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 …
By Richard Thomas Two Stacks Irish Whiskey is a relative newcomer to what had been an Emerald Isle whiskey boom. Founded in 2000 by a trio of friends, the company was established as a classic Irish bonder and has the stated intention of helping to revive what had been a thriving commercial sector in Ireland. …
I’d like to thanks CraftCo and their PR team for sending me this sample with no strings attached.
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Purchase a copy of Mother of Bourbon on Amazon. By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Although I would not describe Mary Dowling as the literal mother of bourbon, the subtitle of this new book from Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian and author Eric Goodman is certainly true enough. The story of Mary Dowling has been quite neglected, …
I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this sample with no strings attached.
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By Richard Thomas Rating: C+ For longer than The Whiskey Reviewer has been in existence, whiskey nerds have scoffed at the term “small batch.” If anyone was complaining about it in the actual small batch era of the 1990s, I was happy enough to not meet them; in those days, the bourbon fans I knew were …
I’d like to thank Ross & Squibb Distillery and their PR team for providing this sample with no strings attached.
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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 Randall H. Borkus Rating: A In late March 2025, Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson approved the release of Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon. “Rather than on a strict age schedule, at Michter’s we bottle whiskey when our production team deems it fully matured. This continues the standards …
