Review: Jim Beam Signature Craft Harvest Bourbon Collection – Triticale and Six Row Barley
It’s been over a year since Jim Beam announced the Signature Craft Harvest Bourbon Collection (see here, here, and here), a series of six bourbons that include an unusual grain — or a standard grain in an unusual proportion — in the creation of the whiskey. Now, the last two whiskeys are here, which include…
Review: A. Smith Bowman Abraham Bowman High Rye Bourbon
The Sazerac-adjunct A. Smith Bowman Distillery is out with its 12th release in the Abraham Bowman line — a high rye expression distilled in September 2007 and bottled in July 2015. That makes it seven years and nine months old (technically speaking). Don’t try calling your local liquor store for a handle of it: This…
Review: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2015 Edition
At this time of year we celebrate two big birthdays: Brown-Forman founder Garvin Brown, and yours truly. Only one of us gets a “birthday bourbon” in his honor, though. Today we tuck into the 2015 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, a 12 year old bottling, in keeping with past expressions. Old Fo notes that this batch…
Book Review: Speed Brewing
Homebrew is a neat idea, but who has the time to make it? That’s the thesis of Mary Izett’s Speed Brewing, a book which provides exactly the type of instruction that you think it’s going to offer. While the back cover promises you can make a “session IPA” in just a few hours, Izett’s how-to has…
Review: Flaviar “Eau de Vie! Oui!” Cognac Sampler & the Flaviar App
We’ve been friends with Flaviar for quite a while, and we’re going to start looking more deeply into their sampler packs. These are available on a one-off basis or as a monthly subscription, featuring rum, whiskey, brandy, or just about anything else. Today we’re looking at Flaviar’s Cognac sampler, a set of spirits packaged under…
Review: Cocktail & Sons Cocktail Syrups
Cocktail & Sons is a brand new operation (we tasted the first draft of their four artisan syrups late last year) that is going national as we speak. Here’s a look at the complete lineup from the fledgling company — all four of which are wholly worthwhile and clearly made with cocktailing knowhow. (Not into drinking? Drop a…
Review: Hibiki Japanese Harmony
A little of this and a little of that, Hibiki’s latest is a blended whisky, something we don’t see often represented from Japan on American shores. If you can’t find something to like in this dram, well, you shouldn’t be drinking whisky at all. Let’s back up a bit, though, with some Suntory time background:…
Review: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection 2015 Edition
As bourbon (and rye) mania continue to sweep the nation, this year’s Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is setting up to be one of the hottest releases ever. (Surely you’re heard about Stagg? If not, read on for the spoiler…) As always, these are all highly capable, unique, and for the most part worthwhile whiskeys. But…
