Yellowstone 2016 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Review

*Sincere thanks to MH and Common Ground PR for the sample. In his 2004 book, Bourbon Straight, Chuck Cowdery wrote about the Yellowstone brand, "There is no justification for a bourbon to be this bad...The venerable Yellowstone name deserves better. It should be put out of its misery." Harsh words for an apparently harsh whiskey. … Continue reading Yellowstone 2016 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Review

Ohishi Sherry Single Cask Whisky, Cask #1257 – Review

*Thank you to SF and GRC Imports for the sample. The Ohishi Sake Brewery and Distillery is located on the Japanese island of Kyushu, well south and east a bit from the island's largest city of Fukuoka. According to most sources, Ohishi was founded in 1872, and has remained a family owned business from the … Continue reading Ohishi Sherry Single Cask Whisky, Cask #1257 – Review

Ohishi Brandy Cask Regular Whisky – Review

*Thank you to SF and GRC Imports for the sample. According to ricepedia.com, rice, corn, and wheat account for approximately 42% of the calories consumed by us humans. Rice itself is responsible for nearly 20% of calories gobbled up by all the people on the planet, with Asia accounting for a staggering 90% of that total. … Continue reading Ohishi Brandy Cask Regular Whisky – Review

Rebel Yell 10 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review

*Special thanks to MH and Common Ground PR for the sample. I have no idea how to write a review of Rebel Yell without addressing its racially charged name. The Luxco-owned line of whiskey takes its name from this high-pitched, kind of squealing, not-all-that-frightening tactic used by Confederate soldiers as they fought the Civil War in an … Continue reading Rebel Yell 10 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review

Suntory Whisky Toki Japanese Whisky – Review

*Sincere thanks to MS and Savona Communications for the sample. Toki (とき) is the Japanese word for "time." Ah, if it were only that simple. It's not. But if it were, this part of my review would be a little shorter. As I understand it, it's far more accurate to say that toki  (pronounced toe'-key) is a Japanese … Continue reading Suntory Whisky Toki Japanese Whisky – Review

Whisky-Related Stocking Stuffers for 2016

I was going to write something half-heartedly funny about starting up the war on Christmas again just because stores put up all their Christmas crap way too early. And because a certain group of people always tends to get a little hissy around this time of year if you don't celebrate the holidays exactly like they … Continue reading Whisky-Related Stocking Stuffers for 2016

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review

*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! This wheated bourbon is perennially one of my favorites from the Antique Collection. According to the brand literature, this year's William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon seems to have a bit in common with the 2014 edition in terms of where the barrels … Continue reading William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review

Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 2016 Buffalo trace Antique Collection – Review

*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! Perhaps the most anticipated and interesting of the five Antique Collection bottles this year, the Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is for the first time since 2003...a new whiskey. Starting that year through 2014, the whisky used in this expression was … Continue reading Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 2016 Buffalo trace Antique Collection – Review

George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review

*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! I wonder how many liquor stores dread this time of year. When all these highly allocated, even more highly sought after bottles are released, stores must get the full range of desperate assholes asking for all sorts of preferential treatment just for a … Continue reading George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 2016 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey, Buffalo Trace 2016 Antique Collection – Review

*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! The youngster of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Aside from the barrels being plucked from different locations, and a couple of months of aging, the main difference between this years Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey and those of the last couple of … Continue reading Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey, Buffalo Trace 2016 Antique Collection – Review