David Tao
For the fourth time in recent memory, Scotch distiller Bowmore and car maker Aston Martin have teamed up for a whiskey release. And in this instance, both the age statement and the price tag are among the highest ever for a spirit reviewed on Drinkhacker. Bowmore ARC-54 is a 54 year-old single malt, originally distilled…
Rolling Fork Spirits built their initial following on the backs of sourced rum, rum-and-rye blends, and (under the brand name Wayward Cask) highly-aged French brandy. In late 2024, they entered the bourbon market by relaunching Bourbon de Luxe, a label with history dating back to 1911; Rolling Fork co-founder Turner Wathen hails from the same…
Pursuit Spirits has been releasing a variety of American whiskeys under their own label for several years. Now, the podcasters-turned-bottlers are taking the brand in an additional direction with the revival of two vintage labels — and accordingly, some new whiskey to go with them. The Mellwood Legacy Collection pays homage to the site of…
Perhaps best known for highly aged Armagnac, Vermont-based Bhakta Spirits has gradually diversified to bottlings beyond brandy, ranging from rum to rye (often blended with brandy varieties or finished in brandy casks). Their latest whiskey is the third in their single vintage bourbon series, a Tennessee bourbon aged 12 years and 10 months finished in…
Near the upper echelons of Sazerac’s spirits portfolio sits The Last Drop, a boutique bottler of “the world’s most remarkable spirits.” Over the years, The Last Drop’s releases have featured Scotch, bourbon, Irish whiskey, blended whisky, Armagnac, Cognac, rum, and more, virtually all of which boast remarkable age statements and rarities. While The Last Drop…
Now in its third iteration, The Dalmore‘s annual Luminary release comprises two whiskies: The Collectible and The Rare, none of which we have reviewed to date. This year’s The Rare is a 52 year old Scotch limited to just a handful of bottles. Significantly more obtainable is The Collectible, our subject today and a 17…
Taiwan’s Kavalan is the island’s first non-government owned distillery, with production beginning in 2006. To date, they’ve released a wide variety of single malts across various cask types, including some we’ve found truly exceptional. (The recent Whisky Vinho Barrique Cask Strength comes to mind.) In March 2025, Kavalan announced the U.S. launch of its commemorative,…
High West’s Bourye has built a sort of cult following among some American whiskey fans, with its production dating back to the early 2010s. The bourbon/rye mashup often contained highly-aged whiskey from multiple distilleries, and fans chased new tastes as the blend and profile shifted from one year to the next. After about a decade…
Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Blue Note has been a steady presence in bourbon’s blending scene for the past several years. While many of their releases have featured whiskey sourced from both Tennessee and Kentucky, they currently have a partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company, so we’re likely to see more of that contract-distilled liquid come of…
One of America’s oldest single malt distilleries, Colorado-based Stranahan’s, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. These days, the Proximo-owned brand seems to have plenty of older juice to play with. In late 2024, they rolled out a 12-year version of the core Mountain Angel whiskey, which is (for now) among the oldest single malts produced entirely…