Whiskey
Whiskey is a spirit produced from the distillation of grain. Debate still rages about whether the Irish Celts or Scots were the first to produce the “water of life,” but the first written recording of whiskey’s creation dates to 15th century Scotland. Origin isn’t the only debate concerning whiskey. Spelling is contentious, too. When distilled in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, it is spelled whisky without the e, while whiskey distilled in Ireland and the United States is most often, but not always, spelled with the e. Technically, whiskey is a distilled spirit produced from a fermented grain mash, distilled to no more than 190 proof, and bottled at no less than 80 proof. All whiskey, with the exception of corn whiskey and “white” whiskey, must be aged for some period of time in oak containers. Whiskey is classified by country of origin (i.e. Canadian whisky) and may be further defined by the type of grain used (i.e. rye whiskey) or the way it is produced (i.e. single malt).
Top Whiskey Posts:
The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2018
The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2017
All About Dusties: 1970s vs. 2018 Bourbon Tasted Side by Side
Top 10 Bourbons Under $20
What Grains are Used to Make Whiskey (And Why?)
From Barrel To Bottle: How Wood Aging Impacts Whiskey
If you don’t think you know Star Hill Farm, you do: It’s the parent company of Maker’s Mark, which isn’t just well-known for its use of red wax to top its bottles. It’s also (probably) the best-selling wheat-recipe bourbon in the world. Wheated bourbon is still over 50% corn — Maker’s is 70% corn and…
In the cosmology of the medieval world, Heaven was not conceived as a single destination. It was ordered, ascending, arranged in spheres. Aristotle described it. Dante charted it. Beyond the stars, beyond time, beyond material existence itself, sat the Empyrean: pure fire, pure light, the point at which all things reached resolution. It is an…
The latest addition to James B. Beam’s increasingly vast Knob Creek portfolio is dubbed Blender’s Edition — specifically Blender’s Edition 01, the first in a series with no clear terminus. The concept is right there in the name: This is a whiskey designed to celebrate art and craft of blending, though how subsequent releases may…
Taiwan’s best-known distillery, Kavalan is well regarded for its premium expressions, some of which can fetch $1000 or more. For something a bit more approachable and affordable, consider the distillery has released Kavalan LÁN Single Malt Whisky, which hits the shelf at a mere 80 bucks. LÁN is a vatting of whisky aged in three…
Hey, Woodinville has updated its bottle design with a more rugged, mountainy look — and that’s not all. Check the fine print and you’ll see that the brand is now adding age statements to its flagship offerings, with 6 years old being the standard mark across its Straight Bourbon, Straight 100% Rye, Straight Bourbon Finished…
Basil Hayden is out with a new edition. Well, sort of. Their latest, Golden Rye, is replacing the whiskey formerly known as Malted Rye introduced in 2024. It’s part of a new portfolio strategy that narrows the core lineup to two whiskeys, this newest rye release and the original Basil Hayden Bourbon. A more experimental…
The GlenDronach has been making whisky since 1826. To celebrate its bicentennial, the historic distillery has released (in very limited supply) its oldest expression to date: The GlenDronach Aged 56 Years. True to form for the Highland producer, this whisky certainly leans into sherry maturation, having spent its entire life across Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez…
Virginia whiskey lovers, you know the drill. A. Smith Bowman is out with another Abraham Bowman Special Release. The lottery closed May 11 (womp womp), but there’s still a chance some bottles will go unclaimed at the end of the month. In the past, a few bottles have even circulated through the Virginia ABC and…
For its first Distillery Series whiskey of 2026 (and the first we’ve reviewed in a a few years), Woodford Reserve takes us to an increasingly popular place: wine-finished bourbon. This expression begins with fully mature Woodford Reserve Bourbon, then finishes it in French oak cabernet sauvignon barrels of unstated origin and for an unstated length…
As David wrote in his 2025 review, High West’s Bourye has build a bit of a cult following — and deservedly so. This ever-evolving blend of bourbon and rye from some combination of Indiana, Kentucky, and Utah is one of the most reliable American whiskeys on the market, and it’s a whiskey I never turn…