Bourbon
Bourbon is the unquestioned king of American whiskey, its production dating back to the 1700s. While bourbon is invariably associated with Kentucky, where 95 percent of all bourbon is produced today, in reality it can be produced anywhere in the U.S. (though only Kentucky Bourbon can include the name of the state on the label). By U.S. law, bourbon must be made from a mash of at least 51% corn; be aged in new, charred oak containers; distilled to no more than 160 proof, entered into barrel at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s no minimum aging requirement for bourbon, although straight bourbon must be aged for at least two years and cannot have added coloring. One of the most popular spirits in today’s drinking world, bourbon prices have been on the rise as stocks have dwindled — although massive investments in the industry promise to ease those supply pressures in coming years.
Top Bourbon Posts:
Tips, Tricks, and Advice on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Top 10 Bourbons Under $20
Buffalo Trace’s Single Oak Project
If it seems like we just visited Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon, you’re not taking crazy pills. The 2025 batch dropped around November, and not even six months later, we’ve got a new release. Indeed, along with a new (age-stated) rye, this year’s bourbon is part of a double-header that coincides with the company moving…
The return of Michter’s ultra luxe Celebration Sour Mash, only the fifth release to date, somewhat overshadowed the announcement that the fan favorite 10-year-old single barrel was also on its way, destined for the top shelves at your local watering hole and the fancy display cabinets of those liquor stores lucky enough to get an…
The first batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2026 arrived a few days ago. We’re jumping on top of it with coverage of this “Big Easy Batch,” named for Booker Noe’s love of New Orleans. Who can blame him? This expression is a blend of five sub-lots from the Beam warehouses, the youngest being 7 years,…
I wasn’t sure I saw this one coming: On the heels of Jack Daniel’s first two age-stated releases, JD 10 Years Old and JD 12 Years Old, the Lynchburg, Tennessee-based distillery has added a third sibling, Jack Daniel’s 14 Years Old. Intriguingly, it’s the first 14-year-old expression of Jack Daniel’s produced since Jack Daniel himself…
Barrell Bourbon is back once again with another addition to its ever-growing Limited Edition lineup. On the heels of the second Red Label Series release, we’re getting an entirely new offering, Cigar Blend. It may be new to the Barrell portfolio, but “cigar blend” bourbons aren’t exactly cutting edge. A bourbon designed specifically to pair…
Two years ago Jack Daniel’s released its first age-statemented whiskey in a century — Jack Daniel’s 10 Years Old — and now it’s back with a second batch, plus a friend. Today we check out JD 10 Batch 2 as well as the first batch of an older sibling, Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old. Both…
Jack Daniel’s has been making headlines for its latest bottling, the first whiskey with a 10 year old age statement in more than 100 years. (You can see an old bottling of JD at 10 years old in the photo above.) Most JD carries no age statement at all, of course, so it’s unusual to…
The third of five planned whiskeys in Maker’s Mark’s Limited Release Wood Finishing Series has arrived. The Stewards Release follows 2025’s The Keepers Release and 2024’s The Heart Release, this time honoring the “stewards” of the distillery, which seems to cover everyone from quality control to marketing. Curiously, the listed stave finishing recipe for this…
Starting in 2025, Barrell Craft Spirits began introducing several lineup rebrands. To kick off 2026, we’ve got the latest in their “Red Label Series”: a 12 year, age-stated blend of straight bourbons, finished in toasted American oak. The release is the most immediate followup to last year’s (fantastic) French Oak bottling, which cracked our Top…
Resting on the banks of the Roanoke River in Weldon, North Carolina, Weldon Mills Distillery occupies a space where industrial history meets modern craftsmanship. Established in 2018 by Bruce Tyler and Michael Hinderliter, the operation faced an immediate hurdle when it secured its distilling permit in November 2019, only to see global events stall production.…