The Last Call

 Four Finger Distillery Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey Review.      Craft whiskey is alive and thriving in Indiana, and Four Finger Distillery continues to be a name that defines what small-batch passion can achieve. Based out of Indianapolis, Four Finger handles every step of the process, distilling, aging, and bottling, right in-house. This level of control and transparency is rare, and their latest release, a Bottled in Bond rye whiskey, feels like a proud milestone. Having loved their barrel-proof rye (my top Rye of 2024), I was excited to see how this one held up under the Bottled in Bond standard.           Four Finger Distillery , once known as 1205 Distillery, carries one of the more memorable origin stories. Its name comes from founder and master distiller Brad losing a finger during the construction of the stills, a touch of grit that now defines the brand’s spirit. Visit their tasting room, and you’ll find great cocktails, a frie...

Backbone Bourbon Company Old Dragon Bones Single Barrel Rye Whiskey.           Every so often, a whiskey crosses your path that feels more like a legend than a release. Old Dragon Bones from Backbone Bourbon Company was one of those whispers, a mythical bottle I'd only seen mentioned in passing. Then came Take’s single barrel pick, and I knew I had to have it. This 20-year-old Canadian rye, bottled at a staggering 67.4% ABV, is one of those rare finds that blend power, elegance, and innovation in equal measure. Backbone has long been one of my favorite Indiana-based independents, known for sourcing exceptional barrels and bottling them honestly, high proof, minimal interference, maximum flavor.      Old Dragon Bones is a masterclass in cask finishing. Backbone took a 20-year-old Canadian rye and split it across three barrels. Each rested for over a year before being recombined into neutral oak to marry. Now, before you say  "Canadian whi...

     Penelope 9 Year Tokaji Cask Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      Penelope has built a reputation for innovation, especially through their creative finishing techniques. Their Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Casks is a perfect example of that craftsmanship. Coming in at 52% ABV and aged at least nine years, this release blends MGP’s signature 95/5 rye recipe with a Hungarian dessert wine cask finish. As a longtime fan of Penelope’s transparency and flavor-forward approach, I was eager to see how their rye handled this sweet, complex finish.      The Tokaji cask finish instantly caught my attention, it’s not something you see often in rye whiskey. Known for its luscious sweetness, Tokaji wine brings vibrant fruit and honeyed notes that can either elevate or overpower a whiskey. Let’s see how Penelope balances it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Xt1IWagSys8 . Age Statement: 9 years. ABV:  52%...

       Hard Truth Toasted Mizunara Oak Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      Hard Truth has been making waves in the rye whiskey scene, and tonight I’m diving into something bold and unusual from their lineup: a straight rye whiskey finished with toasted Mizunara oak, bottled at cask strength. Based in southern Indiana, Hard Truth has built a reputation around their sweet mash process, where fermentation tanks are completely cleaned between batches,labor-intensive, but it creates a uniquely clean and vibrant flavor profile.      Mizunara oak itself is special. Harvested only after trees reach at least 200 years of age in Japan, it imparts flavors unlike typical American or European oak. It’s a notoriously expensive wood to use, so most distilleries work with staves instead of full barrels. Seeing Hard Truth experiment with this finish had me eager to see if their craft touch could bring something truly memorable. For the full video review vi...

     High West Bourye Blend of Straight Whiskeys Review.      High West has long held a place on my shelf, and in my heart, but not without scrutiny. I’ve been a vocal fan of their older Double Rye picks, but recent years brought changes to their lineups and blends, not always for the better. So when I stumbled across their relaunch of the Bourye blend here in Indiana, I hesitated. The bottle didn’t initially flash an age statement, and I was prepared to pass, but fate (and a cheaper second sighting) nudged me to give it a go.      This relaunch of Bourye is a blend of straight bourbons and ryes, non-chill filtered, with a 10-year age statement subtly tucked on the back label. The blend is impressively diverse (look below for the full blend) bringing together MGP staples, High West’s own distillate, and some undisclosed Kentucky character — creating a well-rounded and complex profile. For the full video review visit the link here:  https...

 Three Floyds Distilling Demon’s Whip Indiana Rye Whiskey Review.      Three Floyds Distilling, based in Munster, Indiana, has long been a powerhouse in the craft beer world with legendary brews like Zombie Dust and Gumball Head. Over the last several years, they’ve been steadily building their spirits portfolio, distilling, aging, and bottling everything in-house, often experimenting with unique grains like oats and beer malt. Their label art is as wild and unapologetic as their recipes, and when I stopped by in May 2025 to pick up their Dark Lord Straight Malt (finished in Dark Lord beer barrels phenomenal stuff), something else caught my eye: their first rye whiskey release.      While the distillery offered a 7-year version at the time, I stumbled upon this 4-year bottling on store shelves. At first, I thought I had the 7-year in my hands, only to later learn this was the younger sibling. Adding another twist, the liquid inside was sourced from MGP...

 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...

 Fincasa Rum Barreled Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Fincasa Whisky, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Fincasa Whiskey quickly became one of my to go ryes finished in a rum barrel. After experiencing batch 001, I instantly cooed tell the direction they were heading was going to be great. Now we are on batch three and some hefty changes are showing! The label clearly states the barrel origin, age, and finishing time, a level of transparency that should be the industry standard and that we love to see.       Fincasa continues to source their rye from Indiana where they bumped the age from three years to five years. But what sets batch three apart is its finishing process. While batches 001 and 002 were aged in Barbados rum barrels, this expression is finished in ex-Puerto Rican rum casks for a full 12 months. After speaking to...

Backbone Bourbon Company Old Bones 20 Year Single Barrel Rye Review.      Every once in a while, a whiskey crosses your path that makes you stop mid-pour just to admire what’s in the glass. Backbone Bourbon Company has been on a roll with their big, unapologetically bold releases, and tonight’s pour, the Old Bones Rye Whiskey Single Barrel, is a true statement piece. Bottled at a jaw-dropping ABV and clocking in at 20 years old, this Indiana-sourced rye proves that Canadian whiskey can still pack a punch when given the right treatment.      This particular barrel was selected by Rich over at Holly’s Package Store in Greentown, Indiana. One of those passionate folks who just knows how to find liquid gold. Backbone’s transparency has always been one of their strong suits. This whiskey originates from a distillery outside Montreal, Canada, where they sourced a rye recipe that leans heavier on corn than the usual rye mash bill, resulting in a more buttery, roun...

 Knob Creek Bourbon X Rye Blended Whiskey Review.      Jim Beam has been on a roll this year, and this release certainly piqued my interest. Here in 2024 they have been doing some great releases with the Jim Beam Black getting an age statement, the Knob Creek Rye following suit. Even the Baker's lineup going a "High Rye" and the Winter reserve release. But, I'll be honest, I didn't have a bourye on my bingo sheet for any of the big distilleries. First, what is a bourye. Well essentially this is where a release is a blend of both a bourbon and a rye. A lot of times people think of Redwood Empire with the Lost Monarch or High West with their Bourye.           Now I will give Knob creek some props. They are using their two current releases for this; the 9 year bourbon and the 7 year rye. So keeping at least a 7 year age statement on this is great. Plus it helps making it feel less of a cash grab release. Now the question still bugs me....

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...

 Whiskey Acres Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey Review.      From the heart of Illinois comes Whiskey Acres, a true grain-to-glass operation that takes craftsmanship to the next level. Not only do they distill, age, and bottle their whiskey onsite, but they also grow the grains used in every drop. That level of control over the process is rare—and exciting. After falling in love with their Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, I was eager to finally get my hands on their Straight Rye. Now that it’s made its way into Indiana, I couldn’t wait to see how this one stacks up.       This rye whiskey meets all the strict requirements of the Bottled in Bond Act: aged at least four years, bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof), and distilled in a single season under one master distiller’s supervision, and aged in a government-bonded warehouse. I know this is another huge commitment for a craft distillery to preform. 2024 has been my rye era and seeing how transparent a cra...