The Last Call

I received this spirit as a review sample from Silverthorn Reserve,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Silverthorn Reserve is one of the newer names hitting shelves in 2026, and they’re making it clear from the start that transparency is part of the mission. The brand provides full details on sourcing, mash bills, and blend percentages. That kind of openness is always a strong first step.      The Blender's Art expression brings together well-aged stocks from Georgia and Indiana, blending straight bourbon and straight rye whiskeys. On paper, it promises both maturity and balance, walking the line between classic bourbon richness and rye-driven lift. The Indiana stocks are likely sourced from MGP, known for their 95/5 rye mash bill, while the Georgia bourbon adds an intriguing layer of age and regional character that is less commonly seen at this maturity.      It is a thoughtful...

     Craft bourbon can be hit or miss, especially when age statements are young and prices creep upward. This single barrel from 18th Street Distilling out of Hammond, Indiana came with hesitation attached. At just three years old and originally priced around $80, it was a bottle that sat on shelves until a significant price drop finally made it too tempting to ignore.       18th Street is one of those distilleries doing everything themselves. They distill, age, and bottle their own whiskey while also maintaining a strong presence in the beer world. That hands-on approach has shown promise in the past, but this bottle felt like a real moment of arrival.      This is a single barrel cask strength straight bourbon, bottled at a hefty 62.8% ABV and aged a minimum of three years. Unfortunately, transparency beyond that stops there. No mash bill details, no barrel size information, and no specifics on warehouse conditions. What is known is th...

     West Fork Whiskey Company out of Westfield, Indiana continues to prove they are serious about the craft side of bourbon. This particular release is a high corn bourbon, distilled, aged, and bottled in-house, then finished in cherry brandy barrels. What really caught my attention was the mash bill: 100% corn. Yes, that qualifies as bourbon. After four years in new American oak, it spent another year and a half in cherry brandy barrels, bringing the total age to five and a half years. On paper, that is a fascinating experiment.      A 100% corn mash bill is naturally going to lean sweeter and softer, without the spice from rye or the added structure from malted barley or wheat. That means the finishing barrel has a huge role in shaping the final product. In this case, the cherry brandy cask is not a background note. It is the lead singer. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/3vL3C8_7mts . Age Statement: 4 years. (Single ...

     Tonight, we’re diving into something a bit different, Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This one hits the shelves at Costco for an unbelievably low price, making it one of those “budget-friendly” bottles that sparks curiosity. It’s not a powerhouse, but it certainly catches your eye with its clean, official-looking bottle design. Most of what we know about this whiskey is that it’s sourced from Barton 1792, a well-known name in bourbon circles. It’s a liter bottle, priced around $18.99, which makes it one of the most accessible Kentucky straight bourbons on the market.      Kirkland Signature doesn’t give us many details beyond the source, so we assume these barrels are secondary picks from Barton 1792. It’s likely younger whiskey, which aligns with the light color and approachable profile. Kirkland also offers a Bottled-in-Bond and a Cask Strength version, but today we’re focused on this small batch, budget-friendly opt...

          Russell’s Reserve has long been one of those dependable names that consistently delivers solid Kentucky straight bourbon without chasing hype. Between their approachable 10 Year, reliable rye, and well-structured core lineup, they’ve earned a permanent place on many shelves. This private barrel pick, discovered during a stop at West Clay Wine and Spirits, immediately stood out as something special, especially after learning it came from the highly regarded Camp Nelson warehouses.      What made this bottle even more exciting was the blind selection process behind it. The winning barrel was chosen from multiple Russell’s Reserve options, and after tasting it on the spot, both my wife and I agreed it was an exceptional pick. After letting it rest on my shelf for a few weeks, it felt like the right time to dig in and see how it truly performed. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/P6af210yvfg . Age Stat...

          Peerless Distilling is a name most bourbon drinkers recognize instantly, largely thanks to that unmistakable bottle design. It’s bold, beefy, and looks fantastic on a shelf. I’ll admit right away, I’ve had a bit of a complicated relationship with Peerless releases over the years. Some of their offerings, like the Double Oak Bourbon and Double Oak Rye, have been standouts for me, while others have left me scratching my head. Until now, I’d never actually sat down and reviewed their standard Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and curiosity finally won out despite my ongoing hesitation with their pricing.       While there’s no age statement on the bottle, Peerless does confirm on their website that they adhere to a four-year minimum. I always wish that transparency made it onto the label, but it is what it is. What truly sets Peerless apart from many other Kentucky distilleries is their use of a sweet mash process rather than the more co...

     Bondstone is one of those brands many bourbon drinkers first encounter on the shelves at Total Wine, often under the Spirits Direct umbrella. While that association can sometimes raise eyebrows, Bondstone has been slowly expanding beyond that lane, and the Quad Oak release feels like an attempt to stand out in a crowded field of finished bourbons. Now when it comes to Spirit Direct brands that can mean in-house bottlings, sourced projects, or partnerships with smaller distilleries, and Bondstone sits firmly in that sourced-project lane.      The “Quad Oak” name comes with a bit of creative interpretation. According to the bottle, Bondstone starts with a double-oaked bourbon matured twice in new charred oak barrels. They then blend that with a bourbon matured three times in new charred oak barrels, before finishing the combined whiskey with toasted American and French oak staves. While this may not be four full barrel maturations, there is no denying th...

     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 toward walnut and pecan rather than peanut. Dark vanilla follows, r...

Widow Jane is one of those brands that tends to drift in and out of my rotation, mostly because their pricing can feel wildly inconsistent depending on the release and where you live. Sometimes it’s approachable, other times it feels completely disconnected from reality. When I spotted Widow Jane Decadence sitting on a Costco shelf at one of the lowest prices I’ve ever seen, curiosity finally won. On paper, a 10-year-old bourbon finished in maple syrup casks sounds like a cozy fall pour, and with the price finally lining up, it felt like the right moment to pull the trigger.      Widow Jane Decadence begins as Widow Jane’s 10 Year Bourbon, a blend of sourced straight bourbons from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Once blended, that whiskey is finished in maple syrup barrels sourced from Crown Maple, a well-known producer that many people probably already have sitting in their fridge. While Widow Jane doesn’t disclose an official finishing time, most estimates place it so...

       Journeyman Distillery has built a strong reputation in the craft whiskey world, operating out of Three Oaks, Michigan, with a newer presence in Indiana. Over the years, they’ve released some genuinely impressive bottles, even if a few have missed the mark. Their standard Featherbone Bourbon has been a consistent performer for me, so when a local Indiana chain store released a single barrel pick at cask strength, curiosity got the better of me.      Single barrels from Journeyman are not something we see every day. That exclusivity, combined with barrel proof presentation, certainly sets expectations a little higher. It’s aged in standard 53-gallon barrels and presented at cask strength. Like most of Journeyman’s lineup, it is also kosher certified, which is a significant undertaking in the production process. There is no official age statement, though this barrel was filled in 2018. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://yo...

    New Riff is a distillery I’ve had the chance to visit a few times, and every trip has only strengthened my appreciation for what they’re doing. From releases like their Balboa Rye and Malted Rye to the newer eight-year bourbon, there’s a clear sense of intention behind their portfolio. While the eight-year rye didn’t fully hit the highs I was hoping for, it was still a respectable pour. This single barrel straight rye caught my attention when local Indiana store picks started popping up on sale, making it the perfect excuse to finally explore New Riff’s single barrel program.      This particular bottle carries an age statement of four years and four months, offering a bump in both proof and maturity compared to their standard bottled-in-bond rye. New Riff is refreshingly transparent with their production details, and this single barrel rye is no exception. The mash bill comes in at 95% rye and 5% malted rye, which effectively makes this a 100% rye whiskey u...

     As 2025 winds down, Maker's Mark surprised everyone with what appears to be a limited-age-stated run of their beloved cask strength bourbon. I’ve always had a soft spot for Maker's Mark. It wasn’t a brand I fell in love with immediately, but somewhere along the way, it became a comfort bottle, a pour I reached for between bigger, flashier releases. Their lineup consistently offers strong value, and while I still haven’t tried the Cellar Aged, the rest are genuinely solid. Seeing this on the shelf at standard cask strength pricing made it an easy pickup.      This release is still their classic wheated bourbon, although Maker's Mark doesn’t publish the exact mash bill. The side label offers some intriguing production details: a 110-proof barrel entry, 378 hand-rotated and hand-selected casks, and the note that each batch is “aged to taste.” That wording alone hints at future variations. I wouldn’t be surprised if 6.5- to 8-year age statements start appe...

     Penelope has been on a real tear lately, and 2025 feels like the year they simply refused to miss. Their track record with MGP distillate has been impressive, but this collaboration with T8ke immediately stood out. Take has long been a respected reviewer and a guiding hand in the r/bourbon community, so hearing he was teaming up with Penelope made this an instant “must buy.”      The bottle itself looks regal, with a noble blue label that feels elevated without trying too hard. And once I learned this was a blend of five to seven-year-old bourbon finished in Sauternes casks at barrel proof, I knew this was going to be something different. Sauternes is a French dessert wine known for its sweetness and expensive barrel costs, so expectations were set high before the cork even moved. Amusingly, this is listed as a “single barrel” despite yielding 900 bottles. Whether that’s a massive cask or loose interpretation, the end result is what matters, and T8ke r...

     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 stands out just as much as the whiskey itself. For the full video review visit the link...

     Hard Truth Distilling has quickly become one of Indiana’s breakout names, known first for its exceptional sweet mash ryes and now steadily expanding its bourbon lineup. When I first heard about their new Double Oak release, I knew I had to track down a bottle. Thankfully, a family member visiting the distillery snagged one for me. I’ve loved what Hard Truth has done in the past, and the idea of them giving their sweet mash bourbon the double oak treatment instantly caught my attention.       True to their transparent approach, this is a barrel-proof, small-batch release, just 28 barrels total, and for now a distillery exclusive. Hard Truth employs a sweet mash process, meaning they start each fermentation fresh instead of using remnants from the previous batch like in a sour mash. The result tends to be a brighter, more vibrant flavor profile. Now up to this point their sweet mash bourbon for me has been an alright experience. Nothing that has blo...

     Angel’s Envy is one of those distilleries you instantly recognize, whether it’s the distinctive winged bottle or their reputation for unique cask finishes. For me, it was one of the first brands that pulled me deeper into the whiskey world, particularly their rum cask–finished rye. Over the years, I drifted away from their offerings, often finding more affordable finished whiskeys on the shelves. But this release caught my attention: their first-ever non-finished Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, bottled in bond, at cask strength. It’s a bold step from a distillery known for finishes, and I was curious to see how it would hold up.      Released in 2024, this bourbon is a blend of two bottled-in-bond bourbons: one distilled at a lower entry proof, and another at a higher proof, married together to land at exactly 50% ABV. That means it follows all the bottled-in-bond rules—aged at least four years in a government-bonded warehouse, produced in a single ...

     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:  46.5%. Mash bill:  76% corn, 17% rye, 7% malted barley. Area of ...

     Hard Truth Distilling continues to be one of Indiana’s most interesting craft producers, and this American Odd Sweet Mash Bottled in Bond Bourbon represents the final release in their four-bottle collaboration with the John Mellencamp Whiskey Company. This release leans heavily into Hard Truth’s commitment to sweet mash production and locally sourced Indiana grains. It’s a bottle I originally approached with hesitation on paper, but after finding it at the right price, curiosity won out.      What immediately stands out is the philosophy behind the bottle. From grain to glass, Hard Truth handles nearly every step in-house, and the collaboration’s tie-in with Farm Aid adds a meaningful layer to the release. Supporting local farmers and emphasizing regional grain usage gives this bourbon a sense of purpose beyond just what’s in the glass. This is a sweet mash straight bourbon made with 100% Indiana-grown grains sourced from Rushville, Indiana. For the fu...

     Every once in a while, luck strikes in the bourbon aisle. That was the case when I stumbled across Old Forester’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon, sitting almost unnoticed on the shelf with only a couple bottles left. My relationship with Old Forester is an odd one, I’ve never gone deep into their core lineup, but I’ve had great experiences with their store picks, limited editions, and the famous Birthday Bourbon. This bottle was one of those rare finds I just couldn’t walk away from, especially knowing how quickly Old Forester’s barrel proof offerings vanish in my market.      This particular single barrel comes is drawn from Warehouse K, floor five. Warehouse K is known for running hot, which often brings bold character to the whiskey. And as with all single barrels, each release will vary, but that unpredictability is part of the fun. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/bkkadI5q3AU . Age Statement:  N/A (Sin...

     West Fork Whiskey Company has always been a personal favorite of mine, and for good reason. Based in Westfield, Indiana, they’ve been steadily building a reputation for bold, creative releases that showcase both skill and a playful sense of experimentation. I’ve supported them for years and have more bottles from West Fork than any other distillery in my collection. This particular release, Sorracha, might just be one of their wildest ideas yet.           It’s the product of a collaboration with King Butter, a local Indiana legend in the world of hot sauces, spice blends, and rubs. King Butter’s hot honey barrel finish has already made its way into West Fork releases in the past, but this time they’ve turned the heat way up. The process involved aging hot sauce in a West Fork barrel, emptying it, and then filling it with their wheated bourbon plus keeping it a single barrel. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://yo...