The Last Call

          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...

     Peerless has never been shy about pushing bold, barrel proof whiskey with a style all their own. Their sweet mash process, eye-catching bottles, and dedication to non-chill filtration have earned them a loyal following, myself included. I’ve long been a fan of their Double Oak Bourbon and Rye, and when I heard a toasted version was hitting the shelves, I knew I had to track one down. Originally a distillery-only release, Batch 03 finally made its way to Indiana, and thanks to my buddy Rich over at Holly’s Package Store, one found its way into my hands.      Peerless takes the extra-labor route of sweet mash fermentation, fully emptying and cleaning the fermentation tanks between every batch. It’s a slower, more meticulous approach, but it allows each batch to develop its own unique fingerprint. This release takes their Kentucky Straight Bourbon and finishes it in toasted barrels, a technique that can coax out deeper vanilla, caramel, and spice tones....

 Peerless Distilling Rum Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Every now and then, a bottle sneaks into Indiana that makes you stop mid–liquor store lap. This was one of those moments. Peerless is already a distillery I have a soft spot for, their Double Oak Bourbon and Rye are mainstays for me, but the Rum Barrel Finished Bourbon? That’s a rare sighting here. This is batch 02 of the release and while the label keeps its secrets on age and finishing time, curiosity got the better of me. I cracked it open with my wife the other night, and the experience was… not exactly what I’d pictured from Peerless.      Peerless keeps things true to their style here: barrel proof, sweet mash, and crafted with their signature approach to balance and body. This batch began life as their straight bourbon before moving into rum barrels for finishing. It’s a bold concept — in theory, a marriage of deep Kentucky bourbon richness with tropical rum complexity. Peerless does...