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,…

Handy and Schiller Signature Cocktails Barreled Old Fashioned

Saturday night we went out to dinner and sat at the bar. We’re people watchers, and while relaxing at the bar we lost count of all the Old Fashions our bartender made. At $13 a pop you can imagine the money the restaurant made that night. You’re certainly welcome to spend that much cash but,…

High West Manhattan and Old-Fashioned Cocktail

Happy Fourth of July! What’s your drink of choice on a day like today? If you love whiskey and cocktails, I’ve got you covered. Ready-Made cocktails are becoming more and more popular. Jumping into the category, High West. I purchased both their Manhattan and Old-Fashioned for this review so, let’s get started. Manhattan: They follow…

Bulleit Manhattan Cocktail

If you recall, not too long ago I wrote about the Bulleit Old Fashioned ready-made cocktail (bright orange bottle you can’t miss). Now Bulleit’s Manhattan ready-made cocktail (in a bright green bottle) is being tasted and reviewed. Using their own whiskey, this Manhattan is made with straight rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters. Nose: rye…

WhistlePig Orange Fashioned

Spring finally sprang here in Boston with an amazingly warm weekend and here I am trying to grow whiskey bottles in my flower box. One can only dream! I’ve never seen this WhistlePig ready-made Orange Fashioned, which is a new take on an Old Fashioned, until a week ago. This is a pre-batched, barrel-aged cocktail…

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…