Lee Stang

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Ragged Branch Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon Review

Ragged Branch started distilling bourbon in 2014 under the tutelage of the late Dave Pickerell. One of Pickerell’s suggestions was to mature some of the first batches of bourbon in 25 gallon barrels to age it faster and enable it to get to market a little after 2 years.

On The Road

Catoctin Creek Distilling Company

The distillery is located on Main Street in Old Town Purcellville (every place has an Old Town, right?), in an old Buick Showroom dating back to 1921. Owned by husband and wife, Scott and Becky Harris, they celebrated their 10th year in business in Mid-February.

Irish Whiskey Reviews

Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey Review

I’ve been a fan of Irish whiskey for about 20 years but have never drank a lot of it. During that time however, I have thoroughly enjoyed having a pour from time to time. My favorites include Jameson Rarest Vintage, Redbreast Cask Strength and Power’s John Lane 12 Year.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Ragged Branch Distillery 4 Year Bourbon Release & Review

Ragged Branch Distillery started Bourbon Heritage Month off with a bang by releasing their first Non Age Stated Bourbon. Over eight years in the making this is an exciting time for a new distillery.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Tarnished Truth 3 Year Old High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

Tarnished Truth is a new distillery that opened in March 2018. It is located in the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach, Virginia. According to their press, they are the only distillery located in a hotel and the hotel features their products.

Distilleries

Belmont Farm Distillery – “America’s First Craft Whiskey Distillery”

“This place looks like a church,” remarks my wife, Patti as we walk to the front door. Later we would learn that it actually was a church. A part of the building housing the tasting room, gift shop and distillery was once a Catholic Church.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival

I received a bottle of the Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades Bourbon this past Christmas and thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that I have already finished it. When the Wild Turkey Revival became available, I purchased it almost immediately.

On The Road

The American Prohibition Museum

“Alcohol is Poison.” That is the first thing you see as you enter the American Prohibition Museum. Up the stairs and you begin a fascinating and informative journey into “one of the most controversial and influential time periods in American history…”

American Whiskey Reviews

Woodford Reserve Malt Whiskey Review

This bottle was a present to me from my cousin, for a favor I did for him in college, over 46 years ago. I truly did not remember it (even when he told me) but I was glad to receive the bottle. I’m have not been a big Woodford Bourbon fan in the past but find myself enjoying it more recently. When I

Bars

Milk Room – A Chicago Micro Speakeasy

“Hmmm, where is this place?” My wife, Patti and I are standing in the lobby of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel looking for the Milk Room, the bar which we have reservations at 5PM. We are a little early but the only directions we have is it is on the second floor.

Cognac Reviews

Frérot Cognac XO Assemblage de Crus Review

like an occasional XO Cognac. In my opinion, the opportunity to sit and sip a Louis XIII Cognac is one of the most incredible spirits experiences one can have. Of course, Louis is far above a XO Cognac.

Drinking Accessory Reviews

The Magic Flask Review

The Magic Flask is a stainless steel flask that uses technology related to bioresonance. The flask is specially tuned with electromagnetic waves so that water molecules within liquid placed inside will be qualitatively changed.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye Whiskey Review

Last summer I had the opportunity to attend a Sagamore Spirit Rye tasting. I like their regular rye offering, but at 83 proof, it is a nice rye but not great. The Cask Strength Rye, however, is excellent. It has finally arrived here in Virginia and I purchased a bottle when I saw it.

Bars

DRY 85 OC – BOURBON AT THE BEACH

Ocean City (OC to us here in the land of pleasant living), located on the eastern shore of Maryland, has always held a special meaning for me. My first trip to the beach was when I was three years old and I have been going there ever since.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Isaac Bowman Port Finish Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

I am a big fan of the Bowman Distillery offerings so back in March when I saw they would be bringing out the Isaac Bowman Port Finished Bourbon I was very excited and bought a bottle the first day it was in the store.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Ragged Branch Distillery – Part 2

Ragged Branch Distillery presently produces two types of bourbon. One is a wheat mash bill, and the other is a rye mash bill. The Master Distiller at Ragged Branch is Dave Pickerell, the former Master Distiller at Makers Mark.

Distilleries

Ragged Branch Distillery – Part 1

“Ready to taste some bourbon?” This is the greeting we received from Alex Toomy, Founder and Managing Partner of Ragged Branch Distillery as we entered the tasting room at the distillery. And never one to turn down a bourbon tasting, I said yes.

Banter

You Need To Meet…Christopher Mize – Virginia’s Bourbon Artist

A few months ago, I stopped by the Christopher Mize booth while attending the Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor, Maryland. As I came around the side of the both, I stopped as I noticed a painting containing my favorite bourbon, Buffalo Trace.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Hancock’s President’s Reserve Bourbon Review

Hancock’s Reserve is the poor cousin of the Buffalo Trace Mash bill #2 line. You won’t find much information on the bottle label, nor is there anything about Hancock’s Reserve on the Buffalo Trace Distillery web site.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Colonel E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon Review

Very few bourbons epitomize Bourbon Heritage Month like Colonel E. H. Taylor Bottled in Bond. If you are interested in learning more about the Bottled in Bond Act, click here. I think the EHT Small Batch is the best bourbon for the money on the market.

Bars

The Alleycat Lounge

When you hear a bartender say “This is a place I go to for good drinks,” you listen. On a recent trip to Savannah, GA we heard these words while sitting in a scotch bar (they had a relatively nice bourbon selection as well) near City Market.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Bourbon Review

I have been drinking Knob Creek since not long after it came out. At first with Diet Coke (hate to admit it) and now straight or on the rocks. Knob Creek was another step in my bourbon journey, and so it carries some meaning for me in a couple of different ways.

Banter

Is the Taste of a Bourbon Affected by Your Mood?

My wife, Patti and I traveled to New York City in September 2016 to attend the filming of Tony Bennett’s 90th Birthday Special. On this trip, we made a special effort to go to The Flatiron Room. The Flatiron Room has been rated one of the top bourbon bars in the US by The Bourbon Review.

Blended Whiskey

Paniolo Blended Whiskey Review

A work colleague and friend from Hawaii, brought a bottle of this with her when she came to the east coast. We keep the bottle in a desk drawer for toasting contract awards.

Banter

The Best Mint Julep…. Ever

Now, I have had some good mint juleps. Most notably, one made by New Orleans bartender Abigail Gullo of Compere Lapin restaurant and formerly of Sobou, who in 2016 won the Bartender of the Year award, in a contest sponsored by Heaven Hill Distillery in Puerto Rico.