Drink the Bottles

It seems pretty simple, but it is more difficult than it sounds.  Create the finest whiskey.  Sure, everyone with a still and an idea has the same dream.  But in this case, I think they're onto something - BIG!   About three years I stumbled across a liquor store in Colorado Springs, Colorado and popped in to see if they had something I hadn't tasted before.  The good-looking bottle of Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey caught my eye, and I was even more interested when I saw the single barrel sticker on the side.  For about fifty bucks I thought it was worth a gamble. The folks at B.R. Distlling Company will tell you that their brand was "Born in Kentucky.  Raised in Memphis.  Finished with Soul."   The branding and smoothness of their offerings ties in directly with the blues and soulful sounds of Memphis.  It's a seemless marriage and both Blue Note and Memphis seem to accidentally compliment each oth...

If you want something done right, do it yourself.  That's what "dad" said.  Founder and Distiller Herman Mihalich remembers those words like they were spoken yesterday and they resounded with him over and over.  It's only fitting that Mihalich had a dream of creating Dad's Hat Rye in the birthplace of rye whiskey - Pennsylvania because he too wanted to do things the right way.  And from what we can tell, they are doing just that. Small batch.  Hand crafted.  Local Ingredients.  These arent't just descriptors.  These simple words are the backbone of the business and Dad's Hat Rye doesn't use them lightly.  They take pride and care in creating a footprint in a fast-paced, busy and crowded world.  Their bottles are meant to remind you of kinder, gentler, optimistic times in America.   This bottle of  Dad's Hat Classic Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey is a flagship product in their portfolio.  If you don't appreciate this bottle...

  A historic Kentucky distillery located in Frankfort, KY was once the producing machine of a brand called Kentucky Senator Bourbon.  Like scores of labels and brands throughout the history of distilled spirits, this one fell by the wayside and became only a fond and mysterious memory for most.  But in 2019, Andre Regard and Damon Thayer (who would later become a Kentucky State Senator), did their due diligence and brought the brand back from non-existence. Today, Kentucky Senator Bourbon is alive and well and is receiving praise and attention from the spirits community.  This non-distilling producer (NDP) is bottling bourbon that is between six and fifteen years old and the age statement is clearly displayed (which we love) on each bottle.  Each release is 107 proof and the mash bill is generally comprised of corn (75%), rye (21%) and malted barley (4%).  Every expression is a nod to an actual Kentucky State Senator that includes a history lesson and a QR...

  Finished whiskeys are super, SUPER hot right now.  That has caused some distilleries to branch out, swing for the bleachers, only to miss the big score.  That is definitely not the case  here!  Liberty & Plenty Distillery out of Durham, North Carolina is taking finished whiskey to the next level.   Liberty & Plenty's formation was unfortunate, as that was the start of lockdown for Covid.  But this 100% woman owned craft distillery was ambitious enough and had the determination to overcome any obstacle thrown in their way. This is their Bronze Bull Spirits Bourbon Whiskey Batch #4 .  It is a three year old whiskey and a 90 proof stunner that was finished in fig-infused honey barrels. Unlike many honey-finished spirits in the market, this one stands above most of the others.  First and foremost, it is not a sugar bomb.  You don't get super sweetness that covers your mouth and hides the flavor.  You get layers of flavor ...

  We need start this review with a small, albeit important disclaimer.  Your eyes are not deceiving you.  There is  wine missing from the bottle (it's in the glass!) and the capsule and cork are still in tact.  We bought a new Coravin wine system for Christmas and this was our first time using it. To say we are excited about everything in this bottle and behind the label is a huge understatement.  You know that our mouths water over 100% varietal wines, Napa Valley, family-owned wineries, and, of course -farmers!  The fact that the Smith Family (owners of Barlow Vineyards) use a John Deere tractor on their property tugs at our heart strings even more. But enough about that, right?  We are here for the WINE!  This family operation produces just over 1,500 total cases annually and they've been in the same location for over thirty years.  The  2021 Barlow Vineyards Petit Verdot is beautifully inked with dark purple colors and a medium...

  About two months ago, Heaven HIll Distillery announced an additiont to their limited edition whiskey lineup - Grain to Glass expressions finished in Chinquapin Oak barrels.  The innaugural release offered a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and a Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, all with the Beck's 6225 grain backbone.  Chinquapin Oak is a specific type of American white oak, found primarily in Central and Eastern North America.  We have a bottle of the "normal" HH Grain to Glass Bourbon in our home bar and we really enjoy that one, so we were really stoked to taste the three expressions that were generously provided by Heaven Hill back to back. The Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey has a dark brown, almost aged copper appearance and it carries a mash bill of Rye (63%), Corn (24%) and Malt (13%).  The bottle suggests this is a 7 year age stated whiskey by the bottled and released years, but specific dates aren't provided...

  We have tasted a boat load of quality wines over the past year.  There has been everything from a $12.00 grocery store selection to a $250+ limited selection, single vineyard Cab.  So, when we decide on a WOTY (wine of the year) it is every bottle for itsself.  They must all stand on their own merit and each bottle has a fair shot of receiving this honor.  We take into consideration not only what is inside the bottle, but also the overall presentation, availability, price and label. For 2025, the Drink The Bottles  team has bestowed our "Wine of the Year" honor to the 2017 Maxville Winery Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon .  This wine epitomizes Napa Valley fruit, body, complexity and the overall tasting experience.  Eggplant and berry jam color, this wine has lifting aromas of crushed black cherries, cocoa powder, scorched earth and wet cedar plank.  It's absolutely mouth-watering and the delicate tannins coat the mouth with black fruit...

  Do you ever have one of those incredibly unique bottles that comes your way that is so exciting you don't even know where to begin?  We are going to be completely transparent when we say that we were skeptical about this brand at first, only to be proven wrong on so many levels.  Founder Raj Peter Bhakta is just creating a footprint in the spirits world.  He is planting a flag - a BIG one - and is generating excitement for what most consider a completely new category that we call Vintage Rare Blended Whskey. If Bhakta's name sounds familiar, it is because he is the founder of WhistlePig Whiskey, a top tier luxury rye whiskey brand that helped lay the foundation of this venture.  In 2019, he sold his stake in WhistlePig and he eventually landed in Condom, France, discovering and purchasing an ancient cellar of Armagnac dating back to 1868.  The rest?  Well, that's history. In order to truly appreciate what Bhakta is doing with this brand, you have to ...

  Jack Daniel’s Launches Limited Edition Tennessee Rye Whiskey Finished in Table Syrup Barrels Jack Daniel’s Distillery Selection #16 brings together rye spice and Southern sweetness in this barrel proof release Lynchburg, Tennessee (December 4, 2025) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Distillery Series #16, a barrel proof Tennessee Rye Whiskey finished in table syrup barrels, as the latest innovation in its Distillery Series line of experimental whiskeys. The new expression begins with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Whiskey, crafted from a mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley and matured in new charred white oak barrels. The rye whiskey is then finished in barrels that once held a Southern-style table syrup, adding rich layers of sweetness that complement and elevate its bold rye character. “The Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series is all about exploring new ideas, and the complex nature of our Tennessee Rye Whiskey makes a great canvas for experimentation,” said By...

Are you looking for an extra special gift for the drink enthusiasts in your life?  Gift-giving can be difficult but we are making it easier for you with our Holiday Gift Guide.  This year, our guide includes whiskey, wine and cigars, including some very hard-to-find (but still available) bottles while they last.  Every listing has a link where you can shop directly with the brand.  Happy Holidays! Hooten Young & Jack Carr Warrior Proof American Whiskey The team at Hooten Young still has some bottles left of this incredible 16 year  limited bottle of whiskey .  Hooten Young is a proud American company that partnered with #1  New York Times  bestselling author, retired Navy SEAL, and creator of  The Terminal List  series, Jack Carr.  Together they produced a whiskey that is the perfect sipper for both friends, veterans and active military members alike.   At 125 proof and a mashbill of Corn (99%) and Barley (1%), this bo...