The Last Call

     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...

     Hard  Truth  Distilling  has  become  one  of  the  most  recognizable  craft  distilleries  coming  out  of  Indiana  in  recent  years.  Known  primarily  for  their  sweet  mash  rye  whiskey,  the  distillery  has  steadily  been  expanding  into  bourbon  as  well.  While  some  of  their  earlier  bourbons  felt  fairly  standard,  the  newer  releases  with  higher  age  statements  and  barrel  proof  offerings  have  started  to  show  real  promise.           This  particular  bottle  is  a  distillery- selected  single  barrel  called  Decadence.  Bottled  at  cas...

          Rare Saint, based in the Indianapolis area and connected to well-known establishments like  St. Elmo Steak House ,  1933 Lounge , and  Harry & Izzy’s , has been steadily releasing sourced MGP whiskey over the past few years. After being underwhelmed by one of their previous rye releases, I admittedly stepped away for a bit. But I am a sucker for port cask finishes, and this one pulled me right back in.      The Trinity of Port is an ambitious concept: a blend of four MGP mash bills, each at least five years old, finished separately in ruby, tawny, and white port barrels before being blended back together. Limited to just 834 bottles, this release swings for the fences on paper. After blending and resting, the whiskey was divided and finished in ruby, tawny, and white port barrels. Those three components were then blended back together to create the final product.      The transparency here is apprec...

     Big Game Canadian Whiskey wasn’t something I went hunting for, but sometimes the shelf finds you instead. While poking around Big Red Liquor in the Indianapolis area, this bottle caught my eye sitting in a box at a dirt-cheap price. I’m a sucker for unique finishes and interesting artwork, and seeing a Canadian whiskey finished in Belgian style double ale casks was enough to pull the trigger.      Canadian whiskey gets a mixed reputation, but there are some genuinely solid examples out there. Add in a local Indiana connection with the finishing barrels coming from Taxman Brewing Company, and I went into this one with an open mind and cautious optimism. This release is bottled by The Whiskey Ring, an independent bottler closely tied to Big Red Liquor and responsible for several interesting store picks and finishes.       The whiskey itself started as a three-year-old Canadian whiskey aged in Canada, then brought to the United States ...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Silverthorn Reserve,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.        Silverthorn Reserve is a new name hitting shelves in 2026, but they are coming out of the gate with confidence. Their model is built on thoughtful barrel selection, transparent sourcing, blending, and finishing techniques, and that transparency is front and center with this release.       The Finishing Art Port Finished Rye is a six-barrel batch built from well-aged Indiana rye stocks and blended. After blending, the whiskey is finished in port casks, though the exact finishing time is not disclosed. Typically, port finishes run a few months rather than a year or more, but we should know a bit more via the notes and taste. On paper, it checks every box I get excited about: age, proof, finishing, and full disclosure on what’s inside the bottle. For the full video review visit the l...

I received this spirit as a review sample from Silverthorn Reserve,  linked here . It is important to clarify this did not impact the ratings of this review.      Silverthorn Reserve is one of the newer names hitting shelves in 2026, and they’re making it clear from the start that transparency is part of the mission. The brand provides full details on sourcing, mash bills, and blend percentages. That kind of openness is always a strong first step.      The Blender's Art expression brings together well-aged stocks from Georgia and Indiana, blending straight bourbon and straight rye whiskeys. On paper, it promises both maturity and balance, walking the line between classic bourbon richness and rye-driven lift. The Indiana stocks are likely sourced from MGP, known for their 95/5 rye mash bill, while the Georgia bourbon adds an intriguing layer of age and regional character that is less commonly seen at this maturity.      It is a thoughtful...