Drink the Bottles

  Three Ryes, One Maryland Story: Exploring Sagamore Whiskey The history of Maryland rye, its remarkable comeback, and our tasting of Sagamore Whiskey’s Small Batch, Double Oak and Cask Strength expressions. There are a lot of places in America that have become synonymous with whiskey.   Kentucky has bourbon. Pennsylvania has its own long rye tradition. Tennessee has Tennessee whiskey. And then there’s Maryland. For much of American whiskey history, Maryland rye was a big deal. Long before craft distilling became fashionable, rye whiskey was being produced throughout the state, and Baltimore had developed a reputation for the style. Maryland rye was generally known for being a little softer and rounder than some of its northern counterparts, while still delivering the peppery spice that makes rye so distinctive. Then Prohibition happened a nd Maryland rye essentially disappeared. Today, there’s a concerted effort to bring it back—and few distilleries have put more ene...

  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...

  There are certain bottles that come with a reputation before you ever pour them.   Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey is one of those bottles. Mention Skrewball at a party and there's a pretty good chance someone will immediately think of a shot. The distinctive bottle has become almost synonymous with the sweet, nutty whiskey that helped make peanut butter whiskey a recognizable category.  And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But here's the thing: Skrewball is capable of doing considerably more than occupying a shot glass. After spending some time looking at the whiskey from a cocktail perspective, we think it's time to reconsider what this unconventional spirit can bring to the bar.  Because once you stop thinking of Skrewball as the peanut butter whiskey you take shots of and start thinking of it as a cocktail ingredient, things get considerably more interesting. A Peanut Butter Whiskey That Started With a Cocktail Skrewball's story is almost...

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...

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, ...

National Toast to the Troops July 4th encourages consumers to tune in live, raise a glass and send message of support to our service men and women  Lynchburg, Tenn. (June 29, 2026) – In honor of America’s landmark 250th anniversary, the Jack Daniel Distillery and the USO are proud to announce a new partnership dedicated to celebrating the legacy, service, and sacrifice of the United States Armed Forces. Through support as a leading partner of the USO’s “United We Toast” initiative, this collaboration brings  together America’s oldest registered distillery and the nation’s leading military support organization to honor the country’s milestone Semiquincentennial.  This nationwide effort brings civilians and service members together through a shared moment of gratitude, a collective toast to our nation's heroes, and an ongoing digital campaign to support active-duty troops. By connecting the distillery's 160-year history with the USO’s historic mission, the campaign invites ...

Some whiskey releases are designed to tell a larger story.   Penelope's Limited Series, Architects of Golf, came together over a love and discussion about golf.  It seems simple enough, but if you know anything about the spirits game, you know nothing happens overnight.   This is Penelope Architects of Golf Hole 2 , a six-year-old straight bourbon whiskey with a mash bill consisting of corn (60%), rye (36%), and malted barley (4%).  The elevated rye content promises a more assertive profile while the finishing introduces a layer of complexity that we appreciate.   While many limited releases arrive with a one-and-done approach, Architects of Golf appears to be building something much larger. With Holes 1, 2, and 3 already announced, the series invites an obvious question:  How many holes are left to play? While no official roadmap has been released, the golf-inspired theme naturally leads enthusiasts to wonder whether the collection could eve...

One of the things we've always appreciated about Penelope is that they aren't afraid to experiment.  In fact, some might argue that they paved the path for many other distilleries for blending and creating unique spirits.   In an era where every new whiskey release seems to promise bigger proof, older age statements, or increasingly exotic finishes, Penelope has managed to find a balance between innovation and drinkability. That philosophy is on full display in the Cooper Series, a collection that allows the brand to explore unique finishing techniques while still keeping the whiskey approachable and enjoyable. Enter Riviera .  Part of Penelope's popular Cooper Series, Riviera takes a blend straight bourbon and 8-year American light whiskey and finishes it in rosé wine casks. On paper, it sounds like a whiskey designed for warmer weather and outdoor gatherings. In the glass, it turns out to be exactly that. The Cooper Series has become one of the more interesting pro...

Woodinville Whiskey: From Washington Startup to American Whiskey Standout Let's get one thing out of the way right from the start: Woodinville Whiskey isn't trying to be Kentucky bourbon.   That's probably one of the biggest reasons it has become one of the most respected craft whiskey producers in America. For decades, bourbon drinkers have been conditioned to believe that the best whiskey comes from Kentucky. While there's certainly plenty of truth behind that reputation, distilleries like Woodinville have shown that exceptional bourbon can come from places most enthusiasts never expected. In this case, the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 2010 by longtime friends Brett Carlile and Orlin Sorensen, Woodinville Whiskey began with a simple but ambitious goal: create world-class whiskey using local ingredients and traditional methods without taking shortcuts. Rather than sourcing whiskey from elsewhere and putting their name on it, they committed themselves to building somet...