The Last Call

     Journeyman Distillery continues to prove why they’re one of the most exciting craft producers in the Midwest. Corsets, Whips, and Honey is a brand-new, distillery-exclusive release built on their 100% wheat whiskey and infused with real Michigan honey. Originally rooted in Michigan and now expanding into Valparaiso, Indiana, Journeyman handles everything in-house, and that commitment to transparency and local collaboration shows up immediately with this bottle.      This is not a honey-finished whiskey or a flavored gimmick. Real honey from Great Lakes Bee Company is blended directly into Journeyman’s Corsets, Whips, and Wheat whiskey. It’s Michigan through and through, and that local focus adds a lot of character before the glass is even poured. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/P3EM0ps7nC4 . Age Statement: N/A. ABV: 35%. Mash bill: 100% Michigan wheat. Area of Distillation: Three Oaks, Michigan. Appearance: ...

     Journeyman Distillery has become a familiar name on this channel, and for good reason. Originally rooted in Michigan and now operating a second distillery in Indiana, Journeyman continues to push craft spirits forward while keeping production fully in-house. More recently, some of the releases that once felt exclusive to Michigan have started showing up in Indiana as well, which is always a welcome sight.      Fine Girl Brandy immediately stands out as something a little different from the usual whiskey fare. Brandy doesn’t show up often on the channel, but it’s a category I genuinely enjoy when done well. After having a pour of this at the bar months ago and remembering it fondly, I was excited to revisit it with a focused tasting and see how it holds up on its own.      Fine Girl Brandy is made using Vidal Blanc grapes sourced from St. Julian Vineyards, a longtime Michigan producer known for both wine and brandy. Journeyman distills th...

 Journeyman Distillery Cherrywood Smoked Single Malt Whiskey Review.      Journeyman Distillery has become a familiar name on this channel for good reason. They continue to push boundaries within the craft space while staying rooted in doing things the hard way, distilling, aging, and bottling everything in-house. With locations in Three Oaks, Michigan and a newer Indiana outpost, Journeyman has positioned itself as one of the more creative forces in American craft whiskey.      The moment I saw the label for this Cherrywood Smoked Single Malt, I knew it was something I wanted to explore. American single malts already have my attention, but when a distillery starts experimenting with smoked grain, especially using cherrywood, that curiosity ramps up fast. This whiskey is made from 100% single malt that was cherrywood smoked prior to distillation.      The inspiration behind the release pays tribute to the cherrywood trees introduced to t...

       Journeyman Distillery has built a strong reputation in the craft whiskey world, operating out of Three Oaks, Michigan, with a newer presence in Indiana. Over the years, they’ve released some genuinely impressive bottles, even if a few have missed the mark. Their standard Featherbone Bourbon has been a consistent performer for me, so when a local Indiana chain store released a single barrel pick at cask strength, curiosity got the better of me.      Single barrels from Journeyman are not something we see every day. That exclusivity, combined with barrel proof presentation, certainly sets expectations a little higher. It’s aged in standard 53-gallon barrels and presented at cask strength. Like most of Journeyman’s lineup, it is also kosher certified, which is a significant undertaking in the production process. There is no official age statement, though this barrel was filled in 2018. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://yo...

     Celebrity-backed whiskeys can be hit or miss, but Johnny James Smoke Whiskey immediately sets out to do something different. Created by Indiana-based country artist Johnny James in partnership with Journeyman Distillery, this release is inspired directly by his song “Smoke,” blending music, storytelling, and whiskey into one concept. After first trying this at the distillery from the tail end of a bottle, revisiting it on a fresh crack felt like the right moment to see if the experience held up. Johnny James Smoke Whiskey is produced, aged, and bottled by Journeyman Distillery. The base is a blend of bourbon whiskey and neutral grain spirits, with cinnamon added for sweetness and spice. What makes this whiskey truly unique is the smoke element. Applewood and cherrywood smoke are introduced during production, giving it a layered, campfire-inspired character meant to mirror the mood and tone of the music behind it.      It’s an ambitious build. Bourbon, ...

    Last year’s trip to Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Festival gave me the perfect excuse to visit New Holland Brewing’s Brew House, a must-stop for fans of their iconic Dragon’s Milk stout. That’s when I first picked up the Walley Run Malted Rye Whiskey, a newer release at the time. Now, it’s making its way onto shelves here in Indiana, and even available online. This 7-year-old rye, distilled, aged, and bottled entirely by New Holland. Knowing New Holland’s knack for blurring the lines between brewing and distilling, I was eager to revisit this bottle after a year in my cabinet.      Walley Run Malted Rye is crafted in-house on New Holland’s pot stills. While they’re well-known for their beer barrel-aged bourbonsm and for aging beer in ex-bourbon casks,  this rye takes a different path, letting the grain and barrel speak for themselves. The malted rye base adds a distinctive layer of complexity, while the 7-year maturation in oak gives the whiskey depth...

     Every now and then, a craft distillery does something just weird enough to make me stop and say, “Okay… tell me more.” That was the case with this honey barrel-finished bourbon from Detroit City Distillery. I’d heard rumblings of this project back in 2024 and knew I had to track it down, not just for myself, but because we’ve got a honey barrel blind flight coming up, and this one felt like it deserved a seat at the table.      Now, Detroit City Distillery is one of those smaller outfits doing a bit of everything—bourbon, gin, rum, vodka, you name it. I’ve reviewed a few of their whiskeys before and always found them pretty solid for the craft category. The only downside is I can’t get their stuff here in Indiana, but anytime I make a run up to Michigan, I try to keep my eyes peeled for something new and interesting. And this? A whiskey finished in honey barrels from an urban rooftop beekeeping project? Yeah, that’ll do.      Official de...

 Journeyman Distillery Double Oaked Rye Whiskey Review.     J ourneyman Distillery has long been a staple of me when it comes to craft spirits. With roots in Three Oaks, Michigan, and a newer expansion into Valparaiso, Indiana, they have been an easy go to for pours and supporting local. Many of their spirits are grain-to-glass, certified organic and kosher (though curiously not labeled as such here), I look to themfor transparency and character. That’s part of what makes this Double Oaked Rye Whiskey release so intriguing, and perhaps, a bit perplexing.            This bottle marks Journeyman’s first foray into double oaking a rye, and I believe their highest-rye content whiskey to date. It’s a distillery-exclusive release currently and composed of a blend of whiskies ranging from 3.5 to 8.5 years old. However, inconsistent labeling, a baffling mash bill, and lack of clarity on the finishing process leave more questions than answers. Al...

    Now, Journeyman Distillery is one of my favorite local distilleries here in Indiana. I enjoy the craft profile they bring and willing to go against the grain (pun intended). I visit the distillery pretty often and during one of my recent trips I discovered this newest release. Now, from my memory this is Journeyman's first "High Rye" bourbon to the market and at least on paper, it is coming out swinging. One cool thing about this release is all the grains are grown on the  Welter Family Farm in Putnam County, Indiana. So dialing in that "Indiana craft" even more. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/B52UhENuxt8 . Age Statement: 7 years. ABV: 59.2% (Cask strength). Mash bill:  60% corn and 40% rye. Area of Distillation: Three Oaks, Michigan. Appearance: Oily amber. On the nose:      The nose opens with a soft, sweet corn-forward character. A bit of ethanol sneaks through—think light nail polish remover—but this is...

 Journeyman Distillery Corsets, Whips, Whiskey Beer Barrel Finished.      Over the past year I've been picking up so many spirits from Journeyman Distillery. Since they opened a second distillery right in Valparaiso Indiana, they are a short drive away. Honestly, I've really enjoyed so many of their offerings and they are becoming a great definition of what makes craft spirits. The other day I was up having dinner at the distillery (great food and cocktails by the way) and stopped into the gift shop as I normally do. Seeing this instantly caught my eye since I've noticed many distilleries using beer finishing casks. Not sure if that's the new thing or what, but it seems to be many of them coming out. While I've never had any beers from Half Acre Brewing, I figured I will take the dive! For the full video review visit the link here!:  https://youtu.be/033v_I65C70 Age Statement:  N/A. ABV:  54.44% (Cask Strength). Mashbill:  100% Organic Wheat. Area...