Early Times is a whiskey under the Sazerac portfolio, originally crafted in 1860 by John Henry “Jack” Beam. Its name is a tribute to the traditional, old-fashioned methods of whiskey-making. For decades, Early Times held a place of honor as the bourbon used in Mint Juleps at Churchill Downs during the Kentucky Derby—until a change…
Category: Affordable Whiskey
Benchmark Bourbon Old No. 8 Brand
At a very reasonable price, I picked up a 100ml bottle of Benchmark Bourbon Old No. 8 Brand—a label proudly produced by the renowned Buffalo Trace Distillery. This bourbon pays tribute to the pioneering spirit of the McAfee brothers—James, George, and Robert—who ventured into what was then uncharted territory, now known as Kentucky. Let’s dive…
Dough Ball Whiskey – Cookie Dough and Birthday Cake
Whiskey doesn’t always have to be serious. If you’re in the mood for something playful and sweet, you’re in for a treat. The moment I spotted these mini bottles, I couldn’t resist adding them to my cart—though I only grabbed the 50ml versions, since sweet drinks aren’t usually my thing and these practically shout dessert….
Lazy River Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
I recently had the chance to sample this Lazy River bourbon that’s distilled and aged in Kentucky, then bottled by Frank-Lin Distillers Products in California. Beyond that, details are scarce—I couldn’t find any information on the mash bill or the aging period. If you’ve got any additional info on this bourbon—whether it’s the mash bill,…
Still Austin “The Musician” Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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…
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…
Update: The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Years
We’ve just finished our bottle of Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 Year, and it’s time to share our final thoughts. To be completely honest – no need to sugarcoat it – this is an outstanding whisky. Without hesitation, we’d absolutely buy again. Let’s revisit the tasting notes. Nose: fruit, toffee and sweetness Palate: creamy, vanilla, sweet,…
Hirsch The Horizon and The Bivouac
The first Hirsch expression I tasted was their Single Barrel Double Oak – an exceptional pour that did leave an impression. Since then, I’ve sampled The Horizon and The Bivouac. Let’s dive in and see how these two compare. The Horizon Nose: Vanilla and oak Palate: spices, cinnamon, pepper and oak Finish: oaky and peppery…
UPDATE: Oban 14 Year
After nearly five years of savoring this bottle of Oban 14 Year, we’ve finally reached the end. So, it’s time for an updated take on how I feel about it today – but first, let’s revisit the tasting notes. Nose: citrus, fruit and light peat Palate: dried fruit, spices and light peat Finish: salt, oak…
Tullamore D.E.W. 12-Year Special Reserve
With just about four days till St. Patrick’s Day, here we are with another short and sweet Irish Whiskey review. Tullamore D.E.W. is a whiskey brand I do enjoy, and I recently sampled their 12-Year Special Reserve so, let’s dive in. Nose: oak, sherry and light sweetness Palate: nutty, fruit and chocolate Finish: spices and…
San Patricios 7-Años Single Malt Irish Whiskey
I am continuing my Irish whiskies features this week. Today, I want to introduce a unique Irish Whiskey that pays homage to the story of the 200 Irish Volunteers, known as the San Patricios, who fought for Mexico during the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. This Irish Whiskey is a 7- Años (for those not familiar…
Blue Note Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Now let’s explore a distillery that is new to me – Blue Note. Blue Note is a Tennessee whiskey produced by B.R. Distilling Co. Interestingly, when I asked if they were new, they shared that they are not a new distillery, but it was only recently that they made their products available in Massachusetts. I…
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