VinePair

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

The whiskey world is like that. Whether youre talking about bourbon , Irish whiskey , or single malt Scotch , you can probably name a bottle that makes you utter meh, even though the public loves it or the taters doggedly chase it down. Plenty of bartenders and bar professionals have at least one whiskey they feel is overrated.

Bartending

VinePair

AUGUST 5, 2025

I ended up picking up one bottle each [Blanco and Reposado] right away, just to play around with it at the bar. Now I think I have a few cases of each, because it’s one of our definite back bar bartender’s choice tequilas.” That Reposado is definitely one that I would choose personally.”

Tequila

Cheers

DECEMBER 17, 2024

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has ratified a ruling that will officially create a recognized category for American single malt whiskey (ASM). Many ASM producers, as well as the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission ( ASMWC ), have applauded the long-coming decision.

Whiskey

VinePair

APRIL 7, 2025

Its the risk enthusiasts take when they open a critically acclaimed or tater-approved bottle for the first time. That initial encounter with the juice may leave them cold or indifferent, leaving them to wonder why the bottle garnered so much hype. It might be time to turn to the American single malt whiskey category instead.

Bartending

VinePair

DECEMBER 9, 2024

Bourbon might be known as Americas native spirit, but before it was the booming industry we know today, rye was the preferred whiskey on U.S. While the spirit may have fallen out of favor post-Prohibition, rye whiskey is back in full force, with volumes swelling in the past decade and a half.

Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash

FEBRUARY 7, 2025

In 2024, our reviews team tasted and reviewed 81 different American whiskeys including ryes, blends, and American single malts. At our inaugural Whiskey Wash Awards , 31 of these whiskeys were awarded medals, with some achieving Double Gold and Gold. You can find a full list of the medal-winning American whiskeys here.

Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash

JUNE 3, 2025

Bottle images credit: Buffalo Trace Few bottles spark more conversation among bourbon fans than Blantons. Once a sleeper hit on the shelves, it’s now a poster child for the modern whiskey hunt. The concept of a single barrel bourbon was radical at the time: a bourbon bottled from a single barrel rather than batched.

Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash

MARCH 7, 2025

Kentucky may be the heartland of bourbon, but distillers outside the Bluegrass State are proving that world-class whiskey knows no borders. The World Whiskies Awards USA 2025 recently announced its winners, recognizing the best American whiskeys across a range of categories. Lets take a closer look at the standout bottles.

Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash

JANUARY 27, 2025

David Gluckman and his team mixed whiskey with cream in 1973 – critics called it crazy, but Baileys Irish Cream went on to sell over 1.25 billion bottles In 1973, one of the world’s most respected drinks executives looked at a bottle of brown liquid and declared “That s**t will never sell!”

Zero-Proof

VinePair

JUNE 3, 2025

The Most Overrated Bourbon Cocktail, According to Bartenders Old Fashioned Whiskey Sour Mint Julep Whiskey Ginger Old Fashioned as an Introduction to Bourbon Cocktails Bourbon Old Fashioned Ward 8 Brown Derby Overly Complex Old Fashioneds The most overrated bourbon cocktail is arguably the Old Fashioned. Whiskey Sour.

Bartending

VinePair

DECEMBER 18, 2024

Before this decision, there was no firm definition of what American single malt whisky was, or who could use the term of the label. It must be made from 100 percent malted barley, distilled to a proof of 160 or less, stored in oak barrels with a maximum capacity of 700 liters, and bottled at no less than 80 proof.

Whiskey

Cocktails with Suderman

JUNE 3, 2025

1 So I was surprised to discover that Costco’s house brand bottled Old Fashioned is kind of, sort of, almost maybe, an exception. The whiskey recedes into the background. The Kirkland Signature Old Fashioned, on the other hand, runs $18– for the entire bottle. And the bottle is a full liter, or about 33.8

Bottling

Drinkhacker

MARCH 7, 2025

When Grain and Barrel Spirits launched Chicken C**k Whiskey in 2018, the branding drew plenty of amused chatter. To revive Chicken C**k Whiskey, Grain and Barrel and Gregg Snyder worked with Bardstown Bourbon Company’s collaborative distilling program. 100 proof.

Whiskey

VinePair

JUNE 18, 2025

The bottle we tested contained 20 percent juice (a mix of lemon and lime juices from concentrate). You’d just have to adjust your spec to make this happen, and definitely dial down your simple syrup.” Let’s keep it restricted to wedding reception Whiskey Sours and dorm room mixology. For this experiment, we used ReaLime.

Simple Syrup

The Whiskey Wash

MAY 1, 2025

While American whiskeys have certainly had their time in the premium spotlight, much of the culture around them remains proudly blue-collar, offering great quality whiskeys at 45% or 50% ABV from a wide range of brands. Typically, the peatier you go, the more expensive the bottle becomes.) Its their entry-level bottling.

Highball

The Whiskey Wash

JUNE 2, 2025

This guide is your definitive reference to every known scotch whisky aged 70 years or more. Whether you’re a collector, enthusiast, or simply curious about the rarest whiskies ever bottled, this is the one resource to bookmark, return to, and explore in full. Maturation isnt a guarantee of quality; its a balancing act.

Bottling

Mix That Drink

JULY 22, 2025

If you like strawberry Margaritas , you should definitely give this one a try. It’s worth getting a quality bottle of grenadine or else making your own. Whether you’re hosting a fun night with friends, brunch, or just want to jazz up taco Tuesday, this drink fits right in. The stuff at the grocery store can be too cloying.

Tequila

VinePair

MAY 1, 2025

Case in point: In 2020, we received just one brand and sample that wasnt bottled at the categorys minimum 40 percent ABV. This year we lost track of the number of expressions that exceeded that figure, whether produced as still-strength releases or tequilas bottled somewhere between 40 and 48 percent ABV.

Tequila

The Whiskey Wash

DECEMBER 15, 2024

Elijah Craig Whiskey is a big name in bourbon. Its an American whiskey that has proved to be a reliable, versatile, affordable sipper and a bartender’s go-to for Old Fashioneds and Manhattan cocktails. According to legend, in 1789, Craig became the first distiller to age whiskey in new charred oak barrels.

Whiskey

Moody Mixologist

MARCH 11, 2025

Distilled Bottles of gin that are labeled as Distilled Gin means that they are a distilled spirit made with botanicals including juniper that may (or may not) have flavorings or other additives introduced after distillation. Some famous examples of sours are the Whiskey Sour, Amaretto Sour , and basic Gin Sour.

Gin

VinePair

JULY 9, 2025

As far as I know, no one has ever definitively determined the etymology of the word “tater” as it applies to the bourbon industry. Or maybe it came from a private Facebook bourbon group, those long-standing battlegrounds for s**t-talking, trolling, and occasional whiskey talk. So what was an $80 MSRP George T. Stagg actually “worth”?

Liquor

Mix That Drink

JUNE 23, 2025

Home / Cocktails / Vodka Recipes / Fickle Pickle Cocktail A blend of melon, whiskey, and citrus flavors comes together in the Fickle Pickle, perfect for relaxing or office gatherings. The mix of melon, orange, whiskey, and sour isn’t something you see every day — but once you try it, you’ll get why people come back for more.

Simple Syrup

VinePair

JUNE 17, 2025

Now, the drinks are definitely serious, but the vibe is far more lively and party-oriented than many other bars of its ilk. Catch him on the right day and he might pour you a mystery spirit from a clear, unlabeled plastic bottle, or teach you his personal method for enjoying the last bits of your aguachile (we won’t spoil it for you).

Tequila

VinePair

FEBRUARY 12, 2025

A speakeasy, by definition, implies illegality. Of course, we’re living in a world where people also slap the word moonshine onto the labels of fully taxed and government-approved bottles of alcohol for sale. Yet neither term is used with strict adherence to its definition. So what even is the speakeasy anymore?

Bar

Good Spirits News

FEBRUARY 24, 2025

This release is a blended spirit composed of 9-year-old straight Kentucky bourbon and 11-year-old Tennessee whiskey from a bourbon mash aged in re-charred barrels, finished for 3-6 months in peach brandy barrels from George Washington’s distillery at Mount Vernon. In any case, it has a lovely and assertive whiskey perfume.

Brandy

The Whiskey Wash

AUGUST 6, 2025

Having tried both the Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTDs and a mixed-myself version, I was interested to see how they compare according to other whiskey drinkers. The combination of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Coca-Cola dates back nearly a century. A 700ml bottle of Jack Daniel’s and a 2-litre of Coke will go a lot further.

Whiskey

VinePair

JULY 2, 2025

Mostly, they might have one old bottle you have to knock the dust off.” In February of last year, on the heels of a 19 percent drop in annual sales , Diageo put Pimm’s on the market, saying it planned to focus on higher-end whiskey and tequila brands like Johnnie Walker , Talisker, Lagavulin , and Don Julio. Add some Pimm’s No.

Liqueur

The Whiskey Wash

JULY 22, 2025

Whether you’re eyeing a £35 bottle or splashing out over £1,000, Woodford Reserve has something to suit. In fact, why not tell us what your favourite Woodford Reserve whiskey is in the comments below? Outstanding bottle of rye. The word “utilitarian” isn’t used enough when it comes to whiskey, as they all can be.

Stout

Cocktails with Suderman

MAY 28, 2025

In last Friday’s newsletter, I wrote about the Whiskey Smash , which began life as a Mint Julep twin, but eventually evolved into a sort of a Mint Julep crossed with a Whiskey Sour, after bartenders started adding fresh fruit. So even as I was writing about the raspberry-less Whiskey Smash, I had some raspberries on hand.

Brandy

Drinkhacker

MARCH 15, 2025

Today, the Espresso Martini is one of the most ordered cocktails in the world, and every day, a new canned or bottled version hits the market. Its definitely a cocktail that pushes the identity boundaries of the Espresso Martini, but its good not to share. Why is this acclaimed cocktail now honored on March 15th each year?

Simple Syrup

Drinkhacker

JULY 8, 2025

The company produces a wide range of offerings, including whiskey and tequila alternatives, plus a variety of ready-to-drink cocktails. Bottles are 700ml. N/A whiskey is always a dicey proposition and Kentucky 74 doesn’t much move the needle on that calculus. abv or less.

Alcohol

The Whiskey Wash

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

However, if you’ve already explored some less expensive sherried options, then you should definitely give it a try. It almost feels like your whisky collection is incomplete without a bottle of The Macallan 12 Year Old at some point. Both bottles sell very well, but for slightly different reasons.

Bottling

VinePair

JUNE 11, 2025

A cooler is definitely a wise investment. Bullet-Shaped Whiskey Stones Credit: Wine and Whiskey Decanter Although they remain a popular Father’s Day and college grad gift, whiskey stones are pretty much useless. And if a drinker is so vehemently against dilution, why not just enjoy whiskey neat?

Liquor License

VinePair

JULY 17, 2025

Heaven Hill is one of America’s largest whiskey producers, and the family-owned company has some eye-popping production numbers by any measure. In 2023, the brand filled its 10-millionth barrel of whiskey , and production doesn’t seem to be slowing anytime soon. More on those below.)

Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash

JULY 28, 2025

Blanton’s is one of the most recognizable names in bourbon, known as much for its horse-topped bottle as for its single barrel legacy. To find out, we looked at four recent reviews from whiskey experts covering Blanton’s Special Reserve, Blanton’s Original Single Barrel, and two takes on Blanton’s Gold. Bottled at 51.5%

Whiskey

The Whiskey Wash

JULY 25, 2025

Brands at the lower end of the market are often molasses-based, while premium Indian whiskies, especially single malts, adhere to international definitions by using malted barley and traditional methods. The standard bottling strength (42.8% The key takeaway for consumers is that not all Indian whisky is created the same.

Alcohol

VinePair

JULY 28, 2025

During World War II, distillers couldn’t keep up with demand for whiskey because of grain rationing. A few years later, with the United States engaged in combat in Korea, the head of one of the country’s biggest whiskey companies, Lewis Rosenstiel of Schenley Industries, wagered that the war would expand and rationing would happen again.

Vodka