Episodes
Tasting Notes:  Five staves of Baked American Pure and five staves of Roasted French Mendiant oak have produced the harmonious balance of sweet vanilla to dark roasted cocoa that exemplifies the Black and White cookie itself for which this single barrel expression of Maker's Mark is named. Bottled at 111.2 proof, I still think most people sleep on how good these Maker's Barrel picks are, and have been. Of course the pricing was a little salty when they launched this project several years...
Published 04/02/24
Long Drink has EXPLODED in popularity in the last several year. Relatively unknown outside of Finland, this refreshing mix of gin, citrus and carbonation hits the right note all year long, and now they've got PEACH flavor, the perfect compliment to any hang. If you haven't tried Long Drink yet, start with a 6pk of traditional and a 6pk of Peach. You won't be disappointed. Also, one of the company founders, Evan Burns, is an IU graduate!
Published 03/29/24
Tasting Notes:  This 18yr old traditional Heaven Hill mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% barley malt is bottled at 120 proof. While past releases of the heritage have been less than stellar (Corn Whiskey?) this bottle reclaims the throne. While Elijah Craig's 18yr has more than tripled in price, it's always been a 90 proofer and still is today. This is the big boy version and you can tell the first time your nose gets even remotely close to the glass. Big wave of leather and furniture...
Published 03/28/24
Tasting Notes:  Alma Miel is classified as a Joven tequila. The Spanish word “Joven” translates to “young”. Joven tequila is made from a blend of unaged and aged tequilas. Continuing Don Julio González’s legacy of living Por Amor to craft only the exceptional, Tequila Don Julio pays homage to the heart and soul of tequila with the introduction of Tequila Don Julio Alma Miel, a blend of Blanco tequila distilled with oven-roasted agave honey and Añejo tequila which has been aged for at least...
Published 03/27/24
Tasting Notes: Real Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey and ginger ale perfectly mixed at 7% ABV. The refreshing taste of ginger ale and Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey come together in perfect harmony, creating an easy-to-drink, smooth and balanced Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey cocktail. It's a crisp canned cocktail with notes of tangy ginger highlighted by Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey.
Published 03/26/24
Tasting Notes:  For the 150th Kentucky Derby, Woodford chose Kentucky artist Wylie Caudill, a chalk and mural artist known for large scale, bold, and colorful works of art, as the perfect compliment to this year's HUGE anniversary race. If you haven't already grabbed your 150th anniversary bottle you better run because they are going fast. Oh, and by the way, the sweet nectar inside is just classic Woodford, but that's alright with us any day of the week. With the DNA of Old Forester,...
Published 03/26/24
A Hard Tea Perfect for March Madness. Anheuser Busch's entry into the spiked tea market, Hoop Tea, debuted in 2023, taking on the mighty Twisted Tea. As far as boozy tea's go, it definitely delivers on smoothness, sweetness, drinkability, and balance. 
Published 03/22/24
  Green River continues to make great strides under the watchful eye of Bardstown Bourbon Co. Their latest release of a rye whiskey does not fail to impress as well, both in terms of the mature flavor profile, but also the price. Sweet pine and florals on the nose with a touch of nutmeg. On the palate, sweet cinnamon, smooth oak, a lifted, tingling pine note with a touch of soft caramel and a little vanilla as well. Bottled at 95 proof and for $40 it's a great value from a proud and old DSP.
Published 03/21/24
Tasting Notes:  When Starlight Distillery, the Huber Family, and IU's Hoosier Connect NIL collective team up to create a delicious and affordable vodka, why not hop on the bandwagon? 25% of proceeds directly contribute to Hoosier athletes. Distilled from corn for a smooth as silk flavor that literally goes with anything, including winning!
Published 03/19/24
Tasting notes:  A triple distilled blended irish whiskey from single malt and grain, Bushmill's is Northern Ireland's answer to Jameson. If you're looking for a shot to pair with a Guiness, there may be no better whiskey in the world than this! Sweet malt aroma bursting with citrus, lanolin, and tropical fruit. On the palate, Bushmills is rich beyond its price, and smooth beyond its years.
Published 03/18/24
Tasting notes:  Carefully crafted under watchful (yet often dozing off) canine eyes, Mr. Pickles Gin is an Eugene, Oregon original born from 100% soft, white winter wheat, mono-sourced just down the road at the Camas Country Mill. The exceptionally soft base spirit is triple distilled with the final distillation including a vapor basket to introduce the botanicals. It leads with the same enlivening juniper notes you might encounter on a hike to majestic Mount Hood, which are quickly...
Published 03/15/24
Tasting Notes:  Munyon’s Paw-Paw pays homage to Dr. James Munyon and his original Munyon’s Paw-Paw formulation, dating back to 1903. A premium spirit, crafted from all natural botanicals, this refreshing aperitif can be enjoyed prior to a meal, with tonic, or to enhance your favorite cocktail. Our favorite way is 50/50 with bourbon for a "Florida Old Fashioned."
Published 03/13/24
Tasting Notes:  As we approach St. Patrick's Day I can't think of a better premium Irish Whiskey to take another look at today. Made with a portion of unmalted barley, as well as a portion of sherry cask aged whiskey, Redbreast is the superlative Irish whiskey. It somehow manages to pack MASSIVE flavor, but retain a lightness and drinkability that almost no other whiskey can claim. Sweet grass and hay aromas along with light oak, citrus and tropical fruit dominate the nose. One the palate,...
Published 03/12/24
  Massive tropical fruit notes for a rye whiskey. Spice is fairly subdued. I've been critical of some ham-fisted Hard Truth releases in the past, but what we have here emerging is an actual new "house style" of whiskey. You have to manage your expectations though, because it is NOT an MGP 95% rye, and it's not even in the same universe as most standard distillery 51% ryes. This is wholly on it's own. First off, it's 100% fruit driven, almost cordial-like in both nose and palate. Apple...
Published 03/11/24
  A Mediterranean gin at it's core, Gin Mare leads with basil, thyme, and rosemary. If there was ever a gin that required an olive, this is it. Simply a perfect martini! Sweet and earthy with lots of sweet herbal notes both on the nose and the palate. Light and dry initially with the herbs and a touch of spice on the finish. This is a PERFECT summer gin!
Published 03/08/24
Tasting Notes: Was $89.99, NOW $69.99. From our 2023 archives, don't sleep on this NULU toasted barrel. Many have tried toasted barrel finishes in the past several year, but Nulu's are some of the best, and this EXCEPTIONAL cask proves it all day long. Sweet coconut and along on the nose with marshmallow, shortbread, banana, and pear juice. On the palate, major toast coming through, sweet burnt marshmallow followed by oak, leather, and spice.
Published 03/07/24
Tasting Notes: The latest LIMITED release from Hendrick's Gin's "cabinet of curiosities" is a stone fruit and sweet herb infused gin that's a literal fruit basket of flavors and aromas. Apricot, peaches, citrus, rose, along with sweet mountain herbs like chamomile jump from the glass. 86.8 proof Distilled in Scotland.
Published 03/06/24
Tasting Notes:  There are two larger barrel campuses that Wild Turkey utilizes in their barrel program. The first is "Tyrone," which includes 23 warehouses perched above the Kentucky River near the distillery itself. The other, known as "Camp Nelson" contains only 6 rickhouses, and is 45 minutes down the road, but still near the Kentucky River. Camp Nelson was not built by Wild Turkey, but was originally used to age "Canada Dry Bourbon" The 2024 Russell's Reserve single barrels from "Bourbon...
Published 03/05/24
Tasting Notes:  On SALE for $59.99, this single barrel of Jefferson's Reserve is as soft and fruity as they come. Soft leather, tropical fruit, and butterscotch define the nose. On the palate, a perfectly sweet romp through vanilla, caramel, and more butterscotch. It's 100 proof but drinks so much softer and sweeter. Take advantage of the price and be on the look out for Barrel #586!
Published 03/04/24
Tasting Notes:  Besides Weller Antique, my favorite EVERYDAY bourbon is usually a toss up between Wild Turkey 101 and Old Forester 100 proof signature, but I would say Old Fo 100 has it by a nose. It's really just the perfect everyday bourbon. It's not too spicy. It's not too sweet. It's elegant with fruit. It's got enough bite at 100 proof, but is still extremely drinkable. Fill my decanter to the brim all day, every day with Old Fo 100 proof. It's fun to hunt bottles, but it's also okay...
Published 02/27/24
Tasting Notes:  On April 8th, 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur, blotting out the sun across a wide swath of Indiana. Hoosiers and friends from all over will gather together on this historic occasion to mark this celestial event, not expected to happen again until 2153. This special bourbon was distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana and bottled in Bloomington, directly in the path of the eclipse. We hope you use it to toast this once in a lifetime experience. Bottled at 119.4 proof with...
Published 02/26/24
Tasting Notes:  Irish whiskey and Bohemian Honey? Yes! Sign us up. The new Tullamore DEW Irish Honey liqueur may be one of the tastiest honey shots we've ever had. If you are a fan of Jim Beam or Jack Daniel's Honey, I would highly suggest trying this, as the combination of the lighter Irish whiskey pretty much makes this the smoothest chilled shot you can imagine. The whiskey flavor is still there, which already has a light, honey-like texture along with a signature Irish "grass," but the...
Published 02/23/24
Tasting Notes: Shhhhhh....don't tell anyone about Evan Williams 100 proof Bottled-in-Bond, especially when we've got it on Red Hot Deal for UNDER $18. It's at least 4 years old and bottled at 100 proof, from ONE distillery, made in ONE distilling season. Fresh mint and oak on the nose, typical Heaven Hill with a rustic woodsiness I've always enjoyed. On the palate, bright bourbon fruit mixed perfectly with a more mature oak profile. The decent malt content provides a touch of shortbread...
Published 02/22/24
Tasting Notes:  A "blended malt," bottled at 92 proof with big doses of Linkwood and the always delicious Clynelish, Compass Box Orchard House is the perfect scotch for spring. Inviting citrus, fruit, and floral aromas are integrated with a backbone of sweet malt. On the palate, vanilla bean, peach ice cream, lemon curd, and finger limes along with more exotic tangerine and lychee. Plus it's all MALT for UNDER $50
Published 02/21/24
Tasting Notes:  Now that it's become much more widely available, I thought I'd take a look at Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream, and also, as of the writing of this, it's SNOWING after Valentine's Day so why not??!! The nose promises creamy bourbony goodness with a big hit of vanilla and cinnamon. On the palate, it's got the BIG hit of bourbon flavor and bite that you want. Not too sweet, perfect pulled right from the fridge and served neat. 30 proof, but be careful, seated by the fire, this...
Published 02/20/24