The Last Call

     Backbone Bourbon Company has built a strong reputation out of Indianapolis by embracing transparency and leaning into creative sourcing. While many know them for their MGP-driven releases, they’ve never been shy about exploring whiskey from across North America and beyond. This particular bottle immediately stops you in your tracks because it challenges expectations before the cork even comes out.      This is an Irish whiskey, but the color tells a completely different story. Deep, dark, and bordering on mahogany, it looks far closer to a heavily aged double-oaked bourbon than anything traditionally associated with Ireland. That alone made this release impossible to pass up, especially knowing it came from a small, almost accidental single barrel that found its way to Holly’s Package Store.      The whiskey began its life in Ireland, aged as an Irish whiskey before being shipped to the United States. Once stateside, Backbone finished it...

     It’s not every day I come across Powers here in Indiana, availability tends to be spotty, which is unfortunate because I’ve always appreciated what they bring to the table. On a recent hunt, I stumbled across a bottle of their Three Swallow release, priced so low I’m convinced it was a mistake. Of course, I didn’t question it. I snatched it up, finally checking this one off my wishlist. This bottling sits a step above the standard Powers Gold Label and brings a more focused, historical nod to the brand’s roots. Powers Three Swallow is a 100% pot still Irish whiskey, crafted with a combination of malted and unmalted barley. It’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels and, based on industry buzz and other reviews, it likely sees a finishing period in Oloroso sherry casks. That dual maturation gives this whiskey both a classic Irish structure and a gentle richness on top. Bottled at 43.2% ABV, it falls just under what I’d consider an ideal proof point, but more on that later. For t...

Foxes Bow Blended Irish Whiskey Review.      From time to time I scroll across Instagram (I know...shocker) and stumble into brands. With how many brands are hitting the shelves now a days you just never know what you will find. One night I was doing this and ran across Foxes Bow, and to be honest, the bottle caught my eye first. I assumed this was just another sourced whiskey project, not that there's anything wrong with that. However, once I started reading up on who is involved and what they are doing,  there's some curious points going on.      Fox’s Bow starts with an Irish whiskey aged in ex-bourbon casks before finishing it in ex-rye and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The use of rye barrels is particularly intriguing, as it’s relatively uncommon. However, I have noticed here in 2024 a few whiskey brands using rye barrels. I am assuming the path to using rye barrels is to bring that "spicy" character without using rye grains. Now the names behind the b...

Tipsy Irish 5 Year Old Irish Whiskey Review. I received this spirit as a review sample from Tipsy Irish. It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Late one night I was scrolling on instagram, as I typically do, and I ran across this bottling. Now, seeing a new Irish brand hitting the shelves, specially with an age statement caught my eye. After checking out their website I was very curious and hooked by what they creating and why they were creating it.      Tipsy Irish  unique isn’t just its blending but also the personal connection of the family behind it. The brand was founded when a daughter approached her father about starting a whiskey company. So to honor their Irish  heritage they headed out to find an Irish whiskey that fit their detailed profile.  The family took this seriously, sourcing and blending their whiskey in Ireland before bringing it stateside. Even the name, “Tipsy Irish,” has family s...