By Father John Rayls Rating: A- I enjoy a good Irish Whiskey as an interesting alternative to my normal bold bourbon tastes. With that in mind, I can tell you if you like Irish Whiskey, you’re going to enjoy the 1803 Single Malt. Barr an Uisce (“bar on ishka”) literally means “above the water.” The Irish monks, early pioneers in ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A For whisk(e)y enthusiasts who aren’t collectors-for-profit, acquiring a pricey and rare bottle usually produces one of two reactions: crack it open at the earliest opportunity, like a kid with his prized Christmas gift; or put it away to save for a special occasion. When I got my hands on a bottle of 2015’s Michter’s 20 ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: A- There is a reason I’m so vocal in my excitement about American craft whiskey, and this expression from Copperworks Distilling Co. in Seattle exemplifies why. Their Release 001 began as a craft beer brewed from two varieties of pale malt before being twice distilled in traditional copper pot stills and growing up to be a ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: A+ I really don’t like handing out an “A+” to anything or anyone. Seriously, does a grade like that mean perfection or that it can never be bested in anyway?  I don’t know the answer to that question, but I do know this is the very best rye I’ve ever tasted. Buffalo Trace not only ...

By Kurt Maitland Average Rating: A- In the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) line up, William Larue Weller checks off the wheated bourbon box. However, Weller is also usually a middle aged and always a cask strength bottling. This year’s is a 12 1/2 year old, drawn from 145 barrels that lost nearly two-thirds of their original contents to the ...