By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A Heaven Hill Distilleries is proud of being the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer. They also love their claim to holding the world’s second largest inventory of Bourbon and possibly the most “extra-aged” barrels of any distillery. The latter has led to the introduction of expressions like Elijah Craig 21 ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A Starting with it’s initial release of the Teeling Small Batch, an Irish blend, Teeling Whiskey Company has developed a line of premium, regular releases that includes a highly regarded single grain, a single malt, and a poitin. However, the Dublin-based distiller and bottler has also made a major stake in the very aged, super premium ...

By Kurt Maitland Rating: A- The name Yamazaki has been a hot one for the past few years (deservedly so), garnering critical acclaim, interest from whisky fans worldwide and plenty of awards for their owners at Suntory. This is one of the brands that made Japanese whisky famous, and the Sherry Cask in particular played a leading role in making ...

By Kurt Maitland Rating: B+ The Benrinnes Distillery was built near the remains of a prior distillery near Whitehouse Farm, Banffshire in 1826. The first building was destroyed by flood in 1829, and another distillery was constructed around 1835. The ownership of Benrinnes changed several times before it was acquired by John Dewar & Sons in 1922. In 1925, the merger of John Dewar & ...

Five Big, Upcoming Bourbons Out This Autumn By Richard Thomas For American whiskey enthusiasts autumn is the most anticipated time of year, the season when all the expressions that elicit the most excitement come out. ‘Tis the season of Pappy Fever, when the elusive and neigh-unattainable (unless you are willing to pay four-figure prices) Pappy Van Winkle bourbons are released. ...