Calumet Farm was once famous as a sprawling fixture that dominated the western country outside Lexington, Kentucky. The whitewashed board fences and white, red and green barns of the property were iconic, the farm was home to many famous race horses over the decades, and the property’s fall was the stuff of true crime podcasts …
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 …
The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Left Bank Bourbon in Jefferson County as the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Left Bank Bourbon is a negoicant, better known in the US as a non-distiller producer (or NDP). The company was founded in 2018, and …
By Richard Thomas Lexington, Kentucky’s RD-1 Spirits has announced a date–May 14, 2025–for the opening of their new home and brand destination, RD1 Distillery at The Commons, a developing retail and commercial space that already includes the popular Battle Axes entertainment venue. RD1 is upgrading from its former Tasting Room and Gift Shop on the …
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, …
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 …
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 …
15 STARS has announced the release of its new Three Ports Fine-Aged Bourbon, a limited-time innovative blend that has never previously been made. This extraordinary expression combines 9- and 15-year-old Kentucky straight bourbons, finished in tawny, white, and ruby port barrels to create a complex, layered tasting experience. “Three Ports is a bold step forward …
By Kurt Maitland If you are a big fan of Scotch, you have probably heard of Angus MacRaild. It could have been via his satirical blog, Whisky Sponge (“the Onion” of the whisky world) or his independent bottling operation, Decadent Drinks (both highly recommended). Or perhaps you’ve seen him at London’s Whisky Show with a …
Diageo’s Orphan Barrel brand has released a new ultra-aged bourbon, and for the first time one of the brand’s bourbons is being done without chill filtration, thereby retaining more of the trace oils in the whiskey. Fanged Pursuit is a 17 year old Kentucky bourbon bottled at 92 proof. Interestingly, Diageo offered a grain range …
