Get To Know Fred Noe turned Jim Beam’s 90th anniversary party into a masterwork in storytelling In August, the James B. Beam Distillery threw itself a 90th post-Prohibition anniversary party. The event centered on stories told by co-master distillers Fred and Freddie Noe while sips of seven Beam whiskies were poured for guests over a few hours. As the audience was invited to ask questions, the
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews TX Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review This tastes like too many other 90-proof American whiskies on the market: ordinary and even cautious. This tastes as if it was made to risk offending no one. It's inoffensive in every way possible, but that also renders it quite plain.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Angel's Envy 2024 Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels This year's port note is more wine like that's driven by the addition of tawny port barrels to the finishing regime. Where earlier port notes were sweeter and pleasantly candied, this is more intriguing: fermented, tarter, angular and dark cherry-candied.
Australian Single Malt Whiskey Reviews Pinhook Collaboration #3 Australian Single Malt Whisky Review Classic single malt notes of honey and dried raisin dominate the palate before warmed oatmeal and cream weave into the mix. Spice character is the only thing hinting at its respectable 114.8 proof, yet it's so delicate at that proof–well below it, I'd swear, were this a blind tasting.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Hard Truth Bottled-In-Bond Wheated Bourbon A first sip serves up fruit and spice: golden apples, ripe banana, cinnamon, cocoa and a bit of black pepper. Keep after it and you get a bourbon toddy that, given its high corn and wheat mashbill, needs no warming or honey; it's sweet and subtle enough on its own.
Get To Know Marlene Holmes's distiller stories are great, but now her own story is rivaling those By 2018, Holmes had logged 28 years at Beam and was looking for a new challenge in distilling. At age 59, she enjoyed her work, but she'd begun sniffing around opportunities in craft distilling. Ironically, it would be another Beam employee who’d steer her to Milam & Greene.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Mary Dowling Toasted Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon Review It's truly dynamic on the palate, shifting from toasted oak to baked fruit then twisting sideways to toasted cinnamon bread and poached spiced apples. Every sip lays down another layer of dark flavors (tobacco, fig a little leather) to build up the rich finish.
This Round's Mine Will U.S.-based Stoli Group’s bankruptcy ground Kentucky Owl? Recent releases of Kentucky Owl and Wiseman whiskies weren’t building brand confidence either. What made the Kentucky Owl bourbon created by founder Dixon Dedman and partners Mark and Sherri Carter so fantastic were deep stocks of rare, old and high-quality sourced barrels. Either those dried up...
Annual Summit 2024 Bourbon & Banter Summit Recap Report Join us as we recap the Bourbon & Banter Summit 2024 in Louisville, featuring exclusive tours, tastings, and unforgettable experiences.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Safai Straight Bourbon Review: A $300 Kentucky Contender? BOTTLE DETAILS * DISTILLER: New Riff Distillery * MASH BILL: Not fully disclosed, though honey-roasted malt is mentioned. * AGE: 8 years * YEAR: 2024 * PROOF: 112 (56% ABV) * MSRP: $300 * BUY ONLINE: Safai Bottle Shop STEVE'S NOTES SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan who likes weighty, slightly woody bourbon. WORTH THE PRICE:
This Round's Mine Marketing genius, powerful pricing and misguided tequila thieves in the news Apparently, the black-market value of Santo Tequila, a celebrity spirit backed by rocker Sammy Hagar and TV food personality Guy Fieri, has a far higher value than I’d give it. But to at least someone, it’s worth risking prison time for stealing lots of it.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Chattanooga Whiskey High Malt Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Spring and Fall 2024 Reviews The product development team at Chattanooga is a prolific bunch, churning out endless experiments with–based on those I've tasted–terrific outcomes.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Russell's Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B Bourbon Review There is zero, zip, nada to dislike about this whiskey except for the egregious price. If you've got the money to get it, get it. You'll thank me for it.
Tequila Reviews Alto Canto Blanco, Reposado and Still Strength Tequila Review When I first tasted all three, I thought they were "tight," i.e. needing some head space in the bottle and time to loosen up a bit. After many weeks and revisits, they did round off nicely, so I set out to review all three.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews Good Trouble Bourbon Review The whiskey is light on the nose and not overly complex, which belies its high rye content. Still, there are pleasant aromas to savor. Honey, cherry blossom, maple syrup and toasted oak lead the way with some pleasant powdered donut notes bringing up the rear.
This Round's Mine MGP to slow whiskey production; potential Trump tariffs; what's their impact on U.S. drinkers? If the biggest, best-connected bulk supplier in the market is turning away from that portion of its business, does that open the door for other contract suppliers? Or are they also facing excess inventories that will force them to slow down?
This Round's Mine Tequila takedowns, cask finishes, and BTAC pricing...oh my! This week, Buffalo Trace announced the release of its Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Of the five bottles in the group, none exceed $149.99. You read that right. MSRP is $149.99.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews 2024 King of Kentucky Bourbon Review Where long-aged Scotches deliver abundant delicate fruit and flowers, this intense KoK is like breathing in the aromas of a fresh box of Russell Stover candy while walking through a cigar shop downwind from a BBQ joint.
Tennessee Whiskey Reviews Uncle Nearest 777 Anniversary Blend Barrel Strength Whiskey Review On the palate, it's straight-up whiskey goodness: toasted oak, rich butterscotch, graham cracker, citrus and roasted grain. Tropical fruits and Demerara syrup make the already glossy mouthfeel even richer.
This Round's Mine Will the whiskey slump end soon? Depends on who you ask. Smaller producers, NDPs especially, are more concerned. Whiskey shelves at liquor stores are crowded, and getting attention for their brands is more difficult than ever, especially when powerhouse producers can reduce prices to keep sales moving.
Bourbon Whiskey Reviews J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery Double Staved Classic Bourbon Review On the nose comes ripe apple, fresh raspberries, cooked cherries, pipe tobacco, dried roses and charred oak. Cinnamon stick, clove and espresso join forces to deliver complexity. Collectively, the aroma is that of a cool, and humid rickhouse; heavenly.
This Round's Mine What is moderate drinking? Back to the evolving data on what defines moderate drinking. It seems researchers are wisely reconsidering the long-held rule of two for guys and one for gals each day. Viewed through a new lens, it appears some of past researchers’ methods look a bit unreliable...
Tequila Reviews El Negocio Joven Tequila Review On the nose comes a load of roasted agave, agave nectar, minerality, fresh herb bouquet, white pepper and butterscotch. If too closely nosed, it becomes shrill. So swirl vigorously and let breathe a bit to release those harsher notes–or just pull back from it some.
Industry News Henderson’s high energy, imaginative mind, give life to True Story whiskies “I was at home one evening, and all of a sudden, it popped into my head, ‘Hey, wow, The Kentucky Castle. Wow! What a place to do a bourbon; have a bourbon affiliated with the Castle! Have the Castle as a destination.’ That's really where it started with just that crazy-ass idea.”
Tennessee Whiskey Reviews Jack Daniel's 2024 Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 Whiskey Review But there's a lot more going on, and much of it is packed into that aforementioned density: bitter cocoa, huge allspice aroma, rickhouse and freshly dumped barrels. A glass of this could open up continually and reveal itself further easily for an hour.
