The Last Call

     I received this spirit as a review sample from 3 Sisters Rum, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      American rum often flies under the radar, and seeing a small distillery take on the challenge with such confidence is refreshing. Three Sisters Rum is an American craft distillery based in Pennsylvania. Personally, I love seeing transparency and their authenticity stands out. Their process leans heavily into traditional Caribbean methods, utilizing a copper pot still to capture rich, flavorful profiles. The "mash bill" features organic sugar cane with a touch of molasses. On top of that their Rums are gluten-free, vegan, and even kosher.      For the aged expression, the rum spends at least three years in white oak casks. While I've been diving down the rum path recently, I've quickly learned Caribbean copper pot stills make some of my favorite rums and I love the profile they deliver...

    Every once in a while, a bottle comes along that just dares you to try it. McLaughlin Distillery's  Devil’s Juice #5  is exactly that kind of whiskey. Hailing from Pennsylvania, this craft distillery has been on my radar for some time, largely because of how boldly unique this expression sounded. With a name like  Devil’s Juice  it doesn’t exactly whisper “approachable.”       McLaughlin takes things a different direction with taking their whiskey aging it in used bourbon barrels and packing them with toasted hickory wood. Even McLaughlin themselves describe it as “not for the faint of heart,” and strongly suggest a tasting before committing to a bottle. Now personally, I love smoky, oily, and unique and this checkmarks each box easily. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/EA2ZUYeByUg Age Statement: N/A. ABV: 60% (Cask strength). Mash bill: N/A. Area of Distillation: Sewickley, Pennsylvania. F...

          Hunt Club Distillery is based out of Sheridan, Indiana where they are distilling, aging, and bottling everything in-house, using locally sourced grains and a distinctly hands-on approach. Among their lineup of vodka, gin, and even high proof versions of these spirits. For distillation Hunt Club is using a hand-hammered Portuguese pot still and local Indiana grains.       When it comes to the Hunt Club 88 whiskey, it aged for a minimum of four years, primarily in ex-Jack Daniel's barrels, though Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey barrels have also been in the mix. Since this is a corn based whiskey and aging in used barrels,  it is a different beast from the typical bourbon experience. With knowing the process the whiskey should be leaning into softness and sweetness rather than complexity from a multi-grain mash bill. Due to this you are relying on the corn profile and the used barrels to do all the talking and to bring the flavo...

     West Fork Whiskey Company has made a name for itself in Indiana’s growing craft whiskey scene, distilling, aging, and bottling all of its own spirits in Westfield. This release is something special, a high-rye straight bourbon finished in a hot honey barrel, created through a collaboration between three Indiana locals. The bourbon starts as West Fork’s high rye mash bill, then takes a turn into a barrel that previously held hot honey crafted by King Butter, using honey sourced from Mumbe's Orchard in Atlanta, Indiana. It’s a single-barrel release, and the second time West Fork has explored this concept, with the first using their wheated bourbon. I enjoyed that one, so the high-rye version had me both intrigued on what differences there will be! For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/4ak0ZM3MzE0 . Learn more about King Butter via his link:  https://kingbutter.com/ . Age Statement: N/A. (Single Barrel). ABV: 50%. Mash bill:  ...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Jeptha Creed,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Jeptha Creed Distillery, based in Shelbyville, Kentucky is what you want to hear when you see "craft distillery." Not only is Jeptha Creed family owned and operated, most of the grains are actually harvested from their own farms. On top of that it is a mother daughter duo at the helm and running the distillation process. Which, seeing more women get into the spirits world is just amazing. The big thing Jeptha Creed hones in on is the use of bloody butcher corn.      This release is their highest age statement to release to the public. Now while there is no true definition in the TTB for "wheated" typically this refers to the mash bill having a high content of wheat. Jeptha Creed decided to take it a step further and use malted wheat VS standard wheat. This should typically b...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Jephta Creed, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Jeptha Creed Distillery, based in Shelbyville, Kentucky is what you want to hear when you see "craft distillery." Not only is Jeptha Creed family owned and operated, most of the grains are actually harvested from their own farms. On top of that it is a mother daughter duo at the helm and running the distillation process. Which, seeing more women get into the spirits world is just amazing. The big thing Jeptha Creed hones in on is the use of bloody butcher corn.           When it comes to "Red,  White, and Blue" Bourbon release this is  quite unique! To keep with the naming theme, Jeptha Creed is using three heirloom corns with the mash bill, one of those being that bloody butcher corn. Personally when done right, I lose the profile bloody butcher can bring in a...

     This bottle caught me completely off guard, in the best way possible. Tres Agaves was a name I hadn’t spent much time with, and honestly, I assumed it leaned more toward budget-friendly territory. That perception changed fast after some digging online and a conversation at Market District in the Indianapolis area, where I learned this was something special. This single barrel Extra Añejo store pick is believed to be the first of its kind, and with an age statement of 74 months, it immediately demanded attention.      Only 138 bottles were produced from this barrel, and mine happens to be bottle number 26. Seeing an Extra Añejo with over six years of aging at a shockingly approachable price already had me intrigued. Add in the fact that this was aged in Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey barrels, and suddenly this tequila felt like it was speaking my language. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/GknlnHp1jF8 . Age Stateme...

     Jefferson’s has never exactly wowed me, especially on the bourbon side of things, where the higher price tags often outpace the experience in the glass. But this bottle caught me off guard. I was out browsing in Indiana, saw it on the shelf, walked past it, then turned back. “Jefferson’s Rye? What is this?” A bit of on-the-spot research yielded almost nothing. No press, no buzz—even Jefferson’s own website had no mention of it. That made it even more interesting. It feels like one of those quiet releases just starting to trickle onto shelves. With a price tag of $25 and a 44% ABV, I figured it was a risk worth taking.      This is a blend of straight rye whiskeys sourced from both the U.S. and Canada—70% American, 30% Canadian. The label notes Tennessee, Indiana, and Canada as the distillation sources, which likely means there’s some MGP (Indiana) whiskey in the mix. Jefferson’s has dabbled in rye before, most notably with their Cognac cask-finished ex...

     Tonight’s pour takes us to my backyard here in Indianapolis, Indiana, with Four Finger Distillery’s Single Malt Whiskey. Formerly known as 1205 Distillery, they rebranded after the master distiller lost a finger during the building of the distillery itself, a tough accident that turned into a badge of pride, giving them their new name. Four Finger has been steadily gaining attention for their creative craft spirits, and when I saw this single malt, I knew I needed to grab a bottle.     Released in 2023, this whiskey stands out for its unique mash bill and crafted entirely in-house, distilled, aged, and bottled in Indianapolis, this release is a showcase of craft distilling innovation. The use of chocolate malt instantly caught my attention, suggesting a rich and layered profile even before pouring the first glass. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/7d2qtaIeW5Y . Age Statement:  N/A. ABV:  45%. Mash bill: 80% Pal...

          Fortune’s Fool has quietly built a strong reputation out of Indianapolis, Indiana, especially for delivering younger rye whiskeys that don’t taste rushed or underdeveloped. Their Prelude Rye made a lasting impression and even landed on my top list back in 2023, so expectations were naturally high heading into Overture. This release marks their first official three-year-old rye.      While Fortune’s Fool is contract distilling through a partner in Frankfort, Kentucky, they’re far from just sourcing whiskey. Their approach sits in that middle ground where the mash bill, barrel prep, and production details are intentional and brand-driven. From the outside looking in, this felt like the logical next step for the brand. Overture leans heavily on barrel influence to define its profile. The barrels are built using staves that were air-dried for a full 24 months, allowing the wood to naturally season without rushing the process. Even more ...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Lasso Motel, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.           Lasso Motel is a newer name stepping into the whiskey space, but they are doing something I always appreciate right out of the gate: transparency. The base bourbon is distilled at Green River Distillery in Kentucky, and Lasso Motel clearly states the mash bill and origin on their website. In today’s market, that level of clarity deserves recognition. It sets expectations and gives you confidence before you even pour a glass.      After maturation as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, this whiskey is finished in Cognac casks. While the exact finishing time is not disclosed, Cognac finishing typically runs several months. The goal here is enhancement, not takeover, and at 50% ABV, there is enough proof to carry both the bourbon character and the finishing influence without t...