By Richard Thomas Rating: B Kilchoman is quite unlike the other distilleries of that famed Scottish isle of Islay. When it went operational in 2005, it was the first new distillery on the island in 120 years. For a time, it was also the most westerly distillery in Scotland. Moreover, Kilchoman is a small farm distillery, a throwback to the ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Old Forester Birthday Bourbon occupies the second tier bourbon’s hot autumn release season. The series certainly has its fans and delivers good, reliable quality, but it’s not quite as esteemed as the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, let alone the Van Winkle line. That said, this year’s installment has two points that make it extra special. ...

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: A- Heaven Hill withdrew the Old Fitzgerald brand last year, presumably to focus attention on Larceny, which is based on the same wheated bourbon stock. Now Old Fitz is back, but not in it’s previous incarnations, which would have sat around Larceny in terms of quality and price point. Instead, the brand is back as a ...

By April Manning Grade: B- Blood oaths and pacts bring to mind deep, dark secrets, such as a secret society not wishing to be revealed or a secret rendezvous one desires to not be made public. Blood Oath Bourbon developer, John Rempe, has sworn to never tell where he finds the bourbon he uses for a unique approach in creating ...