The Musician was my introduction to the Still Austin brand—a craft distillery based in Austin, Texas, that began distilling in 2017. Founded by father-and-son duo Cleveland and Chris Seals, Still Austin is a grain-to-glass operation: they mill, mash, distill, barrel, and age everything on-site at their distillery. Their grains are thoughtfully sourced from farms across…
Month: July 2025
Shanky’s Whip Irish Whiskey (Black Liqueur and Whiskey Blend)
When I first laid eyes on this bottle, my immediate reaction was: what in the world is this? Is it a liqueur? A whiskey? Somehow both? Honestly, I’m still not entirely sure—but I can tell you this: the taste was nothing like I expected. Shanky’s Whip is an Irish brand crafted in Cavan, Ireland. It…
Crown Royal Whisky Lemonade
Crown Royal has been in the ready-to-drink cocktail game for a while, but I recently discovered their Whisky Lemonade—and naturally, I had to give it a try to see if it could be my go-to refreshment on those hot summer days. The pack I picked up included four flavors: Peach, Lemon, Mango, and Blackberry. It…
Traveller Whiskey Blend No. 40
Traveller Whiskey is a blended expression from Buffalo Trace, born from a collaboration between Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley and Grammy-winning artist Chris Stapleton. I’d had my eye on this bottle for a while, but only recently decided to give it a try when I spotted a 50ml mini available. I’ve said it before, and I’ll…
Vermont Ice Maple Bourbon
My husband and I went to college in Vermont, so when I spotted this adorable 50ml bottle of Vermont Ice Maple Bourbon, it was an instant ‘add to cart’ moment. Let’s dive in! Crafted by Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits in Cambridge, Vt. This expression features their four-generation, 100% pure wood-fired Vermont maple syrup. Aged…
Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin: California Orange Citrus and Sardinian Citrus
I first discovered this brand when they launched their original Blue Bottle Gunpowder Tea Gin. They’ve since expanded their lineup, and instead of committing to two full-sized bottles, I picked up this mini trio sample set for just $9.99. It includes 50ml bottles of three gins, including the original. Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin is crafted…
The Dalmore Select Edition 2006 | 18 Years
Dalmore has long been one of my favorite whisky brands, and a few months ago I had the pleasure of sampling the Dalmore Select Edition 2006. Released annually, this special edition captures the unique character of a particular year at the Dalmore distillery. The 2006 expression is aged for 18 years and matured in a…
Akashi Japanese Whisky Highball
The 4th of July is just around the corner, and the heat is on—literally. So, when I spotted this Akashi Japanese Whisky Highball, I couldn’t resist grabbing one. If you didn’t know, the Highball is Japan’s most popular whisky cocktail, and honestly, this Akashi cocktail just makes sense. A highball is traditionally made with whisky,…