Drink the Bottles

  There is something particularly appealing about a bourbon that embraces its maturity while exploring new dimensions of flavor. First West Cigar Blend, crafted by the acclaimed father-and-son team behind 15 STARS, does precisely that. Combining well-aged straight bourbon whiskeys with an ambitious selection of finishing casks, this limited-release expression offers a rich, contemplative drinking experience designed to complement a fine cigar or stand confidently on its own. Bottled at 106 proof (53% ABV), First West Cigar Blend Batch 1 brings together straight bourbons aged 11 and 15 years, finished in Cognac, Pedro Ximénez sherry, and tawny port casks. Each finishing influence contributes a different dimension to the whiskey, creating an intriguing interplay of mature oak, dark fruit, sweetness, and spice. With a suggested retail price of $79.99, this release offers an interesting proposition for enthusiasts seeking a complex, finished bourbon without venturing into the considera...

Middle West Spirits and Old Elk Distillery introduce a new American whiskey supporting educational opportunities for military and first responder families. Some whiskey releases are about innovation, others about tradition. The newest expression from Old Elk Distillery brings both together with something even more meaningful: a commitment to honoring the families of America's military heroes and first responders. Middle West Spirits, one of North America's largest independently owned distilleries, has announced the nationwide launch of Old Elk Folds of Honor Blended American Whiskey, a new release developed in support of the nonprofit organization Folds of Honor. Founded in 2007 by Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot and PGA professional, Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military service members and first responders. Since its founding, the organization has awarded more than 62,000 scholarships totaling ap...

  There's something about fall that invites us to slow down, gather with friends, and embrace the flavors of the season. Crisp apples, warming cinnamon, rich caramel, and, of course, pumpkin spice have become synonymous with autumn. While pumpkin spice lattes may get most of the attention, the season's signature flavors have found an equally delicious home behind the bar. This fall, we're looking beyond the coffee shop and exploring five creative cocktails that bring a little sophistication, warmth, and seasonal personality to the glass. From an indulgent espresso martini to a bourbon cocktail finished with toasted marshmallow, these recipes showcase how premium spirits can transform familiar fall flavors into something worth celebrating. Whether you're hosting a Halloween gathering, planning a Thanksgiving celebration, or simply enjoying a quiet evening by the fire, these five cocktails offer plenty of inspiration for your autumn entertaining. Pumpkin Spice Espresso Ma...

  BARDSTOWN, Ky . - Chicken Cock Whiskey, one of America's oldest whiskey brands established in 1856, celebrates their 170th Anniversary with a 170th Anniversary Limited Edition Rooster Decanter and 170th Anniversary Edition Legacy Kentucky Straight Bourbon.  Both releases debuted at Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September. The 170th Anniversary Limited Edition Rooster Decanter (SRP $199.99) celebrates the iconic rooster that has stood proudly at the heart of Chicken Cock Whiskey since its earliest days. This limited-edition ceramic decanter is filled with 8-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 115 proof. For 170 years, the rooster has been Chicken Cock Whiskey's unmistakable mark, a symbol rooted in founder James A. Miller's life as a Bourbon County farmer and carried through generations of advertising, labels, and lore. From the simple rooster icons of the 1850s to the richly painted label art of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the bird became more than br...

Bardstown Bourbon Company Reveals 2026 Annual Releases: 2026 Discover & Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Bardstown, KY (August 18, 2026)  - Bardstown Bourbon Company continues its pursuit of pushing the boundaries of bourbon with two limited fall releases that explore whiskey innovation in entirely different ways.  Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Whiskey  demonstrates how extraordinary casks can shape whiskey in unexpected ways while 2026 Discovery  showcases the art of blending through exceptional combination of mature Kentucky bourbons. For the first time, Bardstown Bourbon Company's annual releases also feature original commissioned artwork inspired directly by the whiskey itself.  Louisville artiest Margaret Archambault created each pieces after experiencing the liquid, translating aroma, flavor, and texture into visual art that now appears on the bottles and packaging.  The new package design also marks an evolution for these two award-winning stories....

  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...

When the Blend Becomes Greater Than the Barrels In today's bourbon landscape, it seems like every new brand is chasing the next limited release. Silverthorn Reserve has taken a different approach. Rather than focusing on volume or flashy marketing, the company has built its identity around something that often gets overlooked—the art of blending. Founded by Drew Thorn after helping build Sagamore Spirit into a nationally recognized whiskey brand, Silverthorn Reserve is intentionally small. Every release is produced from just a handful of carefully selected barrels, allowing the team to prioritize flavor over scale. Transparency is equally important. Each bottle details exactly what went into the blend, from the originating states to the mash bills and blending percentages, giving whiskey enthusiasts a rare level of insight into what they're drinking. The Silverthorn Reserve 10-Year Blender's Art Bourbon is an excellent example of that philosophy in action. Rather than relyi...

  Bardstown Bourbon Company Pursues Tropical Character with Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey The Kentucky-exclusive release was inspired by one of rum’s most distinctive maturation traditions BARDSTOWN, Ky. (July 21, 2026) — Of the hundreds of flavor compounds found in American Whiskey, few are more elusive than genuine tropical fruit. Bardstown Bourbon Company set out to explore whether those flavors could be achieved through patience, process, and barrel influence rather than shortcuts in its new Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey.   Exclusive to Kentucky, Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish is a marriage of mature bourbon and rye that pushes beyond traditional finishing techniques, creating a whiskey that is both delightfully unexpected and unmistakably authentic. “The goal was never to make whiskey taste like pineapple,” said Dan Callaway, Master Blender, Lofted Spirits. “The goal was to understand what made these barrels so special in the first place. We foll...

There is something fascinating happening in American whiskey right now. The category is no longer defined only by century-old distilleries and traditional production methods. Some of the most interesting bottles are coming from brands willing to challenge what whiskey should look like.  So far, everything we have tasted from Whiskey JYPSI has been nothing short of fantastic. Whiskey JYPSI’s Legacy Series has embraced that idea from the beginning — not simply blending whiskey together, but reconstructing flavor profiles by selecting mature spirits from different origins and bringing them together with a specific vision. Legacy Batch 003, appropriately named “ The Declaration ,” might be their boldest statement yet. Bottled at 115.74 proof , this limited release is built around a reimagined Colonial-era Maryland-style rye profile. Instead of following a single distillery’s recipe, The Declaration combines aged whiskey components from three distinct whiskey traditions: Indiana rye, ...