Drink the Bottles

Dark Arts Whiskey House & Alchemy Lab just celebrated their 3-year anniversary.  The former Wilderness Trail blender and his team of whiskey scientists have created a sizeable footprint in just a few years, trailblazing unique and welcoming expressions, blended expertly. If you haven't tried Dark Arts yet due to distribution in your state, you need to get on their website and check out a bottle or two.  They're all very unique and the combination of flavors leave you scratching your head - in a good way! This is the Dark Arts Straighr Rye Whiskey Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels with Toasted Amburana Oak Staves.  Sure, it's a mouth full, but it's also... well, a mouth full!  Better known as Ripple Rye II, this is a 7.5 year MGP sourced whiskey, finished under the direction of Macauley Minton, resulting in tons of flavors. Bright copper color with aromas of freshly baked Biscoff cookie, vanilla frosting and ripe red fruits.  The maple is there but not overwhe...

  There's no doubt that we love trying new spirits.  But, lets face it, after awhile when you taste bottle after bottle, sometimes the true expression and spirit of the liquid can get lost in translation.  On the other hand, when soething like this bottle shows up at mail call, you immeditely take notice and can't wait to share it with every bourbon enthusiast you know.  And that's just what we did! This is  Penelope Havana Straight Bourbon Finished Whiskey (Batch 1), a 4 year bourbon finished for twelve months in Caribbean rum casks and then an additional finishing of one month in farm-sourced maple syrup barrels.  The outcome?  Deliciousness to the extreme!  The mash bill is 74% Corn, 7% Rye, 16% Wheat and 3% Malted Barley, creating a viscous golden-brown liquid that has aromas leaping from the glass.  Homemade oatmeal banana cookies, maple candy, and fresh-baked Amish friendship bread on the nose at first whiff.  This bottle takes yo...