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 …
This is a mature, well-structured whiskey that balances fruit, rye spice and oak accents. I can’t imagine any American whiskey drinker not liking this. It’s everything a good bourbon should be.
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…
In year 7, big spice, chocolate depth and rich fruit rule the palate. Its transformation from the 6 year release is comparable to teens leaving home for freshman year in college, and returning for summer break noticeably more mature.
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 …
Loads of caramel envelop vanilla, cinnamon, charred marshmallow and dried roses. Subsequent sniffs deliver spice that hints at a more powerful presentation than claimed in its 109 proof.
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…
