Author: Xenoraiser
-
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Scoresheet & Review
Facelifts are nothing new in the world of whiskey. Most distilleries make adjustments, big or small, to their bottles every few years. Even the same producer may make a drastic change to some of their bottles, but subtle changes to others (Wild Turkey and Old Forester come to mind). Heaven…
-
Larceny Barrel Proof C922 Scoresheet & Review
Naming a whiskey brand after a type of crime is a curious—if not terribly surprising—branding choice. Case in point: Prohibition, a watershed moment in whiskey history where production of distilled spirits was effectively outlawed. And if whiskey branding is motivated by anything, it’s a fun story. The lore behind Larceny,…
-
Just the Sip: Four Roses 2019 Limited Edition Small Batch Review
Anyone who knows me knows that Four Roses is my favorite distillery. When I say that, it has less to do with the selection of core products and more to do with the core profile, which itself can be highly variable. That last part is almost exclusively uncovered through their…
-
Just the Sip: Little Book Chapter 7: In Retrospect Review
Blended whiskey is slowly gaining newfound respect. Once seen as little more than a whiskey and neutral grain spirit (NGS) combination—no doubt thanks to whiskey’s downturn roughly between the 60s to the 80s, blenders and distillers alike are fostering a new look for a once frowned upon category. Now if…
-
Just the Sip: Johnnie Walker Double Black Review
The Johnnie Walker lineup used to feel more or less set in stone. Red, Black, Green, Gold, and Blue label bottlings still largely act as faces for the brand with the occasional celebratory or otherwise limited product. Then there’s Johnnie Walker Double Black, a variant originally launched in 2010 to…
-
Just the Sip: Blood Oath Pact 9 Review
Blood Oath is effectively Lux Row’s most premium product. Although keen-eyed Kentucky natives and visitors alike may point to the brand’s 12-Year Double Barrel, it’s a pipedream for most folks outside of the Bluegrass state. This isn’t to suggest that Blood Oath is easy to come by, but the chances…
-
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Whiskey Scoresheet & Review
“Adventurous” is one of the last words I’d use to describe Kentucky rye whiskey. Historically speaking, this style has clung closely to its bigger, corn-dominant sibling. The reason is simple: Kentucky ryes often utilize barely legal or just past barely legal rye mash bills, meaning the dominant grain is only…
-
Wild Turkey 101 (2024) Scoresheet & Review
Your average long-time whiskey consumer is no doubt accustomed to their favorite bottle receiving slight facelifts over the years. Sometimes, this invites little to no attention; other times, it spawns conspiracy-level scrutiny from the more fervent among us. A couple of recent examples include Early Times Bottled in Bond, Old…
-
Just the Sip: Elijah Craig Small Batch Review
If there’s one thing whiskey marketers love, it’s a good story. And when it comes to bourbon, few stories feel as pertinent as the individual who created the beloved brown spirit in the first place. Even if said tale could be utterly fabricated. The supposed story of Reverend Elijah Craig,…
-
Just the Sip: Four Roses Small Batch Review
Four Roses has long been near to my heart. More specifically, Four Roses Small Batch was what I considered my first “splurge” bottle when first sipping whiskey neat. What specifically drew me to it? The bottle design, for starters. I loved the logo embossed onto the glass and thought the…
-
Just the Sip: The Glenlivet 12-Year Review
Scotland has no shortage of distilleries denoted by the words “the” or “glen.” Or both. Although a small factor in the grand scheme, I’d say it ultimately contributed to why I struggled to get into scotch for some time. The upside is there are some instantly recognizable brands, albeit through…
-
Russell’s Reserve 13-Year (2021) Scoresheet & Review
Something strange happened to Wild Turkey between 2020 and 2021. The Lawrenceburg distillery, often the target of woe for people who’d previously made poor drinking decisions, quickly ignited interest from enthusiasts with the release of a couple of limited products. 2020 saw Wild Turkey drop a 17-year bottled in bond…
thewhiskeyramble.com 