Tag: bourbon

  • 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…

  • Early Times Bottled in Bond (2024) Scoresheet & Review

    Early Times Bottled in Bond (2024) Scoresheet & Review

    The past and present history of Early Times might be one of the most jarring yet emblematic in American whiskey. Going from the most popular Kentucky bourbon of the 1950s to a line seemingly caught in flux during its latest exchange of hands, Early Times Bottled in Bond has seen…

  • 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…

  • Booker’s 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch” Scoresheet & Review

    Booker’s 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch” Scoresheet & Review

    Booker’s hasn’t necessarily been a rare sight for my blog or collection, but it’s been a hot minute since I last covered it. In fact, if we don’t include samples, the only Booker’s that graced my presence was 2019-02 “Shiny Barrel.” That is, until 2023, when I decided I wanted…

  • Just the Sip: Rock Hill Farms Review

    Just the Sip: Rock Hill Farms Review

    Rock Hill Farms might be one of the trickiest bottles to track down information on; nevermind the fact it’s often a slog to simply find a bottle. The ornate mash bill #2 bourbon is highly coveted, even by Buffalo Trace standards. Part of that may have to do with on/off…

  • 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: Elmer T. Lee Review

    Just the Sip: Elmer T. Lee Review

    When it comes to widespread brand awareness, Buffalo Trace and its broad spectrum of expressions require next to no introduction. This largely assumes a skin-deep understanding, but some enthusiasts would argue it goes further than that. Take mash bill #2, for example. Touted as the high-rye bourbon recipe from Buffalo…

  • 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…

  • Jim Beam Black 7-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Jim Beam Black 7-Year Scoresheet & Review

    I probably speak for many people when I say that Jim Beam was instrumental to my formative whiskey drinking days. More specifically, the many options they offered at budget-friendly prices made it possible to explore variances of similar (if not identical) bourbons. This was the closest I could get to…

  • Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Scoresheet & Review

    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

    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,…