By Richard Thomas Rating: B- When an independent bottler has built a distillery, it is said they have transitioned from sourcing to making in-house product. Yet it’s not simply building a plant and barreling (or perhaps bottling an unaged version of their) new make that makes that transition a success. Instead, that comes when the company’s in-house product is capable ...

By April Manning Rating: C+ Westward Oregon Straight Malt Whiskey is the creation of House Spirits Distillery, which is based in what some would consider one of the unlikeliest of places for whiskey, Portland, Oregon. However, Oregon’s dry, warm summers and wet cool winters are just what House Spirits’ founder, Christian Krogstad, called for in the crafting of this spirit. ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Louisville’s Rabbit Hole got its start by launching a trio of sourced whiskeys concurrent with beginning work on their distillery. That line consists of a five year old, four grain Bourbon (wheat + double barley) and a 95% Rye not sourced from MGP. The third entry is a five year old Bourbon finished in Pedro ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: B It only seems right that on the heels of Thin Mints and all the other delights proffered by the Girl Scouts this time of year, we should address the idea of a Chocolate Mint flavored whiskey. This is the second of four expressions from Ballotin, the happy brainchild of former Brown-Forman brand manager Paul Tuell, ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: B+ This is another of the many whiskey products stewarded by Wild Turkey’s de facto Master Distiller emeritus Jimmy Russell. Along with his son Eddie Russell, lead Master Distiller since 2015, the father and son have more than 90 years experience crafting whiskey. Apparently, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon is Jimmy’s favorite “go to” ...