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...

          Penelope has built a reputation for innovation, especially through their creative finishing techniques. Their Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Tokaji Casks is a perfect example of that craftsmanship. Coming in at 52% ABV and aged at least nine years, this release blends MGP’s signature 95/5 rye recipe with a Hungarian dessert wine cask finish. As a longtime fan of Penelope’s transparency and flavor-forward approach, I was eager to see how their rye handled this sweet, complex finish.      The Tokaji cask finish instantly caught my attention, it’s not something you see often in rye whiskey. Known for its luscious sweetness, Tokaji wine brings vibrant fruit and honeyed notes that can either elevate or overpower a whiskey. Let’s see how Penelope balances it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Xt1IWagSys8 . Age Statement: 9 years. ABV:  52%. Mash bill:  95% rye, 5% malted barley. Area of Dis...

       From the mind of Dixon Dedman, known for his work with Kentucky Owl, 2XO has made quite an impression on the whiskey scene. Their early Phoenix Blend set a strong foundation, and Dedman’s reputation as a blender gave fans a reason to be excited. But as the brand expanded with a variety of limited releases and oak experiments, I found myself a bit overwhelmed by the constant flow of black and gold bottles. So, when 2XO announced their first rye, the White Oak Rye, I was intrigued enough to give them another shot. After all, double-oaked rye is still a rarity in today’s market. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Lq3qNIS8Jzo . Age Statement: N/A. ABV: 46%. Mash bill: 95% Rye, 5% malted barley. Area of Distillation: Kentucky. Finishing:  Chains of charred American white oak Appearance: Golden hue. On the nose:      The aroma is far more delicate than expected. Herbal and medicinal notes mingle with light flo...

     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...

     Hard Truth has been making waves in the rye whiskey scene, and tonight I’m diving into something bold and unusual from their lineup: a straight rye whiskey finished with toasted Mizunara oak, bottled at cask strength. Based in southern Indiana, Hard Truth has built a reputation around their sweet mash process, where fermentation tanks are completely cleaned between batches,labor-intensive, but it creates a uniquely clean and vibrant flavor profile.      Mizunara oak itself is special. Harvested only after trees reach at least 200 years of age in Japan, it imparts flavors unlike typical American or European oak. It’s a notoriously expensive wood to use, so most distilleries work with staves instead of full barrels. Seeing Hard Truth experiment with this finish had me eager to see if their craft touch could bring something truly memorable. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/wZc56E_YPxo . Age Statement: 2+ years old. ABV...

     It’s not every day a whiskey catches both your curiosity and your caution, but Dark Arts Blunt Blend managed to do just that. Coming from the folks at Dark Arts Whiskey House, a brand that I've fallen in love with over the past year, this bottle represents a bold, unapologetically unique approach to finished rye. This release is quite the idea on paper, being deemed the "Blunt blend." Essentially this is taking an MGP Indiana rye and finishing it in both Madeira and Armagnac casks. The idea is playing off of the more recent "cigar batch" releases being something to pair well with a cigar. I'll let you figure out why this one is deemed a "blunt blend." Also to note, this is a yearly release on April 20th.      Now the biggest worry for me is the inclusion of Madeira casks gave me pause; I’ve rarely enjoyed what that particular finish brings. Out of the times I've had it they tend to bring over too much of the over ripened fruit note, almost...

 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...