By Richard Thomas Rating: B- Following their branding and custom, California’s Redwood Empire named their blend of whiskeys after a very old, very tall redwood tree. The tallest coastal redwood, Lost Monarch the tree is 157 feet high and found in Jedediah Smith State Park. Lost Monarch the whiskey is a blend of (presumably MGP-sourced) bourbon and rye. I think ...

By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A Fall 2022 Widow Jane Distillery launched the fourth installment in their aged whiskey series, “The Vaults,” this time (officially stated as) aged 14 years from a blend of bourbons ranging from 14 years up to 19 years old, selected and set aside in Widow Jane’s Red Hook, Brooklyn rickhouse by their former Master Distiller ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B Even though Nelson’s Greenbrier Distillery of Nashville has released it’s own fully developed, flagship in-house whiskey, that doesn’t mean they have abandoned the idea of sourced whiskey. Far from it. Not only does their starting, sourced brand of Belle Meade endure, the company added a new sourced brand to the mix, Nelson’s Brothers Bourbon. The ...

Here at The Whiskey Reviewer, we have never convened an annual rewards panel. Instead of handing out medals or drawing up a conglomerated list, every member of the team keeps her or his own voice, naming their personal choice in three categories. Best New Whiskey Best Whiskey To Pass My Lips (the absolute best, new or not) Biggest Disappointment   ...

By Richard Thomas Rating: B When it comes to California’s Redwood Empire, I’m most familiar with their in-house, bonded whiskeys. Before that, however, both I and past contributor Padre John took a crack at their American Whiskey. That expression followed the model of blending stocks of sourced, mature or old whiskey with youthful, in-house make. Some four years later, I’m ...