The Last Call

 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...

Dovetail Distillery Cut Throat Oat Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Dovetail Distillery, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.           Dovetail Distillery, currently the smallest craft distillery based in Nevada. Currently the distillery is doing quite a bit with unique grains and one of those grains is Oats. Oats can be a fun grain your craft distilleries can play around with and add a unique profile to their spirits. Their Cutthroat Oat Whiskey is no exception, bringing three unique grains to the mix. After being double distilled it is aged for two years in custom char/toast American white oak 15-gallon barrels. This barrel size can be tricky, it does take a keen eye and palate to make sure this size of barrel doesn't take over.       Given my fascination with oat-based spirits, I was eager to dive into this bottle and see how Dovetai...

 High Bank Distillery Whiskey War Double Oaked Whiskey Review.      High Bank has been on my radar for a while, especially since I’ve frequently passed by their bottles during trips to Ohio. Today, I decided it was time to take the plunge and pick up two of their offerings; the Barrel Proof and the Double Oaked. Personally I am a sucker for double oaked, even ones that pull a slighty higher price point.       Now this is a blend of straight whiskeys, NOT a bourbon, so keep that in mind during this review. Speaking of a few things to keep in mind...there’s no age statement on the bottle. The distillery’s website mentions a minimum of five years, so we can reasonably assume that this is a blend of whiskey aged for at least that long.  However, I do wish this was on the bottle. Also, there is not a state of distillation or sourcing location noted....nor mash bill(s) being used. While none of this is necessary for the review, I always commend tra...

 Proof and Wood Tumblin' Dice Single Barrel Double Oaked Bourbon.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Proof and Wood,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Proof and Wood has always been a brand I respect because they’re straight with people. They are out sourcing their whiskey, but they’re upfront about where the whiskey comes from, the mash bills, the finishing; none of that smoke-and-mirrors marketing you see from some others. And to top it off, they usually keep the bottles pretty wallet-friendly, which in today’s bourbon market is something worth calling out. Double oaked whiskeys are one of my sweet spots, they tend to layer on that extra depth of sweetness and oak that just works for me. So this pour had my attention from the start.           Now, the TTB has the final say when it comes to labeling, and officially this bourbon carries a 4-...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Honey Barrel Finished High Rye Bourbon Whiskey Review.      West Fork Whiskey Company, based in Westfield, Indiana, where they have two sides of distilling. Side one is their in house made West Fork Whisky Co. and Old Hamer/Hugh Hamer being the second side sourced from MGP.  Overall West Fork is transparent on what they are doing, aging times, disclosure on sourcing, and even finishing. This release is a partnership with a local Bee farm and Orchard, Mumbee's.      Essentially, West Fork gives a barrel to Mumbee's to fill with honey. Then after some time, they empty out the honey and return the barrel to West Fork to fill with bourbon. Personally, honey finishing can be hit or miss for me. Sometimes it can give just enough sweetness and "honey" notes, other times it can bring the "funk" and drown out the bourbon and go south. Prior to this honey release, I have reviewed West Fork's Hot Honey finished bourbons that were crazy u...