*A sincere thanks to AP & Sazerac for the sample. The year 1792 was a fairly notable one in French history. France declared war against Austria and the Prussians declared war against France. Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle wrote La Marseillaise in Strasbourg, while Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin advocated for a more humane form of capital punishment and ended up forever … Continue reading 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
American Whiskey
Jim Beam Black – Review
(I have to give acknowledge and give a proper word of thanks to the main source of info for this post, Chuck Cowdery's book Bourbon, Straight) Tracing the Beam family's influence on American whiskey-making is a bit like those sections of the bible that ramble on for pages telling you that so-and-so begat so-and-so, and so-and-so … Continue reading Jim Beam Black – Review
Anchor Distilling’s Old Potrero 18th Century Spirit – Review
Finally, a chance to write about the history of a place I've actually spent a fair amount of time in! The "Portrero" in Anchor Distilling's Old Potrero 18th Century Spirit refers to the area/neighborhood on the east side of San Francisco where the Anchor Brewery and Distillery currently resides. Today, it's referred to as Potrero Hill, … Continue reading Anchor Distilling’s Old Potrero 18th Century Spirit – Review
E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon – Review
*A sincere thanks to AP from Buffalo Trace for the sample. As an American whiskey drinker, you've doubtless come across the term "Bottled in Bond", perhaps you've given some thought to what that means...or perhaps not. Today, the term carries far much less weight than it did in 1897 when the "Bottled-In-Bond" act was passed. … Continue reading E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon – Review
W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
William LaRue Weller's story is perhaps a somewhat typical one of successful men and women of the American 1800's. There's war, there's tragedy, there's family, there's dogged perseverance, and there's whiskey. Weller was pretty much born into bourbon making. His grandfather, Daniel, was operating a distillery close to Bardstown, KY as early as 1800. His … Continue reading W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Review
St. George Spirits Breaking & Entering Bourbon – Review
The Casks has left San Francisco and moved to Minneapolis and wouldn't you know it, early October, there's snow in the forecast. So with no small amount of wistfulness, I thought it appropriate for the first review from the new locale to be from one of my favorites from the old locale, St. George Spirits … Continue reading St. George Spirits Breaking & Entering Bourbon – Review
Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 2011 Buffalo trace Antique Collection – Review
*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! Since I started with the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's Thomas Handy release (ol' Tom being the founder of Buffalo Trace's parent company Sazerac), it seems only fitting (if not a little confusing) to end with the Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye … Continue reading Sazerac 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 2011 Buffalo trace Antique Collection – Review
William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review
The name Weller is as intertwined and as important a name as you will find in the history of American whiskey. Daniel Weller was operating a still near Bardstown, KY as early as 1800. His son Samuel followed in his father's footsteps, and his son, William LaRue Weller started making and selling whiskey in 1849. … Continue reading William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review
George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review
*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! Let me just point out right away that, although it might be a good one, the name George T. Stagg is not that of porn star. No, George T. Stagg was successful whiskey salesman who, in 1870, helped E.H. Taylor purchase a distillery … Continue reading George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon, 2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review
*Thank you very much to AP and Buffalo Trace for the samples! The Eagle Rare brand was originally owned by Seagram's and made its first appearance in 1975. It was created by Charles L. Beam and was sold as a 10 year old, 101 proof straight bourbon. Sazerac bought the brand in 1989 and in … Continue reading Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon, 2011 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection – Review
THE CASKS 