The Last Call

     Larrikin Bourbon Company has quickly become one of the more interesting names in sourced whiskey. Their approach has been fairly straightforward so far: find quality barrels, bottle them at robust proof points, and create releases that stand out from the crowded bourbon landscape. Based in Kentucky, they've built a strong reputation among enthusiasts who enjoy unique finishes and bold flavor profiles. The Cigar Lounge Bourbon has been on my radar for well over a year, and when it finally landed in Indiana in 2026, it was an immediate purchase.       I've always enjoyed cigar-style releases. Even as someone who doesn't smoke cigars, I appreciate the richer, sweeter, and often more complex profiles these whiskeys aim to deliver. Looking at the specs on paper, this one certainly sounded ambitious. While Cognac and Amburana have become increasingly common in the whiskey world, Jackfruit Wood is something rarely encountered. Madeira can be somewhat div...

Green River has quietly become one of the most dependable names for value-driven whiskey over the last few years. Between their standard bourbon, rye, and wheated bourbon offerings, they’ve built a reputation for putting out approachable, flavorful pours that don’t completely wreck your wallet. Add in the fact that they’ve handled a lot of contract distilling work behind the scenes, and it’s easy to see why the brand has picked up so much momentum recently. This particular bottle came from a single barrel selection at West Clay Wine & Spirits, a store that’s earned a pretty strong reputation for landing solid picks. While this wasn’t a hand-selected “distiller’s pick” by the store itself, their track record with private barrels made this one hard to pass up. At 61.4% ABV, this barrel proof wheated bourbon promised plenty of punch, but what stood out immediately was how approachable it remained despite the proof. And honestly, the bottle design still deserves a mention. The horsesho...

     Every once in a while, you stumble across a bottle on the shelf that immediately demands your attention. That was exactly the case with Watchman Barrel Strength Bourbon from  Round Barn Distillery . While doing some bottle hunting up in Northern Indiana, a stop at Bee Liquors led to spotting this deep copper-red bourbon sitting on the shelf, and honestly, the color alone sold me on taking a closer look.           What made this release even more interesting was learning that this marks a major step forward for Round Barn. Known more for wines, flavored offerings, and lower-aged spirits up to this point, this release feels like the distillery planting its flag in the premium craft bourbon world. Barrel proof. Eight years old. Distilled and bottled in-house.  For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/m3GuKqPWyFI . Age Statement: 8 years. ABV: 58.1% (Cask strength). Mash bill:  60% corn, 36% rye, ...

     Every now and then a distillery decides to step outside of its comfort zone and throw something unexpected onto the shelf. That’s exactly what Bulleit did with their Mesquite Smoked Malt Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Most people know Bulleit for dependable pours like their bourbon and rye, staples that show up in countless cocktails and back bars because they’re affordable, approachable, and easy to enjoy. But over the last few years, Bulleit has been experimenting more with limited releases, older age statements, bottled-in-bond offerings, and even American single malts.      Now they’ve decided to lean into smoked grain territory. Instead of relying on rye for spice, this bourbon swaps things around with a mash bill featuring mesquite smoked malted barley. That immediately raises questions because smoked whiskey can go one of two ways: either balanced and interesting, or completely overpowering. Thankfully, this release lands much closer to the first cat...

       There’s something exciting about finding a store pick that instantly feels different the moment you pick up the bottle, and this Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Rye absolutely delivered on that promise. Picked by Rich out of Greentown, Indiana, this wasn’t just another random single barrel sitting on a shelf. This was one of those bottles that local bourbon groups talk about for weeks after it disappears, and judging by how quickly it sold out, people knew it was special.      Jack Daniel’s has quietly become one of the most reliable names in American whiskey when it comes to rye. A lot of people still associate the brand with Old No. 7 and whiskey mixed with cola, but their barrel proof rye program is on an entirely different level. These single barrels consistently bring bold character, heavy oak influence, and an oily richness that stands toe-to-toe with some of the best high-proof rye whiskey on the market.    ...

     Region 5 is one of those brands that feels rooted in passion before anything else. Born from a group of bourbon enthusiasts in Indiana, they’ve started to gain traction by focusing on transparency, solid age statements, and approachable pricing. This single barrel pick, selected by the Kokomo Whiskey Club, leans into that same philosophy while adding a layer of local collaboration that’s always great to see.      At 9 years old and bottled at 54.9% ABV, this MGP-sourced bourbon checks a lot of boxes on paper. Single barrel, cask strength, and a proven mash bill, it’s the kind of release that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but instead aims to execute the fundamentals really well. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/uimN7j1Lm4Y . Age Statement: 9 years (Single barrel). ABV: 54.9% (Cask strength). Mash bill:  75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Area of Distillation:  Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Appearance: ...

     Smoke Wagon has built a reputation on bold presentation and even bolder sourced whiskey, and their “Triple 7” release leans right into that identity. A blend of three 7-year-old MGP whiskeys, this limited batch (1,600 bottles) plays on symmetry and selection rather than age statements or barrel proofs.      After sourcing from MGP, Smoke Wagon brings the barrels to Nevada, allowing the desert climate to influence the whiskey before blending and bottling it. It’s not barrel proof or single barrel, but rather a carefully selected multi-barrel blend designed to highlight balance across mash bills. What makes this one interesting isn’t just the concept, but the pricing chaos around it. Depending on where you look, this bottle can swing wildly from reasonable to downright ridiculous. So the real question becomes: is what’s in the glass worth the hunt? For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/QHqdG2uYk3g . Age Statement: 7 years...

     There’s been a lot of anticipation around this release, and for good reason. The standard Woodford Double Oaked is one of those gateway bottles that pulls people deeper into bourbon, myself included. It’s rich, dessert-like, and widely available at a great price, making it an easy recommendation for just about anyone.      So when word started spreading in late 2025 into early 2026 that a  single barrel, barrel proof version  was hitting shelves, expectations were high. This felt like the natural next step, take everything people love about Double Oaked and turn up the intensity. But as these bottles started appearing, one detail stood out immediately: the proof.      What’s unusual here is how this “barrel proof” version is handled. Based on available information and how these are presenting, it appears the whiskey may be proofed down before going back into that second barrel for additional aging. The result is a final ABV hov...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Austin 101,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Austin 101 is a name that takes me back to the early days of diving into light whiskey, long before the category started getting the attention it deserves. Fast forward to 2026, and American light whiskey is finally having a moment, showing up on more shelves and in more conversations. Revisiting this bottle now feels like checking in on an old favorite to see if it still holds up.      There’s also something immediately appealing about what Austin 101 is doing. This is a fully in-house operation, distilling, aging, and bottling their own spirit using local Texas grains and repurposed bourbon barrels. It’s a true craft approach that leans into both sustainability and regional identity, and that always adds a layer of intrigue before the first sip. Austin 101 produces this light whiskey using a mash bi...

       Barrell Craft Spirits has built a reputation on bold blending and creative finishing, and their Cigar Blend Bourbon immediately caught my attention the moment it was announced. As someone who gravitates toward sweeter, richer profiles, cigar-style batches tend to land right in my wheelhouse, though they can be hit or miss depending on execution. This release is bottled at cask strength, and features a blend of straight bourbons sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. The blend includes barrels ranging from 7½ years all the way up to 18 years, creating a layered foundation of mature whiskey.           Where things really get interesting is the finishing. This blend is finished in a combination of Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak casks. Each component plays a role in shaping the final profile, with the goal of creating a whiskey that pairs well with the richness and depth typically associated with a cigar-style pour....

I received this spirit as a review sample from Travelers Point,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Some bottles feel like they represent more than just another release, and this one definitely falls into that category. Travelers Point continues to be one of the most interesting craft distilleries here in Indiana, and this newest Signature Series release feels like a big step forward for them. From the moment I saw this one announced for 2026, I knew it was something I had to go check out in person.      The distillery itself sits in Kirklin, Indiana, a small town you could easily miss if you blink while driving through. But right next to that lone stoplight is a tasting room that feels like a hidden gem. After spending some time there and learning more about this release, it became clear this wasn’t just another bottle for them. This was a project built around experimentation and confidence in...

       Knob Creek stepping into a “blender’s edition” series honestly caught me off guard in a good way. For a brand that already has such a recognizable identity, seeing them experiment with different batch concepts feels like a smart move rather than a risky one. When I found this bottle at a surprisingly low price, it went from “I’ll pass on the hype” to “okay, you’ve convinced me.”      This first batch sits right in the middle of the Knob Creek lineup with a 10-year age statement and a slightly higher proof than the standard offerings. The idea behind this release is simple but interesting. Instead of chasing extreme oak or pushing toward high proof, this batch seems designed to highlight a sweeter and more approachable side of the brand’s profile.      What makes this bottle stand out isn’t just the age or proof, but the concept behind it. This is meant to be the first in a sequence of releases where different batches highlight dif...

     Traveler’s Point Distillery has quietly been building something special out in Indiana, and this barrel proof wheated bourbon feels like a real step forward. With their focus on locally sourced grains and full control over distilling, aging, and bottling, this release shows what happens when a craft distillery starts hitting its stride. Seeing this expression reach over four years old at barrel proof is a strong sign of growth.      There’s a clear intention here too. Instead of chasing aggressive, high-proof heat, Traveler’s Point leans into balance and drinkability. That philosophy immediately sets expectations for something a little different from the usual barrel proof experience. The distillery uses a lower barrel entry proof, along with 53 gallon barrels, allowing the whiskey to mature gradually and develop complexity without becoming overly tannic or hot. A      Everything is handled in-house in Indiana, from grain to glass, reinf...

     Buffalo  Trace  has  a  habit  of  releasing  bottles  that  generate  conversation  before  anyone  even  tastes  them.  Traveller  Whiskey  was  one  of  those  releases.  Originally  launched  through  a  collaboration  between  country  artist  Chris  Stapleton  and  Buffalo  Trace,  the  first  version  hit  shelves  quickly  and  sold  out  just  as  fast.  The  hype  was  immediate,  though  the  whiskey  itself  landed  somewhere  in  the “ perfectly  fine  but  forgettable”  category  for  many  drinkers.      Fast  forward  to  2026  and  Buffalo  Trace  has  introduced  a...