Ezras – Craft Only Retailer

The craft movement is on the rise in the US and one of the biggest problems some of these small distilleries face is distribution. We’ve seen several online retailers pop up to try and bridge the gap between consumer and craft distiller however most have transitioned from “sell craft” to “this whiskey beat Pappy in a blind tasting”. Recently, I came across Ezras.com which is dedicated to actually selling craft whiskey. Now there are a few whiskies that have slipped through the “craft” filter (Templeton, Tincup, Barterhouse) but the majority of the whiskies they sell are from small distilleries. read more

Smooth Ambler to Release its Own Distillate

I’ve covered Smooth Ambler  multiple times on this blog and have given nothing but praise for their products. With the release the new Stillhouse Collection Smooth Ambler continues to prove that they’re listening to bourbon and whiskey enthusiast and doing things the right way.

Notice several different pieces of information on the new SA label: read more

How to Handle the Pappy Release

First, this post is completely from the perspective of a consumer. I’m not a retailer nor have I worked for a retailer. However, I do talk with a lot of Bourbonr’s across the country and have come to realize what works and what doesn’t work for liquor stores.

Second, a word to the consumer, an understanding of the odds is imperative when hunting Pappy Van Winkle. Most estimate the Van Winkle release to be between 22k-24k bottles. My estimate would say that there’s about 15-20 times the amount of people looking for a bottle. That means for every twenty calls a stores gets only one of those customers will get a bottle. read more

The Boss Hog: Spirit of Mortimer

There’s no doubt WhistlePig has had some bumps in the road however I’ve always liked their whiskey. It appears that they’ve finally coming clean about their Canadian whiskey roots which is a good thing. I hope they’ve figured out that today’s bourbon/whiskey drinker would take transparency and good whiskey over a magical fairy tale and good whiskey. Pretty expensive at $189 but that’s the new normal. Read the press release below. The bold highlights have been added by me and are the important parts if you’re looking to skim. read more

Bourbon — As You Like It

Last month in Whisky Advocate Jonny McCormick wrote an article which was his whisky adaption of William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It”. If you haven’t read McCormick’s “Whisky – As You Like it” it’s well worth the time. Below is a quote from McCormick’s article.

This is a celebration of the whisky life. William Shakespeare’s monologue from As You Like It compares the journey of life with a play acted out upon the stage. We recognize that each of us pass through different, ever-changing phases in our relationship with whisky. Through the highs and lows of life, it is a fantastic journey to embark on. Here we explore the behaviors, motivations, and emotions at every stage. read more

Bourbon Review: 2014 Four Roses Small Batch LE

Today, we take a break from all of the BTAC and Pappy talk and review another fall release. Four Roses distillery has become known for their excellent bi-annual limited editions and each fall Four Roses releases their small batch limited edition.  The 2014 Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition is a blend of 4 Four Roses mash bills: OBSK 9 year, OBSV 13 year, OESV12 year and OBSF 11 year. This barrel proof release comes in at 111.8. read more

Pappy Van Winkle Release Date

*Please Read: Each state is highlighted once one bottle is reported. Generally, that means that store, and a lot of times that city, is already sold out. This map isn’t an official release tracker from Buffalo Trace but a network of bourbon drinkers looking to help each other. Stores are dealing with smaller allocations and greatly increased demand. Please be understanding of this fact. Happy Hunting! * read more

7 Bourbon Buzzwords to Look For

Reading bourbon and whiskey labels can sometimes feel like decoding an encrypted message however if you look for a few important words you can figure out what is most likely in the bottle.

Bourbon Buzzwords that Matter:

Bourbon/Rye/Corn/Whiskey – This signifies what kind of mash bill was used. Read our post on the difference between bourbon and whiskey to get a better understanding of these differences. read more

Buffalo Trace Named “Brand Innovator of the Year”

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Oct. 1, 2014) – Buffalo Trace Distillery received two coveted awards at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015, and also two “highly commended” awards.

Named “Brand Innovator of the Year,” Buffalo Trace was cited for this prestigious award for its quest to find the perfect whisky through its Experimental Collection and the building of its Warehouse X.  Buffalo Trace’s Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley was also named Distillery Manager of the Year. read more

Retail Price for 2014 BTAC

While the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection hasn’t seen the same price inflation as Pappy Van Winkle bourbonr’s are still paying a premium whether it’s at retail or on the secondary market. Buffalo Traces set the retail price for the entire Antique collection at $80 for 2014. This is a slight increase over 2013 but not by much. read more