Jacob Kiper
For years, Penelope built much of its reputation around carefully selected sourced whiskey, particularly bourbon and rye distilled by MGP in Indiana. June 2026 marked a meaningful shift with the arrival of two permanent additions to the Penelope portfolio: Classic Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Classic Series Straight Rye Whiskey. Released together as part…
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau recognizes 53 classification codes across the full range of American whiskey. Most drinkers are acquainted with broad categories such as bourbon, but the TTB divides bourbon into several more specific classifications: blended bourbon whisky, straight bourbon whisky, bottled in bond bourbon whisky, straight bourbon whisky, and bourbon…
Every barrel of whiskey has a story. The opening chapter is written at the distillery, where grain selection, fermentation, and distillation establish the spirit’s foundation. But a whiskey’s story doesn’t stop once it enters a barrel. In many respects, that is where the next chapter begins. The question is whether that next chapter can ultimately…
Two Souls Spirits is an independent bottler best known for its focus on American whiskey, though the company has also released single-cask rum and honey spirit selections. Over the years, Two Souls has partnered with numerous American distilleries to produce transparent single-cask releases. Yet time and again, the bottler has returned to whiskey distilled by…
Few names from American whiskey history deserve more attention than R.E. Wathen. While many legendary brands survived Prohibition, the people responsible for preserving them are often overlooked. Richard E. Wathen was one of those figures. Beginning in November 1927, Wathen served as president of the American Medicinal Spirits Company, assuming the position shortly after the…
In June 2026, Swisher, Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery unveiled its oldest whiskey to date, a release from Master Distiller and Master Blender Murphy Quint titled Nine & Three Quarters Rye Whiskey. At first glance, the name almost invites thoughts of Platform 9¾ from the Harry Potter series, the fictional gateway at London’s King’s Cross Station…
Maple syrup barrel-finished bourbon has become increasingly common over the past several years. In most instances, bourbon is transferred into used maple syrup barrels, and consumers may be told which maple producer supplied those barrels. Beyond that, there has been little movement in the category. Finding a maple-finished bourbon that offers something outside the usual…
Located along the main strip in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Sugarlands Distilling Company opened its flagship distillery in March 2014. Serious whiskey drinkers may know the company for the straight rye whiskey released under its Roaming Man label, but among the crowds that pass through its doors each year, Sugarlands is best known for an extensive lineup…
Today, the United States marks its 250th anniversary. In the months surrounding the occasion, “America 250” became nearly impossible to avoid. Advertising campaigns, commemorative releases, and media coverage all joined the celebration, each offering its own interpretation of a quarter millennium of American history. When people around the world picture the United States, certain images…
Great whiskey often asks a simple question: can a collection of individual parts become something greater than any one of them alone? Dark Arts Whiskey House has built its identity around that very idea. Its philosophy of alchemy is not centered on turning lead into gold, but on transformation. Separate barrels, each with its own…