Hokus Pokus will sometimes let me try something before I buy it, and I have passed on previous releases of Penelope Toasted Series Barrel Strength Bourbon after tasting samples of them, albiet in a disposable cough syrup plastic cup. But when I tried Louisiana Select Number 5 I decided to pick up a bottle. It … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Penelope Barrel Strength Bourbon Toasted Series Louisiana Select Number 5

Still Austin is a craft distillery in Austin, Texas, that uses locally sourced grains for their bourbon and their gin. Austin, Texas is one of those places that is, well, different. It's the state capital of Texas, home to the University of Texas, and because of that a hippie town where the marijuana smoke is … Continue reading Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon

Old Carter has come out with Batches 11 and 12, with these small batches being sourced from Cascade Hollow in Tennessee. This straight bourbon is not aged stated, but is likely a blend of older barrels that were then re-barrelled at Old Carter. It is bottled at 110.8 proof, and my bottle cost $150. The … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Old Carter Straight Bourbon Batch 12

My lovely wife bought me the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2022 Release, which is a 17 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, bottled at barrel proof of 118.2 The mashbill is distinctively low rye - 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% barley malt. The age statement reflects the youngest whiskey in the mashbill. Only 27% … Continue reading Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2022 Release – 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Barrel Proof

I finally got to try Nulu, a bourbon bottled by Prohibition Craft Spirits in Louisville, Kentucky. Hokus Pokus got some of the LA-1 special release. This is a blend of four and six year old MGP bourbon distilled in Indiana, non-chill filtered before bottling at 118 proof. This bottle cost $64. The color is a … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Nulu Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch LA-1

No one more than I applauded when Heaven Hill decided to take its Elijah Craig store pick program to the next level in allowing picks to be bottled at barrel proof. So many bourbon drinkers are big fans of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof which has four batch releases per year and is a 12 year … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Private Barrel Bourbon Barrel Proof Hokus Pokus Pick

Hokus got another Spirits of French Lick pick in - this time it is Lee W. Sinclair Four Grain Bourbon, which was bottled at cask strength for Hokus. The really interesting part about this four grain bourbon is the fourth grain. Most four grain bourbons include both wheat and rye in the mashbill. But this … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Lee W. Sinclair Four Grain Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey Hokus Pokus Store Pick

Castle & Key Distillery is the now restored Old Taylor distillery, founded by Col. E.H. Taylor while he was also proprietor of what is now Buffalo Trace distillery. The distillery was abandoned during bourbon's darkest days since prohibition, in 1972, during the rise of lower proof spirits and wine on the American drinking scene and … Continue reading Castle & Key Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I have tried Old Elk but haven't bought a bottle or written on it, as what I have encountered is a pretty good but low proof bourbon. I have tried both the wheated (which really is comparable to Weller Green Label) and the high malt bourbons. But Hokus Pokus got this limited release $150 a … Continue reading Old Elk 2021 Limited Release Infinity Blend

Normally, I would review an Irish whiskey for St. Patrick's Day, but, this year, I am reviewing a bourbon with an Irish whiskey twist. Kentucky Owl used to be Dixon Dedman's whiskey project, wherein he collaborated with the Carters of wine-making fame. They then sold it to Stoli and then Dixon quit while the Carters … Continue reading Kentucky Owl Straight Bourbon Whiskey St. Patrick’s Edition