By Richard Thomas Rating: B Jack and Coke is the classic whiskey mixer. In fact, insofar as mixers go I believe the only rival for spirits generally is the Cuba Libre, or rum and Coke. Yet unlike the latter, Jack and Coke are very specific. It’s not bourbon and Coke or Tennessee Whiskey and Coke, …
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 …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Earlier this week, Kentucky bourbon saw a new brand emerge, and this in a time where much of the industry talk is about faltering sales and ruinous Trump tariffs. Once sometimes does not get to choose when their plans come to fruition, however, and this spring was when Avalon Spirits …
By Douglas Fraser Rating: A- Lindores Abbey is known in Scotland as being the birthplace of Scotch Whisky. The actual abbey site hosts the oldest evidence for distilling in Scotland, supported by both archaeological evidence abbey documents. These include a written order for a Friar named John Cor to make “acqua vitae” for King James …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B The final member of Kanosuke’s current trio of whiskies is their Hioki Pot Still Whisky. The Hioki distillery was previously covered in our review of Kanosuke Double Distillery Whisky. Hioki used primarily to make shochu, a Japanese spirit that is similar to vodka in that it can be made with …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B Next Century Spirits was founded by Scott Bolin and Joel Pawlak, and the company opened their distillery in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2018. Their website makes it clear that they have positioned themselves as a contract distiller, but the company also has its in-house brands relying on a mix of …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ I first became acquainted with Cedar Ridge Malted Rye back in 2017, following a visit to the Iowa winery and distillery. That expression was the basis for what is their current Straight Rye. This is a 51% malted rye, 34% normal rye mash, with 12% corn and 3% malted barley …
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, …
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 …
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 …
