By Richard Thomas Rating: B- Templeton Fortitude Bourbon (Credit: Richard Thomas) For good or for ill, Templeton is one of the most storied names to come out of the American whiskey boom of the 21st Century. Getting their start as a sourced brand in the 2000s, they spun a story of being inspired by Iowa bootleggers who supplied rye whiskey to Chicago gangsters. The gaps between Templeton’s marketing tales and its reality as a sourced-and-bottled whiskey originating from MGP in Indiana were hardly unique, but by the early 2010s a chunk of the American whiskey blogosphere had become fanatical ab ..read more

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye (Credit: Richard Thomas) The Whiskey Reviewer could be said to have a love affair with Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye. Deputy Editor Kurt Maitland was pointing at it when he coined his rule that “stronger whiskey is usually better whiskey.” Senior contributor and all-around rye guy Scott Peters is enamored, and I’m more than fond of the expression myself. It’s been two years since Michter’s last released this much-adored whiskey, so of course it demands covering. This Michter’s expression typically clocks in at a comparatively low alc ..read more

Irish Distillers, producer of whiskeys such as Jameson, Redbreast and Powers, has announced the appointment of its second new cooper in over 45 years. Derek Cronin, who originally trained as a carpenter, has successfully completed his four-year apprenticeship under Master Cooper Ger Buckley. Coopers are the tradesmen who make and repair casks. His apprenticeship provided him with the opportunity to travel the world, spending time in Scotland, France and Spain working in a number of cooperages broadening his coopering skills and knowledge. Derek, from Ardmore in County Waterford, is only the se ..read more

Barrell Bourbon has earned its place in the hearts of enthusiasts as much for its blending skills and cask strength products as for its praised transparency. Now they’ve taken the former in a new direction with the third installment of their Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series with a Mizunara-finished whiskey. For the newest expression, the BCS blending team created a blend of Indiana (6, 7, and 9-year), Kentucky (8-year) and Tennessee (8 & 14-year) bourbon whiskeys featuring multiple mash bills. The blend was then further matured in Mizunara casks for one and a half years and bottled at ca ..read more

When Shelter Distilling planted their flag at the base of Mammoth Mountain in California, they did so with passion for adventure. For the last seven years they have been attracting like-minded individuals, coming together to share stories and a well-crafted beverage. With the growing popularity of Shelter Distilling spirits, the team knew they needed to expand. Looking to continue their adventure and staying true to their values and fanbase, they landed in Montrose, Colorado. Now, adventure has another starting point and a distillery there to serve all visiting thrill-seekers. “For Shelter Dis ..read more

Lux Row has reached a special anniversary this year with its 10th release in the Blood Oath series of Kentucky bourbon, this one double finished in Cabernet Franc and Merlot casks. A limited supply of 17,000 cases will arrive at retail this month at a suggested price of $129.99 per 750 ml bottle. As with all of Rempe’s pacts, Blood Oath Pact 10 is offered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV). Blood Oath Pact 10 combines some of the finest rare bourbons Master Distiller John Rempe could find, including two well-bred ryed bourbons and one finished bourbon each complementing the others. In honor of Blood Oa ..read more

Ardgowan Distillery has announced the two final additions to its Clydebuilt whisky series: Anchorsmith and Draughtsman Blended Malt Scotch Whiskies. Anchorsmith combines six distinct whiskies from renowned Lowland, Speyside, and Highland distilleries, each matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and handpicked by Master Whisky Maker Max McFarlane. Draughtsman, the last in the series, offers a grand finale to savor. This unique blend marries a small parcel of Ardgowan’s oldest hand selected casks–including a 25 year old malt–with a selection of distinctive eight year old malts matured in fir ..read more

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Bulleit Manhattan Cocktail (Credit: Bulleit) One of the better things to come out of the Pandemic and its associated lockdowns were the rise of good pre-mixed, bottled or canned cocktails. Stop and consider that the mixology boom was well under way thirteen years ago, when we first reported on how that boom was sweeping rye whiskey from store shelves. Quality RTD products only started reaching the market in the last few years. Bulleit has two bottled RTDs in their inventory: a bourbon-based Old Fashioned; and a Manhattan using rye whiskey. I zeroed in on the latt ..read more

By Richard Thomas Making maple wood charcoal at Jack Daniel’s in the 1930s. (Credit: Public Domain) One of the ugly little secrets of sensory science is just how much the senses of taste and smell can be influenced by preconceptions. Ideally, this reality can be guarded against, and it’s what makes the notion of the blind taste test so interesting. The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 was the earliest lesson of just how snobbery and closure to new concepts can condition and blinker people who are supposed to be expert and rational in a given field, opening the door to biases. That wine tasting has ..read more

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Town Branch 7 Year Old Single Malt (Credit: Richard Thomas) Lexington Brewing & Distilling’s Town Branch 7 Year Old Single Malt is a product of brewstilling synergy. Whether the whiskey was made with the distillery’s pot still is unknown, but what is known is that it was aged for seven-plus years in old Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale barrels. That drink, in its turn, is the brewery’s staple Kentucky Irish Red Ale aged in used bourbon barrels, and for years now at least some of those barrels have come from the distillery’s own bourbon output. The Kentucky single ..read more