By Michael Cervin Grade: C Whiskey blends are nothing new, but in an effort to create something new-ish, Basil Hayden launched their Two By Two Rye in June 2018. This is a somewhat creative blend of two aged Kentucky whiskeys, blended with two aged Kentucky ryes. To be sure, this is not a new concept; it’s been done before (Wild ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: C- Mesquite whiskeys are hardly anything new. The wood is a staple of barbecue in the Southwest, and it’s flavor had appeared in all manner of foods and drinks in the American Southwest prior to the first mesquite-smoked bourbons and American malts appearing some years ago. Still, that is an American, and particularly Southwestern, thing. The ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: C+ Michigan’s Traverse City Distillery actually has a serious commitment to booze and cherries, if you take a look at their offerings. At a time when all the big distillers have gotten out of making whiskified cocktail cherries, Traverse has them. They also have this flavored bourbon offering. It takes their bourbon, flavors it, and bottles ...

By Emma Briones Rating: C The latest limited edition from the Swedish distillery of Mackmyra is a collaboration with Masi, a winery from the Veneto (iItaly). It is called Mackmyra Skördetid, which means “harvest time” in Swedish. This single malt has been matured in Mackmyra’s barrels at the Bodås mines to keep the distillery style, then finished in Masi Costanera ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: C Some craft distilleries follow a path of focusing on one thing, such as Garrison Brothers and their Texas Bourbon or Westland and their Washington Malt. Others make many styles of whiskey and follow a course of variety. Iowa’s Cedar Ridge Distillery is one of these, and in pursuing that route they have an entry in ...