By Richard Thomas Rating: A- This is one of those whiskeys that I feel should need no introduction or summary, but that said: it is among my personal favorites, one of the expressions I point to as being undoubtedly worth the (official) asking price. I’ll start with the mash bill. At a time when the …
American whiskey has never been more exciting. While legacy names like Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey dominate shelves, many craft distilleries across the United States are carving out their own space in the whiskey world. In 2025, these small-batch producers are not just experimenting with flavor, they are helping redefine what American whiskey can be. …
North Carolina’s Southern Distilling Company, has released its newest expression: Southern Star Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey. Crafted in a single distilling season, aged four years, and bottled at 100 proof. Distilled and bottled in-house in Statesville, North Carolina, the whiskey has a mash bill of 51% rye, 39% corn, and 10% malted barley and honors …
Updated July 26, 2025 By Debbie Shocair Average Rating: B Given what I do, most whiskey fans presume I am opposed to flavored whiskey. On the contrary, I appreciate the flavored stuff as “gateway whiskey,” bringing into the fold those who still harbor reservations. Founded by the late and esteemed Robert Cooper, Cooper Spirits has …
Updated July 26, 2025 By Debbie Shocair Average Rating: B Given what I do, most whiskey fans presume I am opposed to flavored whiskey. On the contrary, I appreciate the flavored stuff as “gateway whiskey,” bringing into the fold those who still harbor reservations. Founded by the late and esteemed Robert Cooper, Cooper Spirits has …
Wolves Whiskey, a non-distiller producer in California heretofore best known for its work with American Single Malts, already had a deal in place with Kentucky’s Willett Distillery to acquire stocks of Willett-made rye. Now that deal has yielded the first Wolves Whiskey expression with an age statement: Wolves and Willett Limited-Edition 10 Year Rye Whiskey. …
Buffalo Trace Distillery has introduced a new, higher-proof addition to its Sazerac Rye Whiskey portfolio, Sazerac Rye Whiskey 100 Proof. Developed in response to demand from bartenders and whiskey enthusiasts alike, this innovative expression is designed to offer enhanced flavor, versatility and control in cocktail creation while maintaining the smooth, approachable profile that defines the …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ The full name for this bottle is 15 Stars Fine Aged Rye Founder’s Reserve, but most 15 Stars concoctions come with a tile of “Fine Aged” something. Another rye from 15 Stars is called First West. To simplify description and avoid confusion, I’ve dropped that part and zeroed in on …
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 …
By Richard Thomas Rating: B The most approachable of the latest Lock, Stock and Barrel releases (I wrote up their 21 year old rye earlier this month) is their new Vatted Rye. Frankly, I adore the name. It is borrowed from the now outmoded Scotch whisky terminology of referring to a blend of malt whiskies …
