The Last Call

     Kirkland’s Lowland single malt scotch whiskey immediately caught my attention, not just because it’s a bit of a rare find here in Indiana, but also due to Kirkland’s reputation for solid, well-priced bottlings, often available at Costco. While I’m a big fan of Kirkland’s Highland and Islay releases, this Lowland offering had me curious but cautious, wondering how it would stack up.      Now, this whiskey’s story is pretty classic. It spent most of its time in ex-bourbon barrels like most scotches, but then got finished in ex-sherry casks, something I always appreciate because it usually adds a nice layer of sweetness and complexity. It’s bottled by Alexander Murray & Company, who do a lot of these Kirkland releases, and honestly, they tend to nail it more often than not. I didn’t see a distillery name, which isn’t unusual, but the cask choices and the 46% proof tell me they were aiming for something that hits that sweet spot, rich enough to enjoy n...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Fior Whisky, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Fior Blended Scotch immediately stood out with its striking presentation, but what truly captivated me was the story behind the bottle. Founded by Eric Dominijanni, a Marine Veteran with over two decades of service, Fior was born from his passion project, an infinity bottle that captured a perfect blend he could never quite replicate again. Rather than let that final sip be the end, he worked with industry friends to bring Fior to life, making it the first Black veteran-owned Scotch whisky brand. That’s a compelling origin with authenticity and heart.           Fior is a blend of Highland and Speyside Scotch whiskies, bottled at 43% ABV. The team took a deliberate approach to blending, focusing on a 60/40 malt-to-grain ratio. The casks were hand-selected to recreate the c...