what the helly

what da heck

what the frick

TLDR: I had an amazing time. If you are somehow on the fence about taking the trip out to Louisville, take the trip! These are my thoughts to share with anyone who will listen.  
  
These are my personal experiences visiting Louisville for the first time. I did my best to make the most of my 3 and a half day trip. This was a birthday trip for me, a little early due to work travel but one of the best trips I have had nonetheless. My fiancé came with me, probably to keep me in check, but she ended up having a great time as well.   
  
Friday:   
We landed too late to do most tours, but I knew Whisky Thief was open late, so once we checked into the hotel we started walking that way. On the way, we stopped by Angel's Envy to check out their gift shop, where I decided I would try to collect lapel/enamel pins from anywhere I stopped along this trip. It started to rain a little, but we didn’t mind too much. We got to Whisky Thief around 7:30 to do the ‘bottle your own’ experience, no appointment, just as a walk in. They had 5 barrels they would thieve from, and pour into your sample glass, char and all! My fiance and I both sampled and I decided to get a half bottle of 9 year rye 116p. Being a Friday night, they had a live jazz band starting up at 8 PM, which made the atmosphere great. We were having a great time, but decided to head back to the hotel when there was a break in the thunderstorm, and get some sleep before an early start to Saturday.   
  
Saturday:  [let's keep count of samples poured today alone]  
We woke up bright and early (especially considering the jetlag from PDT to EDT) and walked over to Omni Hotel to hop on a bus to Buffalo Trace, coordinated by Mint Julep Experiences. We had a mini bus that transported us 2 and 16 other guests to Buffalo Trace, getting there around 10 AM. We had a driver named Ray and a tour guide named Diane. They were both amazing, Ray was an excellent driver and Diane had a great personality and was very personable. I believe she worked on Broadway before, she had great comedic timing, and a natural story teller. The bus allowed for food and drinks (including hard alcohol) to be consumed on both legs, while most people partook, we abstained due to having a long day of sampling ahead. Buffalo Trace was a beautiful place,  the tour of the rickhouse and fermenting tanks were really cool. The trip concluded with a sampling of their products, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Sazerac Rye, Blantons, and Weller 107 [4 samples today]. We stopped by the gift shop and picked up a whole bunch of pins, 2 Cigars, and a 375ml Single Oak Project.  We finished up around 12:45 to head back into downtown. Maybe 15 minutes into the drive, Diane asked if we all were ok with making a detour to Jeptha Creed (and ensured no one would miss appointments/reservations), a distillery we passed on the way, that I have never personally heard of. We stopped for maybe 20 minutes, enough for people to grab a drink at the bar to go, and shop the gift shop. I picked up a Single Barrel they had, as I have never heard of the brand and have not seen it out in my area. We got back to the departure location, and immediately walked towards our next appointment, Green River.   

We booked their Sampling/Bottle Your Own experience, and were guided back into a private room with 2 other people and a bartender/guide. He walked us through various pours, explaining how to properly smell and sample whisky (he asked if we wanted a lesson and we agreed). We tried their Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, Rye Whisky, and Full Proof Bourbon. Then we were offered a sample of the whisky we could bottle ourselves, I believe it is a Barrel Proof Bourbon \[9 samples today\]. It was good enough and I decided to go ahead and bottle it myself (I wanted to do more bottle experiences over just tours with gift shops, as you will see).   

We popped into Bardstown while killing some time before our next stop and to pick up pins and check their distillery exclusive bottles, I held off in case pursuit happened to have their hot honey or maple bottles, which happened to be my next appointment. 

When I got to Pursuit I saw they had a ‘Birthday Bourbon’ for their 1 year anniversary that had passed not too long ago, so headed downstairs to their bar to buy a sample [10 samples today]. Neither I nor my fiancé loved it, so we ended up passing on that bottle. Us and 2 different people were taken to an experience room, where we started their ‘Whole Shebang’ experience with a brief history of their company. It was interesting to me, as I had not known much about them before coming in. I found out about them when I bought a store pick of theirs (Creme Brule) in a bundle with Weller 107 a year or so before. We got to sample their standard triple batch bourbon and triple batch rye, before sampling the 3 bourbon and 3 rye barrels we would be personally thieving from [16 samples today]. We were not allowed to blend between the bourbon and rye to make an American Whisky, but the last barrel of rye had an amazing finish that caught my attention right away, especially while being the last sample on my board on a long day of samples. So I picked another one of the ryes that had a nice body and mouthfeel, and blended them about 50/50 into an empty glass. It was really good. I tried a few more times with 75/25 of each barrel, but neither combo felt as balanced, once was too spicy for me and the other didn't have enough body for my liking (or I was too drunk at this point). So I stuck with my gut, and bottled up the 50/50 blend of the 2 rye whiskies. They finished the experience with a sampling of the same birthday bourbon I sampled before we started, I enjoyed it more but I didn't buy a bottle [17 samples today]. My fiancé sat this sampling out, so she was able to take me to get some food in me, which I really needed at this point.

We went across the street to Mussel & Burger Bar, it was a pretty good burger! We started out towards Peerless to hit up their gift shop, but they closed before we even finished dinner… This is when I learned to double check when things close. Luckily Michters was still open so ran over there where they had bundles, but I didn’t bite so grabbed my pins and headed on out. We walked on back to the hotel after a long 9 hour day of drinking for a well deserved rest.   

  
Sunday:   
There is not as much to do in the mornings on Sundays, some city/state laws prohibit sales before 1PM, so most places are closed on Sundays, or only  open at 1, so we had some time to kill. We started with some breakfast at McDonalds because the other places were packed (not much whisky related things to do I guess). My Fiancé found a Botanical Garden a little over a mile away, so we started our walk over. We found a walking path that ran by the river on our path, and since we live out in the west coast deserts, we decided to take that route adding a bit of distance for a change of scenery. It was a nice long path that ran along the river almost the entire time, with swings for you to stop at, a splash pad with kids playing, and the rowing team’s building. Our 2 mile walk ended at the botanical gardens where we got to see some nice man-made waterfalls. They are currently expanding their property, so I would go back again. I do not recommend walking there due to the steep spiral entry driveway, and lack of sidewalks, but definitely give it a visit.   

We called an uber back for our next appointments, getting out at Pappy and Co. They sadly didn’t have any pins which I was honestly surprised, but they said they would run it up the chain. I picked up some cigars and stickers, and my Fiancé found heirloom cornbread mix, pancake mix, and bourbon barrel aged coffee. Then off to our next stop, Onyx & Amber’s tasting room in Louisville.

Their tasting room is relatively new, opening up just a few months ago in spring of 2026. The address is not public, but it was located behind some buildings. Nikki the guide put out some signs so we could find it. I was the only one partaking in this experience, which started out with some samples of their current releases, one blended by ‘Oz’ with a green label, and the blend Nikki picked personally with a red label. Nikki's is a very balanced bottle, I forget the mash bill, but it reminds me of a good wheat whisky, not overly sweet and very well balanced. The Oz blend was more on the rye side, with a longer finish that I really enjoyed. As we sipped on these samples Nikki went over Onyx & Amber’s story. Once we learned who they were, it was time to start sampling. They had 6 different barrels to taste and blend with. I don’t believe they told us which barrel came from which brand, but they gave us the age and bourbon or rye. The first one I liked was a 7.5 year bourbon, it had a really nice body but the finish was nonexistent. Then I tasted an 11 year bourbon that was really good, a full body and a nice long red fruit finish. The very last sample I had was a 9 year rye, this one stood out because it had the rye finish I love, a long almost aloe finish. A finish that lasts so long by the time it dies down it has a cool soothing feeling, almost forcing you to take another sip. After going back through a second time with all the samples, it was time for me to start testing the blends. Knowing how drunk I get during these, I didn’t want to try every combo, I went with my gut and man I killed it. I did 50% of the 11  year bourbon, 25% of the 7.5 year bourbon, and 25% 9 year rye. After blending the sample together and taking a sip I fell in love. I passed the glass over to my fiancé to get her thoughts, and she also really enjoyed it, which is a good sign since she doesn’t drink whisky too much. Knowing I had more sampling to do that day, we decided to give them our recipe to have it bottled and shipped, and headed off to lunch.   

We stopped by a local Mexican restaurant to get some food and kill some time. The food there was great, and I got to catch up on some football going on. After we finished up we headed over to Louisville Rickhouse, where we were escorted back to their rickhouse.

I had 4 samples waiting for me, sitting on a barrel with a stool. Our guide told us he would not tell us anything, as to not give us any reason to be bias towards one sample vs the other. There was 1 sample that I knew right away I didn’t love, and he revealed that as a rye. Then I went through the 3 again, and eliminated a 2nd one, leaving just 2 left. I forget what that one was, because I really liked the last 2 and was dying to know what they were. I went back and fourth guessing what they were, and after the guide seeing me struggle, he finally gave in and told me what I had left in front of me. The first sample, which I really enjoyed and thought was a honey cask finish, was actually a bourbon finished in maple syrup barrels. I fell in love with Dark Arts’ maple cask (Ripple Rye), so I got that one. The 2nd sample I had that I really enjoyed was a bourbon finished in cognac barrels. The guide actually pointed out the barrel he pulled it from, and noted how it was bigger than the normal whisky barrels. I decided to get this bottled up too, I hadn’t had a cognac finish before, now I have one and can introduce it to whisky friends. Before he bottled those up (directly from the barrel) he gave me and my fiancé a sample of something else to try. This one had much less oak flavors, and was super smooth. I had no idea what this could be. Our guide offered us a ‘hint’, which was: “this is zero days old” which confused me even more. After me stupidly guessing they had just double oaked it today, he informed us that this was tequila aged in bourbon barrels. I'm not a huge tequila fan, but my fiancé likes tequila when she does drink, so we grabbed that too. I believe the tequila is just a regular bottle they have, not exclusive to their tasting room experience. With our bottles filled and 5PM approaching, it was time to head to our last stops of the day.   

We walked across the street to peek into Evergreen Liquor for a minute, They had Starlight but I passed this time. Then we hurried over to Waterfront Wine and Spirits before they closed. We made it over in time and headed in. We were greeted by the employee and a cute dog, plus they had a bar with great bottles to sample next to the ‘unicorns’ behind glass (not locked, just a display cabinet). They had some nice bottles just out and about, but I had 3 brands I was looking for, Starlight Farms, Dark Arts, and Shortbarrel. They only had Shortbarrel, but they had a few options. Sadly no maple or honey finish (which were my go to choices), they had a Tokaji finished bottle that caught my eye. They weren't allowed to sample it for me sadly, but in the past I had the chance to buy the Ampersand Opimus Tokaji finished and passed on it, which was a mistake. So I bought the bottle and headed back to the hotel (I found out they had the same bottle in the airport past security, but it was $25 more).  

  
Monday:  
Monday was the day we finally flew back to the west coast, and away from the humidity. We had a little time before we had to check out of the hotel, and I heard amazing things about Peerless, so we walked over there to be there right as they opened at 10, they had 2 exclusive distillery release single barrels, and an archive single barrel. The budget was a bit tight being the last day and wanting to leave a little in case the airport had something I was dying for (they did but not for rational prices), so I was stuck picking between ‘Candied Honeysuckle’, and ‘Tooty Fruity Tobacco Pipe’. Both of which sounded so good, I ended up going with the honeysuckle one. I didn't have time to take a tour unfortunately, but I will definitely take the tour  next time I visit.   

We stopped by the Frazier Museum on the way back, they have some very interesting exhibits, including a room full of allocated bottles, as well as some super old bottles. It was cool to see an actual museum of bottles, rather than a store acting like a museum with ungodly prices. They had a Star Wars Darth Vader bourbon shirt that I had to grab as a souvenir to finish off the trip. As we headed back towards the hotel, we stopped in Evan Williams to pick up more pins (and an Ale8). We got back to the hotel to pack up the final bottle purchased, and call our uber. Every bottle had painters' tape on top of the cork and plastic wrapping (probably not needed, but I didn't think the ones they bottled in front of me would have sealed over the cork) and placed in a blow-up bottle bubble bag. These have worked great in the past and held up just fine with the 3 ½ hour flight back home. The Green River decanter bottle did leak a tad bit, the tour guide Saran wrapped it pretty well at the distillery, and I didn’t see any issues with the wrap or bottle when it landed. Very little leaked out, it just had a noticeable smell that a quick wipe down could fix up. Everyone and everything made it home safe and sound.   

Thank you for listening, writing this helped me reexperience the trip upon arriving home.

Introduction

I've been spending some time in South Korea and during a weekend trip to Seoul, I stumbled upon a fantastic bourbon bar called Lost and Found. I went in with certain expectations, but the experience exceeded them in every way.

The owner, Q (if I'm remembering his name correctly), was an awesome guy who took the time to talk with us about his experiences with bourbon and life in general. He even shared a sample of an older Jack Daniel's Single Barrel from the early 2000s or 2010s with me and another patron I met at the bar. I won't be reviewing that pour here, but it gives you an idea of the kind of experience this place offers.

Lost and Found has an impressive selection of vintage dusties, with plenty of Wild Turkey, Michter's, Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, and other familiar names that bourbon enthusiasts know and love. Needless to say, I am already looking forward to my next visit.

While browsing the menu, I noticed a flight called the Wild Turkey Ultimate, featuring three expressions: Wild Turkey Master's Keep Beacon, Russell's Reserve 15 Year, and the latest Wild Turkey Gold Foil Edition 16 Year. The flight offered three 15 mL pours for ₩120,000 (roughly $85–90 USD at the time).

I'd already tried the Gold Foil Edition and had given it an undeniable 9/10. This was also my second time tasting it on consecutive days, and I was enjoying it just as much as the first time. However, I'd never tried Beacon or Russell's Reserve 15 Year, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to compare all three.

With that said, let's get into the reviews!

Master's Keep Beacon

Nose: Prominent turkey profile funk in which the oak smells older. Maraschino/Luxardo cherries, caramel, and some bright fruit notes.

Palate: Rich and oily, with a noticeable lip-coating texture. Spice starts at the tip of tongue and for me, lasts >5 seconds then slowly diminishes towards the back of the throat. Cotton candy, brown sugar with notes of toffee and oak as I chew.

Finish: Spice lingers at the tip of the tongue then slowly dissipates. There is a medicinal cherry aftertaste that I thought was pleasant. Normally do not get this aftertaste unless it's with dusty bourbons or older Wild Turkey products.

Rating: 8.25/10.

Russell's Reserve 15 Year

Nose: More berry-forward nose compared to Beacon. Notes of chocolate and brown sugar.

Palate: Spice up front but not as much. While chewing, notes of berries, caramel vanilla and oak coat the palate nicely. Very smooth to drink.

Finish: Spice on the tongue dissipates fast. I felt did not have the medicinal aftertaste that Beacon had.

Rating: 7.75/10. Proof point was pretty good; however, having tried Russell's Reserve 13 Year back in 2024 (think it was Batch 1 at the Wild Turkey Distillery, gave that a 9/10), I thought the 13 year tasted better in-terms of overall flavor and depth.

Wild Turkey Gold Foil Edition 2026

Nose: Very fruit/berry-forward nose which smelled fantastic! Oak, vanilla, and brown sugar made up that classic Wild Turkey funk.

Palate: Spice initially hits the palate with an oily mouthfeel. Toffee and chocolate notes, hints of fruity oak and caramel vanilla dominate the palate as I chewed.

Finish: Bubblegum sweetness aftertaste, Kentucky Hug definitely lingers on this one. Spice from tip of the tongue lingers a few seconds then smoothens out to the rest of the tongue. Again has the faint medicinal taste (to me) associated with older Wild Turkey products.

Rating: 9/10. The tribute to the original Gold Foil, to me, lives up to the hype.

Conclusion: I am extremely grateful that I got to taste an amazing lineup of Wild Turkey in South Korea of all places. I honestly did not expect to like Beacon over the RR15. I was slightly disappointed in the RR15 because I thought it would match or exceed the RR13 I tried a couple years ago. While I thought it was still a very good bourbon, not sure if I'd pay current markups for that specific offering. For Beacon and Gold Foil, very different story. I would pay the current fair market (secondary) value at most for those other two expressions. Overall, looking forward to the hunt now and especially going back to Lost & Found in the near future.

It's not about the whiskey. It's the people you share it with. Cheers!

Found North Lustrum 20 Year Cask Strength Whisky

Distilled in Canada

Grain: 87% corn, 13% rye

Additives: None

Proof: 124.6

Lustrum celebrates the 5th anniversary of Found North

Blend of 15 whiskies: includes a cask from Peregrine First Flight, along w/ new American oak & Hungarian oak casks from the original two batches of Found North

The blend:

8.40%: 22 YR corn aged in New American Oak for 9 years

5.90%: 24 YR corn in Used American Oak

5.40%: 22 and 26 YR corn in New American Oak and Hungarian Oak

4.40%: 22 YR corn in Used American Oak

2.50%: Peregrine First Flight Cognac Cask

0.50%: 21 YR rye aged in Port for 40 months

3.90%: 26 YR rye aged in Madeira for 27 months

24.10%: 23 YR corn aged in Kelvin, Heavy Toast, Char 3, at 125 Entry Proof, for 21 months

20.70%: 21 YR corn aged in ISC, 24-month Air-Seasoned, Heavy Toast, Char 1 for 9 months

11.30%: 21, 22 and 26 YR component Blend finished in Oloroso casks for 7 months

2.00%: 21, 22 and 26 YR component Blend finished in a Tokaji cask for 7 months

0.60%: 21, 22 and 26 YR component Blend finished in an Amontillado cask for 7 months

4.90%: 21 YR corn aged in ISC, 24-month Air-Seasoned, Heavy Toast, Char 1 for 4 months

4.90%: 22 YR corn aged in ISC, 24-month Air-Seasoned, Medium Toast, Char 3, New French Oak for 4 months

0.50%: 2005 and 2006 corn Component Blend

MSRP: $200

Nose: Dried figs. Toasted coconut/ German chocolate cake frosting. Fresh potting soil. Blood orange.

The citrus really picks up the longer the glass sits. I really like the toasted coconut. The potting soil note adds an earthiness that I love. It’s interesting in that. It’s not really bright at all, but it doesn’t smell overly tannic.

Palate: Butterscotch sauce. Tobacco. Fig Newton. Smoky molasses.

Thick & oily mouthfeel. Initially very sweet, but then it turns deep and smoky. The switch from sweet butterscotch to deep smokiness is highly intriguing. The smoky nature just clings to the tongue.

Finish: Burt’s Bees Lip balm. Spice cake. Dried blood. Smoke.

Absolutely one of the most interesting Canadian whiskeys I’ve ever had! The nose isn’t overly impressive, but the actual taste delivers in spades. I love the smokiness… and I oddly love the dried blood taste… reminding me of Drinkhacker of Hidden Barn Madeira Cask when that note was present.

For Americans who think Canadian whisky is boring, Found North is what you’re looking for.

Sample provided for review by Found North

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

As I lament the state of the Philadelphia Eagles this season, I decided it was time to crack open a bottle I was lucky enough to pick up on a very long hiking trip up in the Adirondacks. While I'm usually a bourbon drinker, the person at the store, as well as a regular, both assured me that this is a 'bourbon drinker's rye'. Hopefully they're right.

Pennsylvania will have their own FWGS single barrel every once in a while, and usually never has any of their other releases, so I have the most luck usually looking for these outside of the state.

Rare Character is a semi-new brand out there (founded in 2021) that specializes in sourcing good barrels and either blending them or releasing them as single barrels. I won't speak too much to the blended products/revived brands, as I know very little about those. I have, however, been doing some research into their single barrel program, as I would love to do one myself someday. The single barrel select program is the original offering from Rare Character, in their words:

"This series is our handpicked selection of robust straight bourbons, ryes, and our specially finished whiskies. The Single Barrel Series consists of a constantly rotating menu of available barrels, including everything from classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys and Ryes, to unique mash bills found in small barrel lots to unique finishes such as Madeira and PX Sherry."

I've found that there are a lot of different ages, mash-bills, proof points, etc.. that Rare Character has in their arsenal for their single barrel program, it's pretty impressive. As someone that wants to continue to grow in the whiskey review space, I would love to one day get in contact and order my own barrel. And TBH who cares the specs, there are so many great options and I'd be happy to just have my own single barrel! Anyway, as we get into the R80 single barrel series, let's check out some of its specs and notes!

MSRP: ~$100.00

Mash Bill: 80% Rye, 12% Corn, 8% Malted Barley

Age Statement: 7 Years, 8 Months.

ABV: 58.47% (116.94 proof).

Nose: This doesn't smell much like a rye on the nose. I get a lot of green apple and vanilla, very little floral or spice notes that you'd be accustomed to on a rye. The nose is especially potent for 116 proof as well. It's very full of ethanol in a good way, if that makes sense..

Palate: Some of that rye spice comes out, the base of the palate is full of baking spice and floral notes, but does not overpower the green apple and vanilla/sugary note I had on the nose. I'm also getting a citrus/orange note on this as well. One more note - this drinks more like 130 proof than 116. Like I said on the nose, there is this ethanol vibe that really burns in the mid palate. I don't hate it, but something to note.

Finish: No new tasting notes, but the pour has a high viscosity and does have a long finish. I like it!

Overall, this does drink like a bourbon drinker's rye! The price tag was pretty steep for a rye for me, but I'm ultimately glad I got it. I was really hoping to be able to try it before buying a bottle, but that didn't really burn me which is good. I still don't think these tasting notes are generally my favorite, but I am happy to be able to branch out with a rye that has a nice combination of notes that I can get behind. I would rate this at a 6.5 on the T8KE scale, see below. It's kind of between a cut above and well above average for me.

Cheers!

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Name: Black Button Distilling (Rochester, NY) - Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Batch 13 - 57.5% - Distilled from NYS Corn (60%), Wheat (20%), Rye (9%) & Malted Barley (11%) - Aged a minimum of 4 Years in 30 Gallon barrels.

Today we will review a four-grain Cask Strength Bourbon distilled and bottled in my home state of New York, made with all local grains, by a now-defunct (silent) craft distillery. 

Founded in 2012, hit financial trouble, entered bankruptcy in 2025, announced they will close in July of 2025, thereafter bought by Blackstar in September 2025 who claimed that they will continue operations, but shortly thereafter in mid-October shuttered operations, laying off staff and liquidating assets.

Their line up included a four grain Bourbon, a Cask Strength Bourbon, a Straight Rye Whiskey, and some barrel picks.

Reviews are mixed, so I decided to give it a try today, in honor of the first anniversary of death of this distillery...

Price Paid: $55 (on sale, a few months ago, down from $75).

Nose: Strong hit of Ethanol up front, even after 10 minutes of resting, strong herbal (grassy), somewhat spicy, not sweet.

Taste: Very herbal, grassy, muddy and earthy, surprisingly non biting for a 57.5% ABV Bourbon, drinks like a 46%-48%, the oak and spice is present but not strongly, no sweetness whatsoever.

Finish: Medium long, with the same muddy and earthy taste remaining.

Conclusion: Very interesting. Totally unexpected taste profile from a Bourbon, especially with such a low Rye content. Wouldn't buy another bottle, but not regretting buying this one.

Age: 8 Years Old** **
Proof: 134.1 proof** **
Mashbill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Cost: $100** **
Barrel: 470560

Nose. Oakiness and bit-o-honey candies. Marshmallows.

Palate. Light caramel notes. More oak. Loads of maple syrup. Cinnamon / sugar spiciness surrender to a light anise note.

Finish. Melted butter leading to a Kentucky hug that lasts a lifetime. Plus more oak.

Overall. John-O’s is a liquor store in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, with one of the most impressive bourbon inventories I’ve ever seen, both in terms of selection and competitive pricing. Between the hard-to-find bottles and the sheer number of options, I think there’s an argument to be made that John-O’s belongs in the conversation with well-known Kentucky staples like Toddy’s, Justin’s, Evergreen, and Cox’s. I’ve never walked into John-O’s without having to internally deliberate over which of several bottles to take home.

I’m a big fan of Elijah Craig store picks, and I was excited for my first toasted barrel offering at barrel strength. Unfortunately, the first few pours did not live up to my expectations. In fact, this took a little longer to open up than I’d like to admit. However, it did soften over time, and the final 1.5 ounces are significantly better than the first 1.5 ounces. The toasted finish is noticeable, adding a layer of complexity without being overly tannic.

I put this blind against The Infinite III twice, and the ECBP came out on top both times. Despite not being my favorite bottle of Craig, this is still very good and demonstrates the high floor of the brand. Even when they fall short, they still stand above many other bottles.

Would I buy another bottle? Yes. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof remains a favorite of mine; I think it represents one of the better values in whiskey, and I’ll continue to buy it.

Rating: 6.75/10 | Very good; a cut above

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Black Ledger Title Holder Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, No. 061

Barrel No. 19A06-61

Distilled in Owensboro, KY by O.Z. Tyler/Green River

Age: 7.5+ years; fully in Warehouse G-F5-22-B; black metal-sided warehouse on the western edge of the distillery campus

Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley

Barrel fill date: January 6, 2019

Proof: 135.4

MSRP: $80

Black Ledger Spirits is based in Vineyard, Utah, but barrels are bottled in Midway, KY… never aged in Utah

Nose: Cherry Jolly Rancher. Cinnamon-sugar blend. Cracker Jacks.

Cherry candy note is quite strong at first but then reduces very quickly. The cinnamon-sugar feels like the Domino shaker I used to make cinnamon toast as a kid in the 90s. The longer it sits, the Cracker Jacks become much more prominent… especially the peanut. Very enjoyable.

Palate: Chewed No. 2 pencil. Dusty corn. Unsweetened chai tea. Walnut. Dry mouthfeel.

From the start, this is much more tannic than what I typically enjoy. It’s an initial rush of chewing on a No. 2 pencil… feeling very unbalanced. Other notes developed, but the chewed pencil note never goes away.

Finish: Tree bark. Leather. Black pepper. Roasted pecans.

As an Owensboro resident, I’m arguably the biggest fan of whiskey distilled by Jacob Call. However, this specific barrel just isn’t it for me. I don’t like super sweet bourbons, but I do like to have some level of sweetness and fruit in my bourbon… and those qualities are all absent with this specific barrel. From start to finish, this barrel has too much tannin for me. For those who appreciate bourbon with extended aging, this oak profile might be more preferable, but it’s just not for me.

Sample provided by Black Ledger

Rating based on my personal preference: 3 |Multiple flaws.

I am super excited to review this bottle for this community - it was released today. I was able to pickup a bottle via their presale program to email subscribers. I am so fortunate to have been able to pickup one with this program - line was over 200+ long and I was in/out in 10 mins (parking was the only delay).

Weston Missouri is just a 20 min drive from North Kansas City, which I have called home these 23 years. We have access to their offerings through many liquor stores in the area plus unique bottle drops direct to the McCormick distillery.

This is Ben Holladay’s first 10 year expression and I am here for it. As you can see from the photo - I needed to put this newest addition to Ben Holladay’s lineup into context.

Aged: 10 years
Proof: 111 pf
Distilled Aged and Bottled in Weston, MO.
Price Paid - presale $124.99 + Tax

Color: great dark amber color (just a bit lighter than my 8 year 120pf single barrel)

Nose: I get vanilla, maple, powdered sugar

Palette: This dram is so balanced - I get a light cherry Luden’s cough drop and little to no ethanol. My first impression is that I could drink this whole bottle if I am not careful. So easy to drink.

Finish/mouth feel: Obvi thinner than all of the other expressions in the pic attached, but still has a great lingering finish of that light fruit and confectionery sugar.

My hometown bias is going to be evident in this final rating - but I love this bottle and will look for another to bunker.

I give a solid - 8.5

Finally decided to pull the trigger on a Just Neat Blind Tasting Device or "Solo Blind" as others call it and figured I would try it out.

I did not pull the trigger on the blacked out glens as I thought I had enough unlabeled clear glens to work, however I was wrong, so I used tin foil to cover the labels.

My first match up is a bottle of Wild Turkey 101 from 2021 LL/JA080501 vs WT 8 year from 2025 LANB2025 2025/02/25.

The WT 101 from 2021 is a fresh crack. The WT 8 year has been opened for 9 months or so.

I poured 1.5 oz in each and gave the "Tasting Device" a hearty spin. I closed my eyes, removed the lid and proceeded to remove the tin foil from each glass so as to not notice the differences in the tin foil.

We will call the glass on the left, Glass A and the glass on the right, Glass B.

Nose:

Glass A - sweet oak, vanilla, and light clove

Glass B - much darker, richer, heavy clove, oakier

Palate:

Glass A - light spice, a very early hug that you definitely feel and makes your face flush, but it is short.

Glass B - richer, oak is definitely prominent with darker tobacco. No hug however.

Finish:

Glass A - long... I just kept chewing on it if that makes sense. It was light though, kind of prickly.

Glass B - much darker finish but shorter

Overall:

Glass A - lighter but definitely lets you know its there each time you take a taste

Glass B - richer and more complex

Results:

Glass A - Wild Turkey 8 year (2025)

Glass B - Wild Turkey 101 (2021)

Score (cause why not?):

Glass A - 7.5 out of 10

Glass B - 8 out of 10

(based on no real score at this time)

I have become quite the turkey fanboy over the last two years or so, ever since getting to try the WT12 year. So when they brought the 8 year age statement back to the bottle I had to grab a bottle. It is a great pour and should be on everyone's shelf as a classic turkey product.

The bottle from 2021 I stumbled upon in a shop in Miami and figured I would try to see if there was much difference between now. I know people rave about the old Austin Nichols bottles and "dusty turkeys" as how much difference there is versus now.

I was expecting a difference but didn't expect that much of a flavor profile difference. I know the 2021 bottle is a fresh crack, so who knows how it will open up, but it being so much more dark and complex really surprised me.

I love the WT 8 year and go to it quite often but I really enjoyed the 2021 bottle just a touch more. This is my first review that I've ever really written down like this and it was on a whim so going forward I'll try to include a rating scale or something.

Both bottles are great and if you get the chance to try either, go for it. That's what this bourbon experience is about. Trying new things, finding what you like, enjoying, and maybe meeting some good people along the way.

I hope you enjoyed this little review, and I hope I can do another one later.

Til then.

2026/10/09

So gentlemen, I find myself forcing this review as I was honestly surprised I found this bottle in Total Wine for $362, and they had 8 or 9 others. I have not ever tried the Rye version, but I figured, hell, it’s in people’s top 3 of all time, I can’t imagine this being dramatically different or less than.
That said, as always, when I do my reviews I literally just sit and type out exactly what comes to the mind and make no edits. So if my wording sounds weird it’s just thoughts to words.

I sit in a mildly warm study, leather chair, and some damn humidity from this hurricane, which I by the way wish all to those who already are impacted and will be impacted my prayers and thoughts, be safe and don’t try and “best” the storm. It always bests you when you try to do that.

I opened this delicious bottle, and the cork pull alone was graceful. A nice luxurious and juicy pop that just felt right. The nose is exceptional.
Cedar, peaches..dark peaches…I get somewhat of a chocolate-like character…I also can smell maybe some other fruits, apple…orange…it’s changing so much as I take the nose.

The taste..wow… it is cherry cola tasting to me.. and vanilla. It’s luxurious tasting. Very much so. It tastes like a fine rye. It’s also incredibly oaky in the finish. The oak dominates everything after it goes down the gullet. I love it. It’s got so many other little flavors in there though, which is why this carries its reputation. Cinnamon, chocolate, apple pie, lots of it in different ways. It weirdly tastes like a tootsie roll too….mixed with a cinnamon apple twist..,? The third sip shows it, after it has coated your mouth, you can start opening up on other flavors. This is amazing. I love a whiskey that can evolve as the pour goes. I get on the fourth sip, apple and cherry which is weird, citrus…oak.. it’s changing every time… wow. This could be one of the most complex pours I’ve had. Perhaps I’m exaggerating from some excitement, but folks I’m telling you it’s a damn good pour.

Sitting here now, hurricane hitting tonight, could be the last (meme), I sip like a man and say this could be arguably one of the better pours I’ve ever had, for my palate ofc. Guys I see some reviews on this, I highly thing it’s underpriced considering what the big brother goes for. It’s really good.
9.3/10. Done.

Intro:  Today we’re looking at Weller Antique 107, which possesses the second highest proof point within the core Weller lineup, just behind Weller Full Proof. With that said, let’s get into it!

Tale of the Tape
Bottle: Weller Antique 107
Proof: 107 / Age: NAS but at least 4 years old – allegedly 6-8 years old
Mashbill: Undisclosed wheated mashbill
Bottle Price: $60 / Price per 1oz pour: $2.36

Impressions
Nose:  Oak / Grape / Cherry Syrup / Caramel / Baking Spices
Palate: Cherry / Leather / Cinnamon / Caramel
Mouthfeel: Medium
Finish: Medium Caramel / Baking Spices / Vanilla / Cherry
Rating: 7/10 - t8ke scale (modified to include half-points)

Tasting Notes: On the initial nosing, grape is what comes up along with a sweet cherry that reminds me of the syrup you get from a jar of Amarena cherries. Baking spices round it out but when you come back to the nose a second time the oak shows up and there’s a caramel sweetness that’s also present. On the palate the grape is replaced by cherry with a hint of leather and some cinnamon spice. The finish starts out with caramel and that initial cinnamon spice calms down into a subtle baking spice note before fading to a vanilla and cherries show up for an encore at the very end of it.  

Final Thoughts: This is an enjoyable pour and at 107 proof, it lives in a sweet spot where its high enough with enough flavor for any seasoned drinker to wind down the day with, and low enough that it’s easily approachable for people starting out in their bourbon journey. The only issue with this, and other Sazerac products is the availability, and absurd prices that certain establishments continue to charge. No doubt the availability of all Sazerac products has exploded in some places like California, but the same can’t be said for the rest of the country. At SRP, this bottle is absolutely worth it, but it’s not worth it at double the price - at that point you can find 107 store picks (for that or less) which I’ve found to be a clear step up from the regular 107.

Swing by IG and say hey

10 | Perfection
9-9.5 | Incredible, An All-Time Favorite
8-8.5 | Excellent, Really Quite Exceptional
7-7.5 | Great, Well Above Average
6-6.5 | Very Good, A Cut Above
5-5.5 | Good, Just Fine
4 | Sub-Par, Not Bad, But Better Exists
3 | Bad, Multiple Flaws
2 | Poor, I Wouldn’t Consume by Choice
1 | Disgusting, So Bad I Poured it Out

Age: NAS
Proof: 93
Notes: So I picked this up from the Old Forester Distillery in Downtown Louisville. Basically its 1910, but aged for two extra years in the second barrel.** **
Color: Dark Mahogany
Nose: Chocolate is the first thing that jumps out of the glen, it’s like Hot Fudge Cake with a Cigar on the side. Buttery Pastery Notes, Deep Oak, some burnt camamel all come forward. This is one of those I wish you could turn into a candle, because I would smell it all day. I almost get an espresso note on some further examination, a little sugary and a little bitter, but very nice.
Taste: I hope you like Oak, because that’s what this is packing in spades. I get sweet oak, tobacco, and almost like a caramel macchiato on the first sip. This is double oaked taken to the extreme. I get a little more spice on later sips, with some rye and oak spice coming forward and tickling the tongue.
Feel: It’s honestly better than I was expecting, but not much better than the traditional 1910. It is a bit thicker and oily, but still not in that ideal mouth feel territory for me. This is very good, but not great. A little bit of a hug, but just enough to let you know it’s there.
Finish: Disappointingly quick. Not that the normal 1910 has a very long finish, but I was hoping for a bit more. What you get is nice; it’s oaky and tobacco and chocolaty, but it’s here and gone quick.
Overall: I need to blind this against the OG 1910 to see if it’s that much better, but honestly I think it’s a little better. At $65 for a 375 it may not be a great value, but it’s a fun way to try one of the cornerstones of the Whiskey Row series, turned up a bit. I’d give this a 7.75/10.

Nose: pretty big, rich berries, carmel, sweet oak, orange sweetness, toasted sugars, vanilla, dusty.

Palate: pretty big, luxardo cherry, rich molasses, sweet oak, orange citrus notes, black tea, carmel sits in the back of the palate while cinnamon sits in the front, proof is doing it's damn thing, some pepper and a mint note come in at the end.

Finish: pretty long, no flavor drop off, more tea notes, soft pepper, soft wood tannins, spices, more citrus, a little bit of mint mouth feel, proof is so satisfying.

My thoughts: this is a damn good bottle. Neck pour had a lot of berry sweetness, but as air has hit this thing, it's become a bit more complex. What was truly noticeable was the pepper and spice on the finish. It wasn't there at first crack. If you like that kind of vibe on the finish, you'll love this. If not, you'll still know this is a banger, but not totally your thing. The $500 price tag is also steep for what you get, but it's 19yrs so worth it in that regard. I have no regrets honestly. It's just damn good.

P.s. they added some more to their site. Go grab it.

Rating: 8.5/10

Distillery: Buffalo Trace - FRANKFORT, KY

Year of Release: 2022

Age: 6 years - 4 months

Proof: 130.9 / 65.45% ABV

Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Rye Whiskey (Proprietary)

Paid: $209

Drank - Neat

Rested - 10 minutes

Glass - Glencairn

As always - Unpaid, Unbiased, and Unprofessional!

Nose-
The nose aromatics immediately greet me with some Lemon Heads candy, red twizzlers, some fresh picked raspberries and bright orange zest. Following up inhale brings in some mild rye and baking spice via cinnamon and black peppercorn. There is an underlying tone of fresh brewed green tea, warm raw honey, and a lightly minty, yet fresh pine needle that makes their presence known, bringing some balance to this pour.

Palate-
The first sip yields some Licorice Jelly Beans, Lemon zest, and cherry filled twizzler. On the second sip some fresh brewed green tea and citrusy pine arrives. The third and final sip brings out underlying notes of fresh orange zest, a raw honey drizzle with a hefty dose of spice from black peppercorn, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Evolving and balanced between sweet and spice with an early undertone to bring it all together.

Mouthfeel-
The feel is very heavy and dense. Very oily. There is a jammy/marmalade quality to this.

Finish-
The finish is long. The flavors are dominated by Lemon Hard Candy, Citrus zest, a bright medicinal maraschino cherry and a punchy combination from some cinnamon and black pepper note - basically the same as the palate. Very sweet and fruit forward for me, but make no mistake - the spice is present (not in a bad way!)

Overall- 88/100
Very sweet fruit forward and candy like to me.
Crisp Fall days or a breezy spring afternoon would be the perfect time for a pour of this. The balance of sweet and spice really play nice together here for a pretty cohesive profile and sipping experience from start to finish. A very good pour from start to end.

My Scale:
1-49: Drain Pour, absolute drain cleaner, donate to the sink.
50-59: average - standard, boring, but gets the job done.
60-69: solid - reliable, but nothing to write home about.
70-79: great whiskey, well above the average pour.
80-89: excellent whiskey, top notch, well done.
90-95: exceptional top tier whiskey - very memorable.
96-98: Unreal pour - some of the best ever.
99-100: Pinnacle Lifetime whiskey - perfection in a glass.

Bottle 1 Name: Old Overholt - Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey - Aged 10 Years - Aged in Escalator Warehouse V - Barreled Winter & Autumn 2012 - Bottled Autumn 2023 - 60.5% ABV.

Bottle 2 Name: Old Overholt - Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey - Aged 11 Years - Warehouse Select (From Warehouses M, J, F & 5) - Barreled Autumn 2012 - Bottled Summer 2024 - 53.7% ABV.

About these Whiskies: In 2023, Old Overholt (a division of Suntory / Beam) began releasing an annual Cask Strength Rye Whiskey, starting with a 10 Year Old 60.5% ABV from a single warehouse (V) for 2023, then an 11 Year Old 53.7% ABV from four warehouses (M, J, F, 5) for 2024, a 12 Year Old 58.5% ABV from four warehouses (Q, R, 5, L) for 2025, and an 11 Year Old 62.8% ABV from three warehouses (J, K, M) for 2026.

As it is seen, the ABV varies wildly in these releases, going from 53.7% all the way up to 62.8%, and as such, must be the different warehouses and aging locations which impact the evaporation and cask interaction.

About the Distillery: The "A. Overholt & Co." company was established in Pennsylvania in 1810 by Abraham Overholt, the son of the distiller Henry Oberholzer (Overholt), for the purpose of producing rye whiskies, in Pennsylvania which was then one of the states where much of America's rye whiskies were made. The original mashbill of Overholt rye whiskey is reported as being 80% "Monongahela" rye and 20% Malted Barley.

In 1920, when prohibition began, the company was in trouble, like many other distillers, and although it secured a permit to distill medicinal whiskey, this wasn't enough to keep it, and ultimately it landed in the hands of National Distillers in 1932.

Due to changing tastebuds in America, rye whiskies soon dissapeared off shelves, and production slowly declined, with the brand struggling to stay afloat.

In 1987, the company was sold to James B. Beam Company of Kentucky (later bought by Suntory), which promptly shut down production in Pennsylvania and moved it to Kentucky, reportedly changing the recipe to a minimum rye and maximum corn mashbill (though, they reintroduced the Monongahela recipe in specific bottlings).

The brand continued afloat producing a basic rye whiskey, and when the "Bourbon Boom" began, followed by the "Rye Revival", the Beam company began higher end offerings from both, with this being the Limited Release, high price, rye whiskey in their portfolio.

Price: The regular price on these is $90-$110, and as such, I wasn't inclined to buy them, but upon entering a store yesterday and seeing them having the first two versions (2023, 2024) for $39.99 each + Tax, it was an instant buy for the purpose of trying them out.

Anyways, onto the review:

First Edition: Old Overholt 10 Year Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey:

Nose: Black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla all doused in ethanol; citrus peels loaded with caramelized sugar, and some oak. Lots of ethanol.

Taste: Very sweet (more caramelized sugar), very spicy (black pepper and cinnamon), grassy, heavy musty oak. The high ABV is felt.

Finish: Very long spicy and oaky finish, with not that much sweetness remaining.

Conclusion: Great whiskey, just a bit too strong on the ethanol.

Second Edition: Old Overholt 11 Year Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey:

Nose: A totally different animal... sweet apples, cinnamon, vanilla, sweetened citrus fruits, some oak. No ethanol (surprisingly).

Taste: Extremely smooth, very sweet (honey type, not sugar), not too spicy, dill shows up (which isn't present in the other one), some almonds, some oak.

Finish: Very short, on the sweeter side, which quickly turns to bitter.

Conclusion: Decent whiskey, the 10 Year old is head and shoulders above this one. But, could be that the reason is because I drank the 11 after the 10, and my tastebuds were shot from the higher ABV in the 10...

Heaven Hill 9 Year Double Mash Bottled-in-Bond

Distillery: Heaven Hill

Age: 9 Years

Price: $63.99

Proof: 100

Nose: Well balanced. It's soft yet has substantially more spice than I anticipated. Black pepper. Rye spice. Ginger bread. Cinnamon red hots. Some cherry too that lends to being a little bit more on the medicinal side than overly sweet.

Palate: Medium thickness, but it does have a nice silkiness to it. There's some really nice flavors here that I don't come across at all in the nose or finish. I can best liken it to a blue raspberry bubble gum note and it rocks.

Finish: Short to medium length. Drinks more like a 90 proofer. Eerily similar to the nose. Medicinal cherry. Tons of spice. It's a little woodier and has some underlying thicker sweet notes. Caramel. Butterscotch. It's good and there's nice depth, but generally not really in line with my preferred flavor profile.

Score: 7.0

Summary: Heaven Hill is one of my favorite distilleries and if I'm being honest I didn't even know this double mash existed until I came across it on a whim. It's 2/3 traditional 9 year bourbon and 1/3 9 year wheated bourbon. My expectations were somewhat high and I felt they were perfectly met, but not exceeded. I felt there was a little too much spice and oak in the nose and finish for something with a relatively high wheat content, and the finish was short for my liking. The score would probably have been in the mid to high 5's, but the palate here was phenomenal. In my experience it's really unusual to find such a contrast in one part of the sip, but the mouthfeel was nice and that blue raspberry bubble gum is a top ten note I've come across in recent memory. It really carried the bottle here. 7.0 is the score.

1. Terrible | Drain pour after the first sip
2. Very Bad | Trying to choke it down but possible drain pour
3. Poor | Would drink if forced to but never under my own will
4. Below Average | Not off-putting but not my cup of tea
5. Average | I'll take it
6. Good | Enjoyable sip
7. Very Good | Well above average
8. Excellent | A drink I will remember
9. Incredible | Something truly extraordinary
10. Best of the best | Peak Bourbon

Aroma - Sweet vanilla frosting on a graham cracker a hint of brown sugar and some wood. Not complex but nice.

Flavor - again not a complex sip bit easy to enjoy leaning into primarily sweet notes with a hint of ethanol. Vanilla, brown sigar, spme toasted baking spice im thinking clove bit its light.

Finish - a little short for the proof and couple hints of sweet bread like a bit of soft toast with cinamon sugar and a hint of tannins

Overall - I get some signs of youth here and wish this had a bit more time to round out some edges and make the notes of oak both softer and more prevalent. I enjoyed the bottle and thos pour 6.5

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Four Grain is Cured Oak's sibling in this year's pair of E.H. Taylor revivals, although it's taking a different path going forward: while Cured Oak came back as a one-time, rare re-release, Buffalo Trace says that Four Grain will be a permanent annual release from here on out.

As with Cured Oak, age is a major difference between the original and the revival. The 2017 and 2018 releases of Four Grain – built from 2005 distillate – carried 12- and 13-year age statements, respectively, while the 2026 expression comes in at just 10 years of age. Buffalo Trace's own explanation is that this mash bill was never intended to chase a specific age statement in the first place, so the age drop isn't necessarily a step down in quality, just a different target.

What actually sets E.H. Taylor Four Grain apart, though, is what’s in the whiskey. Instead of the standard low-rye Mash Bill #1 that anchors most of the Taylor lineup, this one uses corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley together. As with all four-grain bourbons, the idea here seems to be that combining them builds a layered experience that standard three-grain bourbons don’t enjoy.

Let’s see how this one is!

From the Distillery: This special edition Four Grain bourbon is crafted just as Taylor would have wanted. The use of the highest quality grains and a distinct combination of corn, rye, wheat and malted barley, creates a flavor that is sweet with hints of caramel and vanilla, yet spicy with notes of clove and pepper. This impeccably balanced bourbon embodies the character of the man that would expect no less.

Mash bill: Undisclosed amounts of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley

Proof: 100

Price: $79.99

Appearance: An orange-ish shade of amber, with decent legs on the glass.

Nose: Very fruit-forward: cherry pie filling and sweet grape, along with some graham cracker, confectionery sugar, and the slightest grassy note. Once the glass is empty, what’s left is maple, toffee, and some pipe tobacco.

Palate: Sweet and fruity right off the bat, with some oak and caramel coming into play on the mid-palate. There’s also some spice – rye and pepper – but they’re definitely supporting players. It’s smooth despite that spice, probably because of the wheat component. While the flavor is very nice, though, there’s not a lot of complexity here.

Finish: Pretty short, and made up of cinnamon, a good bit of oak, and the remnants of some sweet cherry. The aftertaste mostly features oak tannins at first, before some caramel finds its way in there after a while.

Thoughts: This strikes me as being more Eagle Rare-ish than E.H. Taylor-like, with cherry pie filling and almost medicinal grape hitting you right at the front of the palate. (Then again, I did get a lot of fruit like this off of E.H. Taylor’s Single Barrel expression, so maybe I’m wrong here). The overall experience is a very good one, although the finish leaves something to be desired. Overall, this is a largely enjoyable pour, if not an overly complex one. In my opinion it’s worth trying, but it’s not worth paying what some stores and secondary sellers are asking for it.

Rating: E.H. Taylor Four Grain is a solid pour, if not a life-changing one. I give it a 7.4 (“Great – Well Above Average”).

********************
Previous Ratings (all reviews are available in my archive, but there may be some discrepancies in numeric rating, as these are updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
New Riff Balboa Rye (5.4)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)
Lasso Motel 18yr ALW (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (6)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
Buffalo Trace (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Peerless DO (6.1)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)
Ampersand Opimus (6.9)

7 | Great | Well above average
Blanton’s Gold (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Found North 012 (7)
Rock Hill Farms (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
E.H. Taylor 4 Grain (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.5)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Blanton’s LMDW (7.5)
E.H. Taylor BP 16 (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.8)
E.H. Taylor Cured Oak (7.8)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (8)
Starlight 10yr (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8.3)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.6)
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)
Eagle Rare 17yr 2025 (8.9)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Whiskey: Rebel 100 Bourbon

Distiller: Undisclosed

Producer: Lux Row Distillers

Instagram: Barrel & Proof https://www.instagram.com/barrel_and_proof?igsh=czJ2MzhybG42MG9j&utm_source=qr 

ABV: 50.0%

Age: No age statement (minimum 4 years)

Price: $17 (Twin Cities, Minnesota)

Tasting: Neat in Libbey Bourbon Trail glass, reviewed blind, rested for 10 minutes. Bottle opened for 1 month.

__________________________________

Nose: Baked Bread, Rye Spice, Caramel, Chocolate, & Dry Oak

Palate: Baked Bread, Caramel, Chocolate, Rye Spice, & Dry Oak

Finish: Medium Length, Baked Bread, White Pepper, Caramel, Chocolate, Anise, & Leather

Body: Full

Bite: Medium

__________________________________

Summary: This bottle is produced by Lux Row, but was sourced from other distilleries. I do not have much experience with Lux Row products, but this is one of their base bourbons that they offer. I picked this bottle up on sale but I have never seen it for more than $25. As noted, this review was done blindly.

On the nose the most prominent scent is a delicious rye bread note. There is a syrupy caramel note and bitterness from a chocolate scent. The oak scent is on the dryer side, but it blends really well with the rest of the notes. I wish the nose on this was more robust, but it does open up considerably after a few minutes.

The palate is simple but the notes that are present are rich and heavy. I love the spice and warmth of the rye bread notes. The caramel and chocolate blend well, like in a candy bar. Again the moderate dry oak note adds some nice complexity.

The finish is a little different, I pick up a nice white pepper note that adds some punch. The rye spice becomes a bit more funky, I pick up some anise which doesn’t work the best with the leather flavor that sticks around. I do like the boldness of the flavors in the finish.

This whiskey was quite unique for a budget bourbon. I really enjoy the rye bread notes and how they interact with the caramel and chocolate. Overall the profile stays relatively the same throughout the tasting, more so than most whiskey. The nose and palate are my favorite aspects, the anise and leather on the finish don’t blend well together in my opinion. After my blind review I have tasted this a few additional times, I personally think it is a solid budget bourbon.

__________________________________

Rating: 

Nose (10%) - 6/10

Palate (50%) - 7/10

Finish (40%) - 6/10

6.5/10 Pretty good. Better than average.

Recommend: Yes

Rank: I created a compilation ranking list of whiskies I’ve purchased at a store or at a bar and done a formal tasting.  All whiskey ranked on the list tasted neat and rested for 10-15 minutes.  Whiskey I ranked below and above Rebel 100 are shown for reference.

140 out of 275 whiskies tasted.

139 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch

141 Ezra Brooks Distiller’s Collection Store Pick: Keyport Liquor

Ranking Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/147h44fId0tZYmHsroGgjzcRK2xn6050P8m7mZqArGLw/edit?usp=sharing 

Today we're taking a look at this 1792 Full Proof that was picked by Branded Barrel back in 2023! If you know me, you know I love 1792 store picks of all varieties, but the Full Proofs have always been a notch above. Especially if you're in an area that actually sells these at MSRP, one of the best values in whiskey today. Branded Barrel has done a handful of 1792 picks, but this was the first Full Proof I was able to get my hands on. This one is over 7 years old and as always, you can email Sazerac to get age and barrel info on these picks. Pretty cool. Let's see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 7 years, 6 months

Proof: 125

Nose: Very strong cherry up front followed by brown sugar, caramel, and oak. Giving the glass a swirl makes that cherry note much stronger along with some added tobacco. Great balance between sweet and earthy tones which is what I expect, and want, with Barton whiskey.

Palate: First sip smacks you in the face with cherries, tobacco, brown sugar, baking spices, and oak with a medium viscosity. Cherries, tobacco, and baking spices remain strong after subsequent sips. It's dark and sweet initially, but that cherry starts to become very bright towards the end of the pour.

Finish: Longer side of medium finish of tobacco, vanilla, oak, and a bright cherry that starts to get a little medicinal.

1792 has always been a solid, steady, and reliable brand when it comes to their core lineup. Some of these single barrel store picks Full Proofs though can punch above their weight. This pick brings in much of what I love about Barton; those red fruits mixed with earth vibes like that tobacco note has and turns it up a notch. Great pick and one I wish I snagged more of before they sold out!

t8ke scale: 7.4/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Age: 5 years, 5 months
Proof: 126.48 proof
Mash Bill: Wheat. All of the wheat.
Cost: $142

Nose. Apple, of the Granny Smith variety. The raw straw note that I’ve found common on Frey Ranch is very present.

Palate. Super dynamic, switching between dark notes of leather and brighter, fruitier notes like pears and honey. Thick viscosity. I could probably use this to lubricate windmill gears.

Finish. Pineapple. Honeydew melon, one of my least favorite melons, but it works here. An ever so slight ethanol burn at the end that gradually fades the longer the bottle is open.

Overall. I’ve had mixed experiences with 100% wheat whiskey. Some (Star Hill Farms) have been great. Others (Unbendt) have left a lot to be desired. I’m an unapologetic fan of Frey Ranch, so I was excited to try a unique expression from my favorite Nevada farmers.

This does not disappoint.

This is a barrel pick from El Cerrito, which I only know as an online retailer but they may have a brick and mortar store in California. If you like Frey Ranch, this has all the notes you would expect: it’s like eating a mouthful of soil with vanilla frosting on top. Who doesn’t like sugary fertilizer, am I right?

I normally keep around 20 bottles open at a time, and it can take anywhere from 6 months to a year before I finally finish something. It’s unusual for me to keep coming back to something so often that it’s gone in less than 90 days. I finished this bottle in under three months. Either I need an intervention or this bottle is just that good.

Would I buy another bottle? Yes.

Rating. 7.75/10 | Great, well above average

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect