Today is the Tax Day! For some, it’s a dreaded day because you had to stroke a large check (that means you made money so take comfort in that). For others, you received a refund (that means you let the government hold on to you money interest-free for a year :)) and it’s time to splurge on a nice bottle. Or, you’re like me and work in public accounting so today is right up there with Christmas when it comes to ranking holidays. Whatever your circumstances, here are a few bottles to enjoy today. read more

Michter’s just received approval for their 25-year old rye whiskey. Originally released in 2011, Michter’s 25 Rye is on the list of most sought after (and expensive) whiskey’s in the bourbon/whiskey world. Like other limited Michter’s bottles, the 25 rye has taken a hiatus over the last few year. Here’s the new label: read more

For the unfamiliar, Orphan Barrel is a line of “unique”, usually well-aged bourbons from Diageo. The story goes, the world’s largest producer of spirits was clearing out an old warehouse and stumbled across some aged stock. These barrels were the foundation of the Orphan Barrel line. There’s now six different brands under the Orphan barrel monicker. Several of them have started to release older bottles (i.e.Rhetoric 20 & 21). read more

Bourbon tasting is a skill and as with any skill you can train it. A bourbon workout is for training your sense of taste and smell. It improves your ability to distinguish subtle flavor notes in a bourbon. This workout isn’t about picking good bourbon and bad bourbon. The workout is to help find tastes you like and where those flavors come from. Before getting started you may want to review “How To Taste Bourbon” read more

Price gougers have joined the ranks of flippers as bourbon public enemy number 1. Who are the price gougers? They’re the retailers that charge secondary and above prices. Gourgers include brands that have jumped at the opportunity to release limited edition whiskeys for $100+. Let me be clear. I don’t like either of the previous examples but what’s going on in the bourbon world today isn’t price gouging. These liquor stores aren’t jacking up the price of water or gas after a natural disaster. They’re selling a premium product at premium prices. Profiteering at best but even that’s a stretch. It’s not gouging. read more

As Bourbonr’s continue their thirst for more information, details like mash bills, barrel char and barrel entry proof, and their affect on taste, gain more attention. Let’s begin with a bourbon’s mash bill. We already know that legal requirements mandate 51% corn for bourbon but what about the other 49%. read more

Update: Retail price will be $110 and it will release as early as late April to early May.

After taking a one year hiatus Four Roses has announced the return of their Single Barrel Limited Edition in 2016. It also comes with an additional name “Elliott’s Select”. Making this relase the longest name in bourbon histors “2016 Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition Elliott’s Select”. The new SBLE will honor the new Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliot with  14-years-old and OESK mash bill bourbon. read more

Old Forester is the first to get label approval for a fall 2016 release. Their Old Forester Birthday bourbon was approved today and will include an orange neck tag. The Birthday Bourbon release is a 12 years old, 100 proof bourbon from a single day of production. The OFBB release celebrates the birthday of Brown-Forman founder George Garvin Brown every year since 2002. read more