The Last Call

     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/akdEKHO9w4o . Age Statement: 5+ years. ABV: 67.1% (Cask strength...

     Whiskey Acres has quietly become one of the most exciting craft distilleries in the Midwest. Based in Illinois, they are true estate distillers, growing, harvesting, distilling, aging, and bottling their own grain. That level of control shows up in the glass, and their Blue Popcorn Bourbon might be one of the most unique expressions in their lineup.      This yearly release swaps traditional yellow dent corn for blue popcorn, immediately setting it apart on the shelf. It’s a bold move for a four-year bourbon, and I went into this one genuinely curious how that grain choice would shape the final product.      Using popcorn as the primary corn source isn’t common, but it is perfectly legal within bourbon guidelines. The result is a mash bill that promises sweetness but also something deeper and more textured. As an estate distillery, Whiskey Acres controls every stage of production, and that farm-to-glass approach gives this release an aut...