Jefferson’s Founder Trey Zoeller Talks Bourbon Heritage and Making Kentucky “Cool”
In the age of bourbon sourcing, blending, and cask finishes, Jefferson’s Bourbon certainly stands out as a pioneer. Launched in 1997, the brand predates the 2010s “Bourbon Boom” by more than a decade, and Jefferson’s founder Trey Zoeller has witnessed most of the industry’s current trends since their inception. Indeed, Zoeller and his team were…
Review: Shortbarrel Toasted Bourbon 101 and Rye 101
Georgia-based Shortbarrel is a recent addition to the ever-growing list of independent American whiskey bottlers. It began as a barrel picking group in 2016, but by 2021, after more than 350 barrel picks, a few of the group’s members decided to graduate to brand building. In less than two years, they’ve established a modest portfolio…
Book Review: A Sense of Place: A Journey Around Scotland’s Whisky
On one of my first press jaunts as a doe-eyed, aspiring whisky scribe, I sat on a bus next to Chuck Cowdery, someone whom I regard and respect as a true statesman of the profession to this day. We were discussing Kentucky (I was fairly new to the Commonwealth at the time), and he leaned…
Review: Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky 7 Years Old
Bearface is a relatively new Canadian whisky brand with a somewhat complicated backstory. First, the name, Bearface, comes from the fact that the whisky is said to be aged in “Bear Country.” More specifically, it’s aged in shipping containers located in British Columbia where they do have their fair share of bears, but more importantly,…
Review: Wines of Raeburn, 2022 Releases
Raeburn can be found in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, where it’s turning out unique, interesting, and affordable wines. Let’s look at a pair from the new 2021 vintage and a 2020 chardonnay. 2021 Raeburn Rose Russian River Valley – Extremely pale in color, you could be easily forgiven for assuming this was a standard white…
Review: Buzzard’s Roost Bourbon – Char #1 and Toasted American Oak
We’re back with a fourth round with Buzzard’s Roost, a brand which has only been around for two years but which now has at least 10 expressions of sourced American whiskeys. This time out we look at two bourbons, both MGP stock. Buzzard’s Roost Straight Bourbon Char #1 – 4 years old, from a mash of…
Review: Oldknow Seltzers – Absinthe, Gin, and Vodka
One wouldn’t expect to find a ready-to-drink seltzer made with absinth in the mountains of Georgia, but that’s just what Oldknow Bev Co. has been doing, using its own interpretation of the green fairy — plus versions with gin and vodka — to make a canned, fizzy, ready-to-drink cocktail. Are the masses ready to sip…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Triple Blended Stave Finish and Steve’s Legacy
Bardstown Bourbon Co. continues to hum along with their Discovery and Fusion Series releases, as well as the occasional specialty finish limited editions that round out their standard portfolio (impressive considering how much whiskey they make for everyone else). Clearly adept at multi-tasking, the distillery has also released a handful of even rarer offerings over…
