2025

State Line Coffee Liqueur

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

State Line Coffee Liqueur

25% ABV
$30
Website
State Line Coffee Liqueur
We would like to thank State Line Distillery and Publicity For Good for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Locally roasted coffee, organic grains from Wisconsin’s Driftless region, and pure cane sugar combine to form a decadent liqueur that is velvety smooth with rich notes of coffee and chocolate.

Crowned ‘Best in the World’ multiple years at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, State Line Coffee Liqueur represents unmatched quality in every sip.

State Line Coffee Liqueur is velvety smooth with rich notes of coffee and chocolate. Produced from locally roasted Kin-Kin Coffee it’s hard not to get hyperbolic about our coffee liqueur. But man — it’s good. Crazy good.

State Line’s neutral grain spirit blends with cold brewed Kin-Kin Coffee and cane sugar for a decadent liqueur that’s not too sweet yet not too bitter, like dark chocolate. Serve it over ice or shake up an Espresso Martini. It’s always good. Too good, even. Okay we’ll stop.

Learn more here!

What Gary Says

Nose: Medium to dark roast coffee with a bit of chocolate.
Palate: Sweet coffee with a bit of caramel and dulce de leche.
Finish: Short in length with notes of coffee and sweetness.
Comments: This is a delightful and coffee-forward coffee liqueur! That might sound like a given, but trust me – it was really eye-opening to experience. After tasting, I decided to pull out the “coffee liqueur” I had in my cabinet (Kahlúa) for a side-by-side comparison, and the two really aren’t that similar. This is less syrupy and a tad lighter in the glass (because of course I tried both in Glencairns because I’m a whisk(e)y geek!) This is coffee first, with sweetness playing a supporting role – where the other is syrupy sweet and more chocolate forward, with coffee falling well behind. It was only then I noticed that the other is ‘coffee AND RUM liqueur’, which I had forgotten. All that to say, don’t think of this as a substitute for the other – it really does stand on its own, and if you’re a fan of coffee, this is a gem!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Blue Note Honey Rye Cask 2025 Release

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask 2025 Release
Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Honey Barrels

(58.245% ABV
$65
Website
Blue Note Honey Rye Cask 2025
We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask begins its journey by embracing the art of fusion. American oak barrels used for finishing are repurposed to produce a delicious, locally sourced, barrel-aged honey. We then return the bourbon to these honey-infused casks for another round of aging to create a distinct and harmonious profile. Blue Note’s bold and spicy notes blended with nuanced flavors of wildflower honey guarantee that with each sip, you’ll enjoy an intricate balance strength and sweetness.

Honey Rye Cask Tasting Notes
Nose: Very Light Apricot, Vanilla, All Spice, and Oak
Taste: Caramel, Hints of Apricot, Oak, Floral Finish, All Spice
Finish: Soft and Balanced, Light texture with lingering hints of Wildflower and Honey

Blue Note Honey Rye Whiskey is now available for purchase online at BlueNoteBourbon.com and in select U.S. markets. Approximately 13,000 bottles are available for the suggested retail price of $64.99.

Blue Note’s whiskey portfolio is distilled in partnership with Lofted Spirits (parent company of Green River Distilling Company) and then aged just north of downtown Memphis where the Mississippi and Wolf Rivers collide. The long summers filled with infamous Memphis heat and cooler evenings forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor that’s bold yet smooth.

Technical Details
AGED: A minimum of three years
PRODUCT TYPE: Straight Rye Whiskey
MASH BILL: 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley
PROOF & FILTRATION: 116.49 Proof, Unfiltered
Crafted in Memphis, TN

What Gary Says

Nose: Honey, caramel, mint, oak, vanilla wafers and brown sugar.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with honey, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, chocolate, apricots, apple and a bit of mint.
Finish: Moderate in length with honey, spices and a touch of oak.
Comments: Similar to the Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask, honey is prominent here. While I enjoyed that quite a bit, I like this even better as the spiciness of the rye gives this more balance. I’ve also always found that at three years old, rye can be ready and enjoyable where bourbon needs just a bit longer. This is a really nice pour, and this replaces the Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask as my favorite selection from Blue Note! My one critique would be the price, but as a limited edition offering that’s less of an issue.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Jack Daniel’s Bonded

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Jack Daniel’s Bonded
Tennessee Whiskey

50% ABV
$30-$35
Website
Jack Daniels Bonded Tennessee Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

High standards delivered at 100 proof

We’ve been making exceptional Tennessee Whiskey since before the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Our Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey is created from our classic Old No. 7 recipe made in one distilling season, aged for at least four years in our federally bonded barrelhouses, and offered at 100 proof.

Aroma: Seared corn and caramel with light hints of vanilla and butterscotch
Taste: Toasted marshmallow and maple
Finish: Oaky, sweet, and slightly herbal

What Gary Says

Nose:  Slightly burnt caramel, charred oak, cocoa, banana nut bread and burnt marshmallow.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, chocolate, pepper, marshmallow, nutmeg, maple candies and a hint of banana.
Finish:  Moderate in length with chocolate and banana nut bread.
Comments:  No surprise to me that Jack Daniels at a higher proof is better than the standard bearer. This definitely has all of the hallmarks of Jack Daniels, and while solid it is a tad sharper than I’d expect for only 50% ABV.

Rating: Stands Out

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RIOT. Double Bonded Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

RIOT. Double Bonded Rye
Double Bonded Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

50% ABV
$50
Website
RIOT. Double Bonded Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Three Chord Bourbon and CHQ Media for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

— First-ever Double Bonded Rye, blending two Bottled-in-Bond ryes from MGP and Bardstown Bourbon Co.
— Label features The Darts, an all female band that has a raw garage-punk energy with a dark, hypnotic groove — think fuzzed-out organs, thundering drums, and fearless vocals.
— This blend of ryes is as unique as the hot pink label in the sea of green ones on the shelf.
— Photo by Ed Arnaud captures the chaos and swagger of the punk ethos.
— Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
— Aged 4–7 years; mash bill: 86% rye, 9% corn, 5% malted barley
Tasting Notes
Color: Clear amber color
Nose: Balanced nut and spice characters
Palate: Balanced spice and oak
Finish: Cooling menthol with spice and oak

What Gary Says

Nose: Rye spice with mint, cinnamon, lemon and tangerine zest with a hint of clove.
Palate: Sharp, warm and spicy with chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, honey and pepper spice.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with cinnamon, mint and caramel.
Comments: None of that ‘barely-legal rye’; that high-rye mashbill definitely comes across loud and clear, and fitting with what they’re going for. This one is also better with a bit of water, which brings out a note of grapefruit on the nose. I like the idea of blending products from different distilleries; looking for something unique that might even be greater than the sum of it’s parts. While there wasn’t anything off-putting to me, this didn’t quite achieve that (although a perfectly serviceable rye, especially if you’re looking for a high-rye rye).

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Flipside Triple Wood Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Flipside Triple Wood Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted French Oak and American Oak Barrels

45% ABV
$35
Website
Flipside Triple Wood Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Three Chord Bourbon and CHQ Media for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

— Honors blues legend Guitar Shorty, known for wild, electrifying performances and his influence on people like Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy
— Photo by Larry Hulst perfectly captures the intensity and creativeness of Guitar Shorty’s live shows
— Double Gold Medal winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition
— A blend of straight Kentucky bourbons, aged in new charred American oak barrels, then finished in a mix of new and used toasted French and American oak barrels
— Blend of 4-7 year old bourbons, finished for 2-3 months
— 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
Tasting Notes
Color: Clear amber color
Nose: Sweet butterscotch with light oak and walnut
Palate: Sweet corn and nutty umami character
Finish: Lingering tingly finish

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, slightly sour oak, fall leaves and wood spices.
Palate: Sweet with caramel corn, cinnamon, honey, anise, nutmeg, bit of chocolate and pepper spice.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with vanilla and oak spices.
Comments: The toasted French oak definitely comes through with all of the spice notes. I found this came across a tad hot for 45%. I would have guessed a higher rye mashbill, but the finishing is definitely adding more of a spice kick. A bit of water helps this one out quite a bit.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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