The Last Call

Chattanooga Whiskey Triple Islay Tennessee High Malt Whiskey Review.       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 spe...

       Hard Truth Toasted Mizunara Oak Finished Rye Whiskey Review.      Hard Truth has been making waves in the rye whiskey scene, and tonight I’m diving into something bold and unusual from their lineup: a straight rye whiskey finished with toasted Mizunara oak, bottled at cask strength. Based in southern Indiana, Hard Truth has built a reputation around their sweet mash process, where fermentation tanks are completely cleaned between batches,labor-intensive, but it creates a uniquely clean and vibrant flavor profile.      Mizunara oak itself is special. Harvested only after trees reach at least 200 years of age in Japan, it imparts flavors unlike typical American or European oak. It’s a notoriously expensive wood to use, so most distilleries work with staves instead of full barrels. Seeing Hard Truth experiment with this finish had me eager to see if their craft touch could bring something truly memorable. For the full video review vi...

Traveler's Point Distillery Signature Edition Bourbon Whiskey Review.      Traveler’s Point Distillery in Kirkland, Indiana, has been making waves in the craft whiskey scene. Known for transparency around their process, sharing entry proofs, mash bills, barrel sizes, and sourcing much of their grain locally, they’re building a reputation for honest, hands-on whiskey. During a recent trip to the distillery, I stumbled upon their Signature Series Bourbon, a small experimental release that immediately caught my eye with its deep, almost red color. With only 500 bottles produced, mine being #442, this is truly a small-batch passion project, available only at the distillery.      Master distiller Mel Lytton decided to play with 10-gallon barrels, and the result is one of the most unique pours I’ve come across this year. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/24QWAKyY34A . Age Statement: N/A. (Aged in 10 Gallon barrels). ABV: ...

 Wood Hat Bloody Butcher Red Corn Whiskey Review.      Wood Hat Spirits out of Missouri has built its reputation on experimenting with unique corn varieties, creative barreling, and full in-house production. Their Bloody Butcher Red Corn Whiskey caught my attention the moment I saw it, partly because I’ve loved Bloody Butcher corn in other producers’ bourbons, and partly because I missed my shot at grabbing one when a small drop landed in Indiana a couple of years back. After my mixed experience with their Ol' Blue Corn Whiskey, I hesitated. But curiosity got the better of me, and I finally tracked down a bottle of this single barrel pick from Belmont Beverage. With its heirloom grain heritage, I went in with an open mind, hoping for the magic I’ve found in other Bloody Butcher expressions.      While Wood Hat doesn’t share much detail about specific barrels, they are known for using varying barrel sizes, sometimes full 53-gallon, sometimes much smalle...

Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey Review.       Every once in a while, luck strikes in the bourbon aisle. That was the case when I stumbled across Old Forester’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon, sitting almost unnoticed on the shelf with only a couple bottles left. My relationship with Old Forester is an odd one, I’ve never gone deep into their core lineup, but I’ve had great experiences with their store picks, limited editions, and the famous Birthday Bourbon. This bottle was one of those rare finds I just couldn’t walk away from, especially knowing how quickly Old Forester’s barrel proof offerings vanish in my market.      This particular single barrel comes is drawn from Warehouse K, floor five. Warehouse K is known for running hot, which often brings bold character to the whiskey. And as with all single barrels, each release will vary, but that unpredictability is part of the fun. For the full video review visit the link he...

 Rare Saint Straight Rye Whiskey Review.      Rare Saint is a newer brand on the Indiana whiskey scene, with its operations based in Indianapolis. Early indications suggest they do a lot of sourcing from MGP, which is far from a bad thing, MGP makes some excellent whiskey. That said, there’s a bit of marketing questions here, with the bottle labeled as a “limited release” and “rare spirit.” I picked this one up out of curiosity and a desire to support a local brand, hoping to see how they handle barrel selection.      The labeling suggests a two-barrel blend and an official age statement is nowhere to be found on the bottle. Their website mentions a 5-year age, but without that detail on the packaging, it’s left as an assumption. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/DZdKGnv-FUs Age Statement: 5 years (according to the website). ABV:  57.65%. Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley. Area of Distillation: Indiana. Appea...

 New Holland Brewing Walleye Run Malted Rye Whiskey 7 Year Review.      Last year’s trip to Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Festival gave me the perfect excuse to visit New Holland Brewing’s Brew House, a must-stop for fans of their iconic Dragon’s Milk stout. That’s when I first picked up the Walley Run Malted Rye Whiskey, a newer release at the time. Now, it’s making its way onto shelves here in Indiana, and even available online. This 7-year-old rye, distilled, aged, and bottled entirely by New Holland. Knowing New Holland’s knack for blurring the lines between brewing and distilling, I was eager to revisit this bottle after a year in my cabinet.      Walley Run Malted Rye is crafted in-house on New Holland’s pot stills and bottled at 46% ABV. While they’re well-known for their beer barrel-aged bourbonsm and for aging beer in ex-bourbon casks,  this rye takes a different path, letting the grain and barrel speak for themselves. The malted rye ba...