2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Bourbon and Whisky

It’s that time of year again! Here’s my 2022 gift guide to help you buy a delicious gift for someone or for yourself. This year’s list is composed of options all under $100. It’s a short list but all options are easy to find, and they are affordable. Note: If you aren’t familiar with my…

Redemption Rye

This bottle was given to me as a birthday gift (thank you, Rich, and Aurora). To me, this rye whiskey is OK. It has a mash bill of 95% premium rye and 5% barley. It’s matured in new charred oak barrels. Nose: rye, sweet, vanillaPalate: black pepper, spices, and ryeFinish: oak and ryeABV: 46% I…

Henry McKenna 10 Years Bottled-In-Bond

While moving things through our whiskey cabinet this past weekend I found this Henry McKenna 10 Years Bottled-In-Bond. I was pleasantly surprised since, 1. I had no idea we owned a bottle and 2. I have not written about this brand before. If you aren’t familiar with Bottled-In-Bond that simply means it’s been aged and…

Balcones Texas Rye Cask Strength Single Barrel Collection #20166

Fun fact, I lived in Southern Texas for two years. It was a state that contributed to my years of growth after college, so it has a special place in my heart. Balcones Distilling was established in 2009 and is in Waco, Texas. What helps their aging process? Well, their hot weather off course. Listen,…

Father’s Day 2022 Whiskey Gift Guide

We are officially 19 days away from Father’s Day. If you don’t have a gift yet and have a whiskey loving dad, I am here to help. Let’s get started, the list below is broken down by price range. Most of the prices below are a range of costs (+/-), as prices may vary depending…

Elijah Craig – Toasted Barrel

Here’s one of those whiskies we would always search for but could never find. Until we visited friends in Virginia. We not only got a chance to taste it but also got to take home the bottle (Thanks Kevin A). For this expression, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is used as the base. After the…

Keeper’s Heart Irish + America 

What exactly makes renowned Irish Master Distiller Brian Nation leave Ireland for Minnesota? I’ll give you a hint, it wasn’t the weather. Monday I had the chance to spend an evening with Nation and co-founder of Keeper’s Heart Michael O’Shaughnessy. Keeper’s Heart has launched their Irish + American whiskey and they have done so with…

Yellowstone Bourbon Whiskey

OK, raise your hand if you went searching for this whiskey because of the TV show. The Yellowstone brand is produced by Limestone Branch Distillery in Lebanon, Kentucky. The whiskey is named after Yellowstone National Park and this year to help celebrate 150 years of national parks they are releasing their whiskey bottle with 6…

Stranahan’s Blue Peak Single Malt Whiskey

Blue Peak is crafted in the high altitudes of Denver and is named after a 13-thousand-foot peak. It is aged for 4 years and matured in New American oak casks that have been charred (#3 char) and has a Solera finish. If you are wondering what a Solera finish is, well, I’ll tell you. It’s…

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Sour Mash

Very recently a friend of ours sent us this little gem. Thank you, Mike! ETL is an allocated bourbon and has a msrp of $54.99 but sadly most must look to the secondary market to find it. Nose: vanilla, leather, and clovesPalate: spices, vanilla, and honeyFinish: spices and warming finish This whiskey is solid. It’s…

George Remus Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This George Remus bottle was the last bottle I got through my Flaviar membership which ended last month. It’s named after renowned prohibition bootlegger George Remus. Although the label indicates that it’s a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, this whisky is MGP and is distilled in Indiana. Nose: vanilla, oak, and sweetnessPalate: vanilla, caramel, and pepper/spicesFinish: lightly…