Drink the Bottles

Old Hillside Bourbon Company might be one of our favorite new brands (to us) for 2026.  In just six short years, this young company with huge ideas has carved a path not only for their brand, but to honor the legacy of incredible African American jockeys and war heroes.  North Carolina natives and friends founded Old Hillside Bourbon Company and they haven't looked back.  In fact, they're always looking to the future. One thing that likely makes this company so successful in its early stages is the approach they have towards the business.  Courtney Tucker, co-founder and COO, says, "This business is not about us.  We're just playing a part.  This is higher than us."  And that is evident by every bottle that pays homage to what would have been a long-forgotten great American and their stories that need to be preserved.  The company even created a limited release Straight Bourbon Whiskey for Hillside High School (hence the name, Old Hillside) and pr...

  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...

  Our friends at Lux Row Distillers have another hit on their hands!  This new, limited-release bottle is their Small Batch Rye finished in PX Sherry Casks.  For finished whiskey lovers, this is one you'll want to seek out.  For straight rye fans, this one will appeal to you as well.  So many distilleries are finishing whiskey in about every type of previously-used spirits container you can think of, and Lux Row has this talent fine-tuned. Tasted from sample, this is brown sugar in color.  On the nose is a sweeter fruity note, fig pudding, hints of flower bouquet and grape.  We dug right into this one and found that the palate was not as sweet as we had anticipated or that was hinted from the nose.  Mutt got spice up front while Jeff took note of the espresso bean taste.  The spice tapered off quickly and suggested cinnamon stick, fig and roasted nuts (specifically cashews) on the back end.  This was literally mouth-watering. While this...