Tag: B+

  • Just the Sip: 13th Colony 15th Anniversary Review

    Just the Sip: 13th Colony 15th Anniversary Review

    13th Colony has become one of the most talked about fresh faces in the American whiskey scene. Founded in Americus, GA, the distillery’s namesake refers to the Province of Georgia between 1732 and 1782, the last of the British colonies that supported the American Revolution. Although 13th Colony as a…

  • George T. Stagg 2023 Scoresheet & Review (300th Review & Blog Update)

    George T. Stagg 2023 Scoresheet & Review (300th Review & Blog Update)

    George T. Stagg is a name that requires little introduction to the bourbon-loving crowd. As a brand, it’s one of five bottles included in the annually released Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC). The one exception to this came in 2021, when the distillery held back barrels intended for George T.…

  • Bomberger’s Declaration 2021 Scoresheet & Review

    Bomberger’s Declaration 2021 Scoresheet & Review

    One of the whiskey industry’s more confusing aspects for newcomers is keeping track of all the names out there. Legacy distilleries aren’t too difficult to keep straight in and of themselves, but factor in the many fresh faces from the past 15 years, along with brands produced from the new…

  • Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary Scoresheet & Review

    Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary Scoresheet & Review

    I have a confession to make: Prior to this review, I knew very little about Jimmy Russell. I briefly met him and his wife while visiting Kentucky in 2021, but beyond that, what I knew about him was derived from word of mouth. The highlights I could tell you were…

  • Just the Sip: Baker’s 13-Year (2023) Review

    Just the Sip: Baker’s 13-Year (2023) Review

    Few distilleries can challenge Jim Beam on the label portfolio front. Considering the sheer number of brands they’ll launch, short-lived or otherwise, it’s almost surprising that they haven’t consolidated more to bolster a couple of their existing brands. Case in point: Baker’s. Although the brand (named after Baker Beam) has…

  • Just the Sip: Russell’s Reserve 2020 Total Wine Pick Review

    Just the Sip: Russell’s Reserve 2020 Total Wine Pick Review

    When it comes to single barrel products, I imagine most people start by trying as many different brands as possible before narrowing down their preferences and sticking to a handful of names. To that end, one of the most dependable for me has been Russell’s Reserve. What’s interesting is that…

  • Just the Sip: Russell’s Reserve Mash & Journey Pick “Look at the Birdie” Review

    Just the Sip: Russell’s Reserve Mash & Journey Pick “Look at the Birdie” Review

    You’d be hard-pressed to find a more desired option for single barrel picks than Russell’s Reserve. Much of this has to do with the product itself, as well as the history behind Wild Turkey; going from a less fondly regarded distillery to a widespread favorite amongst enthusiasts. Although the brand’s…

  • Just the Sip: Remus Repeal Reserve VII Review

    Just the Sip: Remus Repeal Reserve VII Review

    Whiskey brands named after criminal acts and individuals are nothing new. Likewise, it’s hardly uncommon to find a considerable number of bottles on store shelves that say some variation of “distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN.” Perhaps the most apt case of these two examples converging is with George Remus and, more…

  • Just the Sip: Thomas H. Handy 2022 Review

    Just the Sip: Thomas H. Handy 2022 Review

    The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) is largely considered the peak American whiskey product line. Although the Van Winkle expressions (also from Buffalo Trace) are often considered more valuable, in part due to their rarity, BTAC is arguably more comprehensive and even desired in some circles. As with many bottles…

  • Larceny Barrel Proof C922 Scoresheet & Review

    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: Little Book Chapter 7: In Retrospect Review

    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…

  • Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Rye Whiskey Scoresheet & Review

    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…