The Last Call

 Journeyman Distillery Fine Girl Brandy Review.      Journeyman Distillery has become a familiar name on this channel, and for good reason. Originally rooted in Michigan and now operating a second distillery in Indiana, Journeyman continues to push craft spirits forward while keeping production fully in-house. More recently, some of the releases that once felt exclusive to Michigan have started showing up in Indiana as well, which is always a welcome sight.      Fine Girl Brandy immediately stands out as something a little different from the usual whiskey fare. Brandy doesn’t show up often on the channel, but it’s a category I genuinely enjoy when done well. After having a pour of this at the bar months ago and remembering it fondly, I was excited to revisit it with a focused tasting and see how it holds up on its own.      Fine Girl Brandy is made using Vidal Blanc grapes sourced from St. Julian Vineyards, a longtime Michigan producer k...

 Journeyman Distillery Cherrywood Smoked Single Malt Whiskey Review.      Journeyman Distillery has become a familiar name on this channel for good reason. They continue to push boundaries within the craft space while staying rooted in doing things the hard way, distilling, aging, and bottling everything in-house. With locations in Three Oaks, Michigan and a newer Indiana outpost, Journeyman has positioned itself as one of the more creative forces in American craft whiskey.      The moment I saw the label for this Cherrywood Smoked Single Malt, I knew it was something I wanted to explore. American single malts already have my attention, but when a distillery starts experimenting with smoked grain, especially using cherrywood, that curiosity ramps up fast. This whiskey is made from 100% single malt that was cherrywood smoked prior to distillation.      The inspiration behind the release pays tribute to the cherrywood trees introduced to t...

West Fork Whsky Co. Hot Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review       West Fork Whsky Company has become a familiar and trusted name on my back bar, and for good reason. Distilling, aging, and bottling all of their spirits in Indiana, they’ve consistently shown a willingness to experiment while still respecting the core of what makes good whiskey enjoyable. This Hot Honey Finished Bourbon is part of an ongoing collaboration with local spice expert King Butter, and Batch 3 marks a noticeable evolution in the series.      Having spent time with both Batch 1 and Batch 2, I came into this release with a mix of excitement and curiosity. The first batch was bold and cask strength, the second leaned heavily into spice. Batch 3 introduces a higher age statement and promises a better balance between bourbon character and finishing influence. I had tasted this previously at the distillery, but a fresh pour at home always tells the real story.      T...

Springbank 5 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review.      Springbank is one of those distilleries that almost feels mythical at this point. Bottles appear, vanish, and suddenly everyone is talking about them again. Over the course of 2025, I was fortunate enough to track down the 10, 12, and 15 year expressions at close to SRP, and each one reinforced why Springbank has such a devoted following. The 10 was excellent, the 12 downright phenomenal, and the 15, while still very good, didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by its siblings.      So when Springbank announced a 5 year old release near the end of the year, curiosity immediately took over. On paper, it makes very little sense. This comes in younger than the flagship 10 year, at a higher proof, and priced almost identically. That combination raises questions right away, especially when the 10 year is only a few dollars more. Still, Springbank rarely releases anything without intention, so this fe...

Three Floyds Distilling Bottled in Bond Malted Wheat Whiskey.      Three Floyds Distilling is a name I find myself revisiting more often than I ever expected. Based out of Munster, Indiana, they built their reputation in the beer world with cult favorites like Zombie Dust and Gumballhead before shifting serious focus toward distillation. Over the last several years, that same creative energy has clearly carried over into their spirits lineup. Wolfborne immediately stood out to me because it represents something truly uncommon in American whiskey, a bottled in bond malted wheat whiskey built around a mash bill that most distilleries would never attempt. As soon as I saw the grain breakdown, I knew this was a bottle I had to spend time with.       Wolforne is distilled, aged, and bottled entirely by Three Floyds using a single pot still and meets all bottled in bond requirements. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/b2ah0...

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 21 Years Review.      Knob Creek has never been shy about leaning into age, oak, and intensity, and in 2025 they took that philosophy one step further by extending their long-aged lineup to 21 years. As someone who genuinely loved the Knob Creek 18, including its bold, oak-forward profile that some found overwhelming, I was extremely curious to see what three additional years in the barrel would bring. Finding this bottle at SRP made the decision easy. This felt like a natural evolution of the Knob Creek story, and one I was excited to explore. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/yU0Kh7Adxag . Age Statement: 21 years. ABV: 50%. Mash bill:  75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Area of Distillation:  Clermont, Kentucky. Appearance:  Deep espresso mahogany. On the nose:      Instantly rich and expressive. Classic Jim Beam nuttiness shows up first, leaning ...