I am a big fan of Barrell Bourbon but also their whiskies, including their rum, brandy, and amaro cask finished "light" or "Carondolet"whiskies (Bourbon on the wrong side of Canal Street), which are bourbon mashbill whiskies that are aged in used cooperage. Fairly long aged light whiskies are plentiful with MGP in Indiana, and Smooth … Continue reading My Christmas Whiskey: Barrell Armida- Bourbon Finished in Pear Brandy, Rum, and Sicilian Amaro Casks

I remember when I first tried George T. Stagg seven years ago. I was amazed at how great this whiskey was. I actually got this bottle by chance at Hokus Pokus. At the time, Hokus sold their Pappy and BTAC bottles by drawing. That year I picked Pappy 20, and a lady who picked George … Continue reading Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2020: George T. Stagg and William LaRue Weller

The Fall 2020 BTAC/Van Winkle releases happened at Hokus Pokus today. I look forward to this day the way most kids look forward to Christmas. Given my spend, this blog, etc., Hokus generally lets me pick three bottles from their allocation. I always pick William LaRue Weller and George T. Stagg - those are a … Continue reading I completed my Van Winkle Collection today, so I thought I might have a few drinks- Rye not? Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye (2020), Sazerac Rye 18 years old (2016), and Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye Cask Strength (2014)

While I was recovering from knee surgery in August or early September my buddy Hudson from Hokus Pokus came over with three pints of cask strength rye whiskey for me to participate in a barrel pick. We sampled them and picked one, and it is now bottled. I was pretty excited about this one, given … Continue reading Sneak Preview: Old Pepper Straight Rye Whiskey 110 Proof Hokus Pokus Barrel Selection

It is amazing how far Sugarfield Spirits has come in the eleven months since I visited there. They are creating new spirits and are upping their bourbon game. As soon as this pandemic business is over I will definitely take another trip down there. They are now sourcing bourbon barrels from Midwest Grain Products (MGP) … Continue reading Sugarfield Spirits Straight Bourbon Cask Strength Batch HP1 – Hokus Pokus “Local Bourbon Trail” Barrel Pick

For Thanksgiving yesterday I decided to pop the bottle of Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon, the 2020 release. While I have reviewed many Barrell releases, this one is a premium fifteen year old release, which includes their amazing 15 year old Cascade Hollow bourbon coupled with 15 year old bourbons from Kentucky and … Continue reading More Fall Limited Release Goodness: Barrell Craft Spirits 15 Year Old Bourbon – 2020 Release

The fall limited releases of bourbon continues apace. Old Forester, the iconic brand that started Brown Forman, is celebrating its 150 Anniversary of bottling bourbon which began in 1870. The project for this release began with 150 hand picked barrels, although unfortunately 3 barrels completely evaporated. When Old Forester bottles batches of bourbon without cutting … Continue reading Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon – Batch Proof

After last week’s review of Jim Beam Single Barrel, which is a great $30 bottle of bourbon, I decided to try a bottle first released last year by Brown Forman, Cooper’s Craft Barrel Reserve, which is also in the $30 range at a healthy 100 proof. What makes this bourbon unique is that the inside … Continue reading Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve-An Affordable Oak Forward Bourbon

I decided to pull the trigger on this close to the bottom shelf bottle for $31, Jim Beam Single Barrel 108 proof. When I read up on it, finding out it was non-chill filtered at 108 proof for $31 at Hokus, I knew I would have to try this. Old Tub proved to be very … Continue reading Jim Beam Single Barrel 108 Proof: Blown Away By A $30 Bottle Of Bourbon

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked started a trend of finishing bourbon that was in new heavily charred oak barrels in new heavily toasted oak barrels. A toasted barrel, rather than being just charred on the inside, is exposed to more gentle heat for a longer period of time. These barrels are often still charred but to … Continue reading Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel – A Nice Bourbon for Fall