Cask Strength and Entry Proof

Beam’s Little Book Reaches Chapter Nine

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 …

Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Gets A New Release And Proof Point

Wild Turkey is poised to drop another batch of Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Old Bourbon, the middle aged expression of Russell-made, Wild Turkey bourbon has a new cask strength proof point for 2025. First introduced in June 2021 and historically batched at a barrel proof of 114.8, each release of the 13 Year Old is …

Diageo Launches New Ultra-Aged Bourbon Through Stitzel-Weller

British-based drink giant Diageo, owner of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery in the Louisville, Kentucky suburb of Shively, has announced the release of Stitzel Reserve 24 Year Old Bourbon. The crafting of the new brand and expression was directed by Nicole Austin, better known as the Master Distiller of Cascade Hollow/George Dickel, also owned by Diageo. The …

Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon Review (2025)

By Kurt Maitland Rating: A Old Forester is a well known (one could safely say iconic) brand of Kentucky straight bourbon whisky produced by the Brown–Forman Corporation. It was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles, first bottled and marketed in 1870 by the former pharmaceutical salesman turned bourbon-merchant prince, George Garvin Brown. The …

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series Bourbon Review (The Keepers Release – 2025)

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ It all started in 2010 with inserting some French Oak staves into existing barrels of maturing bourbon to create Maker’s 46, but since then Maker’s Mark has taken the stave insert concept to its limits. The Loretto distillery erected the world’s only bourbon-aging cellar to further the production process for …

Michter’s Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey Review (2025)

Updated June 23, 2025 By Randall H. Borkus Average Rating: A- The Michter’s team has been making quality whiskey since the 1990s, but the 2015 inaugural release of Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye was the start of something special. The rye distillate enters the barrel at 103 proof, an expensive choice for aging, yet one that …

Jim Beam Expands Private Barrel Program With New Knob Creek Options

By Richard Thomas Jim Beam has announced a new branch for its private barrel program in the Knob Creek line, Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Cask Strength, to be available for both bourbon and rye. The private barrel/single barrel experience includes a visit to the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, KY, where participants …

Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whisky Review (Sneak Peek, 2025)

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- Two weeks ago, Maker’s Mark launched its latest whisky, and in so doing made a major departure from the way things are done down in Loretto, Kentucky. That is because the newest bottle from Maker’s Mark is a new brand representing two brand new distillates in a (for them) a …

First 2025 Batch Of Booker’s Now In Circulation

The starting batch of Booker’s Bourbon, which for three decades has stood as Jim Beam’s premiere cask strength bourbon, is basically a memorial to a recently passed company veteran. Barry Berish, former Beam Chairman and CEO and a dear friend to Fred Noe. Barry was a legend at Beam and worked at the company for …

Texas’s Milam & Greene Releases Its Grey Wolf

Milam & Greene Whiskey has released Gray Wolf Straight Bourbon, a blend of two six-year-old, cask-strength collector’s edition bourbon casks as part of its Wildlife Collection for 2025, exploring how climate impacts the final flavor of aging bourbon. This goes on sale tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26, at the distillery and at the Milam & Greene …

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