The Last Call

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 21 Years Review.      Knob Creek has never been shy about leaning into age, oak, and intensity, and in 2025 they took that philosophy one step further by extending their long-aged lineup to 21 years. As someone who genuinely loved the Knob Creek 18, including its bold, oak-forward profile that some found overwhelming, I was extremely curious to see what three additional years in the barrel would bring. Finding this bottle at SRP made the decision easy. This felt like a natural evolution of the Knob Creek story, and one I was excited to explore. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/yU0Kh7Adxag . Age Statement: 21 years. ABV: 50%. Mash bill:  75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Area of Distillation:  Clermont, Kentucky. Appearance:  Deep espresso mahogany. On the nose:      Instantly rich and expressive. Classic Jim Beam nuttiness shows up first, leaning ...

Smoke Wagon Blender’s Select Straight Rye Whiskey Review.      Smoke Wagon is one of those brands that immediately draws attention, partly because of its striking bottle design with wax seals and etched glass, and partly because of the mystery surrounding its sourcing and blending philosophy. Based out of Nevada, Smoke Wagon has built a reputation around curated blends, often utilizing MGP distillate while being unusually transparent about what goes into the bottle. Unfortunately, distribution is limited, and for me that means a drive to Ohio just to pick one up, but curiosity finally got the better of me.      This release is a blend of two distinct rye mash bills. The first consists of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. The second is one of MGP’s newer recipes, made up of 51% rye and 49% malted barley. These components are blended together and released at a robust proof without clear indication of whether it is true cask strength. The bottle reviewe...

Four Finger Distillery Bottled in Bond Bourbon Whiskey Review.           Four Finger Distillery is one of those craft producers that continues quietly building something special, and their Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon feels like a meaningful milestone for where the distillery is today. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Four Finger produces nearly everything in-house, from gin and vodka to absinthe, rye, and even peated bourbon. Released in 2025, this bourbon follows their Bottled in Bond rye and continues the distillery’s push toward more mature, transparent, and confidently crafted whiskey.      The name “Four Finger” itself tells a story. Formerly known as 1205 Distillery, the brand changed their name to pay tribute to the founder and master distiller Brad when he lost his pinky finger during the construction of the distillery. Rather than treating it lightly, the distillery embraced it as part of their identity, creating a name that stan...

Brother Justus American Single Malt Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Brother Justus, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Brother Justus American Single Malt Whiskey isn’t just another craft bottle on the shelf, it’s a story poured into glass. Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, this whiskey is a tribute to a real bootlegging legend who lived before and through Prohibition. Brother Justus believed that while whiskey was illegal to make it wasn’t immoral. Through his knowledge of copper pot stills and whiskey, he assisted over 1,600 family owned distilleries make a living during the times of Prohibition. And that spirit clearly lives on in the modern vision behind this distillery.      The water is sourced from the Mississippi River less than a mile from the distillery. The barley is sourced from about 30 miles away. Even the barrels are Minnesota thro...

 Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Some bottles rise from obscurity overnight, and Smokeye Hill is one of them. When Fred Minnick gave this Colorado-based brand his seal of approval in 2024, their bourbons vanished from shelves faster than you could say “secondary markup.” But now that the hype has settled, prices have dropped, and I finally got my hands on a bottle.          Though Smokeye Hill operates out of Colorado, the whiskey itself begins life at MGP in Indiana. What makes it stand out is the unique mash bill, a blend of blue corn, yellow corn, rye, and barley, a departure from MGP’s traditional recipes. After distillation, the spirit makes the journey west to Colorado, where it’s aged and bottled. That blue corn addition immediately caught my attention. From my experiences, blue corn adds a unique mouthfeel and texture to the whiskey. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/...

 Milam & Greene Provisions Blend Bourbon Whiskeys Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Milam & Greene, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Tonight’s pour comes from Milam & Greene, a distillery that has quickly gained a reputation for doing things differently. Heather Greene and her team have been blending Kentucky straight bourbon with Texas pot still whiskey, crafting something unique that bridges two very different traditions. When I first heard about the Provisions Blend, I was intrigued, especially since it promised to bring a budget-friendly option to the shelf without sacrificing quality. The commemorative first-release bottle design is elegant without being flashy, a welcome sight on any shelf.      The Provisions combines Kentucky bourbon and Texas pot still bourbon, both aged in standard 53-gallon barrels, no shortcuts with small casks ...

High West Prisoner's Share Blend of Whiskeys Review.      Every once in a while, a bottle that has been on your “unicorn list” for years shows up when you least expect it. That’s exactly how I felt when I spotted High West’s The Prisoner’s Share on a late August hunt here in Indiana. Batch three of this limited release was not only on the shelf, but somehow still priced at SRP, a rarity for something this sought after. After an hour of pacing and debating, curiosity won out, and I walked back into the store to claim it.      This whiskey is High West’s blend of straight bourbons and ryes, aged anywhere from 4 to 12 years, and finished in casks that once held The Prisoner, a bold and acclaimed blend of red wines. With High West blending in distillate potentially sourced from Bardstown, Indiana, Tennessee, and their own stocks, it’s a layered and mysterious release. Pricey, yes, but also intriguing enough to demand a closer look. For the full video review vis...

Traveler's Point Distillery Signature Edition Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Traveler’s Point Distillery in Kirkland, Indiana, has been making waves in the craft whiskey scene. Known for transparency around their process, sharing entry proofs, mash bills, barrel sizes, and sourcing much of their grain locally, they’re building a reputation for honest, hands-on whiskey. During a recent trip to the distillery, I stumbled upon their Signature Series Bourbon, a small experimental release that immediately caught my eye with its deep, almost red color. With only 500 bottles produced, mine being #442, this is truly a small-batch passion project, available only at the distillery.      Master distiller Mel Lytton decided to play with 10-gallon barrels, and the result is one of the most unique pours I’ve come across this year. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/24QWAKyY34A . Age Statement: N/A. (Aged in 10 Gallon barrels). ABV: ...

 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review.      There are bottles you enjoy, and then there are bottles that pleasantly surprise you, 1792 often falls in that second category for me. Their Small Batch offering has always hit the spot as a dependable daily pour. It doesn’t get the spotlight it probably deserves, especially when you're hunting in the more budget-friendly tiers. While digging through shelves one day, I stumbled on this LiqGo store pick out of Valparaiso, Indiana. The price was so good I couldn’t walk away. Under $50 for a high-proof, single barrel pick? That’s an immediate yes.             I haven’t had the standard Full Proof yet, but I figured this would give me a strong sense of what the line has to offer, even if single barrel variations carry their own quirks. There’s no age statement on this bottle, but judging from the color and character, there’s enough maturity here to speak for i...

     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...

 Penelope Bourbon Cigar Sessions One American Whiskey Review.        Penelope has long been a name to watch in the whiskey world, and with their 2025 release of  Cigar Series Chapter One , they’re pushing the boundaries again. This bottle, which I stumbled upon in mid-July, had been out for about a month and a half, but there it was, sitting on a shelf like it was waiting for me. It felt like one of those “last one left” moments, maybe even a bottle someone stashed in the back hoping to grab later. Regardless, it came home with me.      Now, I’m not a cigar smoker myself, but I’ve always had a soft spot for cigar blends. There’s something about the sweeter, often multi-finished profiles that tend to hit my palate just right. This particular entry from Penelope doesn’t rely on multiple barrel finishes the way others in the space do. Instead, they’ve opted for a more blend-forward approach, and honestly, that’s what made me so curious. It’s a b...

 Old Hamer Single Barrel Cask Strength 8 Year Bourbon Whiskey Review.      There’s something oddly charming about Old Hammer. It’s like the quiet cousin of West Fork Whiskey Company—same bloodline, just a little more rough around the edges, and a lot more likely to knock your socks off with cask strength heat. This particular bottle is a single barrel pick selected by the in-house whiskey club over at West Fork, and while I wasn’t lucky enough to be on the tasting panel for the pick, I  was  there on release day. One pour in, and I knew it deserved a closer look. Here’s the deal: Old Hammer leans hard into the MGP pipeline, and this bottle is built on the classic 99% corn, 1% malted barley mash bill. That’s the sort of recipe that usually doesn't see much love, so to see it dressed up in an 8-year-old cask strength expression is great. Due to the mash bill you highly rely on the barrel, age, and proof to do the lifting scene there's really no other grains B...

 Detroit City Distillery Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.      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 b...

The Indiana Whiskey Co. Flyover American Single Malt Whiskey Review.      Indiana isn’t exactly the first place people think of when it comes to American single malt, but the folks over at Indiana Whiskey Company are on a mission to change that perception. Based in South Bend, they’re quietly doing some compelling work in the craft scene, and tonight we’re diving into their Flyover Malts American Single Malt, a name born out of a chip on the shoulder, thanks to some coastal comments about the “flyover states.”            As someone who’s a fan of single malts and always rooting for Indiana rye, I figured it was time to finally see what this distillery had to offer. This is a true grain-to-glass operation, distilled, aged, and bottled entirely onsite in South Bend. It’s bottled at 48% ABV, but beyond that, the transparency stops. No age statement, no barrel size info, no details about the barley varietal. It leaves us flying blind, especi...

Whistlepig Gravestock Wheat Whiskey Review.      Sometimes, I know I'm walking into a weird one, and I do it anyway. WhistlePig’s GraveStock Wheat Whiskey, a collaboration with none other than the canned chaos kings over at Liquid Death. Yes, the water company. This oddball pairing had me equal parts skeptical and curious. On one hand, I drink Liquid Death’s sparkling water and teas almost daily, they've been a lifesaver in helping me kick the afternoon energy drink habit. On the other hand, WhistlePig and I have a... complicated history. Some hits, some serious misses. So when I saw this bottle on a Total Wine shelf a good price, I figured why not roll the dice? If nothing else, it makes for a hell of a conversation.      Let’s break this Frankenstein creation down. WhistlePig sourced a Canadian whiskey built on a rye and wheat mash bill. They then shipped it down to the U.S., where it was finished in oversized 380-gallon charred American oak “caskets.” Fo...

 Penelope Architect Creme Brûlée Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Let me be honest up front—I had written this one off. Penelope’s “Crème Brûlée” finish in their Architect Series sounded like a gimmick, another novelty bottling destined to get dusty on a shelf. But curiosity got the better of me when I heard a nearby shop had just one bottle left. A quick phone call and a gracious store clerk later, I found myself making the hour-long drive to secure it. Now, I’ve always liked what Penelope puts out. While I haven’t had every single expression, the ones I’ve tried hit that sweet spot. And with Penelope now officially under the MGP umbrella, they’ve been churning out some seriously strong offerings.       Penelope uses a three-grain mash bill here. The whiskey is aged at least five years and finished using French oak staves, specifically selected in collaboration with a French cooperage using what they call “oak stave technology.” These staves are chos...

 Three Chord Single Barrel Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Three Cords has been on my radar for a while now, they’ve put out some fun finished bourbons, and the toasted/honey combo they released before was downright phenomenal. So when I spotted this six-year, cask strength, single barrel double oak pick from Lake Liquors, I knew it was coming home with me. Double oaks are a personal weakness, and this one had that “buy it now or regret it later” kind of look. At $50, it was an easy decision.      This one’s sourced from Indiana, yep, we’re talking MGP. It was barreled January 18, 2016, and bottled May 22, 2023, then given the double oak treatment in a fresh new charred barrel for extra depth and sweetness. That six-year age puts it right in MGP’s sweet spot, where the bourbon still has some liveliness but has built up enough oak character to really shine. The proof sits at 55.4%, giving you all the richness you want without tipping into pala...

 Old Hamer Small Batch 10 Year Bourbon Whiskey Review.     Here locally to  Indiana, West Fork Whisky Co. is one of my go to craft distillers. Not only because they release great whiskey, but always keep it priced correctly. One of their side brands, Old Hamer, is being sourced from MGP and they are transparent about that. This is taking the 99% corn, 1% barley and releasing it via age statements, finishing (under the name Hugh Hamer), single barrels, and cask strength.       I’ve previously enjoyed their 7 and 8 year offerings, but this marks their first foray into double-digit aging. With such a corn-dominant profile, the expectation is that most of the depth and character will come from the barrel itself rather than the grain.  For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/w6Ul2DxBhDs . Age Statement: 10 years. ABV: 50%. Mash bill: 99% Corn, 1%Malted Barley. Area of Distillation:  Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Appear...

Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 8 Year Review.      For years, Wild Turkey’s 8 Year bourbon was a bottle you’d hear about but rarely see stateside, unless you were willing to hunt one down overseas or pay import fees. That changed in late 2024 when Wild Turkey released their 70th anniversary bottling, an 8-year bourbon, and hinted that a permanent version was coming. Sure enough, it’s finally here on U.S. shelves. Stock moves fast, but knowing this is a regular release should keep the panic buying in check. As a big fan of the standard 101, I was curious to see how a bit of extra age would shape the flavor.      This release keeps the classic Wild Turkey mash bill but the big change here is the 8-year age statement, which adds some maturity without altering the brand’s core character. It’s still non-chill filtered, still proudly Kentucky straight bourbon, but with a deeper oak influence. For the full video review visit the link here: ...