By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Many companies began in the whiskey business the way James E. Pepper did, building their brand using sourced whiskey. After establishing that brand and proving its viability, they then set out down the road of financing and building a distillery. In some cases, this begins a transition from reliance on sourcing to basing whiskeys on ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ The Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series, originally known as Tasters Selection, is now in its eleventh installment. During that time, the series has done a variety of iterations with their staple Tennessee Whiskey, such as finishing it in smoked hickory wood barrels and doing the barrel goes to beer than back to whiskey cycle. This most ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Released in 2010, Maker’s 46 was the first major brand extension by the distillery that essentially invented premium bourbon as we recognize it today, way back in the mid-1950s. The idea behind Maker’s 46 is one borrowed from the wine industry, and first applied in the whisk(e)y business by the Scotch Whisky negociant Compass Box: ...

Updated July 18, 2023 By S.D. Peters Average Rating: B Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey is the “aged” version of one of the two Scotch-style whiskeys distilled by Santa Fe Spirits – and another fine example of an independent distiller making good things happen to whiskey in the 21st Century. An American distillery, set against a backdrop of Rocky Mountain peaks ...

Updated and corrected, June 19, 2023 By Richard Thomas Rating: B Several years ago, the Old Pepper brand was a fixture on round-ups of the best expressions of MGP’s ubiquitous 95% rye, 5% malted barley rye whiskey. It was near and dear to my heart for more than just that standing, however. When Amir Peay started Georgetown Trading Co. and ...