Just in time for the holidays, Hokus Pokus has a new Maker's Mark Private Selection pick, Ghost IV. What makes this selection unique is that is has three of the toasted French Spice staves in the mix. There are 240 bottles in this batch, and it is 109.4 proof. For wheated bourbon lovers unable to … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Maker’s Mark Private Selection Hokus Pokus Ghost IV

It's always appropriate to have turkey around Thanksgiving, particularly if it is Wild Turkey Master's Keep. This year's release, Unforgotten, is a blend of a thirteen year old bourbon and a nine year old rye that was then married together in used rye casks. It is 105 proof and, as all Master's Keep releases, is … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten

In July of this year, Fruge Spirits who have had a rice vodka on the market since 2018 released their first Rice Whiskey, J.T. Meleck. During the pandemic they made hand sanitizer which was available at Hokus and I bought some. Made with Louisiana rice and aged in newly charred oak barrels for four to … Continue reading J.T. Meleck Louisiana Rice Whiskey Hand Selected Single Barrel for Hokus Pokus

This year's Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series release uses the same stave profile as last year's, using toasted American Oak. However, this years has two batches, BRT-01 and BRT-02. I picked up the BRT-01. The difference between the two batches is based on the times the barrels stayed at various parts of the warehouse. BRT-01 … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2022 Batch BRT-01

I picked up a bottle of Barrell's Grey Label Bourbon Release 5 recently. I reviewed release three back in 2020. This release is a little different - it is a blend of bourbons from five different mashbills that was then married and re-casked in barrels made from air dried staves that previously held Grey Label … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Barrell Craft Spirits Grey Label Bourbon Release 5

The demand for ultra-aged premium American Whiskies has given new life to an old project, the American Light Whiskey category. Originally a response to changing American tastes in the 1960's for vodka and gin cocktails, this category has gained a new role as a high proof cask strength sipper when aged for ten years or … Continue reading Tasting Notes: RY3 14 Year Old Light Whiskey Cask Strength Single Barrel For Mystic Vine Distributors

Willett's self distilled, as opposed to source products, are continuing to come onto the market. This past summer I got to try a couple of different Willett Purple label single barrels that were distilled in 2012 when Willett began distilling. Now, they have released a wheated bourbon that was barrelled at 125 proof when distilled … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Willett 8 year old Wheated Bourbon

Weller, formerly W.L. Weller, is a wheated bourbon originally made at Stitzel Weller and was run by Pappy Van Winkle. The distillery was opened in 1935 after prohibition ended and operated until 1992 when the distillery was shuttered. The distillery was reopened in 2014 by Diageo. When the distillery was shuttered, the brands were ultimately … Continue reading 2022 Weller 12 Year Old, Antique 107, and Full Proof

The Lake Charles crew of Hokus Pokus picked an 8 year old Elijah Craig Private Barrel, weighing in at 135.6 proof; definitely on the super heavyweight side of proof. Color is a nice amber that is about right for an eight year old cask strength bourbon. Very traditional bourbon notes on the nose with an … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Private Barrel 8 Year Old Hokus Pokus Pick

So, I picked up the latest Stellum limited release bourbon, named Equinox Blend No. 1 as they finished the blend last spring during the Equinox. The cost was a little over $100, and the base of the blend is Stellum's MGP Bourbon, which was then layered with bourbons from Kentucky and Tennessee. It is a … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Stellum Bourbon Equinox Blend No. 1