The Last Call

West Fork Whsky Co. Hot Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey Review       West Fork Whsky Company has become a familiar and trusted name on my back bar, and for good reason. Distilling, aging, and bottling all of their spirits in Indiana, they’ve consistently shown a willingness to experiment while still respecting the core of what makes good whiskey enjoyable. This Hot Honey Finished Bourbon is part of an ongoing collaboration with local spice expert King Butter, and Batch 3 marks a noticeable evolution in the series.      Having spent time with both Batch 1 and Batch 2, I came into this release with a mix of excitement and curiosity. The first batch was bold and cask strength, the second leaned heavily into spice. Batch 3 introduces a higher age statement and promises a better balance between bourbon character and finishing influence. I had tasted this previously at the distillery, but a fresh pour at home always tells the real story.      T...

Springbank 5 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review.      Springbank is one of those distilleries that almost feels mythical at this point. Bottles appear, vanish, and suddenly everyone is talking about them again. Over the course of 2025, I was fortunate enough to track down the 10, 12, and 15 year expressions at close to SRP, and each one reinforced why Springbank has such a devoted following. The 10 was excellent, the 12 downright phenomenal, and the 15, while still very good, didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by its siblings.      So when Springbank announced a 5 year old release near the end of the year, curiosity immediately took over. On paper, it makes very little sense. This comes in younger than the flagship 10 year, at a higher proof, and priced almost identically. That combination raises questions right away, especially when the 10 year is only a few dollars more. Still, Springbank rarely releases anything without intention, so this fe...

Three Floyds Distilling Bottled in Bond Malted Wheat Whiskey.      Three Floyds Distilling is a name I find myself revisiting more often than I ever expected. Based out of Munster, Indiana, they built their reputation in the beer world with cult favorites like Zombie Dust and Gumballhead before shifting serious focus toward distillation. Over the last several years, that same creative energy has clearly carried over into their spirits lineup. Wolfborne immediately stood out to me because it represents something truly uncommon in American whiskey, a bottled in bond malted wheat whiskey built around a mash bill that most distilleries would never attempt. As soon as I saw the grain breakdown, I knew this was a bottle I had to spend time with.       Wolforne is distilled, aged, and bottled entirely by Three Floyds using a single pot still and meets all bottled in bond requirements. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/b2ah0...

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 21 Years Review.      Knob Creek has never been shy about leaning into age, oak, and intensity, and in 2025 they took that philosophy one step further by extending their long-aged lineup to 21 years. As someone who genuinely loved the Knob Creek 18, including its bold, oak-forward profile that some found overwhelming, I was extremely curious to see what three additional years in the barrel would bring. Finding this bottle at SRP made the decision easy. This felt like a natural evolution of the Knob Creek story, and one I was excited to explore. For the full video review visit the link here:  https://youtu.be/yU0Kh7Adxag . Age Statement: 21 years. ABV: 50%. Mash bill:  75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. Area of Distillation:  Clermont, Kentucky. Appearance:  Deep espresso mahogany. On the nose:      Instantly rich and expressive. Classic Jim Beam nuttiness shows up first, leaning ...

Springbank 15 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review.      Springbank is one of those names that immediately raises eyebrows among Scotch enthusiasts, and for good reason. Limited production, traditional methods, and a reputation that borders on cult status have made these bottles increasingly hard to find. Spotting the Springbank 15 Year on shelves in Indiana felt like a small miracle, especially after missing out the first time and circling back weeks later to grab one of the last remaining bottles.      Having already enjoyed the Springbank 10 and 12 Year expressions, expectations for the 15 were understandably high. This release carries extra intrigue thanks to its full maturation in Oloroso sherry casks, not merely a finish, which immediately sets the tone for something richer and more layered. Springbank’s production is famously hands-on, with traditional floor malting, direct-fired stills, and partial triple distillation contributing to the distillery...

 Bear Wallow Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey Review.      My introduction to Bear Wallow Distillery came years ago through their core releases, and I immediately appreciated how proudly local their approach was. They distill, age, and bottle everything in-house, relying on Indiana grains and keeping things small enough that most of their whiskey never even makes it out of their own region. That kind of dedicated local following says a lot about a distillery’s character. So when I learned they were releasing long-aged single barrel offerings near the end of 2025, I made it a point to stop by while visiting the area, and I left with this bottle in hand, excited to dive deeper.      This single barrel straight bourbon is a big step forward for Bear Wallow. Coming in at 64.7% ABV and aged 8 years and 4 months, it carries a mash bill of 65% corn, 25% wheat, and 10% malted barley. No rye at all, which allows the wheat to take a more expressive suppo...

Smoke Wagon Blender’s Select Straight Rye Whiskey Review.      Smoke Wagon is one of those brands that immediately draws attention, partly because of its striking bottle design with wax seals and etched glass, and partly because of the mystery surrounding its sourcing and blending philosophy. Based out of Nevada, Smoke Wagon has built a reputation around curated blends, often utilizing MGP distillate while being unusually transparent about what goes into the bottle. Unfortunately, distribution is limited, and for me that means a drive to Ohio just to pick one up, but curiosity finally got the better of me.      This release is a blend of two distinct rye mash bills. The first consists of 51% rye, 45% corn, and 4% malted barley. The second is one of MGP’s newer recipes, made up of 51% rye and 49% malted barley. These components are blended together and released at a robust proof without clear indication of whether it is true cask strength. The bottle reviewe...