*Sincere thanks to Usquaebach and Colangelo PR for the sample. The Usquaebach brand is one of those brands that manages to be both oft-seen and under-the-radar at the same time. Their white and tan stoneware flagon-ed Old Rare Blended Whisky is a rather familiar sight on store shelves, but you just don't hear much about … Continue reading Usquaebach An Ard Ri Blended Malt Scotch Whisky – Review
Rabbit Hole Distilling Kentucky Straight Rye – Review
*Sincere thanks to Rabbit Hole Distilling for the sample. Rabbit Hole Distilling's Kentucky Straight Rye, like their Kentucky Straight Bourbon, was contract distilled reportedly by New Riff Distilling. Sure, sure, that in and of itself isn't super exciting, but what if I told you the mashbill for this rye was 95% rye and 5% malted barley. … Continue reading Rabbit Hole Distilling Kentucky Straight Rye – Review
Rabbit Hole Distilling Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Review
*Sincere thanks to Rabbit Hole Distilling for the sample. One of the hardest things about this craft spirits boom of the last several years has been separating the wheat from the chaff. Distinguishing not just the true distillers from the opportunistic source-and-bottlers, but also between the ones who are generally honest and upfront, and the ones … Continue reading Rabbit Hole Distilling Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Review
Why Are Sazerac And Buffalo Trace Trying To Be So Damned Sneaky?
Towards the end of 2016, a class action lawsuit was filed against Buffalo Trace and parent company Sazerac for misrepresenting an Old Charter bourbon to consumers. Old Charter is a storied brand whose history goes back to the late 1800's. It's passed through several ownership changes, the last being the sale to Sazerac in 1999. For … Continue reading Why Are Sazerac And Buffalo Trace Trying To Be So Damned Sneaky?
Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to MH and Common Ground PR for the sample. Ezra Brooks is one of those days-of-yore sounding bourbon names that could easily make you think he was the inventor of the high rye mashbill or the "Louisville Limp" technique of rolling a barrel from rickhouse to rickhouse.* In fact, the name Ezra Brooks … Continue reading Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey – Review
Whiskey on Ice 2017 Wrap-up
*A sincere thank you to MG and Whiskey On Ice for providing me with the media pass. As Minnesota's only really big whiskey show, Whiskey on Ice has, over the last three years, established itself as being an informative, festive, bankable good time. Since the first edition in 2015, the well-run event has grown consistently, … Continue reading Whiskey on Ice 2017 Wrap-up
Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to Clyde Mays and Conecuh Ridge Distillery, Inc. for the sample. Well, shit...where to begin. Clyde May was an actual, real person. This is somewhat important to note because the bourbon world is full of people who actually were not really people. Ol' Clyde was apparently an Alabama moonshiner and bootlegger of some … Continue reading Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
Redbreast Sherry Finish Lustau Edition Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey – Reviewed
*Sincere thanks to Irish Distillers, Redbreast, and Ketchum for the sample. I was going to write something snappy about St. Patrick, but frankly, I've kind of had it with the guy. We can all be pretty sure that he didn't do most of the stuff he's famous for, and the stuff he actually did do certainly … Continue reading Redbreast Sherry Finish Lustau Edition Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey – Reviewed
Egan’s 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Review
Sincere thanks to SE and Nova Marketing for the sample. When one hears of an old brand being "revived," it's usually accompanied by a sharp wince and weary sigh of "haven't we heard enough of this kind of thing?" All too often, a brand's ancient history is inflated, conflated and romanticized, its current revivers claiming … Continue reading Egan’s 10 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Review
The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to Common Ground PR and Luxco for the sample According to the Irish food and drinks organization, Bord Bia, Irish Whiskey exports increased by 8% in 2016. Exports are projected to double by 2020, which, seeing as 2020 will be another presidential election year here in the embarrassing old U.S. of A., and we'll … Continue reading The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Review
THE CASKS 