Drink the Bottles

When most bourbon enthusiasts think about great whiskey, their minds immediately drift toward Kentucky. It's understandable. The Bluegrass State has earned its reputation as bourbon's spiritual home.  But every so often, a distillery outside Kentucky reminds us that exceptional whiskey can come from unexpected places.  Middle West Spirits has quietly become one of those distilleries. Located in Columbus, Ohio, Middle West has spent years building a reputation for producing grain-to-glass spirits with an emphasis on transparency, local agriculture, and meticulous craftsmanship. While many brands source whiskey from elsewhere and focus primarily on marketing, Middle West has invested heavily in making whiskey from the ground up. Their Michelone Reserve Straight Wheated Bourbon is a perfect example of what happens when a distillery takes its time and lets quality lead the conversation.  This isn't a bourbon trying to shock you with massive proof or extreme oak influence. In...

We've been Old Elk fans for several years, always interested in what was next for this brand.  There were a few fleeting moments where we were seeing fewer and fewer selections on the shelves of our local liquor stores, and we were puzzled.  After some investigating, we found that this non-distilling producer, founded in Fort Collins, Colorado, has sold to Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio.  We were immediatley thrilled about the new ownership, as the Ohio distillery produces some fantastic bottles under their own labels.  Keep an eye out to see what becomes of this new marriage! In today's bourbon landscape, everuy brand seems to be searching for a way to stand out.  Some chas higher proofs.  Others lean heavily into barrel finishes and limited releases.  Old Elk, under the watchful eye of Master Distiller Greg Metze, took a different path.  Rather than focusing solely on what goes into the barrel, they spent years perfecting what happens aft...