By Father John Rayls Rating: A- Since 1881, Bunnahabhain has been the Islay scotch very few people could pronounce. It’s actually spoken as boona-HAB-venn.  It’s also a Scotch whisky that many bourbon drinkers, like myself, can get behind. Ironically, Bunnahabhain has the largest production capacity of any distillery on Islay, but it uses that to produce a lot of unpeated ...

Sagamore Spirit, a Baltimore-based whiskey company, opens its waterfront distillery on East Cromwell Street in Port Covington on Friday, April 21, 2017. “We are proud to call the City of Baltimore our home,” said Brian Treacy, President of Sagamore Spirit. “Our team will continue to work hard to provide an incredible visitor experience, celebrate Maryland’s distilling heritage, and showcase what ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- Anyone familiar with my body of work knows that I am a booster of the spread of whisky-making around the world, and in tandem I have developed a strong interest in the issue of non-traditional climate and maturation. When Sweden and Australia get laurels, I’m thrilled. When lesser known places in Argentina and Israel get ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: A- Because Rye was the neglected stepchild of American whiskey for decades, whereas a 10 year old Bourbon is still a fairly affordable item, a 10 year old Rye is rarer and dearer. Add single barrel to the titles on the label, and you’ve got yourself something special. WhistlePig, for example, has a single barrel version ...

By Debbie Shocair Rating: B+ Craft distilling is making its mark on our American spirits heritage, and New Liberty Distillers in Pennsylvania is a case in point. Their building, which houses not only the distillery, but also the rick house, once served as a horse stable. Much of the architecture, including the stables, has been preserved in the distillery’s design. ...