The Last Call

     Larrikin Bourbon Company continues to be one of those names I’ve been paying close attention to in 2026, especially as they’ve finally started landing more consistently in Indiana. This release immediately stands out not just because it’s a single barrel pick, but because it’s also the first nationwide release of their rosewater bourbon at a higher proof. This particular barrel was selected by Handy Spot Liquor, and it pushes things in a direction you don’t typically see in American bourbon, floral augmentation via in-house distilled rosewater layered onto a 9-year Kentucky straight bourbon base. What makes this release interesting is how it’s built: sourced 9-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon that is then proofed with Larrikin's own distilled rosewater. Rosewater is one of those ingredients that can go wrong fast. It’s extremely potent, and even a slight overuse can turn a whiskey into something perfumed and unbalanced. Here, though, it’s being used as a structural...

Copper & Cask continues to impress me with both the quality of their releases and the level of transparency they provide. While plenty of companies source whiskey, very few are willing to give consumers this much information about what's actually in the bottle. Between the detailed blending information and the QR code that lets you hear directly from the master blender, it's clear they're proud of what they're producing.      This particular release immediately caught my attention because I'm a huge fan of cigar blend bourbons. Even though I'm not a cigar smoker myself, I love the sweeter, fruit-forward profiles these blends often create. With a blend of 8-year-old MGP bourbon finished in Armagnac, Cognac, Tawny Port, and Sherry casks, this one checked all the boxes before I ever pulled the cork.      Copper & Cask created this release using a 26-barrel blend of both high-rye and low-rye MGP bourbons aged at least 8 years. The blend was then separat...

     Green River has quietly become one of the most dependable names in bourbon over the last few years. Their standard bourbon, wheated bourbon, full proof offerings, and especially their single barrel releases have consistently delivered quality well above their price point. So when word started circulating about a toasted barrel-finished release, expectations were already high.      This Double Oak Toasted Bourbon takes Green River's traditional bourbon recipe and gives it additional time in a toasted barrel, this should create a richer and sweeter profile while maintaining the foundation that has made the brand so popular. Currently released as a distillery-exclusive 375ml bottle, this appears to be a smaller test run, but it's exactly the kind of project bourbon fans love to see. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/NrcW02jPlYM . Age Statement:  8 1/2 years (according to press release). ABV: 57.55% Mash bill: ...

     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 honestl...

     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, ...

     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: ...

  Filmland Spirits continues to lean hard into storytelling, and Quadraforce might be their most ambitious concept yet. Built around a comic-book-style origin story of four characters gaining powers during World War II, this bottle blends creativity with whiskey in a way that immediately stands out on the shelf. Beyond the eye-catching 1950s monster-movie poster aesthetic, there’s real substance here.       A four-part blend of bourbons sourced from across the U.S., Quadraforce mixes transparency with a bit of mystery, and honestly, that balance makes it even more fun to dive into. All whiskeys are at least four years old. Filmland sources barrels from multiple regions, including California, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with the possibility of additional sourcing from elsewhere. Rather than over-explaining the mystery, they let the blend speak for itself, which works in its favor. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/0dgCcerNN1...

     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...

       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....

       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...

     Hard  Truth  Distilling  has  become  one  of  the  most  recognizable  craft  distilleries  coming  out  of  Indiana  in  recent  years.  Known  primarily  for  their  sweet  mash  rye  whiskey,  the  distillery  has  steadily  been  expanding  into  bourbon  as  well.  While  some  of  their  earlier  bourbons  felt  fairly  standard,  the  newer  releases  with  higher  age  statements  and  barrel  proof  offerings  have  started  to  show  real  promise.           This  particular  bottle  is  a  distillery- selected  single  barrel  called  Decadence.  Bottled  at  cas...