The Last Call

     Indiana craft whiskey continues to be one of my favorite things to explore, especially when I get to find a distillery doing things its own way. Backroads Distilling out of Laotto, Indiana, is a great example of what makes this part of the whiskey world exciting. They're working with locally harvested grains, handling their own distilling and bottling, and building a portfolio that reflects the area they're from.      Today we're checking out something a little different from them: their first rye whiskey, Firehouse Rye. I actually got to try this one during a visit to the distillery, and it was good enough that I decided to bring a bottle home. That's always a promising start. There's also a great story behind the name. Backroads comes from a fourth-generation firefighter family, and the bottle pays homage to that background and the local firehouse that once had a field of rye growing behind it. I love seeing a bottle connect the whiskey to the people...

     Frey Ranch has built a strong reputation in the craft whiskey world, largely because of their true farm-to-bottle philosophy. Based out of Nevada, the distillery grows its own grains, distills the whiskey, ages it, and bottles everything on-site. Very few distilleries can honestly say they control the entire process from seed to bottle, and that alone makes Frey Ranch an interesting name to watch.      Going into this review, expectations were a little mixed. Their bourbon had received a lot of hype, but the experience didn’t quite live up to it. With that in mind, the hope was that their Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye might offer something a little different. Rye has been gaining popularity over the past couple of years, and it’s always exciting to see craft distilleries put their own spin on the style.      The mash bill is particularly interesting because it uses 100% winter rye grown directly on the Frey Ranch farm. That level of contr...

     When I saw that New Holland Brewing had released another Dragon’s Milk bourbon expression, I was immediately interested. Dragon’s Milk stout has been one of those beers that has always stood out to me. It was one of the first craft stouts I really enjoyed, and over the years I’ve watched New Holland continue to experiment and expand that lineup in some really creative ways.      What makes this release especially interesting is that it takes something already unique, a bourbon finished in Dragon’s Milk stout barrels, and adds another layer by moving it into a freshly toasted barrel afterward. Beer barrel finished whiskey is still a smaller category compared to the explosion of wine, sherry, and other secondary finishes we see today. Seeing a craft producer lean into stout barrels, especially their own stout barrels, is something I always enjoy because it creates a direct connection between their brewing and distilling sides.      The q...

     When you hear the name Three Floyds, chances are your mind immediately goes to beer. Zombie Dust has become one of Indiana's most recognizable craft beers, and while I'm not the biggest IPA drinker, it's one I'll happily grab from time to time. What a lot of people may not realize is that over the last several years, Three Floyds has quietly been building an impressive distilling program alongside the brewery.      They've released bourbons, rye whiskeys, malt whiskey, and now we're taking a look at one of their rums. Tonight's pour is their Blanq Reavers Rum, an unaged rum distilled from 100% evaporated cane juice.      Unaged rum can sometimes be a bit intimidating. They often lean into grassy, funky, earthy characteristics that aren't always everyone's favorite, especially if you're coming from whiskey. But when they're done well, they can be incredibly rewarding. Going into this bottle, I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I w...

     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: ...

       Hard Truth has been a staple in my whiskey journey for a long time, and for good reason. As an Indiana-based craft distillery, they’ve consistently shown they can stand alongside bigger names, especially with their sweet mash approach. This 7-year rye marks their oldest release to date, and with such a small batch, only around 10 barrels, it immediately feels like something special. There’s also a bit of personal anticipation here. I’ve had their younger expressions and even picked up their 6-year distillery release, but before I could get to it, this 7-year dropped.       Naturally, expectations are high, especially knowing how well their younger sweet mash ryes already perform. This is a sweet mash straight rye whiskey, which sets it apart right away. Unlike the more common sour mash process, each fermentation here starts completely fresh—no backset, no carryover. That means every batch has the potential for subtle variation, influenced b...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Austin 101,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Austin 101 is a name that takes me back to the early days of diving into light whiskey, long before the category started getting the attention it deserves. Fast forward to 2026, and American light whiskey is finally having a moment, showing up on more shelves and in more conversations. Revisiting this bottle now feels like checking in on an old favorite to see if it still holds up.      There’s also something immediately appealing about what Austin 101 is doing. This is a fully in-house operation, distilling, aging, and bottling their own spirit using local Texas grains and repurposed bourbon barrels. It’s a true craft approach that leans into both sustainability and regional identity, and that always adds a layer of intrigue before the first sip. Austin 101 produces this light whiskey using a mash bi...

     Some bottles feel different the moment you pick them up, and this one absolutely falls into that category. This Single barrel pick Oat Whiskey from Dovetail Distillery is one of those releases that immediately stands out simply because of what it is. An oat whiskey at barrel proof already pushes outside the norm, and when you add in the fact that it’s coming from a craft distillery in Nevada that distills, ages, and bottles everything themselves, it becomes something you really want to sit down and take your time with.           Dovetail has already impressed me before, especially with their Cutthroat Oat Whiskey, which ended up in my top whiskeys of 2025. Going into this one, the expectations were already high, but I was curious to see if lightning could strike twice.      What makes this whiskey so interesting starts right at the grain. Instead of the usual bourbon-style mash bill with corn and rye, Dovetail is doing som...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Travelers Point,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Some bottles feel like they represent more than just another release, and this one definitely falls into that category. Travelers Point continues to be one of the most interesting craft distilleries here in Indiana, and this newest Signature Series release feels like a big step forward for them. From the moment I saw this one announced for 2026, I knew it was something I had to go check out in person.      The distillery itself sits in Kirklin, Indiana, a small town you could easily miss if you blink while driving through. But right next to that lone stoplight is a tasting room that feels like a hidden gem. After spending some time there and learning more about this release, it became clear this wasn’t just another bottle for them. This was a project built around experimentation and confidence in...

     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...