Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Pinhook 10-Year Vertical Series Bourbon Review – 115.9° Proof

This bourbon is a study in patience. Knowing the founders of this brand, they didn't expect this whiskey–the first barrels they ever bought before moving to distill at Castle & Key distillery–would turn out as well as it has...

Ingram Distillery

Ingram Distillery Announces Floating Barrelhouse Built From Salvaged SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Once completed, The SS Edmund Fitzgerald Barrelhouse will host guided tastings, overnight berths, and what Ingram calls a “nautical proofing program,” where barrels experience the constant temperature swings of Lake Superior’s famously unforgiving climate.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Angel's Envy 2025 '10' Cask Strength Bourbon Review

Saying it's not a complex bourbon is not a sleight, rather it's a nod to whiskies that present as lean, lithe and elegant–which is no small feat for liquid resting 10 years in oak. In a world of double-oaked wood and tannin bombs, this measured approach is much appreciated.

On The Road

At Wood Hat Spirits, better corn is the fulcrum of flavor

Gary Hinegardner has a problem with bourbon makers. He says the No. 2 yellow dent corn used by the vast majority of American whiskey makers is a subpar grain never intended for the distillation of America’s native spirit.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

1792 Cognac Cask Finish Bourbon Review – $38 Value Pick

Truth is I prefer 1792 releases over anything from Buffalo Trace–outside of its incredible Antique Collection, of course. I'm like a lot of bourbon drinkers who love visiting Barton to duck cobwebs in dusty rickhouses to thieve whiskey eventually bottled as Full Proof single barrels.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925 Bourbon Review – 9yr/129-Proof Bargain

As good as this 9-year C925 is, it makes me long for the labyrinthine nuances of those earlier, older versions. This one is simpler, but still expectedly delicious.

Members only

Virtual Tasting

Replay: J. Henry & Sons Virtual Tasting

American Whiskey Reviews

Blue Run Buck & Brush Review: Why This $125 Blend Misses the Mark

In this case, Blue Run is asking $125 for a whiskey blend that's half Bourye's, age, lacking Bourye's well-earned reputation and triple the price for Knob Creek's iteration–all while delivering a product low on complexity and flavor compared to those.

Podcast

Bourbon & Banter Podcast #39 – Gitche Gumee Cometh

The biggest and most honest podcast in all of bourbon is back — this time live and in person (and we've got the video to prove it). That’s right, Pops and Bob are finally sharing a mic and a room again, kicking off fall with full pours, fresh rants, and faces made for radio.

Tequila Reviews

Fortaleza 2025 Winter Blend Review: Reposado Reveal

On the nose is a battle between fruit and minerality, olfactory soldiers armed with aromatics derived from airborne yeast, cooked agave, tahona crushing and finishing in those ex-American whiskey, ex-PdC and ex-Madeira casks.

Paid-members only

BITB Club

Replay: BDC Live Tasting #15

Our fifteenth Blind Drinkers Club (BDC) Live Tasting was held a little over a week ago. This month's dark and disturbing tasting kits included a variety of samples providing a fantastic range of expressions, including budget-friendly bottles and pricier, hard-to-find new releases. As always, hanging out with everyone

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Booker’s The Reserves Review: 2025 Tequila-Barrel Bourbon

Not only is it delicious, it's unique. This release marks the first time any spirit in the Beam portfolio was aged in ex-tequila casks, and it is–to my palate–an historically powerful bourbon that's beneficially tamed because of that.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

2025 King of Kentucky Bourbon Review: 17-Year Majesty

This is one of those bottles that makes me want to say to Chris Morris, "Just do more of this, please. Lots more of it."

Tennessee Whiskey Reviews

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Review

On the palate, its 100 proof delivers satisfying spice and tingle while staying supple and enjoyable neat. Toasted oak is prominent, but not in the heavy-handed, newly sawn lumber way of many toasted barrels that dominate the maturate resting within them.

On The Road

9 Trends From The 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Distilleries jockeyed for headlines, unveiling new releases, launching new brands, and—most dramatically—Heaven Hill returned to making Bourbon in Bardstown. The Kentucky Bourbon Festival isn’t just a local event anymore; it’s a tentpole moment on the whiskey calendar.

Bottle of the Day

BOTD Spotlight: Michter's US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

If you’re on the quest to complete the 30 Days of Bourbon Challenge, Michter’s US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a no-brainer addition to your lineup.

Members only

Barrel Pick Update

On Sale Now: Exclusive West Fork Whiskey Single Barrel

Bottle of the Day

BOTD Spotlight: Fear and Loathing Wheated Bourbon

Inspired by the rebellious spirit of Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing Wheated Bourbon is designed to be anything but ordinary.

On The Road

The One Question You Should Always Ask At A Whiskey Festival

The Four Roses booth had its usual suspects lined up, but behind the staff, I spotted a plain brown bottle with a PC-printed label: Straight Bourbon Whiskey 20 Year. One polite ask later, I was holding a glass of 20-year-old Four Roses.

Podcast

Bourbon & Banter Podcast #38 – Size Matters

Back at barrel strength: Pops & Bob return with bourbon news, Taylor Swift rumors, a Sniff Team reveal, and a bourbon bullshit rant that takes aim at the state of single barrels in today’s whiskey world.

Bourbon Heritage Month

Welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month 2025

Whether you’re just discovering bourbon or have a cabinet full of well-loved bottles, welcome to Bourbon Heritage Month! We’re kicking off our 12th annual celebration, and we’re glad you’re here. Grab your favorite pour and get ready for 30 days packed with bourbon fun.

Members only

Proof of Life

Proof of Life: The Calm Before the Bourbon Storm

It’s Bourbon Heritage Month, which means the bourbon world’s volume knob just got cranked all the way up. Our 12th Annual 30 Days of Bourbon Celebration is underway, and once again this community is proving why it’s the world’s biggest—and rowdiest—online bourbon party. Grab

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2025 Review: Fudge, Spice & Depth

My shifting preferences also point out how delicious and keenly unique every batch of Cellar Aged actually is. And that has me thinking ... Maybe that $174.99 price tag isn't as high as I initially thought.

Members only

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 2025 Birthday Bourbon Review

If you're curious about how its blending team landed on 92 proof, Rift said she and her colleagues weren't happy with higher-proof iterations. When samples dipped below 100, it came alive, so they kept proofing it downward.

Members only

Virtual Tasting

Replay: ASW Virtual Tasting