By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ One might think it a bit odd that the only age statement whiskey in the new Pearse line, the 12 year old Founder’s Choice, is not the most expensive. That is because old isn’t the only thing that makes a whiskey pricey. In Ireland and Scotland, the type of cask might add a lot to ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: A- In the heart of Pasadena, California, there is a micro-distillery that, in my mind, epitomizes the American Craft Whiskey movement. There, husband and wife team Greg and Karen Stark operate a distillery in a mere 1,100 square foot space in a business park that sits in the shadows of the San Gabriel Mountains. No. Really. ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ When Craft Barrell Spirits (aka Barrell Bourbon) released their inaugural batch of rye whiskey several months ago, it was a noteworthy groundbreaking for one of America’s most popular independent bottlers. Little did we realize at the time that the company had something even more noteworthy waiting around the corner. I say noteworthy because it’s novelty ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Last year, Pittsburgh’s Wigle Distillery turned five. One of the things they did last year to mark that anniversary was release a Bottled in Bond version of their Deep Cut Rye. Thus Wigle joins a broadening group of craft distilleries that have the kind of aged stock on hand to do a Bottled in Bond ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ In terms of its peculiarity, I don’t think there is any bourbon on the market right now that outdoes Barrell Bourbon’s New Year 2018 release. The sourcing for this blend speaks for itself: seven distilleries from five states. A decade ago, you would have been hard pressed to scrape up stock bourbon from more than ...