By Kenrick Thurston-Wilcox Rating: B Situated at the base of Mt. Fuji, 7.5 miles from it’s peak, the Fuji Distillery has been making whisky in the shadow of Japan’s most famous mountain since 1973. Despite that, their first US release came only in 2021. The location was most likely chosen for a few different reasons. The first is the glacial ...

By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A The GlenDronach Distillery was established in 1826, and is one of Scotland’s oldest licensed distilleries.  This is slowly and steadily taking a place among the upper tier Sherry cask matured whiskies, using barrels that have previously held Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry. GlenDronach is located near Forgue, by Huntly, Aberdeenshire, in the Highland whisky ...

Updated February 15, 2023 By Richard Thomas Rating: A- It’s been several years since I was fortunate enough to visit The Glenlivet Distillery, but I remember it well. It was May, but it being Scotland, it had snowed the night before. The great Alan Winchester, who stepped down as Master Distiller at The Glenlivet last year after nearly five decades ...

By Kenrick Thurston-Wilcox Rating: B Finishing whiskies in a cask that previously held red wine is not the newest idea, but it is one that Stephanie Macleod, Dewar’s master blender and malt master for Dewar’s five malt distilleries (Aberfeldy included), is passionate about. With an interest in red wine, as well as whisky, she has set out to see what ...

By Randall H. Borkus Rating: B In September 2022, Michter’s Distillery released its US*1 Toasted Barrel Sour Mash Whiskey, for the second time only in U.S. and export markets.  This expression was originally released in 2019 and it had some mixed reviews because of the overwhelming marshmallow sweetness.  I personally took to it as a dessert whiskey. To make this ...