The Last Call

     Whiskey Jypsi is one of those brands that caught my attention before I ever poured a glass simply because of the bottle. There is something about the design that really stands out on a shelf. To me, it almost looks like someone took a little bit of High West and a little bit of Castle & Key, smashed the two ideas together, and came up with Whiskey Jypsi. Whatever the inspiration, I think it looks fantastic.      I had previously tried Whiskey Jypsi's four-year Double Barreled Bourbon and came away really impressed, especially considering its price point. That made me curious to see what else the brand was doing, and the Explorer Bourbon immediately caught my attention. This release takes a blend of bourbon from Indiana and Kentucky, gives it at least six years of age, and then finishes it with both French oak and Appalachian oak staves.      Whiskey Jypsi is also a celebrity-backed project through Eric Church, which is something I ge...

       When I’m looking at bourbon in the $40 range, I’m usually asking a pretty simple question: does this bottle give me enough reason to put it on my shelf? With whiskey prices continuing to climb, budget-friendly bottles have become more interesting to me, and Whiskey Jypsi Tribute immediately caught my attention for a couple of reasons.      First, the bottle itself looks fantastic. The rippled glass gives it a little bit of a High West-inspired feel, while the engraved cork adds another nice touch. It definitely stands out on the shelf without relying on a giant celebrity name plastered across the front. That’s something I appreciate, especially considering Whiskey Jypsi was created in collaboration with country artist Eric Church and others from the whiskey industry.      But what really caught my attention was what Whiskey Jypsi tells us about the whiskey itself. Tribute is a blend of straight bourbons from Tennessee and Kentucky...

  Filmland Spirits continues to lean hard into storytelling, and Quadraforce might be their most ambitious concept yet. Built around a comic-book-style origin story of four characters gaining powers during World War II, this bottle blends creativity with whiskey in a way that immediately stands out on the shelf. Beyond the eye-catching 1950s monster-movie poster aesthetic, there’s real substance here.       A four-part blend of bourbons sourced from across the U.S., Quadraforce mixes transparency with a bit of mystery, and honestly, that balance makes it even more fun to dive into. All whiskeys are at least four years old. Filmland sources barrels from multiple regions, including California, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with the possibility of additional sourcing from elsewhere. Rather than over-explaining the mystery, they let the blend speak for itself, which works in its favor. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/0dgCcerNN1...

       Barrell Craft Spirits has built a reputation on bold blending and creative finishing, and their Cigar Blend Bourbon immediately caught my attention the moment it was announced. As someone who gravitates toward sweeter, richer profiles, cigar-style batches tend to land right in my wheelhouse, though they can be hit or miss depending on execution. This release is bottled at cask strength, and features a blend of straight bourbons sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. The blend includes barrels ranging from 7½ years all the way up to 18 years, creating a layered foundation of mature whiskey.           Where things really get interesting is the finishing. This blend is finished in a combination of Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak casks. Each component plays a role in shaping the final profile, with the goal of creating a whiskey that pairs well with the richness and depth typically associated with a cigar-style pour....

     Chattanooga Whiskey is one of those distilleries that quietly grows on you until one day you realize half your shelf has their logo on it. For a long time, their bottles felt like the “bridesmaid, never the bride” option for me, always interesting, just never the one I grabbed first. Lately though, that’s changed in a big way. The more I’ve explored their lineup, the more I’ve come to appreciate how thoughtful and transparent their approach is, especially as a true grain-to-glass craft distillery.      This Straight Rye Malt is a perfect example of why Chattanooga keeps pulling me back in. It’s not the easiest bottle to find in my Indiana market, so when I spotted one, I didn’t hesitate. Chattanooga doesn’t give exact mash bill percentages, but they do something even better than most brands: they tell you exactly what’s in the whiskey, right on the bottle. This rye-forward mash is built around pale malted rye, supported by yellow corn, caramel malted r...

     Jack Daniel’s is no stranger to innovation, and the Heritage Barrel line continues to prove that the Tennessee giant still knows how to surprise even its long-time fans. The 2025  Toasted Barrel Edition  takes the brand’s familiar character and layers in new depth through an extended barrel toasting process. As someone who’s always appreciated the Single Barrel Selects for their rich balance and great value, I was eager to see what doubling the toast time could do.       What makes this expression unique is the barrel treatment: while standard Jack barrels are toasted for 12 minutes and then charred, the Heritage barrels are toasted for 24 minutes and flash-charred. That means more of those deep caramelized sugars and toasted oak flavors have time to develop. The whiskey goes though the Lincoln County Process of maple charcoal filtering and aged for at least seven years. The barrels are then stored in the highest rickhouse elevations for...

     From the moment I laid eyes on this bottle, I had a hunch it would be something special. Chattanooga Whiskey has been gaining a reputation in the craft world for its meticulous attention to detail and innovation in high malt Tennessee whiskey. Though my experience with the distillery had been limited, I was already a fan. When I stumbled upon this bottle of Triple Islay Cask Finish at a local shop, it felt like striking gold. Released in 2025 as part of what appears to be a recurring limited series, this expression had built quite a bit of buzz online, and for good reason.      This is not your average American whiskey. Chattanooga went above and beyond with this one, blending precision and creativity in every step. The whiskey begins with three distinct mash bills (listed below). Each mash bill is aged separately in peated scotch casks sourced from three unnamed but heavily speculated distilleries After maturing for at least five years, these componen...

     Log Still Distilling has always been a bit of a mystery with two separate projects, Monk's Road coming out of Kentucky and Rattle and Snap sourced from Tennessee. This single barrel, barrel proof Tennessee whiskey checks in at a hefty 59.125% ABV and has been aged for at least five years. I’ve been a bit skeptical lately after trying a Monks Road barrel pick that felt overpriced and underwhelming, but when my local store had a last bottle of this Rattle and Snap barrel pick, I figured I’d give it a shot. The mash bill remains a mystery, which is a bit frustrating, but the label confirms it’s gone through the Lincoln County charcoal filtration process that Tennessee whiskeys are known for. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/APxv6tWXZIg . Age Statement: 5 years (Single barrel). ABV:   59.125% (Cask strength). Mash bill: N/A. Area of Distillation:  Tennessee. Appearance:  Light golden oak. On the nose:    ...

     I received this spirit as a review sample from Ole Smoky, linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Ole Smoky Distillery offers a nod to its heritage with James Ownby Reserve. This expression pays tribute to the distillery’s fifth-generation great-grandfather and one of its founders, James Ownby. This isn’t Old Smoky's usual moonshine, this is a classic-styled Tennessee bourbon whiskey.      As a Tennessee whiskey, James Ownby Reserve undergoes the Lincoln County Process, a hallmark of the style that filters the new make spirit through sugar maple charcoal before aging. This not only adheres to regional tradition but also helps to mellow the final product.  For the full video review visit the link here:   https://youtu.be/pr3lWtZqgho . Age Statement: 6 years. ABV: 47%. Mash bill: N/A. Area of Distillation: Tennessee. Appearance: Warm golden hue. On the nose:    ...

     Jefferson’s has never exactly wowed me, especially on the bourbon side of things, where the higher price tags often outpace the experience in the glass. But this bottle caught me off guard. I was out browsing in Indiana, saw it on the shelf, walked past it, then turned back. “Jefferson’s Rye? What is this?” A bit of on-the-spot research yielded almost nothing. No press, no buzz—even Jefferson’s own website had no mention of it. That made it even more interesting. It feels like one of those quiet releases just starting to trickle onto shelves. With a price tag of $25 and a 44% ABV, I figured it was a risk worth taking.      This is a blend of straight rye whiskeys sourced from both the U.S. and Canada—70% American, 30% Canadian. The label notes Tennessee, Indiana, and Canada as the distillation sources, which likely means there’s some MGP (Indiana) whiskey in the mix. Jefferson’s has dabbled in rye before, most notably with their Cognac cask-finished ex...