Paul Needham

On The Road

A Quick Getaway in North Texas with a Bonus for the Whiskey-Lover!

If you don't consider whiskey options when planning a vacation or getaway, you might want to start!

Irish Whiskey Reviews

Glendalough Mizunara-Finished Irish Whiskey Review

Mizunara-Finished Irish Whiskey is vivid, but delicate with seamless depth. It is vibrant, fruity, and floral on the nose, enjoying a luxuriously smooth mouthfeel with notes of dark chocolate orange, sandalwood, and cinnamon synonymous with Mizunara whiskeys.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Sneaky Peat Whiskey Review

One of my favorite blended malts at any price is Johnny Walker Green, so when Sneaky Peat advertised itself as a Blended Malt with a bit of peat while being $15 cheaper, JWG became my instant point of comparison.

Banter

Bourbon 101 – A Primer for Bourbon Novices

If you’re new to the world of bourbon, this post is for you. This post is written with the novice-to-intermediate bourbon drinker in mind, so please read on for a primer. It is essentially a condensed and compiled list of information I was curious about at the start of my own bourbon journey.

Banter

Heaven’s Door Master Blenders’ Edition Redbreast Collaboration Review

I’m someone who likes to try new things and enjoys seeing the results of experimentation. Because of that, I very well may have been curious enough to try this even at it’s steep price point had I not been sent this sample from Heaven’s Door. How did it fare?

American Whiskey Reviews

Wonderland Distilling Cask Strength Review

Last October I reviewed the first whiskey offering out of Wonderland and really enjoyed it. How did their cask strength bottle compare?

Irish Whiskey Reviews

The Dublin Liberties Copper Alley Review

You may have read my review of the 5-year offering from The Dublin Liberties, Oak Devil, and seen that I did not recommend it very highly (mostly as a result of it being overpriced for what it is). I don’t believe that to be the case here with Copper Alley. Read on to see why!

Irish Whiskey Reviews

The Dublin Liberties Oak Devil Review

I really enjoy Irish Whiskey and put them into roughly two categories where value is concerned. One of them is the cheaper, for mixing and the other is complex for sipping.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

BenRiach The Original Twelve Review

I’ve had a hard time remembering a time when my tasting notes differed so widely from the brand’s own for a bottle I actually liked (usually when the difference is this great, it’s a dumpster fire).

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Benriach The Smoky Twelve Review

If you’re reading this, you’ve most likely seen this bottle in the #3 spot of the Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of 2020 list and have come to Bourbon & Banter as your one-stop-shop for some honest feedback. Here’s what I’ll tell you:

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Benriach The Smoky Ten Review

With all the press that The Smoky Twelve has been getting recently, I was anxious to find out if The Smoky Ten (which comes in 10 dollars cheaper) is as solid an offering from Benriach. If you’re making a lists of ‘Best Value Whiskies of 2020’ this deserves on a spot on it.

Scotch Whisky Reviews

BenRiach The Original Ten Review

If you’re familiar with Speyside scotches, imagine paying 8 extra bucks for a slightly more bold Glenmorangie 10. That’s how I would describe this single malt. That being said, I prefer this bottle from Benriach to it for a couple reasons.

American Whiskey Reviews

Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 Review

I have made no secret of my love for independent bottlers and recently wrote an article for Bourbon & Banter where I lamented the fact that no one is doing with American whiskies what independent bottlers are able to do with Scotches. Just a few months later, this showed up at my door.

American Whiskey Reviews

Wonderland Blend of Straight Whiskeys Review

I have a goal of drinking a whiskey from every state in the union and so jumped at the chance to try this offering from Michigan. This first expression by Wonderland is a really interesting take on a blend in that each component is a straight whiskey and then those straight whiskies are blended.

Banter

Independent Bottlers 101

Have you ever perused the scotch aisle of your favorite liquor store and seen what looks to be the same label on bottles that purportedly hail from different distilleries? These labels are those of independent bottlers and the juice inside those bottles might be some of the tastiest you’ve ever had.

Scotch Whisky News

Chivas Regal Mizunara Special Edition Review

While this, to me, is a poor man’s Japanese Harmony (which I also reviewed for Bourbon and Banter), it is not without its intrigue.

American Whiskey Reviews

David James Bourbon and American Whiskey Review

David James Spirits, out of Kentucky, is seemingly in that awkward adolescent phase that a lot of craft distillers must go through and we had very different reactions to their two current offerings!

Indian Whisky Reviews

Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Dual Review

Prior to being sent these two bottles to review, I had tasted the Paul John’s Brilliance before, but never had their peated offering, Bold. Read on to see how they compared and what I'd recommend for you.

Indian Whisky Reviews

Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky Review

Don’t let the double-cereal punch from the tasting notes throw you off: this entry-level offering from Amrut was my first taste of Indian whisky and I’ve found myself returning to it over the years even as I’ve branched out and tried more premium labels.

Japanese Whisky Reviews

Nikka Coffey Still Whisky Double-Review and Comparison

As I was venturing into the world of Japanese whisky, I purposefully avoided two bottles produced by Nikka. Read why I was wrong and why you might really like "Coffey Whisky."

Japanese Whisky Reviews

Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whisky Review

This is a severe departure from a bourbon-bomb that’s single-barrel or cask-strength. It is appropriate that the brand’s own notes include the phrase “a full orchestra of flavors.” If a high-proofed bourbon is rock-and-roll, then this is truly a classical masterpiece.

American Whiskey Reviews

Fifty Stone Single Malt Whiskey Review

This whiskey contains considerably more peat and iodine taste than I would expect from an American Whiskey, but if these Mainiacs are your style, you're going to be real glad they're doing what they're doing!

Scotch Whisky Reviews

Johnnie Walker Green Label Whisky Review

I was ecstatic when Johnnie Walker Green returned to shelves. Read on to see how I feel this new bottling compares to my, admittedly romanticized, memories.

Banter

How To Host A Scotch Tasting

While bourbon was my first love, there is so much other great whisk(e)y out there to explore. If you and your friends are interested in branching out, here are some ideas to hold an introductory scotch tasting!