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 a new name hitting shelves in 2026, but they are coming out of the gate with confidence. Their model is built on thoughtful barrel selection, transparent sourcing, blending, and finishing techniques, and that transparency is front and center with this release.       The Finishing Art Port Finished Rye is a six-barrel batch built from well-aged Indiana rye stocks and blended. After blending, the whiskey is finished in port casks, though the exact finishing time is not disclosed. Typically, port finishes run a few months rather than a year or more, but we should know a bit more via the notes and taste. On paper, it checks every box I get excited about: age, proof, finishing, and full disclosure on what’s inside the bottle. For the full video review visit the l...

     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 ...

     High West is one of those distilleries I’ve always had a complicated relationship with. I genuinely enjoy what they do, but I’ve also been vocal about pricing and the occasional miss on some of their finished releases. That said, when they get it right, they really get it right. And I’ll still stand by this: bring back the Double Rye picks.      This particular bottle is part of their Cask Collection, featuring a blend of straight whiskeys finished in a Sauvignon Blanc wine barrel. I passed on it once in Ohio and regretted it almost immediately. A year later, I found it sitting on a local grocery store shelf and didn’t hesitate. Some bottles have a way of circling back around.      This release is a blend of straight whiskeys, likely a combination of bourbon and rye, possibly including both sourced distillate and High West’s own. As with many recent releases, finishing times and mashbill breakdowns are not disclosed.      ...

          Every now and then, a whiskey comes along that breaks all the rules, and West Fork Whisky Company has made a habit of doing just that. In recent time they have been doing some creative finishes with their in house distilled, aged and bottled whiskey. West Fork has teamed up once again with the culinary wizard King Butter for a truly experimental release: a straight bourbon whiskey finished in a  Korean barbecue barrel . This limited release promises something wild, savory, and entirely new in the world of bourbon.      West Fork and King Butter (storefront   linked here )  have already made some great and unique finishes with their hot honey and Swoleracha hot sauce cask projects, but this one might take the cake, or rather, the steak. With only about 50ish bottles in existence, the concept alone had me intrigued: barrels that once held rich Korean barbecue sauce, now cradling bourbon for ten months of flavor infusion...

     Dark Arts Whiskey House  has built a strong reputation in the blending and finishing world, often sourcing well-aged stock and applying creative secondary maturation. This particular release is a straight rye whiskey, aged between 7 and 8½ years, then finished with toasted Amberana oak staves. It’s a bold move, because Amburana is one of the more divisive finishing woods in modern whiskey.      As someone who genuinely enjoys Amburana finishing, I went into this pour excited. I’ve had stunning examples of this wood treatment and others that felt overwhelming. After maturation, the whiskey is finished with toasted Amburana staves. Amburana is a dense South American hardwood known for delivering an explosive cinnamon-sugar character. The toasting process can mellow some of its sharper edges, but if left too long, it can easily dominate a whiskey. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/H3upewT3Eok . Age S...

I received this spirit as a review sample from 13th Colony Distilleries, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.     Over the past few years,  13th Colony Distilleries has truly been making a name for itself. Starting off with a solid Bourbon and Rye and most notably the Double Oaked Bourbon. They also been hitting the shelves with a lot of positive feedback on their Gin and Vodka. Being a Gin fan long before doing spirit reviews, the moment I was told this was being released I couldn't contain my excitement. I love Gin and even more so, barrel aged Gin.           After reading up on the release with a high proof point, the use of a Rye cask, plus a finishing time, that excitement grew.  This gin is aged for one year in rye whiskey barrels and bottled at a bolder ABV compared to most gins on the market. It’s an experimental spirit that leans into whiskey territory without losing its gin so...

          Dark Arts Whiskey House has quietly become one of those names that perks my ears up anytime a new release drops. Their approach to sourcing, blending, and finishing feels thoughtful and transparent, and more importantly, the results consistently deliver in the glass. “Sherry Garcia” immediately caught my attention, not just because it’s their first standalone Oloroso Sherry Cask finish, but because the presentation and color alone hinted at something special.      With a limited release of just under 4,000 bottles, this felt like one I couldn’t pass up. The deep, dark hue in the glass leans almost rum-like with a reddish tint, and as someone who loves sherry-finished whiskey when it’s done right, it hits so well. Now honestly Oloroso sherry cask finishing is not my first go to. I am more of a PX sherry when it comes to bourbons. I just feel like PX adds a deeper depth overall, but I've had a great experience with Dark Arts and their...

     West Fork Whiskey Company, based in Westfield, Indiana, where they have two sides of distilling. Side one is their in house made West Fork Whisky Co. and Old Hamer/Hugh Hamer being the second side sourced from MGP.  Overall West Fork is transparent on what they are doing, aging times, disclosure on sourcing, and even finishing. This release is a partnership with a local Bee farm and Orchard, Mumbee's.      Essentially, West Fork gives a barrel to Mumbee's to fill with honey. Then after some time, they empty out the honey and return the barrel to West Fork to fill with bourbon. Personally, honey finishing can be hit or miss for me. Sometimes it can give just enough sweetness and "honey" notes, other times it can bring the "funk" and drown out the bourbon and go south. Prior to this honey release, I have reviewed West Fork's Hot Honey finished bourbons that were crazy unique. For better or worse to some haha!      Either way, let's se...

 West Fork Whsky Co. High Corn Bourbon Cherry Brandy finished.      Over the past couple of years I've been a fan of the West Fork Whsky Co. Based in Westfield, Indiana they are doing some great examples of craft whiskey in my eyes. Their "in house" brand is being distilled, aged, and bottled by them along with all the transparency on mash bills, age statements and all those deep details. This release is a bit unique. Essentially West Fork is taking a 100% corn mash bill ant then finishing it in a cherry brandy barrel.             Starting with a new American oak barrel aging for 4 years, this high-corn bourbon receives an extra 18 months in cherry brandy barrels. We don't see many distilleries use 100% corn let alone going with a bourbon vs a whiskey. The catch on this release is you are really using the barrel itself to do a lot of "heavy lifting" to bring flavors to the bourbon vs the barrel and a blend of grains. This was q...

 Five & 20 Spirits Deep Water 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey Review.      I received this spirit as a review sample from Five & 20 Spirits  link here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Over the past year I've had the pleasure of reviewing several releases  from Five and 20 Spirits. Their standard rye is a great intro to craft rye whiskey, Even at the "younger" age, it really had potential. Seeing they offered a seven year bottling really hit well with me. Now Five & 20 is basically split into two sides, the brewery  and spirits. The great thing is all their grains are locally grown in  New York and they even list the farms on their website. On top of this, they are aging, distilling, bottling, everything on their own. Plus, when it comes to finishing they are using their own in house wine, sherry, and beer casks. Honestly, seeing this level of craft is amazing. It truly makes the pr...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Frenchy's French Toast Bourbon Whiskey Review.      West Fork Whiskey Company, based in Westfield, Indiana, where they have two sides of distilling. Side one is their in house made West Fork Whisky Co. and Old Hamer/Hugh Hamer being the second side sourced from MGP.  Overall West Fork is transparent on what they are doing, aging times, disclosure on sourcing, and even finishing. Now, for their two year anniversary of the Westfield location they decided to have some fun with a French Toast Bourbon.      Yes, you read that right, French toast. The base is a bourbon whiskey, enhanced with natural flavors to replicate the taste of French toast. Now, I am not against something flavored, but it's also not something I grab daily. They can be really great for a sweet tooth and open the door for people not big into whiskey. Now since they are creating this on their own, I knew I had to at least taste it! For the full video review ...