Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 (September 2023)
We’re just a bit late getting to the final Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release for 2023, but here we are at last. As a refresher, with ECBP B523, producer Heaven Hill dropped the 12 year old age statement and let the age of ECBP float. While B523 was shy of 11 1/2 years old, C923…
Review: Barrell Cask Finish Series – Tale of Two Islands and Amburana
Barrell’s always been good at names. Dovetail, their breakout evergreen release, is intended to evoke the dovetail joint, a nod to the precision that goes into its blending process. Seagrass, arguably its most successful blend, calls to mind the oceanside with its rye finished in rum, Madeira, and apricot brandy barrels. Vantage? A nod to,…
Review: Glen Scotia Double Cask Rum Finish and Seasonal Release 12 Years Old (2022)
Slowly but surely, we’re getting around to the full portfolio of single malts from Glen Scotia Distillery. Their neighbor Springbank remains the better known Campbeltown distillery, but with a growing presence stateside and a widening portfolio of both premium, well-aged offerings and impressive NAS bottlings like Victoriana, the word is certainly getting out. Today, we’re…
Review: Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII Bourbon and Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023
MGP/Ross & Squibb’s Remus special editions are here at last. We’re covering them both on one mega-review, so let’s dive into each. Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII Bourbon – Repeal Reserve is out once again, and for the seventh year running it takes a whole bunch of old, high-rye bourbons and mashes them together into what…
Review: 2020 Echolands Rubrum and 2019 Syrah
Opened in 2018, Echolands winery is located in the Walla Walla AVA (American Viticultural Area), which resides within the larger Columbia Valley AVA in Washington State (and a bit of Oregon). We had a chance to try their Cab Franc, which was quite good, and today we take a crack at two additional reds in…
Review: Wild Turkey Generations
Autumn typically conjures images of revered locations like Acadia National Park in Maine, Lake Superior in Michigan, or the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway in Oregon. But a scenic drive through the vibrant colors of central Kentucky might persuade even the most dedicated leaf peepers that Anderson County is a worthy addition to any curated autumn listicle.…
Review: Curious Elixirs Non-Alcoholic Cocktails
Curious Elixirs is a new company pushing booze-free, bottled (and canned) cocktails, largely inspired by classic options and particularly heavy on fresh juices. The company has a rotating collection of recipes denoted exclusively by number. The company’s up to 8 now, with more surely on the way — though note that recipes do sell out.…
Review: GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 12 29 Years Old
Last year’s GlenDronach Grandeur release, Batch 11, was the oldest in its history at 28 years of age. Well, the distillery just upped itself for the second year running with Batch 12, a 29 year old whisky that is matured entirely in oloroso sherry casks. With the intense coffee-brown color and richness of flavor, I…