Drink the Bottles

  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...

  Bardstown Bourbon Scales Centuries Through Latest Distillery Reserve Launch, Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish The once forbidden flavor of Calvados casks now awaits discovery through limited-edition distillery exclusive BARDSTOWN, Ky. (November 18, 2025) - Providing that there is nowhere Bardstown Bourbon Company won't go to push the boudaries of whiskey innovation, the latest launch from the brand's Distillery Reserve is an elevated marriage of French tradition and American craft. Once forbidden by the Master of State Jean-Baptiste Colbert to protect the French wine brandy trade, cider eua-de vie, Calvados, made the journey from the white chalk cliffs of Noramndy to the home of bourbon innovation, Bardstown Bourbon Company, resulting in a decadent and unexpected blend aptly named Normandie Calvados Brandy Barrel Finish. This release emphasizes Bardstown Bourbon's promise to push the boundaries of traditional whiskey production, crafting bespoke products through ex...

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...

  50% Wheated Bourbon Blend |105 Proof Available in Select Markets Only LEXINGTON, Ky. (September 30, 2025) - Town Branch Distillery, the 7th member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and the  heart of Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.—is closing out Bourbon Heritage Month with the release of Imperium  MMXXV, a high-end limited edition bourbon built on a 50% wheated bourbon foundation, bottled at 105 proof, non-chill- filtered, and offered at an SRP of $119.99. Town Branch IMPERIUM MMXXV Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 105 Proof  Imperium MMXXV marks the second annual release of this highly anticipated series. This year’s edition draws from Town  Branch’s exclusive “Imperium Bourbon Stocks,” which include only the finest barrels from three of the distillery’s  bourbon mash bills: • Pot-still Kentucky Bourbon: 72% corn / 15% rye / 13% malted barley • Column-still o Kentucky Bourbon: 72% corn / 15% rye / 13% malted barley • Column-still Wheated Bourbon: 70%...

  Limestone Branch Distillery collaborates with Ross & Squibb Distillery on 2025 release of Yellowstone Limited Edition 10th anniversary expression features a blend of three unique mash bills aged 10 years and bottled at 105 proof St. Louis  - To celebrate a decade of excellence across its award-winning annual Limited Edition collection, Limestone Branch Distillery released its 2025 Yellowstone Limited Edition, a unique blend of straight bourbon whiskeys thoughtfully aged 10 years.  The series debuted in 2015 to honor the finest spirits worth of the Yellowstone Bourbon name. In the pioneering spirit of Yellowstone Bourbon, Founder and Master Distiller Stephen Beam and the team at Limestone Branch Distillery collaborated with the blending team at Ross & Squibb Distillery - one of the most historic distilleries in America - to create the 10th anniversary release.  For the first time, the combined team chose barrels from the Indiana and Kentucky distilleries to ...

  Jack Daniel’s Launches Limited Edition Sweet Mash Tennessee Straight Whiskey  Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Selection #15 is a high-proof Sweet Mash Tennessee Whiskey pulled from top-floors of the distillery’s Tract 2 barrelhouses  Lynchburg, Tennessee (September 22, 2025) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces a Sweet Mash Tennessee Straight Whiskey as the latest selection in its Distillery Series line of experimental whiskeys.  At the beginning of each distilling season, the Jack Daniel Distillery uses a sweet mash process during the cooking of grains. This sweet mash will kickstart production before establishing a setback to support our sour mash process for the remainder of the distilling season.  Distillery Series Selection #15 is a nod to the annual small run of sweet mashed whiskey, featuring the same grain bill of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye like all Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskeys. After entering new charred white oak barrels in 2016, ...

  Jack Daniel’s Honors Military Service with 2025 Heroes Selection Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey  Selected by two veteran brothers who have worked at the Jack Daniel Distillery for decades, the third annual release is now available at military duty-free stores  Lynchburg, Tennessee (September 8 , 2025) – The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces the 2025 edition of its annual Heroes Selection – a limited release of Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey selected by heroes, for heroes. This year’s expression, chosen by U.S. Army veteran twin brothers and longtime Jack Daniel’s employees JB and LB McGowan, is now available exclusively at U.S. military outlets.  Jack Daniel’s Heroes Selection Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey is offered at proof points between 125 and 140 and features a bold, complex profile developed through aging in the highest reaches of barrelhouse in Lynchburg. The aroma opens with rich notes of sweet brown sugar, while the palate off...

  Limestone Branch Distillery collaborates with Ross & Squibb Distillery on 2025 release of Yellowstone Limited Edition ST. LOUIS (Sept. 2, 2025 ) – To celebrate a decade of excellence across its award-winning annual Limited Edition collection, Limestone Branch Distillery released its 2025 Yellowstone Limited Edition, a unique blend of straight bourbon whiskeys thoughtfully aged 10 years. The series debuted in 2015 to honor the finest spirits worthy of the Yellowstone Bourbon name. In the pioneering spirit of Yellowstone Bourbon, Founder and Master Distiller Stephen Beam and the team at Limestone Branch Distillery collaborated with the blending team at Ross &  Squibb Distillery – one of the most historic distilleries in America – to create the 10 th anniversary release. For the first time, the combined team chose barrels from the Indiana and Kentucky distilleries to blend for this year’s unique and high-quality commemorative expression. The 2025 release includes three ...

  In case you haven't heard by now, we are HUGE fans of Green River Distilling Company .  In fact, we voted their Rye the Best Rye of 2024!  A couple of weeks ago, the U.S. Army celebrated their 250th birthday and Green River showed them some serious  love - in style!  How cool is it to get your own commemorative bottle and  to have a portion of the proceeds be donated to various non-profit groups that support US soldiers.  This particular bottle comes in at 111.1 proof, which is an honor to Veteran's Day on November 11th.   We can tell you this.  This bottle IS available across the US in many markets.  We just returned from Scottsdale and saw this sitting on the shelf.  If you're a Green River enthusiast, an Army veteran or want to provide a special gift to the soldier in your life, we highly suggest this bottle. Carmel color to the rim, this bourbon is comprised of barrels in the four-to-seven year age statement.  The ma...

  We know every single day that we are blessed to taste spirits and wines from all over the world.  We have really grown to appreciate craft distilleries and the unique products they are producing while making their footprint in a behemoth market.  When we partnered with Acre Distilling out of Fort Worth, Texas, we knew they would wow us with some unique Texas whiskeys and they really delivered.  This is a limited edition expression, the Acre Distilling Texas Smoked Single Malt Whisky . The distillery will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary later this year and they have become not only a tourist destination, but a staple within the community.  They have embraced the neighborhood, offering an exquisite place to have a drink with friends and also offering different tasting experiences.  Vinepair  has dubbed Acre Distilling Company as "One of the Ten Best Craft Distillery Tasting Rooms in America."  Do you need any more reason to visit? We were...

  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...

  Hold on to your hats for this one, folks!   This is the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey .  This creation is a blend of seven and seventeen year Kentucky bourbons from Master Distiller Stephen Beam and it is tracking to become one of our favorite limited-edition releases of the year!   We visited this bottle on three separate occasions - a "pop and pour" (see video below), a more formal tasting the next day, and a re-visit about 10 days later - all neat and all from a Glencairn.  As we describe in the video link below, we know that most folks buy a bottle and then go home and immediately taste it right away.  We knew there was something very special about this bottle which is why we tasted it multiple times and the results were so varied and incredible. Our first impression (remember, pop-and pour) was an inviting, dusty funkness that was reminiscent of a box of old baseball cards and a sweet cigar wrapper....

  A Smith Bowman Distillery out of Fredericksburg, Virginian has been turning some heads with their limited edition whiskey offerings.  This is the  Abraham Bowman Limited Oak Series: French Oak Whiskey  that was available through the distillery via lottery due to its exclusive nature.  The distillery has crafted about two dozen special limited release bottles and you quickly understand why these are so popular with whiskey enthusiasts and collectors. Gorgeous saddle brown color, this twelve year aged whiskey is a blend of their best barrels aged in French Oak, with and without char.  Tasted neat, aromas of freshly baked biscuits, vanilla extract, cherry cobbler and chewy caramel dominate the the nose.  This is instantly mouth-watering and equally matched by the beaming flavors of cherry cordial, lightly tanned leather, vanilla cream, spice cabinet and stone fruits.  It covers the tongue and leaves a very long and lovely finish.  We had the ...