The Last Call

 Russell’s Reserve Private Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review.                Russell’s Reserve has long been one of those dependable names that consistently delivers solid Kentucky straight bourbon without chasing hype. Between their approachable 10 Year, reliable rye, and well-structured core lineup, they’ve earned a permanent place on many shelves. This private barrel pick, discovered during a stop at West Clay Wine and Spirits, immediately stood out as something special, especially after learning it came from the highly regarded Camp Nelson warehouses.      What made this bottle even more exciting was the blind selection process behind it. The winning barrel was chosen from multiple Russell’s Reserve options, and after tasting it on the spot, both my wife and I agreed it was an exceptional pick. After letting it rest on my shelf for a few weeks, it felt like the right time to dig in and see how it truly performed....

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 ...

 Bear Wallow Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Review.      My introduction to Bear Wallow Distillery came years ago through their core releases, and I immediately appreciated how proudly local their approach was. They distill, age, and bottle everything in-house, relying on Indiana grains and keeping things small enough that most of their whiskey never even makes it out of their own region. That kind of dedicated local following says a lot about a distillery’s character. So when I learned they were releasing long-aged single barrel offerings near the end of 2025, I made it a point to stop by while visiting the area, and I left with this bottle in hand, excited to dive deeper.      This single barrel straight bourbon is a big step forward for Bear Wallow. Coming in at 64.7% ABV and aged 8 years and 4 months, it carries a mash bill of 65% corn, 25% wheat, and 10% malted barley. No rye at all, which allows the wheat to take a more expressive suppo...

Dark Arts Whiskey House Empyrean Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Dark Arts Whiskey House continues to be one of the more intriguing brands I’ve been diving into throughout 2025, especially as availability remains limited here in Indiana. Empyrean immediately stood out, not just for the striking apothecary-style bottle and label design, but for its ambitious concept: a bourbon finished separately in both red and white port casks before being blended back together. That approach alone suggested a level of intention and control that had me genuinely excited to see how it translated in the glass.      Empyrean starts with an Indiana-distilled high-rye bourbon sourced from MGP. Dark Arts takes a slightly different approach when it comes to finishing. They split the bourbon into two finishing paths: one portion finished in red port casks, the other in white port casks. Instead of transferring the whiskey sequentially between barrels, Dark Arts blends the t...

Maker's Mark Cask Strength 7 Year Bourbon Whiskey Review.           As 2025 winds down, Makers Mark surprised everyone with what appears to be a limited-age-stated run of their beloved cask strength bourbon. I’ve always had a soft spot for Makers Mark. It wasn’t a brand I fell in love with immediately, but somewhere along the way, it became a comfort bottle, a pour I reached for between bigger, flashier releases. Their lineup consistently offers strong value, and while I still haven’t tried the Cellar Aged, the rest are genuinely solid. Seeing this on the shelf at standard cask strength pricing made it an easy pickup.      This release is still their classic wheated bourbon, although Makers Mark doesn’t publish the exact mash bill. The side label offers some intriguing production details: a 110-proof barrel entry, 378 hand-rotated and hand-selected casks, and the note that each batch is “aged to taste.” That wording alone hints at future vari...

Penelope X T8KE Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sauternes Casks Review.        Penelope has been on a real tear lately, and 2025 feels like the year they simply refused to miss. Their track record with MGP distillate has been impressive, but this collaboration with T8ke immediately stood out. Take has long been a respected reviewer and a guiding hand in the r/bourbon community, so hearing he was teaming up with Penelope made this an instant “must buy.”      The bottle itself looks regal, with a noble blue label that feels elevated without trying too hard. And once I learned this was a blend of five to seven-year-old bourbon finished in Sauternes casks at barrel proof, I knew this was going to be something different. Sauternes is a French dessert wine known for its sweetness and expensive barrel costs, so expectations were set high before the cork even moved. Amusingly, this is listed as a “single barrel” despite yielding 900 bottles. Whether that’...

Four Finger Distillery Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey Review.           Four Finger Distillery is one of those craft producers that continues quietly building something special, and their Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon feels like a meaningful milestone for where the distillery is today. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Four Finger produces nearly everything in-house, from gin and vodka to absinthe, rye, and even peated bourbon. Released in 2025, this bourbon follows their Bottled in Bond rye and continues the distillery’s push toward more mature, transparent, and confidently crafted whiskey.      The name “Four Finger” itself tells a story. Formerly known as 1205 Distillery, the brand changed their name to pay tribute to the founder and master distiller Brad when he lost his pinky finger during the construction of the distillery. Rather than treating it lightly, the distillery embraced it as part of their identity, creating a name that stan...

Watershed Distillery Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon Whiskey Review.       Watershed Distillery, based out of Ohio, has quietly been building a strong reputation across several spirit categories, from gin and brandy to finished whiskeys and now straight bourbon. This uncut, unfiltered straight bourbon comes in at a bold 61.1% ABV and carries a stated age of four years. Batch No. 3 was one of the bottles I brought home after a trip to Ohio in early 2025, picked up with genuine excitement after having some excellent past experiences with Watershed releases. Between prior barrel picks and a maple cask-finished expression I really enjoyed, this felt like a safe purchase walking out of the store. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/uWqsQNQvJ3Q . Age Statement: 4 Years. (Batch 003). ABV: 61.1%. Mash bill: N/A. Area of Distillation: Columbus, Ohio. Appearance: Light golden hue. On the nose:      The nose is surprisingly restrained...

  Penelope Marshmallow Toast Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Penelope has been on a roll lately, especially since settling under the MGP umbrella, and their recent limited releases have been grabbing attention for good reason. Marshmallow Toast debuted in late 2024 alongside the Cream Brûlée Architect in 2025, and each showcases Penelope’s knack for pulling highly specific flavor profiles from single barrels. I missed the excitement of batch one, but batch two found me at the right moment during my travels, and at a reasonable price. As a longtime Penelope fan and a lover of toasted bourbons, this release had me genuinely excited.      Batch one appears to have been closer to four years old, making batch two a slight age upgrade. The whiskey is then finished in heavily charred No. 3 casks, designed to coax out toasted sweetness, vanilla creaminess, and the “marshmallow toast” character they’re aiming for. The transparency behind this release only add...

 Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review.      There are few bottles in the whiskey world as immediately recognizable and Old Fitzgerald is high on that list. That iconic decanter shape has long made the Heaven Hill release a collector’s trophy, often tucked away behind glass or proudly displayed on a bar cart. But 2025 brings something different: a shelf-stable version of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, with the promise of wider availability and a more approachable price point. Ironically, just as I found this 7-year version, I was also pulled for Priority Access at Total Wine and snagged a 9-year decanter release, making this the perfect time to finally dive into the Old Fitz lineup for the very first time.      What’s interesting about this release is that it represents a shift for Old Fitzgerald, moving from high-demand, allocated decanters to something that may eventually become a true shelf option. Depending on where you find it, the...

Hard Truth Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Review.       Hard Truth Distilling has quickly become one of Indiana’s breakout names, known first for its exceptional sweet mash ryes and now steadily expanding its bourbon lineup. When I first heard about their new Double Oak release, I knew I had to track down a bottle. Thankfully, a family member visiting the distillery snagged one for me. I’ve loved what Hard Truth has done in the past, and the idea of them giving their sweet mash bourbon the double oak treatment instantly caught my attention.       True to their transparent approach, this is a barrel-proof, small-batch release, just 28 barrels total, and for now a distillery exclusive. Hard Truth employs a sweet mash process, meaning they start each fermentation fresh instead of using remnants from the previous batch like in a sour mash. The result tends to be a brighter, more vibrant flavor profile. Now up to this point their sweet mash bourbon for m...

 Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review.      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/...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Korean Barbecue  Finished Bourbon Review.      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, n...

 Hard Truth Single Barrel Bourbon Finished with Toasted Amburana Oak Review.      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. ABV: 56.65%. Mash bill: Area of Distillation: Nashvil...

 High West Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey Review.      High West has been on my radar more than usual lately, surprising me in ways I didn’t quite expect. I’ll admit, I’ve been critical of them in the past, particularly when it comes to pricing, but this Bottled in Bond release caught my attention. Not only is it one of their first whiskeys made entirely from their own distillate (following the Bottled in Bond Rye), but it also comes with a level of transparency that I greatly appreciate. From mash bill to grain sourcing, High West is showing us exactly what went into this bottle, and that makes me lean in closer.      This straight bourbon comes in at 50% ABV, aged a minimum of four years under the Bottled in Bond Act requirements. The mash bill uses GMO Colorado yellow corn and Idaho rye, no barley or wheat in sight. That grain-forward approach really sets the tone, and it’s refreshing to see High West not only disclose the mash bill but also the or...

 Milam & Greene Provisions Blend Bourbon Whiskeys Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Milam & Greene, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Tonight’s pour comes from Milam & Greene, a distillery that has quickly gained a reputation for doing things differently. Heather Greene and her team have been blending Kentucky straight bourbon with Texas pot still whiskey, crafting something unique that bridges two very different traditions. When I first heard about the Provisions Blend, I was intrigued, especially since it promised to bring a budget-friendly option to the shelf without sacrificing quality. The commemorative first-release bottle design is elegant without being flashy, a welcome sight on any shelf.      The Provisions combines Kentucky bourbon and Texas pot still bourbon, both aged in standard 53-gallon barrels, no shortcuts with small casks ...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Bloody Butcher Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review.      West Fork Whsky Co. is no stranger to this channel, and they’ve consistently shown what a craft distillery can achieve when they stay true to their roots. Based in Indiana, West Fork not only ages, distills, and bottles their own spirits, but also takes pride in pushing boundaries with unique mash bills and special releases. Tonight’s pour, the Bloody Butcher Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon, is one of those examples.      My very first encounter with this heirloom grain was through West Fork, and it left a lasting impression. It’s not for everyone, but when handled with care, it can create a profile that’s both exciting and refined. This release is especially intriguing, as it’s not just a 100% Bloody Butcher mash bill, it’s also bottled in bond, carrying with it the standards of quality and transparency. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/y14D4...

 Penelope Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Review.          Penelope has become a household name in the bourbon world, and for good reason. Their transparency around sourcing and blending, especially with access to MGP stocks since their acquisition, has led to some exciting releases. With the Weeded Bourbon, Penelope is offering something approachable and shelf-stable, an everyday pour that doesn’t break the bank.      This release is a four-grain bourbon and is only 1% different compared to their standard four-grain. It shifts slightly, boosting the wheat while trimming the barley, a subtle but interesting tweak. The whiskey is aged four to six years, with a blend that includes some older barrels for added depth. At a price point generally ranging from $30–$40, it aims squarely at the budget-friendly market while offering a higher proof than their standard four-grain expression. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/X...

High West Prisoner's Share Blend of Whiskeys Review.      Every once in a while, a bottle that has been on your “unicorn list” for years shows up when you least expect it. That’s exactly how I felt when I spotted High West’s The Prisoner’s Share on a late August hunt here in Indiana. Batch three of this limited release was not only on the shelf, but somehow still priced at SRP, a rarity for something this sought after. After an hour of pacing and debating, curiosity won out, and I walked back into the store to claim it.      This whiskey is High West’s blend of straight bourbons and ryes, aged anywhere from 4 to 12 years, and finished in casks that once held The Prisoner, a bold and acclaimed blend of red wines. With High West blending in distillate potentially sourced from Bardstown, Indiana, Tennessee, and their own stocks, it’s a layered and mysterious release. Pricey, yes, but also intriguing enough to demand a closer look. For the full video review vis...

Elijah Craig Single Barrel Private Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Every so often, bourbon hunting pays off in unexpected ways. On a routine stop at a local shop, I stumbled upon something I had only heard whispers about: an Elijah Craig Single Barrel Private Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon. I’ve seen people mention these online, but I had never come across one in person.       This particular pick was a store selection collaboration between Winfield Five Star and The Country Seat. Much like the Elijah Craig Small Batch, it carries Heaven Hill’s classic Elijah Craig's mash bill. Being a single barrel, flavors can shift depending on the rickhouse location and the nuances of that specific cask. At 11 years old, it falls right in the sweet spot for aging, old enough to show depth, but not so long that oak takes over. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/54na0IpTgRU . Age Statement: 11 years. ABV: 47%. (Single Barrel...