What the latest batch of Booker’s will be called has become one of those things enthusiasts make light humor of, since the legendary Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe seems to have an endless supply of personality quirks, colleagues, tales and life features to use in putting a title on each of the annual four batches. …
Northern Kentucky’s New Riff Distilling’s Single Barrel line has grown, as now 6 year old bourbon barrels are available for selection. “For years, New Riff has offered an exceptional Single Barrel Experience — intentionality is a cornerstone of everything we do and that ethos certainly extends to the experience we offer to those who choose to pick …
By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A In late March 2025, Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson approved the release of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon. “Rather than on a strict age schedule, at Michter’s we bottle whiskey when our production team deems it fully matured. This continues the standards …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A- During the 2010s, Utah’s High West made a splash with whiskey nerds for their transparency. Although they were a negociant (or non-distiller producer, as bloggers who didn’t know there was a better term already in use in whisky circles preferred to call such a company), they had two characteristics that set …
J. Mattingly 1845 (formerly known as It’s Bourbon 30 of Georgetown, Kentucky) is purchasing the equity ownership of its founder, Jeff Mattingly. The transaction will leave 100 percent of the company’s ownership with an investment entity controlled by Andrew Varga and Carl Cordova of Gold Corn & Co. “We are honored and thrilled to be …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B- The twist for this particular installment of Benchmark Bourbon, a Buffalo Trace whiskey made from the #1 bourbon mash bill and intended as a mass market, bargain shelf product, it draws from barrels aged on the top floors of their rickhouses. In describing Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon, Buffalo Trace Distillery …
Jackie Zykan, the former Old Forester Master Taster turned consultant, is stepping away from Hidden Barn Bourbon. Zykan created Hidden Barn Bourbon in 2022, in partnership with Royce Neeley and Nate Winegar. In 2024, Neeley purchased Hidden Barn from the partners, with Zykan remaining as Master Blender and Winegar as Brand Ambassador. Winegar will continue …
Whiskey collecting can be a deeply rewarding hobby. It allows you to explore new tastes, styles, and distilleries. The process of building a collection goes beyond simply acquiring bottles — it’s about curating a selection that reflects your personal preferences while offering investment potential and rare finds. As you would carefully select the best paying …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B- When I first wrote about the latest bourbon brand to come to Kentucky, Avalon Spirits’ Whiskey Row, I made a brief, opening observation: given the lead time that goes into starting a venture like a whiskey brand, one rarely gets to choose the circumstances under which one gets started. For …
By Richard Thomas Jim Beam has the ninth chapter of Little Book in the pipeline. This series was launched in 2017 to raise the profile of heir apparent Freddie Noe, the son of Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe. The brand name refers back to their legendary predecessor Booker Noe, and as originally conceived Little Book drew …
