David Tao
Rye, but make it Scotch. That’s the impetus behind a new release from Bruichladdich, the producer behind (among other things) Port Charlotte and Octomore, in addition to its namesake line. One of nine active distilleries on the Scottish island of Islay, Bruichladdich is the only one currently distilling rye. And its first rye release is…
One of just a handful of true grain-to-glass American distilleries, Nevada’s Frey Ranch is owned and operated by fifth generation family farmers. The distillery grows, harvests, and malts all grain used in its whiskeys. They also mash, ferment, distill, age, and bottle entirely on site. Best known for rye and four (and even five) grain…
Back when it debuted in 2015, 1792 Port Finish made a quick splash and built a gradual reputation among collectors. That’s partially due to its (especially at the time) exceptionally lengthy finish of two full years in Port casks. Since then, the only in-house finishing we’ve seen out of Barton 1792 Distillery was the Thomas…
Independent bottler Lost Lantern is back with its third iteration of Far-Flung Bourbon, a blend of straight bourbons from six smaller producers across the United States: Frey Ranch (Nevada) Wollersheim (Wisconsin) Rock Town (Arkansas) Rich Grain (Mississippi) Still Austin (Texas) Smooth Ambler (West Virginia) As Lost Lantern’s marketed flagship bourbon, the blend is intended to…
While it was released in the UK and EU in 2024, Bushmills waited almost a year before dropping its 26 year old Crystal Malt in the United States. Common in beermaking, crystal malts are a type of caramel malt in which wet barley is allowed to sprout and is then heated at various levels in…
While it’s not Japan’s largest sake producer by volume, Yamaguchi-based Dassai is undoubtedly one of the more prestigious major producers. By the company’s own estimates, it’s responsible for perhaps 30% of Japan’s domestic market for Junmai Daiginjo, a classification that signifies high levels of rice polishing (at least 50% of the original grain is polished…
Scotland’s Fettercairn Distillery has been around since 1824, but it took over 200 years for the whisky to make it across the pond (to U.S. distribution, at least). Starting in summer 2025, the brand began rolling out limited, well-aged, high-end expressions to the American market at the ages of 24, 28, 40, 46, and 50…
Iowa’s Cedar Ridge is perhaps best known for their regionally popular (and often very good!) bourbon, which can outsell some of the nation’s biggest brands in its home market. But never content with just corn, Master Distiller Murphy Quint has also been churning out a series of single malts, including a limited-edition lineup dubbed “The…
World Whiskey Society continues to churn out boutique, limited blends sourced from all corners of America. And while their latest release is another esoteric one, it begins with liquid from the very cornerstone of the country’s sourcing economy: Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Barrels of 20+ year-old MGP light whiskey were finished across a combination of casks that…
In the realm of heralded and esoteric American whiskey, Redemption’s Ancients series made its mark in 2017 with two bottles that have become pillars of “If you know, you know.” The first was an ultra-rare 36 year-old bourbon, blended from some of MGP’s oldest stocks and totaling just 18 bottles. The second was a slightly…