Reviews

“Anything in life worth doing is worth overdoing.”  - Shane Patton Typical Maker's Mark releases get aged to taste in their traditional rickhouses for around 6 to 8 years. Maker's Mark Cellar Aged adds years to that range with a clever trick that prevents their whiskey from becoming bitter and over-oaked. By resting barrels in an isothermal limestone cave that Maker's calls their "cellar," wood interactions are slowed while oxygen continues to interact with the spirit, increa

Barrell Bourbon has returned to celebrate the new year with its annual release. Featuring a unique blend of bourbons from seven states and bottled at cask strength, this will be the 9th New Year bottling to date. For those mathematically challenged, like myself, the first release was in 2017. Now, if you ask me, these releases might as well be the Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop of blended offerings. It's a relatively well-known release, it's typically a crowd pleaser,

“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

After 10 years of limited-edition releases covering a surprising range of flavors for Wild Turkey, the brand is ready to retire the Master's Keep series. Starting in 2015 as a way to release some of their rarest and strangest stocks, the 10th and final bottling showcases a mingling of 10 year bourbon chosen by Bruce Russell and Eddie's choice 16 year bourbon. It offers a nod to the 10 years Master's Keep stood as a beacon of quality while reaching even further into Wild Turke

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

Established in 2013 as the original independent blender of cask-strength whiskey, Barrell Craft Spirits has released Batch 037, featuring some of the oldest stock seen in these annual releases to date. This is a core release in their batch bourbon lineup. Barrell Bourbon batches are the hallmark of our dedication to crafting innovatine, high-quality bourbons. Each batch is a unique expression of the art of blending, showcasing a diverse range of ages and styles. The flavor p