Must Try

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 9 Years

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 9 Years

50% ABV
$130
Website
Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 9 Years
We would like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

On August 23, 2025 Woodinville Whiskey will celebrate its 15th Anniversary and release of Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 9 Years, the distillery’s oldest age statement yet.

Best friends, Orlin Sorensen and Brett Carlile created Woodinville Whiskey under the mentorship of the late David Pickerell, an industry icon and the former Master Distiller for Maker’s Mark. 15+ years ago Brett and Orlin took a leap, cashing out their 401ks and savings accounts, and started crafting whiskey under Dave’s tutelage in the unlikely state of Washington.

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 9 Years has been aging in Woodinville’s barrelhouses in Quincy, WA since 2016, in heavily toasted, lightly charred barrels made from 24-month open-air seasoned staves by Independent Stave Company. It has a mashbill of 55% corn, 35% rye, and 10% malted barley, which differs from Woodinville Flagship Straight Bourbon’s mashbill.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Butter cookie & fresh citrus.
Palate: Dried mango, milk chocolate, spice drop candies & caramel nougat.
Finish: Toffee with a hint of nutmeg spice.

The first 500 numbered bottles of Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 9 Years will be available Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 10:00am at Woodinville’s annual Harvest Release and 15th Anniversary event. It will be sold online at www.woodinvillewhiskeyco.com/collections/allproducts and nationally on August 25, 2025. When this whiskey sells out, it’s gone. Only 500 cases were made.

“We’re following our 2024 8-year limited release with this 9-year – and a 10-year will follow in 2026,” says Woodinville co-founder and Head Distiller, Brett Carlile. “It’s incredible to see the impact of the unique barrel toast/char finish on this bourbon, along with additional time in those ISC barrels. We’re excited to share it so you can taste what we’ve been tasting as we’ve been checking in on it in our barrelhouses. It’s a tough job!”

What Gary Says

Nose: Toasted oak, orange zest, toffee, salted caramel and almond cookie.
Palate: Chocolate, black cherries, cinnamon, coconut, cloves and nutmeg.
Finish: Moderately long, slightly drying with oak, honey, cocoa and baking spices.
Comments: This is a delicious, spicy and robust bourbon. While it’s quite nice neat, a bit of water brings the fruit forward on the nose and thickens the mouthfeel (while bringing out a bit of pears and apples too!) I think what I enjoyed just as much (or almost as much) as sipping this bourbon was reading about the experimental approach that Brett and Orlin took. Mad respect for conducting tests like they did over a period of years. Is this THE best barrel for aging bourbon? I can’t say, but this is a lovely result – which goes to show you that many of the best things just take time.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$45
Website
Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Minden Mill and Raptor Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

MINDEN, NV (July 21, 2025) – Minden Mill Distilling announces the nationwide release of its Single Estate Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey – a flavorful expression that aims to take American rye in a new direction with a focus on balance over spice. A true representation of Nevada’s high desert terroir, the 94-proof, non-chill filtered four-year-old whiskey is crafted with grains harvested from local fields carefully cultivated and overseen by Minden Mill, and distilled at the state-of-the-art estate distillery, which was recently named Nevada Distillery of the Year by the New York International Spirits Competition.

Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan produces Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey using a distinctive mash bill of 80% rye, 10% soft white wheat and 10% estate-malted barley. Minden Mill’s Rye reflects the high-desert environment—where dramatic temperature swings and a tight 90-day growing season deliver a rye with an earthy, nutty flavor profile and natural depth. The distillate is cut with snowmelt-fed water sourced from the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe.

As a member of the Estate Whiskey Alliance and a licensed Nevada Estate Distillery, Minden Mill is among a select few U.S. distilleries committed to full grain traceability and oversight at every stage of production that happens on its 1,200-acre estate. The distillery exceeds both the Nevada state and Estate Whiskey Alliance standards by sourcing 100% of the grains from within five miles of the distillery from land under Minden Mill’s control. With every step—milling, fermentation, distillation, maturation, and bottling—taking place on-site, the distillery is an innovator in expressing American whiskey terroir, particularly in the often-overlooked rye category.

“Very few producers own the full process from grain to glass, and that’s where Minden Mill Rye starts to stand apart. We don’t just distill the whiskey – we grow it,” says Master Distiller O’Sullivan. “Unlike most rye whiskeys, you won’t find any spice bombs here. It’s far more savory and balanced than most people expect. This mash bill was designed to highlight the candied orange peel character that is our house style.”

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye is distilled through a combination of a single Headframe continuous stripping still and a state-of-the-art Christian CARL hybrid still, both housed in a former 100+ year-old creamery onsite. The whiskey is aged in Seguin Moreau New American oak barrels with a #3 char in traditional wooden rickhouses calibrated to mimic the temperature and humidity of Kentucky’s Nelson County, ensuring a consistent, gradual maturation. The result is a rye whiskey that balances bold oak influence with mature complexity.

Tasting Notes:
Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey offers aromas of bright orange peel and toasted spice, dancing with warm vanilla. On the palate, succulent cherry syrup and crème brûlée enter the conversation, mingling with orange zest, baking spices and soft, subdued oak. The finish is long and lingering, replete with candied fruit, warm graham cracker, and a pleasant minerality balanced by spice and sweetness.

Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye Whiskey is available nationally with an SRP of $45 and online at mindenmill.com. The Minden Mill single estate whiskey portfolio also includes an American Single Malt Whiskey and a Nevada Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with sour apple candies, grapefruit, charred oak, mint, honey, anise and cinnamon.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with grapefruit, honey, black cherry, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, mint and oak.
Finish:  Moderately long with anise, apple and pepper spice.
Comments:  A damned nice rye, with a spiciness and bite that don’t leave you wondering about if this is one of those ‘barely legal ryes’ with 51% rye. I’m not usually a grapefruit fan, but don’t mind it in this. Appreciate the non-chill filtering, which shows up in the mouthfeel. This is one that I wouldn’t add any water to – neat from the bottle as the distiller intended, it shines quite well at 47% (although I did find a few drops of water amps the honey and caramel notes on the nose, thins out that lovely thick mouthfeel a bit and brings the cherry notes forward on the palate). Also appreciate that they were very responsive to questions (clarifying that they use French Oak barrel heads on their 53 gallon casks which might bring a little more spice to the party). This is my first experience with Minden Mill, and it’s a strong start.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon
Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Infused With Coffee Beans

46% ABV
$50
Website
Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon
We would like to thank Bib & Tucker and CREATE ENTERTAINMENT for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

At the crossroads of heritage and innovation comes a new signature expression from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon: Gold Roast Bourbon, a 6-Year Tennessee Bourbon artfully finished with whole roasted Arabica coffee beans using a refined cold extraction method.

Gold Roast Bourbon is a celebration of two time-honored American traditions. Inspired by the turn of the century, when bourbon and coffee were rituals of connection, comfort, and craft, this release reimagines those traditions for the modern drinker.

Crafted using coffee beans from Muletown Coffee Roasters, a Tennessee-based purveyor of fine coffee, Gold Roast Bourbon begins with Bib & Tucker’s award-winning 6-Year bourbon. Aged in new American oak barrels and passed through the Lincoln County Process for added smoothness, the bourbon is infused in its final stage with cold-steeped, custom-roasted Arabica coffee beans sourced from the Agalta region of Honduras. The result: a distinctively smooth and complex spirit with layered notes of roasted coffee, vanilla, milk chocolate and oak.

“With Gold Roast Bourbon, we set out to honor the timeless relationship between coffee and bourbon, two American rituals that have gone hand in hand since the turn of the century,” said Alan Kennedy, Master Blender at Bib & Tucker. “Starting with our signature mash bill of corn, rye, and barley, we carefully crafted a spirit that could carry the richness of a proprietary Arabica coffee roast without overpowering the delicate character of our 6-Year Tennessee Bourbon. The result is a finish that delivers the perfect balance of smoothness and roasted coffee complexity. It’s refined, nuanced, and unmistakably Bib & Tucker,” he adds.

Every element of the Gold Roast process was meticulously designed to create a harmonious blend of whiskey tradition and coffee sophistication:

The bourbon is first filtered through sugar maple charcoal in the traditional Lincoln County Process for added smoothness.
It is then aged for a minimum of six years in new American oak barrels.
Muletown’s Arabica coffee beans are then roasted to Master Blender Alan Kennedy’s specifications and introduced during the final stage of maturation.
Using a cold extraction method, we steep this proprietary blend in our cask-strength whiskey, infusing the spirit with deep aromatics and roasted complexity.
Finally, the finished bourbon is expertly blended into the full batch for a smooth, balanced expression worthy of the Bib & Tucker name.
“Partnering with our neighbors Muletown Coffee was a natural choice for us,” adds Kennedy. “Like our team, they’re deeply committed to a small-batch, artisan approach. They work with farmers to source direct trade coffee, valuing quality over quantity. Locally owned and rooted in Tennessee, Muletown’s attention to craft and origin mirrors our own, making them the ideal partner to bring this bourbon-coffee expression to life.”

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Deep inviting aromas of freshly brewed coffee and rich molasses complemented by subtle notes of sweet corn and spice
Palate: A layered profile of vanilla and young oak, blend with milk chocolate
Finish: Medium-long and balanced, with lingering notes of oak and vanilla, accented by a hint of dark roast coffee and brown spice
Color: Deep amber with a hue reminiscent of walnut or brown sherry

What Gary Says

Nose:  Corn flakes with caramel, brown sugar, medium roast coffee with an underlying mineral note.
Palate:  Milk chocolate with caramel, toffee, vanilla, bit of cinnamon with a hint of citrus zest.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with chocolate and spice notes of cinnamon and pepper.
Comments:  I’ve tried infusing bourbon with coffee before; threw a few beans into a bottle and let it sit for a bit. The result was overpowering and bitter. Thankfully, this is NONE of those things! This is really well done, giving just a hint of coffee on the nose and palate. A few drops of water brought the coffee forward on the nose, along with a lovely note of graham cracker. It also tamped the pepper spice on the palate and gave a nice thickness to the mouthfeel. While only 46% ABV, I found I actually preferred this with a bit of water (although it is quite nice neat as well. I also found that this makes a really nice Old Fashioned, giving it just a little something different!
Now before the whiskey purists start screaming – this is labeled very clearly (and doesn’t contain ‘straight’ in the label). If this isn’t your thing – so be it, but if you enjoy coffee and bourbon as much as I do, I’d look to give it a try before passing judgement.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel
Irish Whiskey

43% ABV
$45 (700 mL) / $7 ($100 mL ‘Dram in a Can’)
Website
Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel Irish Whiskey with can
We would like to thank Two Stacks Whiskey and Raptor Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Two Stacks Shines Spotlight on Often-Overlooked Irish Whiskey Category with Single Grain Double Barrel Release

Second Two Stacks Irish Whiskey Now Available Nationwide Through Foley Distribution Network, Including Popular “Dram in A Can”

SANTA ROSA, CA (June 25, 2025) – Whiskey innovator Two Stacks is looking to give a traditionally second-fiddle Irish whiskey its well-deserved spot center stage with Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel, the latest offering now available nationwide through importer Foley Family Wines & Spirits. This is the first Two Stacks offering in the Irish Grain Whiskey category and it has already been awarded Best Single Grain: NAS (Ireland) and Best Single Grain <21Years (Ireland) at the World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the Ascot Awards. It is available in both a 700 ml bottle and the unique 100 ml Dram in a Can.

As one of only three recognized whiskey bonders in Ireland when there used to be hundreds before the 1930s, Two Stacks is constantly on the hunt for traditional Irish whiskeys that will offer something beyond the ordinary, delving deep into heritage and lore. Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel exceptionally showcases the versatility and unexpected refinement of Irish Grain Whiskey, a very traditional style of whiskey most often used as a blending component. Here, the precise blending and double barrel aging allows this flavorful whiskey to step into the spotlight with exceptional character and value.

“I think a lot of folks in Ireland thought we were mad when we told them we were coming out with an Irish Grain Whiskey,” said Two Stacks Co-Founder Liam Brogan. “We were confident with the right blend and aging/finishing we could produce something rather sophisticated and unexpected that honored the legacy of this workhorse stalwart in Irish whiskey history.”

While not as historically entrenched as the famed Single Pot Still whiskeys of the 18th and 19th centuries, the single grain style gained momentum with the advent of column stills in the mid-1800s. However, it wasn’t until the establishment of Cooley Distillery in 1987 and The Great Northern Distillery in 2015 (both founded by John Teeling, David Hynes, and Jim Finn) that the style truly came into its own in modern Ireland. The whiskey from those distilleries is blended and bonded for this bottling.

Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel starts with a mashbill of 94% maize and 6% Irish malted barley. The technical file for Irish Grain Whiskey requires that it is produced with malted barley (not exceeding 30%) and includes un-malted cereal grains, in this case corn. The small, but impactful, inclusion of 6% Irish malted barley brings subtle richness, enhancing the creamy, honeyed sweetness of the maize.

The distillate is first aged for 3-5 years in former bourbon barrels, followed by 1-3 years in Oloroso sherry casks, both in a traditional Irish rickhouse on the Cooley Peninsula. The dual maturation imparts layered notes of vanilla, coconut, dried fruits, and baking spices—resulting in an 86-proof whiskey that is light, elegant and nuanced.

Two Stacks was founded in 2020 by three friends, Shane McCarthy, Liam Brogan and Donal McLynn, whose friendship began over 15 years ago, rooted in a shared love of Irish hospitality and a deep passion for Irish history & culture. Their singular goal of changing the narrative on Irish Whiskey would be achieved by reaching into Ireland’s deep whiskey roots and putting real people back into the fine art of Irish Whiskey making to create complex, sophisticated blends capable of challenging any Whiskey in the world.

In addition to a 700 ml sustainable bottle made from 100% recycled glass ($44.99 MSRP), Single Grain Double Barrel is also available in a ground-breaking 100 ml Dram in a Can ($6.99 MSRP). Both products may also be purchased online https://twostackswhiskey.com/. The recyclable aluminum can provides added convenience for those wanting to enjoy a high-quality whiskey on the go. With the new embossed bottles, Two Stacks was one of the first spirit brands in the world to use 80% recycled glass, along with all-natural cork and recycled plastic seals.

Simple Tasting Notes
Nose: Sweet vanilla, toasted oak, honey, and light caramel
Palate: Smooth and creamy with hints of butterscotch, spice, and orchard fruits
Finish: Soft, lingering sweetness with a touch of spice

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft, subtle, honey, apricot, vanilla, pear, golden raisins and a bit of almond.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, honey, apricots, candied orange, cherries, baked pears and apples with a light cinnamon dusting.
Finish: Moderate in length, damp with vanilla, canned fruit salad and subtle spice notes.
Comments: Only my second Two Stacks offering (enjoyed Two Stacks The First Cut Signature Blend Irish Whiskey), and I like this one even better! Grain whisk(e)y tends to be more delicate and subtle than malt whisk(e)y, and while this is subtle – compared to a lot of grain whiskey this has got a solid intensity of flavor and depth. I think what is all the more impressive to me is that it achieves this as a non-age stated 43% ABV dram! This leans into that subtlety without sacrificing flavor, and enough fruit and spice to keep me wanting more. If you’ve given up on grain whisk(e)y for being too dull, this one might change your mind – and at least offers a nice contrast.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Woodinville 8 Year Straight Rye

/ / Rye Whiskey / ,

Woodinville Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 8 Years

50% ABV
$130
Website
Woodinville 8 Year Old Limited Edition Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Woodinville 100% Rye Aged 8 Years. This is truly handcrafted whiskey. Planted in the Fall, rye grain lies dormant all winter long under a blanket of snow. When growth resumes, during the scorching summer months on the Omlin family farm in Quincy, Washington, the crop is hand irrigated. Nearly a full year after planting, at harvest, Arnie and son, Joel work long hours gathering the grain, which is then trucked across the mountains to Woodinville for milling, mashing and distillation. After distillation, the whiskey is transported back to barrelhouses in Quincy, where it rests in custom-specified, long-seasoned, toasted and charred American Oak barrels.

“None of this is efficient, but it’s 100% worth it,” say Woodinville co-founder Orlin Sorensen. “We are laser-focused on quality, and if it takes an extra step or two on the journey, we’ll absolutely forge that path. We’re here to make the best craft whiskey in America, and we’re excited to share this Woodinville 100% Rye Aged 8 Years.”

Woodinville 100% Rye Aged 8 Years Tasting Notes: Dark molasses, clove and brown sugar on the nose, followed by cinnamon, vanilla, dark honey and touch of dried cranberry on the palate. It offers a long warm peppery finish with a dry oaky grip in your mouth.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich and spicy with cloves, brown sugar, figs, red berries, oak and a hint of cola.
Palate: Red berries (raspberry and cranberry), cinnamon, cloves, honey, orange with a hint of lime.
Finish: Moderate in length with oak, citrus and pepper spice.
Comments: The color on this is insanely dark for only 8 years old and 50% ABV; this looks like it is either much older and higher proof. It definitely punches above its weight. The age shows, not just in the wood influence but in how the flavors knit together. The rye spice is present, and that cola and lime note were unexpected. While not reinventing the category, it’s a damn good representation, and a must try for rye fans out there. I’d try it neat, as it sings at that proof and doesn’t need any water.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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