Reviews

If you read my write-up on Glenmorangie The Original, perhaps you were inspired to take that first step into the land of malt. If so, congratulations—you've crossed the bridge! Now that you're safely on the other side, hopefully with the realization that all Scotch doesn't have to be smoky, peaty, or intimidating, it's time to take the next step. The question now is: where do you go from here? Well, I'm glad you asked. Because the Lasanta 15 year just might be the answer. Whe

“Fishing is a delusion entirely surrounded by liars in old clothes.” –Don Marquis This is a bottle I have been hunting for some time. I'm not sure if we've historically had distribution for Old Charter Oak available in Massachusetts, but when a bottle was sitting in the glass cabinet at one of my local stores for a hair above MSRP, I pulled the trigger without a second thought. For some reason it took me a few weeks to open this one after waiting years to finally taste it. Fr

What hallmarks do you look for in small distilleries? Is there something you gravitate toward without realizing its importance until the pattern is established? Perhaps you seek out pot-still production, for example, or you look for a brand's commitment to preserving the historical ways of crafting whiskey, or you enjoy a passionate focus on local ingredients. Whatever the reason, I wonder: are consumers being too hard on the little guys who are pursuing their passions? I don

If you've been reading my website for any amount of time, you know I'm a fan of the Shenk's release from Michter's. While it has evolved and changed from year to year, it remains a consistently great addition to my whiskey study shelves, layering in a core identity that is completely necessary in today's complex whiskey market. At its core, it is a whiskey driven less by power and more by intent. It's the middle ground in the Michter's portfolio, not marketed towards general

Hatozaki small-batch whisky is one of the flagship products of the Kaikyō Distillery in Japan. It's notably not a Japanese whisky, given it seems to contain a Scotch malt whisky component, which is really interesting. When I look at a blend like this, I often consider it an opportunity for human skill to shine. In an era of maximizing distillery efficiency in order to extend profits, I find myself admiring those who are doing things in the low and slow methods of old. The bra

A thorough review of the 2025 edition of Bomberger's Chinquapin oak aged Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey from Michter's Distillery.