Despite being a relatively new player on the scene, Barrell Bourbon has continued to distinguish themselves in the competitive whiskey market ever since their founding in 2013. Using only sourced whiskey from a variety of undisclosed distilleries, Barrell has made a solid mark as innovative blenders with consistent releases of high-quality whiskey. Barrell isn't a new brand to the Amongst the Whiskey writers. With highly cherished barrel picks and a top rated rye in the archives, this is a brand that continues to inspire curiosity and excitement amongst the team. These cask strength bourbo ..read more

Named distillery of the year in 2017 by the American Distillery Institute, Cedar Ridge Distillery, located in Swisher, Iowa, has consistently produced award-winning whiskey for years. As Iowa's first distillery to open since prohibition in 2005, their commitment to innovation and consistency has produced quality whiskey with a loyal consumer base that many craft distilleries dream of having. Although, I would argue the word "loyal" is an understatement when it comes to the residents of Iowa. If you've ever experienced an Iowa Hawkeyes Football game (which I have; the University of Iowa is m ..read more

This Portland, Oregon distillery has long been pushing the category of American whiskey forward. Opening under the name "House Spirits" in 2004, their self-funded venture has since garnered the attention of whisk(e)y powerhouses like Diageo, who invested in their future, giving advice and resources but allowing them to remain independently operated. Wondering what Westward is all about? Let's see how they describe this release on their website: Here at Amongst the Whiskey, I love bringing you the best, most thorough, and consistent reviews for whisk(e)y of all types. American single ..read more

All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one. - William of Ockham Murphy Quint had a simple vision in mind when he returned to his family's distillery in Iowa after leaving Stranahan's in 2014—to move the company away from treating all their spirits equally and focus on whiskey. Lucky for Murphy, a high-quality craft distillery in Iowa was well underway by the time he stepped back into the family's operations. With nine generations involved in the distillation of spirits under the Quint name, Jeff Quint, founder, business savant, and father to Murphy, has been at ..read more

We live in a world that pays attention to speed, volume, and flash. Subtlety has its own power in relation to that. -Peter Erskine In an age where prices seem to be ever-escalating and the commitment to quality ever-deteriorating, few distilleries stand alone as the last bastions of quality. Wild Turkey is one such distillery for me. Despite the operation being built upon a pretty massive column still (I tend to prefer the nuanced depth that pot stills typically produce), the Russell family has continued on with a naturally derived legacy that one can certainly be proud of. While craft ..read more

What's this? Green River, a distillery once integral to the distribution of medicinal whiskey during prohibition getting revived for a new era of glory? Abso-freaking-lutely! Despite holding one of Kentucky's oldest DSP numbers, Green River Distilling Company only recently experienced its revival. Not long after releasing their first bourbon in 2022, Bardstown Bourbon Company purchased the distillery. To date, Green River distributes to 25 states with a portfolio that includes Rye, Wheated, Single Barrel, and, most recently, Full Proof expressions. So, what's the big deal? Just anoth ..read more

Have you heard of this little-known concept called “The Manager’s Dram”? In 1987, a group of distillery managers from Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD) met for a tasting session, with each manager bringing a sample of their favorite cask from their respective distilleries. As there were nearly thirty of them, the session was undoubtedly quite a bit of fun, but the outcome was deemed worthy of repeat. In early 1988, the winner of the first ever session became the first Manager's Dram bottling—a 15-year-old Glen Elgin sherry cask that weighed in at a hefty 60.2%. The Manager’s Dram whiskies wer ..read more

We have arrived at the sweet end of this epic Manager's Dram tasting with an absolute monster. Duchess of Islay did a great job summarizing this distillery's history, so well, in fact, that we're borrowing a few words from her here before we get into our own tasting notes from the Manager’s Dram bottling: If you don’t know, Caol lla, pronounced /kull-EE-lah/, is an Islay distillery situated near Port Askaig. • Built in 1846, overlooking the Sound of Islay (which is Caol lla in Gaelic), the distillery changes hands throughout the 1800 & early 1900s, repeatedly being mothballed and reo ..read more

A single barrel of whiskey and the journey that unfolds. From the maturation process to climate changes to the luxury of time, the end product is a result of nature's elements. There is no blending, no fenagaling, just whiskey in a barrel aging until it is deemed ready for bottling. Barrel picks have become widely popular amongst distilleries and whiskey enthusiasts alike. The opportunity to dive deeply into a distillery by tasting a series of single barrels is often seen as the bees-knees of whiskey experiences. The private selection program at Four Roses Distillery allows enthusiasts an ..read more

Since we’ve already covered one other Oban expression in the Manager’s Dram lineup, we will explore some interesting extra distillery information. If you recall, we discussed Oban's long history of using traditional methods like the continued use of worm tubs and their relatively small size. Let’s dive even deeper into this Highland distillery! The size I mentioned? That’s a point of pride for the brand, which believes that “out of this smallness comes a scrupulous attention to detail, reverence for tradition, and world-class whisky.” In order to produce their whisky, only seven people are ..read more