Tag: b grade

  • Ardbeg An Oa Scoresheet & Review

    Ardbeg An Oa Scoresheet & Review

    Exploring peated scotch has been one of the most interesting and exciting treks in my spirits journey thus far. In addition to the broadly distinct profile, different peated malts can come across so differently, even without doing side-by-side comparisons. And yet, where I believe these drams can impress the most…

  • Maker’s Mark 101 Scoresheet & Review

    Maker’s Mark 101 Scoresheet & Review

    When Maker’s Mark refer to their Loretto distillery as “little,” it honestly feels disingenuous.  Sure, they’re not the biggest bourbon brand out there, but they aren’t far off as far as cases sold. And that level of volume practically necessitates a sizeable facility to meet demand. Not to mention the…

  • Ardbeg 10-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Ardbeg 10-Year Scoresheet & Review

    “Unapologetic” is a fairly apt way to describe Ardbeg’s marketing. More specifically, they drop vaguely sourced quotes like “as close to perfection as makes no difference” and “unquestionably, the greatest distillery on Earth,” as if to epitomize themselves. Some may say it’s fun and confidence, others might call it egotistical…

  • George Dickel Bottled in Bond (2020) Scoresheet & Review

    George Dickel Bottled in Bond (2020) Scoresheet & Review

    If there’s one whisky producer known for appearing in a considerable chunk of sourced bottlings, it’s Ross & Squibb (MGP). If there’s one whisky producer known for appearing in a considerable chunk of sourced bottlings that people would rather avoid, it’s George Dickel. All the same, some individuals have become…

  • New Riff Single Barrel Rye Scoresheet & Review

    New Riff Single Barrel Rye Scoresheet & Review

    New Riff is a brand I always meant to explore early into my whiskey journey, but I put them off in favor of other brands and expressions. This has only been amplified in the past 3-5 years. Not only are new names popping up left and right, but they’re often…

  • Barrell Seagrass Scoresheet & Review

    Barrell Seagrass Scoresheet & Review

    One whiskey release from 2021 that requires next to no introduction is Barrell Seagrass. The storm of talk and acclaim following its release was prompt, and Barrell are still riding that high with the recently released 16-Year Seagrass, which will soon be followed by a 20-Year version. Most folks won’t…

  • Barrell Armida Scoresheet & Review

    Barrell Armida Scoresheet & Review

    Of the interesting expressions Barrell Craft Spirits has presented us, Armida might be one of the least discussed. Dovetail, being the first Barrell product I heard of that wasn’t a traditional whiskey blend, drew a considerable amount of attention thanks to its unique triple-cask finish. Then there was last year’s…

  • Barrell Bourbon Batch 032 Scoresheet & Review

    Barrell Bourbon Batch 032 Scoresheet & Review

    There’s no doubt that Barrell Craft Spirits have a lot of pride and confidence in their brand. Scroll down their homepage and you’ll be greeted by an impressive list of recent mentions from media outlets. Since their stake to fame comes from blending whiskeys (sometimes finishing them in multiple casks)…

  • Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Rye r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review

    Wilderness Trail Single Barrel Rye r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review

    Wilderness Trail is just one of many new faces to the American whiskey scene. At first glance, their operation might not seem terribly distinct, other than the fact the distillery is a bit of a detour on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Yet this 10-year-old establishment in Danville has been generating…

  • GlenDronach 12-Year (NCF) Scoresheet & Review

    GlenDronach 12-Year (NCF) Scoresheet & Review

    Spirits production is nothing if not a balancing act. On top of crafting the spirit itself, there’s the question of branding, which plays a bigger role than some might realize. Everything from bottle and label design to advertising (or lack thereof) and even public relations can be looked at as…

  • Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Scoresheet & Review

    Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve Scoresheet & Review

    Keeping track of what brands belong to what distillery and what distilleries belong to what parent company is no simple task. I’d argue that it’s one of the biggest barriers to entry for those looking to become more invested in whiskey. For example, the publicly traded Brown-Forman manufactures the likes…

  • Chattanooga Whiskey 111 Scoresheet & Review

    Chattanooga Whiskey 111 Scoresheet & Review

    I’ve already talked at length about Chattanooga Whiskey in my review of their 91-proof “Tennessee High Malt,” a 4-grain bourbon with a 2-year age statement that makes use of a 4000-gallon charred oak Solera barrel for finishing. Then there’s their other core bourbon offering: the 111 Cask. Both expressions see…