Must Try

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

State Line Coffee Liqueur Read More »

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

Blue Note Honey Rye Cask 2025 Release Read More »

Four Roses 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses 2025 Small Batch Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

54.5% ABV
$250
Website
Four Roses Small Batch LE 2025 Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Four Roses and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

August 19, 2025 Four Roses Distillery announced the release of its highly anticipated 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, a standout expression from the award-winning Kentucky bourbon maker, releasing September 3rd, 2025. This marks the 18th edition in the annual series, featuring a unique blend of three bourbon recipes and four different batches, bottled at barrel strength.

Non-chill filtered and bottled at 109 proof, the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon features four hand-selected batches aged 13 and 19 years. Chosen from Four Roses’ 10 distinct bourbon recipes, this year’s limited edition blend is composed of a 13-year-old bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 13-year-old OBSK, a 13-year-old OESV,
and a 19-year-old OESV.

“Year after year, we look to create a unique expression that highlights the best of what our ten recipes can offer,” said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller. “When blending this year’s release, I was drawn to the 13-year-old V batches that showcase pronounced delicate fruit and sweet barrel tones. Although these barrels can really shine on their own, the OBSK brought in a complexity that I think people will really enjoy. The addition of the 19-year-old OBSV also adds another layer of depth and aged character that rounds out the blend beautifully.”

The recipes selected for the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch result in notes of sweet apricot, vanilla, caramel, black tea leaves, hints of rye, and mellow oak on the nose, followed by flavors of apricot, hints of citrus, crème brûlée, and antique spiced oak on the palate, with those same flavors lingering in a very soft and long finish.

This year, Four Roses will release approximately 16,854 bottles of its 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch at a suggested retail price of $249. They will be available at select retailers nationwide and through the distillery’s bottle drawing, which will accept entries from August 19 to 24, 2025. Winners of the bottle drawing will be selected at random and notified on August 29, 2025 for a chance to purchase and pick up their bottle at the Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, KY, in September. Visitors to the Four Roses Distillery can also enjoy a pour at Bar 1888 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, while supplies last.

For more information on Four Roses Distillery and the 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch release, please visit www.fourrosesbourbon.com, or follow on Instagram @fourrosesbourbon.

Recipes:
OBSV – 13 Years Old
OBSK – 13 Years Old
OESV – 13 Years Old
OESV – 19 Years Old

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, apricot, raw honey, orange zest, oak, mint, thyme, hints of cinnamon, clove, leather and tobacco.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, blood orange, vanilla, apricot, oak, chocolate, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish: Long and drying with caramel, oak and citrus spice notes.
Comments: This is classic Four Roses – balanced, nuanced, complex and lovely. I’ve yet to try a Four Roses Small Batch LE that I didn’t REALLY like. Interesting enough I don’t care for older bourbons, as I’m not a big fan of heavy oak, but while there is oak for sure it is quite deft – no doubt a tribute to the single-story rickhouse maturation. This is quite lovely, and sips like a champ neat – but I found with a few drops of water and a few minutes in the glass – I was rewarded with baked apples on the nose, and the chocolate stepping forward more on the palate. All in all another really lovely bourbon!

Rating: Must Try

Four Roses 2025 Limited Edition Small Batch Read More »

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52% ABV
$100
Website
Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

The oldest and highest proof ever.

Remus Bourbon, the award-winning whiskey inspired by the roaring spirit of the Prohibition era, announced the release of Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The highly anticipated annual release from the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, is a rare bourbon comprising their best stocks.

Aged between 10 and 18 years, the 104 proof (52% ABV) non-chill filtered Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX is the highest proof ever for the series. A limited supply will be available in September at a minimum suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle.

Crafted to honor the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Ross & Squibb Master Distiller Ian Stirsman selected the finest barrels of high rye bourbon, for which the distillery is renowned, to create this year’s edition. Remus Repeal Reserve IX includes 7% of an 18-year-aged bourbon containing 21% rye; 26% of an 11-year-aged bourbon comprising 36% rye; 23% of a 10-year-aged bourbon containing 36% rye; and 44% of a second 10-year-aged bourbon comprising 21% rye.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX features an aroma of seasoned oak, leather, ripe sweet cherry and subtle tobacco on the nose with prominent flavors of cherry, roasted coffee and a touch of smoky spice on the palate; and lingering oak and spice that fades into notes of coffee, cherry and tobacco in the finish.

“Bourbon fans have always expected something new from each edition of Remus Repeal Reserve,” said Stirsman. “That’s why for Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX, we found some of our most unique barrels to date. After finalizing the blend, we blind-tasted it at different proofs to ensure we provide fans with the unique experience they expect. In the end, we believe the 104 proof, combined with 10-18-year-old bourbons, did just that.”

Since its inaugural release, the Remus Repeal Reserve collection has earned a multitude of notable recognitions and awards. Remus Repeal Reserve VIII earned a platinum medal at the 2025 ASCOT Awards, a double gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and a gold medal and Consumer’s Choice Award at the 2025 SIP Awards. Additional key accolades for the esteemed collection include No. 1 Best Bourbon Under $100 by UPROXX, Top 5 Limited Bourbons and Whiskeys by Men’s Journal, Whiskey of the Year by WhiskeyFellow and a 98-point rating and a double gold medal from The Tasting Panel.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX is comprised of:

  • 7% 2006 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 26% 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 23% 2015 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 44% 2015 Bourbon (21% Rye)

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich with chocolate fudge, caramel, brown sugar, crème brûlée, bit of cherry with hints of tobacco and a mineral note.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with chocolate, walnuts, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherry and nougat.
Finish: Long and syrupy with caramel, bit of coffee and nutty oak.
Comments: When I first nosed this, my brain immediately thought about a candy bar; all of those notes came wafting out of the glass. This is a delicious pour, right from the bottle! A few drops of water brings a hint of citrus zest to the nose, and more creaminess to the palate, but I really enjoy this right at the bottled proof (and appreciate the higher ABV!) Also appreciate the transparency on where it’s distilled, the vintage/mashbill and the proportions included! I just so happened to have some left from my sample of Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII (back in 2023) which I really enjoyed, so I did a little side-by-side tasting. This year’s won hands down! A few shades darker in the glass, while there is a familial resemblance between them, this had more fudge on the nose by comparison, and the 2023 leaned more into maple/fruit. Interesting enough, both bottles share similar components, with the 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye). What was used in each batch might not have been distilled at the same time, so not sure it’s the exact same liquid – but it was 21% of the 2023 mix and 26% of this one. The mix of mashbill here is 49% the higher rye vs 47% in the 2023, so not terribly different there. In any event, this is one I would not pass up the chance if you see it as it isn’t likely to linger long!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

Remus Repeal Reserve Series IX Straight Bourbon Whiskey Read More »

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask 2025 Release

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

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

56.93% ABV
$65
Website
Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask 2025 Release
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 Bourbon™, the award-winning whiskey portfolio which is artfully crafted to honor the rich blues music that is synonymous with Memphis, has brought back its wildly popular Honey Bourbon Cask, which sold out in a matter of days last year.

The expression began its journey by embracing the art of fusion. American oak barrels used for finishing were repurposed to produce delicious, barrel-aged honey. The team then returned the whiskey, which was aged for a minimum of three years, to the honey-infused casks for another round of aging to create a distinct and harmonious profile. Crafted in Memphis, the new expression features a mash bill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, which was bottled at 113.86 proof (56.93% ABV), unfiltered.

Honey Bourbon Cask Tasting Notes
Nose: Vanilla, cedar, and nut
Taste: Leather, pear, cedar, wildflower, and honey
Finish: Gentle and warm with lingering hints of wildflower and honey

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Whiskey is now available for purchase online at BlueNoteBourbon.com and in select U.S. markets. Only 1,800 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 Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey Cask Crafted in Memphis, TN
MASH BILL: 70% Corn 21% Rye and 9% Malted Barley
PROOF & FILTRATION: 115.7 Proof, Unfiltered

What Gary Says

Nose: Charred oak, honey, vanilla, caramel apples and rye spice.
Palate: Honey with vanilla sponge cake, cinnamon, caramel, hint of pear and pepper spice.
Finish: Moderate in length with cinnamon and honey.
Comments: The honey influence on this one is significant; if you’re not a big fan of honey it could be overpowering. Thankfully I’m not in that camp! This is a really nice, sit on the back porch and sip over a cube while summer fades away kinda dram. At first it drank a tad hot for 115.7 but with a cube or even a few drops of water it eases back. Hands down this has been my favorite selection from Blue Note, and one I hope they continue to offer every year forward!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Blue Note Honey Bourbon Cask 2025 Release Read More »