The Last Call

     Some celebrity whiskeys feel like quick cash grabs. Others feel like someone actually cared about what went into the bottle. Jonny James is an Indiana-based country artist, and while I’m not someone who listens to a ton of country music, I’ll admit he’s got a few songs I actually enjoy. So seeing him partner with Journeyman Distillery instantly made this release more interesting than most celebrity bottles.      What really caught my attention wasn’t just the name. It was the process. This isn’t simply bourbon with a fancy label. This is a blend that includes bourbon, neutral grain spirits, added cinnamon, and actual smoke from applewood and cherrywood. There’s a lot going on here, and normally that would make me nervous. But after trying a small pour at the distillery months ago, I walked away more impressed than I expected. Now it’s time to see how it holds up from a fresh crack.      This release blends bourbon whiskey with neutral gr...

     The first time I tried West Fork’s Alder Smoked Single Malt was right at their tasting bar, fresh off the drive to Westfield. One sip in, and I knew it was coming home with me. I’ve got a soft spot for smoky drams—my cabinet is full of peated Scotches and West Fork has been scratching that itch ever since I first picked up their Beechwood Smoked Malt years ago. This one feels like the 2025 sequel I didn’t know I was waiting for. My wife, who’s my ride-or-die Laphroaig fan and myself being in the cult of Ardbeg heard about the release coming and knew we had to try it out.      This isn’t a “let’s play it safe” kind of whiskey. It’s 100% malted barley, smoked with Alderwood to bring a softer, sweeter kind of smoke than the heavy peat monsters overseas. At just over two years old, it’s young but makes me reserved in what to expect from the release. It’s very much a West Fork creation from start to finish, distilled, aged, and bottled right there in Indian...

     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.           Cutthroat Oat Whiskey immediately grabbed my attention, not just because of the name, but because it leans heavily into a grain you rarely see take center stage: oats. Based out of Nevada and proudly operating as one of the smallest craft distilleries in the state, Dovetail Distillery is the kind of producer that embodies what craft whiskey is all about. Experimentation, creativity, and a willingness to push beyond traditional mash bills.      The spirit is double distilled and then aged in 15-gallon barrels. Small barrels can be risky. The increased surface area means the whiskey can become over-oaked quickly, and youthful notes can be amplified if not carefully monitored. When done right, however, small barrel aging can accelerate integration and depth in a...