Author: Xenoraiser
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Wheel Horse Bourbon Scoresheet & Review
Many late whiskey brands and distilleries have seen their own form of resurrection thanks to growing interest in the grain-based spirit. The industry is ripe with stories to pull people in, and few are as tried and true as bringing back something that was previously abandoned. Case in point: Green…
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Stagg Jr. Batch 13 Scoresheet & Review
The Stagg bottlings out of Buffalo Trace require next to no introduction at this point. Although Stagg is commonly associated with the barrel strength bourbon line, the name is taken from George T. Stagg, who worked as a shoe salesman and enlisted in the U.S. Civil War prior to becoming…
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Baker’s Single Barrel Scoresheet & Review
Baker’s has long been one of Jim Beam’s most unsung brands. The brand, named after the “quiet and independent-minded” Baker Beam, began as a small batch bourbon in the distillery’s small batch collection, along with Knob Creek, Booker’s, and Basil Hayden. It boasted a 7-year age statement and came bottled…
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