u/comingwhiskey

Little & Foster Marriage of Mashbills 9 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2026)

Batch No. 1 (6 barrel blend)

Distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Blended in Covington, KY by John Little & John Foster

John Little is the former Head Distiller & CEO at Smooth Ambler in Maxelton, WV… leaving in 2025 to start Experience Distilled, a consulting and barrel brokerage

John Foster formerly served as Director of Sales & Marketing at Smooth Ambler

Blend of 2 mashbills:
1/3: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley
2/3: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

Barrel manufacturers: Kelvin & ISC; char 4

Bottled in March 2026

21% rye: filled October 2015
36% rye: filled November 2015

Age: 10 years, 3+ months

Label states 9 years because future batches might utilize 9 year, but Batch 1 is all more than 10 years

Barrels aged in Indiana: 6-8 years, depending on the barrel

Outside of Indiana, barrels aged in West Virginia and shipped to KY for bottling

Natural harvest proof: 117

Proof: 107 (NCF)

MSRP: $80

Nose: Brownie batter. Burnt brown sugar. Tobacco. Sweet mint.

Mostly deep and dark aromas, with the slightest bit of mint. Smells like what you would expect for 10 year bourbon distilled in Indiana… no hint of too much oak.

Palate: Strong dried apricot. Milk chocolate. Orange zest. Strong dark honey.

Thick and oily mouthfeel. Plenty fruit and sweetness, but very distinct phases of sweetness.

Finish: Black pepper. Dark honey. Tobacco. Dark maple syrup.

Oily mouthfeel all the way! I don’t think it’s too sweet at all, but if you like sweet on well-aged bourbon… you’re really going to appreciate this. The profile was great, but the mouthfeel makes this that much more fun.

Sample provided for review by Little & Foster Whiskey Co.

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Starlight 10 Year Reserve Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2026)

Release date: June 20, 2026

Batch 2

Distilled in Borden, IN (Southern Indiana)

Proof: 114.2 (same as the 2025 release)

100% estate-grown heirloom non-GMO corn and a portion of estate-grown rye

Blend of Starlight’s 3-grain & 4-grain bourbon mashbills

60% corn, 20% rye, and 20% malted barley

51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, and 9% wheat

Fermentation: 7 days, cool, sweet mash; closed-top; stainless steel

Wine yeast — Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Distillation: 500 gallon Vendome copper pot; double distilled; typically high cuts

Barrels in blend: 10

Cooperages: Kelvin, Canton, Seguin Moreau, ISC

NOTE: The 2025 release utilized all Seguin Moreau 225-liter Icone Elevation barrels

Char/Toast Level: Levels 1–4 char; some barrels feature extra toasted heads & toasted-then-charred staves

Stave Seasoning (Open-Air): 12–36 months

Barrel Entry Proof: 108–112

Fill Dates: Multiple — primarily fall 2015 and with some from January–March 2016

Dump Date: May 2026

Age of Oldest Barrel: ~11 years, 2 months (March 2015 to May 2026)

Age of Youngest Barrel: ~10 years, 2 months (March 2016 to May 2026)

Warehouse Journey:
Initially matured in Warehouse #1 (cooler environment)

Later transferred to Warehouse #2 (warmer, more open environment — the warmest pocket of the rickhouses)

Warehouse Position / Elevation: Barrels were mixed throughout the warehouse and pulled and blended at different points based on how the blend was developing. Most barrels gained 4–6 proof points during aging; others lost 1–2 proof points.

Mingling Time Post-Blend: 3 weeks

MSRP: $250

Nose: Seared steak drippings. Mulled wine. Maple scented candle. Peach cobbler. Camphor vapor rub.

I prefer the 2026 nose to 2025. Wildly complex. The more you sit with it… more pops up. Well balanced. No sharp edges. No signs of being overly tannic.

Palate: Buttery pie crust. Honey Bun. Grilled peaches. Maple granola. Highly dense mouthfeel.

I also prefer the taste of 2026 to 2025. The 2026 packs more sweet fruits and sweet bread notes and less tannin. When it comes to unfinished whiskey… this is easily the best I’ve had from Starlight.

Finish: Honeyed cornbread. Freeze-dried Strawberries. Sweet tea.

I sampled all 10 barrels that went into the 2025 blend, along with the actual blend. I enjoyed all of it, but 2025 never quite gave me the “DAMN!” moment. Sitting here with 2026, “DAMN!” has been silently said inside of my head a few times.

This is crazy good! The sweetness of 2026 it perfectly managed. Definitely not too sweet, but sweet…. this is perfectly in my wheelhouse.

Sample provided for review by Starlight Distillery

Rating: 8.5 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Penelope Architects of Golf Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished With American Oak Staves, Hole 1

Release: Summer 2026

Architects of Golf collection will culminate in 18 different batches, correlating to holes on the golf course, with each hole differentiated by the time and intensity of the stave finishing process

Hole 1: lighter American oak stave influence

Finishing staves are produced with OakScan technology from Tonnellerie Radoux

Age: 6+ years

Proof: 94

MSRP: $59.99

Nose: Heavily toasted marshmallow. Brut perry. Toasted brioche. Toasted almonds.

The marshmallow note is very mild, focusing more on the toasted shell rather than the sweetness. Tannins are not overwhelming, but clearly the dominant feel.

Palate: Wooden popsicle sticks. Milk Duds. Espresso beans. Butter pecan ice cream. Medium viscosity.

Definitely different flavors in there, but again, tannins dominate… and it feels a bit more unbalanced compared to the nose. Tannins are a bit much for me. Not much sweetness at all… minus a fleeting touch of the butter pecan ice cream that skews heavier toward the pecan.

Finish: Chewed No. 2 pencil. Ginger beer. Leather. Grape-Nuts cereal.

I love a lot of things that Penelope has done, but this release just isn’t for me. I’m not going to chase loads of oak, but I understand plenty of people love that profile. This can simply be a case of personal preference. There’s more tannin in every phase of this bottle than I care for. I don’t like overly sweet bourbon, but I definitely want more sweetness than what this offers.

Bottle provided for review by Penelope

Rating: 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have

Whiskey War Double Double Oak Blend of Straight Whiskies Finished in a Second & Third New Oak Barrel

2026 America 250 release

Produced by High Bank Distillery in Columbus, Ohio

Age: 6.6 years

Blend of multiple states, styles, and mashbills

Proof: 116.84

Bottles produced: 1,776

MSRP: $109.99

Nose: Dark chocolate. Burnt caramel. Skoal Wintergreen. Cinnamon powder.

Definitely the first time I’ve ever used Skoal Wintergreen for a note, but it’s perfect. The aroma is crazy nice! Plenty of tannin and spice. Off to a great start!

Palate: Cherry pipe tobacco. Unsweetened cocoa powder. Ground ginger. Mint. Very dense mouthfeel.

Palate is equally great as the nose. This is damn near perfectly balanced.

Finish: Clove. Cherry Pepsi. Leather. Anise.

High Bank stuff isn’t distributed in Kentucky… this is my first experience with Double Double Oak… and good grief… it’s fantastic!

I don’t often hunt backup bottles, but this one is worthy!

Bottle provided for review by High Bank

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Bardstown Bourbon Co. x Mars Distillery Reserve Blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Single Malt Japanese Whisky

After angel’s share loss, bourbon barrels were topped-off w/ Japanese whisky and married together for a year inside the barrel for a Kentucky summer

The blend:
69%: KY: 10 year: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley (Barton 1792)

8%: KY: 16 year: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley (BuffTurkey?)

20%: Komagtake: 5 year: 100% malted barley (aged in plum liqueur casks)

3%: Tsunuki: 5 year: 100% malted barley (aged in cherry wood casks)

Proof: 109.8

MSRP: $99.99 (375 ml)

Nose: Plum. Three Musketeers filling. Toffee. Vanilla saltwater taffy.

Fruit is only slight. Nougat filling and taffy are prominent. Not particularly engaging.

Palate: Cherry pie. Honey graham cracker. Tang orange drink. Buttered dinner roll. Thick mouthfeel.

There it is! The palate is much more interesting than the nose. Plenty of fruit. And bread notes.

Finish: Black raspberry chip ice cream. Caramel. Well-chewed cinnamon gum.

The nose doesn’t do much for me, but the actual flavors light things up! I was a little skeptical when I first saw the blend, but I ended up being very happy with this. Interesting flavors come together and it definitely works. This might be my favorite in the series outside of Cathedral Oak.

Bottle provided for review by BBC

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Bardstown Bourbon Co. x Mars Distillery Reserve Blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Single Malt Japanese Whisky

After angel’s share loss, bourbon barrels were topped-off w/ Japanese whisky and married together for a year inside the barrel for a Kentucky summer

The blend:
69%: KY: 10 year: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley (Barton 1792)

8%: KY: 16 year: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley (BuffTurkey?)

20%: Komagtake: 5 year: 100% malted barley (aged in plum liqueur casks)

3%: Tsunuki: 5 year: 100% malted barley (aged in cherry wood casks)

Proof: 109.8

MSRP: $99.99 (375 ml)

Nose: Plum. Three Musketeers filling. Toffee. Vanilla saltwater taffy.

Fruit is only slight. Nougat filling and taffy are prominent. Not particularly engaging.

Palate: Cherry pie. Honey graham cracker. Tang orange drink. Buttered dinner roll. Thick mouthfeel.

There it is! The palate is much more interesting than the nose. Plenty of fruit. And bread notes.

Finish: Black raspberry chip ice cream. Caramel. Well-chewed cinnamon gum.

The nose doesn’t do much for me, but the actual flavors light things up! I was a little skeptical when I first saw the blend, but I ended up being very happy with this. Interesting flavors come together and it definitely works. This might be my favorite in the series outside of Cathedral Oak.

Bottle provided for review by BBC

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Girl Dad Bourbon Founders Batch 7 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Distilled in Danville, KY

Mashbill: 64% corn, 24% wheat, and 12% malted barley

Proof: 101

MSRP: $79.99

Nose: Shortbread cookies. Strawberry Jell-O powder. Marshmallow. Fig Newton.

Sweet breads… bright fruit… dried fruits. Very solid presentation for aroma! I’ll happily sit here and smell this for a while.

Palate: Brown sugar. Cinnamon graham cracker. Honeysuckle nectar. Flan. Very thick mouthfeel.

Overall very sweet, but never cloying. This feels like something I would ask my wife to try and actually expect that she might halfway enjoy it… and she typically makes all kinds of faces when I have her try something. High-quality taste… yet very approachable for the casual drinker.

Finish: Triscuit. Almond pastry filling. Allspice. Leather.

Finish loses all the sweetness to turn dry and a bit spicy… making this much more complex overall. The transition from sweet to dry is fascinating!

When I first saw this label on TTB, I got awfully excited because I knew it would resonate with people. My only hope was that the actual bourbon would be equally as good as the concept. I firmly believe that the bourbon delivers something equal to the concept. Dad’s can happily purchase this because the sentimental value, but they’re actually going to be extremely pleased with the whiskey itself.

Sample provided for review by Girl Dad Bourbon

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Barrel King x ENDALZ Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys, Batch EA6

Released in collaboration with Wes Milligan of @bourbonbarrALZ on IG as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association.

This batch was evenly split between two charities ENDALZ & Overton Park Shell… each got 60 bottles

The blend:
60%: 9 yr Green River; 21% winter rye

40%: 8, 9, 12 yr MGP finished in Stagg Jr barrel for about 4 months
…
Breakdown of MGP component:
90%: 8 & 9 yr: 21% rye
10%: 12 yr: 36% rye

Proof: 120.5

MSRP: $150 ($30 goes to charity)

Nose: Black cherry soda. Milk chocolate. Dried apricot. Heavily toasted marshmallow.

Not much spice, but plenty of fruit… and well-balanced barrel char. Smells sweet, but not cloying.

Palate: Luxardo cherries. Prunes. Toffee. Cinnamon. Wildly dense mouthfeel that feels almost syrupy.

Loads of dense dark fruits… thick sweetness. Damn.

Finish: Dried cherries. Dark maple syrup. Tobacco. Black pepper.

Holy dark cherries, Batman! Wes Milligan & Barrel King have released some absolutely amazing bottles with the #ENDALZ campaign… and without doubt… this the best yet. As much as I loved EA4’s 9 yr 4 month 4 day Green River… this beats it.

Bottle provided for a review by Wes Milligan

Rating: 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

Seelbach’s Private Reserve Classic 99 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Distilled by Green River in Owensboro, KY

Age: 7 years, 8 months

Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% winter rye, 9% malted barley

Barrel entry proof: 120

Proof was slowly diluted inside the barrel before dumping… allowing water to marry with the bourbon over time… rather than adding water all at once after dumping

Lower proof points inside the barrel interact with the barrel differently than higher proofs while inside the barrel. As a result lower proof Seelbach’s Classic interacts differently with the barrel than Green River branded bourbon does when entered into the barrel at 120… extracting different levels of tannins, sugars, lignins, and various other compounds hiding in the barrel

Proof: 99

MSRP: $39.99

Nose: Cracker Jacks. Hot orange spiced tea. Cherry Chapstick.

The nose doesn’t reinvent the wheel for bourbon, but this is a ridiculously solid representation of a classic bourbon nose. This is some of the oldest Owensboro bourbon that many consumers will have tried, yet the tannins on the nose are remarkably balanced. The nose seemed a bit subdued at first, but after sitting for 3 minutes… the nose is suddenly much more potent in the best of ways!

Palate: Orange circus peanuts. Cheerwine. Candied orange peel. Light chai spice.

I’m loving this! I own a lot of Owensboro-distilled bourbon… The Owensboro profile is underlying, but the slow-proofing brought out more sweetness. The circus peanut note isn’t standard to Owensboro, but it shows up with the added sweetness from the lower proof bourbon interacting with the barrel.

Finish: Cherry ICEE slushie. Torani butter, pecan syrup. Steeped black teabag.

As an Owensboro resident, when I first saw this, I assumed it was just going to be a more well-aged Owensboro bourbon that was bottled at 99 proof. I’ve tried a lot of Owensboro bourbon and this blend definitely differentiates itself from everything else I’ve tried. The slow-proofing really does matter. As soon as I tried it… The first thing I did was send a text to Caryn Wells… National Brand Ambassador for Green River to tell her that I need to get her a sample of this… because she’s definitely going to want to try this!

Excellent age. More proof than what standard Green River bottles… and a very nice price. Given the quality and the price combo… game on… from Owensboro! This will absolutely be one of the best values you’ll encounter in 2026.

Bottle provided for review by Seelbach’s

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Nashtucky Whiskey Co. x Walk to End Alzheimer’s 7 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Barrel No. 8431

Selected by Wes Milligan of @bourbonbarralz on IG as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association through the #ENDALZ campaign

Wes Milligan was named the 2025 alzheimer’s Association Volunteer of the Year

Distilled in Louisville, KY by a large brand headquartered in Bardstown near and dear to God’s heart

Produced by Nashville Barrel Co.

Mashbill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley

Proof: 131.34

Non-chill filtered (NCF)

MSRP: $99 ($20 goes to alzheimer’s Association)

Nose: Cinnamon applesauce. Dried orange peel. Dusty tobacco barn. Bubble Tape gum.

Love the nose! Nothing to complain about here. Juicy fruit. Dried fruit. Tannins. I like that the tobacco note is much more dusty tobacco barn than just pure tobacco leaf. And just when I thought the nose was complete, the pink gum showed up really late.

Palate: Peanut butter. Chocolate orange. Burnt caramel. Clove. Extremely dense mouthfeel.

Fantastic stuff, but definitely drinks every bit of the 131.4 proof. The proof definitely does not sneak up on you. Plenty of spice, but all of the flavors combined with the really dense mouthfeel definitely create a sensation of chewing on a candy bar.

Finish: Burnt brown sugar. Dried orange peel. Cinnamon. Red pepper flakes.

The finish is dominated by the spicy cinnamon and red pepper flakes. All of the 131.4 proof is still very much felt on the finish.

First, look at that dark color! Dark stuff for 7 years old!

At 7 years old, this is wildly good. It does drink slightly hot, but everything about this still works. It’s a pretty heavenly experience. This is a bottle that I’m going to happily share with friends. The age isn’t particularly high, but this one packs a ton of flavor.

Bottle provided for review by Wes Milligan on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Nashtucky Whiskey Co. x Walk to End Alzheimer’s 7 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Barrel No. 8431

Selected by Wes Milligan of @bourbonbarralz on IG as a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association through the #ENDALZ campaign

Wes Milligan was named the 2025 alzheimer’s Association Volunteer of the Year

Distilled in Louisville, KY by a large brand headquartered in Bardstown near and dear to God’s heart

Produced by Nashville Barrel Co.

Mashbill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley

Proof: 131.34

Non-chill filtered (NCF)

MSRP: $99 ($20 goes to alzheimer’s Association)

Nose: Cinnamon applesauce. Dried orange peel. Dusty tobacco barn. Bubble Tape gum.

Love the nose! Nothing to complain about here. Juicy fruit. Dried fruit. Tannins. I like that the tobacco note is much more dusty tobacco barn than just pure tobacco leaf. And just when I thought the nose was complete, the pink gum showed up really late.

Palate: Peanut butter. Chocolate orange. Burnt caramel. Clove. Extremely dense mouthfeel.

Fantastic stuff, but definitely drinks every bit of the 131.4 proof. The proof definitely does not sneak up on you. Plenty of spice, but all of the flavors combined with the really dense mouthfeel definitely create a sensation of chewing on a candy bar.

Finish: Burnt brown sugar. Dried orange peel. Cinnamon. Red pepper flakes.

The finish is dominated by the spicy cinnamon and red pepper flakes. All of the 131.4 proof is still very much felt on the finish.

First, look at that dark color! Dark stuff for 7 years old!

At 7 years old, this is wildly good. It does drink slightly hot, but everything about this still works. It’s a pretty heavenly experience. This is a bottle that I’m going to happily share with friends. The age isn’t particularly high, but this one packs a ton of flavor.

Bottle provided for review by Wes Milligan on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association

Rating: 7 | Great | Well above average

Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Age: 8+ years

Finish: 6 months in new toasted oak barrels; Char 1, medium toast; Independent Stave

Proof: 115.1

Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% winter rye, 9% malted barley

Aged in Warehouse B

Batch size: 13 barrels

Bottle size: 375 ml

MSRP: $49.99

Accolades: Double Gold at 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Nose: Heavily toasted marshmallow. Honey graham cracker. Skor bar. Allspice.

Excellent combination of sweet, smoky and spice. The toasted barrel is on full display, but never lose balance.

Palate: Pecan turtle. Ginger beer. Cinnamon graham cracker.

Finish: Tobacco. Ginger beer. Toasted coconut. Dried fig.

As your resident Green River fan, game on! This is one of the better toasted finish bourbon’s I’ve had… and I’m stoked that it’s Green River!

I really love this bottle, but the only caveat I do have… I legitimately wish that the first age stated released from Green River had been simple straight bourbon… and not a finished bourbon. With that… this bottle is fantastic and I look forward to more!

Bottle provided for review by Green River

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Green River Distillery Select Toasted Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Age: 8+ years

Finish: 6 months in new toasted oak barrels; Char 1, medium toast; Independent Stave

Proof: 115.1

Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% winter rye, 9% malted barley

Aged in Warehouse B

Batch size: 13 barrels

Bottle size: 375 ml

MSRP: $49.99

Accolades: Double Gold at 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Nose: Heavily toasted marshmallow. Honey graham cracker. Skor bar. Allspice.

Excellent combination of sweet, smoky and spice. The toasted barrel is on full display, but never lose balance.

Palate: Pecan turtle. Ginger beer. Cinnamon graham cracker.

Finish: Tobacco. Ginger beer. Toasted coconut. Dried fig.

As your resident Green River fan, game on! This is one of the better toasted finish bourbon’s I’ve had… and I’m stoked that it’s Green River!

I really love this bottle, but the only caveat I do have… I legitimately wish that the first age stated released from Green River had been simple straight bourbon… and not a finished bourbon. With that… this bottle is fantastic and I look forward to more!

Bottle provided for review by Green River

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Wenzel Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry Casks

Batch No. 02

Distilled by Ghost Coast in Savannah, Georgia

Bottled by Wenzel Distillery in Covington, Kentucky

Finish: Oloroso sherry

Mashbill: 66% corn, 21% rye, and 13% malted barley

Batch size: 2 full barrels & 10 gallons from Batch 1

Age before finishing
7 years 5 months
7 years 7 months

Date unfinished barrels were dumped before finishing: 5/19/25

Date Oloroso Sherry barrels were filled: 5/19/25

Cask entry proof for the Oloroso Sherry casks: 117.8

Size/volume of the sherry casks: 250L

Dump date for the sherry casks filled with bourbon: 2/24/26

Length of sherry finish: 9 months 5 days

Combining initial aging and finish, youngest amount of time spent in wood: 8 years 2 months

Combining initial aging and finish, oldest amount of time spent in wood: At least 8 years 4 months  

Combining initial aging and finish, average amount of time spent in wood: 9 years 1 month

Still: 500 gallon Vendome hybrid

Initial barrels: Kelvin; Char 4

Proof: 119.1

Nose: Brisk Raspberry Tea. Coconut shell. Honeycomb cereal. Coffee beans.

Sherry cask is remarkably balanced… Not overwhelming in the least. Fruity, but not overdone. No indication of being overly tannic. Expectations are high.

Palate: Unsweetened strawberry Kool-Aid powder. Cinnamon. Raspberry vinaigrette. Dark chocolate covered dried cranberries. Dry mouthfeel.

This is great! Sherry influence is again managed very well. No off notes. Never feels too dry or too sweet. Spice. Oak. Red fruit.

Finish: Raisin Bran cereal. Red licorice. Slightly bitter cherry cola. Black coffee.

Wenzel Distillery might be the best kept secret on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail… largely serving as a “blend & bottle your own” experience in Covington… directly across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. Tourists get to blend with a wide assortment of whiskies, but within the last year or so… Wenzel actually started releasing bottlings that were not “guest experiences.”

In 2025, for Drinkhacker, I reviewed Batch 1 of Sherry Cask. At 2025 KBF & 2026 BBQ & Barrels (Owensboro), I was able to try several other expressions… and I’m a big fan of what they’re doing!

Absolutely loved Batch 1 of Sherry Cask… and Batch 2 keeps the train moving. If you don’t know about Wenzel… it’s time.

When Savanah’s Ghost Coast Distilling went under, Wenzel purchased everything… barrel inventory and equipment.

Sample provided for review by Wenzel Whiskey

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

The Federal Tobacco, Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) is responsible for approving all whiskey labels sold in the USA.

It’s often noted that the proofs on the approved labels don’t look right… or look questionable… such as “Cask Strength” and “80 proof.”

Also, the proof and ABV to not match… such as 120 proof and 50% ABV… on the same approved whiskey label.

While certain things on the label must be accurate, proof/ABV is something that can legally be just a placeholder. The proof/ABV can be approved when not accurate… as long as the label is accurate when it’s actually printed, and the whiskey actually goes to market in the future.

Casey Jones Revere Bourbon

Proof: 100

Age: 5+ years

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

$59.99

Distilled by Kentucky Artisan

Barrel entry proof: 125

Barrel: High char, medium toast.

How many barrels in the blend: 2-3

Age: 5 years, 200 days

Fill date: 10/3/2020

Dump date: 4/21/2026

Natural harvest proof before reducing: 109.2

Aged in Hopkinsville since: 3/21/2023

Nose: Fresh potting soil. Freshly cut pine wood. Ginger ale. Grapefruit zest.

Palate: Mint leaves. Bitter grapefruit zest. Chewed grape seed. Cinnamon.

Finish: Dried moss. Over-baked sweet potato pie. Peppermint. Grapefruit pith.

This is wildly different. The grapefruit borders on hops, but doesn’t quite hit that level. It’s so different that at first, I wasn’t sure if I liked it, but the more sipped… It kept growing on me. I’m now on my second glass!

This is also a fun demonstration in just how little mashbill matters with flavor profile. MGP, Green River, Barton, BBC and numerous others have run this same mashbill… and this taste absolutely nothing like any of them!

Bottle provided for review by Casey Jones

Rating: 6 | Very Good | A cut above

Penelope Cooper Series: Riviera American Whiskey finished in Rosé Wine Casks

Release: Spring 2026 (Batch 1)

Distilled by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Blend of 8 year American light whiskey & straight bourbon whiskey

Finish: rosé wine casks from Spain

Derived mashbill: 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley

Non-chill filtered (NCF)

Proof: 94

MSRP: $80

Nose: Pink cotton candy. Strawberry Jell-O powder. Lavender dryer sheets. Lemongrass.

Palate: Muddled mint and sugar. Bitter orange peel. Scorched brown butter. Watermelon rind

Finish: Unsweetened pink lemonade powder. Clove. Banana pudding that has started to oxidize.

I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such a massive disconnect between the nose and actual taste! The nose created expectations of sweet and fruity, but that taste profile was almost nonexistent. The overcharging theme on the taste was brown and bitter.

I was really hoping to like this one, but this one just doesn’t do it for me.

Bottle provided for review by Penelope

Rating: 3 | Multiple flaws.

Circle City Whiskey Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Batch 4

Distilled in June 2019 by MGP in Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Blended by Drew Black

Age: 6 years

Mashbill: 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley

Batch size: 3 barrels

Barrel entry proof: 120

Non-chill filtered (NCF)

Proof: 100

MSRP: $55

Nose: Cinnamon graham cracker. Freshly sharpened pencil. Honeysuckle. Green apple. Mint.

Palate: Bazooka bubble gum. Cream soda. Black pepper. Cocoa powder.

Finish: Whoppers candy. Clove. Charred brisket bark. Cinnamon gum.

I really like the chocolate notes that blend really well with the spice. I feel like chocolate notes usually don’t come with that level of spice… but there’s a great mixture of spice, chocolate, and sweetness.

Bottle provided for review by Circle City Whiskey

Rating: 6 | Very Good | A cut above.

Jack Daniel’s 14 Year Tennessee Whiskey, Batch 2

Release: March 2026

Distilled in Lynchburg, TN

Mashbill: 80% corn, 12% malted barley, 8% rye

Proof: 117.6

MSRP: $150 (700 ml)

Nose: Hot apple cider mix packets. Freshly sharpened cedar pencils. Black raspberry chip ice cream. Cracker Jack caramel coating.

Great nose! Plenty of spice and fruit to accompany the oak. Smells like something I‘d drink on a cold winter night.

Palate: Bourbon ball candy filling. Caramel popcorn glaze. Gingerbread cookie dough. Apple butter.

Dang… this is nice! Fruit shows up late; plenty of spice upfront. The bourbon ball candy filling note is prominent and welcomed.

Finish: Dark chocolate syrup. Caraway. Cherry cough drop. Ginger beer. Long, slow spicy burn.

Start to finish… top-notch experience! I enjoyed the 2026 10-year, but the 12 & 14 are simply in a superior realm. When Jack decides to do something special… it’s truly special. This might be in the running for the best bourbon of 2026.

Sample provided for review by Jack Daniel’s

Rating: 9 | Incredible | An all time favorite