The Last Call

Stranahan's Single Barrel Single Malt Whiskey Review.            Stranahan's is one of those names I’ve seen on shelves for years, but somehow never really sat down with until now. This bottle changed that in a big way. This is a Market District single barrel pick of Stranahan’s American single malt, bottled at a healthy 56.71% ABV and aged for five years and one month. It was my first experience with a Stranahan’s single barrel, and honestly, I went into it curious but cautious.      Part of the excitement here comes from the format. Single barrel, cask strength, American single malt, all from a distillery doing everything in-house. When you add in a sub-$50 price tag, expectations naturally start climbing. Before even pouring the glass, this already felt like a bottle worth spending some real time with.      Stranahan's distills, ages, and bottles their whiskey in Colorado, using 100% malted barley and new charred Americ...

          I received this spirit as a review sample from Brother Justus,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      American single malt continues to be one of the most exciting categories in whiskey right now, and Brother Justus is clearly aiming to push that frontier even further. Their Cold Peated American Single Malt immediately caught my attention, not just for the concept, but for the story behind it.      Brother Justus, the distillery, draws inspiration from a real historical figure during Prohibition. Brother Justus believed that while whiskey was illegal to make it wasn’t immoral. Through his knowledge of copper pot stills and whiskey, he assisted over 1,600 family owned distilleries make a living during the times of Prohibition. That mindset of independence and craftsmanship feels like it carries forward into everything this distillery does.   ...

     There are certain releases that instantly grab your attention, and this Backbone Bourbon Company single barrel American single malt was one of them. As soon as news broke about a hazmat-level American single malt with an extremely limited yield, I knew I had to try to get my hands on one. Backbone has earned my trust over the years through transparency, thoughtful sourcing, and some genuinely standout single barrels, so this bottle already had a lot going for it before the cork was ever pulled.      This particular barrel was selected by T8ke, a well-known figure in the whiskey community and the mind behind the r/bourbon community. After tasting through several options at Backbone, this was the barrel he couldn’t walk away from. With a final yield of just 68 bottles, it was never going to be an easy find. When I got the chance to purchase one, there was no hesitation. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/HFEgS_q-STU . A...

          Three Floyds has long been a staple in the craft beer world, but in recent years they’ve been turning heads with their distilling program. Based in Indiana, they’ve been releasing some unique whiskeys, often playing with high malt bills and even incorporating grains tied to their brewing heritage. Their newest release for 2025, the Well of Whispers American Single Malt, is bottled in bond at 100 proof and made entirely with malted barley grown in Lebanon, Indiana. That transparency and local sourcing is exactly what I love seeing from craft producers, and I was eager to see how Three Floyds would handle a straight-ahead American single malt.      The Well of Whispers is crafted from 100% Indiana-grown malted barley, distilled and aged entirely in-house by Three Floyds. As a bottled in bond whiskey, it carries the guarantee of being at least four years old, distilled in a single season, and bottled at 100 proof, and under one master ...

     Indiana isn’t exactly the first place people think of when it comes to American single malt, but the folks over at Indiana Whiskey Company are on a mission to change that perception. Based in South Bend, they’re quietly doing some compelling work in the craft scene, and tonight we’re diving into their Flyover Malts American Single Malt, a name born out of a chip on the shoulder, thanks to some coastal comments about the “flyover states.”            As someone who’s a fan of single malts and always rooting for Indiana rye, I figured it was time to finally see what this distillery had to offer. This is a true grain-to-glass operation, distilled, aged, and bottled entirely onsite in South Bend. It’s bottled at 48% ABV, but beyond that, the transparency stops. No age statement, no barrel size info, no details about the barley varietal. It leaves us flying blind, especially for a category like American single malt where those nuances can...

     The first time I tried West Fork’s Alder Smoked Single Malt was right at their tasting bar, fresh off the drive to Westfield. One sip in, and I knew it was coming home with me. I’ve got a soft spot for smoky drams—my cabinet is full of peated Scotches and West Fork has been scratching that itch ever since I first picked up their Beechwood Smoked Malt years ago. This one feels like the 2025 sequel I didn’t know I was waiting for. My wife, who’s my ride-or-die Laphroaig fan and myself being in the cult of Ardbeg heard about the release coming and knew we had to try it out.      This isn’t a “let’s play it safe” kind of whiskey. It’s 100% malted barley, smoked with Alderwood to bring a softer, sweeter kind of smoke than the heavy peat monsters overseas. At just over two years old, it’s young but makes me reserved in what to expect from the release. It’s very much a West Fork creation from start to finish, distilled, aged, and bottled right there in Indian...

I received this spirit as a review sample from the World Whiskey Society, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.     Let's just pull off the bandaid real quick here, I LOVE decanter style bottles. The more unique the better. It reminds me of how we use to have decanter bottles more often back in the day. Now a days we associate a "fancy bottle" with bad spirits. And while that happens (probability) more times than not, I'll still appreciate the look. Now this release from the World Whiskey Society is a collaboration project with Ducks Unlimited, hence the shotgun shell bottle.          When it comes to the spirit inside, this is also right up my alley. We have an American single malt, a now official label for the TTB being distilled in Oklahoma. Now while there is no age statement on this release, the other bottlings I've had from this region have already been very solid. For the full video re...

     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...

 Rogue Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey Review.        I received this spirit as a review sample from Rogue Spirits. It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.     Rogue Spirits, more known for the ale, has been distilling for nearly twenty years in Newport, Oregon. Here they are taking their knowledge in brewing ale and rolling that spirit over next door to their still.  Rogue, based in Newport, Oregon, began as a brewery in 1988 before expanding into spirits in 2003. The origins of Dead Guy Whiskey are rooted in community and creativity. Originally crafted for a local Mexican restaurant’s special event, the whiskey’s success quickly secured its place in Rogue’s permanent lineup.           T he whiskey is distilled from 100% two-row malted barley, which is the same barley used with their brewery, but with a different yeast strain to enhance its alcohol content. Rogue’s proximity t...