Laws Whiskey House - BourbonSphere

Shining a Light on Lost Lantern

Lost Lantern Whiskey took the Scotch Whiskey tradition of independent bottlers and applied it to American craft whiskies. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski weren’t… Read More

Lost Lantern Whiskey took the Scotch Whiskey tradition of independent bottlers and applied it to American craft whiskies. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski weren’t the first independent bottlers of American whiskies, but their selections over the last four years represent an eclectic variety of whiskies from around the country. They’re about to release their Fall 2024 tranche of whiskies, all at or close to ten years old, and we’ll catch up with Nora and Adam on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, it’s budget week in the U-K, and Scotch Whisky makers will be watching closely for news of an excise tax cut. We’ll have the rest of the week’s whisky news as well, along with this week’s tasting notes and a look at so-called “vatted malts.”

Episode 1080: October 27, 2024

Image courtesy Lost Lantern Whiskey.

NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House 2023 Special Cask Finish Series – Honey Cask Finished Bourbon

Laws Whiskey House (Denver, CO), is unveiling their newest Special Finish Series release: Honey Cask Finished Bourbon – a sweet collaboration with Bee Squared Apiaries. This whiskey is available for purchase in the Laws Whiskey House tasting room in Denver starting September 16th, and will be available in limited quantities at lawswhiskeyhouse.com and in key […]

The post NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House 2023 Special Cask Finish Series – Honey Cask Finished Bourbon first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Laws Whiskey House (Denver, CO), is unveiling their newest Special Finish Series release: Honey Cask Finished Bourbon – a sweet collaboration with Bee Squared Apiaries. This whiskey is available for purchase in the Laws Whiskey House tasting room in Denver starting September 16th, and will be available in limited quantities at lawswhiskeyhouse.com and in key markets across the country starting late September for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

This creation is the result of a unique collaboration between distillers, beekeepers, and honeybees, bringing together the artistry of whiskey making with the richness of nature’s golden elixir. Laws Honey Cask Finished Bourbon takes enthusiasts on a journey that showcases the fusion of flavors derived from this collaborative process.

The journey begins with Laws Whiskey House’s Four Grain Straight Bourbon, which is crafted in small batches and aged in new charred oak barrels, developing its signature depth and complexity. After the whiskey is harvested, Bee Squared Apiaries in Berthoud, CO fills Laws barrels with their delicious honey which interacts with the remaining bourbon and char while also coating the inside of the barrel. After harvesting the honey, the honey-infused barrels return to Laws Whiskey House.

For the second round of aging, Laws Whiskey House refills these same honey-coated barrels with its Four Grain Straight Bourbon, allowing the whiskey to integrate with the essence of honey. This marriage of whiskey and honey yields a symphony of taste, with the added sweetness accentuating the notes of black tea, orange blossom, and cinnamon. Upon savoring, you’ll be greeted by a bright, floral aroma, followed by the delightful combination of sweet orange and buttered toast, all wrapped in a generous flavor of honey. This whiskey delivers a round mouthfeel and a full-bodied finish.

Al Laws, founder and president of Laws Whiskey House says, “our Honey Cask Finished Bourbon is a tasting room fan favorite. We are thrilled to finally share this creation on a larger scale with this special small batch. The collaboration between our talented distillers, Bee Squared Apiaries, and the industrious honeybees is delicious but also a testament to our commitment to innovation and craftsmanship.”

This limited release consists of a marriage of four barrels. These barrels aged for 2 years 8 months in new charred oak and an average of 1 year and 6 months in used honey casks, making the total age of this release 4 years and 2 months. Only 1,080 bottles of this release were harvested at 95 proof.

About Laws Whiskey House

Established in 2011, Laws Whiskey House is a purpose-driven whiskey distillery founded on the principle that the soul of its whiskey is composed of the people who grow the grain, the people who make the spirit, and the people who drink the whiskey. Laws’ grain-forward style whiskeys are made with the highest quality corn and heirloom wheat, barley, and rye grown by two Colorado family farms. The distillery uses time-tested production techniques that showcase each individual grain’s terroir and abundantly rich palate of flavors. With a collection of award-winning whiskey, including several Bottled in Bond expressions, Laws Whiskey House invites you to visit their tasting room in Denver’s historic Gates neighborhood and enjoy the Laws experience. www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com

For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com

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NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House Batch #4 “Bottled-in-Bond San Luis Valley Rye”, Aged 7 Years

Laws Whiskey House (Denver, CO), has released batch #4 of their Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye. The whiskey became available for tasting and for purchase in the Laws Whiskey House tasting room in Denver starting Thursday, May 11, and will be available at lawswhiskeyhouse.com and in key markets across the country starting late […]

The post NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House Batch #4 “Bottled-in-Bond San Luis Valley Rye”, Aged 7 Years first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Laws Whiskey House (Denver, CO), has released batch #4 of their Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye. The whiskey became available for tasting and for purchase in the Laws Whiskey House tasting room in Denver starting Thursday, May 11, and will be available at lawswhiskeyhouse.com and in key markets across the country starting late May for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

Laws Whiskey House releases a new batch of their Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye annually, each slightly different from the last due to variation in the grains, maturation, and distilling season. The latest batch is a seven-year-old whiskey, its 24 barrels distilled between February and April of 2016. Some of the barrels were made from mash bill of 95% San Luis Valley Rye and 5% two-row barley while others were made with 100% San Luis Valley Rye. Only 4,848 bottles were produced in this limited, seasonal release.

100% of the grains in this whiskey were grown by the Cody Family Farm located near Alamosa in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. At 7,500 feet of elevation, the growing conditions of this valley contribute unique flavor profiles to the Cody’s grains including a distinct minerality that comes from the calcium and mineral rich soil of what used to be prehistoric lake.

Like Laws’ flagship San Luis Valley Straight Rye, the Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye offers a unique array of flavors originating from these heirloom grains and the place and conditions in which they are grown. Per the brand, “A fan favorite of many in the Laws Whiskey village, this is a distinctive, unapologetic rye, whose grain flavors continue to dominate the finish even after 7 years in charred oak barrels.“

TASTING NOTES (Brand Provided) – Aromas of cherry cola, honey, and black currant lead to flavors of hazelnut mint, salted toffee, and serrano pepper on the palate. The finish is radiant and mouth filling. After seven years of maturation time, this whiskey also developed layered notes of leather, wood tannins, caramel, and vanilla.

To qualify as a Bottled in Bond whiskey, the expression must be made by one distillery in a single season, must be bottled at 100 proof (50% abv) and must be aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse. These requirements were put in place by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 which is considered by many to be one of America’s first consumer protection laws.

In 2017, Laws Whiskey House was the first Colorado distillery to release a rye whiskey to meet the Bottled in Bond criteria. Laws Whiskey House is proud to carry forward the quality standard set by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897.

Laws’ Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye has become the distillery’s most awarded whiskey. Since 2017, this whiskey has won more than 20 medals and accolades and just last year, it won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Platinum and Consumers Choice Award from the Sip Awards, and Double Gold from the Barleycorn Awards. In 2023, Bottled in Bond San Luis Valley Rye was the category winner of “Best American Rye 12 Years and Under” from the World Whiskies Awards.

Al Laws, Founder, says, “the soul of our whiskey comes from the union of the grains and the people who grow them combined with our no-shortcuts process and the people who make up Laws Whiskey House. We love this whiskey because it perfectly represents what we strive for as a distillery: terroir-led flavors, the highest standards of quality, and distinctive flavors, all made for people around the world who love and appreciate whiskey. We hope you enjoy our Bonded San Luis Valley Rye.”

For the latest in the Bourbon Industry, please visit www.thebourbonreview.com.

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NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House 2023 Bottled-in-Bond “Four Grain Bourbon”

Laws Whiskey House, Denver based distillery, announced this week the 2023 release of their Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon. To qualify as a Bottled in Bond whiskey, the expression must be made by one distillery in a single season, must be bottled at 100 proof (50% abv) and must be aged at least four […]

The post NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House 2023 Bottled-in-Bond “Four Grain Bourbon” first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Laws Whiskey House, Denver based distillery, announced this week the 2023 release of their Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon.

To qualify as a Bottled in Bond whiskey, the expression must be made by one distillery in a single season, must be bottled at 100 proof (50% abv) and must be aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse. These requirements were put into place by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, which is considered by many to be one of America’s first consumer protection laws.

In 2016, more than 100 years after the Bottled in Bond Act was put into effect, Laws Whiskey House became the first Colorado distillery to release a bourbon meeting the Bottled in Bond criteria. Today, Laws Whiskey House continues to proudly carry forward this standard and tradition with the release of batch #7 of their Bonded Four Grain Bourbon.

For the second year in a row, Laws’ Bonded Four Grain Bourbon is 8 years old, and again consists of two separate batches. One batch is from the fall season of 2014, marked with batch code #7-F, and the other is from the spring season of 2015, marked with batch code #7-S.

Batch #7-F will arrive shortly before batch #7-S due to maturation timing as required by the Bottled in Bond Act. Batch #7-F was harvested during February of 2023 and its 15 barrels became 8 years old during the fall of 2022, for an average maturation time of 8 years and 3 months. Batch #7-S will be bottled in March 2023 and its 22 barrels will have an average maturation time of 8 years and 2 weeks.

Per the brand, expect aromas of apple strudel, orange blossom and rose from both batches. On the palate, notes of cherry vanilla cola, black tea, and walnut lead to a lingering rich and dry finish.

As with Laws’ small batch and cask strength offerings of its Four Grain Bourbon, batch #7 of Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon is made with the same mash bill of 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, and 10% heirloom malted barley.

Al Laws, Founder, says, “becoming the first Colorado distillery to release a bonded bourbon was a big achievement back in 2016. Now on our seventh bonded bourbon release, I’m proud to be among an esteemed group of distilleries carrying this standard of quality forward. It’s one of the ways we are adding to the fabric of the American whiskey tradition.”

The latest offerings in the brand’s growing Bonded portfolio will be available at the Laws Whiskey House Tasting Room, online at lawswhiskeyhouse.com, and through national distribution in key markets across the country starting March 2023 for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

The post NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House 2023 Bottled-in-Bond “Four Grain Bourbon” first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Denver Based Distillery Laws Whiskey House Releases “INTENTION”, 118 Proof 4 Grain Bourbon

Denver, CO, based Laws Whiskey House recently announced the release of INTENTION, the latest expression in the Laws Whiskey House Origins Series. This special release represents some of the oldest and most exceptional whiskeys the distillery has to offer. At 118 proof, each bottle will sell for a suggested retail price of $129.99. With INTENTION, […]

The post Denver Based Distillery Laws Whiskey House Releases “INTENTION”, 118 Proof 4 Grain Bourbon first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Denver, CO, based Laws Whiskey House recently announced the release of INTENTION, the latest expression in the Laws Whiskey House Origins Series. This special release represents some of the oldest and most exceptional whiskeys the distillery has to offer. At 118 proof, each bottle will sell for a suggested retail price of $129.99.

With INTENTION, per the brand, Laws Whiskey House sought to create a whiskey with distinct intricacy and balance using its flagship Four Grain Straight Bourbon made with 60% heritage corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, and 10% heirloom malted barley. To achieve this outcome, the distillery selected and combined barrels from a spectrum of ages, ranging from three to ten years old at cask strength. In this marriage, every barrel contributes toward creating a harmony of flavor featuring the younger barrels’ brighter grain and fruit notes complimented by the older barrels’ richer character and flavors.

Al Laws, President and Founder of Laws Whiskey House, says, “INTENTION is really special to us. It’s symbolic of how we approach our work and how we make whiskey. We are making whiskeys that are intentionally bold, flavorful, and distinct. INTENTION shows how versatile our four grain mash bill is, especially when explored across a range of barrel ages.”

“This is the first time we created a whiskey made from barrels of dramatically different ages,” says Laws. “Most of our whiskeys are made with barrels of the same or similar lot year. With INTENTION, we had the opportunity to balance flavors in an entirely different way.”

TASTING NOTES (Brand Provided)

INTENTION has aromas of ripe cherries, orange blossom, honey, and corn pudding with notes of buttery pastry, sweet cinnamon, and black tea on the palate. The body is medium in feel and has a bright, lingering finish. Best enjoyed neat or with a small amount of water, this release is extremely limited with a total yield of just 1,680 bottles.

Starting this month, INTENTION will be available at the Laws Whiskey House Tasting Room, online at lawswhiskeyhouse.com, and through national distribution in CO, CA, TX, IL, GA, FL, MD & DC.

As part of the brand’s on-going commitment to supporting the local community, Laws Whiskey House is proud to pledge 10% of the profits from the sales of INTENTION to Colorado-based non-profits selected by Laws Whiskey House employees.

“We hope you enjoy the thrill of seeing this plan come together with INTENTION, the next chapter in our Origins Series tradition,” says Laws. “Thanks for joining us on this journey.”

For more information on INTENTION and links to purchase, visit lawswhiskeyhouse.com and follow along on social at @lawswhiskey.

About Laws Whiskey House

Established in 2011, Laws Whiskey House is a whiskey driven, grain-to-glass distillery founded on the principle that the soul of its whiskey is composed of the people who grow the grain, the people who make it, and the people who drink it. Using the traditional method of open-air, on grain fermentation, Laws’ whiskeys feature high altitude grown American mother grains and mountain spring water while aging in 53-gallon charred American oak barrels. www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com

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Laws Whiskey House: Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Limited Edition.

Denver, CO based Laws Whiskey House, announced this week the second release of their Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon. Introduced in 2017 as one of the brand’s first projects in their Special Finish series, this year’s expression contains a blend of whiskeys aged between three and eight years in three different types of wood casks. This […]

The post Laws Whiskey House: Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon Limited Edition. first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Denver, CO based Laws Whiskey House, announced this week the second release of their Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon.

Introduced in 2017 as one of the brand’s first projects in their Special Finish series, this year’s expression contains a blend of whiskeys aged between three and eight years in three different types of wood casks. This limited release is now available in key markets across the country for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

To explore online purchase, CLICK HERE.

Laws’ new Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon is the second annual release of a living and evolving blend. Through several years of trial and experimentation, Laws created a distinctive solera process where only a portion of their Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon is released at a time, leaving the remainder to marry with future blends of this whiskey.

The process starts with Laws Four Grain Straight Bourbon that has been aged for a minimum of two years in new American oak barrels. Select barrels are then chosen to rest in Cognac casks for secondary aging. Finally, the Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon is combined in a 50-year-old French oak blending vat known as a foeder.

Each year, only a portion of the foeder is harvested, meaning each annual release contains whiskey from prior years’ vintages and maintains style continuity from batch to batch. After harvesting for each annual release, the foeder is immediately topped with Cognac Cask finished Four Grain Bourbon and the cycle continues. The Laws team expects the whiskey’s flavor to evolve with time, making it a collectible whiskey from year to year.

“This whiskey is about process and patience,” says Al Laws, founder of Laws Whiskey House. “Like the Cognac blenders that inspire us, we are seeking harmony and depth from this whiskey. The flavor notes are so rich, balanced, and complex and that can only be achieved by following our process and by giving it time to mature.”

Laws’ process was developed with help from sixth generation Cognac producer Alain Royer. Alain provided technical expertise on cask finishing and blending and also helped the Laws team source the foeder. Laws says, “the foeder is really crucial. Not only does it enable our solera process, it also allows for the Cognac cask influence to gently integrate over time. The French oak foeder staves also lend elegance and finish to this whiskey.”

This second release consists of 2,340 750ml bottles. This distinctive whiskey has aromas of stewed fruit and black tea on the nose. The spirit boasts flavors of spiced apple butter, toasted wood, and raisin leading to a rich and luxurious finish.

“One of our central philosophies is continuous improvement,” says Laws. “This whiskey is an example of that philosophy. With this release we are pushing ourselves and our whiskeys to the next level. It’s a special release and we are excited to have you join us on this taste journey to see how this whiskey evolves with time.”

For more information on the Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon and links to purchase, visit www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com.

About Laws Whiskey House (Brand Provided)

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Upcoming ‘Bonded Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey’ by Laws Whiskey House

[DENVER, CO] – Laws Whiskey House, the award-winning grain-to-glass distillery in Denver, announced this week the fourth release of their Bottled in Bond Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey, available in key markets starting June 1. This release meets two of the highest standards of American whiskey, Straight and Bottled in Bond. To qualify as a Straight […]

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This release meets two of the highest standards of American whiskey, Straight and Bottled in Bond. To qualify as a Straight Wheat whiskey, the spirit must be aged in a charred new oak container for two years or more and must be made from no less than 51% wheat. To qualify as a Bottled in Bond whiskey, the spirit must be made by one distillery in a single season, must be bottled at 100 proof (50% abv) and must be aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse. Meeting these standards allows the distillery to fully explore the distinctive properties of a whiskey made with heirloom grains.

The Bonded Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey is crafted using a 100% Soft White Centennial Wheat mash bill. This heirloom varietal Spring wheat is grown in the unique environment of the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado by the Cody Family Farm. Per the brand, the growing conditions on this high elevation farm stress the grains just enough to provide distinctive terroir-led flavors that create a soft and floral whiskey with bright fruit notes that mesh with the generous barrel aromas of vanilla, caramel, bergamot, and black tea. The liquid is aged for an average of five years five months before it is bottled.

2022 Bottled in Bond Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey

Batch #4 of Laws’ Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey is a marriage of 22 barrels with an average maturation time of 5 years and 5 months
Expect fruit-like aromas, including apple orchards, orange blossoms and wild strawberries
Per The Brand: Expect notes of vanilla, caramel, and complex baking spices, including bergamot and black tea
Mash bill: 100% Centennial Wheat; 50% raw and 50% malted

The Laws Whiskey House team recommends enjoying the Bonded Centennial Wheat over ice for a more sophisticated take on an orange creamsicle — the perfect summer sipper.

Al Laws, Founder, says “At Laws, we believe that the soul of whiskey is composed of the people who grow the grain, the people who make it, and the people who drink it. And good whiskey, like a good story, is meant to be shared. We hope you enjoy this special whiskey as much as we do and thank you for coming along our journey.”

PRICE and WHERE TO BUY

The latest offering in the brand’s growing Bonded portfolio will be available in key markets across the country starting June 2022 for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

The post Upcoming ‘Bonded Centennial Straight Wheat Whiskey’ by Laws Whiskey House appeared first on The Bourbon Review.

NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House Dual Bottled-in-Bond 8 Year ‘Four Grain’ and 7yr ‘San Luis Valley Rye’

DENVER, CO – Laws Whiskey House recently announced the 2022 releases of their Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon AND San Luis Valley Rye. To qualify as a Bottled in Bond whiskey, the expression must be made by one distillery in a single season, must be bottled at 100 proof (50% abv) and must be […]

The post NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House Dual Bottled-in-Bond 8 Year ‘Four Grain’ and 7yr ‘San Luis Valley Rye’ appeared first on The Bourbon Review.

DENVER, CO – Laws Whiskey House recently announced the 2022 releases of their Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon AND San Luis Valley Rye.

The Laws team released their first Bonded Four Grain Bourbon in 2016. This successful foray into Bonded whiskey also marked the first Bonded bourbon in the state of Colorado and one of the first Bonded Four Grain Bourbons in the country. Six years later, they’re gearing up for the release of batch #6 of their Bonded Four Grain Bourbon and batch #3 of their Bonded San Luis Valley Rye.

I’ve been to Laws Whiskey House Distillery and have met Al Laws (Founder). I’m impressed with what they’re putting out. Al is very passionate about what he’s doing in whiskey making as they are a brand to keep a close eye on in my opinion. And his liquid is and has always been made in house (non-sourced). That’s quite rare, especially for a non-Kentucky distillery.

The 2022 Bonded Releases

Bottled in Bond 8yr Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Batch #6

Laws’ sixth release of their Bonded Four Grain Bourbon is one of the oldest bourbons to be released from the distillery and is composed of two separate batches. One batch is from the spring season of 2013, marked with batch code #6-S, and the other is from the fall season of the same year, marked with batch code #6-F.

Batch #6-S of Laws’ Bonded Four Grain was distilled in the spring of 2013 and is a marriage of 18 barrels with an average maturation time of 8 years and 5 months
Batch #6-F of the Bonded Four Grain was distilled in the fall of 2013 and features 9 barrels with an average maturation time of 8 years and 2 months
(Distillery Provided) Expect aromas of orange blossom, toffee, and apricot jam on the nose. On the tongue, those notes melt to brown butter and dates, leaving a dry finish with hints of sandalwood.
Mash bill: 60% corn, 20% heirloom wheat, 10% heirloom rye, 10% heirloom malted barley

Bottled in Bond 7yr San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey – Batch #3

A fan favorite of many in the Laws Whiskey village, this is a distinctive, unapologetic rye, whose grain flavors continue to dominate the finish even after 7 years in charred oak barrels.

Batch #3 of Laws’ Bonded San Luis Valley Straight Rye is a marriage of 23 barrels distilled in the fall season of 2014 with a total maturation time of 7 years and 1 month
(Distillery Provided) Expect notes of cherry cola and black currant on the nose, followed by flavors of hazelnut, green mango, melon and the characteristic serrano pepper of Laws’ flagship rye. The whiskey finishes with star anise and sage flavors that complement each other and linger on the tongue.
Mash bill: 95% heirloom rye, 5% heirloom barley

“We’re excited to be on this journey of Laws’ commitment to creating exceptional Bottled in Bond whiskey, and it will continue to be a lead mark in the Laws Whiskey portfolio in years to come. We hope you enjoy these two special whiskeys as much as we do and we are grateful to everyone who joins us on our journey.”
– Al Laws, Founder

The latest offerings in the brand’s growing Bonded portfolio will be available in key markets across the country starting April 2022 for a suggested retail price of $79.99.

More info: www.lawswhiskeyhouse.com

The post NEW RELEASE: Laws Whiskey House Dual Bottled-in-Bond 8 Year ‘Four Grain’ and 7yr ‘San Luis Valley Rye’ appeared first on The Bourbon Review.

Heads & Tails: “THE ONE MORE DREADED ‘CELEBOTTLE’” EDITION

File this under “We wish could have made this up, but it’s fo’ real.” Top-ranked UFC fighter and Lafayette, La., native Dustin Poirier has launched a new bourbon named Rare Stash. According to a news release quoted in “The Acadiana Advocate,” Poirier declared this about his bourbon mission: “Me being a whiskey person along with Rare Stash and the idea behind it of rare lots of bourbon was intriguing to me because I want to enjoy different bottles like that.” Is that quote real, or is Boomhauer his spokesman? And while he’s at it, Vanna, can he buy some commas? And yet, Poirier kept slugging past the needed punctuation: “This first run of Rare Stash is going to be special because the next release is going to be slightly different, and that’s interesting to me as a whiskey consumer and collector.” And it keeps getting worse: “Poirier created the craft bourbon alongside Ed Seckinger and Bob Wulf. Together, in a news release, they say Rare Stash focuses on unique and rare qualities found in the raw ingredients used to make its bourbon whiskey. Each bottle has its own characteristics based on that year’s corn and grain crop and the tree used to make the barrel where the alcohol is aged.”

Maybe it’s time to ditch the term ‘craft distillery’

If you’re a whiskey drinker who likes variety and isn’t hidebound to a single notion of what “bourbon should taste like,” then I’d love to pour you some whiskeys you probably haven’t had. Ryes and bourbons from distilleries making a 2,000 to 3,000 barrels a year—or less. Whiskeys well worth your attention. And whiskeys I don’t even think of as “craft” because they’re so good and so on par with the quality of anything from a major distillery. Those bottles come from distilleries that don’t need the “craft” badge because they deserve all the respect given mega-producers. Yes, even if they lack barrels laid down when George W. Bush was President.