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…
Every now and then, a bottle comes along that makes me raise an eyebrow when I first hear about it. Woodford Reserve’s Distillery Series Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Finish was one of those bottles. A bourbon finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels? My fir…
I’ll admit it. I’ve been curious about Penelope Bourbon for quite a while. The brand seems to pop up everywhere these days—bourbon shelves, whiskey podcasts, social media discussions, and conversations among bourbon enthusiasts. Yet somehow, despite se…
My wife is so very good to me. Twice a year, our local Hy-Vee store has a bourbon raffle. Get in line early, and nearly everyone is assured of the opportunity to purchase a rare or allocated bourbon find at close to MSRP. I had other commitments; she g…
