By Andrew Graham Grade: B Once upon a time, distillers weren’t normally looking at the yeast to impart flavor into Scotch whisky. The beverage industry uses a particular species of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, because of its neutral flavor and its efficiency in turning sugars into alcohol. But there are many different strains of this yeast species, and scotch makers have ...

By Randall H. Borkus Rating: B+ Woodford Reserve Distillery, a staple on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, has released a Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey as part of their Distillery Only Series. Spoiler: Woodford Reserve really hit the mark here with a delightful whiskey, one that I am sure will continue to be sought out by many of us! The Bottled-in-Bond Act passed ...

By: April Manning Grade: B- Wild Turkey carried out an unprecedented act (for their own distillery, not the wider industry) when they produced a bottle that carries a name of someone other than that of the Russells, their recently confirmed dynasty of master distillers. Eddie Russell collaborated with the Wild Turkey brand creative director, movie star Matthew McConaughey, and crafted ...

By Andrew Graham Rating: B- “What’s your favorite sherry bomb?” Just trot this question out around a few well-informed whiskey drinkers and listen with mischievous pride as the conversation devolves into madness. First, it implies something there isn’t even absolute consensus on: that a sherry bomb can even be good. I’ve heard the phrase used to ridicule a whiskey, not ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B Seattle’s Westland Distillery has staked itself out as a leader in the rising category of American Single Malts, placing a major emphasis on adapting the model to their home in the Pacific Northwest. That includes harvesting local peat for use in making their peated malts, and for five years now they put the spotlight on ...