By Richard Thomas Rating: A- The Non-Distiller Producer (NDP) called 15 Stars is a post-Pandemic foundation. Started in 2021 by a father and son team, Rick and Ricky Johnson, their first bottlings came out in late 2022. The Johnsons are a Columbus, Indiana family that is best known for their ownership of Black Jewell Popcorn, …
Back in 2019, I reviewed and awarded considerable praise to W. B. Saffell, a curious new entry in Campari’s Whiskey Barons Collection. Looking back, it seems the series failed to appeal to a majority of whiskey enthusiasts, at least initially. I suppos…
By Richard Thomas Rating: B My first acquaintance with Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery was 7 1/2 years ago, one of those things that serves to remind me just how long I have been writing about whiskey. I had traveled to Iowa to visit a different distillery, invited for the bottling and launch of a different …
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail marked its 25th anniversary last year with some good numbers: attractions on the trail were visited by a record 2.7 million visitors in 2024. Visitors came from all 50 states and more than 20 countries across six continents poured into the Bluegrass State last year, up from 2.5 million tourists in …
Oxmoor Bourbon Co. is excited to announce that they are an official partner of the world-renowned Kentucky Bourbon Trail program, offering a new opportunity to explore where Kentucky’s Bourbon history began. A great option for those looking for something beyond the typical distillery tour — and perfect for history buffs — Oxmoor Bourbon Co. interprets …
Penelope Bourbon has entered the ready-to-pour market with the launch of its first-ever bottled cocktail: the Penelope Peach Old Fashioned. This premium, handcrafted cocktail offers the perfect balance of convenience and quality, delivering a fresh take on a timeless classic – just in time for spring celebrations. Marking its first entry into the booming ready-to-pour …
The Last Drop, the negociant company that specializes in ultra-aged, ultra-rare bottlings, has announced its 2025 Collection featuring three whiskies that celebrate the unique maturation methods used by the most prestigious distilleries around the world: a 27 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Buffalo Trace Distillery (Release No. 37), a 55 Year Old Single Malt …
By Richard Thomas Rating: A- In the latest release from its Orphan Barrel series, drink conglomerate Diageo returns the series to its roots by delivering an ultra-aged bourbon in the form of Fanged Pursuit 17 Year Old. The word about how Diageo sourced this is obscure, but the company says it came from two separate …
