. Flavor grenades. Then there are bourbons like Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Bourbon. It doesn’t demand your attention. It doesn’t challenge your palate. It simply …
Every bourbon drinker eventually encounters a whiskey that challenges expectations. Sometimes the label tells one story, but the glass tells another. That’s exactly what happened when I poured this Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat Bourbon. I expect…
I’ve always appreciated New Riff for one simple reason: they don’t seem interested in shortcuts. Since launching in 2014, they’ve built a reputation for transparency, Bottled-in-Bond whiskey, and a commitment to quality over hype. While some distilleri…
Finally, the Yellow Label Grew Up. There are certain bourbons that have always occupied a special place on my shelf. Not because they’re rare. Not because they’re expensive. Not because bourbon hunters are camping outside liquor stores hoping to score …
Twelve Years, Sixty Bucks, and One Very Hard Bottle to Leave Behind Every now and then, bourbon hunting rewards persistence with something that makes you do a double-take. That happened recently when I wandered into our local Binny’s on a Friday aftern…
