REVIEWS

Earlier this year, I was at an equestrian competition – along with 80,000 of my closest horse-crazy fans where Castle & Key was also a sponsor with their mobile bourbon bars interspersed around the course. I’ve toured and tasted Castle & Key bourbon in the past, but some of their younger bourbons left me wanting more. This day, though, I had the opportunity to try Castle & Key 6-Year Small Batch before I bought a bottle. Let’s just say, there wasn’t a big delay. From Ruins to

Every now and then, you come across a bourbon that reminds you proof isn't everything. Sure, bourbon enthusiasts love to chase big numbers. Higher proof often means bigger flavor, bolder character, and more intensity. But occasionally, a bottle manages to deliver all that extra proof without beating up your palate along the way. That's exactly what I found with Duck Club High Brass Bourbon. About Duck Club Bourbon Duck Club Bourbon draws inspiration from America's long tradit

There are some bourbons that try to knock your socks off. Barrel proof monsters. Oak bombs. Flavor grenades. Then there are bourbons like Michter's US*1 Small Batch Bourbon. It doesn't demand your attention. It doesn't challenge your palate. It simply invites you to sit down, relax, and enjoy a well-made pour. The problem? At today's prices, "well-made" may not be enough. A Quick Look at Michter's Michter's has one of the most fascinating stories in American whiskey. The bran

Every bourbon drinker eventually encounters a whiskey that challenges expectations. Sometimes the label tells one story, but the glass tells another. That's exactly what happened when I poured this Bardstown Bourbon Company High Wheat Bourbon. I expected something soft, sweet, and mellow. What I found instead was a bourbon that repeatedly nudged me toward a completely different conclusion. And that's one of the reasons bourbon remains endlessly fascinating. A Quick Look at Ba

I've always appreciated New Riff for one simple reason: they don't seem interested in shortcuts. Since launching in 2014, they've built a reputation for transparency, Bottled-in-Bond whiskey, and a commitment to quality over hype. While some distilleries rush young bourbon to market, New Riff has quietly waited for its whiskey to mature. Their new 8-Year Bourbon feels like the reward for that patience, offering a well-aged, high-rye bourbon that showcases everything fans have

Finally, the Yellow Label Grew Up. There are certain bourbons that have always occupied a special place on my shelf. Not because they're rare. Not because they're expensive. Not because bourbon hunters are camping outside liquor stores hoping to score one. They're there because they consistently deliver. For me, Four Roses Bourbon, affectionately known by many of us as the "Yellow Label" (or tan label, depending on the era), has always been one of those bottles. And now, afte

Twelve Years, Sixty Bucks, and One Very Hard Bottle to Leave Behind Every now and then, bourbon hunting rewards persistence with something that makes you do a double-take. That happened recently when I wandered into our local Binny's on a Friday afternoon and spotted a small stash of 1792 Aged Twelve Years sitting quietly on the counter for $60 a bottle. No fanfare. No line. No raffle. Just twelve-year-old Kentucky bourbon waiting for a new home. Needless to say, one followed