By Richard Thomas Rating: C+ “Apple Pie” is one of those classic concoctions meant to make moonshine more palatable to all comers, and less of an acquired taste. The idea is simple. You use apple juice or cider (cider is best) and pie spices, especially cinnamon, to both cut down and flavor your liquor. Some people like it warmed, as ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: B Putting all jokes aside, the name “Fighting Cock” grabs your attention, and leaves plenty of room for marketing gurus to really exploit the opportunity. That very effect is sure to be a turn off for some, as it was for me, as I had always previously managed to dismiss Fighting Cock as a mere ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: A In 1837, a young Irishman named Henry McKenna completed his immigration to America by settling near Fairfield, Kentucky. He brought with him the generations-old family whiskey recipe, and established his distillery about 10 miles from the current distillery site owned by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, Kentucky. McKenna put his personal knowledge of whiskey to ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: C+ Canadian Club is a Beam Suntory-owned company that has been producing whisky for more than 150 years, and no doubt still riding the surge that came from its high-profile product placement in the recent popular series like Boardwalk Empire and Mad Men, recently brought its 100% Rye whisky in the US. Not only is this particular expression ...

Updated June 13, 2017 By Father John Rayls Average Rating: B Brown-Forman’s Coopers’ Craft Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first new bourbon produced by that venerable company in over 20 years. This is the parent company of Jack Daniels and also produces Woodford Reserve, Early Times and Old Forester. The new brand is a recognition of the influence of the ...