Tag: straight bourbon whiskey

  • Weller 12-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Weller 12-Year Scoresheet & Review

    Weller requires either no introduction or an expository essay to explain. Although its reputation is anything other than muted, it’s effectively a unicorn to more recent bourbon-curious consumers. Stores and bars alike have struggled to acquire bottles for a few years now, and when they do, they’re often upcharged to…

  • Old Elk “Cosmic Wheat” r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review

    Old Elk “Cosmic Wheat” r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review

    The top-level team at Old Elk come from an intriguing combination of backgrounds. Founder Curt Richardson and CEO Luis Gonzalez both worked at Otter Products beforehand, the former being the mind behind OtterBox itself. Master Distiller Greg Metze (whose name accompanies every Old Elk bottle) came from a 38-year career…

  • Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength (Inlet Harbour Pick) Scoresheet & Review

    Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength (Inlet Harbour Pick) Scoresheet & Review

    One of the biggest side effects of the ongoing whiskey boom has been the increased popularity of barrel picks. It seems like any store or group worth their salt get at least a few barrel selections per year. It’s not even unheard of to find picks sitting on the shelf…

  • Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 97 Scoresheet & Review

    Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch 97 Scoresheet & Review

    Jos. A. Magnus & Co. (aka Joseph Magnus) is a bit of an outlier in the greater, current whiskey scene. Where other brands release multiple individual bottlings or line extensions, the Joseph Magnus name is mainly home to three expressions: the triple cask finished bourbon, the Murray Hill Club blend,…

  • Rebel Distiller’s Collection Liquor Barn Pick #7 Scoresheet & Review

    Rebel Distiller’s Collection Liquor Barn Pick #7 Scoresheet & Review

    Rebel (formerly Rebel Yell) is a brand that ostensibly inspires little curiosity beyond its amusing name. Lux Row would have you believe the brand can be traced back to the 19th century, which isn’t technically wrong, but it does muddy the reality. Rebel Yell products made their first official appearance…

  • Jim Beam White Label Scoresheet & Review

    Jim Beam White Label Scoresheet & Review

    You know what I love about readily available and affordable whiskey? It’s easy to return to. That may sound silly and blatant, but when you’re more of an exploratory hobbyist, having familiar options you can readily come back to is comforting. All fans start somewhere, and when all is said…

  • 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…

  • Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten Scoresheet & Review

    Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten Scoresheet & Review

    Most of us are familiar with the Boss Ross quote, “we don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” Eddie Russell would likely agree, given he OK’d the original release of Wild Turkey Forgiven in 2013, an allegedly accidental blend of bourbon and rye. Turns out Forgiven was a fondly regarded…

  • Ezra Brooks 99 Scoresheet & Review

    Ezra Brooks 99 Scoresheet & Review

    Ezra Brooks 90 proof might be the best budget bourbon sleeper I’ve tried to date. Bottles continue trekking up in price, leaving the sub-$20 bourbon market increasingly scarce as far as worthwhile contenders go. So to see a reasonable priced and proofed bourbon not only provide a competent drinking experience…

  • Willett 8-Year Wheated Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    Willett 8-Year Wheated Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    If I did End of Year posts, then Willett 8-Year Wheated Bourbon would be a frontrunner for the most audacious release. The market for a product like this feels ripe for the taking, as wheated products have seen a slow-as-snails bump in selection. Willett isn’t known for dropping age-stated products…

  • Maker’s Mark Scoresheet & Review

    Maker’s Mark Scoresheet & Review

    Being a whisky hobbyist in a booming market means it’s often easy to lose sight of the everyday stalwarts. Not to say this isn’t understandable; once these common options have been explored the curious mind seeks further ventures. Yet there can be value in returning to basics, if for nothing…

  • Driftless Glen Wheated Single Barrel r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review

    Driftless Glen Wheated Single Barrel r/bourbon Pick Scoresheet & Review

    I’m always a proponent for more wheated products. Utilized correctly, the grain can bestow some wonderful profiles. There are times a wheated bourbon or wheat whiskey can also serve as a good curveball, since they sometimes possess a floral quality more commonly associated with rye. Yet the market continues to…