Reviews

Have you ever wondered what the opposite of an impulse buy is? Is it, perhaps, an impulse "walk away"? If so, I'm definitely guilty of both, although I never really considered the reasons why I impulsively walk away from a bottle. Maybe it's simply too big of a detour from what I'm used to, and the natural tendency is to go back down the road most familiar. If this resonates with you in any way, I'm going to suggest something a bit wacky and wild: take the detour. Lochs of Ju

As Cedar Ridge Distillery celebrates its 21st birthday, the 2026 Anniversary Edition offers another glimpse into how this Midwest craft distillery is shaping its identity as an Iowa whiskey producer. Last year marked the inaugural release of this anniversary edition for its twentieth year, by bringing together Iowa bourbon finished in Tokaji, Ruby Port, Amontillado Sherry, and second-use new American oak barrels. The result was a bourbon designed to tell the story of Cedar Ri

Nick Anderson's full review on Stagg Jr Batch 26B Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey covers all the details. Could this be the triumphant return we've been waiting for from the Stagg Junior lineup? Summer 2026 is shaping up very nicely in the whiskey world with this new release from Buffalo Trace.

For bourbon drinkers, the leap into single malt Scotch may seem like a big one. With that big, bad, and scary word—peat—standing between them and the category, whether for good reason or simply because of preconceived notions (hint: a lot of Scotch is unpeated!), many bourbon drinkers never give Scotch a fair shot. But for those who are malt-curious, the question then is this: where to begin? There isn't really a right way to bridge this gap, but there are perhaps wrong turns

“Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter.” –Neil Gaiman What were you up to in 2003? You might have found yourself curating the perfect iTunes mix, furiously tapping away at a flip phone, drafting a T9 text to your friend, or enwrapped in an argument over if Clay Aiken should have won American Idol over Ruben Studdard. Regardless of what you were doing, the fi

Barrell Bourbon Batch 038 arrives at a fitting moment in American whiskey. As the nation marks its 250th year, Barrell celebrates the occasion by honoring bourbon's legacy and embracing the evolution of American whiskey. Today's bourbon certainly extends well beyond its point of distillation, with thoughtful blending emerging as a respected and defining expression of American whiskey. Batch 038 captures the spirit of modern bourbon, distilled across four states, masterfully b