The Last Call

     Penelope has been on a real tear lately, and 2025 feels like the year they simply refused to miss. Their track record with MGP distillate has been impressive, but this collaboration with T8ke immediately stood out. Take has long been a respected reviewer and a guiding hand in the r/bourbon community, so hearing he was teaming up with Penelope made this an instant “must buy.”      The bottle itself looks regal, with a noble blue label that feels elevated without trying too hard. And once I learned this was a blend of five to seven-year-old bourbon finished in Sauternes casks at barrel proof, I knew this was going to be something different. Sauternes is a French dessert wine known for its sweetness and expensive barrel costs, so expectations were set high before the cork even moved. Amusingly, this is listed as a “single barrel” despite yielding 900 bottles. Whether that’s a massive cask or loose interpretation, the end result is what matters, and T8ke r...

     There are certain releases that instantly grab your attention, and this Backbone Bourbon Company single barrel American single malt was one of them. As soon as news broke about a hazmat-level American single malt with an extremely limited yield, I knew I had to try to get my hands on one. Backbone has earned my trust over the years through transparency, thoughtful sourcing, and some genuinely standout single barrels, so this bottle already had a lot going for it before the cork was ever pulled.      This particular barrel was selected by T8ke, a well-known figure in the whiskey community and the mind behind the r/bourbon community. After tasting through several options at Backbone, this was the barrel he couldn’t walk away from. With a final yield of just 68 bottles, it was never going to be an easy find. When I got the chance to purchase one, there was no hesitation. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/HFEgS_q-STU . A...

       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 proof point, 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 whisky this, Canadian whisky that"  this is NOT your typical sourced bottom sh...