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"So the middle ground answer reminds us that reflection is continuous with practice, and our practice can go worse or better according to the value of our reflections." —Simon Blackburn Redwood Empire seems to have hit a stride, and the Amongst The Whiskey writers have been doing their best to keep up with the steady stream of recent releases . I, for one, will never complain about a craft distillery consistently pushing out innovative expressions. This particular release, however, was done rather quietly, and for the briefest of moments, I had concluded the release was simply a label update. After debunking that assumption, I moved quickly into curiosity. What was this middle child of Pipe Dream, one of Redwood Empire's core offerings, all about, and how would it stand out amongst its already well-favored siblings, flagship, and cask strength ? Contrary to perhaps another well-warranted assumption, this offering is not just a slightly higher (or lower, depending on your point of reference) proofed Pipe Dream. There are slight but notable differences that may help you justify the slight but noticeable price difference. As described on Redwood Empire's website : Maintaining a four-grain mashbill, this reserve expression showcases older whiskey stocks, more of our own grain-to-glass distillate, and is cut at a higher proof. The result is a craft whiskey with elevated aromas, rich textures, and bold flavors. Currently, Pipe Dream seems to be the only offering available in the 101 reserve expression. Still, I think it's safe to assume Redwood's bourye, Lost Monarch, and rye, Emerald Giant, will eventually follow suit. Although, if there's one thing you and I can learn from this review, other than how this whiskey is going to rate, is that when we assume, we only make an ass out of u and me . So, it is with this mindset that I will move forward with this tasting with no assumptions or expectations! Company on Label:  Redwood Empire Whiskey Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 73% corn, 19% rye, 5% malted barley, 3% wheat Proof:  101 ° Age:  5 years (a blend of 5-15 year old bourbons from California, Indiana, and Kentucky) MSRP: $55.99 (2025) Further Identification:  This is batch one of Redwood Empire's 101 reserve expression with a release date of November 2024 Nose:  This is undeniably bourbon. Caramel, vanilla, and oak dominate the nose. It's a predictable combination, like unwrapping a stick of butter from its wax paper. While the aromas are enjoyable, they seem to be a bit muted. With a bit of warmth and swirls, a few additional notes release from my glass: a long spiraling peel from a red delicious apple, a crack of black pepper, and the inside of a Tupperware container filled with a kiddo's backyard treasures of grass, dirt, and ladybugs. It's an odd mix of aromas if I'm being honest. Perhaps a taste will coalesce these disjointed smells. After a few sips, I find less cohesion and more confusion: floral tones leaning towards lavender and rose and, as the liquid grows lower, the scent of old books in a small and stuffy used bookstore. Perplexed, I am, but not offended. The core of this expression is absolutely bourbon. The empty glass smells of tootsie roll wrappers, dried flowers, and a restaurant candy dish filled with chalky stale after-dinner mints. Palate:  Vanilla and caramel glide across my tongue as cinnamon and clove shimmer through the familiar duo. The tastes are creamy at first, but all too quickly the flavors fall flat. A tartness, like sipping a stale can of bubbly lemon water dominates midpalate. The finish is hotter than I anticipated, too, given the proof point. As I sip along, I encounter much of the same experience: a pop and quick deflation in flavors, reminding me of an empty bowl of what was once vanilla ice cream with melted whipped cream pooling at the edges. Late in the glass, a fruit characteristic shows up: blackberry, which offers a bit of excitement until the oak spice washes away the delicate flavor. The final sip is void of any further evolution and is primarily dominated by a mixture of grassy spice. TL;DR: classic tastes of bourbon that wish to be more but can't figure out how Rating:  3/5 Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. Fans of a solid daily sipper will likely be inspired to reach for this slightly kicked-up version instead of the flagship Pipe Dream. Personally, I could go either way. The 101 offers more of Redwood Empire's distillate, but I think the blending process needs a bit of fine-tuning. I'll be curious to taste future releases to see how this expression evolves, assuming more releases are forthcoming in the vast landscape of middle ground .   Buy Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

Buffalo Trace's 2nd bourbon mash bill features releases such as Ancient Age, Rock Hill Farms, Blanton's, Hancock's Reserve, and this bottle - Elmer T. Lee. The legendary master distiller who revived a slowly fading industry passed away at the ripe old age of 93. The distillery continues to honor Elmer T. Lee by producing his namesake single barrel sour mash bourbon. Often the biggest complaint I hear about this bottle is its availability. It is absolutely factual that the demand for this brand far outpaces its supply. I've been drinking and searching for this bottle and its counterparts for a handful of years, only to turn up this singular bottle in the last 5. It was fortunately won in a raffle from a store who charges right at MSRP, so I am able to enjoy this ~$30 bourbon without reluctantly shelling out for costs at or approaching secondary (which are exorbitant). If you've had this bourbon before - what's the most you'd pay for a bottle? Drop me a comment at the bottom of this page. I'm curious! Now that I've explored this bottle a few times before, I'm ready to give it a fair shake here. Let's get into this review. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye ~10-12%) Proof: 90° Age: NAS (though the age of Elmer T. Lee is rumored to be around 9-14 years) Further identification: This is a 2020 release as known from time of purchase as well as the laser code (L20...) Link: Buy Elmer T. Lee Bourbon Nose: Right away prevalent fruit sweetness wafts from the glass. Cherry, candied apple and strawberry are notable in the medley. Deep inhales produce a slightly synthetic vanilla. My nose perceives zero evidence of the presence of alcohol in this glass. Light biscoff cookie and bright black pepper sit in the nostrils. The nose-feel overall is slightly drying and thin. The notable absence of the fruit from the start removes most of the excitement from the glass. Nearly imperceptible wafts of caramel seem to hang up somewhere in the glass. Let's have a sip. Coming back from a sip I find much more oak that was hidden behind the sweeter smells. Black pepper continues to be prominent. Overall there doesn't seem to be anything remarkable or unique about this particular barrel except for its incredible approachability. I think even a first time drinker could find something to like here. Late in the glass some subtle floral tones produce white flowering scents. The empty glass smells of soft caramel bread and warm air tinged with the metallic skeleton of a big city. Palate: Yum - buttercream frosting and sugar cookie flavors jump onto the tongue. These tastes sit there in an oily pool with visions of bakery treats sitting atop parchment paper. The mouth feel is thin but creamy similar to how light proof Irish whiskeys usually feel. Another sip builds up bigger cherry skin, vanilla and ladyfinger notes. A larger sip and swish produces some decent heft for 90 proof giving off vanilla bean ice cream and sweet tart vibes. There's just a hint of some raspberry and tannic fermented fruit in the linger. Everything in the glass continues to be creamy and soft. The most delicious flavors start to appear near the bottom of the glass when strawberries and cream begins to produce softly with a sweet cereal backbone. This flavor proves to be fleeting in my final sip which shows up again with simple cherry skins. The finish adds sweet raspberry and slightly smoky vanilla. Rating: 3/5 ( Decent. I can go either way on it. ) Holistically unremarkable - this pour did have a few bright spots when sweet fruits delivered clear as day. I could certainly see this release getting lauded by those who value an easy sipper. I ultimately don't find it to be worth chasing personally, though I would definitely grab it at MSRP again if I had the chance. Cheers!

I filled this glass just a bit more than I usually like to; I usually try to review a pour that starts right at the transition of the bulb on a proper glencairn glass. Sometimes less is more, and things can be either overpowering or muted at too full of a glass. But it's been a long day, and I'm ready for one good pour before probably an early to bed night tonight! Cheers. Company on Label: The Old Grand-Dad Distillery Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 63% Corn, 27% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 114 ° Age: NAS Further identification: This is distilled at Jim Beam & lists "Lot No. 1" on the back of the label Link: Buy Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon Nose: Dusty nut shells at the start. Light leather and pepper spice. Powerful dustiness that overwhelms the nose. Faint berries hang around a caramel base. A musty paper note only sticks around for a brief moment before settling into more oakiness than anything else. After a little while in the glass, things are smoothing out well and vanilla is starting to dominate more. A bit of meaty allspice can be dug up on deep inhales. Time for a sip. After a sip, the vanilla characteristics are much more pronounced and the glass noses more smoothly. More pepper is there now, but again lighter. This opens up very well after some time in the glass. It was darker and musty at the start, but now it's just a solid, standard bourbon bouquet of aromas. Much less of the Beam nuttiness than I was expecting. The palate and finish are really the highlight of this pour, which will certainly help its score. The empty glass smells like chocolate, plum, and raisin. Palate: Wow, much sweeter than the nose let on. Things start out with a very tart cherry that brings with it a good bit of spice and a strong Kentucky hug. The linger carries a lot of the cinnamon hots you usually get out of higher proof 'spicier' cherry profiles. There are some rye spice funky bits very well hidden in the cracks of the syrupy cherry flavor wheel. Another sip reveals lovely vanilla, rye spice, and caramel. Molasses is a bit metallic, but it's instantly more overwhelmed with the thick cherry mouth coating. This is a powerful pour at 114 proof. There is a solid mouth coating, and the flavors that come with it are quite tasty. It's not bursting with impossible layers of complexity, but it is also certainly not bland in any way. The profile sticks to its guns all the way through. Powerful cherry, caramel, cinnamon hots, and some pepper spice are the highlights of the experience. There was also a brief, wild rising linger of nutmeg that took me by surprise on an exhale. If you wanted to check if your taste buds are working effectively, give this a try. It's powerful in a great way. Rating: 3/5 If you're still paying attention down here, you might be saying: "Nick, a 3/5 AND an Amongst the Whiskey stamp of approval?" Yes. This is the perfect representation of a whiskey that doesn't really overly impress me per se, but I would love to keep around for what it delivers for me. It's got some great flavors that I think deserve to be experienced, but don't go in asking for the moon from this one. I also really wanted to try this in a review to sort of qualify myself for an upcoming private barrel group experiment that utilized an Old Grand-Dad 114 base. Keep your eyes peeled for that review soon!

A single barrel of whiskey, aged to perfection (ideally) and bottled to be sold and appreciated by the whiskey world at large. This all sounds pretty common for a distillery, right? But not every barrel bottled is directly from a single barrel, and more often than not, there's a master blender hard at work alchemizing the perfect blend from various barrels of whiskey. With the rising popularity of blending amongst brands known exclusively for their blending skills and the subsequent success of those efforts, it makes sense to wonder: has the gleam of a single barrel lost some of its shine as a result? Single barrels are much more than meets the eye. Once the barrel is filled, the magic begins as it ages, and the home of said barrel matters significantly. While craft distilleries are less likely to offer single barrel offerings as they make a name for themselves in this hugely competitive market, the likes of Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and Old Forester offer single barrel programs as a way of life, it seems. With so many options available, how does one pick and choose? As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details, and she sure loves her whiskey. She also recommends (the devil, that is, not me—I cringe like I just sipped High West Campfire whenever I refer to myself in the third person) focusing on the warehouse, the floor, and where you are purchasing your single barrel. The location of where the barrel rests affects the taste, especially if the warehouse is heat cycled, as some are on the Old Forester campus. Additionally, what floor the barrel hangs out in the warehouse can affect the depth of interaction between whiskey and wood. Lastly, if you're unable to try before you buy, following and supporting a store and/or reviewer you trust is a must. Paying attention to all three will likely result in less regret and get you excited for upcoming releases from the bigger guys, like the distillery featured today. Affectionately named " Strawberry Krunch, " this particular Old Forester single barrel gained quick popularity a few years back and has developed a bit of a cult following ever since. When Nick offered to send a sample my way for an honest review, I agreed without hesitation, which is no surprise. So we decided to up the ante and offer our readers an Amongst The Whiskey first—a live review with both of us on YouTube . We talk about the variability in single barrels, the overproof experience of drinking these at barrel strength, and the rare magic when a warehouse K single barrel comes together in sweet perfection. While yours truly (me, Jes, on right in the video above) prefers the written word, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Nick about this barrel pick. I hope the additional content compliments your reading experience of my notes below! Company on Label:  Old Forester Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages:   70% corn, 18% rye, 10% barley Proof:   129.7° Age:  NAS                                                                          Further identification:   Warehouse K, Floor 6, Barrel 6618; this is a collaboration pick that Mass Bourbon Alliance  was invited to taste alongside the Liquor Junction team Nose: Not at all what I was expecting, and in a very good way. There's great volume, the proof is obviously high, but it's confidently gentle, like someone explaining a passion of theirs when asked. The nose is remarkably creamy, supporting vanilla and caramel through a soft, milky undertone. The fruit is evident, with strawberries ripe for the picking in a field partially shadowed by a line of towering oak trees. I could sit here nosing for much longer than most other Old Forester single barrels I've tried, but my tastebuds are begging for a sip! Returning to the nose after a taste or two takes me back to my childhood home, where I sat at the kitchen table with my mom, slicing strawberries on top of her cornflake cereal before splashing milk into her bowl. Late in the glass, more wood spice and cinnamon emerge, but the sweet fruit is still there. The empty glass walks me through a mudroom and outside to a campfire with glowing embers and roasted s'mores. Palate:  Oh, the symmetry from nose to palate is just lovely. Creamy vanilla and fruit, with a warming cinnamon and pepper spice. It's effervescent and poppy, with a wonderful back-of-throat heat. A second sip reminds me of strawberries dipped in melted chocolate drying on a sheet of wax paper. There's an all over tongue tingles with toffee sweetness that has me eager to sip some more. Late sips reveal more heat on the tongue and a smidge of oak drying. The fruit is a bit buried now by spice, but in a way that feels inevitable for an almost empty glass. The last sip is like a big hug goodbye and a genuine thank you for stopping by . TL;DR: expect fruit-forward flavors without a blown-out palate Rating:  4/5 ( Really good. I want one of these on my shelf. ) Holy smokes, I am shocked by this Old Forester single barrel. Historically, these pours come across as very hot for me, but this palate was well-balanced and incredibly approachable. My disbelief of the proof drinking much lower than stated and the flavors swirling about my mouth bumped this usually "let down" whiskey into a wish to have it on my shelf. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen, but I'm grateful to have a sense of hope now—perhaps Old Forester single barrels are not all fire water after all! If this review has you on the hunt, you can buy Old Forester barrel strength bourbon here . WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

Often regarded as one of the best whiskey releases every year by whiskey enthusiasts near and far, George T. Stagg is a hyper-aged bourbon out of Buffalo Trace. Part of the annual release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC for short), this is always a focal point of the 5 bottle spread. The other highly allocated bottles that are part of the antique collection include William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare 17 year, Sazerac 18 year, and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac rye. People go crazy for this stuff - mostly because it's limited, but also because these bottles do usually contain some of the finest stocks from the Buffalo Trace distillery. Last year, I was fortunate enough to score all 5 of these releases which I individually reviewed and also ranked based on preference . George T. Stagg took the clear win from 2022, but unfortunately I'm not in the same position to look at the entirety of the 2023 lineup this year. While I can't host an extravagant 2023 BTAC tasting this year, I do have a full bottle of this years George T. Stagg, but it's been disappearing fast since just before Christmas when I opened it with my dad and my cousin. I opened it to raise as a toast after I tagged into a really nice 8 point, 180 pound buck in Massachusetts' primitive firearms season. After field dressing and getting the deer out of the woods for processing into this years food, we clinked glencairn glasses to celebrate another one of life's beautiful little moments - something we should all spend more time doing. Like a shared passion for music, or the comradery that forms around spending countless hours on countless days in the woods, whiskey is a community vessel that has the power to transform experiences. The right pour with the right people can be a magical performance. It's a low level form of alchemy for those who understand it. Put a good whiskey in the wrong company however, and you get the unfortunate transmogrification of gold turning to lead. Many glasses have been shared in my life thus far, and the heart always knows which direction the reaction is going in. A toast to an amazing day in the woods When I'm not sharing, hunting or hiking, I do still write at length about whiskey for this website, believe it or not. I've written about Stagg (junior and prior vintages) quite a bit before, sometimes covering the history of the brand and where the name came from. If you're not familiar, I expect you'll find a lot of answers in the search results linked above. Ready to get into this year's George T. Stagg with me? Let's go! Company on Label:  Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type:  Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof:  135° Age:  15 years (& 3 months) Further identification:  The 2023 release of George T. Stagg finally comes with an NFC tag under the foil lid at an MSRP of $125, with further specs being laid out in the annual release letter: Nose:  Bold oak is the first thing that can be discovered when raising the glass to the nose. Brown sugar, buttermilk biscuits, and deep-stinging allspice all follow in a warm, aromatic, proofy wave. Hints of tropical beaches enter the mind as coconut husks and funky, overripe pineapple scents ride the undercurrent. A swirl of the glass unleashes more potent oak, toeing the line of being too pungent and devolving into a cleaning agent smell. It's leathery at times and loaded with creamy marshmallow and vanilla at others, suggesting good complexity abounds. As I sip off the air that hangs above the liquid with my nostrils, I find the aromas to be slightly fleeting and thinning as more volume is exchanged between my lungs and my glencairn. Hints of saltwater taffy and soft peppermint puffs feel slightly out of place on this blend. Let's try a sip. Coming back to the nose makes maple syrup and molasses tones pop. Soft and sweet bread tones hang in the glass as it gets low, reminiscent of a simple breakfast served on a big mahogany table. The way a distinct marshmallow note ebbs and flows in and out of perception is one of my favorite parts of this glass. Overall, it's quite delicate for the proof, though I can appreciate both the highs and the lows of the nose. Deep inhales late in the glass give off a bit of a vintage whiskey vibe, perhaps due to this kind of age statement not being so commonplace today. The empty glass smells of old cork and delicious, sweet candied cherry. Palate:  My first taste illuminates the mouth with glowing embers, all 135 proof on full display. Classic cherry and red hots hit first on the tongue before the taste buds are soothed by a wooden spoonful of sugar. Touring another sip around my mouth unfortunately makes me find that cleaning agent note the nose foreshadowed; it's vaguely citrusy with unmitigated ethanol. The linger is long, with more approachable notes of nutmeg and cardamom. Sipping late into the glass shows redeeming layers of strawberry, cherry, and blackberry parfait. Patience is a virtue with this glass, as is tradition with ultra-aged whiskeys. The finish carries through blackcurrant, salty sunflower seeds, and plenty of oak that tingles the jaw slightly. At last taste, I find underripe cherry, black pepper, and a grainy bite of milk chocolate. These notes follow through to an unremarkable finish of light linen being held up by wooden clothespins on the Summer's clothes line—a dreamlike state of attention. TL;DR: Not BT's finest work, but still a special bottle for raising a toast or talking over Rating:  4/5 ( Really good; I want one of these on my shelf. ) I find that this drinks much more like a Stagg Junior batch of old... not something to be revered by whiskey enthusiasts like the 2020 release was . It's still quite good but clearly has some interesting faults throughout. As you may be able to tell by the fill level, I've sipped and shared a fair bit of this bottle already. In general, I have been finding it quite crushable—likely a positive to most—but it's not proving to be all that savor-worthy, something I personally value in my whiskey. The nose is exquisite to explore, but I don't find a lot of excitement when I sip this generally. To answer the question from the title "Is GTS still the king of the Antique Collection?"... not this year. Buy 2023 George T Stagg Bourbon Comparisons to Prior George T. Stagg Releases I set out to review the 2023 release of George T. Stagg and ended up going down a rabbit hole of comparisons to the 2022 release . I initially loved the 2022 release, rating it with my highest honor and distinction: the coveted 5/5 score AND a 'Keep Amongst the Whiskey' distinction, but as my bottle (and the bottle I sampled from a dear friend) both got lower - an odd note cropped up... apple cider vinegar . Great for your health - not most people's idea of quality on an expensive bottle of whiskey. So what happened? How could two people's bottles both start so strong and finish so wrong? The world may never know. The note has since disappeared again for me when exploring 2022, but just wanted to put that out into the universe in case anyone else is struggling with that. Comparing the nose between the 2022 and 2023 releases instantly shows that the 2022 is deeper with more rich baking spices like black pepper and more caramel tones. The 2022 however, produces that weird apple cider vinegar note I wrote about in the introduction... I can't un-smell it now that I have found it, and that makes me wonder if it had been hiding there this whole time. I guess you've been warned now, for better or for worse. Despite that note, I actually believe the 2022 is still better on the nose with all it's hookah funk. Head to head on the palate demonstrates the 2022 once again coming across bolder, perhaps warranted by the higher proof, but in a much closer race than the nose. While the 2023 pour is delicately fruity and spiced, 2022 swings in with the viscous mouthfeel of sucking on a Werther's caramel chew. It sticks to the tongue with balanced potency and excites me like an unexpected compliment. As the finish rolls through on the 2022 release, I realize just how outclassed the 2023 release is. Gingersnaps, potent maraschino cherry, and sweet caramel cookie just rolls on and on forever. If you haven't read the full review of the 2022 release, you better head there now . As for the 2020 release , that bottle is just in a different league than 2023 as well. Another top-tier pour for me. Layer in 2019 and we have a ranking shakeout thus: Ranking:   2020 > 2022 > 2019 > 2023 There was no George T. Stagg release in 2021, in case you forgot.

Stagg Junior, the younger, bolder, less refined version of George T. Stagg, is back once again in the limelight. As a dedicated self-proclaimed Stagg man, I've got my work cut out for me keeping the Stagg Hub updated, but the winter 2024 releases have since been documented. The batch under review today is coming in under the "24B" naming convention, something that has continued since Buffalo Trace Distillery decided to do their own batch numbering rather than leaving it up to whiskey enthusiasts to do the proof and laser code deciphering. Buffalo Trace has also recently moved to a three-times-per-year bottling cadence for this label, something I think has unfortunately hurt their ability to put out consistently great batches. Perhaps this decision is to compete with the likes of Booker's (4x a year) or Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (3x a year). Due to the logistical nightmare that is procuring these bottles around Christmas time, I ended up reviewing the 24C batch before I got my own bottle of 24B. I'll let that review of 24C speak for itself. Since we likely have a good while until the 2025 bottlings start hitting shelves, we've got plenty of time to slow sip our way through the latest batches and find out if they're going to end up being either a stud or a dud . If recent batches are any indication of a trend, I'd say we're in for a bit of trouble, but I'm also hopeful, as I know the team at Buffalo Trace is capable of greatness. Just look at the rating I gave this year's George T. Stagg . I even warned folks that their bourbon might just steal your girl . What do you think? Will 24B be a return to form for Stagg Jr? Take a moment, think back to your last Stagg experience, then read through the notes ahead to find out for sure! As always , I've tasted this a minimum of three times before offering my full review. Company on Label:  Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (high corn, low rye, malted barley) Proof:  127.8° Age:  NAS (rumored to be around ~8 years old) MSRP:  $70 Further identification:  The second release of Stagg Jr for the 2024 calendar year is batch 24B, released seemingly concurrent with batch 24C Nose:  Upon first lifting the glass to my nose, I find deep barrel funk, newspaper, and hard cherry cough drops. It's quite dry in the nose as I cough up some proof aversion. A warming swirl of the glass opens up to a more refreshing candor: strawberry rhubarb pie, black pepper, allspice, and a wave of brown sugar. This feels like a fairly traditional batch of Stagg Jr, with notes that are something between batch 14 and batch 15, but with a lesser inherent quality than either of them. Cherry, strawberry, cinnamon, and dry barrel funk are the most dominant aromas. After a sip, the nose presents even more funky, like a bag of cool ranch Doritos. The sour buttermilk quality quickly passes, leaving just the cornchip behind. A quick devolution results in a flat candied vanilla note remaining in the glass. Late in the experience, I begin to kick up some of those sugary-sweet tones that Buffalo Trace is known for—think Fun Dip sugar, but backdropped by something oddly savory, like barbecue sauce-coated chicken wings. If you're here for perfection, this isn't it, but I also wouldn't call this really flawed in any way. It's just well-made whiskey producing average notes. The empty glass smells of deviled eggs, nutmeg, and damp oak bark near a muddy ground. Palate:  My first taste is surprisingly flavorful given how dry the nose was presenting. Cherry cordial, cinnamon hots, and graham cracker lead the way before a warm Kentucky hug sweeps through the chest. Another sip leans in on the strawberry tones, like a glass of strawberry milk made with a little too much of the Hershey's strawberry syrup. A long sip and swish reveals raspberry tones in spades, candied sweet, as is tradition with Buffalo Trace distillate. While nothing really stands out as exceptional to my palate, there is a nuance of complexity to this pour, something that certainly puts it above some of the more one-noted, hot-mess batches of old. Sipping late in the glass is an enjoyable and comfortable ride, something I might find myself nodding off to personally. My last sip offers more strawberry sweetness and a light ganache undertone. The finish is medium to short at times, carrying raspberry and apple tart odds and ends. TL;DR: A return to traditional Stagg Jr notes, delivered at a fairly average quality level Rating:  3/5 ( Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. ) This is a Stagg Jr batch for folks who aren't picky about their Stagg Jr batches. Middle of the road quality may be fine for most home sippers, but I'd be remiss if I would pretend to tout it as their best work. Given my affinity for finding true quality and an unwavering dedication to honesty, I'll have to stick with the principles set out in my editorial policy and fairly rate this one right in the middle of my quality scale. 3/5 whiskeys are certainly passable and usually quite drinkable to most enthusiasts, but I'd prefer to see Stagg Jr in a much grander return to form than this. For 2024, I ultimately have to give the nod to the 24A release , despite only scoring marginally higher than this bottle. 24B will slide into my 11th place spot on the Stagg Hub at the time of writing, and I'll keep sharing this decent value, barrel proof bourbon with folks who will likely enjoy it more than me. Buy Stagg Bourbon Batch 24B WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

The latest release from Heaven Hill's highly coveted Old Fitzgerald decanter series comes with another drop in age after riding high at 10, 17, and 19 years on the previous 3 blends. While age statements aren't really the end-all-be-all in the whiskey world, typically brands will try to keep things roughly consistent under a house brand name like Elijah Craig, for example. Oof—perhaps I gave a tough example given the 12 year age statement on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof that has just recently been put out to pasture. This biannual bottling of bottled-in-bond bourbon features the wheated mash bill that is distilled at the Bernheim Distillery, which notably also makes Larceny bourbon. Heaven Hill did a great write-up on all things wheat, and I've covered plenty of the previous releases of Old Fitzgerald, so I'll skip to the good part on this one. Let's see how a return to the 8 year age statement does for this distillate. Company on Label:  Old Fitzgerald Distillery (Distilled at the Bernheim Distillery, which Heaven Hill has owned since 1999 ) Whiskey Type:  Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages:  68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley Proof:  100° Age:  8 years Further identification:  This is the fall 2023 Release of Old Fitzgerald, which comes in a fanciful decanter-style bottle bearing a gray label; it is available in limited quantities at an MSRP of $110 Nose:  Upon first raising the well-rested glass to my nose, a big wave of warm caramel brittle and Heath Bar wafts up the nostrils. That subtle chocolate and toffee prepares me well for black tea served in light porcelain china. Blanched slivered almonds and a hint of earthiness can be found when really digging with the nose. Overall the glass is quite light, almost airy, as I struggle to find any meaningful character to this release. On a swirl of the glass, a few flashes of barrel funk become detectable. With a severe case of the blandness setting in, I'm ready for a sip that I hope becomes this salvation this glass needs. Returning my nose to the glass reveals great woodshop aromas. Sawn and worked wood can be found in every corner of the glass. Deep inhales are puffy, bright, and laden with vanilla-laced oak. Little further complexity develops in this glass as I continue to work through my tasting. The empty glass smells of faint tobacco leaves and milk chocolate. Palate:  My first sip is quite nice and absolutely nothing like the nose. Cherry lands on the tip of the tongue first with subtle sweetness. It comes across a touch synthetic—perhaps a bit boozy & more like amaretto. The parallels to the almonds from the nose are starting to jive in the thin, short linger in the mouth. I find the introduction to be a little bit reminiscent of coffee cake biscuits; it's a touch drying, and the lightness and thinness of it leaves much to be desired. The possibility of a pairing, however, is quite strong with this. I imagine dunking this into a cup of coffee or being able to enjoy this alongside a delicate dessert and not have the whiskey or the food be overpowered. Another sip offers a few new surprises. Bright white florals like elderflower pop up in strong waves alongside dark chocolate and subtle cinnamon. Sipping and swishing further excites out far more baking spice and red fruit. I'm notably glad that this release is not as nutty as some of the previous batches. Cranberry sauce and a hint of red wine hang in the background. Raspberry layer cake approaches me in an effort to win me over to adoration for this glass, but I'm ultimately not feeling the excitement here. As I continue to explore late into the pour, the main takeaways continue to be tart, slightly tannic red berries sitting in the middle to front of the tongue before a slow spread of spice creeps outwards. Little else happens in the mouth, leaving me with a feeling of disappointment in this tame and stodgy bourbon. My last sip is a strong repeat of the same short story above—raspberry, cherry, and almond notes shine the brightest, leaving the imagination reeling and longing for more. TL;DR: A crushable one-trick pony that offers a few sweet and spice notes Rating:  3/5 ( Decent. I can go either way on it. ) This is another great example of a whiskey that has absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's completely crushable, drinkable, and enjoyable—though I know Heaven Hill is capable of so much better than this. It's utterly comfortable, like that old pair of boots that fits just right day in and day out. This fits my 3/5 score perfectly: a middle of the road bourbon. While this marks a double-slip in quality, with this release following suit with the same score as I gave to the 10 year release from earlier in 2023 , I believe Heaven Hill can once again rise to the occasion and deliver an exceptional wheated bourbon in the future. Their 17 year release was one such example of what is possible with blending prowess. Bonus Head to Head: Spring 2021 vs Fall 2023 Putting this review head to head with the Spring 2021 release (which also carries an 8 year age statement) was the most logical thing I could do since I have a bottle of each available to me. Let's not waste any time and jump right in to compare and contrast what really should be about the same. The 2021 release has a gorgeous, rich, viscous caramel and butterscotch nosefeel as soon as I put my nose in the glass. The 2021 is noticeable as being much more functionally complete as a good, neat sipping bourbon right away. Our new 8 year offering continues to be flat and light in the glass with soft hay notes. At first sip of the older release, I find a much thicker, richer mouth coating that offers delicacies of peach cobbler, nutmeg, apricot, and anjou pear. The 2021 release then continues on to carry a nice effervescence through a significantly longer linger with delicious tiramisu tones. Wow. Switching glasses to the 2023... Nope. Where the 2023 release does shine in the comparison is with the few notes it does well on the palate—notably that cherry, almond, and raspberry trifecta. Beyond that, there is a clear winner here, with the 2021 release outshining the 2023 release by a country mile. The deep undulations of the vanilla biscotti tones on the finish of the 2021 release pull drastically harder on my heartstrings. It's a much more lively bourbon and definitely the kind of whiskey I enjoy exploring. Hopefully this comparison helps! Buy Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 Year Bourbon

Press release: Echo Spirits, an Ohio distillery known for its founders' drive to produce high-quality whiskeys and rums, is proud to showcase its bourbon blending skills once again via the latest release in its highly regarded Engineer Series. Echo Spirits Engineer Series Batch 25A - Trail Mix is the evolution of a series Joe Bidinger and Nikhil Sharoff, both former engineers turned whiskey distillers, see as a bourbon blending workshop, a place to think outside the box of the regular brown spirits they produce. They take quality-sourced bourbons from other distilleries and transform them into something new and unique. Each batch is a masterpiece, with its own distinct mash bill, tasting profile, and back story. “The Engineer Series came from our desire to innovate constantly and try to surprise people,” notes Bidinger. “While our own whiskeys age, we don’t want to blindly dump barrels together and label them our own. It’s important to us to remain transparent about where our whiskey is coming from while creating something new and unique each time. “We try to treat individual whiskey barrels like ingredients in a dish. And we love to use different ingredients each time.” For the Engineer Series, which debuted last year, the distillery team experiments with various combinations until they find that final sweet spot they can engineer into something special. As all this blending comes together, so does the batch's name. For Echo Spirits, the tasting notes lead to visualizations of how a particular bottling might come to life in something they are doing, such as smoking a cigar or enjoying a nice dessert. Batch 25A - Trail Mix, like its Engineer Series siblings, blends elements from other distilleries - in this case, it consists of two identical Kentucky-based Bardstown Bourbon Company mash bills (60% Corn/36% Rye/4% Barley), both aged over five years. What is particularly unique about it, however, is that this is an evolution of the series - one of the two components was double-oaked by Echo Spirits for an additional 1 year and 1 month by dumping that portion into low-char, heavy toast New American oak from the Speyside cooperage. “The double oak process, for us, reflects the creative expansion of the Engineer Series,” says Sharoff. “We believe that low-char, heavy toast New American oak truly provides Trail Mix with a distinctive taste profile.” Seen as an ideal whiskey for being out on the trail that drinks lower than its proof, it is like trail mix in that all the individual components taste great on their own, but blended together, they are much better. Authors note: As an engineer myself, I knew I had to have a look at this series. I love that the founders are from a similar analytical mind to my own, so I was thrilled to receive a free media sample for the purposes of this review with no strings attached. In accordance with my editorial policy , I tasted through this three times before giving it a score. Company on Label:  Blended and bottled by Echo Spirits Distilling Company, Columbus, Ohio Whiskey Type:  A blend of bourbon whiskeys Mash Bill Percentages:  60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company Proof:  113° Age:  Two barrels each aged 5 years and 8 months were utilized for this blend, and one barrel was double oaked for another 1 year and 1 month MSRP:  $59.99 Further identification:  The February 2025 batch blended two barrels, both from the same mash bill from Bardstown Bourbon Co, 58% of which consisted of a double oaked barrel, and 42% from an untampered with barrel; it yielded 357 bottles Nose:  On first lifting the glass to my nose I find oodles of chocolate presenting level and creamy. It's relatively simple from here, but the soft and fluffy feel in the nose is ultra-comfortable to inhale deeply on. Thoughts of a warm fire come to mind as a soft flame flickers on a warming marshmallow. Coming back after a few sips builds out a good bit of linen and nylon that reminds me of a nice hiking pack, loaded to the brim with camping gear. The empty glass smells of metal barrel rings and fresh wood construction. Palate:  As I take my first sip, I'm surprised by a potent delivery of peanut brittle across the tongue, reminiscent of some profiles you might find out of Jim Beam distillate. Another sip after a long rest amplifies vanilla bean and heavy cream which is vaguely impressive. Sipping late in the glass confirms the simplicity that the nose suggested, but I find the most clear M&M flavor that also confirms this project was titled correctly. It's a sweet sipping bourbon without being cloying, but the whiskey consistency is a touch thin for my preference. My last sip carries a bit of underlying fruit that wasn't apparent before, without ever materializing into something that can be directly identified. TL;DR: Simple, straightforward, flavorful bourbon that drinks well below proof Rating:  3.5/5 ( Good enough. There's something to enjoy here. ) This is a great bottle, not because the whiskey inside is some exceptional masterpiece (which, I know, I always yearn for), but because it offers a really distinct flavor profile at an affordable cost. For just 60 bucks, I'd be pleasantly surprised with the whiskey within, blended from Bardstown Bourbon Co stocks. This feels like one of the better bottles that you could stuff in your pack for a hiking trip to have a nice, flavorful sip at the end of your journey. While I probably won't be seeking out a bottle myself, I'm grateful to have discovered Echo Spirits out of Columbus, Ohio, and I look forward to seeing what their own still is capable of in the future. Looking for barware? Check this out. WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

If you look on the inside of your bottle of 2024 William Larue Weller, you will notice the vintage portrait of a fine Kentucky gentleman. That's William Larue Weller himself, the man who inspired the bourbon namesake you still see today. The story is much richer than just what is told through this blend of 12-14 year wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace, though, and we can turn to wonderful resources like Whiskey University to achieve a deeper understanding of the Kentucky legend who invented a whole new category of bourbon. Hidden portrait of William Larue Weller Often credited with being the first to use wheat in place of rye in his bourbon mash bill, William Larue Weller's story is deeper and more reverent than a simple marketing slogan such as " Honest whiskey at an honest price." This was the message that William, now a veteran of the Mexican War by this time, used in his first whiskey business venture he endeavored on with his brother Charles. Located on 8th Street between Jefferson and Liberty , William Larue Weller & Brother would later become W.L. Weller & Sons as William built a family with his wife, Sarah B. Pence. The Wellers would purchase whiskey on the open market and even contracted large lots from distilleries like the Stitzel Brothers in Louisville and the Old Joe Distillery in Anderson County. You may recognize some of the brands they put out still today because of the reputation these whiskeys carried for quality. Preserved bottles of Mammoth Cave and Cabin Still are still highly sought after by collectors, drinkers, and afficionados far and wide. They were expert marketers and advertisers but ultimately built their reputation on quality. One of the more notable moments in William's business history was employing the 19 year old Julian "Pappy" Van Winkle as a salesman. With some sage advice from a long career in the whiskey world, William slowly tapered off his involvement in the business, leaving his two sons George and William Junior as partners in his stead. With John and Lee Weller also employed by the business, and Julian Van Winkle in loyal service of their vested interests, William retired in 1896. His retirement was fairly short lived, when he ultimately died in 1899 as a result of heart complications related to an asthma condition. He is buried in Louisville's Cave Hill Cemetery, the final resting place of many of Kentucky's famous whiskey barons that built the state into the bourbon capital of the world. Today, Buffalo Trace honors this rich history by keeping William Larue Weller as their namesake for their once-a-year Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Their other wheated bourbon offerings that are available throughout the year include: Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller Full Proof, Weller 12 Year, Weller C.Y.P.B. and Weller Single Barrel. Ready to find out if the 2024 William Larue Weller release is worth hunting for? Let's dive in for a full review! Company on Label:  Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed wheated mash bill Proof:  125.8° Age:  12 years and 6 months (a blend of 12-14 year old barrels) MSRP:  $150 Further identification:  The 2024 release of William Larue Weller is detailed in their yearly release letter: Nose:  Upon first lifting the glass to my nose, I find the rich, old, funky barrel proof whiskey that we've come to know and love from Buffalo Trace. It leads with molasses, prune juice, coffee cake, and heavy leather aromas that tantalize and excite. Black tea tones proliferate after a long rest. As deep inhales continue to plunder the depths of the whiskey, I'm reminded of some fantastic allspice dram cocktails I've had the pleasure of tasting. Overall, this leans in on the darker wood influence tones: think molasses, maple syrup, brown sugar, and tons of leather. Black pepper and flashes of cherry cordial build up a powerful foundation for this pour. Returning to the nose after a few sips reveals a touch of ground wheat, stonework laced with climbing vines, and oodles of caramel. I'm continuously surprised by potent new complexities like vanilla extract and slivered almonds as I sit patiently with my pour. Late in the glass, I find a kiss of burrata amongst the continuous wood and fruit tones. The empty glass smells of well-made Kentucky bourbon, which I assure you, is resolute praise. Palate:  On first sip, I'm immediately impressed by a fruit-forward, viscous mouth coating that instantly has me salivating. Cherry cordial dominates up front before eggnog pie and gingersnaps plaster in a sugary sweet dessert vibe. Another quick sip reveals some hefty but balanced age as earthy clay tones, brown sugar, and bountiful level oak bounce around the mouth. The feeling is that of thick, rich quality, reminiscent of a bygone era of traditionally lower barrel entry proofs. As I continue to work through the glass, a lovely evolution occurs as the profile transitions from the dark wood tones and the sugary bits to a delicate and bright floral scene. I love this kind of experience. I find myself walking through a greenhouse full of potted plants. I'm slowly nibbling on a scone as I bask in the warm sunlight filtering through fronds and foliage. The linger is incredibly long here, delivering fruit in spades. I find strawberry to be in the greatest abundance, as raspberry and pear follow close behind. My last taste is solidly satisfying, as the rest of this glass was, as strawberry parfait tones slowly ooze across my taste buds in the patient, delicate, and prolonged finish. TL;DR: A solidly delicious Kentucky straight bourbon that edges out most of the proximal releases Rating:  4/5 ( Really good. I want one of these on my shelf. ) This is the kind of whiskey you pull out for your friends when they come to visit you. It excites the palate and transports the patient observer right to the middle of a Kentucky rick house. Is this profile unmatchable, or the pinnacle of whiskey royalty? No, and I'm not sure it was trying to be when you look at how good this year's George T. Stagg release was. The wheated mash bill feels a bit washed out in all the barrel influence from this 12-14 year old barrel blend. I wish the spec sheet was a little more transparent personally, but it's a small qualm for a delicious bourbon despite how unreasonably hard it is to get for most people. If you're one of the small subset of folks with a bottle in hand, I hope this review has convinced you to open and enjoy it! Buy William Larue Weller here. WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

There are four batches of Stagg Junior that were released for 2024. I thought it was a joke, a meme, or possibly even a scam when I first saw the "24D" label show up on the internet. After careful diligence, I discovered it was actually legit. Will we see 5 batches in 2025? I hope not. As the resident Stagg man , I'd have my hands (and my palate) quite full with such an endeavor. Invariably, with change comes questions. Does 4 batches mean there will be significantly higher distribution? Can Buffalo Trace fans actually expect to find this one on the shelf now? Will the team be able to uphold the same level of quality they have achieved with previous batches back when the cadence was two per year? Questions like these certainly deserve answers, and sometimes you just have to taste to seek them out. That's what I've done for you, my dear reader, so let's dive in! Company on Label:  Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (high corn, low rye, malted barley) Proof:  127.4° Age:  NAS (rumored to be around ~8 years old) MSRP:  $70 Further identification:  The fourth surprise release of Stagg Jr for the 2024 calendar year is batch 24D Nose:  Upon first lifting the glass to my nose, I find a dry candy sweetness, something like sneaking a box of Mike and Ike into a movie theater. Another inhale offers that same profile of sugary sweetness with a slight addition of dried pear and a bit of apple skin. It's bright, eye-watering, and unbearably proofy in the nose as deep inhales lean into an odd lemon Pledge smell, transporting me to a recently cleaned bathroom. This is an odd one already... Further inhales produce a nice brown sugar aroma that pairs nicely with the smell of a warm cinnamon raisin bagel slathered with butter. Further deep dives smell like the warm air above a heavily chlorinated indoor pool—reminding me of an old YMCA I used to go to as a kid, a place I hadn't thought about in quite some time. After a few sips, there is a really distinct cinnamon characteristic that borders on the potency of an amburana finish. Late in the glass is funky, like good old bourbon from deep in the rick house tends to be, but I can't quite say I'm too thrilled with the overall nosing experience. The empty glass smells like sweet tarts and a warm baked cherry pie. Palate:  My first sip is potent, landing something like a big plate of Mexican food: refried beans, rice, and chicken taquitos come across surprisingly savory. Another sip is more classically bourbon: vanilla hits the tongue first before spreading into cinnamon and nutmeg tones. Everything about this is surprisingly light in flavor, yet potent on the ethanol, which is contradictory to the quality of great old Stagg Junior batches I am used to. Normally these are massive on the flavor knob and quite easy to pick apart for notes, but this glass is being quite shy. Later in the experience, I find a simple cherry note that feels obvious to mention but is really the only reportable impression I can find. The linger is quite smoldering at times, as classic flavors you can find in just about any Kentucky straight bourbon tumble across the tongue. Your vanilla, cherry, and caramel tones are here in descending order of intensity. My last sip offers clove, cinnamon, and brown sugar. The glass finishes with a sticky tingle in the gums of simple syrup, mint, and cherry hots. TL;DR: Another quotidian, mid-tier release that fails to live up to past successes Rating:  3/5 ( Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. ) This is another quite drinkable release from Buffalo Trace, but the light color and light flavor have me wondering what is going on in the quality control department. There's really nothing impressive about it; no eyebrows raised, no darting glances to confirm the reality of the present sipping situation, just an okay bourbon in my glass. I always review neat pours of whiskey out of a glencairn glass, but I'm always interested to see new innovations for cocktails and beyond as well. I'm curious to hear, what are some of your favorite whiskey glasses to drink out of? WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

Let's talk whiskey! If you're thinking, "of course, that's why I'm here," then bravo to you for your time and intentions. Yes, whiskey is what is discussed here, and sometimes I let my excited self run off on the sentences that I type. Passion, people. That's what keeps us grounded and alive. Like gravity pulling the moon to the earth and the earth to the moon, we humans need passion (and gravity, so perhaps gravity is passion). But I'm no astronomer. I'm a writer who will reign in her innate draw toward metaphors. Today, my dear reader, I'm exploring one of the many facets of whiskey and focusing on brands that are pouring passion into what they do without necessarily distilling what we drink. In other words, we're exploring sourced whiskey! New England Barrel Company  is a non-distiller producer (NDP) that has shone bright, like the stars in our night sky (you saw it coming), since it was founded in 2020. James Saunders, founder and CEO, has taken his company from bottling single barrels to offering blended small batch and cask strength options to opening a tasting room in Reading, Massachusetts, where you can taste and purchase the small batch and cask strength blends. But wait, there's more! For a hands-on experience, Nick , my fellow Amongst The Whiskey writer, offered his experience on the one-of-a-kind fill-your-own bottle program launched in 2025, something you should definitely put on your bucket list if you find yourself in New England. It's certainly on mine. As the landscape of whiskey continues to grow with brands and distilleries looking to optimize their stock and market in an enticing way to the oversaturated consumers, it's necessary to take control of what we, as whiskey enthusiasts and appreciators, put in our glass. Quality goes well beyond what is stated on a label or price on the barcode, for we all know to never judge a book by its cover. New England Barrel Company has its heart in the right place, with values grounded in transparency and honesty, which I explored further in my first experience with this brand . For now, let's dive into the heart of New England Barrel Company and give two of its four core offerings a try: the small batch bourbon and rye. Oh, also, for those who are detail-oriented, like me, the labels between the bourbon and rye do not differ much, so pay attention to the color of the roofs on the lighthouses and the font color of the proof (red for bourbon, green for rye), and, of course, the word bourbon or rye after small batch at the bottom. Okay. Onward! New England Barrel Company Small Batch Bourbon Company on Label:  New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type:  Straight bourbon whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of two mash bills: 75% corn, 21% rye, and 10% barley plus 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% barley Proof:  100 ° Age:  3 years MSRP: $36.99 (2025) Further Identification:  From conversations with the founder, James, he informed me this batch is partially sourced from Green River Distilling, formerly the OZ Tyler Distillery out of Owensboro, KY Tasting notes Nose:  What you expect from bourbon right out of the glass. Vanilla and caramel forward,, a kiss of cherry cordial syrup and a hint of cracked black pepper. These aromas have good volume, with deep inhales that produce richer vanilla tones, soft oak spices, and a touch of green tea. I find myself leaning back with a faint smile on my lips. As I sit with my glass, the aromas evolve into a deeper version of themselves. They are well-balanced and very lovely to share my time with. Speaking of time, it's time to sip! Returning to the glass after a few tastes has focused in on the aromas. The vanilla, caramel, and sweet cherry notes I found initially seem to have filled into the very edges of their capacity. It's well balanced, even as the liquid grows low. Creamy cr è me brûlée pops up with a few late-in-the-glass swirls; I also find a gentle whiff of molasses for a curtain call of aromas that totally makes sense. The empty glass smells of hot chocolate, graham crackers, and orange peels. Palate:  Hello, vanilla hard candies; you are sweet on my tongue with a silky caramel creaminess I will never turn down. Like the nose, the palate is classic, with a lovely sprinkling of cinnamon mid-palate, integrating well with the previous flavors. It's a sip that could be Times New Roman if it were a font, sturdy and dependable; there are no frills here, but a solid go-to daily sipper. The finish is medium in length, sticks to your gums, and offers the most barrel influence on the palate, reminding me of the wooden floorboards of a porch during a winter thaw. Additional sips validate the balance in this bottle. Caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon mingle at a family party; they know each other well. No weirdness, just familiarity. As the liquid grows low, unique characteristics amplify, a bit drying on the tongue but distinctly earthy with a kiss of vanilla chamomile tea. TL;DR: a sit back and relax kind of bourbon, this is an old soul sip New England Barrel Company Small Batch Rye Company on Label:  New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Straight rye whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 95% rye, 5% malted barley Proof:  100 ° Age:  3 years MSRP: $36.99 (2025) Further Identification:  This batch of rye whiskey is entirely sourced from MGP Tasting notes Nose:  As I lift the glass to my nose, I am met with what I expect from a rye, lemon, young pine trees, and baking spices. There's a warmness to this nose, like baking lemon drop cookies. A hint of bubble gum can be found, too. It's sweet forward with deeper inhales, reminding me of multi-color sprinkles tumbling out of their plastic tube. With a few swirls, the earthiness I adore on rye reveals more of itself: pine needles, clove, ginger, and a kiss of ground mustard all mark themselves as present as I move in for a sip. Returning to the glass, I find freshly baked dark rye bread, a steamy cup of chai latte, and a more pronounced bubble gum note. The empty glencairn smells of dried roses and the slightest puff of smoke from the hearth of a barbeque restaurant. Palate:  Oh, so creamy! I find lemon buttercream frosting, shimmering baking spices, buttery pie crust, and lightly toasted meringue. There's a kiss of savoriness, too, reminding me of dipping a torn-off piece of Bavarian pretzel into a side of ground mustard. The flavors aren't super in your face, not a powerhouse of spice one may be wary of with ryes, this is creamy and gentle. With additional sips, the flavors turn more herbal, mint tea specifically, and the finish leans into the bubble gum note I found on the nose, with a ginger and clove linger. I'm impressed with the mouthfeel; from beginning to end, my tongue remains coated in a creaminess that can be hard to find on a 100 proof whiskey. TL;DR: well-balanced flavors will keep your attention with this classic rye profile I think it's safe to say these two offerings from New England Barrel Company are all about achieving the classic flavor profiles found in bourbon and rye. With a reasonable price point that won't break the bank, these blends are here to prove age is just a number and quality doesn't equal exorbitant prices. If you've been hunting for whiskey that tastes great and keeps a few bucks in your wallet, keep an eye out for this brand!   WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

While the Boann Distillery isn't new—they opened up in 2019—their first self-produced and well-aged Irish whiskeys are new as of late 2024. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Gary Ring , distiller for Boann Distillery in Drogheda, Ireland, though his title in Irish might read ollamh , or master of his trade. He's one of 9 distillers ( and a distillery dog ) that make up the driving force behind the 3 copper pot stills designed and manufactured by Green Engineering in collaboration with the University of Siena in Italy. Gary and the team at Boann are crazy about their pot stills, leaning in on the nanotechnology surface coating that lines their necks and lyne arms. While also a pretty epic buzzword to throw around in their whiskey marketing, there does seem to be some science behind it. They claim up to 6 times more surface area in these critical copper interfaces, components that are there to catch sulfur compounds like mercaptans and precursors of ethyl carbamate that can spoil the final flavor of new make. "This essentially creates copper covered abrasions which create nanoscopic mounds and divots in place of the smooth finished copper. This increases the area that the alcohol vapour must cover, six-fold. Creating an environment where distilled spirit has a much greater ability to react and interact with the copper and remove any of its impurities, ultimately creating a more pristine spirit." In addition to that coating, there is also intentional innovation around the cooling jackets used on the still, encouraging better reflux behaviors. Couple this with a mash conversion vessel that tightly controls the enzymatic breakdown of sugars at varying temperatures and a quick cooling at the condenser step and you've got a base distillate this is wholly unique to Boann Distillery. The result of all this extra effort? A 2021 world's best new make award. From there, they carefully choose wood that isn't going to mess up an already great spirit. While a supermajority of the oak comes from used bourbon barrels handed down from the likes of Jack Daniel's and Old Forester, they also have a massive repertoire of interesting oak at their disposal. On top of used charred white oak, Gary mentioned barrels and butts like rum, NEOC, moscatel, marsala, fino, madeira, port, and sherry. Even one step further, he dropped non-oak varieties like juniper, chestnut, cherry, and mulberry. With enough variables to make any engineer's head spin, the mission never changes: don't overcomplicate the process and don't ruin a great copper pot distilled whiskey. The story of copper and distillation is a rich and magnificent history, one I'd be remiss not to recommend further education on. If you're keen to dive even deeper than I go on AmongstTheWhiskey.com , Gary recommended Fionnán O'Connor's A Glass Apart for further reading. I was able to turn up a copy myself. Building upon the brand's previous successes with "The Whistler" trilogy, and now 5+ years on in their journey to their own pot still perfection, Boann is ready to take the next step into the diversifying landscape of Irish whiskey. Gone are the days of Midleton and Bushmills being the only shops in town, but producing exceptional whiskey takes a special kind of patience. We're finally seeing a delightful resurgence into the kind of distillery diversity that Ireland once had in the 1800s. We're now living through what will likely be called a blessed era for whiskey enthusiasts, as the Irish whiskey landscape begins to blossom once again, sprung forth from vibrant sources like the River Boyne. Has all this nerdy talk and pot still poetry left you thirsting in wonder about what Boann's whiskey tastes like? Let's dive into the three samples I have for a deeper examination of the quality within, from my preferred review setting, cozy at home on a snowy New England evening. Boann Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Madeira Cask Company on Label:  Distilled by Boann Distillery, Lagavooren, Co. Meath, Ireland Whiskey Type:  Single pot still Irish whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  55% unmalted (raw) barley, 40% malted barley, 3% oats, and 2% rye Proof:  94° (47% ABV) Age:  NAS MSRP:   $59 (2025) Tasting notes Nose:  This whiskey is waxy up front with some distinct character. Apricot and pear dominate the early glass, which is vibrant, bright, and light. It gives off an exuberant liveliness, not a knock on youth, but an excitement for it. It's the creative and inquisitive mind at work that leads me towards notes of apple cider doughnuts and a kiss of bananas foster. It doesn't have that instant-classic sugar cookie tone one might expect out of Midleton Irish, and that's alright, because this is supposed to stand on its own. The Madeira cask seems to have imparted little evidence of its own character, leaving the base Boann spirit on full display, something I thoroughly appreciate in this lineup. As the glass continues to develop with time, some enjoyable farm tones begin to crop up: hay from the barn, old tree bark left sitting against fertile soil, and a feeling of spring on the horizon. The empty glass has lovely umami tones like mushrooms and caramelized onions that transport me to a warm hearth with a big kettle of stew on for a low and slow all-day cook. Palate:  On first taste, this is a creamy treat—evidence of its makeup as an oily single pot still whiskey. The mouth coating is satisfyingly thick despite the thinness of the legs I observed in the glass. Sipping through, it's a surprisingly savory whiskey, something that I think the Marsala cask may play into a bit more later on in this tasting. I find a bit of brined ham, sourdough bread, and a thick smear of raspberry jam. Just a touch of a wood fire burning in a hearth warms the mind as a comfortable homecooked meal presents itself within the whiskey. Sipping late in the glass shows a lovely development, a subtle shift in character that exudes elegance and complexity—the kind of whiskey you can sit with for a few hours. Stewed plum, apricot jelly, and a kiss of nutmeg round out a wonderful sip. The finish is medium and undulating with traces of fig, buttered dinner rolls, and a touch of salinity. TL;DR: This may be my favorite of Boann's whiskeys, as the quality base distillate is on full display Boann Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Marsala Cask Company on Label:  Distilled by Boann Distillery, Lagavooren, Co. Meath, Ireland Whiskey Type:  Single pot still Irish whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  55% unmalted (raw) barley, 40% malted barley, 3% oats, and 2% rye Proof:  94° (47% ABV) Age:  NAS MSRP:   $59 (2025) Tasting notes Nose:  On first lifting the glass, I find a rather plain, salty wave of aroma meeting my nose. It presents like stonework, earthy and esoteric. It's like camping, simple and full of unecessary struggle. The nose imparts a feeling, however, and that feeling is crystalline clear as a string of pearls satiates the eyes when the other senses lack awareness. No matter how I dig and dig here, the glass falls catatonic at every step of the way. The empty glass smells of winter wind. Palate:  On the tongue, I find much more vibrancy and contrast than the nose let on. This is uber umami, with pervasive mushroom tones, prosciutto, and sticky raisin coating the tongue in cast iron oddities. Subsequent sips regale me with tales of sailing the high seas as subtle sea salt tickles the taste buds. With this expression, the finishing cask is much more prevalent, though for my personal tastes, I think this is a slight detriment, as the Marsala cask is imprinting more of those tamarind and brown sugar notes that feel a bit forced and disjointed from the base whiskey. While fine enough sipping, I find myself reaching for water as this one leaves a squeeze of lime in a cocktail that didn't call for it. On my last taste, I find sawdust and tobacco, again a bit at odds with the overall profile, lacking the cohesiveness of a great whiskey. The finish is medium with a slow descent into salty madness. TL;DR: This one falls a bit flat for me personally, as I find myself yearning to move on Boann Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey P.X. Cask Company on Label:  Distilled by Boann Distillery, Lagavooren, Co. Meath, Ireland Whiskey Type:  Single pot still Irish whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  55% unmalted (raw) barley, 40% malted barley, 3% oats, and 2% rye Proof:  94° (47% ABV) Age:  NAS MSRP:   $59  (2025) Tasting notes Nose:  Ah, that liquid dessert. This immediately feels like old-school sherry, as notes of honey, saccharine tangerine, and leather immediately boast an age statement that this whiskey alone could not support. It's oily in the nose with sticky dates getting caught in the mind. Late in the glass, aromas of chocolate, raspberry, and red velvet cake come together in perfect harmony. The empty glass smells of dates (first dates to be specific) and honey butter. The empty glass smells of chocolate mousse, salted caramel, and bread pudding. Palate:  At first taste, the nose quality is completely confirmed as plum, fig, raisin, and thick honey. The mouth coating is divine here, boasting the same consistency as a jar of great local honey. Surprise tickles of white pepper dance in the linger. Subsequent sips tell such a sweet story, one that harkens back to one of my go to arguments that using sherry casks is like whiskey cheat codes. It's so sweet it shocks the gums, as hints of bubblegum and tarragon round out a potent sip. My last taste exudes consistency as plum, raisin, and honey roll across the tongue. The glass finishes sticky sweet, like a savored piece of baklava. TL;DR: While this is a simpler whiskey than the madeira cask, it's still utterly delicious The future looks bright for Irish whiskey. With distillers paying careful attention to the old ways while also leaning in on the latest technical innovations, we're on the precipice of reentering into an era of quality over quantity. Ultimately it's single pot still Irish whiskey producers like Boann that will galvanize this mindset—hopefully in copper. WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.