Drink the Bottles

  Three Ryes, One Maryland Story: Exploring Sagamore Whiskey The history of Maryland rye, its remarkable comeback, and our tasting of Sagamore Whiskey’s Small Batch, Double Oak and Cask Strength expressions. There are a lot of places in America that have become synonymous with whiskey.   Kentucky has bourbon. Pennsylvania has its own long rye tradition. Tennessee has Tennessee whiskey. And then there’s Maryland. For much of American whiskey history, Maryland rye was a big deal. Long before craft distilling became fashionable, rye whiskey was being produced throughout the state, and Baltimore had developed a reputation for the style. Maryland rye was generally known for being a little softer and rounder than some of its northern counterparts, while still delivering the peppery spice that makes rye so distinctive. Then Prohibition happened a nd Maryland rye essentially disappeared. Today, there’s a concerted effort to bring it back—and few distilleries have put more ene...

Distillery Series #17 -  image from Jack Daniel Distillery When the Angel’s Share Becomes Part of the Story Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #17 is batch proof Tennessee Whiskey pulled from top floors of the distillery’s Coy Hill barrelhouses There are plenty of ways a whiskey distillery can experiment.   Change the grain bill. Try a different barrel. Finish the whiskey in something unexpected. Push the proof. Change the way the barrels are toasted or where they're stored.   Or, in the case of Jack Daniel’s latest Distillery Series release, you can put the whiskey in an unusually hot place, leave it alone for years, and see what happens. That is the story behind Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #17: High Angel’s Share Straight Tennessee Whiskey . And it is a pretty fascinating story. Jack Daniel’s began with traditional Tennessee Whiskey laid down in barrels in 2016. Those barrels were then placed on the top floor of Barrelhouse 1-13 on Coy Hil...

  When Creativity Meets Craftmanship There are bourbon producers that honor tradition, and then there are those willing to challenge it. Kentucky's Coxs Creek Distilling Company —the creative force behind the Good Times Bourbon brand—has quickly become known for pushing the boundaries of what finished bourbon can be. Rather than relying solely on familiar port, sherry, or cognac finishes, Good Times has built a devoted following by experimenting with an impressive variety of secondary maturation techniques. Coconut rum, raspberry brandy, exotic woods, blueberry, mint, honey, banana, dessert-inspired barrels, and countless other finishing casks have become the company's signature, creating limited single barrel releases that are as intriguing as they are difficult to find. Their philosophy is simple: start with quality bourbon, then explore just how much complexity a thoughtfully selected finishing cask can add without losing the whiskey's identity. One of their newer and mo...

In May of 2025, Middle West Spirits completed their acquisition of the Old Elk brand.  For sometime prior to that, we were struggling to see much inventory on shelves locally, knowing that some BIG things were likely on the horizon.  And, boy oh boy... we've got some really cool stuff to share!  We tasted these from media samples (not pictured). 10-Year Old Wheated Bourbon This straight wheated bourbon whiskey has a mash bill of corn (51%), wheat (46%) and barley (3%).  Mouth-watering from the first aromas to the warm and satisfying finish.  Vanilla bean, sugary caramel and toasty wheat fill the senses.  The same carries over to the palate with the addition of barn wood, milk chocolate chips and hints of red fruits.   ABV:  52.5% (105 proof) Suggested retail price:  $69.99 Drink The Bottles score:  94/100 10-Year Old Straight Wheat Whiskey This one a super fun to tasted because it is so different than much of what we have tasted rec...

  There are plenty of reasons to celebrate white wine. Dry Creek Vineyard gives us two particularly good ones. There are days when a glass of white wine is exactly what the occasion calls for. Maybe it's a warm afternoon on the patio. Maybe dinner is something fresh off the grill. Maybe you're putting together a cheese board and looking for something that won't overpower everything on it. Or maybe, as is the case today, it's simply National White Wine Day .   Whatever the reason, we're happy to have an excuse to open a couple of bottles. For this year's celebration, we turned to a California winery with more than five decades of experience making white wine: Dry Creek Vineyard . Founded in 1972 in Sonoma County's Dry Creek Valley, the family-owned winery has played an important role in the history of the region—and particularly in the story of Sauvignon Blanc. We recently opened two of its 2025 releases: the 2025 Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley , and the 2...

  There are certain bottles that come with a reputation before you ever pour them.   Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey is one of those bottles. Mention Skrewball at a party and there's a pretty good chance someone will immediately think of a shot. The distinctive bottle has become almost synonymous with the sweet, nutty whiskey that helped make peanut butter whiskey a recognizable category.  And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But here's the thing: Skrewball is capable of doing considerably more than occupying a shot glass. After spending some time looking at the whiskey from a cocktail perspective, we think it's time to reconsider what this unconventional spirit can bring to the bar.  Because once you stop thinking of Skrewball as the peanut butter whiskey you take shots of and start thinking of it as a cocktail ingredient, things get considerably more interesting. A Peanut Butter Whiskey That Started With a Cocktail Skrewball's story is almost...