I have really enjoyed Hokus Pokus' barrel picks of Heaven's Door, which have been low rye mashbill Tennessee bourbons. For Christmas, my daughters got me the Heaven's Door Decade Series, which is a ten year old twenty percent rye mashbill bourbon that has NOT undergone the Lincoln County process of charcoal mellowing. They have bottled … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Heaven’s Door Decade Series 10 Year Old Bourbon

A bourbon prized by connoisseurs that was not released in 2021 is back with a vengeance in 2022 at 138.7 proof, uncut, non-chill filtered Buffalo Trace bourbon - George T. Stagg. The color on this is deep amber with lots of mahogany, showing every bit of its fifteen years and five months in the barrel. … Continue reading Tasting Notes: 2022 George T. Stagg

Benchmark has been by go to cheap mixable bourbon for a long time. After I got introduced to the good folks at Buffalo Trace by a friend who worked for Sazerac as an accountant, I had asked them which of their low end bourbons they would recommend, Benchmark or Ancient Age. They recommended Benchmark, which … Continue reading Benchmark Collection: Full Proof and Bonded

I was able to get my hands on a Four Roses 2022 Limited Edition. The last Limited Edition bottle I was able to get was in 2019, so I have had a bit of a dry spell in getting these. These tend to be quite special and I have enjoyed these in the past. This … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Four Roses 2022 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon

As I noted in my detailed review of Rebel Distiller's Collection, I really wanted to try Rebel's 10 year old wheated bourbon at 100 proof. Lo and behold, Hokus was able to get a couple of bottles, and I snagged one for just under $70. There is an important note on the label, that being … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Rebel 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon

My contribution to a tasting last Friday night was Yellowstone's 2020 Limited Edition Bourbon Release, which, this year, was finished in Marsala Superiore casks. Consistent with prior limited edition releases, this is 101 proof. The group really enjoyed this bottle, and was picked as either the or a favorite at the tasting. The blend of … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition Bourbon Finished In Marsala Superiore Casks

Stellum's Perseus Single Barrel is a 2022 release of Stellum Single Barrel, and has the same low rye mashbill from MGP as Lyra and Vega of 2021. This one is 116.34 proof. Color is a nice amber; I would guess this bourbon was aged in a cooler part of the warehouse for five to six … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Hokus Pokus’ Stellum Perseus Single Barrel Pick

Rebel Yell was a bourbon brand of the historic Stitzel Weller distillery, and was a wheated bourbon just like Weller, Van Winkle, and Old Fitzgerald. Luxco ended up with the brand, and dropped the "yell" from the brand's moniker. It is now distilled at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky. In addition to Rebel, Luxco … Continue reading Rebel Distiller’s Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Single Barrel Selected By Total Wine

I have written extensively on the Van Winkle Bourbons before. This years allocation to my local liquor store was pretty sparse, but better than last year. I was able to get a Pappy 15 and an Old Rip 10. Of late, Buffalo Trace wheated bourbons have been on an upswing in quality, and I am … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old and Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old 2022 releases

Hokus Pokus has sourced another barrel from Old Soul in Mississippi, with this one not being a particularly high rye bourbon, but rather one with a mashbill 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. I believe this has been sourced from MGP and aged mostly at Cathead Distillery in Mississippi. Uncut and unfiltered, this … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Old Soul Single Barrel Cask Strength Hokus Pokus 2022 Private Selection