The Last Call

     Larrikin Bourbon Company has officially made its way onto Indiana shelves in 2026, and not quietly. This single barrel, barrel proof High Wheat Rye selected by Handy Spot Liquor immediately stood out as something different. I had the chance to taste it on site alongside their bourbon pick, and it was one of those pours that makes you stop mid-sip and rethink what you thought you knew about mash bills.      Based in Kentucky, not far from  Wild Turkey , Larrikin has been transparent about sourcing while also working toward its own distillation. This particular release is sourced from Florida, which makes the profile even more intriguing with its unconventional mash bill to boot.      Larrikin, formerly known as Lawrenceburg Bourbon Company, went through a thoughtful rebrand to carve out a clearer identity. Founder Greg Keeley, originally from Australia and now based in Kentucky, is also a U.S. veteran, which adds a meaningful layer t...

     Larrikin Bourbon Company is one of those brands I had been watching from a distance, waiting for it to finally land here in Indiana. In 2026, we started seeing bottles hit shelves, along with a few store picks, including this single barrel selected by Handy Spot Liquor in Indiana. After tasting it in-store, I walked away… and then came back two days later to buy it. That alone should tell you something.      Transparency is a strong point for the brand, and on paper this nine-year, barrel proof single barrel looked promising. This is a single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at a hefty ABV and aged at least nine years. The mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Larrikin standard releases use the same mash bill and are also single barrels, while select barrels like this one are chosen by individual stores or groups. While the distillery is not officially disclosed, the mash bill and Kentucky origin suggest a strong possibilit...

     Tonight, we’re diving into something a bit different, Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This one hits the shelves at Costco for an unbelievably low price, making it one of those “budget-friendly” bottles that sparks curiosity. It’s not a powerhouse, but it certainly catches your eye with its clean, official-looking bottle design. Most of what we know about this whiskey is that it’s sourced from Barton 1792, a well-known name in bourbon circles. It’s a liter bottle, priced around $18.99, which makes it one of the most accessible Kentucky straight bourbons on the market.      Kirkland Signature doesn’t give us many details beyond the source, so we assume these barrels are secondary picks from Barton 1792. It’s likely younger whiskey, which aligns with the light color and approachable profile. Kirkland also offers a Bottled-in-Bond and a Cask Strength version, but today we’re focused on this small batch, budget-friendly opt...

     Bourbon De Luxe is a name that once belonged to the pre-Prohibition era, a brand that built a respectable following before eventually fading out after the market shifted. That legacy was dormant until Rolling Fork, working in collaboration with Starlight Distillery, revived the trademark and began releasing small, highly limited batches under the original Bourbon De Luxe banner. I never expected to see one of these bottles in Indiana, and certainly not at nearly SRP. The moment I saw a Jamaican rum cask finish, the decision made itself. I’m a complete sucker for rum influence, especially when paired with a bold bourbon.     T he base whiskey here is at least seven years old and after blending, the whiskey spent nine months in a Jamaican rum barrel selected by Rolling Fork. If you're not familiar with that name, you should be. Rolling Fork is going out to all parts of the rum world, selecting barrels, and brining back to Indiana. Sometimes blending, finishin...

     Ampersand is one of those new labels that seemed to appear almost overnight at the start of 2026, and it immediately caught the attention of enthusiasts. Founded by legendary blender and distiller Chip Tate, this release feels like a statement piece rather than a tentative first step. Seeing his name attached to a 15-year Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Tokaji casks was enough to send me bottle hunting the moment it hit the radar.      Opimus is clearly positioned as the flagship of the lineup, and the transparency here is refreshing. From mash bill to finishing time, there’s a level of openness that builds confidence before the cork is even pulled. Add in the fact that this is cask strength and reasonably priced for its age, and expectations were already running high. The mash bill is disclosed at 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, a combination that closely mirrors classic Kentucky profiles from decades past.       Wh...

          Peerless Distilling is a name most bourbon drinkers recognize instantly, largely thanks to that unmistakable bottle design. It’s bold, beefy, and looks fantastic on a shelf. I’ll admit right away, I’ve had a bit of a complicated relationship with Peerless releases over the years. Some of their offerings, like the Double Oak Bourbon and Double Oak Rye, have been standouts for me, while others have left me scratching my head. Until now, I’d never actually sat down and reviewed their standard Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and curiosity finally won out despite my ongoing hesitation with their pricing.       While there’s no age statement on the bottle, Peerless does confirm on their website that they adhere to a four-year minimum. I always wish that transparency made it onto the label, but it is what it is. What truly sets Peerless apart from many other Kentucky distilleries is their use of a sweet mash process rather than the more co...

     Bondstone is one of those brands many bourbon drinkers first encounter on the shelves at Total Wine, often under the Spirits Direct umbrella. While that association can sometimes raise eyebrows, Bondstone has been slowly expanding beyond that lane, and the Quad Oak release feels like an attempt to stand out in a crowded field of finished bourbons. Now when it comes to Spirit Direct brands that can mean in-house bottlings, sourced projects, or partnerships with smaller distilleries, and Bondstone sits firmly in that sourced-project lane.      The “Quad Oak” name comes with a bit of creative interpretation. According to the bottle, Bondstone starts with a double-oaked bourbon matured twice in new charred oak barrels. They then blend that with a bourbon matured three times in new charred oak barrels, before finishing the combined whiskey with toasted American and French oak staves. While this may not be four full barrel maturations, there is no denying th...

     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 toward walnut and pecan rather than peanut. Dark vanilla follows, r...

     Bulleit’s 95 Rye 12 Year feels like a quiet surprise in a market that rarely leaves anything this good under the radar for long. Originally released years ago and then seemingly gone for good, it resurfaced in 2024 with little fanfare, almost as if Bulleit simply decided to remind people what well-aged MGP rye can be. With a 12-year age statement, a classic 95/5 mash bill, and a very approachable price point, expectations were already high before the cork was pulled.     As someone who has grown increasingly fond of rye over the past year, this bottle immediately caught my attention. The standard Bulleit Rye is okay overall, but this felt like a chance to see that familiar profile elevated by real age and careful barrel selection. According to  Bulleit they selected specific barrels for this release. For the full video review visit the link here:    https://youtu.be/6gFjqtBPsBc . Age Statement: 12 years. ABV: 46%. Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% ma...

    New Riff is a distillery I’ve had the chance to visit a few times, and every trip has only strengthened my appreciation for what they’re doing. From releases like their Balboa Rye and Malted Rye to the newer eight-year bourbon, there’s a clear sense of intention behind their portfolio. While the eight-year rye didn’t fully hit the highs I was hoping for, it was still a respectable pour. This single barrel straight rye caught my attention when local Indiana store picks started popping up on sale, making it the perfect excuse to finally explore New Riff’s single barrel program.      This particular bottle carries an age statement of four years and four months, offering a bump in both proof and maturity compared to their standard bottled-in-bond rye. New Riff is refreshingly transparent with their production details, and this single barrel rye is no exception. The mash bill comes in at 95% rye and 5% malted rye, which effectively makes this a 100% rye whiskey u...

     As 2025 winds down, Maker's 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 Maker's 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 Maker's 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 variations. I wouldn’t be surprised if 6.5- to 8-year age statements start appe...

    Every now and then, a bottle appears where you least expect it, and this was one of those moments. While wandering through a Belmont Beverage in Northern Indiana, I stumbled upon a bottle of  Penelope Private Select 10-Year  sitting quietly on the shelf at SRP. For a release that’s usually hunted down or heavily marked up, this felt like striking gold. Penelope has built a reputation for transparency and consistency, and under the MGP umbrella, they’ve become a powerhouse in blending and finishing. The Estate Collection bottles in particular have turned heads with their elegance and flavor depth, and this Private Select proves no different.     This year’s Estate Collection brings a notable upgrade, now carrying a  10-year age statement , up from last year’s 9-year release. It’s a blend of Indiana and Kentucky bourbons. Penelope’s transparency here is refreshing, letting enthusiasts trace exactly what’s in the bottle. Aged stocks, ca...

     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 bottle may or may not come with the velvety bag, but the pr...

       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...

     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 here. While many budget bottles can feel watered down, this one lea...

     Angel’s Envy is one of those distilleries you instantly recognize, whether it’s the distinctive winged bottle or their reputation for unique cask finishes. For me, it was one of the first brands that pulled me deeper into the whiskey world, particularly their rum cask–finished rye. Over the years, I drifted away from their offerings, often finding more affordable finished whiskeys on the shelves. But this release caught my attention: their first-ever non-finished Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, bottled in bond, at cask strength. It’s a bold step from a distillery known for finishes, and I was curious to see how it would hold up.      Released in 2024, this bourbon is a blend of two bottled-in-bond bourbons: one distilled at a lower entry proof, and another at a higher proof, married together to land at exactly 50% ABV. That means it follows all the bottled-in-bond rules—aged at least four years in a government-bonded warehouse, produced in a single ...

     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 (Single Barrel). ABV: 47%. Mash bill:  8% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye, Area o...

     Every once in a while, luck strikes in the bourbon aisle. That was the case when I stumbled across Old Forester’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon, sitting almost unnoticed on the shelf with only a couple bottles left. My relationship with Old Forester is an odd one, I’ve never gone deep into their core lineup, but I’ve had great experiences with their store picks, limited editions, and the famous Birthday Bourbon. This bottle was one of those rare finds I just couldn’t walk away from, especially knowing how quickly Old Forester’s barrel proof offerings vanish in my market.      This particular single barrel comes is drawn from Warehouse K, floor five. Warehouse K is known for running hot, which often brings bold character to the whiskey. And as with all single barrels, each release will vary, but that unpredictability is part of the fun. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/bkkadI5q3AU . Age Statement:  N/A (Sin...