Reviews

“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,

“Time is the wisest counselor of all.” – Pericles Last year, I found myself holding one of my true whiskeys—the 2024 release of Michter's 20 Year. At the time when I was gearing up to open it, I asked myself a simple question: Does ultra-rare whiskey taste ultra-delicious? The answer was a resounding yes . It was a pour that bucked the foolish assumption that hyper-aged Kentucky bourbon is only capable of being a tannic mess. That bottle earned a perfect 5/5 rating, incredibl

A deep dive collaborative review of the 2025 Four Roses Limited Edition bourbon with Kyle Ganrude of @moonlightrickhouse. Kyle is a Four Roses Superfan and brings a really interesting arc to this in-depth whiskey review article.

Does whiskey get better with time? Or does it get better with change? Is it possible to separate one from the other? In theory, time aids in change. The longer whiskey ages in a barrel, the more it should change. However, more time doesn't necessarily mean better. No one wants to sip on an over-oaked whiskey. Conversely, more change doesn't necessarily mean better either. Too many cask finishes and too much disturbance can sometimes result in a disjointed flavor profile. I've

“Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and exuberance.”  - David Mamet It seems that everybody is releasing older and older...

Established in 1924 on approximately 1,000 acres of land in Fayetteville County, Kentucky, Calumet Farm has entered it's centennial era and is celebrating accordingly. How? Well, with whiskey. While Calumet Farm Bourbon did not begin 100 years ago (strike a zero and add a two and you've got it), the centennial marks Calumet Farm's breeding and racing operations of thoroughbred horses. Yes, Kentucky is known for more than bourbon, in case you've gotten too wrapped up in bourbo