Infectious Charm. Devastating Wit. Below Average Looks.
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 →
Rye is in, in case you don't already know. Some drink absolutely nothing else. Some insist on straight ryes or even gravitate towards bourbons with a large percentage of the flavoring grain being rye. Rye gives a spirit flavors that range from complex spices, sweet and grainy to dusty and dry (even a little fruit).... Continue Reading →
Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller at Wild Turkey Distillery, takes pride in the old ways of doing things. The old ways, according to the man, produced the best kind of flavor. And that flavor always was and always should be BIG, baby. Our bottle today is no exception. Not only does the flavor have to be full bodied,... Continue Reading →
The good folks at Buffalo Trace are known as the “mad scientists” of the distilling world. Apart from their impressive array of brands and unique bottlings, they also have undertaken a massive project experimenting with different grains, mash bills, maturation and even oak barrels cut from either the top or bottom of a given tree,... Continue Reading →
Smack dab in the middle of the last century, bourbon was getting its ass kicked by blended Scotch whisky. Being solidly outsold by the Scot’s drink forced the bourbon makers of the day to re-examine their product carefully. Any struggling business must do this in order to survive: innovate or die. They came to grips... Continue Reading →
We like guys like Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller for Wild Turkey. He’s a man’s man, taking immense pride in tradition and passing it down to new generations. There are many distillers who have gone before him and others working today who do a fine job, but he is one of only three bourbon distillers living... Continue Reading →
Good ole Jack Daniels. Perhaps the most recognizable whiskey brand in the world apart from Cutty Sark (just kidding), it also is the top selling American whiskey on Earth. Whether or not you enjoy the brand one cannot deny it is at least an interesting one. Jack Daniels is technically a Tennessee whiskey. From milling... Continue Reading →
We are in the midst of the American Craft Distilling boom. Small, independently owned craft distilleries are popping up all across America at an alarming rate and are making some very interesting whiskies. Perhaps one of the best qualities (along with some bad ones) inherent to this craft distilling boom is the tendency to make... Continue Reading →
The Woodinville Whiskey Company seems to have made quite a name for themselves. This Washington state distillery jumped onto the craft distilling scene with two solid offerings of a Bourbon and a 100% Rye. While they only distribute in Washington State, they seem quite poised for expanding their brand considerably. Our focus today is on... Continue Reading →
We start our look into Montana's Roughstock Distillery with their standard Whiskey bottling. You will see it today on the shelf as "Pure Malt" due to this whiskey being 100% Malted Barley. We are seeing this mash bill show up more and more in the American craft distilling world in distinction from the traditional mashbills... Continue Reading →
So we close this week’s Irish whiskey reviews with a weird one, and I say that with much love and affection. Greenore 8 Year Old Single Grain Whiskey is from Cooley Distillery and will demand about $35-40 from your pocket. Why do I say this one was a bit weird? Allow me to explain… The... Continue Reading →
With all due respect to our own ginger SWC member, Doug, Tullamore Dew is the red headed step child of Irish whiskey. This brand has survived a number of owners and configurations throughout the years, however they remain today second to Jameson in US Irish whiskey sales. Which is why you might be seeing more... Continue Reading →
Another meeting is complete, another round of contemplative reviews written for your perusal. Folks, what we do is service based. Never let anyone tell you any different. Now, ever forward! We start with Powers Gold Label 12 Year Old Special Reserve. This blend is a simple “straight” aging of their original Gold Label blend, which... Continue Reading →
Jameson is everywhere. Not only is it the best selling Irish whiskey in the world, it’s one of the all around best sellers in general. These guys have been around quite a while, so naturally, they have plenty of stock to play around with if they want to launch a new expression. Today’s bottling, Jameson... Continue Reading →
Our group has sought out tasting whiskies that people are actually drinking. It’s a populist strategy. A club for the people, or something. So we try to stay in the mainstream. Tullamore Dew is one of those whiskies that you can find most anywhere, so why the hell not. It’s an Irish blended whiskey, to... Continue Reading →
There are those that like to enjoy the delicate side of whisky with quiet, nuanced flavors. There are also those who enjoy a full bodied, more explosive experience when sampling. For the former, I’m so very sorry. For the latter, may we present to you Bushmills 16yr Single Malt Irish Whiskey. This particular expression has... Continue Reading →
Admittedly, we had high expectations for this one. A full bodied, full flavored Irish whiskey is about as sexy as they come, and even more so when it stands out among the rest. Today we look at Redbreast 12yr Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, quite unique among the other bottles on the shelf. Firstly, a... Continue Reading →
We wouldn’t be a legitimate group if we ignored this one. Jameson Blended Irish Whiskey is a giant. After all, 30 million bottles sold annually isn’t possible for the vast majority of whisky brands. Today, we look at Jameson's flagship bottling, their no age statement blend. The make up is straight forward. A blend of malted,... Continue Reading →
Here’s another obligatory review of a widely available whiskey from a worldwide brand. Can’t ignore this one, even if we are frightened of what’s in the bottle. Bushmills Original Blended Irish Whiskey hails from a very old Irish distillery. They even claim to have been first distillery in the world (licensed to operate in 1608). That’s... Continue Reading →
Spokane Whiskey Club 