The Last Call

     American Light Whiskey has quietly been having a moment, and bottles like this are exactly why. Once overlooked, this category is finally getting the attention it deserves thanks to strong releases from brands sourcing well-aged stock and letting it shine. Circle City Whiskey Company steps into that spotlight with their first American Light Whiskey release, a 20-year single barrel pick coming in at a hazmat-level 72.5% ABV. Sourced from MGP and selected as a store pick, this is one of those bottles that immediately grabs your attention both on paper and in the glass.      This expression is a single barrel American Light Whiskey distilled at a high proof, above 160 proof, and aged in used or uncharred oak barrels. That aging method sets it apart from bourbon, allowing for a more subtle oak influence even after extended maturation. At 20 years old and hazmat, this whiskey leans heavily on time and barrel interaction to develop character. With a mash bil...

     Penelope has been one of those brands that continues to surprise me in the best way possible, especially since they started showing up more consistently here in Indiana. Their barrel selections, finishing work, and overall consistency have all been incredibly solid, so when I came across this 18-year American Light Whiskey sitting on the shelf, it was an instant buy. It’s not often you see a light whiskey at this age, and it’s even rarer to see one sitting just above the hazmat line.      What really drew me in here wasn’t just the proof or the age. It was the idea of what Penelope could do with older light whiskey stock. Light whiskey is usually known for being softer and more subtle compared to bourbon, but when you add serious age and keep it at hazmat proof, you start wondering just how much flavor they managed to pull out of it. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/Gci5ozlpZ9s . Age Statement: 18 years. ABV: 70.1...

     Balcones has long been one of those distilleries that pulls me back in with every release, and this single barrel hazmat rye was no exception. When this pick from HiProof landed on my doorstep, the excitement was immediate, partly because I trust their picks, and partly because I’m a sucker for Texas whiskey and its bold edge. The moment I saw the deep, blood-red hue in the bottle, I had a feeling this one was going to leave an impression.      This release is a Texas straight rye whiskey aged exclusively in European oak casks. It clocks in at 73.2% ABV, making it one of the highest-proof bottles currently on my shelf. As a straight rye, we know it’s at least two years old, but based on the profile I’d guess it leans somewhere closer to three to four. What sets this apart is that full-term European oak maturation, which should leave a very different imprint than the American oak typically associated with Balcones’ releases. For the full video review vi...

     There are certain releases that instantly grab your attention, and this Backbone Bourbon Company single barrel American single malt was one of them. As soon as news broke about a hazmat-level American single malt with an extremely limited yield, I knew I had to try to get my hands on one. Backbone has earned my trust over the years through transparency, thoughtful sourcing, and some genuinely standout single barrels, so this bottle already had a lot going for it before the cork was ever pulled.      This particular barrel was selected by T8ke, a well-known figure in the whiskey community and the mind behind the r/bourbon community. After tasting through several options at Backbone, this was the barrel he couldn’t walk away from. With a final yield of just 68 bottles, it was never going to be an easy find. When I got the chance to purchase one, there was no hesitation. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/HFEgS_q-STU . A...