Infectious Charm. Devastating Wit. Below Average Looks.
Few things in the bourbon world, or any world for that matter, surprise me anymore. When Maker’s Mark announced a proof reduction in their bourbon, their legions of fans went bat crap crazy and the company reversed course. The proof reduction didn’t bother me, however, since I don’t drink Maker’s much and I had some... Continue Reading →
We continue our look at the Colonel’s line of whiskies from Buffalo Trace Distillery. We will not recount the painstakingly researched historical details concerning E.H. Taylor’s comically absurd life covered in our review of the small batch (click here for that), so we hope you are not turned off by banality. For slightly less banality,... Continue Reading →
Henry McKenna was a sprite Irish gentlemen who upon arriving in Kentucky made good and fine use of the abundant grain around him. He did what any Scots-Irish worth his salt would do back then: distill everything and sell it. He also invented the Blarney Stone and loved U2. I normally don’t put much effort... Continue Reading →
In the olden days of my whiskey youth, Wild Turkey 101 was one of the first bourbons I became acquainted with. In fact, I had an early experience with Rare Breed that really catapulted my sense of bourbon’s aroma as well as a few nice evenings spent with Russel’s Reserve 10 year. My first memorable rye... Continue Reading →
Ezra Brooks was a Kentucky carnival barker who traveled from town to Kentucky town with his rainbow colored still selling magical bourbon whiskey for 5 cents a shot. His legend lives on today in such bottles as Ezra Brooks 12 Yr Single Barrel. And none of this is true. Everyone thinks Elijah Craig invented bourbon... Continue Reading →
I have cried only 3 times in my life. Dad's funeral, the day the music died, and the day I found out that Balvenie Single Barrel 15 was discontinued. I have a special love affair with a decent Scotch whisky with no sherry finishing. There is something pure about that kind of stripped down composition... Continue Reading →
Wild Turkey's Russell's Reserve has a special place in SWC's heart, as both the Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Rye versions offer a decent pour for a decent price. Say no more. Well, I will say a bit more. I should really stop using that line. Today's selection is a new expression in Big Russ's signature... Continue Reading →
Ask any craft distiller about the difficulty of launching a new, competitive brand of whisky into the marketplace and they will likely start crying. While a tall order, what’s even more impossible is growing a sluggish whisky category entirely. During the whisky boom of the last five years or so, Canadian whisky certainly saw its... Continue Reading →
This little Kentucky distillery is a unique one, to put it simply. Their reputation and fairly consistent presence on the store shelf rivals that of the distillery titans that surround them. Take Jim Beam, for example. Beam employs nearly 300 people to operate their massive distillery. Four Roses utilizes about half a dozen. Jim Rutledge,... Continue Reading →
Spokane Whiskey Club 