Videos

Shopping for whiskey can be very different depending on where you are. The biggest difference you'll see is when states where the government controls retail sales, known as 'control states'. ABC stores in those states are the primary retail outlet and while they can still be package stores in some…

Open the Bottle - Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Something a little different - a straight wheat whiskey. So, the majority of the mash bill is wheat with the rest being corn, rye, malted barley. Extra different as a four-grain recipe isn't so common. If you like wheated bourbons,…

Open the Bottle - Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Bottled at 94 proof as the Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon and the Toasted Barrel bourbon are, this rye whiskey from Heaven Hill is fairly new. Maybe I just expected more from it given how much Dan and I like…

Open the Bottle - George Dickel 15-year-old Single Barrel Tennessee Whisky Store Pick From AppleJack Wine and Spirits in Colorado, this is one of the new release single barrel private picks and, after 15 years in the barrel, is quite a bit different from the 9 year old Hand Select…

Open the Bottle - Boulder Spirits Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey Way more malted barley than we'd normally find in a bourbon! Pot still distillation seems to be popular in smaller, craft distilleries and we think that's excellent. I really like this bourbon in no small part to the…

Back to the Bottle - Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey. Are you still chasing bottles of Blanton's and paying double retail or more for them when you do find one? Stop it! These single barrel Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit bottles are awesome and available and reasonably priced…

Maybe it's just splitting hairs but there is a difference between a whiskey finished in a barrel that previously held wine, sherry, port, rum, or some other product versus a whiskey that was matured in a sherry or port or whatever barrel. It gets a little complicated when talking about…

Back to the Bottle - Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Rye Whiskey A near unicorn bottle that I was lucky enough to purchase for retail, around $140, and have thoroughly enjoyed it for a long time - nearly 18 months. Michter's does whiskey right in my opinion. Low barrel entry…

Back to the Bottle - Deerhammer American Single Malt Whiskey Batch #62 I couldn't wait to get back to the bottle on this American Single Malt Whiskey from Deerhammer Distilling Company in Buena Vista, CO. I didn't wait long to open it when we got home from visiting the distillery…

DistilleryTour of Deerhammer Distilling Co in Buena Vista, Colorado: Inside the Distillery Tour with Lenny Eckstein Lenny Eckstein, owner, co-founder, and head distiller at Deerhammer Distilling Co heard me and Dan talking about young whiskey on a recent Practical Still podcast episode and reached out to invite up to his…

Distillery Visit at Deerhammer Distilling Co in Buena Vista, Colorado: Four Grain Bourbon Lenny Eckstein, owner, co-founder, and head distiller at Deerhammer Distilling Co heard me and Dan talking about young whiskey on a recent podcast and reached out to invite up to his distillery. He felt like he could…

Back to the Bottle - Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey 112.2 Proof is an absolutely delicious, available, and relatively affordable barrel proof rye whiskey that should not be ignored if you like rye whiskey.

Open the Bottle - Makers Mark Private Select Barrel Finished with Oak Staves A tasty wheated bourbon from one of the great distilleries in bourbon history. This is a store pick from Molly's Spirits in Colorado and it is barrel finished with three different types of oak staves. I can't…

Distillery Visit at Deerhammer Distilling Co in Buena Vista, Colorado: American Single Malt Whiskey. Lenny Eckstein, owner, co-founder, and head distiller at Deerhammer Distilling Co heard me and Dan talking about young whiskey on a recent podcast and reached out to invite up to his distillery. He felt like he…

Back to the Bottle - Penelope 4 Grain Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey

Open the Bottle - Deerhammer American Single Malt Whiskey Batch #62 Owner, co-founder, and head distiller of Deerhammer Distillery in Buena Vista, CO, Lenny Eckstein invited us up to visit after hearing the podcast episode where we talked about young whiskey. Lenny felt that he could offer some valuable experience…

Owner, co-founder, and head distiller of Deerhammer Distillery in Buena Vista, CO, Lenny Eckstein invited us up to visit after hearing the podcast episode where we talked about young whiskey. Lenny felt that he could offer some valuable experience to us that would improve our understanding of distillation and maturation…

Going Back to the Bottle for some Mellow Corn Bottled In Bond Corn Whiskey. Straight corn whiskey has its own designation with at least 80% of the mash bill coming from corn and, unlike bourbon and rye whiskey, it can't be aged in a new, charred barrel. It just use…

Open the Bottle - Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Here is where Knob Creek rye starts. 100 proof, no age statement, affordable, and available. That's excellent in my book.

Tasting whiskey blind, that is without knowing what sort of bourbon, rye, or scotch whisky you're drinking, is the only way to remove the bias and know for sure if you like a whiskey or if you've just been caught up in the hype. I think that's right but even…

Tasting whiskey blind, that is without knowing what sort of bourbon, rye, or scotch whisky you're drinking, is the only way to remove the bias and know for sure if you like a whiskey or if you've just been caught up in the hype. I think that's right but even…

Back to the Bottle - Peerless Kentucky Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey An old label brought back by the family and a not so common approach to building, or rebuilding, a brand. No sourcing, no gin or vodka, just a straightforward approach to making whiskey and a lot of patience.…

Open the Bottle - Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey The original single barrel bourbon, this is very tasty whiskey in a very cool bottle. Launched in 1984 under the guidance of master distiller Elmer T. Lee, it was originally for the Japanese market. While very popular there, it sat on…

Back to the Bottle - Henry McKenna 10 Year Old Bottled In Bond Bourbon Whiskey - Dan doesn't dislike this highly sought-after whiskey but to him, it just isn't worth all the craze and certainly not worth the elevated prices people are willing to pay for it these days. If…