Tag: c grade

  • Just the Sip: Mary Dowling Toasted Double Oak

    Just the Sip: Mary Dowling Toasted Double Oak

    Bourbon is nothing if not ripe with stories. Part of the industry’s appeal is how certain individuals influenced it over the years, with the impacts spanning anywhere from years to centuries. Admittedly, some brands will find a good story and exploit the life out of it for the sake of…

  • Jim Beam Winter Reserve Scoresheet & Review

    Jim Beam Winter Reserve Scoresheet & Review

    If you’re like me, then you probably started your whiskey journey trying as much stuff as possible. These were the days that value effectively reigned supreme for me. To that end, I attribute much of my formative days to brands like Jim Beam. I got into whiskey around the time…

  • 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: Elijah Craig Small Batch Review

    Just the Sip: Elijah Craig Small Batch Review

    If there’s one thing whiskey marketers love, it’s a good story. And when it comes to bourbon, few stories feel as pertinent as the individual who created the beloved brown spirit in the first place. Even if said tale could be utterly fabricated. The supposed story of Reverend Elijah Craig,…

  • Just the Sip: The Glenlivet 12-Year Review

    Just the Sip: The Glenlivet 12-Year Review

    Scotland has no shortage of distilleries denoted by the words “the” or “glen.” Or both. Although a small factor in the grand scheme, I’d say it ultimately contributed to why I struggled to get into scotch for some time. The upside is there are some instantly recognizable brands, albeit through…

  • Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Scoresheet & Review

    Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Scoresheet & Review

    Experimental whiskey releases are rarely cheap. Whether we’re talking an NDP like Barrell finishing a blend of whiskeys in multiple casks or Buffalo Trace using a specific grain, taking a chance on an adventurous bottle is bound to leave a dent in your checking account. It’s to the point that…

  • Gunnar’s Wheated Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    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…

  • Highland Park Magnus Scoresheet & Review

    Highland Park Magnus Scoresheet & Review

    When Highland Park revamped its branding in 2017 to play up their location-based connection to Vikings, whisky fans rolled their eyes. The distillery’s switch from understated to eye-catching bottles, each with a “Viking” nickname, struck enthusiasts as nothing more than an attention grab. Adding fuel to the proverbial fire was…

  • Bulleit Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    Bulleit Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    Discussing the Bulleit name can feel like walking into a foggy field with randomly placed landmines. Whether due to controversy surrounding Thomas E. Bulleit, the mere association with its parent company (see: Eboni Major, Redemption), or the gossip surrounding its current bourbon source, there’s no shortage of head-scratching to find…

  • Castle & Key Small Batch (Batch 3) Scoresheet & Review

    Castle & Key Small Batch (Batch 3) Scoresheet & Review

    Anyone versed in bourbon history (or who watched Neat: The Story of Bourbon) likely anticipated Castle & Key’s first in-house bourbon release with bated breath. The brand’s story of resurrecting the Old Taylor Distillery is well-documented at this point, and the appeal is undeniable. Bourbon produced for the first time…

  • High West Double Rye! Scoresheet & Review

    High West Double Rye! Scoresheet & Review

    High West’s story as a whiskey producer elicits a wide spectrum of reactions. Intrigue, surprise, endearment, disappointment, confusion, the list goes on. In a 15-year span they built a reputation as a fresh face to whiskey thanks to some respectably aged (usually sourced) products, barrel selections with some curious finishes,…

  • Bowman Brothers Small Batch Scoresheet & Review

    Bowman Brothers Small Batch Scoresheet & Review

    Bowman is arguably one of the better kept secrets in bourbon. Based out of Fredericksburg, VA, the A. Smith Bowman Distillery plays host to a number of spirits, including vodka, gin, rum, and whiskey. The brand takes its name from four militia officers (John, Abraham, Joseph, and Isaac) in the…