Spirits
Spirits are beverages made by the process of distillation. The “Spirits” category is not commonly used at Drinkhacker because the vast majority of reviews we publish fall into this category. It is used only occasionally to help organize our category list (and mainly gets clicked by accident).
In the early years of the United States, many American farmers regarded the distillation of rye whiskey at home as a basic right. When the federal government imposed an excise tax on whiskey in 1791, these farmers strongly opposed the measure, with some even threatening to secede from the Union. This conflict, known as the…
In May 2025, Denver-based Laws Whiskey House released the second installment of its Headwaters Series: Headwaters 2025 San Luis Valley Straight Rye. This limited-edition expression honors the Rio Grande River, aligning with Laws’ core belief that sustainable whiskey depends on sustainable water sources. The release comes in response to AmericanRivers.org naming the Lower Rio Grande…
American civil rights icon and longtime congressman John Lewis passed away on July 17, 2020, at the age of 80. Among the many elements of his enduring legacy is his famous call to action: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Inspired by those words, Good Trouble Bourbon was…
Minden Mill Distilling in Minden, Nevada doesn’t just make whiskey. Like many other craft distillers it also produces vodka, this one made from 100% local estate rye grown right in the high desert of Nevada. Let’s give it a try. High Ground Estate Vodka Review It’s a quality vodka, heavy with character but not overwhelming…
You won’t find a more well-respected heritage brand than Old Grand-Dad, which dates as far back as 1840, though Beam notes 1882 on the label. Fun fact: The Old Grand-Dad in question is none other than Meredith Basil Hayden, who has another well-known whiskey line named in his honor. You’ll find OGD’s 80 and 114…
You may have missed the recent news that venerable Irish whiskey brand Tullamore D.E.W. reduced production earlier this year, one of the first indications that the Irish whiskey category is also not immune from the same challenges currently facing every other whiskey-making country. In reading that news, we discovered that it has been well over…
If you’re out exploring or skiing in the Eastern Sierras and need a spot to quench your thirst, Shelter Distilling will have you covered. This craft distillery located in The Village at Mammoth in the shadow of Mammoth Mountain has been cranking out everything from agave-based spirits to beer and canned cocktails for years with…
West End Gin hails from, of all places, Louisville, Kentucky, which is considerably better known for a different kind of spirit. Locally crafted by “entrepreneurial power couple” Dr. Dawn and Stacey Wade, the gin is made from 14 botanicals, including juniper, orange peel, coriander, and cardamom, and is described as citrus-forward and “a delightful dance…
When asked to name a state associated with great whiskey, most would likely point to Kentucky. While Kentucky remains an industry leader, Colorado has steadily evolved into a notable presence in American whiskey. One example is The Family Jones, a Colorado-based distillery and tasting room that follows a grain-to-glass approach, using 100% locally sourced grains…
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…