Review: Spirits of Single Cask Nation, Spring 2023 Releases
More than just the packaging has changed for indie bottler Single Cask Nation (SCN) since last we checked in on them. At the beginning of 2024, the brand announced their acquisition by Artisanal Spirits Co., owners of another, bigger bottler you may have heard of, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Founders Joshua Hatton and Jason…
Review: Old Elk Cigar Cut Island Blend and Infinity Blend 2023
Old Elk recently (that is, at the end of 2023) released a pair of its big blends, both incredibly complex whiskeys that draw from a range of mashbills and finishing styles, all whipped up into a frenzy. We’ve got them both covered here — including the Cigar Cut and Infinity Blend, both in their 2023…
Review: Belvedere 10 Vodka
Ready for a new ultra-ultra-premium vodka? Check out Belvedere 10, “an all-new luxury vodka of true liquid brilliance.” The vodka is distilled from organic diamond rye grown on a single field in Poland and is rested for 10 months after distillation before bottling. It’s that bottle that’s likely to draw your eye first and foremost:…
Review: Rolling Fork Amburana Odyssey Rum
Rolling Fork is an indie spirits bottler that is focused on rum. Drew has looked at a few of its unique expressions in the past, and now we’re back with another limited edition release that is unlike anything else you’re likely to find on the market. The catch: Amburana oak aging. Amburana Oak is a…
Review: 2021 Binnun Bordeaux Style Blend Judean Hills Reserve
This Israeli wine keeps its eye on France, offering a definitively Bordelais style wine made from a blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5% cabernet franc, and 3% petit verdot. The finished product is slightly sweet with notes of fresh plums and strawberry up top, but the wine settles into a groove to reveal notes…
Can Scotch Win More American Hearts and Minds? Brand Building with Ardbeg’s Cameron George
In a whisky world pushing press around master distillers and blenders, one group with outsized market impact doesn’t always get the spotlight: professional brand ambassadors. They’re the folks often closest to accounts both on and off-premises, promoting brands at large-scale events, and tackling entry into new markets one at a time. Few spirits in the…
Review: NY Distilling Co. Jaywalk Straight Rye
Brooklyn’s NY Distilling Co. recently announced the release of three different rye expressions, all using a unique grain that harkens back to 17th-century New York State. Jaywalk Rye utilizes Horton Rye, a grain smaller in size than traditional rye used for whiskey making. NY Distilling’s Allen Katz and Tom Potter partnered with Cornell University to…
Review: The ImpEx Collection Edition Three – 4 Mezcal Expressions (2023 Releases)
Previously we brought you a look at the six indie-bottled whiskies in edition three of the ImpEx Collection — now we’re carrying on with the bottler’s first foray into mezcal. The line comprises four different expressions from two distillers, using four different subspecies of agave. Let’s get into it. The ImpEx Collection Mezcal Felipe Cortes,…
