On March 27, Old Carter announced that their distribution footprint would expand from Kentucky, California, and DC to include New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Louisiana. This weekend I was finally able to purchase two bottles of a whiskey brand that has been getting a lot of attention in the bourbon groups I am in. … Continue reading Old Carter Comes to Louisiana: Review of Bourbon Batch 9 and American Whiskey Batch 5

Chattanooga Whiskey has finally come to Central Louisiana and I was able to pick up a bottle at Hokus Pokus last Saturday. I have been wanting to try this bourbon, given the high malt recipe which includes malted rye, malted caramel barley, and malted honey barley. This distillery had to fight its way into existence; … Continue reading Chattanooga Whiskey Cask 111 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I have written extensively about Maker's Mark here. To summarize, Maker's addition of oak staves to their bourbon makes a pretty nice bourbon that ends up being more like the Van Winkle and Weller bourbons. The 2021 limited release bottling use 10 virgin toasted oak American staves for finishing. This is 110.6 proof, and given … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Maker’s Mark Barrel Finishing Series 2021 Limited Release FAE-01

I miss Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel, which was a wonderful cask strength MGP Bourbon. Lucky for me. Hokus Pokus got a barrel of the new release of Old Scout at cask strength, at a healthy 115.2 proof. Six year old age statement. The mashbill is high rye: 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Smooth Ambler Old Scout “Lil Prairie Ghost” Barrel Pick from Hokus Pokus

I took a trip to New Orleans this weekend with my darling wife to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had lunch Saturday at La Petit Grocery, a James Beard award winning restaurant, but had a little time to kill before our reservation, so we went across the street to Market on Magazine to browse. Little … Continue reading Barrell Bourbon Private Release – River Ridge Discount

Hokus Pokus recently got in a Barrell Single Barrel, complete with Bob Ross tater sticker. The Joy of Bourbon. Too funny. This already dropped in Prairieville and will be released in Alexandria tomorrow; I am not sure about Lake Charles. 10 years old, 109.92 proof. Color: Nice medium amber. Swirl: Thin film with medium legs. … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Barrell Single Barrel Bourbon Hokus Pokus Joy of Bourbon Ghost of Bob Ross Edition

I didn't know there were two barrels picked. This one is the same age, mashbill, and yeast as the other one, but aged in a different part of the warehouse and is 119 proof, or 1% more alcohol than the other barrel. Color: This one is not as dark as the other one; just a … Continue reading Tasting Notes: The Higher Proof New Orleans Bourbon Festival Wilderness Trail Bourbon Pick

I am a member of a number of bourbon and whiskey groups on Facebook, and there has been a lot of hype about the re-release of the fifth release of Old Forester's Whiskey Row series, the 1910 Old Fine Whisky. While I love Old Forester's Prohibition and Bottled in Bond releases from the series, and … Continue reading The Hype: Old Forester Whiskey Row 1910 Old Fine Whisky Kentucky Straight Bourbon

So, this Tasting Note ought to be a full blog post since Peerless is new to me; I have seen and read about it on the internet, but this is my first bottle and I was able to get it at Hokus solely because it is a New Orleans Bourbon Festival release. Given that the … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Peerless Single Barrel Bourbon Selection for the New Orleans Bourbon Festival

It has been a long time since I got my hands on an OESQ Four Roses Single Barrel bottling. This one is ten years old to boot and is at a hefty 114.2 proof. OESQ is the low rye floral yeast recipe of Four Roses. While OESK, with its spicy vanilla yeast, is probably my … Continue reading Tasting Notes: Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength 2021 New Orleans Bourbon Festival Release