Review: Kavalan 15th Anniversary Vintage 2009 Whiskies
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,…
Review: Bardstown Bourbon Co. Distillery Reserve Cathedral French Oak Finish
Kentucky Bourbon Trail tourists have a new liquid souvenir to seek out now that Bardstown Bourbon Company has launched their gift shop-exclusive Distillery Reserve Series. This isn’t entirely a new thing as the distillery has offered a handful of distillery-only bottlings over the years as part of their Distillery Collection. Presumably this new Distillery Reserve…
Review: Circle City 50/50 Club Bourbon and Toasted Honey Rye
In the world of non-distilling producers (NDPs), standing out can be a challenge. With so many small players in the market, it’s easy for even the most well-crafted whiskey to get lost in the shuffle. But Circle City Whiskey, a relatively small operation based in Noblesville, Indiana, is making waves. Through sheer dedication and a…
Review: Cantera Negra Tequilas and Cafe Coffee Liqueur (Updated 2025)
Cantera Negra, which translates to “Black Quarry,” is led by Master Blender Don Alberto Becherano, who has over 40 years of experience making tequila. The brand sources their Blue Weber Agave from a remote region in central Mexico known for its volcanic rock, hence the name Cantera Negra. Cantera Negra makes all of its tequilas…
Review: Old Elk Slow Cut Bourbon
Women’s History Month has blown by, but Mother’s Day is coming up next month, so don’t leave whiskey off your Mother’s Day shopping list. And what better whiskey gift to give the Mom figure in your life than whiskey made and shaped by women. There are more whiskey brands than ever being led by women,…
Review: Tequilas of Cazcanes (Updated 2025)
Tequila brand Cazcanes was founded in 2015 with its first product hitting shelves in 2017. It may be fairly new to the wide world of agave spirits, but the brand story goes way back. The name honors the last native Mexicans conquered by the Spaniards, and the tequila itself is reportedly based on a 300-year-old…
Review: Firestone Walker Brewmaster’s Collective 2024 – Darker Ray, Mellow Mind Control, and Parabanoche
And we’re back with another trio of big, boozy beers from Firestone Walker’s 2024 Brewmaster’s Collective. How many of these brews are there? According to the website, a whopping twenty each year. Members get five barrel-aged beers every quarter along with lots of other perks like discounts, member-only events, and first dibs at other Vintage…
Review: RD1 Brazilian Amburana Wood Bourbon Cask Strength 10 Years Old
RD1 Spirits, aka RD One, has had an Amburana wood-finished whiskey on tap for awhile, and recently it launched a follow-up in the form of its first limited release. Not only is this expression also finished in Brazilian Amburana, it also carries a 10 year old age statement and is bottled at cask strength. 900 cases…