Tag: straight whiskey

  • Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Bourbon (Batch 21-004) Scoresheet & Review

    Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Bourbon (Batch 21-004) Scoresheet & Review

    Most of us are acutely aware of the boom whiskey has been going through, particularly with regards to bourbon. This explosion in popularity has brought with it an utterly stagging bottle selection for American whiskey in general. All this selection breeds competition, and one of the most popular ways for…

  • Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Rye (Batch 21-004) Scoresheet & Review

    Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego Rye (Batch 21-004) Scoresheet & Review

    Non-distilling producers (NDPs) have historically gotten a bad rap, and not without reason. Companies buying stocks of whiskey for their own use sounds simple enough, but if nothing about the product is changed other than the bottle design and attached label, then one might argue that defeats the purpose of…

  • Woodinville Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    Woodinville Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    If there’s anything you get used to when diving into whiskey, it’s patterns. Similar whiskey styles and mash bills often bring similar tasting notes and personality traits, depending on who you talk to (each individual can bring different thoughts and associations to the table). While we’re on the topic of…

  • Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel Scoresheet & Review

    Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel Scoresheet & Review

    Blanton’s might just be the most polarizing whiskey these days. It was instrumental in getting bourbon out of its slump years thanks in no small part to the single barrel nature, decorative bottle design, and collectible bottle tops. This popularity has skyrocketed to the point that people are willing to…

  • Eagle Rare Scoresheet (V2) & Review

    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…

  • Black Ridge Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    Black Ridge Bourbon Scoresheet & Review

    Whiskey is a confusing market. With several brands, categories, expression styles, and production methods available, the field can be daunting even for those who keep up with new releases and developments. Of little aide to this are store-exclusive brands, with Total Wine having a fair share across every spirit category.…

  • Old Carter Single Barrel (13-Year, Barrel #70) Scoresheet & Review

    Old Carter Single Barrel (13-Year, Barrel #70) Scoresheet & Review

    In my review for a 12-Year Old Carter Single Barrel, I commented that it’s a brand I’ll keep my eye out for, should distribution ever expand to my state. At the same time, I had a tough time outright recommending a purchase, least of all without trying beforehand. The big…

  • Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Scoresheet & Review

    Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Scoresheet & Review

    Woodford Reserve has always struck me as an ideal crowd-pleasing whiskey for more traditional drinkers. There’s both a simplicity and elegance to their marketing, be it the font and logo, bottle designs, or even just images of their distillery. That appeal was enough to stick with me, since Woodford Reserve…

  • Early Times Bottled in Bond Scoresheet & Review

    Early Times Bottled in Bond Scoresheet & Review

    Every location is subject to the woes of whiskey distribution. Some go bonkers when they find any version of Weller (even at markup), others can walk into gas stations any day of the week and buy a case. As a Floridian, I’m at a point where inconsistent availability and pricing…

  • Wild Turkey Forgiven Scoresheet & Review

    Wild Turkey Forgiven Scoresheet & Review

    Finding a previously released limited edition whiskey collecting dust on shelves is a bizarre, yet ultimately exciting experience. In some ways it feels like discovering a time capsule, even if said bottle was originally released only about five years ago. Add to that the booming popularity of American whiskey and…

  • Bernheim Scoresheet & Review

    Bernheim Scoresheet & Review

    One of the more peculiar observations regarding American whiskey is how consumers tend to favor wheated bourbons more than wheat whiskey. I already mentioned how odd it is that there aren’t more of the former out there, but the latter appears to be almost completely untapped. Other than Woodford Reserve,…

  • Stagg Jr. Batch 14 Scoresheet & Review

    Stagg Jr. Batch 14 Scoresheet & Review

    Around this time last year, I tried Stagg Jr. for the first time. It was a procured sample of batch 13 that I split into two separate pours, mostly to double-check my thoughts. By the time I finished my second pour, I frustratedly declared it my favorite whiskey. Fast-forward a…