The Last Call

     Santa Teresa 1796 is one of those bottles that holds a special place in my rum collection. It was one of the first rums that really made me stop and think about what rum could be. I remember trying it and basically thinking, "Wait a minute. What am I drinking?" It was that much of a departure from some of the lighter, simpler rums I had encountered before.      I've also gifted quite a few bottles of the standard Santa Teresa 1796 over the years, and it's actually helped turn a few people into rum drinkers. So when Santa Teresa comes out with something different, I'm usually pretty interested in checking it out. And they've done quite a few interesting things with 1796 and their other releases. We've seen coffee barrel finishes, Scotch barrel finishes and other experiments with different casks. This time around, Santa Teresa decided to take their solera-aged rum and give it a 10-month finish in Teeling Irish whiskey barrels.      That im...

     Backbone Bourbon Company has built a strong reputation out of Indianapolis by embracing transparency and leaning into creative sourcing. While many know them for their MGP-driven releases, they’ve never been shy about exploring whiskey from across North America and beyond. This particular bottle immediately stops you in your tracks because it challenges expectations before the cork even comes out.      This is an Irish whiskey, but the color tells a completely different story. Deep, dark, and bordering on mahogany, it looks far closer to a heavily aged double-oaked bourbon than anything traditionally associated with Ireland. That alone made this release impossible to pass up, especially knowing it came from a small, almost accidental single barrel that found its way to Holly’s Package Store.      The whiskey began its life in Ireland, aged as an Irish whiskey before being shipped to the United States. Once stateside, Backbone finished it...

     It’s not every day I come across Powers here in Indiana, availability tends to be spotty, which is unfortunate because I’ve always appreciated what they bring to the table. On a recent hunt, I stumbled across a bottle of their Three Swallow release, priced so low I’m convinced it was a mistake. Of course, I didn’t question it. I snatched it up, finally checking this one off my wishlist. This bottling sits a step above the standard Powers Gold Label and brings a more focused, historical nod to the brand’s roots. Powers Three Swallow is a 100% pot still Irish whiskey, crafted with a combination of malted and unmalted barley. It’s aged in ex-bourbon barrels and, based on industry buzz and other reviews, it likely sees a finishing period in Oloroso sherry casks. That dual maturation gives this whiskey both a classic Irish structure and a gentle richness on top. Bottled at 43.2% ABV, it falls just under what I’d consider an ideal proof point, but more on that later. For t...

     Foxs Bow is a newer name in the Irish whiskey space, and it immediately caught my attention through social media. What pulled me in wasn’t just the branding, but the curiosity around its finishing process. With a team that has some real experience behind it, there’s a sense that this isn’t just another sourced whiskey it’s a chance to see thoughtful blending and finishing come together in a meaningful way.      Foxs Bow starts with a sourced Irish whiskey base, matured in ex-bourbon casks. It’s a blend of both pot still and column still whiskey, using 100% barley, which is typical for Irish whiskey and tends to produce a softer, more approachable profile. Where things get interesting is in the finishing. The whiskey is first finished in Oloroso sherry casks, then further influenced by ex-rye casks. That second finishing step is fairly uncommon, and it introduces the potential for added spice and herbal character layered onto an otherwise smooth Irish b...