The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday

By Father John Rayls Rating: A My first experience with Balmorhea Texas Straight Bourbon from Garrison Brothers Distillery was last year, as an experimental release. At that time, it was only available at the distillery and was a very limited release. Apparently, they listened to their fan base, because it’s now available as a general release. The whiskey is named ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: B+ The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 was instituted to insure the public’s safety (and consolidate the position of big distillers vis-a-vis rectifiers, as bottlers were known then). Having the designation “bottled in bond” (BiB) on a whiskey label stood for quality, because it met the government guaranteed: The whiskey must have been produced at a ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: B As some hardcore golf devotees are aware, the Silver Cross played an important part in the history of the British Open, first as an award and later as an icon representing the game’s ideal. It eventually evolved into a symbol of friendship, tradition, camaraderie and spirited competition. It seems very appropriate for Silver Cross ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: A- Journeyman Distillery has another winner in its Corsets, Whips and Whiskey. This is a barrel strength, 118.3 proof and 100% wheat whiskey bottled as a no age statement (NAS) expression. Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan operates out of the historic Featherbone Corset and Buggy Whip Factory. Knowing this, the name becomes obvious. I like ...

By Father John Rayls Rating: B+ Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey shows where Tennessee Whiskey is headed as a category. Defined by law as, essentially, bourbon with the added step of filtration in sugar maple charcoal undertaken before maturation, the category has spread from Jack Daniel’s and George Dickel to a host of craft distilleries in the Volunteer State. As ...