The Last Call

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Waterloo Gin,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      There’s something deeply satisfying about a distillery that takes a familiar spirit and reshapes it into something entirely its own. Waterloo Gin, based out of Texas, has done just that with their Barrel-Aged Gin—an experiment that brings together the floral brightness of gin with the smooth, warm depth of oak aging. This bottle comes in at 47% ABV and is aged for at least two years. Full disclosure—Waterloo was kind enough to send this bottle over for review, but rest assured, my thoughts are entirely my own.      For me, gin has always held a special place. I’ve been a fan long before I ever sat in front of a camera with a tasting glass, and barrel-aged gins in particular have always intrigued me. They’re a rare breed on most shelves, bridging the gap between gin and whiskey wi...

     Some bottles rise from obscurity overnight, and Smokeye Hill is one of them. When Fred Minnick gave this Colorado-based brand his seal of approval in 2024, their bourbons vanished from shelves faster than you could say “secondary markup.” But now that the hype has settled, prices have dropped, and I finally got my hands on a bottle.          Though Smokeye Hill operates out of Colorado, the whiskey itself begins life at MGP in Indiana. What makes it stand out is the unique mash bill, a blend of blue corn, yellow corn, rye, and barley, a departure from MGP’s traditional recipes. After distillation, the spirit makes the journey west to Colorado, where it’s aged and bottled. That blue corn addition immediately caught my attention. From my experiences, blue corn adds a unique mouthfeel and texture to the whiskey. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/akdEKHO9w4o . Age Statement: 5+ years. ABV: 67.1% (Cask strength...

          Every now and then, a whiskey comes along that breaks all the rules, and West Fork Whisky Company has made a habit of doing just that. In recent time they have been doing some creative finishes with their in house distilled, aged and bottled whiskey. West Fork has teamed up once again with the culinary wizard King Butter for a truly experimental release: a straight bourbon whiskey finished in a  Korean barbecue barrel . This limited release promises something wild, savory, and entirely new in the world of bourbon.      West Fork and King Butter (storefront   linked here )  have already made some great and unique finishes with their hot honey and Swoleracha hot sauce cask projects, but this one might take the cake, or rather, the steak. With only about 50ish bottles in existence, the concept alone had me intrigued: barrels that once held rich Korean barbecue sauce, now cradling bourbon for ten months of flavor infusion...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Waterloo Gin,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Waterloo Gin has been making waves lately with a complete rebranding that feels both confident and refreshing. Out of Texas, they’re bringing local pride to every pour, using regional ingredients and a transparent production process that’s rare to see. Their Prickly Pear & Rose Gin is the latest addition to their lineup and immediately eye-catching with its striking, bubblegum-pink hue. It’s a bottle that looks every bit as beautiful as it tastes.      Waterloo’s process is all about transparency and craftsmanship. Their base spirit starts from corn and runs through a vapor chamber distillation, allowing each botanical to shine without becoming overbearing. What really sets them apart is the way they list every single botanical right on the bottle and their website, clear and...

       Every so often, a whiskey crosses your path that feels more like a legend than a release. Old Dragon Bones from Backbone Bourbon Company was one of those whispers, a mythical bottle I'd only seen mentioned in passing. Then came Take’s single barrel pick, and I knew I had to have it. This 20-year-old Canadian rye, bottled at a staggering proof point, is one of those rare finds that blend power, elegance, and innovation in equal measure. Backbone has long been one of my favorite Indiana-based independents, known for sourcing exceptional barrels and bottling them honestly, high proof, minimal interference, maximum flavor.      Old Dragon Bones is a masterclass in cask finishing. Backbone took a 20-year-old Canadian rye and split it across three barrels. Each rested for over a year before being recombined into neutral oak to marry. Now, before you say  "Canadian whisky this, Canadian whisky that"  this is NOT your typical sourced bottom sh...

          Penelope has built a reputation for innovation, especially through their creative finishing techniques. Their Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Casks is a perfect example of that craftsmanship. Coming in at 52% ABV and aged at least nine years, this release blends MGP’s signature 95/5 rye recipe with a Hungarian dessert wine cask finish. As a longtime fan of Penelope’s transparency and flavor-forward approach, I was eager to see how their rye handled this sweet, complex finish.      The Tokaji cask finish instantly caught my attention, it’s not something you see often in rye whiskey. Known for its luscious sweetness, Tokaji wine brings vibrant fruit and honeyed notes that can either elevate or overpower a whiskey. Let’s see how Penelope balances it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Xt1IWagSys8 . Age Statement: 9 years. ABV:  52%. Mash bill:  95% rye, 5% malted barley. Area of Dis...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Waterloo Gin,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Every so often, a distillery steps forward and reminds you why gin deserves just as much reverence as whiskey. Waterloo Gin, out of Texas, does exactly that with their No. 9 expression. Transparent, elegant, and rooted in craftsmanship, this gin not only highlights local botanicals but showcases a distillation process built on precision and respect for flavor. Waterloo was kind enough to send over a bottle for review, and as a longtime fan of gin, I was eager to dive in and see if this could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best.      Waterloo Gin No. 9 is crafted using a vapor chamber distillation process where the vapor passes through nine botanicals before condensing. Those botanicals include lavender, juniper, grapefruit, pecan, orris root, coriander, anise, ginger...

     There are certain bottles that hook you early in your whiskey journey, and for me, Smokehead was one of them. The edgy branding, the skull on the label, and the promise of unapologetic peat drew me in years ago when I was chasing the smokiest Scotch I could find. What I discovered was a brand that consistently delivered bold Islay character at a fair price.      The big mystery, of course, is the distillery source. Like many independent Islay bottlings, the brand keeps that detail under wraps. That secrecy adds a bit of intrigue, even if transparency would be welcome. There is no confirmed information on chill filtration or added coloring, and the brand tends to lean into style and flavor over technical breakdowns.      Fifteen years in oak is significant for heavily peated whisky. With extended aging, peat can often mellow, soften, or even fade into the background. The question going in was simple: would this still carry that signature ...

       From the mind of Dixon Dedman, known for his work with Kentucky Owl, 2XO has made quite an impression on the whiskey scene. Their early Phoenix Blend set a strong foundation, and Dedman’s reputation as a blender gave fans a reason to be excited. But as the brand expanded with a variety of limited releases and oak experiments, I found myself a bit overwhelmed by the constant flow of black and gold bottles. So, when 2XO announced their first rye, the White Oak Rye, I was intrigued enough to give them another shot. After all, double-oaked rye is still a rarity in today’s market. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Lq3qNIS8Jzo . Age Statement: N/A. ABV: 46%. Mash bill: 95% Rye, 5% malted barley. Area of Distillation: Kentucky. Finishing:  Chains of charred American white oak Appearance: Golden hue. On the nose:      The aroma is far more delicate than expected. Herbal and medicinal notes mingle with light flo...

    D ark Arts Whiskey House is a brand that’s been steadily building a reputation for craftsmanship and creativity. I first encountered them back in 2024 when they sent a few bottles my way for review, and by the end of that year, I found myself hunting down nearly everything they released. Here in 2025, that trend has only grown worse… or better, depending on how you look at it. Their new Mizunara Oak Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon is the latest addition to their core lineup, and from the looks of things, it’s aiming to make a lasting impression.      The mash bill immediately stood out to me: a recipe identical to Wilderness Trail’s bourbon mash bill. While not confirmed, the similarity is intriguing, as Wilderness Trail consistently produces some exceptional whiskey. That connection alone had me excited to pop the cork on this one. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/0d56N_KpnmM . Age Statement: N/A. ABV: 50%. Mash bil...

     Dark Arts Whiskey House  has built a strong reputation in the blending and finishing world, often sourcing well-aged stock and applying creative secondary maturation. This particular release is a straight rye whiskey, aged between 7 and 8½ years, then finished with toasted Amberana oak staves. It’s a bold move, because Amburana is one of the more divisive finishing woods in modern whiskey.      As someone who genuinely enjoys Amburana finishing, I went into this pour excited. I’ve had stunning examples of this wood treatment and others that felt overwhelming. After maturation, the whiskey is finished with toasted Amburana staves. Amburana is a dense South American hardwood known for delivering an explosive cinnamon-sugar character. The toasting process can mellow some of its sharper edges, but if left too long, it can easily dominate a whiskey. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/H3upewT3Eok . Age S...

     Jack Daniel’s is no stranger to innovation, and the Heritage Barrel line continues to prove that the Tennessee giant still knows how to surprise even its long-time fans. The 2025  Toasted Barrel Edition  takes the brand’s familiar character and layers in new depth through an extended barrel toasting process. As someone who’s always appreciated the Single Barrel Selects for their rich balance and great value, I was eager to see what doubling the toast time could do.       What makes this expression unique is the barrel treatment: while standard Jack barrels are toasted for 12 minutes and then charred, the Heritage barrels are toasted for 24 minutes and flash-charred. That means more of those deep caramelized sugars and toasted oak flavors have time to develop. The whiskey goes though the Lincoln County Process of maple charcoal filtering and aged for at least seven years. The barrels are then stored in the highest rickhouse elevations for...

     Hard Truth has long been one of my favorite craft distilleries to keep an eye on. Based in southern Indiana, they’ve built a strong reputation in rye whiskey but have been steadily carving out space in the bourbon world. This bottle represents a first for them, not only a single barrel bourbon, but one finished in toasted Amburana oak. Picked by Handy Spot Liquors here in Indiana, It’s a bold experiment, and one I was excited to open up with my wife before sitting down to share it here.      The foundation is a five-year-old straight bourbon, finished for six weeks in toasted Amburana oak. That finishing choice can be polarizing, Amburana is known for strong, cinnamon-sugar, sometimes overpowering notes.  For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/AtECT_YT7XI . Age Statement: 5 years. (Single barrel). ABV: 56.65%. (Cask strength). Mash bill:  73% corn 19% rye 8% malted barley. Area of Distillation: Nashville, Ind...