Drink the Bottles

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...

  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...

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...

  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...

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...

  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...

  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...

  To say that we were thrilled to get our hands on another Bardstown Bourbon Company Distillery Reserve bottle would be an understatement.  Historically, these releases have proven to be nothing short of amazing, and this one falls in line with history.  We announced the release of this bottle a couple of weeks ago on our website and the official "go live" sale date was Black Friday - November 28, 2025.   There were an estimated 3,000 total bottles produced for this release and it was available only at the Bardstown Bourbon Company gift shop and the Louisville Tasting Room and limited to one per person.  This release sold out very quickly and excitement from the two previous Distillery Reserve releases helped fuel that fire.  Bardstown left no detail behind on the packaging of this expression.  The outer box and "customs" ticket are themed with the Normandie release, further fueling the desirability of this bottle for whiskey enthusiasts and coll...

FRANKFORT, KY (November 12, 2025) –  Buffalo Trace Distillery is proud to introduce  Sazerac Rye Whiskey Full Proof  as a permanent addition to its growing Sazerac Rye portfolio. Bottled at 125 proof, this bold new release emerges from the Distillery’s recent expansion and amplifies the brand’s signature spicy, peppery, and dry profile to create a sipping whiskey with remarkable intensity.  Born out of the spirit of New Orleans, Sazerac Rye Whiskey captures the character of the city: bold, timeless, and unapologetically original. The brand has evolved from a bartender’s best-kept secret into a connoisseur’s staple, with the original 90 proof and the recently launched 100 proof expressions celebrated for their distinctive spice and dry complexity. The addition of Full Proof offers a full-bodied expression crafted for sipping and savoring, highlighting the versatility of Sazerac Rye while reflecting Buffalo Trace Distillery’s commitment to delivering exceptional whiske...

We are suckers for age-stated whiskeys so when we received a sample of this Barrell Craft Spirits 12 Year Bourbon French Oak Finish we leapt at the opportunity!  It's no secret that we have been fans of BCS for several years, way back when we dubbed Seagrass Rye in our top 5 favorite rye expressions - ever.  The concensus was that we suspsected this bottle would be nothing short of incredible, and we were not disappointed.  This whiskey was distilled and sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee and Wyoming and then finished in French Oak barrels with varying toast levels. Aged copper penny in appearance, this bourbon immediately oozes ageworthy aromas of well-weathered saddle leather, antique butter churn, dried herbs, cinnamon stick and fresh baked bread.   There is so much going on here, and between both of us tasting this bottle, we probably came up with close to twenty separate aromas, but had to settle on the aforementioned as we felt they were most d...

Attention all hazmat enthusiasts - check this out!   This is the brand new release from Barrell Craft Spirits - the Triple Rum Cask Finished Whiskey - and it is an absolute banger!  When we were offered a sample of this new release, we couldn't wait to get our hands (lips?) on this one.  For those who may not be familiar, any spirits with a proof of 140-plus is commonly referrred to lovingly as a "hazmat" bottle.  Some of these can burn your face off, but this one?  Well, this one doesn't drink like a 70%-plus ABV bottle and it is just stunning!  The picture above is for reference only. The 100mL sample bottle is what we tasted this from - neat from a Glencairn, of course.  A little back story on this uniquely-blended whiskey tells us that it was distilled and sourced from Indiana, Tennessee and Canada.  The Canadian blend likely provides the lighter color than what you would see if this was a straight USA sourced product.  Some of the ...

  For the first time ever, Angel's Envy has released their first-ever age-stated bottle!  This is the Angel's Envy 10 Cask Strength bourbon .  Touted as the crown jewel of their Cask Strength Archives , every detail of this release confirms that it was not made to meet a deadline - it was made the exceed expectations! Bottled at 122.6 proof ( 61.3% ABV ).  This bottle features a weighted glass and a 10/10-engraved cork closure crowned with a dark metal medallion.  This is extremely limited at select retailers nationwide.  Only 200 bottles will be available online through the Angel's Envy website . Angel's Envy 10 Cask Strength opens with warm cinnamon, creamy nougat, and candied nuts.  On the palate, ripe fruit and crème brûlée unfold, while the port wine finish influence reveals rum raisin cake and leaves a graceful invitation for another sip. Ok...  All of that above is from the distillery's press release.  We received a bottle of this to...

  THE BUFFALO TRACE ANTIQUE COLLECTION CELEBRATES ITS 25 TH  ANNIVERSARY WITH THE DEBUT OF E.H. TAYLOR BOTTLED-IN-BOND, A TRIBUTE TO THE BOURBON PIONEER’S ENDURING LEGACY   Colonel E.H. Taylor ’s legacy of craftsmanship and innovation finds a permanent home within Buffalo Trace’s most coveted collection FRANKFORT, Ky  (OCT 8, 2025) –  This fall,   Buffalo Trace Distillery proudly celebrates the 25 th  release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) with its first new addition in nearly two decades: Colonel E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. First introduced in 2000, the Antique Collection honors Buffalo Trace Distillery’s historic whiskey brands and the visionaries behind them, offering enthusiasts some of the world’s most sought-after releases each year. Alongside the new expression are the collection’s five celebrated staples – Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon , George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon , Thomas H. Handy Saz...