Drink the Bottles

  Hold on to your hats because we have a lot to unbox here!  We received these bottles just a couple of days ago and we pushed them to the top of the list because we were so &$%#ing excited to taste them!  Today we're going to discuss all things Silverthorn Reserve, including tasting and sharing our thoughts on these two bottles.  But before we share that, we want to introduce you to the brand and the man behind the label! If the name Drew Thorn resonates with you, it's because Drew was a driving force behind the immensely popular and wildly successful Sagamore Spirit brand for many years.  Drew learned so much about the business, operations, transparency, quality and what customers want during his tenure at Sagamore.  But how will that carry over into this new project? DTB:  What was the moment you knew you wanted to build Silverthorn Reserve after leaving Sagamore Spirit? DT:  I had conceived of Silverthorn Reserve many yearsago, but it had ...

  We have long been fans of what Rick and Ricky Johnson are doing over at 15 Stars Bourbon.  They have always focused on rich, exciting flavors and their blending is second to none.  There has never been a release that we have tasted where we weren't instant fans.  So, when we found out that they were releasing a new label - First West - that included some of their own distillate in the blend, we jumped at the opportunity to give this some attention. This is the  First West Toasted Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey , a blend of 5, 6, and 7 year old bourbons, which is really impressive for a first-release label.  The Johnsons have included some of their bourbon that they personally crafted from their proprietary red, white and blue corns, making this, at least for us, a much-anticipated and welcome new phase of their business. We were immediately impressed by the packaging of this bourbon.  The initial releases in the First West series also include ...

We have been big Penelope Bourbon enthusiasts since we tasted several different bottles at an informal tasting about 18 months ago.  These MGP-distilled products have been a huge hit for bourbon fans and their vast selection of offerings is pretty mind blowing!  Today we are tasting and discovering what two of their latest releases are all about.  First up is the annual, limited release Penelope Toasted Rye .  This gem is a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley in #2 heavy char toasted barrels.  If you were camping with friends and toasting marshmallows in the crisp fall air in an apple orchard and you could bottle that, then that's what you have here.  The aromas are quite literally mouth-watering and the rich mohagany color with hints of copper only add to the appeal.  Tons of sweet butterscotch dance on the tongue with a zesty ginger, sweet nutmeg and subtle peppery note that lead to a finish that feels like it lingers for minutes.  We woul...