Highland Park Cask Strength Edition No. 2

I am a huge fan of Highland Park, and I’ve had their Cask Strength Edition No. 1 before. When I recently spotted Edition No. 2 in a 50ml bottle, I obviously had to grab it. Edition No. 2 comes in at an even higher 63.9% ABV compared to Edition No. 1 at 63.3%. Let’s see…

Castle & Key Small Batch Wheated Bourbon

Castle & Key is a distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, occupying the historic and beautifully restored Old Taylor Distillery, originally built in 1887 by Colonel E.H. Taylor. This Small Batch Wheated Bourbon serves as my introduction to the brand, so let’s dive in. This whiskey is aged for five years and features a mashbill of 73%…

Johnnie Walker Black 12 Years

We’re back with another affordable whisky that’s not only good, but also easy to find. You don’t always need to spend a lot of money to enjoy a great dram, nor should you have to hunt endlessly for a bottle. One of my favorite Johnnie Walker expressions is Blue Label, but you don’t have to…

Glenglassaugh Sandend

For today’s pour, we’re heading to the coast of Sandend Bay in the Scottish Highlands, where land meets the sea and is home to Glenglassaugh Distillery. Before this, I’d only tried one other Glenglassaugh expression, Glenglassaugh Torfa, and it was fantastic. You can find that review here on my blog. Glenglassaugh Sandend takes its inspiration…

Bushmills Original Signature Blend

And just like that, we’re already in August! Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been reviewing classic American bourbons that deliver fantastic flavor without breaking the bank. One thing I’ve learned is that some of the most enjoyable pours are the ones that don’t require a big investment. Today, I’m switching things up with…

Jim Beam Black Aged 7 Years

With so many whiskey brands releasing new expressions, it’s easy to get caught up chasing the latest and greatest. And yes, I definitely enjoy doing that. But I also want to make sure I’ve covered the classic whiskies that have stood the test of time. These are the budget-friendly bottles that are still worth keeping…

Balvenie 12 Year DoubleWood

I’m a fan of Balvenie, and one of the whiskies I hadn’t gotten around to trying yet was their 12 Year DoubleWood. When I spotted it in a 50ml mini, I had to pick it up. Minis are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to sample a whisky without committing to a full…

Taconic Bourbon Cream

More whiskey brands are stepping into the Bourbon Cream space, and I’m all for it. The latest one I had the chance to try was Taconic Bourbon Cream. I recently shared my thoughts on their Double Barrel Maple Bourbon, which I really enjoyed, and this bottle proved to be just as impressive. Let’s dive in….

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…

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…

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…