Drink the Bottles

If you know anything  about whiskey, you know that blending the spirits is nothing new.  However, it truly takes an exceptional talent to have the senses needed to make this work successfully.  Nearly anyone can blend whiskey.  But only a handful of folks can turn blended whiskey into amazing products that blend seamlessly and like magic.  Chief Alchemist Macaulay Minton is completely dialed in when it comes to producing a product that is unique and also makes you as giddy as a school girl. Today we taste and share the  Dark Arts Amburana Oak Stave Finished Small Batch Rye  which has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% barley.  While each batch is naturally different, the blends are from six to eight year age statements and contain three barrels for each small batch.  The whiskey is distilled in Indiana (most likely MGP) and the finishing and bottling happens in Lexington, KY.  We tasted this sweet treat neat in our favorite mini Belgian beer ...

  We won't lie.  This was a fun one for us!  It's not every day you get to taste a 6-year-old Kentucky bourbon that is finished in Mizunara Oak Shochu barrels.  We're going to break that down in just a second. There's a lot to unwrap here. The World Whiskey Society (WWS) has only been around since 2020, but they are creating a huge footprint in the whiskey world with their extremely unique and innovative products.  First of all, you can't help but notice their exquisite packaging.  If ever there was a "cool bottle" story, it resonates with the offerings from WWS.  The labels are sophisticated and appealing.  The unique bottle toppers are secretly sought after by collectors.  So what about what is in  this bottle?  Let's take a look. So what is Mizunara Oak and what in the heck is Shochu?  Mizunara oak, or Japanese oak, is incredibly expensive and rare.  It grows in distinct pockets in northern Japan and it is very difficul...

  Superstar Bob Dylan co-created the Heaven's Door brand and it has been incredibly popular because of the variety of products offered and of course, the quality of the spirits.  Master Distiller Ken Pierce is a veteran of in the whiskey world and under his influence, has made Heaven's Door a stand out brand among the competition.  Heaven's Door is opening their distillery and brand center later this year and it looks like it will be a place that everyone wants to visit. Today we take a look at Heaven's Door Exploration 1 , and inaugural bourbon offering in the newly-labeled Exploration series.  This bourbon is aged at least 5 years before spending another 2 years finishing in Calvados brandy casks from France.  An addition of medium-heavy French oak staves helps add to the flavor profile.  Coming in at 108 proof, we felt this drank closer to 120 proof with everything that is going on here, including the incredible mouth-coating feel you get and very long, ...