{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

I’ve been intrigued by Lasso Motel for a little while now. They got off to a great start with me: their 10-Year Cask Strength Rye holds one of the highest scores I’ve ever given out (at 8.4, it’s my second-highest-rated rye whiskey overall). Does that quality carry over to a completely different expression, though?

With a mash bill of 99% corn/1% malted barley, this 18-year-old American Whiskey is about as far from a rye as you can get, so it’ll be interesting to see if the quality of the Lasso Motel Rye carries over.

This ALW does have a reputation: it took home the title of “American Whiskey of the Year” at Fred Minnick’s 2025 ASCOT Awards, if you put much stock in such things.

Given how well Lasso Motel’s SBBP rye performed for me, my expectations are pretty darn high. Let's see if this one lives up to them!

Mash bill: 99% corn, 1% malted barley

Proof: 121

Price: $119.99

Appearance: Very light amber; not terribly viscous

Nose: Very fruity. It starts with bright red fruit front and center – primarily red apple. After a few more minutes of airing out, this is joined by some caramel and vanilla, as well as toasted brown sugar, toffee, and a floral note.

Palate: Medium-light mouthfeel with a lot of ethanol and proof heat right off the bat. This drinks much hotter than its proof. The main flavors are red fruit, honey, floral, and some spice. It’s almost sickly-sweet – if they made a dessert wine that was 120+ proof, this would be that.

Finish: More fermented fruit up front, followed by toffee and then cigar wrapper. Medium length.

Thoughts: This was frankly disappointing to me, particularly since my other experience with Lasso Motel – a cask-strength rye that was dark, rich, and amazing – was so positive. This American Whiskey was very different from that. It wasn’t nearly as well-put-together, in my opinion: the lasting impression it left behind was of cloying, fermented sweetness and proof heat, which was unfortunate. That being said, the more pours I’ve had of it, the better it’s gotten (I was prepared to rate it in the 4s after the neck pour!).

I haven’t had a ton of American Whiskeys, but I’ll bet that this one does what it’s supposed to do better than many, so YMMV on it. Frankly, I just think that what it comes down to is that I’m not a huge fan of the ALW profile. Yes, I love sweetness, but of the caramel-vanilla variety more so than of the fermented-apple type.

Rating: 5.8. Lasso Motel’s 18-year American Whiskey is a good ALW (probably a very good one, in fact), but its profile doesn’t align with my palate. I probably won’t reach for it again any time soon.

********************
Previous Ratings (all reviews are available in my archive, but there may be some discrepancies in numeric rating, as these are updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
New Riff Balboa Rye (5.4)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)
Lasso Motel 18yr ALW (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (6)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
Buffalo Trace (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Peerless DO (6.1)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)
Ampersand Opimus (6.9)

7 | Great | Well above average
Blanton’s Gold (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Found North 012 (7)
Rock Hill Farms (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.5)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor BP 16 (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.8)
E.H. Taylor Cured Oak (7.8)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (8)
Starlight 10yr (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8.3)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.6)
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)
Eagle Rare 17yr 2025 (8.9)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Intro: Today we’re looking at one of Green River’s core bottles; their Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon. Let's get into it!

Tale of the Tape
Bottle: Green River Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Proof: 90 / Age: NAS but at least 4 years
Mashbill: Corn: 70% / Wheat: 21% / Malted Barley: 9%
Bottle Price: $40 / Price per 1oz pour: $1.57

Impressions
Nose:  Baking Spices / Apricot / Honey
Palate: Baking Spices / Honey / Bread / Apricot
Mouthfeel: Thin
Finish: Short Cinnamon / Caramel / Vanilla
Rating: 5.5/10 - t8ke scale (modified to include half-points)

Tasting Notes: On the nose soft baking spices along with an apricot show up with a good helping of honey. All of this transfers to the palate along with a breadiness that gives that sweet pastry vibe that I’ve come to expect from wheated bourbons. The finish is fairly short with cinnamon and caramel before ending with vanilla.

Final Thoughts: This isn’t a super complex pour, but it’s an approachable pour that would be a solid introduction into wheaters for anyone that happens to be curious. The low proof makes for an easy sipping experience and highlights the sweet flavor profile. This is a crushable daily at a good price.

Swing by IG and say hey

10 | Perfection
9-9.5 | Incredible, An All-Time Favorite
8-8.5 | Excellent, Really Quite Exceptional
7-7.5 | Great, Well Above Average
6-6.5 | Very Good, A Cut Above
5-5.5 | Good, Just Fine
4 | Sub-Par, Not Bad, But Better Exists
3 | Bad, Multiple Flaws
2 | Poor, I Wouldn’t Consume By Choice
1 | Disgusting, So Bad I Poured it Out

Price - $70 for 750ml

Barrel no - 25-04927

Bottled - 2025

Proof - 100

Age - 8 years

Method - neat in a glencarin, rested about 5 minutes

Nose - a lighter softer classic Jack Daniels notes, a little burn, marshmallow, peanut, banana bread, a little baking spice. Overall a great smell

Palate - Marshmallow, peanuts, caramel, banana bread, some ethanol burn, a little spice, some fruity notes. This is Jack Daniels for sure, just a bit softer and gentler with some more sweetness.

Finish - ever so slightly bittler, some more marshmallow, warmth, and a slight note of that JD flavor we all love.

Rating - 7/10 on the t8ke scale

Value - 5/10. Value is nothing to write home about. It’s an 8 year age statement, but both WT101 8 yr and Knob Creek 9 are way cheaper than this. Toasted barrel, yeah sure but there are double barreled whiskeys cheaper than this. Finally, in the store I bought it from JD SBBF was $60. Good whiskey, but for the price there is a lot of competition.

Overall a delicious whiskey and an excellent offering from JD.

Background:

United Distillers are usually discussed in the context of being Diageo’s doppelganger: UD was a Scottish company that was formed in 1987 by combining two Guinness-owned entities; in 1997, Guiness merged with Grand Metropolitan to create Diageo. However, UD’s initial strategy was quite different from Diageo’s toward the end of that decade.

United Distillers were a significant player in American whiskey in the ‘80s and ‘90s. By the early '90s, they'd acquired a huge chunk of legacy distilleries, including Stitzel-Weller, old Bernheim, Medley, and Glenmore in Kentucky; pre-MGP Squibb in Indiana; Cascade Hollow in Tennessee, and some others. After consolidating the former Schenley assets and those picked up earlier by Guinness, they decided to collapse most of the production into the new Bernheim distillery built in 1992, shutting down the old Bernheim, Medley, Yellowstone/Glenmore, and Stitzel-Weller in the process.

They had a very ambitious global strategy heading into the 1990s, as they brought over the last Stitzel-Weller Master Distiller Ed Foote to continue making bourbon at the new facility, with an eye toward growing exports. They wanted to expand Rebel Yell’s footprint to compete with Jack Daniel’s in places like Australia and make bulk whiskey to fill capacity gaps that had been previously handled by places like Brown-Forman. I.W. Harper, formerly produced at old Bernheim, was still doing well in Japan and would require more stocks.

In 1994, they came out with the Bourbon Heritage Collection (BHC). It was inspired by the Classic Malts Collection in Europe, and was a tribute to some of the decommissioned distilleries (and a way to present the historical brands in a more premium light):

I.W. Harper 15-year “Gold Medal” and Old Charter 13-Year-Old "Proprietor's Reserve" hailed from old Bernheim; W.L. Weller 10-Year-Old "Centennial" and Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12-Year-Old came from Stitzel-Weller. George Dickel 10-Year-Old "Special Barrel Reserve" was an outlier, since the Tullahoma distillery was not mothballed permanently, but its future was far from certain, as it lay dormant between 1994 and 2003.

The collection was put together by none other than Chris Morris (future Brown-Forman Master Distiller Emeritus), who was employed at Glenmore when United purchased it, and author and historian Michael Veach, who worked as an archivist for UD between 1991 and 1996.

I’ve reviewed I.W. Harper 15, which is nearly universally considered the weakest entry in the series – at 80 proof I see why, although I still enjoyed it.

The original expressions from 1994 went on very different trajectories by the end of the decade. Post-1997 merger, Diageo, a British company, rapidly lost interest in American whiskey. The grandiose expansions hatched by United Distillers were dashed by an economic crisis in Asia. Plans for another premium collection, the semi-mythical Rare American Whiskey Selection were shelved. The Bernheim plant was sold to Heaven Hill in 1999, following the destruction of the Bardstown distillery in the 1996 fire. Most of the brands making up the Heritage collection were unloaded along with their stocks – Old Charter and Weller went to Sazerac, while Heaven Hill snatched Old Fitzgerald.

That brings us to the subject of today’s review: Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12 Year at 90 proof. The MSRP was 30 dollars, which placed it in the premium tier at the time. The name was a deliberate reference to the “Very Old” series of the Stitzel-Weller era Old Fitzgerald expressions – 8, 10, 12, 15, and rarely, 18 years old. Those were the crown jewels of Pappy Van Winkle’s empire that have become some of the most sought-after vintage bourbons today.

The 1994 VSOF 12 does not have that reputation. The original Very Olds (along with Very Very Olds and Extra Olds) were the product of the relaxation of the bonding period in 1959 to 20 years (prior to that, no bonded whiskey could be older than eight years). The most desirable Stitzel-Weller bottles were produced prior to Pappy’s death in 1965 and the sale of the distillery by the Van Winkle family to Norton-Simon in 1972. There were other changes I went over in more detail in this post, but by the mid- ‘80s the famed distillery had seen better days – the 1935-built plant was forgoing maintenance, the jug yeast was switched to dry; the mash bill was tweaked to contain more corn and less barley; the entry proof went up from 107 to 110, and then 114 by 1992, to name just a few.

But it was still producing quality bourbon. Julian Van Winkle III had an agreement in place to buy whiskey from his family’s former distillery and bottle it under the Van Winkle name. Early NDPs purchased hundreds of barrels to age and package for close to two decades. So you really must judge each bottling on its own merit.

If you have a bottle of Very Special Old Fitzgerald 12 in front of you, you may want to confirm where it was made, as it’s gone through a few permutations.

The first version was from the original 1994 collection and should contain Stitzel-Weller distillate.

Once Heaven Hill purchased the Old Fitzgerald brand in 1999, they inherited some Stitzel-Weller and new Bernheim wheated bourbon stocks to continue producing it. Heaven Hill bottlings prior to 2005 should theoretically be Stitzel-Weller; between 2005 and 2012, it’s either new Bernheim (UD whiskey made between 1993 and 1997) or a blend of new Bernheim and tanked Stitzel; post-2012 and before the brand’s disestablishment in 2015, it could be a blend of new Bernheim and Heaven Hill’s own, or exclusively HH, distilled after 2000.

At first glance, the 1994 bottle looks very similar to a 2004 or a 2014 one. Heaven Hill did not make any changes to the label and inherited United’s UPC code (88076). People have placed newer bottles in the original BHC boxes before. However, there are a few key signs to look for:

·        The original bottle had foil around its neck, while later versions had wax. Also, only the original bottling had the Bourbon Heritage Collection logo on the neck – later bottles either had “VS” or nothing.

·        On the lower right corner of the label, the code on the 1994 edition started with “SL 16.”

·        The biggest tell is on the bottom of the glass. According to Michael Veach, United didn’t want to spend too much money on the packaging, so they used the bottles they had across their inventory: the Weller bottle was from Bell’s Scotch, I.W. Harper was the Old Weller Antique bottle, and Old Charter went into a gin bottle. As for the VSOF, it used the same bottle as Gibson’s Finest Canadian whiskey. The 1994 bottle will have the words “Made in Canada” and the stylized notched “D” logo of Dominion Glass (Domglas) Company (second image in this post). The company was sold in 1989, and the logo was last used by 1995.

Now that we know what it is, let’s try it. Tasted neat in a copita.

Nose:

Syrupy, slightly dank oak; burnt toast; aged balsamic vinegar; green apple jolly rancher; stone fruit; coconut; dark honey; hazelnut latte; grated nutmeg; muddled citrus.

Palate:

Sweet, chocolate-forward oak; vanilla frosting; watermelon taffy; tropical fruits and coconut; orange bitters; Swiss Miss cocoa mix, Nutella.

Finish:

A little leather, caramel, tart cherry, nutmeg.

Rating: (t8ke scale for reference below): 8.5

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Thoughts:

Among the more experienced bourbon drinkers, Weller Centennial (the S-W version) is the undisputed leader of the collection. I haven’t tried it, but I still bristle at the suggestion that “the good Stitzel only went into the Centennial.” Even a few proof points make a difference in dusty bourbon, and perhaps the 10-year, 100-proof blend was indeed better suited for many palates. But VSOF 12 is not some also-ran, pedestrian whiskey.

As Chuck Cowdery said in 2007:

“Chris Morris said to me two days ago that Stitzel-Weller's bourbon may have been the best bourbon ever made. One of his proudest accomplishments was creating Very Special Old Fitzgerald for the original Bourbon Heritage Collection.”

I don’t believe VSOF 12 is the best bourbon ever made. I readily accept that it does not reach the level of the ‘60s and ‘70s bottlings. Stitzel-Weller were around for nearly 60 years, and you can’t view all their whiskey as one indistinguishable block. We must allow it the benefit of profile drifts caused by production changes and time, as we would with any distillery.

But VSOF is unusual, delicious and without an obvious counterpart in today’s bourbon, wheated or not. It’s not a participation trophy, which should be obvious to anyone who has spent some meaningful time with a bottle, instead of firing off hot takes from a sample or a bar pour. You can tell the blend was put together with care and vision. I wish it were a little fuller on the palate; it has a strong oak presence that manifests in some savory notes that may not be to everyone’s liking, but that’s what makes it enjoyable and interesting.

It’s loaded with tropical fruit, coconut, hazelnut, and bright watermelon and apple notes that make it unmistakably Stitzel-Weller. It could hang with my 1978 Old Fitz 1849 just fine. And it was distilled by either Woody Wilson or Ed Foote, two old-school masters of American whiskey, on a 1930s copper still. The newer Bernheim distillery was conceived to produce a multitude of spirits, which meant using stainless stills instead of copper, something that Ed Foote and Parker Beam struggled with. When Heaven Hill took over, they used their standard entry proof of 125 for wheated bourbon, higher than Stitzel and United before them. Old Fitzgerald became a different whiskey, for better or worse.

Being overlooked and occasionally mistaken for a Heaven Hill bottling has its benefits. There is another 12-year, 90-proof Stitzel-Weller bourbon from the 1990s – Julian Van Winkle’s pre-Buffalo Trace Lot B. That bottle goes for thousands of dollars. Same with the ‘90s Old Rip 10/90. I still see the 1994 BHC VSOF 12 going for 400-500 bucks in 2026 auctions. It may be someone’s best chance to try double-digit Stitzel-Weller without breaking the bank – so keep your eyes open.

Thanks for reading and cheers!

Nose: sweet oak barrel, cherry, some toasted sugars, a little funk.

Palate: immediately a flood of sugar backed with spices, nutty, oily, then goes into some pepper backed with proof.

Finish: pretty long, medium in stature, nutty, spices all day, proof sitting nicely in the back of the palate and throat, barrel char bite comes in at the end. What's interesting is the front part of the palate is wood and spices, back half is all sweetness. Not sure how it's doing that, but it's pretty interesting. Could just be me though.

My thoughts: for $150, I can see it being justifiable. I'd put it closer to $120-130, but that's just nitpicking. Being that this was a barrel picked by content creators or influencers, I'm pretty happy with the results. While it's not a crazy bottle, it does have some punch that collectors like us like.

Rating: 7.0/10

Sagamore Spirit 10 Year Rye

Proof: 110.8

- A Blend of high rye & low rye MGP stocks
(95/5 + 51/45/4)

Paid - $78

Msrp - $80 ( i think)

Drank - Neat

Rested - 15 minutes

Glass - final touch tasting glass

As always - unpaid, unbiased, and very unprofessional!

Nose -
Immediately hit with some fresh baked Gingerbread cookies, fresh baked sugar cookies, and some mixed spice consisting of clove and nutmeg. An underlying torched orange peel note, along with some sweet toasted oak rounds out the nose.

Palate -
Grilled Peach marmalade kicks off the first sip, followed immediately with some gingerbread cookie, holiday spices, and fresh black tea. Second sip lends itself to the same notes as sip one, but with more clove, nutmeg, and this time just a twinge of black pepper showing up - interlaced into the profile. The third and final sip - a fresh Mint leaf arrives to add some freshness, and an underlying back bone of matured oak ever so faintly to round the palate out.

Mouth feel-
Medium oiliness here but also a very nice effervescent "bubbly" quality. Very well coating on all sides and never going away - just hanging on and hanging out. Very pleasing. Has almost a "buttery" or "jammy" texture to it.

Finish -
Here is where this really shines!
More grilled peach marmalade, holiday spices, fresh mint leaf, black tea, and a slight amount of char all working in conjunction beautifully here. This delivers an absolute flavor bomb finish that is cohesive and very balanced!
The finish lasts for a very very long time - even at 110 proof! It does bring a nice Indiana hug to your chest! Killer!

Overall score - 89/100.
Excellent pour and way above average bordering on exceptional for me. An extreme value bottle as well - 10yr Age Stated - 110 proof. What more can ya want for a rye under $100?

The Schtick: A ground-to-glass corn whiskey from Nobletons Distilling House in Union, Missouri, released as The Corner Lot. Heirloom Missouri corn, long cool fermentation, distilled on their Armagnac-style copper stills, aged in toasted Missouri white oak, and bottled as an Ozark Highlands spirit. Label also carries Barrel Note Holder and Rickhouse Reserve. This is not the standard 100-proof flagship.

Distiller: Nobletons Distilling House (Union, MO)

Bottler: Nobletons Distilling House

ABV: 58.35% (116.7 proof)

Age: NAS; Ozark Highlands certification requires a minimum of 4 years in Missouri white oak

Mashbill: 100% corn

Source: Bottle, neck pour

Nose: Buttered popcorn and sweet corn pudding right away, then vanilla bean and light caramel from the toasted oak. A little honey and a soft grilled-corn char. Ethanol is present at this proof but sits behind the grain instead of punching through.

Taste: Thick and oily. Sweet corn and brown sugar up front, then vanilla custard and a little oak tannin. No rye spice, which tracks with an all-corn mash. Heat shows up mid-palate and dries it out just enough that it doesn’t read as candy.

Finish: Medium-long. Popcorn hull, vanilla, and a dry oak linger. Sweetness fades before the oak does. A little warming proof on the way out, nothing harsh.

Overall: The Corner Lot drinks like a barrel-proof corn whiskey with a point of view, not a bourbon missing its small grains. The grain is the whole show, and the Missouri oak keeps it from going one-note sweet. At 116.7 it has enough structure to sip neat, and a few drops of water open the corn without flattening it. Interesting regional bottle if you want something that isn’t Kentucky mashbill whiskey.

Thanks for reading!

Rank: 6

Age: 15 Years
Proof: 107 proof
Mash Bill: Not specified but sourced from Heaven Hill
Cost: $299

Nose. Vanilla. Nutella. Maybe a little banana as it opens up more.

Palate. Light mouthfeel. Cinnamon exists, but it’s light. Anise exists, but it’s light. Some dustiness is in the mix.

Finish. Shorter than I’d expect from something almost old enough to drive a car.

Overall. Reveries Wolf has gotten some mixed reviews since its release earlier this year and it is a bottle I’ve struggled to come to a firm conclusion on. Make no mistake about it, this is a good whiskey. It’s really unique but, the problem is, I can’t decide if it’s unique in a way I like or a way that puts me off.

The email sent to subscribers gives some general information on what is in the bottle:

Sourced from Heaven Hill (Yes please!)
Aged for 8 years in Kentucky (Sounds good)
Aged for 7 years in Scotland (Bagpipes are cool)

No mention is made of these being finished in scotch barrels, so based on the information provided I assume they aren’t. But the idea that seven years of maturation in the Scottish climate could influence the flavor profile so dramatically…that’s a wild concept to me.

This reminds me of something distilled on the island of Islay more than it reminds me of anything distilled in Bardstown, KY. I don’t mean that in the sense of peat smoke, but Wolf does have a certain maritime funk that I would associate more with a Classic Laddie than an Elijah Craig. I think that identity crisis is the core of why this doesn’t work as well for me as I’d hoped.

Again, not a bad bottle. Just a little more anomalous than desired.

Would I buy another bottle? Reveries? Yes. Wolf? Well…as they say in Scotland…Nae.

Rating. 5.25/10 | Good, just fine.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect

Color: Copper Orange

Age: 10 Years

Proof: 106

Nose: Right away I’m getting a really inviting orange creamsicle note that immediately grabs my attention. Behind that comes raisins, caramel, peanut brittle, and toffee. As I spend more time with it, a little sweet oak and tobacco begin to emerge, giving it a bit more maturity than I was expecting. Toward the end, that rich toffee note becomes even more pronounced. This is a sweet, dessert-forward nose with just enough oak to remind you it’s still a Knob Creek.

Taste: Sweet oak, caramel, and vanilla rush onto the palate immediately. On the second sip, I’m picking up some orange and custard that add a really nice layer of sweetness. As it develops across the palate, baking spice and a touch of clove begin to show themselves before transitioning into more mature oak and tobacco notes. The last sip really surprised me, as that orange note returned with more of an orange marmalade character alongside some lingering spice. There’s a nice progression from sweet to savory that keeps the pour interesting without ever feeling overly complex.

Feel: Good mouthfeel. Creamy and coats the palate nicely, although it stops just short of being syrupy. It has enough body to feel satisfying without becoming heavy.

Finish: Medium length. It starts with smoky oak and baking spice before gradually transitioning back toward sweeter caramel and vanilla notes. It’s a balanced finish that hangs around long enough to leave a good impression without overstaying its welcome.

Overall: 7 out of 10 on the t8ke scale.

This is a heck of a value pour. It still has that signature Knob Creek spice that Beam fans expect, but there’s considerably more sweetness here to balance it out than in many other Knob Creek releases. The orange creamsicle and orange marmalade notes give it a personality of its own, while the caramel, peanut brittle, and tobacco keep it grounded in classic Beam territory.

It’s not quite rich enough or layered enough to break into my upper tier, but this is a bottle I’d happily pour for friends or keep on the shelf as an easy, dependable sipper. At its price point, Knob Creek Blenders Edition Batch 1 delivers a lot of quality for the money.

Grade: A

Single barrel, 100 proof.

This is delicious. It’s noticeably sweeter than its Buffalo Trace mash bill #2 peers, with plenty of caramel and honey. I definitely prefer it to standard Blanton’s. The added proof points really help the mash bill shine. It would be interesting to try it alongside Blanton’s Gold. The rye comes around on the finish. It’s just an extremely well-rounded pour!

A friend found this for me for $95, and I’m extremely grateful to have it in my collection.

Today we're taking a look at the Small Batch 1 from River City Whiskey! This was the inaugural small batch release from River City Whiskey that was sourced from Green River barrels. Da'Mon and Ricky do nothing but pick and acquire great barrels, so I had very high hopes for this one when it was first announced. Let's sit down with our favorite Eternal, Ikaris, and see if it delivers.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 6 years

Proof: 125.4

Nose: So bold. Black cherry, tobacco, orange peel, and brown sugar. The aromas on this are mostly sweet but there's still a very dark vibe to it. Swirling the glass brings out a brighter cherry note along with chocolate and caramel. Amongst the best aromas I've experienced from Green River-sourced whiskey.

Palate: Good viscosity where much of the nose carries over. Dark cherries, tobacco, brown sugar, and some baking spices that hit on the backend of the palate. Like the nose, this is sweet overall, but there is a nice earthy undertone to it. After a few sips, black pepper and butterscotch begin to make an appearance.

Finish: Longer side of medium in length of brown sugar, orange peel, and black pepper.

Is this the best Green River whiskey I've had? So far, it is. The fellas at River City Whiskey came out swinging with this inaugural small batch blend. This overall leans on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but there's still a nice earthy vibe to it with the tobacco and black pepper that brings this one all together. This is one I received a media sample of and immediately bought a full bottle for myself because it's that good, especially if you're a fan of Green River.

t8ke scale: 7.8/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Opened with a friend this afternoon.

NOSE: reminiscent of walking into a co-op feed store with your grandpa on a Saturday morning. Old wood. Sacks of cereal grains throughout the warehouse.

PALATE: (changes with the sip) old, seasoned wood, toffee, caramel, toasted brown sugar. Heavy caramel syrup. A little heat. FINISH: an aftertaste persists. There is nothing not to like about this bourbon.. it is worth of all the hype. It is what bourbon should be

Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 114.44 proof, 2026 release.

Very nice and bright golden color. I really tried but don't get much out of smelling it. The bottle has been open for a few months and the whiskey sat in the tasting glass quite a bit. Anyway, after an initial alcoholic whiff I get general peach cobbler aromas. Pleasant but a bit monodimensional.

Easy to sip, it's medium bodied. Tastes sweet and spicy, quite hot on the alcohol. It's super sweet, I get more cooked peaches, vanilla, caster sugar. Again not overly complex but it's super pleasant. That sweetness, married to spicy heat works for me.

If the spiciness wasn't present, I would say it has a wheated character. The mashbill isn't published, I suspect that there are both rye and wheat. Medium length finish, leaves behind more sweetness.

A solid 6 for me.

Well trip to KY was a good time. Seeing the history of Wild Turkey in person was undoubtedly an experience. The spirits at Dark Arts were on another level. And Spalding Donuts changed the way I look at donuts. Now that im back my next rabbit hole will be into a company called Barrel King.

I decided to get a Gold Membership to see what its all about it. This also marks yet another time ive abandoned my principles on denying subscription based services. First Hulu and now Barrel King. What have I become?

Normally, I keep my reviews objective but I noticed something and I want to speak on it even if it means I may sound a bit sycophantic. In my few limited reactions with people from barrel king (Sidney, Bunch, et al) I noticed a warm personability. When I was at Dark Arts I had no choice but to recognize the craftsmanship of the product. However, I also witnessed impersonal capitalism on full display. With that comes indifference and the emptiness of "the transaction".

So far, it seems like Barrel King has soul. And I like that. I will be posting write ups on every BK bottle I recieve over the next 6 months. I hope you all enjoy!

Barrel King Purple Angel Proof 108.3 | ABV 54.15

(86% 95/5 Rye MGP, 14% 7 & 8 year Wild Turkey, Finished in Cabernet Port barrels, and Sine Qua Non White Wine Barrels)

Nose: Dusty Powdered Sugar Backdrop over a beautiful oak. Dry and Bold. Sourness. Yes, Fruit! Apple Jolly Rancher. Reminds me of strawberry hard candy. Mango? Maraschino cherry. Digging deeper this reminds this blend has Wild Turkey in it. Caramel and signature Turkey flavors lurk. Powdered donuts. Russian tea cakes.

Palate: Wow. Thick and oily. Pepper and mild astringency on the front end. Sour fruit notes dominate here just like the nose. Although the rye is the main player here, the Turkey makes sure it isnt forgotten. Some awesome pastry, caramel, and other typical bourbon pleasantries.

Finish: Perfect oak and rye spice lingers. Apple jolly rancher. Finish is medium length. Reduced maple syrup? Brown sugar? Baking spice. Deep down is a toasted pastry note that comes and goes. Buttery caramel. Oh yeah.

Balance: The drinking experience on almost every BK bottle Ive had is so unique. IDK what it is. I just know that I like it. Its only something I pick up on when im casually sipping instead of doing a deep dive. This blend doesnt argue with itself and delivers an experience. Enough said. And at this price id be hard pressed to name a shelfer that drinks like this.

Nose: 24/25

Palate: 22/25

Finish: 22/25

Balance: 23/25

Total: 91/100

10 year bourbon. 70.39 percent

Nose: Funky. Despite the proof the nose is gentle. Peanut shell. Salty. Faint bubblegum. Tobacco, tobacci, tobacco! Dark, robust, and bold. Complex? No. Simple? I say dignified snd understated. As it opens i get more cream, vanilla, and caramel.

Palate: Thick. Very oily. Vanilla powerhouse. Cola. Sassafras. Cherry pie filling. Root beer. Spice. Cigar

Finish: Yeah there is a huge. But it is only on the end. On the palate its all flavor. Maple syrup and tobacco swirl. Somewhere here is a bread pudding. Bubblegum.

Nose: 23/25 - amazing. No ethanol.

Palate: 20/25

Finish: 20/25

Balance: 22/25

Total: 86/100

It could be said that I have a preference for finished whiskey. However, I always appreciate the spirit in pure form. Whether its scotch, Irish, rye, or bourbon. Knowing the baseline helps you appreciate the experimental stuff. Well this bottle is a particular type of bourbon done really, really well. It is the Southern Elite culture in a bottle. I had a barrel pick from this Company that was actually better than this bottle and at a lower price and lower proof no less. That bottle pushed me to take the 300 dollar gamble on this.

I enjoy this pour for what it is. Bourbon purists will appreciate this. I will enjoy while I have this. At 300 I probably will not buy a back up. Only 300 bottle ive found worth buying again and again have been WT masters keep.

Cheers and enjoy.

Buzzard's Roost Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey

Distillery: Bottled and aged by Buzzard's Roost, but it's MGP distillate

Age: NAS

Price: $63.99

Proof: 116.1

Nose: Immediately surprised and not in a good way. There is an overwhelming harshness right of the bat. Heavy sharpie marker note that drowns out most everything else. Some slight cedar and mint.

Palate: Medium mouthfeel. Really not much better than the nose. There's a big scotch tape-like note that I'm obviously not loving. It's grainy and earthy and feels young. If I didn't know any better I would guess this was one of those rapidly aged whiskey's.

Finish: About medium length, but shorter than you'd expect for 116.1 proof. There's some dill early on but it's met with more harshness. The later end of the finish is more palatable with some rye spice, vanilla, and tobacco.

Score: 2.9

Summary: I really don't know what went wrong here. I've reviewed three other Buzzard's Roost releases and really enjoyed them. Two of the three scored into the 7's. For those who don't know everything out of Buzzards undergoes some form of "double oaking", so their process can't inherently be the problem since I enjoyed the other releases. Maybe it was the 95% rye MGP distillate? Maybe I got a bad blend? I don't know, but man this was rough. Would be curious to hear the opinions of others who have tried this. Really not much else to say. 2.9 is the score.

1. Terrible | Drain pour after the first sip
2. Very Bad | Trying to choke it down but possible drain pour
3. Poor | Would drink if forced to but never under my own will
4. Below Average | Not off-putting but not my cup of tea
5. Average | I'll take it
6. Good | Enjoyable sip
7. Very Good | Well above average
8. Excellent | A drink I will remember
9. Incredible | Something truly extraordinary
10. Best of the best | Peak Bourbon

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

When I reviewed E.H. Taylor’s Cured Oak expression a little while ago, I couldn’t help but notice how much it reminded me of the Starlight Distillery 10-Year bourbon, both in overall oakiness and in its flavor notes. Both bottles are relatively scarce, so I’m excited to be able to compare the two side by side here. Let’s see if the comparison holds up, and if one is measurably better than the other!

**\*

ABOUT Starlight 10-Year

*From the Distillery: Starlight Distillery’s 2026 10-Year Reserve Bourbon is a true reflection of patience, precision and family legacy. Produced entirely grain-to-grass using grains grown and harvested on the Huber family estate, this limited release showcases the highest level of craftsmanship. This ten-barrel blend was carefully selected from some of the oldest bourbon resting in our rickhouses, featuring both signature 3-grain and 4-grain mash bills built on rare heirloom corn and Indiana rye. Sweet mash fermented and double pot distilled on our Vendome copper stills, each barrel was entered at low proof and aged slowly for a full decade to develop exceptional depth and character.

Initially matured in the distillery’s original warehouse, these barrels were later transferred to Warehouse #2, West Side, the warmest pocket of our rickhouses. This dynamic aging environment pushed the whiskey to its peak, intensifying body, oak integration, aromatic richness and layered complexity. Hand selected by the Huber family – Ted, Blake and Christian – each barrel was bottled only when it reached absolute maturity. Bottled at cask strength at 114.2 proof, this bourbon represents the highest expression of Starlight Distillery’s commitment to authenticity and world-class American whiskey.

*Mash bill: Blend of 60% corn/20% rye/20% malted barley and 51% corn/20% rye/20% malted barley/9% wheat

*Proof: 114.2

*Price: $249.99

ABOUT E.H. Taylor Cured Oak

*From the Distillery: E.H. Taylor Cured Oak Bourbon is aged inside oak barrels made with staves cured for 13 months, more than twice as long as typical barrel staves. This extended curing process extracts the rich characters deep within the wood. Barrels were aged inside of Warehouse C, built by Colonel Taylor in 1885 as a prime aging warehouse. As a special limited edition release, it is a bourbon of great character, in honor of the man who would accept no less.

*Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

*Proof: 100

*Price: $79.99 MSRP (way more at stores and on secondary)

**\*

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Nice medium-amber, caramelly color with equally nice legs on the glass

Appearance B: Slightly more reddish and perhaps slightly more oily

Nose A: Stonefruit and oak; also cigar wrapper and pipe tobacco. Nice vanilla, caramel, and molasses as well. As it continues to open up, the fruit note gets sweeter, almost like cherry pie.

Nose B: Slightly darker and much oakier. The wood note is strong with this one! The sweetness here is much less caramel and fruit and more a combination of brown and white sugars. A little stewed fruit does show up at the very tail end.

Palate A: Sweet and smooth. The caramels and pie crust in particular carry over from the nose. On the mid-palate there’s more oakiness, tobacco, and vanilla. Not overly complex, but not overly simple either, and definitely enjoyable.

Palate B: Much less sweet and more oaky. Also grittier, if that makes sense, but also thicker and oilier. There’s a bit more heat here, but it’s not overpowering. The flavors are also more concentrated, even if it’s not necessarily more complex than A. The sugars carry over here in the form of molasses and maybe some caramel, while the hint of fruit from the nose is nowhere to be found.

Finish A: Medium-length, oaky, and sweet. The lingering flavor is cigar wrapper – a nice Connecticut shade, which is my favorite type.

Finish B: Oak and toffee, with some caramel thrown in for good measure. The oak lingers longest, outlasting the other flavors, and it’s joined at the end by a fair amount of barrel char.

Rating A: 7.8

Rating B: 8

Thoughts: These are both really good bourbons whose profiles are a little more different than I expected. They rate almost as closely as possible here – just 0.2 apart – but those ratings are for different reasons. A is lighter and sweeter, while B is darker and more brooding. I could definitely see preferring A over B depending on my mood, but for today, it’s the oakier of the two that wins out (again, just by a hair).

Prediction A: E.H. Taylor Cured Oak

Prediction B: Starlight 10-Year

**\*

Actual A: E.H. Taylor Cured Oak

Actual B: Starlight 10-Year

More Thoughts: I guess it’s no surprise that the higher-proof of the two had more concentrated flavor, or that the one with the 10-year age statement was darker and oakier than its counterpart. Like I said above, I could see preferring these in opposite order depending on time, place, and mood, but today it’s the darker, more flavorful of the two that takes home the top prize for me.

**\*

Previous Ratings (all reviews are available in my archive, but there may be some discrepancies in numeric rating, as these are updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
New Riff Balboa Rye (5.4)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (6)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
Buffalo Trace (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Peerless DO (6.1)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)
Ampersand Opimus (6.9)

7 | Great | Well above average
Blanton’s Gold (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Found North 012 (7)
Rock Hill Farms (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.5)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor BP 16 (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.8)
E.H. Taylor Cured Oak (7.8)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (8)
Starlight 10yr (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8.3)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.6)
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)
Eagle Rare 17yr 2025 (8.9)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Distilled and bottled by Willett at 126.8 proof, barrel 745.

Beautiful, bright mahogany color. It looks dense and silky in the tasting glass. Immediately offering aromas of grilled corn on the cob, crunchy caramel, light oak, then with some more air and time I get a whiff of plastic, and finally some fruit, dried cherry.

First sip is super hot, but those alcohol vapors carry up the palate intense flavors of wax then yellow raisins. Hot and spicy, the full alcohol of its proof is felt. With dilution, sweeter flavors emerge. Rosewater and honey are immediately apparent to me. Then waxed wood, cinnamon, more medicinal undertones.

Finish is super super super super long on woody notes, it lingers an impressive amount of time. I can take a sip of water and the aftertaste is still there. Big, bold, packs a real punch on every aspect. A solid 8 in the T8KE scale.

Bulleit '87 is a new bourbon and rye blend and a new addition to their core lineup. It's going to be readily available around the country and it's only $30.

Both components are aged separately for at least four years, then finished in toasted American and French oak staves for four to six weeks before they're blended.

I've always been a fan of Bulleit's rye, and I've kind of been hit or miss on their bourbon. So let's see what happens when they combine it and bring it together.

The Specs

• Age: At least 4 years
• Proof: 90
• Price: $30

Nose

Off the bat, this is sweet and corny. There's a lot of corn grain happening, almost like a creamed corn note, but it goes even sweeter than that. The toasted cask element comes across as marshmallow fluff. Not toasted marshmallow by a campfire, more of the sweet processed stuff you get in a jar. There's a little baking spice on the back end, probably coming from the toasted casks or the rye whiskey in the blend.

It definitely smells more like a bourbon than a rye. Overall, a pretty solid, relatively young whiskey.

Palate

Quite a bit nicer than the nose.

It's still sweet with that corn element at the front of the palate, but there's a citrus thing going on that reminds me of an Old Fashioned with an orange twist. There's some vanilla sweetness there too. The toasted white oak brings out the sweetness in the bourbon, and the toasted French oak brings out the spices in the rye. Really good thinking there, Bulleit!

At 90 proof, I'm not upset about the proof point. It drinks really easy.

I don't typically reach out and buy Bulleit Bourbon or Bulleit Rye. I think they're fine for what they are. But this one might make me stop and consider picking it up in the future because I do like the flavor profile. It's extremely approachable for people that may think bourbon is too dark and oaky and rye is too spicy.

Finish

Finish wise, it's surprisingly medium (in a good way). It's not a super long finish, but it's not as short as I would have thought based on the stats alone.

There's a nice warming oakiness on the back end. I'm finally getting that oak element beyond just the sweetness and spice, and I'm glad it shows up because it adds some complexity.

Bang for Your Buck

This is where Bulleit '87 makes a lot of sense for me.

We've seen the BouRye trend on the high end and the mid range end. What I haven't seen is something like this at a $30 price point. They actually tell you what went into the bottle, it's different from what they've been doing, and I really find it hard to fault this release.

I also think this would be a pretty solid cocktail whiskey. I typically go for a rye in my Manhattans and a bourbon in my Old Fashioneds. This is the whiskey for when you can't decide. I prefer my cocktail whiskeys around 110 proof, so this one's a little lower than that, but not everyone is a proof hound like me.

Score - 8.5 out of 10

Final Thoughts

I think this is one that everyone should at least try once.

If you prefer a higher proof whiskey or an older whiskey, it may not be your jam, but that doesn't mean there's not a place for it on your bar cart. It's a great low-tier daily sipper, a pretty solid cocktail whiskey, and a good whiskey to introduce people to whiskey if they've never really explored it beyond just doing shots. I really think its value is some of the best on the market at the moment.

I don't think I would have ever thought I'd be giving a score like that to Bulleit, but all things considered, 8.5 out of 10. This is a solid new addition to Bulleit and I can't wait to pick up a second bottle.

(This bottle was featured on the Bourbon Bytes Podcast. Listen to the full episode here.)