Steve Coomes

Steve Coomes is a veteran journalist and book author specializing in whiskey, tequila and restaurants. When not writing, he leads virtual and in-person food and spirits pairings.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

15 Stars Private Stock Bourbon Review

The palate backs up the nose with bitter chocolate, milk chocolate, honey, cooked cherries and Demerara syrup. Brown sugar and baking spices collide and reemerge independently to form a fantastic, warm finish.

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Interview

Q&A with Hall of Fame master distiller, Jerry Dalton

“Master distiller” was a new title back then, and Dalton believes he’d never have received it without Booker Noe’s blessing.

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Jack Daniel's

You don’t know, Jack! – Part 2

Countless whiskey fans—me included—are enjoying Jack Daniel’s growing lineup of higher-proof and longer-aged releases. I’m not the first to say that Jack is becoming its best self in these new releases.

Industry News

20-year Beam Bourbon Among Bardstown Collection Releases On Sale June 12-14

Lucky me, I got to try them all, including the 20-year-old bourbon released by James B. Distillery. Bottled at 109 proof, the 259-bottle batch came from six barrels aged on the first floor of a nine-story rickhouse on its Clermont, KY, campus.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

15 Stars First West Fine Aged Rye Whiskey Review

Its aromas begin with bright citrus, ripe fruit, a whiff of mint and some a solid serving of baking spice. Unexpectedly, toffee joins the party alongside maple syrup and caramelized brown sugar.

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This Round's Mine

Will Beverage Alcohol Be Persecuted and Litigated Like Tobacco?

Alcohol, by comparison is just that: beverage grade alcohol with which no one monkeys around. It’s highly regulated and its strength is clearly described on its packaging. Other than marketing claims, it’s gimmick free.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

High West Bottled-In-Bond Rye Review

I opened it immediately upon receipt and found it coiled up like a snake and needing to unwind before showing much of the character that would come with a bit of some space in the bottle. Several weeks later, it delivered.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Milam & Green Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Whiskey Review

On the nose of this BIB release is spring in a glass–a mixed bouquet of peonies, roses and lilac–backed by cinnamon stick and lavender. I'd be hard pressed to recall nosing such a floral spirit.

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Jack Daniel's

You don’t know, Jack! – Part 1

Asked often about which bottle in the Jack Daniel’s line would be closest to the original whiskey he distilled, Eddy points to the Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee whiskey, “because the age (4 years) would be correct for that time.” Back then, whiskey wasn’t commonly aged much longer, he added.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

A. Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey Review

This is rye whiskey that speaks beyond corn's common caramel coating with a voice that goes deeper, all the way into the soil itself, to tell its own story, a story I find utterly intriguing because it reveals itself through taking new sips to turn a new page in the tale.

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Interview

In His Words: Angel’s Envy Master Distiller, Owen Martin

What’s different between what I do now versus what I did at Stranahan’s was operating mostly as a blender and finding complementary finishing casks. I really enjoyed that, but to come here was an opportunity to do that on a bigger playground.

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This Round's Mine

Home Cocktail Trend Still Strong, and I’m Part of the Problem

Despite being part of that shift, I’m still a little bothered as a former restaurant industry employee. It’s tough to know distant peers are struggling due to a shift in the new habits adopted by me and millions of other drinkers.

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This Round's Mine

Calm Down, Bourbon’s Boom Isn’t Over

Here’s one fact to grasp: This perceived sales slump is exemplary of the rollercoaster ride that affects every large industry. Good days see profits rise, bad days see them plummet.

Blended Whiskey Reviews

Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series Amrut Barrel Finished Review

Now, go to a quiet room, add earplugs if necessary, and place a large napkin over your head to capture all the crazy aromas you'll get from this—things like over-baked chocolate brownies, figs, prunes, bonfire embers, ganache, chocolate cake, pastry cream and a deeply charred barrel.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Pinhook Vertical Series Rye 8-Year Review

Upon arrival, the proofs of those 32 barrels were 125. Near that modest body of water and behind the rickhouse's brick walls, they've steadily lost proof down to 108, which is pure magic in whiskey aging.

Mezcal Amarás Logia Cenizo Review

"Logia is an ode to the unattainable, the select and the rare, perfectly defining our agaves and their importance as a sacred plant. Its limited and collectible editions are specially selected for those who love to discover, in sips, details that move the soul”

Industry News

Maker's Mark Bourbon recognizing 'Spirited Women' with Personalized, Limited-Edition Label for consumers

Throughout the year, consumers can create a custom Maker's Mark gift for anyone with the brand's personalized label program.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

This is an entertaining pour that punches, ducks and dodges around the mouth, delivering sharp blows of spice to keep you on your toes.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

In this age of "high proof only," it's easy to overlook 90 proof whiskey and the sensibility of its virtues. It's lush and delicate, fruity and appropriately woody for its age. It needs no ice or water or cocktail; just take it straight.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Frey Ranch Straight Rye Whiskey Review

The nose is grain and barrel forward; the former light, citrusy, spicy and a little candied; the latter toasty and lightly charred with some smoldering campfire. It's really pleasant to sniff and suss out new aromas.

Tequila Reviews

Santo Fino Anejo Tequila Review

Santo Fino Anejo isn't bad, but it's bland.

Tequila Reviews

Storywood Anejo and Reposado Tequila Reviews

Doubtless, some will like these gentle sippers, but they're too gentle for my preference. They lack the backbone a barrel can provide and the magical flavors great oxidization deliver to dazzle.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 1924 Bourbon Review

Old Forester's longstanding mashbill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley. But the mashbill chosen for 1924 is 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley. It also was fermented with a unique yeast strain.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Still Austin Blue Corn Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Review

What's most intriguing about this bourbon is its lack of sweetness. A glance at the mash bill shows it's limited to 51% corn, which explains a lot of it since it's roughly 25% lower than most bourbons on the market. I can't decide whether I like that reduced sweetness, but it's got my attention.

Tequila Reviews

Espanita Double Barrel Reposado Tequila Review

This is a nice tequila for the price and arguably the best liquid from Impulsora Rombo.