The Last Call

     There’s been a lot of anticipation around this release, and for good reason. The standard Woodford Double Oaked is one of those gateway bottles that pulls people deeper into bourbon, myself included. It’s rich, dessert-like, and widely available at a great price, making it an easy recommendation for just about anyone.      So when word started spreading in late 2025 into early 2026 that a  single barrel, barrel proof version  was hitting shelves, expectations were high. This felt like the natural next step, take everything people love about Double Oaked and turn up the intensity. But as these bottles started appearing, one detail stood out immediately: the proof.      What’s unusual here is how this “barrel proof” version is handled. Based on available information and how these are presenting, it appears the whiskey may be proofed down before going back into that second barrel for additional aging. The result is a final ABV hov...

       Knob Creek stepping into a “blender’s edition” series honestly caught me off guard in a good way. For a brand that already has such a recognizable identity, seeing them experiment with different batch concepts feels like a smart move rather than a risky one. When I found this bottle at a surprisingly low price, it went from “I’ll pass on the hype” to “okay, you’ve convinced me.”      This first batch sits right in the middle of the Knob Creek lineup with a 10-year age statement and a slightly higher proof than the standard offerings. The idea behind this release is simple but interesting. Instead of chasing extreme oak or pushing toward high proof, this batch seems designed to highlight a sweeter and more approachable side of the brand’s profile.      What makes this bottle stand out isn’t just the age or proof, but the concept behind it. This is meant to be the first in a sequence of releases where different batches highlight dif...

     Circle City Whiskey Company is one of those brands that has slowly earned more and more space on my shelves. Every time a new release drops, it feels like they push the envelope just a little further while still keeping that transparency we all want to see in modern whiskey. Tonight’s pour is their newest release for 2026, the Robusto Blend, and this one immediately caught my attention because it was designed as a cigar-style batch.      I am not a cigar smoker myself, but I have always enjoyed cigar-style bourbons because they tend to lean richer, darker, and more layered while still bringing a higher proof to the table. This one checks all of those boxes before the bottle is even opened.       The Robusto Blend is a four-barrel blend built around both transparency and creativity. Three of the barrels come from Heaven Hill, all at least eight years old, and each one was finished differently. One was placed in a toasted cask, a...

     There are some bottles you buy out of curiosity, and then there are bottles you grab because the story behind them feels too interesting to ignore. This collaboration between Bardstown Bourbon Company and T8KE falls squarely into that second category. A blend of Kentucky straight bourbons and a 33-year-old Canadian corn whiskey is not something you see every day, and it immediately raises questions about balance, intention, and execution.      After missing the initial 2025 release, finding it discounted in 2026 made the decision easy. With Bardstown’s reputation for transparency and T8KE’s track record of strong picks, expectations were already set pretty high going in. The standout here is clearly the Canadian whiskey portion, a component that could easily make or break the blend depending on how it integrates. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/jW0ggyueVzQ . Age Statement: +7 years. ABV: 62.75% (Cask strength). Ble...

     Buffalo  Trace  has  a  habit  of  releasing  bottles  that  generate  conversation  before  anyone  even  tastes  them.  Traveller  Whiskey  was  one  of  those  releases.  Originally  launched  through  a  collaboration  between  country  artist  Chris  Stapleton  and  Buffalo  Trace,  the  first  version  hit  shelves  quickly  and  sold  out  just  as  fast.  The  hype  was  immediate,  though  the  whiskey  itself  landed  somewhere  in  the “ perfectly  fine  but  forgettable”  category  for  many  drinkers.      Fast  forward  to  2026  and  Buffalo  Trace  has  introduced  a...

     Larrikin Bourbon Company is one of those brands I had been watching from a distance, waiting for it to finally land here in Indiana. In 2026, we started seeing bottles hit shelves, along with a few store picks, including this single barrel selected by Handy Spot Liquor in Indiana. After tasting it in-store, I walked away… and then came back two days later to buy it. That alone should tell you something.      Transparency is a strong point for the brand, and on paper this nine-year, barrel proof single barrel looked promising. This is a single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at a hefty ABV and aged at least nine years. The mash bill is 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Larrikin standard releases use the same mash bill and are also single barrels, while select barrels like this one are chosen by individual stores or groups. While the distillery is not officially disclosed, the mash bill and Kentucky origin suggest a strong possibilit...

     Tonight, we’re diving into something a bit different, Kirkland Signature Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This one hits the shelves at Costco for an unbelievably low price, making it one of those “budget-friendly” bottles that sparks curiosity. It’s not a powerhouse, but it certainly catches your eye with its clean, official-looking bottle design. Most of what we know about this whiskey is that it’s sourced from Barton 1792, a well-known name in bourbon circles. It’s a liter bottle, priced around $18.99, which makes it one of the most accessible Kentucky straight bourbons on the market.      Kirkland Signature doesn’t give us many details beyond the source, so we assume these barrels are secondary picks from Barton 1792. It’s likely younger whiskey, which aligns with the light color and approachable profile. Kirkland also offers a Bottled-in-Bond and a Cask Strength version, but today we’re focused on this small batch, budget-friendly opt...

     Ampersand is one of those new labels that seemed to appear almost overnight at the start of 2026, and it immediately caught the attention of enthusiasts. Founded by legendary blender and distiller Chip Tate, this release feels like a statement piece rather than a tentative first step. Seeing his name attached to a 15-year Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Tokaji casks was enough to send me bottle hunting the moment it hit the radar.      Opimus is clearly positioned as the flagship of the lineup, and the transparency here is refreshing. From mash bill to finishing time, there’s a level of openness that builds confidence before the cork is even pulled. Add in the fact that this is cask strength and reasonably priced for its age, and expectations were already running high. The mash bill is disclosed at 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, a combination that closely mirrors classic Kentucky profiles from decades past.       Wh...

          Russell’s Reserve has long been one of those dependable names that consistently delivers solid Kentucky straight bourbon without chasing hype. Between their approachable 10 Year, reliable rye, and well-structured core lineup, they’ve earned a permanent place on many shelves. This private barrel pick, discovered during a stop at West Clay Wine and Spirits, immediately stood out as something special, especially after learning it came from the highly regarded Camp Nelson warehouses.      What made this bottle even more exciting was the blind selection process behind it. The winning barrel was chosen from multiple Russell’s Reserve options, and after tasting it on the spot, both my wife and I agreed it was an exceptional pick. After letting it rest on my shelf for a few weeks, it felt like the right time to dig in and see how it truly performed. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/P6af210yvfg . Age Stat...

          Peerless Distilling is a name most bourbon drinkers recognize instantly, largely thanks to that unmistakable bottle design. It’s bold, beefy, and looks fantastic on a shelf. I’ll admit right away, I’ve had a bit of a complicated relationship with Peerless releases over the years. Some of their offerings, like the Double Oak Bourbon and Double Oak Rye, have been standouts for me, while others have left me scratching my head. Until now, I’d never actually sat down and reviewed their standard Kentucky Straight Bourbon, and curiosity finally won out despite my ongoing hesitation with their pricing.       While there’s no age statement on the bottle, Peerless does confirm on their website that they adhere to a four-year minimum. I always wish that transparency made it onto the label, but it is what it is. What truly sets Peerless apart from many other Kentucky distilleries is their use of a sweet mash process rather than the more co...

     As 2025 winds down, Maker's Mark surprised everyone with what appears to be a limited-age-stated run of their beloved cask strength bourbon. I’ve always had a soft spot for Maker's Mark. It wasn’t a brand I fell in love with immediately, but somewhere along the way, it became a comfort bottle, a pour I reached for between bigger, flashier releases. Their lineup consistently offers strong value, and while I still haven’t tried the Cellar Aged, the rest are genuinely solid. Seeing this on the shelf at standard cask strength pricing made it an easy pickup.      This release is still their classic wheated bourbon, although Maker's Mark doesn’t publish the exact mash bill. The side label offers some intriguing production details: a 110-proof barrel entry, 378 hand-rotated and hand-selected casks, and the note that each batch is “aged to taste.” That wording alone hints at future variations. I wouldn’t be surprised if 6.5- to 8-year age statements start appe...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Milam & Greene, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Tonight’s pour comes from Milam & Greene, a distillery that has quickly gained a reputation for doing things differently. Heather Greene and her team have been blending Kentucky straight bourbon with Texas pot still whiskey, crafting something unique that bridges two very different traditions. When I first heard about the Provisions Blend, I was intrigued, especially since it promised to bring a budget-friendly option to the shelf without sacrificing quality. The commemorative first-release bottle design is elegant without being flashy, a welcome sight on any shelf.      The Provisions combines Kentucky bourbon and Texas pot still bourbon, both aged in standard 53-gallon barrels, no shortcuts with small casks here. While many budget bottles can feel watered down, this one lea...

     For years, Wild Turkey’s 8 Year bourbon was a bottle you’d hear about but rarely see stateside, unless you were willing to hunt one down overseas or pay import fees. That changed in late 2024 when Wild Turkey released their 70th anniversary bottling, an 8-year bourbon, and hinted that a permanent version was coming. Sure enough, it’s finally here on U.S. shelves. Stock moves fast, but knowing this is a regular release should keep the panic buying in check. As a big fan of the standard 101, I was curious to see how a bit of extra age would shape the flavor.      This release keeps the classic Wild Turkey mash bill but the big change here is the 8-year age statement, which adds some maturity without altering the brand’s core character. It’s still non-chill filtered, still proudly Kentucky straight bourbon, but with a deeper oak influence. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/lBWqSPB6lDg . Age Statement: 8 Years. ABV:...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Lasso Motel, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.           Lasso Motel is a newer name stepping into the whiskey space, but they are doing something I always appreciate right out of the gate: transparency. The base bourbon is distilled at Green River Distillery in Kentucky, and Lasso Motel clearly states the mash bill and origin on their website. In today’s market, that level of clarity deserves recognition. It sets expectations and gives you confidence before you even pour a glass.      After maturation as a Kentucky Straight Bourbon, this whiskey is finished in Cognac casks. While the exact finishing time is not disclosed, Cognac finishing typically runs several months. The goal here is enhancement, not takeover, and at 50% ABV, there is enough proof to carry both the bourbon character and the finishing influence without t...