Drink the Bottles

Evan Williams® Expands Award-Winning Flavors Lineup with New Evan Williams Blackberry Smooth bourbon meets ripe blackberry flavor in a fresh new nationwide release LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 12, 2026)  — Evan Williams®, the #1 American-owned Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, is bringing the flavor with the launch of Evan Williams Blackberry, a bold new flavor extension joining the brand’s award-winning lineup of flavored whiskeys. Arriving in stores across the U.S. beginning in March, Evan Williams Blackberry delivers a fresh pick for consumers looking to enjoy bourbon in new and flavorful ways. Combining Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon with ripe blackberry flavor, Evan Williams Blackberry offers a bold yet balanced taste that’s smooth, approachable, and versatile. Bottled at 65 proof (32.5% Alc./Vol.), the new expression layers juicy fruit notes with subtle caramel and a rounded bourbon finish making it easy to enjoy however the moment calls for it. “When you need a fresh pic...

Lux Row Distillers introduces Lux Row Estate Bourbon Made with corn grown onsite, the latest Lux Row variant is now available at the distillery ST. LOUIS (March 11, 2026) – A field of dreams has come to fruition. Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers is introducing Lux Row Estate Bourbon – a 5-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey made with #2 yellow corn that was grown onsite at Lux Row. Offered at 107 proof (53.5% ABV), Lux Row Estate Bourbon is now available exclusively at Lux Row Distillers at a minimum suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle. The idea for a homegrown bourbon came from Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller John Rempe, who worked with his team to identify and plant the perfect variant of corn in an 11-acre field where rickhouses 6, 7, 8 and 9 now stand. After harvest, Rempe carefully crafted the Estate recipe using a mash bill of 78% homegrown corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye. “Estate has been a true labor of love – from field to bottle – and...

  The Pacific Northwest is one of the most highly producing agriculture regions in the United States.  The cool evening climate from the Pacific ocean along with the unique multi-layered terroir creates a farmer's dream.  Back in 1934, however, locals noticed that there was an over abundance of pears and apples from the area that were going to waste, and they decided to take matters into their own hands.   Hood River Distillers has been a staple in Oregon for over 90 years, first creating fruit wines and brandies, and eventually branching out into bourbon, whiskey, tequila, gin, vodka and more.  The company distributes across the US and produces nearly 1,000,000 cases annually.  The Forthwest Whisky label currently offers four distinct expressions and three of those are flavored.  The bottle we are tasting today is Forthwest Whisky , an 80 proof blended Canadian whisky. First of all, lets talk about the packaging and specifically the bottle. ...

If you haven't heard of Shortbarrel Bourbon yet, you're either living under a rock or it isn't currently distributed where you live.  We first tasted one of their Bees Knees  bottles from a friend who bought it on a trip to Kentucky, and that first sip made us sit up and take notice.  While it isn't available in our state (yet), we've been lucky enough to find their bottles while on trips and we always look for new releases.   Three friends - Patrick Lemmond, Clinton Dugan, and Adam Dorfman - had a dream like so many whiskey enthusiasts do.  But they turned their vision into a reality and they are the founders of Shortbarrel, one of the most exciting, consistent and fast-growing brands in the past couple of years.  No detail is overlooked from the quality of the blending and/or distilling and down to the eye-catching packaging.   While the company operates a distillery in the Atlanta, Georgia suburb of Norcross, their flagship  Shortbarr...

  From Coxs Creek Distilling Company comes one of the most unique finished bourbon examples we have tasted in a long time.  Good Times Bourbon is known for being experts at finished and blending whiskeys, and today's bottle is another feather in their cap for quality, uniqueness and taste!  Coxs Creek Distlling Company is a non-distilling producer that is without a doubt  leading the way for distinctive expressions of whiskeys. Good Old Times Japanese Cherry Tree Cask Finish checks off some great boxes before you even taste it.  It's a single barrel release, barrel strength proof point and has a super-impressive 10-year age statement!  The packaging is quentissential Good Times Bourbon and this release is tough to find, at least for the suggested retail price. Mahogany in color with classic bourbon notes of vanilla, toasty oak, and tons of vanilla predominantly, but some airtime gives us some floral notes with orange marmelade.  On the palate, a subtly...

  Heaven Hill Distillery Honors a Storied Legacy with Heaven Hill Deatsville 13-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey Limited-edition release marks one of the final opportunities to experience Bourbon fully matured at the historic Deatsville campus as it transitions out of active aging Bardstown, Ky. — (February 26, 2026)  Heaven Hill Distillery announces the release of Heaven Hill Deatsville 13-Year-Old Bourbon Whiskey, a limited-edition expression drawn from one of the most distinctive aging sites in the distillery’s 90-year history. Bottled from just 17 barrels aged on the third floor of Rickhouse AA, this release represents one of the final few opportunities to experience Bourbon fully matured entirely at the Deatsville campus before the site transitions out of active aging. The Deatsville campus, originally home to the shuttered T.W. Samuels Distillery, has been an enduring part of Heaven Hill’s heritage since the early 1980s, when the company first assumed stewardship of the ri...

 Jack Daniel’s Chris Fletcher Named Master Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazin e The distillery’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 1 also awarded World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey at the annual Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards America Lynchburg, Tenn. (February 24, 2026) – Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher was named Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year at Whisky Magazine’s 2026 Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards America, held February 12 in Louisville, Ky. Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 1, which Fletcher crafted in his role overseeing production and innovation at the Jack Daniel Distillery, was also awarded World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey at the ceremony. The annual awards celebrate the people and places responsible for exceptional whiskey-makingin the U.S., alongside the best in American whiskeys. Winners of World Whiskies Awards Americas will go on to compete next month against global competitors at the World Whiskies Awar...

  Kit's Killer Cab from Clif Family Winery was first tasted twenty years ago from barrel.  It was Kit Crawford, co-owner and co-founder of the winery, who dubbed this Napa Valley Cabernet a "killer" wine, so naturally, it had to go into bottle! The family behind this label is also the pioneers of the incredibly popular and tasty Clif Bar, a portable and nutritious snack for on-the-go professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, busy moms... well, you get it.  Everyone loves a Clif Bar, right? Clif Family Winery started out as a small garden and a place to grow olives and fruit from planted trees.  Next, bring in the wine and eventually a tasting salon.  You want a food truck?  Check!  You want to be part of a Peloton riding club?  No problem!  There's nothing that these folks can't or won't do as long as it makes sense to their brand and goal to bring delicious products to life.  Today, Clif Family Winery grows nine grape varietals on 90 acres of...

Bardstown, Ky.   —   (February 23, 2026)   Heaven Hill Distillery proudly announces the release of Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey 20th Anniversary Limited Edition, a special bottling commemorating two decades since Bernheim pioneered a new style of American Whiskey and helped usher in the modern whiskey renaissance. Launched in 2005, Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey was the first truly new American Whiskey style introduced since Prohibition, boldly using soft winter wheat as its primary grain. At the time, the category-defining innovation marked a turning point for American Whiskey — one that has since become an enduring legacy. “This release is both a celebration and a thank you,” said Max L. Shapira, Executive Chairman of Heaven Hill Brands. “When we launched Bernheim Wheat Whiskey 20 years ago, we took a chance on a new mashbill and a new idea. The support we received in those early days helped shape not only this brand, but the expansion in popularit...

  About an hour west of Chicago sits DeKalb, Illinois, a community of 44,000 people that is made up predominantly of farmers and farm-related industry workers.  You'll find family-owned restaurants, Northern Illinois University and Whiskey Acres Distilling Company.   Fifth generation farmers in Illinois are creating whiskey that are all very unique and as smooth as silk.  We can sum this up in two words…  DAMN GOOD!  These farmers and distillers have created not only some of the best distilled spirits in the Midwest, but also the country.  You’ll find a visitors’ center that is a destination location, and it sits among the fields of grains that they use in their products. This is a tue "seed to spirit" operation and we love everything about this story. Whiskey Acres Bottled in Bond Bourbon Is at least FIVE years old and has a Mash bill of 75% corn, 15% soft red winter wheat, 10% malted barley.  Pale chestnut in color with fresh caramel corn o...

  The cowboys at Brush Creek Distillery are showing off their softer side this Valentine's Day with two unique cocktails for you and your sweetie.  These cocktails are unique, delicious and easy to make! Frontier Kiss Martini 2 ounces Brush Creek Vodka 1 ounce cranberry juice 1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice 3/4 ounce raspberry syrup Garnish with a fresh raspberry This cocktail will not only appeal to bourbon lovers, but to those who like to try new drinks.  Brush Creek Distillery of Saratoga, Wyoming created this refreshing drink for all to enjoy! Cowboy Valentine 2 parts Brush Creek Bourbon 6 parts blood orange soda Mix over ice in a highball glass Garnish with an orange peel Once you try these fun and flavorful cocktails, we think they will be on your regular rotation.  Try something new!

  Prosecco isn't Champagne's little cousin any longer.  Wineries in Northern Italy take Prosecco very seriously and it has become increasingly popular worldwide over the past decade.  Today we are looking at two fabulous examples of Prosecco from Guinigi Wines. The Prosecco D.O.C. Treviso is pale golden with micro bubbles and aromas of spring boquet, citrus fruits and sweet peach mid palate.  The finish has an extremely unique star anise flavor that was unexpected but very welcoming.   ABV:  11.0% Winery:  Guinigi Wines Suggested retail price:  $17.00 Drink The Bottles score:  92/100 The Guinigi Prosecco Rosé D.O.C. is less sweet than the previously mentioned wine, but is more aromatic and is more fruit forward on both the nose and the palate.  It is beautifully balanced with ripe peach, spring flowers and oodles of strawberries througout the tasting.  Each sip feels like a brand new wine and is very welcoming against tons of...

  40 Years of Leadership: Kim Stare Wallace Celebrates Four Decades at Dry Creek Vineyard Second-Generation President Reflects on Legacy, Innovation, and Commitment to Place   HEALDSBURG, Calif. (February 11, 2026) – In an industry defined by constant change, longevity has become increasingly rare. Today, Kim Stare Wallace marks 40 years at Dry Creek Vineyard, a milestone that reflects the enduring power of family ownership, thoughtful leadership and an unwavering commitment to Dry Creek Valley.   “In four decades, I’ve seen the wine industry evolve in remarkable ways,” says Wallace. “But our focus has remained the same: to make wines that honestly express where they come from. That kind of clarity only comes from taking the long view.”   Wallace formally joined Dry Creek Vineyard in 1986 as Director of Marketing, though her roots at the winery run much deeper. Raised in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley, she grew up alongside the winery founded by her father, Da...

  If you threw a dart at the map of Napa Valley and hit the center, you would find Rutherford Ranch Winery.  Located on the historic and famous Silverado Trail at the site of the original Round Hill Winery, it has now been family owned by the Zaninovich family for nearly three decades with an empasis on Cabernet Sauvignon.  They also produce Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot under the Rutherford label, showcasing that lovely Rutherford dust! The winemaking team has branched out into a total of seven labels, all with their own uniqueness and price points.  But today we are discussing the  2019 Rutherford Ranch Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley .  Before we get into the details of this wine, we will say that this is one (as well as other stellar vintages) will age well for a very, very long time.  If you're considering this wine, consider multiple bottles.  We think this will continue to flourish and develop for the next 10-plus years. Dar...

  What do you get when you take a top-rated country music superstar, a seasoned businessman and an expert whiskey maker who could rest on his laurels?   It sounds like the start of a funny story that is waiting for a punchline, but it is far from that - very far.  Eric Church (think the incredibly popular song "Springsteen"), businessman and entrepreneur Raj Alva and esteemed whiskey creator Ari Sussman teamed up to create Whiskey JYPSI, a brand that reflects the "gypsy spirit", where everyone has a free-spirited and wild side.   The brand has set out to disrupt industry norms and to explore unique and unusual ways to source and blend their whiskeys.  Today we are looking at two flagship products from the JYPSI label - Tribute and Explorer. Tribute is not only a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys that were finished in secondary oak barrels, but it is also a testimony to the quality and attention of what this company is doing.  Ari Sussman's backgr...