Updated August 31, 2017 By Randall H. Borkus Average Rating: A- The Cooper Spirits Co. resurrected the Hochstadter’s brand in 2013 with the introduction of Hochstadter’s Slow & Low Rock & Rye.  Later came further brand extensions in the portfolio, such as the Hochstadter’s 8 Year Old Rock & Rye and the peculiar Hochstadter’s Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey. Now the ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: A Have you ever heard of a “marketing faux pas?” Beam Suntory recently experienced this when they underestimated the blowback from their passionate, loyal following concerning a near doubling in price for Booker’s Bourbon beginning in 2017. The tidal wave of criticism and threatened product rejection apparently gave the company pause. After reconsideration, a more ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: A- Since 1881, Bunnahabhain has been the Islay scotch very few people could pronounce. It’s actually spoken as boona-HAB-venn.  It’s also a Scotch whisky that many bourbon drinkers, like myself, can get behind. Ironically, Bunnahabhain has the largest production capacity of any distillery on Islay, but it uses that to produce a lot of unpeated ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- Because Rye was the neglected stepchild of American whiskey for decades, whereas a 10 year old Bourbon is still a fairly affordable item, a 10 year old Rye is rarer and dearer. Add single barrel to the titles on the label, and you’ve got yourself something special. WhistlePig, for example, has a single barrel version ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: A When I am asked, as frequently I am, what is my favorite whiskey, I usually look away for a moment to contemplate before answering simply, “I am very excited about the American Craft Whiskey movement.” Oh, sure, I have a few concrete and sentimental faves, but little excites me as much as the craft whiskeys ...