When I first discovered this whiskey range, I was struck by the incredible story of Mary Dowling—a formidable figure in the whiskey industry. After she and her adult children were charged with violating the Dry Laws, she boldly moved her production to Mexico, becoming the only distiller to do so during Prohibition to keep her…
Category: Affordable Whiskey
Tullibardine Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Last night, I spent an incredible evening sampling Tullibardine expressions at Rozafa Mediterranean Restaurant in Quincy, MA graciously hosted by Prestige Beverage Group and Terroir Distillers. Before we talk whisky, let’s talk food—because it deserves the spotlight. Owner and chef Marlon Vila brings fresh ingredients and a true scratch-cooking philosophy to the table, with dishes…
Old Emmer Finest Wheat and Cask Strength Bourbon
Old Emmer is a private‑label whiskey you’ll mostly find at Total Wine. It comes out of Kentucky, and there’s some chatter that it might be produced at Buffalo Trace. It uses an ancient Emmer wheat strain in its high‑wheat mash bill—something you don’t come across every day. During my visit to Total Wine, I spotted…
Keeper’s Heart Old Fashioned
Keeper’s Heart Whiskey is a brand that boasts impressive Irish credentials: its distiller is the renowned Irish Master Distiller Brian Nation, formerly of Jameson, Midleton Very Rare, the Spot lineup, and Powers. As a longtime fan of this brand, the moment I discovered they’d launched a ready‑to‑serve Old Fashioned, I didn’t hesitate—I had to try…
New England Barrel Company Small Batch Bourbon
For months, my husband kept suggesting we try New England Barrel Company because it’s local. I agreed every time, yet somehow, we never picked up a bottle — until now. Curious if his pick was worth it? Keep reading. First, a bit about the brand. New England Barrel Company was founded in 2020 by independent…
UPDATE: West Cork Barrel Proof
With St. Patrick’s Day behind us, I wanted to share an update on the West Coast Barrel Proof we picked up in 2022 and have finally polished off. Now that we’ve finished the bottle, we can give it an honest review of how it aged over time and whether it’s one we’d buy again. Time…
McConnell’s 5 Year Irish Whiskey
Today, we’re taking a quick look at another Irish whiskey as we count down to St. Patrick’s Day. John and James McConnell established their distillery and brewery in 1899, following the passing of their father, Hugh McConnell. Today, the distillery operates out of North Belfast. For this review, I picked up a 50ml bottle of…
Buchanan’s Deluxe 12-Year Blended Scotch Whisky
I’ve strolled past this expression at the liquor store countless times without giving it a chance. But when I noticed it in a mini last month, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to finally try it—especially since I’m a fan of their Pineapple expression. Time to find out whether skipping it all this time…
UPDATE: Isle of Skye Whisky 12-Year
This whisky review has remained one of the most popular pieces on my blog. With our bottle now officially finished, I thought it was an ideal time to look back at the impressions we recorded when we first opened it in August 2024. Did it live up to our expectations? Is it worth buying again?…
The Whistler Irish Whiskey Dark Symphony
Cheers to new beginnings! 2026 is here, and I’m thrilled to start the year with something new to me—a brand I’ve never featured before: The Whistler Irish Whiskey. Although I’ve featured Boann Distillery before, I’ve never reviewed The Whistler until now. For those who may not know, this whiskey is crafted by Boann—a family-owned distillery…
Laird’s Blended AppleJack
Christmas week is finally here! Every year, as November fades into December, we head to Cape Cod for our annual Friendsgiving—a tradition filled with laughter, great food,and even better drinks. This year, our friends surprised us with some incredible cocktails, and one bottle stood out: Laird’s Blended Applejack. I had never heard of this brand…
Penelope Cocktails: Black Walnut Old Fashioned
Did you know Penelope Bourbon now offers ready-made cocktails? If you didn’t, well, I didn’t either—until recently! They currently offer three varieties, and I’ve managed to get two: the Black Walnut Old Fashioned and the Apple Cinnamon Old Fashioned. In this post, I’ll focus on the Black Walnut Old Fashioned. Stay tuned for a review…
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