Author: Xenoraiser
-

Maker’s Mark 46 Scoresheet & Review
Popular distilleries with a narrow range of bottles can be a blessing when you review whiskey for a hobby and have a relatively limited budget. The same could also apply to whiskey-curious consumers since they only need to parse through a handful of bottles in order to land on a…
-

A Midwinter Night’s Dram (Act 10, Scene 4) Scoresheet & Review
Many recent whiskey fans probably know High West as a pioneer of modern American craft distilleries. Considering their tenure and current production volume, however, labeling this Utah brand as “craft” feels a bit disingenuous. Take their pinnacle, recurring release, for example: A Midwinter Night’s Dram, which had a yield of…
-

Just the Sip: Wilderness Trail It’s Bourbon Night Wheated Bourbon Pick (“Wheat Science”) Review
Just the Sip reviews are a more simplified version of the existing scoresheet format with the goal of reviewing more spirits, such as samples, barrel picks, and others that may be more difficult to do full reviews on. Both scoresheet and review formats will exist and be regularly posted. Learn…
-

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Cornerstone Scoresheet & Review
“Cornerstone” is an interesting name for a limited release from a distillery otherwise known for its everyday, budget-friendly bottles. One could easily argue it’s a name more befitting a core product that anyone can walk into a store and purchase, making it a foundational piece for the producing party. The…
-

W.B. Saffell (Batch 1) Scoresheet & Review
Bourbon is largely in an influx state. Something new pops up damn near every day, be it some juicy news or a press release for a shiny new bottle spotted on the TTB. It’s to the point that a slow week in whiskey is something of a relief for the…
-

Gunnar’s Wheated Bourbon Scoresheet & Review
Many whiskey fans are thirsty for more wheated bourbon options, especially at a budget-friendly price. Since Weller distribution is the epitome of a crapshoot, that effectively leaves Maker’s Mark and Larceny to lead the charge while other producers slowly creep into select markets. Kansas-based Gunnar’s Bourbon Company is one of…
-

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged (2023) Scoresheet & Review
What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think of Maker’s Mark? Antiquated? Reliable? Stubborn? Tasty? Chances are, it’s a combination of words, and the four listed all quickly spring to my mind. To that end, Maker’s Mark’s guiding principle is their “flavor vision” of simply making enjoyable…
-

Blue Note Crossroads (2021) Scoresheet & Review
Finished whiskey has all but exploded in popularity since the mid-2010s, particularly in American whiskey. Where bourbon finishes were largely resigned to toasted, French oak, and double barrel variations, we now see the likes of rum, sherry, port, amburana, calvados, fig nectar, and several more. Some brands lean into cask…
-

Jack Daniel’s 12-Year (Batch 1) Scoresheet & Review
Jack Daniel’s is on an absolute tear with new releases, both core bottlings and limited expressions. Since 2020, they’ve released a legendary Heritage series barrel proof rye, a shelfer version of the same rye, a twice-barreled rye, two iterations of the high-proof (often hazmat) Coy Hill, three bonded whiskeys, a…
-

Jack Daniel’s 10-Year (Batch 2) Scoresheet & Review
When I started drinking, I couldn’t help but be surprised and confused by Jack Daniel’s popularity. This was when my only exposure to them was through Old Number 7 and Gentleman Jack, two painfully plain products. I didn’t understand the appeal of those expressions then and I barely understand it…
-

Maker’s Mark 2023 Wood Finishing Series (BEP) Scoresheet & Review
Maker’s Mark needs no introduction to the ever-expanding bourbon community. They’ve long established a foothold as a distillery that excels in making a wheated bourbon the way they want. For a time, this meant sticking with the same whisky, shifting gears only to offer it at varying proof points. Then…
-

Old Fitzgerald 16-Year (Spring 2020) Scoresheet & Review
We’re all familiar with the expression, “never judge a book by its cover.” Even if we’re not talking about books, the premise holds true for many items, including whiskey bottles. It certainly makes sense; what good is a pretty bottle if the whiskey inside isn’t? However, some might argue that…
