By Father John Rayls Rating: B- “There is no bad whiskey. There are only some whiskeys that aren’t as good as others.” Raymond Chandler “My own experience has been that the tools I need for my trade are paper, tobacco, food, and a little whisky.” William Faulkner These are famous whiskey quotes coming from well-known wordsmiths, and most of ...
Read More »Whiskey Reviews
Garrison Brothers 2015 Bourbon Review
By Debbie Shocair Rating: B+ As a gal who hails straight outta Texas, these Garrison Brothers have gone and made me proud. As it happened, completely randomly and in California no less, I ran into Charlie Garrison only days after having been told of Garrison Brothers and about Charlie himself. It was amusing, for as he introduced himself to me ...
Read More »Barrell Whiskey Batch 004 Review
By Debbie Shocair Average Rating: B+ Well the American whiskey boom seems to have hit its stride, and I suspect we are in for a marathon run. Despite concerns of shortages and complaints that the good times are over, what is one the shelves is generally good and often getting better. Even skilled blenders, who source rather than distill their ...
Read More »Bowmore 12 Year Old Scotch Review
By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ While Bowmore certainly has a good reputation, it’s strangely overlooked among the “Islay Eight.” I say it is strange because Bowmore was the first legal distillery on the island, receiving a license in 1779; I say overlooked because despite that historical feature and its redoubtable whiskies, few enthusiasts would point to Bowmore and say “this ...
Read More »Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Review
By April Manning Rating: A- Wild Turkey’s master distiller “emeritus,” Jimmy Russell, is known as the “Buddha of Bourbon” and has been an ambassador for bourbon for over 60 years. Along the way he has upheld a tradition dating to before Prohibition, never dithering on matters of quality and maintaining the Wild Turkey motto: “Wild Turkey. Not the latest thing. ...
Read More »