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…
Tag: Sample Size
Bondstone Double Oak and Toasted Barrel Whiskey
Bondstone is a brand I’ve just discovered, and it’s from a relatively new distillery. IJW Distillery sources barrels and blends them into unique expressions—and I’m here for it! I’m obsessed with mini bottles, so when I spotted both the Double Oak and Toasted Barrel, you know I had to grab them. Let’s check them out!…
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…
Grangestone Scotch: Bourbon Cask Finish and Rum Cask Finish
Full honesty—I picked these up simply because they came in mini bottles. Grangestone is a brand owned by William Grant & Sons, one of the largest independent whisky producers in Scotland. So, are they actually any good? Let’s find out. Grangestone Bourbon Cask Finish (40% ABV): This 50 ml sample cost me $1.99. The nose…
Still Austin “The Artist” Straight Rye Whiskey
This is the second expression I’ve had the opportunity to sample from Still Austin. I’ll start by saying that rye whiskies aren’t typically my go-to, but I was intrigued by this one. This expression is crafted from 100% Texas-grown rye and aged for a minimum of two years. Still Austin is a craft distillery located…
Demon Seed Whiskey Dark Chocolate with Maple Sugar
When I saw the new dark chocolate from Goodnow Farms, crafted in collaboration with Boston Harbor Distillery, I didn’t hesitate—I grabbed a bar immediately. As a longtime fan of Demon Seed Whiskey, which we always keep stocked thanks to its versatility, I was curious to see how its bold character would translate into chocolate. I’ve…
On the Rocks – Yuzu Matcha Martini and Japanese Boulevardier
Absolutely—I picked this up specifically because of the collaboration between On the Rocks, The House of Suntory, and Hidetsugu Ueno, the legendary Japanese bartender behind Tokyo’s iconic Bar High Five. This limited-edition release includes two 375ml bottles: the Yuzu Matcha Martini and the Japanese Boulevardier, priced at $41.99. Let’s dive in! The Yuzu Matcha Martini…
Tamdhu 12-Year, 15-Year and 18-Year
I was genuinely excited to discover this sample pack, especially since I hadn’t explored this distillery much before. Priced at just $19.99, it included three expressions: a 12-Year, 15-Year, and 18-Year. The distillery, originally established in 1897, was unfortunately shuttered in 2010. Thankfully, Ian Macleod Distillers revived it in 2012, staying true to its heritage…
King’s Creek Black Label Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey
I picked up this whiskey alongside the Lonehand Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey. Like Ellington Reserve Apple Flavored Whiskey, it’s produced by United States Distilled Products Co. in Princeton, Minnesota. So, how does the King’s Creek expression stack up against Lonehand? Let’s find out. Keep reading. Nose: oak, banana and vanilla Palate: vanilla, baking spices and…
Lonehand Tennessee Sour Mash Whiskey
Lonehand Whiskey is a brand owned by Dynasty Spirits, though I couldn’t find much information about the company. If you happen to know more, feel free to share in the comments! This whiskey is crafted using the Lincoln County Process, a traditional charcoal filtering method. When I spotted a 50ml mini bottle, I figured—why not…
Update: Watertown Coconut Whiskey
While summer hasn’t officially said goodbye, fall is already making its presence known—school is back in session, September is a weekend away and the air is turning crisp. As we ease into the new season, I wanted to take a moment to share an update and reflect on the one whiskey I kept coming back…
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Isn’t this miniature bottle just the cutest? It’s a scaled-down replica of their patented Willett pot still, expertly crafted by Vendome Copper and Brass. I went with the 50ml version — a perfect intro size since I hadn’t tried it before. Let’s dive in! Nose: oak and vanilla Palate: creamy, woody, and vanilla Finish: smooth…