u/Powerful_Law7570

Hello, guys. Toni B here, and today is a special day for all of us Americans. It's the 250th anniversary of the USA. 🇺🇸 Hopefully, you guys are spending quality time with family, friends, and, more importantly, drinking a good American whiskey. 🥃 (These are the type of days when you open that special bottle.)

A lot of things have been going on lately. The ⚽ World Cup has honestly made this 250th anniversary of the USA even more special. Seeing tourists enjoying America, watching their highlights as they visit 🤠 Texas, 🗽 New York, 🔔 Philly, and other parts of the 🇺🇸 USA has been awesome. It shows the type of people we really are. More importantly, seeing them have a different opinion of us has been great, considering how conflicted and divided the media is.

I'm proud to be lucky enough to have been born in this country. I love our food, our diversity, our freedom of speech, our bourbon, and our guns. And to be drinking American whiskey today? 🥃🇺🇸 It doesn't get more patriotic than that.

Anyway, today's bottle review is the Rittenhouse United States 250th Anniversary Commemorative Edition.

It took me a little longer than expected to get this bottle. The MSRP is $99.99, it's bottled at 100 proof, and this is a special release for the 250th anniversary of the USA. 🇺🇸 Sadly, some stores are already charging $150+ for it.

A little bit about Rittenhouse. This brand has been around since the 1930s. Today, it's made by Heaven Hill Distillery. Their regular lineup is centered around a 4 year American rye whiskey, so this 10 year release really stands out.

Also, a quick note. This is not a bourbon. It's an American rye whiskey, which means the mash bill is made with at least 51% rye instead of corn like bourbon. 🌾 But I'm sure you guys already knew that. 😄

Going back to the bottle review, looking at the bottle, it has a tall, slim, sleek design. I like the top that shows the American flag color theme. The bottle definitely gives American vibes, that's for sure. 🇺🇸

On the aroma, while serving it in a Glencairn glass, I could already smell the rye. But I let it rest for about 8 minutes before giving it a good whiff.

Right away, you still get that rye, but now it's a lot more balanced. I get a nice herbal tea aroma with a little bit of lemon. Then I get hit with some nice sweetness. I also pick up some oak, but the rye spice and a little bit of ethanol tell me this is going to have a long, strong finish.

On the taste, uff... if you're not a fan of rye, you're going to hate this guy. Right away, you get that lemon zest mixed with the rye sensation. To me, this leans heavily toward lemon tea. It also has a strong kick to it with a really nice heat. Maybe it's not the ideal whiskey to drink during the summer, but the finish is long and strong. It has a good spice kick, and as it fades, I get a little chocolate sensation. Honestly, I think the best part of this whiskey is the finish. It just makes you want to keep sipping.

Now, keep in mind this is not a bourbon, so you're not going to find that sweetness you normally get from a bourbon. When I say sweetness, I mean a really mild one.

But with that being said, if I have to give it a score, I'm giving it an

89/100.

Really good whiskey. It's balanced really well, and honestly, I think the lemon tea combination goes fantastic with it. It's definitely a whiskey worth drinking and sharing with friends. I think if this bottle was in the $70 to $80 range, and it wasn't a limited release, I'd probably give it a higher score.

Alright, hopefully you guys enjoyed the review. I'm going to continue enjoying this bottle tonight and call it a day.

Oh, one more thing before I really go. 😂 I have to mention this real quick. We've had one of the craziest 🏀 NBA Drafts I've ever seen. (WTF was that Boston trade? 🤯) Next season, the NBA is going to be 🔥.

This is Toni B, guys, and I'm out.

Hello guys, Toni B here, and NYC is absolutely buzzing with the ⚽ World Cup, especially Times Square.

I went to a game last Thursday between 🇪🇨 Ecuador and 🇩🇪 Germany, and man, what a game. I've been to a lot of sports games, but being at a World Cup, the energy is something else. (I was even able to buy one of Ecuador's jerseys outside the stadium. I like rooting for the underdog lol.)

It was also crazy because 🇪🇨 Ecuador needed to win, something that seemed impossible, as 🇩🇪 Germany is a top contender. They were down 0-1, but they flipped it and won 2-1.

That atmosphere... I got splashed with beer, hugged by random Ecuadorians who were crying once the game was over. It was something else. Happy for them.

Still hoping I can snag some tickets for the 🏆⚽ World Cup Final, but currently the cheapest ones are over $11K 🤯.

Anyways, today I'm going to review the John J. Bowman Single Barrel. The MSRP is around $55.00, it's 100 proof, and I couldn't find the exact barrel age, but some Redditors say it's around 9 to 10 years.

What I find interesting is that a lot of people compare John J. Bowman to Blanton's Single Barrel. Some even say it tastes the same or better. 🤷‍♂️

I like the bottle and the little metal neck tag that says "Barrel Select."

I also like that while you're drinking the bottle, you can see John J. Bowman looking through a spyglass.

I've been drinking this bottle already for a few days, so this isn't a fresh bottle review. I wanted to mention that because sometimes reviewing a bottle right after opening it versus a few days later can make a big difference, as oxidation can change the taste.

On the aroma... this guy is as fruity as it can get, but you get a lot of apple with a bit of cherry. The oak is really not aggressive at all. It's really light and gets overwhelmed by the apple.

It reminds me of some kind of apple dessert. I just can't pinpoint exactly which one, but it's inviting as hell.

If you get it at an angle, there's barely any ethanol at all unless you take a huge whiff.

I can already tell this is going to be oily just by swirling it and watching how slowly it runs down the Glencairn glass.

On the taste, you get tons of baked apple. It goes down smooth and is as oily as I thought, not dry at all.

I actually get more grape than cherry on the palate, even though on the aroma I pick up more cherry. (Sometimes I feel like I get confused between apple, cherry, and grape lol.)

As the baked apple fades, you get some sugar and vanilla. You barely feel the ethanol, and it just has a nice warmth as it goes down.

On the finish, it doesn't feel dry at all. It's not too short, but it's not too long either. I'd say it's more of a medium finish. Those nice flavors stay with you for a while, and as they slowly fade, you start picking up even more flavors. It's nice!

If I had to give this bottle a score, I'd give it

87/100.

It's a great bottle, but I honestly think the finish could be better. The more I drank it, the more I felt the finish wasn't as impressive as some others. It's still solid, but I just like a little more heat and spice on my finish.

Still, this bottle feels more expensive to my rookie palate than a lot of those much more expensive allocated bottles.

But do I think it's better than regular Blanton's Single Barrel?

When it comes to price and allocation? Hell yeah.

As for the taste, I can't really say because I haven't done a blind taste test yet. That's the only way to be 100% fair.

I'll try to grab a bottle next week and do a blind taste test. I really enjoy those blind taste test reviews that some Redditors post. To be honest, they're my favorite ones to read.

But that's my review. Hope you guys enjoyed it.

I'm going to go watch 🇨🇴 Colombia vs. 🇵🇹 Portugal now (Let's go Colombia!!!) I'll try not to finish this bottle so I can do a blind taste test against Blanton's Single Barrel next week.

This is Toni B, and I'm out, guys.

Hello guys, Toni B here, and today is Father's Day (Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there), and also the Knicks 🏀 finally, after 53 years, became NBA Champions 🏆.

The World Cup ⚽ is also making this month special in NYC 🗽. The city is vibing and there are a lot of great vibes all around. I even got tickets for the Germany 🇩🇪 game this Thursday and for a quarterfinals game. We will see if I do a bottle for each game in the elimination round. 🍾🥃🏆

But today I am going to review a bottle that needs no introduction to tequila fans, and that is the Fortaleza Reposado. The MSRP of this bottle is $65.99 (that's what I paid for it... and no, before you ask, the secondary price is not worth it at all).

Sadly, Fortaleza has become probably the most sought after tequila for many people, and that is because of its popularity online. They used to be everywhere and easy to find, but lately finding one is like hunting for a bourbon bottle.

I'm not going to go into the history of this brand because it has been talked about so much already, but one thing that makes this brand special is that all of their cork tops resemble an agave piña and are handmade. You can find many videos on YouTube of people touring the distillery and showing how they are made.

They also used to be named Los Abuelos, but due to trademark rights in international markets, the brand had to be renamed Fortaleza outside of Mexico. Even today, their bottles have a stamp behind the label with their original name.

So that alone tells you that they take their heritage and craftsmanship seriously. Their production is relatively small, and with all the hype and popularity the brand has gained over the years, they simply can't keep up with demand. Think about it like a Pappy Van Winkle type of situation.

Serving it in my Glencairn glass and doing a few swirls, I go in for the aroma 👃 and you can feel that strong punch of agave right in your face. The strong pepper hits you second, then you get a bit of light oak and some vanilla, but very lightly. At the end, I get a bit of acidity that feels from orange citrus notes. I gotta put in an angle to get that oak aroma.

On the taste, the first thing you get is that beautiful agave, with that spice kicking right next to it. You barely feel any oak honestly, with some pepper at the end. But once everything fades a few seconds later, you start getting some of the oak flavors and a bit of sweetness. I love the finish on this one... it goes down easy and feels oily at the start... because then goes away and gives you that dry aftertaste with a sandy tasting feeling...... I guess that's what people call earthy. The agave on this is amazing......

But with that being said, taking all the factors into account, especially availability, I give this one an

87/100.

A great tequila, but I can't give it a higher score because it is hard to find and the secondary price is just not worth it.

If you can find this tequila at MSRP, it is a no brainer. But again, I want to warn you guys, this tequila is for someone who loves agave and that peppery kick. If you are looking for more oak, more balance, and less agave in your face, this is not the one for you.

Alright, hope you guys enjoyed this review. I'm going to go ahead and keep drinking this reposado and watch some World Cup games ⚽. Any bottles to buy please let me know I'm always on the look up for new brands. This is Toni B guys, and I'm out.

Hello guys, Toni B here, and today I am dropping a bottle review to celebrate the Knicks 🏀 finally winning the NBA Championship 🏆 after 53 years. It feels unreal. The city is completely paralyzed, and there are more people here than on New Year's Eve. It is crazy because, with the World Cup ⚽ also going on, everyone seems happy in the streets. Good vibes ✌️. I wish it was like this all the time.

This past weekend, I was able to get the Blanton's Gold for $143 with a $10 coupon. It is a decent bottle to celebrate with, and it is a great one to review for this kind of occasion, even though there are plenty of better bottles out there. But let me tell you guys a method I sadly have to use to be able to buy at MSRP. I use those food apps to check liquor store prices before wasting my time going to the store and finding out their prices are out of range. It comes in clutch, and I am sure in other areas you can get them easily at MSRP, but here in NY 🗽 the prices are unforgiving. I have to do what I have to do 🤷‍♂️.

Now, this bottle's MSRP is around $150, and it is 103 proof. It is a high rye mash bill, non age stated, and it has been in the barrel for around 6 to 8 years. These are supposedly the best barrels due to their location, which is why they call it Gold (if anyone has more info can let me know, but that is my understanding). It reminds me of the Johnnie Walker Blue Label because they also pick the best stocks only, and the prices are really similar. Currently, we have the regular Blanton's, the Gold, and the Straight From The Barrel here in the US. I think in the past the Gold and Straight From The Barrel used to be international only, but now you can find them here. (One thing I find interesting is that most stores overcharge for the Japanese Takara version when it is basically the same thing 😆.... and yes I have tried it.) Many prefer the Straight From The Barrel over Gold, and I hope I can get that one to do a review as well, then do a blind test with all three to see if I am able to distinguish them. That should be fun.

Now, opening the bottle and serving it in my Glencairn glass, you guys can see the bright darkish amber color (see picture 2). Doing the aroma right away, I get a rye punch, but also some ethanol and some fading vanilla. Besides that, I cannot get too much from the first whiff, but after letting it sit for 10 minutes, I get more interesting notes. Ufff, much more pleasant and less spicy, for sure. I can get some fruit notes, but it is not a cherry type, more like another type of dark fruit, just a bit less fruity. I also get a bit of sweetness that to me feels like honey, but I have to get it at an angle to really feel it.

On the palate, it has a nice oily mouthfeel, not that oily either, so it goes down really smooth because of it. The rye is not too much in your face, and the fruity notes make it balance better than other bourbons. It is definitely a dark fruit, more like a plum. I really enjoy the spice finish on this one, as it is not that aggressive and is well balanced. As it fades, you get more of the other flavors like vanilla, but what really stands out in the finish for me is the honey. I get that bold raw honey taste, and it also does not leave you with a dry feeling at all. Really nice.

I really like how they were able to balance the rye with the other flavors on this one. Also, let's be honest, it feels more elegant pouring just because of the gold horse 🐎, but leaving all that BS aside, if I have to give it a score, I give it an

85/100.

The reason is simple for me, it comes down to price and availability. If an item is too expensive and that hard to find, what is the point, right? I would rather spend that money on the Old Forester 1924, specifically the third batch, not the other two. Also, I am sure if I do a blind taste test with all the Blanton's expressions, I might get surprised by the results and which one I actually find best.

I hope you guys enjoy the review. I will try to drop one review every week, and then once we get to the World Cup ⚽ quarterfinals, I will do one for each game since I have got tickets for a couple of them. That should be fun.

Alright guys, going to go ahead, watch some World Cup games ⚽, and enjoy this bottle some more 🥃. This is Toni B and I am out!

Hello guys, Toni B here. To keep the cábala going and hoping the Knicks 🏀 can just win one more to get that chip, I'm dropping another review before the game. Today is Game 5 of the NBA Finals 🏆! Also, the World Cup ⚽ is going on and Brazil 🇧🇷 is playing today, so the city is buzzing. Gotta love it. 

That last game was nuts... one of the greatest comebacks I've ever seen. I thought it was over by halftime. That winning tip in at the end by OG Anunoby, man... it still feels unreal. If we win this championship, that man deserves a statue outside Madison Square Garden. Now the Knicks 🏀 are up 3-1. (Biggest comeback and biggest choke ever? If the Knicks 🏀 get the chip, it might go down right there with the Patriots vs. Falcons 🏈 from the 2016 season.) 

One of the local stores was running a Father's Day special bundle for $169.99, and it included a Weller 12 Year Wheated Bourbon with a tequila. (In case you're wondering, the other bottle was a Siete Leguas Añejo French Oak, a solid tequila, so I didn't mind at all. You guys tell me in the comments if I overpaid or not.) 

Looking at the bottle, it is 90 proof. Depending on where you get it, the MSRP can land between $50 and $70. My understanding is that the MSRP for the 12 Year is actually supposed to be lower than the 107. However, almost everywhere you go, the 12 Year is priced higher. Maybe people think it should be priced higher because it's been in the barrel for 12 years. But then again, it's lower proof, so I don't know. You guys tell me. 🤷‍♂️ 

Opening the bottle, the first thing that popped out to me was that it has a screw top and doesn't have a cork. It felt like I was opening a bottle of Early Times. (It's a shame because this year Early Times sucks. Honestly, I wonder if Sazerac is trying to kill that brand to push another one.) 

Serving it in the Glencairn glass, it has a nice darker amber color. I like to let it sit for about 10 minutes before doing a tasting. I really take my time with the aroma and the sip because I'm trying hard to pinpoint these flavors. I don't want to BS you guys trying to sound fancy or act like I have a "gold palate," because I don't. 

I've noticed a big difference between doing the aroma right away versus letting it breathe. Definitely let it sit if you can. I know it's tempting to jump right in, but it makes it easier to pick up the other notes. At first, you get hit with a lot of sweetness from the barrel influence, but once it sits, it mellows out and the rest starts coming through. 

On the aroma, I get really sweet vanilla and caramel. I barely feel any ethanol on this one. I also pick up some fruity notes, but they aren't as pronounced as they are in the 107. Finally, I get a bit of an apple note, almost like a slightly bitter, acidic bite right at the end. 

Okay, on the taste. This one leans really hard on the oak. You get that vanilla and caramel, and there are some fruit notes, but it's not a heavy cherry. It's more of a faded cherry note because the oak is really the star here. There is absolutely zero spice to it. It's really easy to drink, but honestly, I can't imagine putting this on ice. For my palate, I prefer a bit more punch and spice, so this feels a little too light. But I can easily see people who love sweet oak notes really enjoying this one. And to be fair, it balances out much better once it sits. 

What I find interesting is that the sip itself is sweet, but the finish comes in really dry. You know when you eat peanut butter and it leaves that dry, fading aftertaste coating your mouth? This gives me exactly those vibes. It's a tasty drink. I just wish the proof was higher. 

With that being said, if I have to give this a score, I'm giving it an

81 out of 100.

It's a good pour, but for the price and the proof, I think there are tons of better options out there. For around a hundred bucks, I can think of few bottles that I would enjoy more. And before you ask, yes, for me the 107 is way superior. Like I mentioned, the lighter finish on this one was my biggest disappointment, which makes it hard to rate it any higher. 

Alright guys, I'm gonna continue sipping this, finish watching the Brazil 🇧🇷⚽ game, and get ready for the Knicks🏀 game. This is Toni B guys and I'm out. Go Knicks 🏀!

Hello guys, Toni B here, and to keep the cabala going and hopefully help the Knicks 🏀 get that chip 🏆, I am dropping another review today.

Yesterday was Game 4 of the NBA Finals and my god, what a game. The Knicks 🏀 took it home and now the series is 3-1. Damn, way too many emotions yesterday, the Knicks 🏀 did a historic comeback as OG Anunoby delivered a miracle tip to seal the win that I'm still in disbelief... what a night. (Reminds me of the comeback of the Patriots vs. Falcons 🏈 in 2017, might be remembered as the biggest comeback in sports history or the biggest choke 😵, what you guys think?).

But going back to the bottle review, today I am reviewing the Cazcanes Number 7 Añejo. I got this bottle in a bundle with the Siete Leguas Añejo for a price of $125.99, so around 70 bucks or more depending on how you price Siete Leguas.

I have been seeing this brand a lot lately on my Facebook and Instagram feeds, and whenever I see a brand pushed this hard with influencers, I'm always skeptical. I don't care who it is, I always think that money could go into the product itself and just let the juice speak for itself. So let's see if the hype is real.

I noticed next to the Cazcanes they had their Reposado Rosa, but it was over $100, I was like, WTF, that felt a bit of a rip off to me, considering you can get 2 or 3 solid bottles of G4, El Tesoro, Arette, etc., I guess depending on where you get it, but still.

From what I read, one of the owners came from the wine world. The story is pretty interesting. They originally met Humberto Alvarado, a distiller making old school agave spirits deep in the jungle. One of the owners spent a long time learning from Humberto and studying his craft, then teamed up with master distiller Don Chico Jiménez to help bring those traditional methods into commercial tequila production. The brand was created around 2015, and they eventually moved production from NOM 1599 to NOM 1614 to scale up. The agave for this is cooked in traditional stone or brick ovens.

Looking at the bottle, it has a cool and different design, I like the top with the cork, and it is also easy to store on the shelves, but one thing that stands out is the label says organic. That gives me some bad vibes, like they are trying to use it to justify a higher price tag. It reminds me of Pantalones, Matthew McConaughey's brand, which is all over their label, so I found it a bit strange. Whenever I see organic pushed hard, I always remind myself that organic and additive free are two completely different things. One refers to how the agave is grown, while the other refers to what is added later in production. I guess they try to be sleek and people might see organic as additive free, when in reality it is just how it is farmed and additives can still be added later (but if anyone has more info let me know).

Serving this in the glass, it has a nice amber yellow color, you can check it out in the second pic. It smells like agave, not too strong, but I don't smell that mature agave like the others, not saying it is not, but it is not as strong. This one leans toward the sweet side, reminding me a bit of a dessert, like vanilla and some almonds at the end, fading like a bit of chocolate it seems for me.

Now, on the taste, I don't get that strong cooked, mature agave I get with El Tesoro and Siete Leguas. It is decent agave, but it is not the star of this añejo because the other flavors of the sweetness don't let it shine. I do get the vanilla and caramel from the oak, but there is zero spice to it. When I do a review, I really like drinking the bottle and taking my time, even for a couple of hours. I just took another sip and yeah, the finish is just mild at best. So if I have to give this bottle a score I'll give it a

75/100.

I'm surprised because when I see other reviews I see it on the high side, but if you are someone that enjoys strong cooked agave with some spice, this tequila is definitely not the one for you. I would not buy it again, but not because it is bad, it is because it is way too expensive. Now that I tried it, I can say the taste is just not my style. I think this profile leans more toward people who prefer sweeter notes over that strong cooked agave punch. Nothing wrong with that, it's just not my thing, but I am glad I tasted it myself and came to my own conclusions.

And before anybody asks, the sweetness I got didn't come across as additives to me. It felt more like the oak and barrel influence doing the work, which is perfectly fine, just not the flavors I'm personally looking for.

Alright guys, I'm going to go relax and watch the World Cup ⚽. You guys cheering for a particular team? If so let me know. This is Toni B guys and I'm out. LETS GO KNICKS🏀

Hello guys, this is Toni B, and today is Game #4 of the NBA Finals. To keep the cabala going, hoping the Knicks 🏀 get that chip 🏆, I'm dropping another review before the game.....

Man, that was a tough loss..... I blame Trump for it 😏. But seriously, hopefully we can go back and win this one..... but just like everything good so far about the finals (fans, ratings, excitement, small businesses making money), there is the bad side. I saw some disgusting 🤬 videos trending on Reddit of some San Antonio fans getting attacked, and I just despise that type of crap so much. Hopefully, with the footage they all get punished, but it's NYC... so I don't get my hopes high.

Anyways, I had to travel to CT to be able to grab some bundle deals a store was having. I grabbed 2 deals: one was a tequila bundle, and the other was a strange deal because it was the Weller 107 + Myers's Rum from Jamaica (I know, the strangest bundle lol), it was $105, more likely I overpaid. (I don't know about you guys, but I hate when those bourbon hunters appear on my YouTube feed, especially the same dude with the Weller........ it's like he can get it anywhere at MSRP. I call that BS....... nah, I'm just probably hating on the guy.... he's probably cool in real life.)

Going back to the bottle, the MSRP usually is around $60. About the mash, from what I read, it is from Buffalo Trace's wheated mash bill. Now I have tried most of the Wellers except the Full Proof and CYPB because I refuse to pay over $500 for them. This is the first time I actually do a sit down review versus just drinking it at some friend's house.

Alright, I serve it plain in my Glencairn glass, and on the nose 👃, you get a lot of the same aroma notes from the last bottle I reviewed, the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series, which was cherry, vanilla, and caramel. But this one felt more bold, like the spice hits harder on it. I think it's due to the proof, but people can correct me if I'm wrong.

On the taste, for me, it felts like an upgraded version of the Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series. The flavor profile are better balance, get that fruit cherry but more in dark note side with a stronger finish. You can see in picture 2 the color and how oily it is as well, coating the whole glass. What makes this bourbon stand out is definitely how that heavy sweetness balances out with the warm finish at the end. I see why for some people this is a must have bottle, but it's not a bottle that I'm like "oh my god" about... I liked the Old Grand Dad Single Barrel better, but everyone has different tastes.

Also, my palate still on the rookie side. I see people here that put in their review all these crazy notes, I don't get that at all. Reason I didn't mention them, maybe in a few years I will, but I didn't feel those leather and dark chocolate notes. I won't put out stuff I don't feel. If there is a technique I'm missing besides the typical sipping one, let me know! With that being said, I give this bottle an

87 / 100

I'd probably give it more if it was easy to get, because at the end of the day, availability matters for me, it's a factor.

Alright guys, I'm making some popcorn 🍿, my favorite snack to drink bourbon with. What's your favorite snack? Someone should do a post about it...... Okay, getting things ready before friends come over. This is Toni B, guys, and I'm out. GO KNICKS 🏀!!!!

Hello guys, Toni B here, and to keep the cabala going and hopefully help the Knicks 🏀 get that chip 🏆, I'll continue with a bottle review after the game. (So expect another review on Thursday)

Yesterday was Game #3 of the NBA Finals and man... San Antonio took it home and now the series is 2-1. That was a rough game...... I blame Trump for the loss 😏 (Tried to get tickets for Game #4 tomorrow, but man, $4K for nosebleeds...... F that.)

Anyways on Sunday, I drove to CT because a store had some tequila bundle promotions. I was able to snag the Siete Leguas Añejo and the Cazcanes No. 7 Añejo for $125.99. I'll probably be reviewing that one next, but let me know if there are any other bottles actually worth getting.

One thing I did notice when I was in Mexico last year and got a Siete Leguas was that the alcohol content was lower than the U.S. version (38% vs 40%). Not sure exactly why, but if someone knows, let me know.

A little bit of what I know about Siete Leguas is that they were founded by Don Ignacio and the González family back in the early 50's.... funny thing is that Siete Leguas used to make and distill for Patrón all the way until the early 2000s. Then Patrón got huge with celebrities everywhere and in clubs, it seems that Patrón tried to pressure Siete Leguas to cut corners to speed up and keep up with demand..... Siete Leguas said F U and bounced. Now that's a G move, leaving money on the table to keep the tradition.

But going back to the review, opening the bottle, it has that same Siete Leguas small bottle look, perfect to fit on any shelf. As I open the bottle and start serving myself a glass, before I even do a nose dive you can smell the mature agave. But when I actually do a proper nose dive in, you smell the vanilla, that nice oak, and I also get a bit of cinnamon fading at the end. It's not peppery like G4.

The reasons there is barely any color to this añejo even tho its been in a barrel for 24 month is bc they use American white oak barrels so no fake stuff. Honestly, you might think it's a repo just by the look of it.

As I taste it a few times, just to ensure I can get the most flavors that my rookie palate can detect, I really enjoy how easy it is to drink, and more importantly, they make the agave the star on it. You get that mature cooked agave (if you have drank cheap tequila, you know what I mean), some vanilla, and of course tons of sweetness that def comes from caramel, with barely any spice at the end, but I do have a lot of floral notes in the finish for me.

With that being said, I'll give this bottle an

89/100.

I think this is what an añejo is supposed to be when you have good craftsmanship and the tequila is done right. I think what makes this añejo great is the price. Just checking online, you can get it for around $70, and damn, if you really enjoy agave you will love this tequila for sure. Now, if you expect a lot more oak or spice, then this might not be the añejo for you.

Alright guys gonna do a little bit more sip and call it the night as tomorrow is a big day. Hopefully the Knicks can take it home. This is Toni B guys and I'm out.

Hello guys, Toni B here, and today is Game #3 of the NBA Finals. Need to continue the cabala of doing a bourbon review on game day to keep the luck going and hope the Knicks 🏀 clinch the championship 🏆.

The Knicks 🏀 are up 2-0 (damn, those last 5 minutes had my heart in my mouth 😬).

It might be time to bring out the 🧹… even with the refs playing against us 😤.

(Luckily Tony Brothers won’t be reffing tonight! 🎉)

Man, I had to leave work early to beat the traffic (was blasting thunderstruck ⚡️on repeat lol). Not helping that the president is attending the game too… curious to see how The Garden receives him… 🍿... (Tried to get tickets but I'm not paying 6k for nosebleeds).

Regardless, I made it home with enough time to change into my Knicks 🏀 gear and do a proper review.

I like to take my time with a tasting so I can try to get all the flavors that my rookie palate can detect.

I was able to snatch the Maker’s Mark 2026 Wood Finishing Series this weekend. I paid $60 bucks for it (I think I got a good deal considering I live in NYC and bourbon allocated bottles are out of range unless you have F U type of money).

The label says Release 3 of 5 and that it uses a profile of 10 Virgin Toasted American Oak staves.

The notes on the bottle read vibrant, raw honey, and stone fruit. It comes in at 113.3 proof and was bottled in February 2026.

From what I read, this is the third year of the release series. I didn’t try the 2024 or 2025 release, so I can’t speak on either of them, but from what I read, some Redditors said this is their best release so far.

As for the bottle, it’s typical Maker’s Mark, nothing special really. The only thing different is the 2026 stamp on the label. Other than that, it still looks like Maker’s Mark with that unique wax seal.

I always like serving it into a Glencairn glass. I just feel, for me, it’s the best way to review bourbon.

This time, I’m not tasting it on the rocks. Since it’s a wheated bourbon, I don’t expect too much spice, and adding ice, in my opinion, would be overkill.

On the aroma, I like to swirl it around a bit before I do a nose dive in 👃.

The first thing that hits me is the fruity notes (heavy on 🍒cherry for me), then the honey… and honestly another smell I get is this light floral note. For me, floral smells a bit like perfume. I’m not really a floral guy, but it’s kind of lingering in the back.

On the taste, it was pleasant. Quite oily and leaves you with a good coating.

Now this is a wheated bourbon, so I didn't expect much of a kick on the finish. You get more oak with some fruity notes.

I didn’t get the floral perfume notes in the taste, only the aroma.

On the fruity notes, I get a ton of cherry 🍒 just like the aroma. This bourbon really leans heavy on the fruity side, not too much spice.

I’m enjoying it. I do wish the finish was a little stronger, but it’s really easy to drink.

But with that said guys, I give this bottle an

82 out of 100.

Good bottle to have on your shelf, especially if you enjoy fruity wheated bourbon. If you’re someone that prefers a little more balance between fruit, oak, and spice, this one might not be for you.

Alright guys, got some friends heading over. (The other 2 games the bottle was gone before halftime 😂 luckily I got others)

I’ll be posting another review Wednesday, until the series is over. If anyone got any recommendations let me know.

Alright guys, this is Toni B and I’m out.

LET’S GO KNICKS 🏀

Hello guys this is Toni B and to keep the Knicks 🏀 cábala going, I'm writing another review today. As I said, one review after each game of the NBA Finals. 🏆

Man what a game last night...... the last few minutes (Got those flashbacks of Game 1, 1999 when Starks got blocked by Robinson)

The Knicks 🏀 are on a roll (2-0 this series)

Our offense has been meh these past 2 games, but our D has been GOD DAMN!!! 🔥

Get the brooms ready. 🧹🧹

But today I've been drinking the ArteNOM 1146 Añejo.

This bottle usually goes for around $85.

I've been seeing the ArteNOM brand a lot more lately, which is great because they used to be pretty hard to find around here.

A little bit of history about this company.

ArteNOM was created around the 2010s by Jacob Lustig (Thanks u/agave_journey for the correction). What he did was pretty dope. He went around to different Mexican distilleries and helped bring some amazing tequilas to bigger markets.

From what I've read, he tended to work with distilleries that kept it real and did things the traditional way without cutting corners.

(Looking at you celebrity tequilas... 😏)

If you want to learn more about how some brands cut corners, there are some extremely knowledgeable Redditors who have made posts explaining all that stuff, so I won't steal their thunder.

One thing I also like is that each ArteNOM bottle represents a different NOM, so you get to experience different styles of tequila production.

From what I've checked, some of their releases have been 1123, 1146, 1414 and 1579. If I'm missing any, let me know.

(NOM is basically the distillery where they make the tequila. Each NOM has to follow pretty strict regulations, which is why a lot of tequila nerds pay attention to them.

The NOM on this bottle is 1146 and the maestro tequilero behind it is Enrique Fonseca, if you know tequila you already know why he is a G... Fuenteseca says enough.)

Produced at Tequileña MX and bottled at 41.3% ABV.

Serving the ArteNOM 1146, the first thing you notice is the agave on the aroma and that dark color when serving.

The color looks like a whiskey dark amber.

I tend to be really skeptical when it comes to color because a lot of extra añejos are actually a light amber color and this is an añejo should be lighter because it's been in the barrel for just 3 years...

So I checked to see what kind of barrels this was aged in... 🤔

And then I was like ahhhh... ok, that makes sense.

The tequila was aged in 2 different barrels, first French oak wine barrels and then American oak whiskey barrels.

I couldn't find the exact timeline for each barrel, but the total aging between both was around 3 years. If anyone knows the exact breakdown, let me know.

But it makes sense because French oak barrels are famous for giving spirits that darker amber color.

No wonder the color looks like a whiskey.

The aroma though... ufff... classy.

Right away I'm getting cooked mature agave, butterscotch, some caramel, and of course oak.

As it fades, I get some cocoa vibes, but very lightly. Nothing like the El Tesoro Extra Añejo I reviewed last week.

When tasting, you get nice mature agave, butterscotch, some fruity notes as well, some caramel and a sprinkle of sweetness, and oak. What surprised me was that I didn’t taste the cocoa, but I felt it in the aroma 🤔 in El Tesoro def did.

With that being said, I give this bottle an

88/100.

With the agave of course being the star and the complexity of flavors, I would recommend this to people who enjoy tequila.

Great añejo in my opinion. Flavors are well balanced 👌

Hopefully you guys enjoy the review.

I’m about to keep drinking this ArteNOM and just take it easy tonight.

I’ll be posting another review the day after the game on Tuesday to keep the cábala going.

We’ll see what bottle I pick tomorrow.

If anyone has any recommendations, let me know.

This is Toni B and I’m out.

Note: Another thanks to u/LurkerLurkenstein for fact checking the AI graphic. Created in 2010, not early 2000s. Started by Jacob Lustig, Not Thomas Estes. 1146 is Tequileña distillery, not El Pandillo (that’s 1579).

Like I said tons of knowledge people in this community. Cheers! Let's go Knicks.

Hello guys, Toni B here and I have to keep the good luck trend. I said I'd be dropping a bottle review for each 🏆 NBA Finals game, and on Game 1 the 🏀🗽 NY Knicks took it home. I gotta keep it real, the offense was kinda meh, but our defense was GOD DAMN!!! 🔥😤🏀

Well, today is Game 2, so we gotta keep the ritual alive. What's funny is even my friends were telling me, "Don't forget to drop the review, gotta keep that Knicks winning luck trend alive!" lol.

So I'm not taking any chances and decided to review this Old Grand Dad Single Barrel 114. I was really lucky getting this bottle. As I was leaving the store yesterday, one of the associates behind the counter told me they had just gotten it in and asked if I was interested. I saw a few Reddit posts about it too, so I was like, are you trolling me, brah? 🤨🤣..... but he was being legit, so I was helllll yeah!

So I did a bit of research on it. I like Old Grand Dad, but lately it's been pretty scarce, so I was surprised about this Single Barrel release. And because I'm a bit of a bourbon nerd, I wanted to find out what's going on. So I went online, checked out some Reddit posts and their website (no, I'm not lazy and just using AI lol..... well, the picture with the score is AI only lol). P.S. I gotta say, there are some seriously knowledgeable people in this bourbon subreddit. Sometimes I wish I could share a drink with them lol. (Kudos to you all).

I remember seeing the Old Grand Dad brand a lot more back in the late 90s, but I was still pretty much a bourbon noob back then and wasn't paying much attention to stuff like mash bills or proofs (honestly, at that time I was drinking Kentucky Gentleman..... 🤦‍♂️ the regret college years lol). Then it seemed to fade away for a while, so I was surprised to see it starting to show up on shelves again.

But from what I read, Old Grand Dad 114 has been around for decades, this Single Barrel is their new 2026 release. The MSRP is around $50, it comes in at 114 proof, and from what I found online, the mash bill is believed to be around 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley (if that's wrong, don't kill me 🤔). It is also around 7 years old, which surprised me because a lot of the single barrels I usually buy tend to be older. But if anyone has more information, let me know in the comments.

But going back to the bottle, the bottle itself looks like the regular 114. The label looks a bit nicer, but it's still on the smaller size bottle. I actually like that because I can fit it easily on the shelf.

But let's be honest, guys, we buy bourbon not to keep on the shelf, but to drink them and share them with friends.

So opening the bottle, on the aroma I got some butterscotch, vanilla, and a really sweet caramel note, but at the end you get that really roasted peanut note that makes you go, what..... was that? Jim Beam is famous for that roasted peanut profile, and on this one you can definitely tell it's there.

And..... when tasting it neat, what surprised me the most was the spice and peanuts blend smoothly. For a 7 year bourbon, the finish was great. The first thing that hits you when drinking it is of course some vanilla and caramel, but then you get this roasted peanut note on the finish that is..... peak honestly.

It's smooth..... almost feels criminal..... 🕺

So again, I decided to give it a shot on the rocks. I'm normally not a rocks type of guy, but I always like trying it both ways..... and..... I think this is the first time the rocks actually surprised me (Besides hazmat drinks). The spice didn't fade as much as I expected. I was like, WTF? For a 7 year bourbon? Maybe it's because of Knicks fever 🤒🌡️🏀 lol.

If you're trying this bourbon, I highly recommend letting it sit for a bit. I know I already said this on my past reviews, but trust me, it's worth it. Everything just mixes together amazingly.

With that said, guys, with the price of this bottle, I really love that it also comes in at 114 proof.

My score is 91 out of 100.

This has been the best release of the year so far FOR ME!!! (if we take all the factors with the price etc) The flavors blend so well for a $50 bottle that sometimes I'm left wondering 🤔 if some of those special edition, pricey bourbons are even worth it..... (yes, I'm calling you out Pappy Van Winkle..... never tried it though, so I can't talk shit lol).

Now we are in June, just about the middle of the year, so there's still a long way to go..... but for the price..... man..... I think I'm gonna try to get another one for sure!!!!!!

This is the type of bottle you put in a blind tasting against some expensive bottles and I think a lot of people would be surprised by the winner.....

Well guys, I'm about to have a few friends over in a bit, and for sure we'll be sharing this one.....

I'll be dropping another review Monday for Game #3, so we'll see what bottle I can snag next 😎🥃

Let's go 🏀🗽 Knicks for the sweep!!! 🔥🏆

This is Toni B guys, and I'm out!!!! 🥃

Hello guys, Toni B here.

Yesterday was Game 1, and wow, what a way to start the NBA Finals 🏆. The New York Knicks are now up 1-0. This is our year. 🏀

Today I wanted to do a written review of Tequileño Reposado Rare, which has been the best reposado I've tried so far.

Now here's the crazy part. This tequila spends about 6 years aging in a huge 16k liter American oak Pipón barrel 🛢️. Now usually a reposado only needs 2 months of aging, and an añejo needs at least 1 year. (So why call it a reposado?)

The reason this is still called a reposado is because Mexican tequila regulations require an añejo to be aged in oak barrels with a maximum capacity of 600 liters 🍾. (Yep, they're pretty strict with their regulations. It's one of the reasons you've seen all the drama with tequila brands like Casamigos, Don Julio, and others.)

Just because of that, it cannot be legally labeled as an añejo. I know it sounds pretty strange, but tequila regulations are regulations. (Gotta keep the craft... so don't hate...)

This is also a pricey reposado, coming in at around $180–$200 MSRP depending on where you live in the USA. If you're outside the U.S. and Mexico, I can't even imagine what the price would be.

As soon as I poured it into the glass, you could see that amber color. It almost looked like it was glowing, maybe because of my lighting. But on the aroma, uff... sweet right away. You can smell that mature agave, vanilla, caramel, oak, and then a little bit of honey at the end that was so inviting.

And on the taste, uff... the complexity on this one is incredible. This is definitely not your regular pour. Feels elegant, with a nice oily mouthfeel at the same time that coats the palate beautifully, in my opinion. I also get that mature agave, vanilla, caramel, honey, oak, and a bit of spice at the end. (I really love the honey on this one. It just blends so good with the agave. Ahh... drinking it while writing this is lovely, guys.)

I love how that spice kicks in on the finish. You can tell it's coming from the oak and from how long this tequila has been aging, absorbing all those flavors over the years. I wonder what American barrel company made that Pipón 🤔.

With that being said, I give this bottle a score of 90/100.

I'd honestly love to score it even higher because it tastes that good, but the price is what holds it back for me. For a reposado, you're looking at around $180–$200, and that's a lot of money for most people.

I do wish it was a little more affordable and easier to find, but I also understand this isn't your regular reposado. Once you try it, you'll understand why it's priced the way it is.

I'll be dropping another review Saturday to keep the Knicks ritual going 🏀🏆.

This is Toni B guys, and I'm out.

Hello guys, Toni B here and today is the first game of the NBA Finals 🏆, and because the NY Knicks are back since 99... geez, that brings back memories... especially the Finals in 94 when the game got interrupted because the Juice was loose 🏃🚓😂.

But anyways, as a good luck charm, I'll be doing a bottle review for each game of the Finals, so let's hope this is the Knicks year.

I grabbed the New Riff 8 Year a few days ago. Heard a lot of good things about it, so I figured why not give it a shot and do a review. The bottle cost me around 70ish bucks.

Looking at the bottle details, this bourbon is aged 8 years and comes in at 100 proof. From what I read online, the mash bill is 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley.

The bottle looks dark and slick, a little on the tall side, but as soon as I opened it I started getting some vanilla and caramel right away. As you go deeper into it, I started picking up some cherry and a little minty vibe, probably from that 30% rye. It wasn't strong, but it would come and go and I thought it worked really well.

I let it sit for a few minutes so it could open up a bit. One thing I do find interesting when doing reviews is going back and tasting a bottle a couple weeks later once it's been opened. I've noticed in a lot of instances that because of the oxidation, some of those bottles seem to blend better and honestly taste better than when you first open them and try them right away.

And letting it sit seems like the way to go. The flavors seem to come out more. I guess the air makes everything mix together better, but hey, I'm not a scientist... maybe it's because of the hype of the game lol.

One reason I wouldn't drink this one with ice, even with a sphere, is because I noticed that minty vibe barely kick in(chilled drinks kill the spice). The flavors were still good, but I thought it showed a little better neat where everything felt more balanced.

But if I have to give this bottle a score, it will be an

89 out of 100.

Solid bottle for an 8 year. The flavors are balanced and it's tasty, easy to drink.

It's a great bottle, and for a new company they're doing some solid work. Hopefully they keep their roots as they grow.

But alright, I'm expecting some pals over to watch the Finals. Nothing better than sharing some bourbon with your friends.

This is Toni B guys and I'm out. Let's go Knicks 🏀🏆

Hello guys, Toni B here and it’s been a great month so far, with the Knicks looking like this is finally the year 🗽🏀, but the other day I picked up the El Tesoro Extra Añejo. I’m a big fan of El Tesoro, they make one of the best añejos in my opinion, so this was a no brainer for me to grab.

Now from what I read, El Tesoro has had Extra Añejos before, but this version became part of their regular lineup around 2019 and has stayed going forward. This one is definitely more expensive than some of their other añejos like the El Mundial or even their regular Añejo depending where you buy it, but this Extra Añejo is supposed to be aged in American bourbon barrels for around 4 to 5 years, comes in at 80 proof, and the price usually sits around $100 to $140 plus depending where you buy it. Those tariffs are definitely not helping tequila prices for sure 😭

I used a Glencairn glass for maximum flavor and to catch all the notes.

When serving it, I was actually surprised by the color, because with all those years in bourbon barrels, I thought it was going to be a little bit darker. But honestly, I like that they still kept that classic tequila golden look instead of making it feel too over oaked.

On the aroma you can still smell the agave, but right behind it you get that oak and chocolate note coming through.

So I already had an idea this was gonna lean more into the chocolate and mature agave side. And once I tasted it, man this thing went down so smooth... that almost felt criminal honestly. (MJ reference lol)

You really get that cooked agave taste, not that younger thinner tequila taste some cheaper bottles have. Then that chocolate note starts coming in, with some oak, vanilla, and honestly even a little light coffee note on it too.

With that being said guys, I give this bottle

89 out of 100.

Definitely a tasty agave forward one that if I’m sharing with a friend, he better love whiskey or at least have some exquisite taste. The only thing keeping me from scoring it higher is the price, but El Tesoro definitely keeps it legit again. Taste wise man, this feels like one of those bottles you open for a nice occasion for sure, feels elegant.

🗽 Hope you guys enjoyed my review. I also have a full video review on it if you’re interested.

This is Toni B guys, and I’m out. 🏀 Go Knicks.

Hey guys, Toni B here. Been a little MIA on reviews lately, but I recently grabbed the Knob Creek Blender’s Edition Batch 1. This is one of their newer releases that came out recently. It comes in at 106 proof, minimum 10 years old, and MSRP is around $45 which honestly is a fair price in today’s market. From what I understand, this one is built from hand selected Knob Creek barrels blended together to hit a specific profile, mainly pushing more of that sweeter side of Knob Creek. If anyone knows more on the blending side definitely let me know because there are a lot of knowledgeable people here.

For this review I wanted to do it two ways, straight in the Glencairn and on the rocks.

Going neat first, pouring it into the Glencairn right away I got toasted oak and dark caramel immediately. Then I started picking up some leather, some cherry, and a bit of clove. Letting it sit honestly helped. After giving it some swirls and a few minutes, it opened up more and the flavors started blending together better.

First trying it neat, right away the mouthfeel stood out to me. This thing is oily, coats the mouth really well and honestly that might be the standout part of this pour for me. Rich vanilla up front, heavy caramel, black pepper spice starts coming in, cinnamon too, and some aftertaste brown sugar.

Finish is long and warm. It has some oak spice as well and you get this chocolate aftertaste too. At 106 proof I think it drinks really nice. Usually I lean more toward that 110 to 115 proof range because I like more punch, but this one still carries itself really well.

Now trying it on the rocks, honestly it still wasn't my favorite. This pour leans heavy into caramel and the ice actually made it sweeter for me. I also used a sphere ice and that helped a lot. The good thing though is that if you like your bourbon sweeter, for sure this is your move. It still held up really well on the rocks because of that oily mouthfeel and the 106 proof

Overall I think this is a solid bourbon and a memorable pour, mostly because of that mouthfeel.

Score: 87/100

Only thing keeping it from going higher for me is the sweetness. It leans hard into caramel, brown sugar, dessert style notes. Still really good, but personally I would have liked a little more balance and a few extra layers.

And honestly, for a 10 year bourbon at around $45, this is still a really solid buy.

I’m probably finishing this bottle today 😂 and let’s hope for a Knicks sweep tonight. LET’S GO KNICKS!!!

This is Toni B and I’m out. 🍻🏀