By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ For those who obsess over age statements as the first (and perhaps only) statement of quality, Barrell Bourbon Batch 009 must be the most eagerly anticipated of that independent bottler’s releases. The reason is printed in two simple numerals on the label: 13, as in 13 years old. None of the Barrell Bourbon batches thus ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: A- I have put in a lot of work on Amrut’s Indian single malts, and I’m happy to say that, taken as a whole, Amrut has far exceeded my expectations. This particular expression is one of their best. As there is no peated barley in India, Amrut sources it from Scotland, having it peated there to ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- The third, oldest and final entry in the travel retail, 500 ml House of Hazelwood line is its 25 Year Old. Having a quarter century old expression at the top only makes sense of an upscale line of blended whisky, after all. This one is billed as William Grant & Sons Master Blender Brian Kinsman’s ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: B+ At Black Button Distilling in Rochester, NY, Jason Barrett began pursuing his dream in 2012, that of striving to make the fine art of distilled spirits his way of life. Coming from a family whose four-generation button-making business provided the moniker for his spirits company, he broke with family tradition and began his own distillery ...

By Kurt Maitland Rating: B Glenfarclas is a Speyside whisky distillery located in Ballindalloch, Scotland, owned and run by the Grant family (not the same Grant family that owns fellow Speysiders, Balvenie and Glenfiddich). I tell you from personal experience that it is a jewel of a distillery and an exemplar independent operation. Glenfarclas malts are well-made (the winner of ...