REVIEWS

My wife is so very good to me. Twice a year, our local Hy-Vee store has a bourbon raffle. Get in line early, and nearly everyone is assured of the opportunity to purchase a rare or allocated bourbon find at close to MSRP. I had other commitments; she graciously waited in line with nearly a hundred bourbon nerds in hopes of scoring something nice. This year, just in time for Father’s Day, she shared that her golden ticket was for Old Charter Finest Oak. Part of Buffalo Trace's

Some bourbons walk into the room and politely introduce themselves. Others kick the door open, crank up the volume, and announce their presence from across the county. This Hy-Vee Bloomington-Normal Old Forester Barrel Strength selection falls somewhere in between. With a high proof, it certainly has the credentials to be a bruiser, but surprisingly, it arrives with far more finesse than force. That doesn't mean it's tame. It just means it's smart enough to wait until you're

“It’s going to be strange liking whiskey”… yeah, about that. Every once in a while, a bottle comes along with a tagline that stops you in your tracks. This one leans right into it: “It’s going to be strange liking whiskey.” And I’ll be honest—when I see something like that, I’m equal parts curious and cautious. Because if you already like whiskey… how strange should it be? Let’s dive in. What Is Fraser & Thompson? Fraser & Thompson is a North American whiskey blend, clocking

There’s something uniquely Kentucky about a bourbon brand built on big dreams, bluegrass backroads, and a story that’s a little complicated around the edges. Limestone Heritage Bloodlines is exactly that kind of pour — a bottle tied to Georgetown, Kentucky, ambition, and lately, a fair amount of controversy. Originally connected to the proposed Limestone Heritage Distillery project in Georgetown, the brand was part of a vision for a large distillery and visitor experience in

There’s something special about a Maker’s Mark Private Selection. Each bottle tells its own story—built from a custom combination of oak staves that tweak and shape the classic wheated profile into something uniquely personal. This particular pick, the 1st Annual Hy-Vee “Honor Flight Bourbon”, carries not just a tailored flavor profile, but a meaningful purpose behind it as well. That alone makes it worth a closer look, but fortunately, what’s in the glass backs it up. The De

Some releases feel like they were meant to stay under the radar… until you actually get a pour in your glass. This 117 Series 1910 Extra Extra Old is one of those bottles. It doesn’t come in a flashy size, it doesn’t chase hazmat proof points—but what it does offer is something Old Forester has always done well: depth, balance, and just enough creativity to keep things interesting. And in this case, they leaned all the way into it. A Bit of History Old Forester is one of the

There’s something about a bottle that carries both nostalgia and quiet confidence—and Cream of Kentucky fits that bill beautifully. It’s the kind of name that sounds like it belongs in a dusty rickhouse ledger from a century ago, but what’s inside the bottle feels right at home in today’s bourbon renaissance. A Quick Sip of History Cream of Kentucky is a revived label with roots going back to the late 1800s. The brand dates all the way back to 1888, when I. Trager & Co. intro