The Last Call

 West Fork Whsky Co. Korean Barbecue  Finished Bourbon Review.      Every now and then, a whiskey comes along that breaks all the rules, and West Fork Whisky Company has made a habit of doing just that. In recent time they have been doing some creative finishes with their in house distilled, aged and bottled whiskey. West Fork has teamed up once again with the culinary wizard King Butter for a truly experimental release: a straight bourbon whiskey finished in a  Korean barbecue barrel . This limited release promises something wild, savory, and entirely new in the world of bourbon.      West Fork and King Butter (storefront   linked here )  have already made some great and unique finishes with their hot honey and Swoleracha hot sauce cask projects, but this one might take the cake, or rather, the steak. With only about 50ish bottles in existence, the concept alone had me intrigued: barrels that once held rich Korean barbecue sauce, n...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Bloody Butcher Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review.      West Fork Whsky Co. is no stranger to this channel, and they’ve consistently shown what a craft distillery can achieve when they stay true to their roots. Based in Indiana, West Fork not only ages, distills, and bottles their own spirits, but also takes pride in pushing boundaries with unique mash bills and special releases. Tonight’s pour, the Bloody Butcher Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon, is one of those examples.      My very first encounter with this heirloom grain was through West Fork, and it left a lasting impression. It’s not for everyone, but when handled with care, it can create a profile that’s both exciting and refined. This release is especially intriguing, as it’s not just a 100% Bloody Butcher mash bill, it’s also bottled in bond, carrying with it the standards of quality and transparency. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/y14D4...

West Fork Whsky Co. Swoleracha Hot Sauce Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.      West Fork Whiskey Company has always been a personal favorite of mine, and for good reason. Based in Westfield, Indiana, they’ve been steadily building a reputation for bold, creative releases that showcase both skill and a playful sense of experimentation. I’ve supported them for years and have more bottles from West Fork than any other distillery in my collection. This particular release, Sorracha, might just be one of their wildest ideas yet.           It’s the product of a collaboration with King Butter, a local Indiana legend in the world of hot sauces, spice blends, and rubs. King Butter’s hot honey barrel finish has already made its way into West Fork releases in the past, but this time they’ve turned the heat way up. The process involved aging hot sauce in a West Fork barrel, emptying it, and then filling it with their wheated bourbon plus keeping it a sing...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Single Barrel Double Oaked Whiskey Review.      West Fork Whiskey Company has been steadily growing its reputation out of Westfield, Indiana, distilling and aging whiskey that speaks to both craft authenticity and bold flavor. Their double oaked bourbons have always had my attention, and when the r/bourbon community announced a barrel pick near the end of 2024, I knew it was going to be something special. Not only did they select a single barrel cask strength expression, but they chose to showcase it in double oak form, a profile I’m already partial to.           West Fork continues to handle all their own distilling, aging, and bottling under their primary label, while sourcing some whiskey under their Old Hammer line. This selection is all West Fork, presented at barrel proof and untouched beyond the double oaking. While there is no listed mash bill, if memory serves me correctly, I believe this was their High Rye ...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Alder Smoked Single Malt Whiskey Review.      The first time I tried West Fork’s Alder Smoked Single Malt was right at their tasting bar, fresh off the drive to Westfield. One sip in, and I knew it was coming home with me. I’ve got a soft spot for smoky drams—my cabinet is full of peated Scotches and West Fork has been scratching that itch ever since I first picked up their Beechwood Smoked Malt years ago. This one feels like the 2025 sequel I didn’t know I was waiting for. My wife, who’s my ride-or-die Laphroaig fan and myself being in the cult of Ardbeg heard about the release coming and knew we had to try it out.      This isn’t a “let’s play it safe” kind of whiskey. It’s 100% malted barley, smoked with Alderwood to bring a softer, sweeter kind of smoke than the heavy peat monsters overseas. At just over two years old, it’s young but makes me reserved in what to expect from the release. It’s very much a West Fork creation from ...

 Old Hamer Small Batch 10 Year Bourbon Whiskey Review.     Here locally to  Indiana, West Fork Whisky Co. is one of my go to craft distillers. Not only because they release great whiskey, but always keep it priced correctly. One of their side brands, Old Hamer, is being sourced from MGP and they are transparent about that. This is taking the 99% corn, 1% barley and releasing it via age statements, finishing (under the name Hugh Hamer), single barrels, and cask strength.       I’ve previously enjoyed their 7 and 8 year offerings, but this marks their first foray into double-digit aging. With such a corn-dominant profile, the expectation is that most of the depth and character will come from the barrel itself rather than the grain.  For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/w6Ul2DxBhDs . Age Statement: 10 years. ABV: 50%. Mash bill: 99% Corn, 1%Malted Barley. Area of Distillation:  Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Appear...

West Fork Whsky Co. High Rye Hot Honey Barrel Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.       West Fork Whiskey Company has made a name for itself in Indiana’s growing craft whiskey scene, distilling, aging, and bottling all of its own spirits in Westfield. This release is something special, a high-rye straight bourbon finished in a hot honey barrel, created through a collaboration between three Indiana locals. The bourbon starts as West Fork’s high rye mash bill, then takes a turn into a barrel that previously held hot honey crafted by King Butter, using honey sourced from Mumbe's Orchard in Atlanta, Indiana. It’s a single-barrel release, and the second time West Fork has explored this concept, with the first using their wheated bourbon. I enjoyed that one, so the high-rye version had me both intrigued on what differences there will be! For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/4ak0ZM3MzE0 . Learn more about King Butter via his link:  https:/...

 West Fork Whsky Co. High Corn Rum Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review.      The moment West Fork Whiskey Company announced they were finishing their high-corn bourbon in a rum cask, I was mentally in the car, halfway to Westfield. I’ve been following West Fork for years, they’ve got their sourced Old Hammer series, sure, but their in-house line is where they really get to show off. And a 99% corn bourbon? That’s already a curveball. Finish it in rum for a year and a half? That’s a “clear the shelf space, this is coming home” kind of situation. I didn’t even taste it at the distillery, wanted my first sip to be a clean, fresh hit at home.      This bourbon starts life almost entirely as a 99% corn 1% malted barley, spending four years soaking up flavor in new oak. They moved it into a rum cask for an  eighteen-month  finish, long enough that the rum doesn’t just whisper over the top, it moves in and starts redecorating. That kind of extended fini...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Honey Barrel Finished High Rye Bourbon Whiskey Review.      West Fork Whiskey Company, based in Westfield, Indiana, where they have two sides of distilling. Side one is their in house made West Fork Whisky Co. and Old Hamer/Hugh Hamer being the second side sourced from MGP.  Overall West Fork is transparent on what they are doing, aging times, disclosure on sourcing, and even finishing. This release is a partnership with a local Bee farm and Orchard, Mumbee's.      Essentially, West Fork gives a barrel to Mumbee's to fill with honey. Then after some time, they empty out the honey and return the barrel to West Fork to fill with bourbon. Personally, honey finishing can be hit or miss for me. Sometimes it can give just enough sweetness and "honey" notes, other times it can bring the "funk" and drown out the bourbon and go south. Prior to this honey release, I have reviewed West Fork's Hot Honey finished bourbons that were crazy u...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Amber Corn Bourbon Whiskey Review. Welcome to another exploration of craft whiskey! Tonight’s feature is the Amber Corn Straight Bourbon from West Fork Whiskey Company. Based in Westfield, Indiana, West Fork prides itself on distilling, aging, and bottling their own products. Unlike their Old Hammer series, sourced from MGP, this bourbon is crafted entirely in-house.      This bourbon breaks away from the norm by incorporating amber corn, a variety we don't in mash bills often. The omission of barley or other grains is notable, allowing the distinct characteristics of both corn types to shine. This single-barrel offering was picked by the Indiana Liquor Group.  For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/IRQUdtcRy4U Age Statement : +3 years. ABV:  60.1% (Single Barrel & Cask Strength). Mash bill:  65% yellow corn and 35% amber corn. Area of Distillation: Westfield, Indiana. Appearance: Warm orange tin...

 West Fork Whsky Co. High Corn Bourbon Cherry Brandy finished.      Over the past couple of years I've been a fan of the West Fork Whsky Co. Based in Westfield, Indiana they are doing some great examples of craft whiskey in my eyes. Their "in house" brand is being distilled, aged, and bottled by them along with all the transparency on mash bills, age statements and all those deep details. This release is a bit unique. Essentially West Fork is taking a 100% corn mash bill ant then finishing it in a cherry brandy barrel.             Starting with a new American oak barrel aging for 4 years, this high-corn bourbon receives an extra 18 months in cherry brandy barrels. We don't see many distilleries use 100% corn let alone going with a bourbon vs a whiskey. The catch on this release is you are really using the barrel itself to do a lot of "heavy lifting" to bring flavors to the bourbon vs the barrel and a blend of grains. This was q...

 West Fork Whsky Co. Frenchy's French Toast Bourbon Whiskey Review.      West Fork Whiskey Company, based in Westfield, Indiana, where they have two sides of distilling. Side one is their in house made West Fork Whisky Co. and Old Hamer/Hugh Hamer being the second side sourced from MGP.  Overall West Fork is transparent on what they are doing, aging times, disclosure on sourcing, and even finishing. Now, for their two year anniversary of the Westfield location they decided to have some fun with a French Toast Bourbon.      Yes, you read that right, French toast. The base is a bourbon whiskey, enhanced with natural flavors to replicate the taste of French toast. Now, I am not against something flavored, but it's also not something I grab daily. They can be really great for a sweet tooth and open the door for people not big into whiskey. Now since they are creating this on their own, I knew I had to at least taste it! For the full video review ...