Reviews

“If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.” – Anatole France What do you do when one of your favorite local liquor stores has a bottle of Stagg Junior hiding in plain sight? First, you confirm it's available for sale at a reasonable price, and then you pop it with the folks at the shop, of course! That's exactly what I did with my friends over at Curtis Liquors in Weymouth, MA when I found this batch 25B hiding in the lockup case. With the foil peeled and cork

“Life, if well lived, is long enough.” – Seneca In the era of glamour shots of unopened bottles, few dare to tell the tale of what's inside. When I saw this bottle on the shelf for a decent enough price, I knew it was going to be my Christmas dram to share with my dad, who appreciates a pour of whiskey from me every once in a while. Not only did we get to enjoy it over a remarkable game of cribbage, but I also got to share it with my cousin the next day and even sipped it wit

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” – Epictetus The history of Pappy Van Winkle is remarkable. It's a phoenix-from-the-ashes story when you look back at the struggling family label that managed to weather a bourbon market collapse only to go on to become one of the most sought-after whiskeys on the planet. The story begins with Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle Senior, who started as a traveling salesman for W.L. Weller & Sons in 1893. By 1935,

“Thy duty, winged flame of Spring, Is but to love, and fly, and sing.” – James Russell Lowell, The Nest Count me amongst the lucky few getting to taste the 2025 release of Still Austin's yearlong project to bring us another edition of Tanager, their take on a cigar blend. This rendition, however, was done alongside the queen of this category: Nancy "The Nose" Fraley. Nancy doesn't do it the new school way; no, she does it her way. Having studied under masters in the Cognac an

Part of what makes whiskey hunting every winter so fun is the not-so-rare bourbon release like Colonel E.H. Taylor barrel proof bourbon, which shows up far more regularly than the likes of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection . This year, however, the Colonel does show up in the Antique Collection, with the addition of the E.H. Taylor bottled-in-bond expression , which is extra-aged to 15 years and 4 months and bottled at 100 proof. In preparation for addressing my top bourbo

Good Trouble Bourbon is on a mission to spread meaningful impact beyond what's inside a bottle. Founded by Dee M. Robinson, a Chicago entrepreneur and social impact advocate, the brand's focus is not just on how the bourbon tastes but also on connections and the impactful conversations you can find when you "look for good trouble"—a phrase rooted in activism and positive change. Guided by this mantra, the brand donates a portion of the proceeds from Good Trouble bourbon sale