By Richard Thomas Rating: B Continuing up Ian Macleod Distillers’ ladder of Isle of Skye blended whiskies has taken me to their 18 Year Old expression. It’s a pretty typical progression, really, although one that seems to show large jumps to American eyes. The cooler, milder climate of Scotland and heavy reliance on used cask …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B Old Potrero’s signature style is a 100% malted rye whiskey, which is why they call themselves a “single malt,” even though that term is most often associated with malted barley. The California distiller has been pursuing this style since the 1990s, part of a distinguished class of small distillers who …
By Randall H. Borkus Rating: B+ The Glenturret Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland. Located near Crieff in Perthshire, it lays claims to be the oldest working distillery dating back to 1775. Like many Scots distilleries, going back that far means pointing to some smugglers or Scottish moonshiners, so the “oldest distillery” …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B Heaven Hill was the pioneer of “urban bourbon” destinations in downtown Louisville. Although it is often forgotten, before they opened the Evan Williams Experience on Main Street, there were no destination distilleries in the city. Although Louisville was a center for the industry, what was there (in Shively) was very …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A- San Francisco’s Old Potrero is part of a tiny class of distillers that I dubbed “craft whiskey before there was craft whiskey.” I say this because outfits like Old Potrero, St. George and Prichard’s were small distillers, starting out in an era when the whiskey industry as a whole was …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B- The Old Elk brand got started with a blend of bourbons, crafted by former MGP Master Distiller Greg Metze. Their next step was to expand the line with a straight wheat and a straight rye whiskey. All three are sourced, and the sourcing remains undisclosed. Old Elk’s rye uses the …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B Located right in the middle of the Speyside region, Tamdhu Distillery has spent most of its existence furnishing malt for use in other blends. My understanding is that it has been such a reliable producer in this respect that it is jokingly referred to as the “Can-dhu Distillery.” That said, …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B Here at The Whiskey Reviewer, we took a look at Old Elk, the brand launched with the guidance of former MGP Master Distiller Greg Metze, with their 2018 inaugural Blend of Bourbons. They’ve since opened their tasting room in Fort Collins, Colorado and have greatly expanded their line. It’s well …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A- For most of the 21st Century, the “sipping whiskey” coming out of Lynchburg, Tennessee was not associated with age statements. That truth actually makes a great deal of sense, when you consider that the Lincoln County Process that Jack Daniel’s is known for is the original shortcut on maturation; for …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B At my book launch late last year, I was asked what brand was overdue for a cask strength version. Without even a moment’s pause, I said “Bernheim.” Heaven Hill released the cask strength version of its seminal Elijah Craig Small Batch a decade ago, in 2013. Back then, both the …
