Tag: good if affordable
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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…
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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…
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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)…
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Weller Full Proof (Total Wine Pick) Scoresheet & Review
Like it or not, much of the ongoing interest in bourbon is thanks to Buffalo Trace. They’re a distillery that’s bigger than most casual drinkers might realize. All one needs to do is visit the “Our Brands” part of Buffalo Trace’s website to see just how many names and bottles…
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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…
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Knob Creek 15-Year Scoresheet & Review
Bourbons touting double-digit age statements are clearly in vogue. The sheer prominence of bottlings such as Calumet Farm 14/15, Sam Houston 14/15, Blue Note 17, Wild Turkey Master’s Keep 17-Year (and Bottled in Bond), Russell’s Reserve 13-Year, and Remus Repeal Reserve V are ample evidence to this trend. Jim Beam’s…
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Knob Creek 12-Year Scoresheet & Review
Jim Beam may have the most confusing pricing structure of any whiskey producer. The first expression that comes to mind is Booker’s, a batched and unfiltered barrel proof bourbon aged 6-7 years with a current starting price of $90. Meanwhile, Knob Creek Single Barrel is aged at least 9 years—with…
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Nulu Single Barrel (Total Wine Pick) Scoresheet & Review
Nulu is just one of the latest in an ocean of small brands to have gained some traction in whiskey communities. The name is in reference to an alias for Louisville’s East Market District, blending “New” and “Louisville” together. Prohibition Craft Spirits (PCS), the distillery behind Nulu, are six years…
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Goodwood Stout Barrel Finish Bourbon Scoresheet & Review
Every now and then we all stumble upon something that makes us go “what the hell happened here?” This occurred with me just the other night while looking through my growing collection of samples, deciding which one I’d sit down and analyze. Goodwood Stout Barrel Finish bourbon ended up piquing…
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Eagle Rare Scoresheet (V2) & Review
I remember the days when Eagle Rare sat on shelves here in Florida. It wasn’t that long ago—not even ten years. My friend and I would walk into places like ABC and Walgreens, mostly to get stuff to mix, and we’d notice stuff like Eagle Rare with its tentative $30…
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Hibiki Harmony Scoresheet & Review
A passing glance at my content is all it takes to see where my whisk(e)y preferences lie. That may not be surprising, given how copious and relatively affordable options for American whiskey are. Yet they make a world of difference for the ever-curious drinker that I am. I do still…
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Whistlepig 12-Year Old World Rye Scoresheet & Review
Whistlepig isn’t a brand I expected to try anywhere outside of a bar. I often speak ad nauseum about whiskey pricing, and Whistlepig is an easy target in this respect. When a brand’s flagship bottle costs over $70, the word “premium” quickly springs to mind. In my review for said…
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