**Sincere thanks to MGP Ingredients and Gregory + Vine PR for the sample. The rather unusual name of Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon apparently comes from an old railroading phrase. The "eight" part refers to the highest setting or notch on the throttle, and the "sand" part refers to the sand that would get spread … Continue reading Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey – Review
American Whiskey
Old Forester Straight Rye Whiskey – Review
There will be a time and a place for delving deeper into the long history of the Old Forester brand, but this post is neither the time nor the place. Well, maybe this post is a little bit of the time and the place. Old Forester's historical claim to fame is that it was the … Continue reading Old Forester Straight Rye Whiskey – Review
Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
When I first started writing about this one, I spent a fair amount of time going down a rabbit hole or wolf hole or elk hole researching the history of the Northern Rocky Mountains wolf (Canis lupus irremotus) in Yellowstone Park. Suffice it to say, the post was getting a bit too unwieldy and un-whiskey-related. … Continue reading Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
Evan Williams Single Barrel, 2007 Vintage – Review
*I don't think this qualifies as an "archival bourbon" review, but please note the whiskey in this review is a slightly older, limited bottling and likely not readily available today. While newer Evan Williams Single Barrel vintages are available, they will not be the same as the one reviewed here. This was one of my … Continue reading Evan Williams Single Barrel, 2007 Vintage – Review
Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to Sazerac and A. Smith Bowman Distillery for the sample. The A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Fredericksburg, Virginia is a bit of an odd set-up. It can trace its roots back to 1935, when, right after Prohibition ended, a man named Abram Smith Bowman opened up a distillery in what is now Reston. … Continue reading Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
Yellowstone 2017 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Review
*Sincere thanks to Limestone Branch Distillery and Common Ground PR for the sample. Short and sweet and to the point this one will be. Luxco and Limestone Branch Distillery's revitalization of the Yellowstone brand has created not just a great story, but some great bourbon as well. If you'd like, you can catch up here … Continue reading Yellowstone 2017 Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Review
Blood Oath Pact No. 3 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
*Sincere thanks to Common Ground PR and Luxco for the sample. I hate to say it, but I think I kind of overdid it on the Blood Oath Pact No.2 review. I pretty much threw every blood oath I could google in a short period of time into one review, and now, here I am … Continue reading Blood Oath Pact No. 3 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 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
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
THE CASKS 