Other Whisk(e)ys

High West Bourye 2026

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

High West Bourye 2026
Blend of Straight Whiskeys

50.5% ABV
$125
Website
High West Bourye
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Bourye invites you in with a bright, inviting nose of candied lemon, apricot jam on buttery shortbread, wrapped in caramel macaron sweetness, spiced cookies, a hint of toasted cinnamon, drifting through an Alpine breeze.

On the palate, grilled peaches and orange blossoms unfold into rich layers of chocolate‑covered haystack, molasses cookies, brown sugar bacon, sarsaparilla, lavender, and warm leather, like stepping into Grandma’s cabin tucked among old-growth oaks.

A luxurious finish of sticky toffee pudding and warm ginger tea leaves a final, irresistible impression.

The 2026 Bourye release features an elevated ABV, which highlights the elegance and complexity of its 10+ year‑old whiskeys while preserving the decadent flavor developed through extended aging.

Mash Bill Details
Straight Bourbon Whiskey: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt from MGP; 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley from MGP
Straight Rye Whiskey: 95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP; 80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD

Aging: A blend of straight Bourbon and Rye (BOU + RYE) whiskeys aged a minimum of 10 years (10-19yo)
Availability: National Limited Release
Filtration: No Chill Filtration, No Flavor Added

Nose: Candied lemon, apricot jam on shortbread, caramel macaron, pfeffernüsse spice cookies, toasted cinnamon stick, dried ginger, springtime meadow in the Alps
Palate: Grilled peaches, orange blossom, chocolate-covered haystack, soft molasses biscuit, brown sugar bacon, black licorice, sarsaparilla, lavender, warm brown leather, rustic log cabin
Finish: Sticky toffee pudding with ginger tea
Blend: A unique and premium blend of rich straight bourbon and rye whiskeys, making for a premier sipping whiskey and one of High West®’s all-time favorites.
How to Enjoy: Bourye® is best enjoyed around a campfire while looking at the Milky Way. Sip straight or with a little water. Not recommended with ice.

What Gary Says

Nose: Thick with caramel, toffee, shortbread cookies, graham cracker, slightly burnt brownie, cinnamon, oak, orange zest, hint of maple syrup and leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, grilled peaches, brown sugar, cinnamon, anise, cocoa, orange zest, hint of mint with nutmeg.
Finish: Long with honey, cinnamon, a bit of ginger and pepper spice.
Comments: This is NOT your regular, annual release of Bourye folks. I had the pleasure of sitting down with a side-by-side-by-side comparison of batches from 2024, 2025 and this years – and it was not even close. The additional age in this year’s release, plus the higher ABV really put this above the rest – and the rest are pretty damned good! The 2024 and 2025 were fairly similar, but by comparison this had more fruit notes, and more of those candy-bar qualities that I’m a fan of. In short, this is a delicious pour, and agree with the recommendation of sipping neat.

Rating: Must Try

High West Bourye 2026 Read More »

Columbia Creek 6 Year Tennessee Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Columbia Creek 6 Year Tennessee Whiskey

47.8% ABV
$50
Website
Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey
We would like to thank Columbia Creek and The Whiskey Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

THIS IS THE WHISKEY FOR THOSE FLUENT IN REFINEMENT — FULL OF CHARACTER, NEVER NEEDING TO SHOUT.

Aged undisturbed deep beneath Tennessee’s capricious skies for no less than six years in new American white oak barrels– bottled at 95.6 Proof (47.8% ABV).
Our whiskey emerges bold, eloquent, and unfiltered, crafted for those who recognize excellence on their own terms. It honors both heritage and the new generation that values authenticity and knows that quality needs no fanfare.

OUR RECIPE:
80% CORN
10% RYE
10% MALTED BARLEY

THE RESULTING CHARACTER IS VIBRANT YET POISED, WITH FLAVOR THAT RESONATES LONG AFTER THE GLASS IS SET DOWN. BOLD OUT FRONT AND LINGERING LONG AFTER.

No shortcuts. No chill filtering. Just Columbia’s crystalline spring water, the distinctive temperament of southern summers and winters, and the revered Lincoln County Process—charcoal mellowed for sublime complexity giving our whiskey its unmistakable depth.

TASTING NOTES
Color: A warm gold-to-amber hue, catching the light with a gentle copper glow.
Nose: Bright floral and fruity aromatics open immediately—think orchard blossoms and ripe stone fruit—layered over a subtle but distinctive peppery undertone that adds depth and intrigue.
Palate: Rich and inviting. Caramel leads the way, followed by a lively burst of orange zest that lifts the sweetness. Mid-palate notes of dark honey add viscosity and warmth, while a whisper of coriander brings a delicate, spiced complexity.
Finish: Smooth and clean, tapering off with a mellow sweetness and a lingering hint of citrus and spice.

A MULE’S STUBBORN STANDARD.
A CREEK’S SLOW PATIENCE.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel creme candies, oak, vanilla, apple with a bit of a mineral note.
Palate: Vanilla, caramel, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, mineral note and pepper spice.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, slightly drying with vanilla, oak and fading spice notes.
Comments: This is a bit spicier than some other Tennessee whiskies (in particular those known for a distinctive ‘mineral note’ which is familiar here). I’m not sure where this is distilled, so not making any claims on that point. Appreciate the non-chill filtration. While there was nothing off-putting for me in the glass, it also didn’t necessarily stand out in any memorable way. It doesn’t come across as young (not getting a lot of corn, but was hoping for more complexity/maturity at six years old than I was able to pick up.

Rating: Average

Columbia Creek 6 Year Tennessee Whiskey Read More »

Barrell Dovetail Toasted

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Barrell Dovetail Toasted
Whiskey Finished in Rum, Port & Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Barrels
Secondary Maturation in Toasted American Oak

61.9% ABV
$200
Website
Barrell Toasted Dovetail Whiskey
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

This limited-edition expression reimagines our award-winning Barrell Dovetail with an elevated dimension. Our signature blend—finished in structured California Cabernet, indulgent Port, and funky Rum casks—was further refined with 33 months of secondary maturation in toasted American oak, drawing out layers of caramelized sugar, warm spice, and rich oak. The result is a more decadent evolution of Dovetail—complex, opulent, and exquisitely polished.

Extended maturation in new American toasted oak deepens Dovetail’s character, layering vanilla bean, honeycomb, and caramelized sugar over its hallmark notes of dark cherry, fig, and cocoa. Roasted marshmallow and toffee meet baking spice and toasted hazelnut, while hints of coconut, leather, and sweet tobacco unfurl with each sip. The finish lingers luxuriously, where rich oak and warm spice frame jammy fruit, creating a more indulgent, opulent expression of Dovetail.

  • Finished in Rum, Port, and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Barrels
  • Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
  • Secondary Maturation in Toasted American Oak
  • 123.8 proof

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, freshly polished oak, honey, pipe tobacco, cherry and a hint of leather.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, syrupy and warm with brown sugar, dark chocolate, oak, blackberries, anise, cinnamon, cloves and leather.
Finish: Long and syrupy with honeyed fruit and oak.
Comments: I really enjoy Dovetail, as well as the Gray Label 1st Release. This is right up there with those – just a lovely, thick and syrupy whiskey. This drinks like a champ neat, but adding a bit of water brings out apricot and orange marmalade on the nose, and takes the fruit notes on the palate from blackberries towards raspberries and cherries. It also maintains that really thick and syrupy mouthfeel (which some folks may not put a lot of stock in, but I think definitely adds to the experience). Another great offering from the folks at Barrell Craft Spirits!

Rating: Must Try

Barrell Dovetail Toasted Read More »

Blackened – Straight Whiskeys Finished in Brandy Casks

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

BLACKENED
A Blend of Straight Whiskeys Finished in Brandy Casks

45% ABV
$30
Website
Blackened American Whiskey

What the Producer Says

This award-winning whiskey is a marriage of the finest North American straight bourbon & rye whiskeys and uniquely finished and sonically-enhanced in brandy casks, using the BLACK NOISE™ process to extract more flavor from the wood. The sweetness of the bourbon is perfectly balanced with the savory spice offered by the rye. The whiskey is further enhanced with the brandy cask finish adding notes of apricot, which plays perfectly alongside the honey and caramel notes of the blend.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Burnt caramel, oak & honey
Palate: Honey, cinnamon, allspice, dark fruit, clove & mint
Finish: Long and smooth, slightly creamy with hints of butterscotch taffy, maple & honey

What Gary Says

Nose: Charred oak, caramel, vanilla and honey.
Palate: Honey, cinnamon candy, orange zest, grapefruit, bit of anise and mint.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with pepper spice and caramel apples.
Comments: For starters, I’m a huge fan of Metallica and the late great Dave Pickerell. The whole blasting music are barrels I thought was probably gimmicky, although we know in very mellow climates where the liquid doesn’t interact as much with the barrel the flavors are more muted. All that to say – I wanted to like this; I really did. It isn’t ‘horrible, dump it down the drain’, but I thought it was average at best. You do get some of the nuance from the brandy casks for sure, but it just never left me wanting to raise my glass again.

Rating: Average

Blackened – Straight Whiskeys Finished in Brandy Casks Read More »

Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey

Whiskey Finished in Jamaican, Barbados & St. Lucian Rum Casks

71.12% ABV
$200
Website
Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

The BCS team created this unique blend by selecting a diverse set of whiskeys sourced from both the United States and Canada, with some barrels aged for as long as 25 years. Each of these whiskeys was then meticulously finished in a distinct rum cask originating from one of three Caribbean nations—Jamaica, Barbados, or St. Lucia—imparting unique tropical and molasses-driven characteristics to the spirit. After the individual finishing processes were complete, the team skillfully blended the various components, harmonizing the bold spice of the whiskey with the rich, exotic sweetness of the rum casks to create a complex and layered final expression.

  • Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
  • Finished in Jamaican, Barbados and St. Lucian Rum Casks
  • 142.24 proof

FLAVOR NOTES
A multitude of rummy esters swirl about this whiskey. A first whiff may yield geranium, but the second will be all orange zest and the next whiff full of kiwi and strawberry. The palate follows suit but with this whiskey’s corn-rich texture evoking creme anglaise and tahini. Each splash of water added volatilizes more aromas and reveals another fruit, be it banana, pineapple, or pomegranate.

​Neat
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: The esters inherited from the Jamaican rum are dense and prickly. At first the aroma is all orange flower water, buttercup and vanilla. There’s a strong waxy side and even a whiff of petrichor. In time, the citrus follows the flowers, and in its place comes pineapple, passionfruit, and strawberry.
Palate: Matcha, rosehip, and clove echo the floral opening of the nose. The flavors of fresh sugarcane and molasses highlight the rum. Hints of slightly burnt popcorn and roasted peanut reveal the spirit’s cereal origin. It grows more tropical the longer it’s held on the tongue, tasting of lychee, kiwi, and honeydew melon.
Finish: Rich pina colada is deftly balanced by limestone, salt, and a splash of mezcal. Contemplation is rewarded with honeysuckle, lime zest, and a bit of lingering peanut butter.
With a few drops of spring water
Cucumber and green banana burst forth with youthful exuberance. The nose is extremely sweet, displaying saltwater taffy, pandan chiffon cake, and maraschino liqueur. There’s also quite a vivid note of butter and some rootbeer adding a welcome herbal complexity before coffee ice cream takes over the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rummy w/ notes of molasses, orange blossom, vanilla, tropical fruit notes of pineapple and kiwi.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, warm with honey, cinnamon, cloves, rosewater, molasses, nutty with a hint of caramel.
Finish: Moderate in length with coconut, pineapple and a bit of molasses.
Comments: The nose on this one is not as hot as you’d expect for a hazmat bottling. The palate is sharp and warm, and improves with some time in the glass. I prefer this dram with a bit of water, which thickens up the mouthfeel nicely and brings out some lovely notes of butterscotch and turtle brownies. The rum influence here is unmistakable, and risks masing the underlying spirit. Water helps bring out more of those whiskey notes of caramel. If you are fan of rum AND whiskey, this is a pretty unique offering and might be right in your wheelhouse, where if you’re a whiskey fan but not crazy about rum – well, this is triple rum cask finished so what you might expect.

Rating: Stands Out

Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey Read More »