Some of the most popular Scotch whisky in the world is matured, solely or in part, in sherry casks. And for good reason—sherry wood can amplify the best in whisky, producing something sweeter, nuttier, and more complex than ex-bourbon casks…
Bourbon and whiskey runs deep in Central Kentucky, but so did one of the largest marijuana manufacturing and trade rings in history. Cornbread Mafia tells the story of how of how Johnny Boone, Bobby Joe Shoemaker, and many others created…
How many shots are there in a bottle of whiskey? It all depends on what you define as a “shot.” Those small, heavy-bottomed glasses designed to deliver bottom-shelf booze straight to the bloodstream with maximum efficiency (not our recommended method…
Le Clos, a global travel, fine wine and luxury spirits retailer, recently launched a world exclusive, limited edition 50-year-old Celebration Edition Blended Whisky. The release is a rare, handcrafted blend drawn from some of Scotland’s most iconic distilleries. The collection…
One look at my liquor cabinet, and it’s easy to see that I hate to say goodbye. Every fifth or sixth bottle is perilously low, holding just a few ounces. I know that exposure to oxygen means the dregs lose…
Glenfiddich will toast to a future of good fortune with its final special edition Chinese New Year gift pack. This is the third limited-edition packaging for Glenfiddich’s Gran Reserva 21 Year Old Single Malt gift pack created by Shenzhen-based artist…
image via Margarett Waterbury Most people know that distillers make heads and tails cuts when they’re making whiskey, which separates the good parts of the spirit from the poisonous and/or unappealingly flavored portions. But have you ever wondered what distillers…
These days, most Scotch is matured in ex-bourbon casks. They’re inexpensive, readily available, and give Scotch whisky a deliciously dry, spicy character. But Scottish distillers aren’t just yanking the bungs out of freshly dumped bourbon barrels and filling them with new make…
Rye whiskey production had a historic past in the northeastern states, especially Pennsylvania and Maryland. And now Sagamore Spirit based in Baltimore is bringing rye whiskey back. Ryan and I traveled to record this interview with their CEO, Brian Tracey,…
There’s no getting around it. Late January can be a bummer. The holidays are long gone, but spring is still months away. Here in Portland, the morning and evening commutes are still pitch dark, and it’s getting hard to imagine…
Portland-based distillery Stone Barn Brandyworks partnered with noodle maker Umi Organic to make a spirit in the style of whiskey, actually made from the Portland company’s first batches of organic ramen noodles from back in 2015. Four years ago, Stone…
The Great Oregon Wine Co & Distillery recently announced the release of Ransom Bourbon, its newest expression to add to their stable of handcrafted whiskeys and gin. It originates from their organic farm and distillery in the foothills of the…
We are living in the golden age of sparkling water. At my grocery store, the seltzer section is now larger than the cola section, and growing more vast by the day. Condensation-coated cans of Pamplemousse La Croix and Black Cherry…
There comes a time of reckoning in the life of every whiskey lover: the moment when you have more whiskey than you can comfortably store. Whether you’re outgrowing the little cabinet above your fridge (hint: don’t store your whiskey there,…
Sour mash. It’s a common phrase on American whiskey bottles, but it definitely doesn’t signify that the whiskey inside is sour. Instead, it alludes to a production process that distilleries use to regulate bacterial growth and ensure continuity from batch…