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樽の中って、こうなってたのか。熟成が“見える”ミニ樽で、ふだん飲みのウイスキーを育ててみた Buy PR こちらは「かいサポ（お買いものサポーターチーム）」が編集・執筆した記事です。 ウイスキーが樽の中で育つ、という話はなんとなく知っています。でも、その中身をのぞいたことがある人って、たぶんほとんどいないですよね。木の壁に囲まれたまま静かに時間が流れて、あるとき琥珀色になって出てくる。……いったい、中で何が起きているんでしょう。 そのもどかしさに、まっすぐ答えてくれるのが「Visible Aging Barrel」。まんなかにガラスの覗き窓がついた、おうち用の小さな熟成樽です。サンプルをお借りできたので、さっそく家で1本、育ててみることにしました。 樽の中が、まるっと見える いちばんの特長は、やっぱりこの覗き窓。アメリカンホワイトオーク材でつくられている本体を、透明なガラスがすとんと貫いていて、注いだウイスキーの様子がそのまま見えるんです。ふつうの樽なら栓を開けるまでわからないことが、置いたまま確かめられます。 なお、今回お借りしたのは何度か熟成に使われたサンプル。そのためか、数日単位では色の変化までは見て取れませんでした。条件がそろえばどこまで色づくのかは、あとで触れる比較写真がわかりやすいはず。 それでも、通りすがりにちらっと覗いて「そろそろかな」と考える時間が、生活にちょこんと増えます。 Advertisement 数日で、味がちゃんと変わるんです 正直、最初は「おうち用の樽なんて、雰囲気を楽しむものでしょ」と思っていました。ところが、これがちゃんと変わるからおもしろい。 容量は800mlとコンパクトで、液体の量に対してオーク材と触れる面積の割合が大きいぶん、蒸留所の大きな樽よりずっと早く変化が出てくれる構造なのだそう。早ければ1〜2日で香りに丸みが出てきて、1週間ほどでひと区切り。 しかも、オーク材のタンニンが雑味の角をやさしく取って、バニリンが甘い香りを添えて、ラクトンがクリーミーなコクを生むのだそう。変化にちゃんと理由がつくんです。「なるほど、そういうことか」と腑に落ちるのが、なんとも気持ちいい。 ふだん飲みの一本が、4日でこうなるとは お手ごろなボトルが化けるのか、いい一本がさらに伸びるのか。この実験みたいなワクワクがクセになります。 というわけで、ここではスーパーで買える安価なブレンデッドウイスキーを注いでみました。ふだんはハイボールにしてぐいぐい飲んでしまう、いわば常飲の一本です。 4日ほど経ったころ。さきほど触れたとおり、覗き窓から見えるかぎり色はほとんど変わっていません。ところが、ためしに口に含んでみると、アルコールのツンとした角がやんわり取れている印象を受けました。 まろやかで、余韻に甘い香りがふわりと残るんです。同じボトルとは思えない変わりようで、思わず「えっ」と声が出ました。 いつもの一本が表情を変えてくれる。それがわかった時点で、もう充分に元が取れた気分です。 私のサンプルでは色の変化までは追えませんでした。ただ、起案者から東京ギフトショーで撮られた比較写真をお借りできたので、そちらをご覧ください。 なお、使い始めの一巡目は色の変化が大きく、樽の香りもいちばん出るタイミングだそうなので、最初の一杯は好きなボトルで迎えてあげるのがよさそうですね。 Advertisement 香りの方向性まで、自分で決められる さらに楽しいのが、オレンジピールやバニラビーンズ、シナモンスティックを加えて、香りの方向を調整できること。オレンジピールなら柑橘の華やかさとほろ苦さで軽やかに、バニラビーンズなら甘くまろやかに、シナモンなら余韻にすっと奥行きが出る、という感じ。 同じボトルから始めても、まるで違う一杯にたどり着けるというのだから、これは試してみたくなります。 ウイスキーだけでなく、バーボンやラム、ブランデー、20度以上の焼酎にも使えるので、家にあるお酒であれこれ試したくなるはず。これは、調整にハマッてしまいそう。 なお、フレーバー素材は風味が強めに出やすいので、途中で素材だけ引き上げてあげるのがコツだそうです。 透明の丸氷の型まで、ついてくる セットには「Ice Sphere Mold」も付属します。断熱ケース構造で外側からゆっくり凍らせる仕組みで、バーで出てくるような透明な丸氷（直径約6cm）が2個まとめて作れるとのこと。 せっかく育てたウイスキーを、白く濁った氷で薄めてしまうのはもったいないですからね。厚底のロックグラスも2脚ついてくるので、届いたその週末から、あれこれ買い足さずに楽しめそうです。 置いておくだけで、なんだか様になる そして何より、佇まいがいいんです。オーク材のあたたかい木肌に、ステンレスのひやりとした光沢、まんなかを貫くガラス。 熟成させていないときでも、リビングや書斎にぽんと置いてあるだけで、その一角がきゅっと引き締まります。東京ギフトショーでも「飾っておくだけで絵になる」と評判だったそうで、実物を前にすると、うんうんとうなずくしかありません。 使い方も気負いなし。まずは水を張って木をふくらませ、水が漏れないようにシーズニング。あとは好きなお酒を注いで、涼しい場所でのんびり待つだけ。お手入れも、洗剤を使わず、水ですすいで乾かすだけです。 現在、machi-yaでプロジェクトを実施中。お届けは2026年10月の予定だそうです。家飲みを贅沢にしてみたい人はぜひチェックを。 20歳未満の者の飲酒は法律で禁じられています >>【眺めながら熟成を味わう】香りも味も自分好みの一杯へ。変化を楽しむ樽熟成体験 Photo: 山科拓郎 Image: T&G Global Bridge Source: machi-ya 本記事制作にあたり、T&G Global Bridgeより製品の貸し出しを受けております。 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement

ニュース Amazon、ウイスキー「フロム・ザ・バレル」を4402円で販売中 2026年8月1日 15:00 Amazon.co.jpはニッカウヰスキーの「フロム・ザ・バレル」を4402円で販売している。出荷元・販売元ともにAmazon.co.jpで、配送料は無料。 同じ商品はAmazonの他の出品者からも販売されているが、4710円から5425円が中心。4402円はそのなかで安い部類となる。最安は「アイズマート リカショップ」の4358円で、こちらも配送料は無料。 メーカー希望小売価格は3520円だが、Amazonに並ぶ出品はいずれもこれを上回っており、実勢が希望小売価格から離れた状態が続いている（価格は本稿執筆時点）。 ニッカウヰスキー「フロム・ザ・バレル」 メーカー希望小売価格： 3520円 容量： 500mL アルコール度数： 51度 分類： ブレンデッドウイスキー テイスティングノート： ［香り］豊かな樽の香り。バニラやチョコレートの甘さと華やかなオレンジピール。穀物の香ばしさ ［味わい］とろみのある甘い口当たり。オークの渋みとしっかりしたコクのある味わい ［余韻］ウッディーでビターな余韻 ※価格情報の下にある「Amazonの他の出品者」や「すべての出品を見る」からそのほかの販売価格を選択することができる

【滋賀・長濱蒸溜所】面積約8坪、日本最小規模の蒸溜所が放つ、世界基準のウイスキー - SERIES： - ジャパニーズ・ウイスキー・ジャーニー その土地で完成する一杯 - TAGS： - ジャパニーズ・ウイスキー・ジ… Gourmet 琵琶湖のほど近くにある長濱蒸溜所は、江戸時代の米蔵を改装したブリュワリー兼レストラン内に併設されている 滋賀県長浜市。琵琶湖の湖北エリアに位置する同市は、琵琶湖とそれを囲む霊峰・伊吹山をはじめとする山々に囲まれ、夏は暑く冬は寒い。この寒暖差のはっきりとした気候が、ウイスキーの熟成に好影響を与えることは想像に難くないだろう。 〈長濱蒸溜所〉の母体となるのは、日本のクラフトビールシーンを牽引してきた長濱浪漫ビール。蒸溜所は、なんと長濱浪漫ビールのブリュワリー兼レストランの建物の中に併設されている。レストランで食事をしながら、ガラスの奥で行われているウイスキー造りを一望できるという極めて珍しいレイアウトだ。 それゆえ蒸留スペースは約8坪。しかもマッシュタン（糖化槽）とウォッシュバック（発酵槽）はビール造りと共用というから驚きだ。日本のウイスキー蒸溜所としては最小クラスといっていいだろう。コンセプトは“一醸一樽”。1回の仕込みで1樽分のウイスキーしか造らない。 海外から輸入したノンピート麦芽とピーテッド麦芽をメインに、試験的に滋賀県産の大麦麦芽なども使用する さらに個性的な面を挙げると、ポットスチルはポルトガル・ホヤ社製のアランビック型蒸留器。ひょうたんのような特徴的な形をしたアランビック型は、伝統的にカルヴァドスやブランデーの蒸留に使用されてきた。あえてアランビック型でウイスキーを長い時間をかけて蒸留することで、モルトの甘さや風味がしっかりとした酒質を実現している。 ウイスキーとしては非常に珍しい、アラビア発祥の伝統的なアランビック型蒸留器を採用 熟成はさすがに蒸溜所内には収まりきらず、市内の廃校になった小学校の旧校舎をまるごと熟成庫として利用している（ちなみに理科室はテイスティングルームとして活用）。さらに伊吹山山中の旧道トンネルを熟成庫として使用する他、琵琶湖に浮かぶ竹生島や沖縄でも実験的に熟成を行っているという。 廃校になった小学校を再利用した熟成庫。ちなみにこちらの写真は校長室前の廊下 約8坪のスモールディスティラリーとはいえ、2016年の操業開始からわずか数年で著名な国際アワードを多数受賞。2020年には自社蒸留の原酒のみを使用した待望の『シングルモルト長濱』もリリースした。“一醸一樽”ゆえに、多彩すぎるラインナップを誇るものの、いずれも長濱蒸溜所らしい、しっかりとしたモルトの風味が印象的だ。 バーボン樽を中心に、多種多様な樽を使いわけ、小ロットの多彩なラインナップを揃える たとえば最初の一杯は姉妹ブランドである長濱浪漫ビールを。ほどよく心地よくなったところで『シングルモルト長濱』のグラスを傾ける、な～んて飲み方もここならでは。極めつけは琵琶湖のほとりまで足を運び、併設のレストランからウイスキー造りを眺めながら、『シングルモルト長濱』をいただくのが最高の贅沢といえるかもしれない。 2020年5月に初めてリリースされた『シングルモルト長濱』シリーズは、基本的に販売本数が限られる ⚫︎こちらの記事もどうぞ！ 【富山・三郎丸蒸留所】世界初の鋳造製ポットスチルで、ピーテッドウイスキーを極める ⚫︎長濱蒸溜所 Nagahama Distillery 住所：滋賀県長浜市朝日町14-1 URL：https://www.romanbeer.com/whisky/ オンラインショップ：https://shop.romanbeer.com/index.html

King Charles pictured sipping dram of whisky at the Mey Highland Games King Charles enjoyed the tipple as he took in the Mey Highland Games in Scotland, an annual sporting event held in Caithness, where he watched the traditional tug o’ war and other events King Charles couldn't resist the local favourite as he kicked back with a whisky at the Mey Highland Games in Scotland. Wearing his traditional kilt as he took in a number of traditional sports in the north of the country, the Monarch greeted spectators and competitors enjoying the annual Caithness event. The sovereign has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his mother, the late Queen. Today, he watched on as athletes participated in the traditional tug o’ war, with a group of firefighters taking part before shaking hands with the group after they won the competition. Other groups to meet the King included the Wounded Highlanders, a team of injured military veterans who regularly take part in the adaptive competitions in the Mey Highland Games. Charles, 77, also saw the tossing of the caber – which involves entrants carrying a long and heavy tree trunk and throwing it in an attempt to turn it end over end. Troupes of Highland dancers and pipe bands also took part in the Highland Games. The Mey Highland Games takes place each year at the John O’Groats showground, traditionally on the first Saturday of August. The first Mey Games was held in the nearby village of Mey in 1970 to celebrate the late Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. As guest of honour on the day, she declared the event a success and encouraged its organisers to make it an annual event. The event has grown considerably since it was founded in 1970 and around 2,000 people can turn out for it. The King’s visit to the Mey Highland Games took place as his son William, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, attended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow along with his wife and children. Kate, the Duchess of Rothesay – along with Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George – joined spectators watching netball at the Hydro arena. Last year, the King started flogging a bottle of whisky that might give buyers a headache.. it costs £3,200 a bottle. The tipple has been made to celebrate the monarch’s 75th birthday. Bosses at the Buckingham Palace shop reveal: “This Balmoral whisky comes from cask number 1838, distilled on November 7 1978, was tasted by The King before 253 bottles were filled and numbered by hand on November 14 2023, His Majesty's 75th birthday. "The bottles feature a gold engraving of the Balmoral crest with His Majesty's Cypher at its centre. Further rooting this special whisky on Royal Deeside, each bottle is presented in a wooden case handcrafted from windblown larch from the Balmoral Estate and incorporating Balmoral Tweed. "It also features an innovative material from a forest below the sea: zero-waste seaweed paper made by Notpla, a winner of The Earthshot Prize, of which Prince William, The Duke of Rothesay, is Founder and President.”

Like most people in Ireland, prick me today and I’m still bleeding the green and red of Mayo. In 1951, at roughly the same time as an irascible priest was casting a hex on Mayo’s triumphant footballers, Ireland’s oldest commercially available whiskey- the Knappogue Castle 1951- was being distilled nearby before being left to mature in sherry casks for 36 years and only officially released in 1987. There are thought to be about 200 bottles in existence which retail for between about £1,250 and £1,750. One of these rarities was presented to the Mayo team and their manager, Andy Moran (pictured), at their homecoming celebrations in Westport on Monday. For more info or for details on their more affordable 12, 14 and 16 year old single malts, visit www.knappoguewhiskey.com. Sadly, I can’t provide tasting notes on the Knappogue 51. Usually, I receive free samples but, oddly enough, not on this occasion. Oh well, I’m sure it’s very nice. Wonder if any other counties enduring similarly lengthy droughts are looking a new manager? Prick me most days and I bleed saffron! We’ve had our own celebrations in our lovely home, Rose Cottage, this week. My darling wife, the illustrious Madame G., has finally returned to me after a trip to her native France. “It’s great to get away,” she tells me, “but the best moment of any trip is coming home, stepping off the plane, seeing the grey overcast skies, then feeling the soft Irish mizzle gently kissing your cheeks and realising you’re home!”. I tell you, these foreigners become more Irish than we are! You should have seen the tears streaming down her beautiful face when the final hooter sounded and Mayo’s victory was confirmed. “And when you look up,” she continues “and see your husband’s happy face, smell the delicious Mulligatawny soup he made yesterday- really more of a stew now- which he has matched with today’s WINE OF THE WEEK, the fresh, floral and superbly rounded 2024 Montaria Branco (£9.99 to members, Naked Wines)- you wonder am I in Ireland or in Heaven? Or are the two places the same? A pleasant mix of tropical and citrussy notes on a zingy palate before a crisp finish with a nice touch of acidity. It would go even better with oily fish and a bright, zesty salad next time please, Raymond”. “Good to have you back, love,” says I “and thanks for your help with the column but if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to take myself away now and write the damn thing”. Which I’m currently doing whilst basking in the glow of Mayo and today’s final selection, the complex, supple and well-structured 2017 Palco Real Rioja Gran Reserva (£8.49, Lidl). A full-bodied, exuberantly juicy palate abounds with rich berry flavours which are nicely countered by soft tannins before a lingering, deftly spiced finish. Chorizo bake with tomatoes, courgettes and a few humble Irish spuds? Maybe, just maybe... God, it felt great to be from Mayo, didn’t it? Back to porridge now. Aontroim abú agus, until next week, a chairde, sláinte!

The Best Bourbons for a Paper Plane, According to the Bartender Who Invented It The Paper Plane is a rare cocktail. It’s young enough to have a documented birth certificate, yet it’s essential enough to appear on menus around the world. A modern classic, it was created in 2008 by bartender Sam Ross, formerly of Milk & Honey and now the proprietor of its successor, Attaboy, in New York City. It’s a sour-style cocktail that calls for equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Amaro Nonino, and fresh lemon juice. The formula makes each component important. If you mismeasure, it throws the whole thing off. The bourbon provides much of the weight and structure to the drink, so it pays to choose a good bottle with some heft. It must stand up to the bittersweet orange notes of the Aperol, the herbal intensity of the amaro, and the citrusy zing of the lemon. A bourbon that’s too hot or sweet can swing the cocktail out of balance. However, the right bottle can add depth and roundness that makes the drink sing. Related: Commit These 7 Equal-Parts Cocktails to Memory and Impress Your Friends Below, Ross shares his five favorite options to use in the Paper Plane. It includes his ideal choice, along with budget-friendly and splurge-worthy options. And he also provides a bit of wisdom when you make the cocktail. “If you can shake this drink with one large solid piece of ice, you will get the best frothy head,” says Ross. “There is something in the Amaro Nonino that froths in the same way pineapple juice or honey froth when shaken properly.” He says to shake vigorously and skip the lemon twist garnish, as the oils in the lemon can dissipate the head you just worked so hard to achieve. Related: I've Tasted Hundreds of Whiskeys - Here's Why I Always Have a Bottle of This $17 Bourbon 01 of 05 Ideal Bourbon: Larceny Small Batch “I love Larceny Small Batch for the ideal Paper Plane,” says Ross. This wheated bourbon has a rich mouthfeel with notes of buttery caramel and honey, and at 92 proof, it shines through nicely in the cocktail. Larceny is a popular pick for cocktails. It makes a great Old Fashioned, so it’s smart to keep a bottle on hand. Best of all, Larceny is available for about $30, so you don’t have to splurge to make the perfect Paper Plane. Advertisement 02 of 05 Budget Bourbon: Old Forester 100 Proof Old Forester 100 Proof is a bartender favorite for whiskey shots and simple cocktails, and Ross says it’s a solid value pick. The 100-proof bourbon is spicy and robust, so it stands up to the other strong flavors in the Paper Plane. It brings flavors of dark cherry, candied citrus, and warm baking spices. 03 of 05 Mid-Tier Bourbon: Weller Special Reserve Weller Special Reserve is another wheated bourbon with a flavorful, easygoing profile. Part of the Buffalo Trace family, it has notes of sweet caramel, honey, butterscotch, and oak, with a little honeysuckle on the finish. It’s a step up from Old Forester, but still affordable. So you can mix up a few Paper Planes and not think twice. 04 of 05 Splurge Bourbon: Michter’s 10 Year When you really want to splurge, Ross suggests to make a Paper Plane with Michter’s 10 Year. This single-barrel bourbon is made in limited quantities and coveted by whiskey fans, who pay upwards of $300 for a bottle. It’s 94.4 proof, so it has plenty of oomph to stand up in the cocktail. It brings bold notes of caramel and toffee alongside charred oak, maple, and vanilla. 05 of 05 Off-the-Wall Whiskey: The Gospel Australian Straight Rye For something that’s a little weird, lots of fun, and still works great in the Paper Plane, Ross looks to his native Australia. First, The Gospel Australian Straight Rye is, well, not a bourbon. But we’re thinking outside the box here. If the man who created the cocktail says that you can use rye, then you can use rye. The 90-proof whiskey is made with local grains and aged in heavily charred American oak barrels. It has a deep, complex profile, with lots of spice and oaky vanilla, plus hints of green apple and dried red fruits. Read the original article on Food & Wine

K. Michelle has never separated faith from the complicated parts of being human. Her debut country album ‘Jesus & Whiskey’ brings both into the same room, pairing Southern storytelling with the voice, candour and emotional range that have defined her career. The 9-song album arrives October 16, with Kristian Bush producing K. Michelle’s first full-length exploration of the country music she grew up loving. Its songs move through heartbreak, redemption, desire and belief without sanding down any contradictions. The title track is out now, following last summer’s “Jack Daniel’s.” Written by K. Michelle, Ernest, Jordan Dozzi and Rocky Block, “Jesus & Whiskey” rejects the idea that faith belongs only to people who’ve conquered every vice or followed every tradition. “I ain’t perfect / I still drink some when I’m hurting / I got my own type of worship / I don’t fall down on my knees, but I still believe.” That confession drives a guitar-soaked ballad supported by piano, close harmonies and K. Michelle’s commanding vocal. The song is deeply personal, plainly written and powerful enough to make its message land without decoration. ‘Jesus & Whiskey’ also draws a direct line between her country roots and the R&B catalogue that made her a multi-platinum force. Growing up on classic country, she earned a music scholarship to Florida A&M University partly through her yodeling ability before releasing her chart-topping debut album ‘Rebellious Soul’ in 2013. The album expands the country direction she introduced with “Jack Daniel’s,” while keeping her autobiographical writing firmly at the centre. Songs including “Blame Tennessee,” “Damn Good Friend,” “Handle On It” and “If It Ain’t Broke” give that vision several distinct angles. K. Michelle performed “Jesus & Whiskey” on ‘Live with Kelly and Mark’ on July 30. She’ll also appear on ‘Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen’ on August 2 as part of ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ season-finale celebration. ‘Jesus & Whiskey’ sounds like an artist claiming every part of her musical history at once. The title track is a fearless country ballad from a singer who refuses to let shame, genre lines or anyone else’s rules define her relationship with music or faith. Track Listing: “Intro” “Yodel” “Blame Tennessee” “Damn Good Friend” “Jesus & Whiskey” “Anything” featuring Blush “Handle On It” “Jack Daniel’s” “If It Ain’t Broke”

A whole new meaning to “BYO” Copperworks Distilling Co. is inviting whiskey enthusiasts to go behind the scenes at its Seattle waterfront distillery and bottle their own American Single Malt Whiskey straight from the cask. Using the distillery’s iconic copper dipping dog, visitors pull whiskey straight from the cask before sealing their bottle and filling out the cask details for their new whiskey. Copperworks is currently featuring Single Cask No. 97-2 as its hand-fill offering. Single Cask No. 97-2 was crafted using single varietal Baronesse pale malt barley from Joseph’s Grainery in Colfax, WA. The Baronesse barley variety has a distinguished track record in Copperworks’ portfolio; a previous Baronesse-distilled Farmsmith release earned gold at the 2025 American Craft Spirits Association Competition before selling out entirely. Single Cask No. 97-2 continues that tradition of excellence, now aged to seven and a half years and finished in the only French oak cask at Copperworks, making this an exceptionally rare offering. “This single cask will continue to mature after this distillery-exclusive experience, meaning guests are capturing a whiskey that won’t be found anywhere else and won’t taste quite the same ever again,” said Jason Parker, President and Co-Founder of Copperworks Distilling Co. The hand fill experience is available during the distillery’s normal hours of operation, subject to availability during peak hours. Reservations are not necessary, but guests wishing to arrange their experience in advance may contact Retail@CopperworksDistilling.com. WHAT | Bottle Your Own Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey | $125.00 WHERE | Seattle Distillery & Tasting Room. 1250 Alaskan Way, Seattle, Washington 98101 Want us to share your news here on the Washington Beer Blog? Click here to learn how to reach us.

This Celebrity Whiskey Is 2026’s Best New Bourbon, According to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition Key Points - Comedian Jim Gaffigan’s Fathertime Bourbon won Best New Bourbon at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, with The Caboose: Empty Nester Strength earning 97 points and a Double Gold Medal. - Founded by Gaffigan and longtime friend Stu Pollard in 2024, Fathertime has released a lineup of whiskeys inspired by Gaffigan’s five children, including the award-winning The Caboose. - The Caboose: Empty Nester Strength is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 121 proof and is the fifth release in the brand’s lineup. A good sense of humor will get you far in life. And apparently, it’s helpful in whiskey, too. The 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) has crowned its Best New Bourbon, and the winning bottle comes from the mind (and palate) of comedian Jim Gaffigan. Fathertime Bourbon’s The Caboose Small Batch: Empty Nester Strength earned an impressive 97 points, securing a coveted Double Gold Medal and the Best New Bourbon title. Fathertime is a relatively new brand in the whiskey scene, debuting its first bottlings in 2024. The company was founded by Gaffigan and his longtime friend, Stu Pollard, a film producer, director, and Kentucky native. Over the past two years, Fathertime has released a range of whiskeys, most named in honor of Gaffigan’s five children: Firstborn Edition, Second Child Syndrome, The Middle Child Mystery, Fourth & Long, and The Caboose. For Gaffigan, starting a new whiskey company is an extension of his broader work in the whiskey sphere. The comedian has become a fixture on whiskey-industry podcasts and at events, and he even released a bourbon-themed stand-up special — “The Bourbon Set” — in partnership with Old Forester. “I’m (obviously) not a bourbon expert,” Gaffigan says on Fathertime’s website. “But I did do my research, and I know what I like. I hand-picked the bourbon and personally signed every bottle of Fathertime. And no, there isn’t some big spirit company behind this adventure. It’s just me and a buddy from college.” Advertisement Related: The 7 Best High-Rye Bourbons, According to Bar Pros The Caboose is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, sourced from an undisclosed distillery (or distilleries) and made from a mashbill of 63% corn, 30% rye, and 7% malted barley. It’s sold at two proof points: the Precious Batch clocks in at 92.4 proof, while the award-winning Empty Nester Strength is an uncut 121. The suggested retail price for Empty Nester Strength is $200. Fast Facts: Fathertime Bourbon — The Caboose: Empty Nester Strength ABV: 60.5%Maturation and mashbill: The Caboose: Empty Nester Strength is sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery or distilleries. It is a non-age-stated whiskey made from a mashbill of 63% corn, 30% rye, and 7% malted barley.Availability: Fathertime Bourbon’s The Caboose is currently available in limited retail and through numerous e-commerce outlets.MSRP: $200 Judges at this year’s SFWSC praised The Caboose’s Empty Nester Strength for its “intriguing nose of matcha tea, ginger, cookies, and lemon peel.” On the palate, they highlighted flavors such as graham cracker, marshmallow, dried fig, and fruitcake, alongside a “playful flash of bubble gum.” That was enough to earn the expression 97 points and a Double Gold Medal. Perhaps most importantly, The Caboose earned Best New Bourbon. To qualify for Best New Bourbon, whiskeys must be either brand new (released in the past 48 months) or constitute a complete reformulation of an existing brand. A product must score at least 96 points to qualify for Best New Bourbon. SFWSC representatives confirmed that if no eligible products meet that threshold in a given year, no award will be given. More award-winning bourbons Read the original article on Food & Wine

Revolver Beer & Spirits launched a trio of Blood & Honey spirits inspired by its flagship beer, featuring blood orange and raw, unfiltered Texas wildflower honey. The collection includes a whiskey, gin and vodka, each bottled at 40% ABV and designed to translate the brand’s signature citrus-and-honey flavour into distilled formats. Blood & Honey Whiskey combines blood orange with oak, honey, vanilla and clove, while the gin pairs citrus and creamy honey with juniper. The vodka is positioned as a flavoured alternative to traditional neutral expressions. Prices are set at $29.99 for the whiskey, $23.99 for the gin and $19.99 for the vodka. For consumers, the collection extends a familiar craft beer profile into accessible spirits that can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails. The launch reflects growing interest in beverage brands using established flavours and regional ingredients to expand across categories. Image Credit: Revolver Beer & Spirits Why This Trend Is Growing - Cross-category Flavor Extensions - Established beverage flavor profiles are being translated into new formats, creating space for brands to stretch loyalty across beer, spirits and ready-to-drink occasions. - Regional Ingredient Branding - Texas wildflower honey and blood orange highlight how localized ingredients can give mainstream spirits a more distinctive craft identity. - Accessible Premium Spirits - Moderately priced flavored whiskey, gin and vodka offerings suggest a growing market for approachable premium products that bridge casual experimentation and cocktail culture. Industries Being Reshaped - Alcoholic Beverages - Beer and spirits producers are finding new growth potential by converting signature recipes into adjacent alcohol categories with familiar taste cues. - Craft Distilling - Small-batch distillers can differentiate through hybrid flavor development that borrows equity from craft beer, regional agriculture and cocktail trends. - Hospitality and Mixology - Bars and restaurants gain menu innovation potential from spirits that carry built-in citrus, honey and spice notes suited to simplified signature cocktails.

Why One Of America’s Premier Whiskey Bars Doesn’t Focus On Numbers Anymore Claiming to have the largest whiskey selection in America was always a dubious assertion. Some bars claim hundreds of bottles, but many of those bottles are not really available to be ordered. Other bars might include bottles stored offsite, just to increase their numbers. And many bars claiming high numbers of bottles of whiskey focus so much on increasing those numbers, they have one bottle of every expression, regardless of whether the liquid inside is actually any good. So while Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C. has between 2,500 and 2,800 available at any time, it no longer claims to have the largest selection in America. Interestingly, it eschews the claim notwithstanding it has more bottles of whiskey than the bar holding the Guinness World Record for its whiskey collection, and the bar that held the record before that. "We fluctuate hundreds of bottles per week," said Bill Thomas, owner, by telephone. "There are places that have a lot of expressions of whiskey, but they never sell anything." Because every bottle of whiskey available at Jack Rose can be ordered, and is priced to be sampled, rather than ogled, the whiskey list at Jack Rose is ever changing. That even includes the prices. "We have about 10,000 bottles in storage at any time," said Thomas. Many of those bottles are acquired in the secondary market by Thomas himself. And if prices change on the market, so do the prices change at Jack Rose. For example, for years, the secondary market for Pappy Van Winkle was incredibly robust. But since those secondary-market prices have recently softened, Jack Rose recently lowered the prices of these legendary drams. "We Are A Library, Not A Museum." "Just having whiskey on your shelf doesn't make you a whiskey bar," said Thomas. "We want to sell the whiskey. We would much rather have an everyday person try things, rather than hold things for display." Having said that, Jack Rose does have access to drams of legend as well. An entry-level dram might cost $6, but the well-heeled can spend $1,500 on an ounce of the ultra rare. But Thomas is quick to say that everything on the menu is good. "There are three of us who choose the whiskeys," said Thomas. "We ask ourselves, 'Would we defend your whiskey?' Of course, whiskey is subjective, but we look at whether it is well-constructed and worth the price. We might carry a rye from a distillery, but not their bourbon." "We constantly act as gatekeepers. If you're going to buy an ounce of whiskey from us, we want you to enjoy it," said Thomas. "When you look at our shelves, what we carry says a lot. And what we don't carry says a lot." Because the whiskey selection is ever changing, the menu is notoriously out-of-date. Ahead of Robbie Burns Day one year, Thomas added 300 bottles of Scotch to Jack Rose's available list. It can take weeks for the printed menu to be updated. As a result, staff undergo extensive training, learning to guide customers through choosing a whiskey to their liking, within their price range. Jack Rose also hosts release parties and whiskey dinners. At the release parties, limited edition expressions from famous distilleries bottled exclusively for Jack Rose are tasted and full bottles can be purchased. "We have 800 barrels in Kentucky," said Thomas. Pairing dinners often showcase how whiskey can be paired with fine food or used in cocktails. A Great Time To Be A Whiskey Lover Jack Rose opened its doors in 2011. Thomas says that starting around 2015, there was a lot of bad whiskey being produced as the category grew in popularity and investors jumped onto the whiskey bandwagon, charging premium prices for sub-standard liquid. "We are getting back to the days when the greatest whiskeys are affordable again," said Thomas. "It's probably the best time to be a drinker since the early 2000s." Jack Rose Dining Saloon opened its doors in 2011. So according to Thomas, now is the best time in the bar's history to visit. This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The Johnnie Walker range covers a lot of ground, from the smoky end to the sweeter, gentler side. If sweetness is what you are after, two bottles stand out: Johnnie Walker Black Ruby and Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve. Both are sweet whiskies, but the sweetness comes from different places and tastes noticeably different if you taste them side by side. Black Ruby is the darker, fruitier of the two, with jammy berry flavors and a bit of grip from the casks it was matured in. Gold Label Reserve is lighter and creamier, built around honey and vanilla with a soft, waxy texture. When it comes to deciding which one to buy, the question is which kind of sweetness you actually enjoy, and how you plan to drink it. Johnnie Walker Black Ruby: The Berry-Rich Option Black Ruby is the newer of the two, launched globally in March 2025 after a run in pilot markets the year before. It was created by Dr. Emma Walker, who took over as Johnnie Walker master blender at the start of 2022 and is the first woman to hold the role in the company’s history. It is bottled at 40% ABV with no age statement. The whiskies was matured in a mix of first-fill red wine casks, ex-bourbon barrels, and casks seasoned with Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry. Roseisle sits at the core of the blend, alongside Clynelish, Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Cameronbridge grain whisky, and a small amount of Caol Ila for the smoky element, according to the launch details. Walker described it as having “vibrant notes of rich raspberry jam, blackberry pie, and deep honeyed sweetness,” with figs, plums, and maraschino cherries underneath. It is reminiscent of a fruit preserve, thick and jammy, with tannin from the wine casks giving it some structure. A faint dry smoke sits behind the fruit. It is the more assertive of the two bottles, and not everyone gets on with it. Some drinkers find the wine tannin and the smoke sit awkwardly against the fruit, particularly when tasting it neat. If you like sherried whiskies or red wine, though, it is likely to land well. Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve: The Honeyed Option Gold Label Reserve arrived in 2012, replacing the older 18-year-old Gold Label. It was created by Dr. Jim Beveridge, who spent more than 40 years at Diageo and around 20 of those as master blender before retiring at the end of 2021. Like Black Ruby, it is bottled at 40% ABV with no age statement. Where Black Ruby gets its character from active casks, Gold Label Reserve depends more on the malt itself. Clynelish sits at the center of the blend, a Highland distillery known for a waxy, honeyed quality that carries through into the finished whisky. Cardhu, Blair Athol, and Cameronbridge grain whisky fill out the rest, with a little smoky malt from the islands. Maturation is mostly in ex-bourbon and refill casks rather than heavy sherry, which keeps the whisky pale and lets the honey and vanilla come forward instead of dark fruit. Independent reviewers tend to describe honey, butterscotch, orchard and tropical fruit, soft baking spice, and a quiet thread of smoke at the end. WhiskyCast gave it 93 points and noted the honey and lemony tartness on the finish. The texture is the thing people remember. It is creamy and slightly waxy, closer to a dessert than a syrup, and easy to drink without any thought. The trade-off is that at 40% it can come across as soft and understated, and drinkers looking for intensity sometimes find it too polite. For anyone who wants an uncomplicated sweet whisky, that softness is the appeal rather than the problem. Berry-Rich or Honeyed: How They Compare Put side by side, the clearest difference is where the sweetness comes from. Black Ruby’s is fruit sweetness, drawn out of red wine and sherry-seasoned casks, and it tastes like berry preserve with tannin behind it holding things together. Gold Label Reserve’s is malt and vanilla sweetness, coming from the Clynelish core and ex-bourbon maturation, and it tastes closer to honey and butterscotch. Texture separates them just as much. Black Ruby is thicker and more syrupy, coating the mouth with fruit sugar. Gold Label Reserve is silkier and slightly waxy, which is a characteristic of Clynelish spirit and the main reason people describe the whisky as creamy. Both carry a small amount of peat, but it behaves differently in each. In Black Ruby the smoke is drier and more noticeable, sitting against the jammy fruit rather than blending into it. In Gold Label Reserve it is fainter and more herbal, doing little more than keeping the honey from becoming too sweet. How They Drink: Neat, Over Ice, and Mixed Neat is where Gold Label Reserve does best. The waxy texture is the point of the whisky, and it comes through most clearly at room temperature. Black Ruby is enjoyable neat too, though the tannin and smoke are more prominent without dilution. Ice suits Black Ruby well, in my opinion, softening the tannin and pushing the berry flavors forward. A large cube works better than a handful of small ones, since it melts more slowly. Gold Label Reserve takes a chill happily as well. Johnnie Walker’s own serving suggestion is a tall glass with crushed ice and a slice of orange, though that is a long drink rather than a way to sip it, and personally, I prefer it neat. For mixing, Black Ruby is the more useful bottle. The fruit and cask tannin give it enough weight to hold up against tonic, citrus, and vermouth. Gold Label Reserve can be mixed, and Johnnie Walker suggests apple juice and soda, but heavily flavored drinks tend to bury the honey and vanilla. Price and Availability In the UK, Black Ruby is the cheaper of the two. A 70cl bottle typically sells for around £30 to £35 against a recommended price of £35, and it turns up in supermarkets as well as specialist retailers. Gold Label Reserve usually costs more, generally falling somewhere between £38 and £50 depending on where you buy it and whether there is a promotion running. The picture is different in the US. Gold Label Reserve is stocked widely and commonly sells for around $55 to $60 for a 750ml bottle, with some regional pricing running higher. Black Ruby has been slower to arrive. It began life in travel retail and remains limited to specialist retailers in much of the country, priced around $45 to $50 where you can find it, with broader distribution expected during 2026. For a lot of American readers, that settles the question before flavor comes into it. If Black Ruby is not on the shelf near you, Gold Label Reserve is the practical choice. Which One Should You Buy? Black Ruby suits people who enjoy red wine or sweeter spirits like rum, since the fruit is immediate and easy to pick out. Gold Label Reserve suits anyone who wants something gentle with no rough edges to work around. If you are making sweet and jammy cocktails, Black Ruby is the better buy for me. It holds its shape in a whisky sour, and Johnnie Walker has pushed it as a mixing whisky since launch. If you are buying a gift, Gold Label Reserve has the advantage. The bottle looks the part, and the whisky has been positioned as a celebration blend since 2012, which makes it an easy present for someone whose tastes you do not know well. If you want something to drink casually, Gold Label Reserve again. It asks nothing of you and works fine as an everyday pour, which is exactly what a lot of people want from a bottle at this price. So, which of these whiskies do you enjoy or think would suit you better? Let us know in the comments.

Austin whiskey distillery paying homage to city’s creativity, music roots with new venue opening this fall AUSTIN (KXAN) — Still Austin may be known for its whiskey, but the distillery is about to make known the narrative of one of its greatest muses through a soon-to-open venue in south Austin. The distillery this week announced that it will open The Still Austin Quarter this fall. It’s a four-room, 15,000-square-foot “hospitality destination” that aims to take visitors on a narrative journey through the company’s recognizable bottle label musician. “You know, there is a musician that appears on the front of our label,” Chris Seals, CEO and co-founder of Still Austin, said. “We ask ourselves, as we’ve been growing for a long time, people love our whiskey. We ask ourselves, what would it be like to have a jam session in her kitchen? And that was kind of the birth of the Still Austin Quarter.” Seals said the venue has been in the works for about three years now and is slated to open in September. It was developed in collaboration with architect of record OPA Design Studio and interior design firm Weiss Architecture, according to a release from the distillery. “It’s a place where you basically walk into kind of the narrative of her life in her journey as a artist, but also it highlights the artists of Austin, the people who inspire us, everyone that we aspire to be,” Seals said. “And it’s been a really, really fun journey. It’s been nearly three years of work getting us to this point.” Seals said Still Austin represents the Central Texas region through its locally sourced grains and homemade liquors, and the musician represents the heart behind Still Austin’s creations. “You know, a lot of whiskeys, if they’re well made, and if everything comes from your region with a focus on quality, they will give a taste of your place,” Seals said. “But if they’re really well-made with passion, they give a sense of the people that they come from… We always have taken that very seriously. And Austin is an amazing community, and it’s kind of a humbling undertaking to try to represent the people that we come from.” That attempt is how the label featuring the musician was born. Still Austin commissioned Austin-based artist Mark Burckhardt to help capture the spirit of Austin, and he decided to do so through painting a series of portraits of Austin creatives; then that led to the creation of the musician, Seals explained. “The artists, the musicians, the naturalists, the visionaries, the writers, the people that inspire us, we consider them sort of the new Austin mythology,” Seals said. “We wanted to do it in a way that everybody could see something of themselves, and the musician herself in that painting, she’s kind of mythical in her character,” Seals continued. “She’s playing her own hair. Her voice is a summer tanager, which is a rare bird; it’s the only bird in North America that’s completely red. It’s something special. It stands alone; it’s highly individualistic, and that to us is a lot of what we love about Austin. We have very creative people, very authentic people, people with a lot of pride.” The Still Austin Quarter takes the mythical character of the musician and expands her into a new world, where Seals said he wants everyone to feel welcome. “What we hope is that when people come into this space, they will feel something very deeply human. They will feel seen. They will feel the freedom to express themselves,” he said. “This is our hope; they will feel confident to be distinct. To us, that is being authentic. And that is what we strive to be in our whiskey and everything that we do.” Each of the four sections of the venue represents different parts of the musician’s “home” in a way. The Atrium The Atrium is “all about the possibility,” Seals said. “It’s the musician before she was famous.” Advertisement “On the walls, you’ll find black and white photos of Austin musicians before they were famous, and that you’ll find in the room the instruments that they played,” he continued. “It’s an amazing room that will make you feel like truly anything is possible. I mean, it’s obviously a whiskey space, but you could easily come there for co-working. It’s a nice place to hang out.” He also said it’s the perfect space for an acoustic set, saying it’s a “really beautiful and really intimate space” where inspiration is felt. The Vinyl Lounge If the first room is possibility, the second is memories, Seals said. The vinyl lounge will feature a selection of about 5,000 albums by Austin musicians, and a full-time DJ who will “help bring back a lot of moments of Austin’s history,” Seals said. He said the space will “easily seat” about 200 people. The Music Room The Music Room is at the heart of it all. It’s “the moment before she walks on stage,” Seals said. “When you have that adrenaline and literally anything can happen.” Seals said Still Austin represented that feeling through sort of recreating a lost, but iconic Austin venue, Steamboat. Steamboat’s owners actually saved every poster from every act that ever played the venue’s stage, and all of them — nearly 6,000 in total — were donated to Still Austin. “We were so blown away, we felt like we have to do something major. And so we’ve recreated the steamboat. And it is absolutely amazing,” Seals said. “You’re going to walk backwards into 1977-ish.” Seals said the room was engineered to be “some of the best sound in America” by acoustician Steven Durr, who has engineered over 2,000 recording and performance facilities worldwide. “That room is just an absolutely spectacular room,” Seals said. “The shows that will be in there are going to be pretty special, I think.” Cafe/Event Space The final room is the cafe/event space. Seals said it’s a bit more detached from the other areas and full of potential. “I mentioned at the beginning, you know, ‘What’s it like to have a jam session in that musician’s kitchen?’ The last room is her kitchen.” “Little jewel box of a space, perfect for a house show,” Seals said. “This is her kitchen, her inspirations, the muses, the women of Austin music who inspire her, and just the space itself is everything that is; it’s almost the anti-Whiskey Lounge. If a Whiskey Lounge is supposed to be dark and masculine and, you know, I don’t know, leather, and smoke, and cigars, this is a woman’s kitchen. And you can fill it up, it’s an amazing space. Incredible kitchen for serving. I think we can actually serve dinner to over 500 people at once from our amazing central kitchen.” Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.

Marks & Spencer introduced Stillness, an own-label Irish whiskey created in partnership with Boann Distillery, featuring a triple-cask blend bottled at 40% ABV. Developed exclusively for M&S customers, the whiskey is now available across the retailer’s stores in Ireland and the UK. The liquid was created over two years, with M&S product developers visiting Boann’s Lagavooren distillery for on-site blending and tasting sessions. Family-run Boann Distillery draws on more than 60 years of experience in the Irish drinks industry. Stillness offers notes of gentle vanilla, honeyed sweetness and soft oak, followed by a warming finish designed for both sipping and mixing. For consumers, Stillness combines accessible private-label pricing with craft distillery provenance and regional storytelling. The launch reflects a broader retail trend of grocers developing exclusive spirits that strengthen own-brand ranges while offering shoppers distinctive products unavailable elsewhere. Image Credit: Stillness Why This Trend Is Growing - Private-label Spirits - Retailers are elevating own-brand alcohol lines with craft-quality production, creating space for exclusive products that blend value pricing with premium positioning. - Craft Provenance Branding - Regional distillery partnerships give mass retailers access to authentic storytelling, localized heritage, and differentiated shelf appeal in crowded spirits categories. - Exclusive Grocery Alcohol - Limited-access spirits sold through grocery channels are reshaping how consumers discover premium beverages outside traditional liquor specialists. Industries Being Reshaped - Alcoholic Beverages - Whiskey producers and distillers are finding new growth through retail collaborations that extend craft credibility into broader consumer markets. - Grocery Retail - Supermarkets are using exclusive beverage launches to strengthen private-label portfolios and increase shopper loyalty through products unavailable elsewhere. - Food and Beverage Branding - Brand developers are gaining opportunities to merge affordability, provenance, and sensory storytelling into private-label products with premium cues.

Old Overholt, the rye whiskey brand owned by Beam Suntory, just released the 2026 edition of its Extra Aged Cask Strength rye — and it’s the strongest bottle the series has ever put out. This is the fourth annual release in the Extra Aged Cask Strength line, an offshoot Old Overholt started a few years back to showcase its rye at full cask strength. Each year’s release has come with a different combination of age and proof: the first was 10 years old at 121 proof, the second bumped to 11 years at 107.4 proof, and last year’s went to 12 years at 117 proof. This year swings back down to 11 years, but jumps the proof to 125.6, the highest of the four. The whiskey was distilled and barreled in the spring of 2014, then matured for 11 years across three separate warehouses on the Beam campus in Clermont. According to the brand, that multi-warehouse approach is meant to build consistency while still letting the whiskey develop real depth over more than a decade in the barrel. Old Overholt, new tricks Old Overholt has a real claim to being America’s oldest continuously produced whiskey brand, tracing back to 1810 in West Overton, Pennsylvania. Back then Kentucky bourbon didn’t dominate the conversation quite as much as the way it does now. Jim Beam picked up the brand in 1987 and, for a long stretch after that, mostly let it sit as a reliable, cheap bartender’s rye. It’s now made at James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Clermont, Kentucky. That’s changed noticeably over the past few years. Beam raised the core expression’s proof and age statement, added a bottled-in-bond version, launched the Pennsylvania-style A. Overholt, and started this annual cask-strength series. None of that reads like a brand coasting on its history — it reads like one actively testing what its whiskey can do once nobody’s forcing it to stay cheap. The proof jump is the big selling point. Beam’s own team has said they’re deliberately varying age, warehouse location, and proof year to year to see how each variable shapes the final flavor — which means this series isn’t chasing a single “best” formula so much as it’s running an open experiment, one bottle at a time, on one of the oldest whiskey names in the country. Where to buy it Old Overholt Extra Aged Cask Strength 11 Year, 2026 Edition, is priced at $109.99 for a 750ml bottle. Availability details through Beam’s retail network should firm up as it hits shelves.

Bardstown Bourbon wants to add some sweetness to your summer with its new tropical whiskey If you're anything like me, you love a good rum-based, tropical cocktail. There's nothing quite like a Mai Tai or Rum Punch on a hot, humid summer day. Especially if you're floating on or sitting near a large body of water. But you don't always want a rum-centered drink, and whiskey just doesn't have the tropical flair of its sugarcane-based cousin. That all changes now, because Bardstown Bourbon Company just released a whiskey that's the best of both booze-soaked worlds: Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey. Victoria Pineapple Barrel Finish Whiskey As the name suggests, this whiskey gets its name from the popular Victoria Pineapple, which is known for its over-the-top sweetness. This expression begins as a blend of mature bourbon and rye whiskeys. The bourbon was aged between 10 and 11 years, and the rye whiskey was aged for 11 years. After blending the whiskeys together, it's finished in Caribbean-sourced pineapple rum casks for 27 more months. But that's not all. Fresh pineapple is also added to the barrels to intensify the tropical, sweet aromas and flavors. According to Bardstown Bourbon, this results in a sublime, sippable 106-proof expression that begins with scents of tropical fruits, peppery rye, and allspice. Sipping it reveals notes of dried cherries, toasted oak, vanilla cream, and toffee. The finish is lingering, warm, sweet, and spicy, leaving you craving more. This memorable whiskey is best enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or mixed into your favorite whiskey-based cocktail to add a tropical kick. "The goal was never to make whiskey taste like pineapple," Dan Callaway, Master Blender, Lofted Spirits, says. "The goal was to understand what made these barrels so special in the first place. We followed that trail all the way back to the creation process and found our way to a whiskey with bold tropical fruit, surrounded by rye and allspice," he says. "Finishing with staves gave us the balance that helped integrate the pineapple character without losing the depth and complexity of the whiskey itself," he adds. Where can I buy it? This limited-edition whiskey is available in extremely limited quantities exclusively in Kentucky, at the Bardstown Bourbon Co distillery and Louisville Tasting Room, for the suggested retail price of $139.99.

Whisky flows through the veins of many proud Scots – so much so that its traditional Gaelic name literally translates as ‘water of life’. Scotland has been distilling whisky since at least 15th century, and the country still produces more than any other country in the world. Scotch whisky is made under strict quality controls which maintain its hallowed reputation; it must be made using just water, malted barley and yeast – with no other ingredients or flavourings permitted – aged in oak barrels inside Scotland, and bottled at a minimum ABV of 40%. This fierce tradition means Scotch is often the global gold standard for pure, unadulterated whiskies. Whisky business: the 20 best bottles you can buy from the local bottle shop Spirits expert Luke McCarthy shares the 20 best whiskies to find at your local bottle shop. From smoky Islay classics to rich Tassie single malts, stoke the hearth and pour yourself a dram – it’s time to get into the spirit of the season. Nc’nean Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky Nc’nean signals a new approach to Scottish whisky-making. The distillery, located on the Morvern peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, is powered by renewable energy, and only uses organic barley to produce a bright, fresh take on what Scottish single malt can be. Kilkerran 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky With the whiskies from its cult sibling distillery, Springbank, now difficult and pricey to procure, this is a wise option for those wanting to find out why the maritime, smokeaccented single malts from the Campbeltown region are so highly sought after. The Glendronach 15 Year Old Single Malt Whisky For fans of richly sherried single malts, Glendronach 15 Year Old remains a gold standard. Spending its life in casks that once held Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherries, the result is a velvety whisky, rich with raisins, cherries and warming spice. A crowd-pleaser loaded with depth and heritage. Kilchoman Machir Bay Islay Single Malt Whisky In 2005, Kilchoman became the first new distillery built on Islay, Scotland’s whisky mecca, in more than 120 years. Since then, it has become one of Scotland’s great success stories. This expression is an excellent introduction to Islay whiskies, balancing signature peat notes with bright citrus, vanilla and sea spray. USA Trailing only second to Scotland in production quantities, the States is a whiskey powerhouse. Adopting the Irish spelling, US whiskey production is the wild west compared to Scotland – where whiskey can be anything made from the fermented mash of a range of cereal grains. Two broad styles have emerged: the most dominant, bourbon, must be made with more than 51% corn, which helps provide its trademark sweet, rich undertones. Rye meanwhile must be made with at least 51% rye grain, which makes is slightly more dry and peppery. Both, under law, should be aged in new, charred oak, which lends Yankee whiskeys notes of vanilla and caramel. You might also come across Tennessee Whiskey, which is essentially bourbon, made just in the Southern state. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, Weller Special Reserve is a beloved 90-proof wheated bourbon. The style exploded following frenzied demand for the Van Winkle wheated bourbon range, now also produced at Buffalo Trace. The wheat delivers a sweeter profile of fresh bread, caramel and honey. Wild Turkey Rare Breed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey This has long been revered by purists as one of the best barrel-proof bourbons. No water is added before bottling, hence the ‘barrel-proof’ tag, meaning this marriage of 6-, 8- and 12-year-old components is like sipping whisky straight out of the barrel. It’s a big experience, showcasing Wild Turkey at its confident best. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey Rye whiskey has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence over the last decade, and Michter’s offers one of the finest and most approachable renditions of the style. Each barrel is bottled individually, highlighting the lively spice, black pepper, orange zest and caramel flavours that make rye so rewarding. Jack Daniel’s Bonded Tennessee Whiskey Produced to US Bottled-in-Bond standards, this is a more robust take on the famous Tennessee whiskey style. Layers of banana bread, roasted nuts, molasses and baking spice are supported by Jack Daniel’s signature charcoal mellowing, giving impressive depth while remaining unmistakably familiar. Ireland Ireland shares its whiskey making pedigree with close neighbour Scotland, dating its first distilleries back even further than the Scots. Irish whiskey must be matured in wood barrels, in Ireland, for three years to bear the name. A couple of common practices, including a preference for unmalted (raw) barley, triple distillation and the use of a pot still, lead to more creamy, silky and smooth whiskeys, with a more mouth-coating body – for reasons a bit too long-winded to unpack here. Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Redbreast is an icon of Irish whiskey-making, showcasing the country’s unique single-pot still style. Rich and creamy, it combines the gingery crackle of unmalted barley with layers of high fruit notes that can only emerge after years of patient maturation. Equally enticing to newcomers and seasoned whisky drinkers alike, it’s one of Ireland’s finest. Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey Teeling Small Batch has been a hit since it was first released more than a decade ago. Produced by Dublin’s Teeling Distillery, one of the significant early movers in Ireland’s whiskey revival, this blend of malt and grain whiskies is finished for 12 months in rum casks to add bright fruit, toffee and subtle spice. Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt Whiskey Bushmills has released some cracking whiskies in recent years, including 25- and 30-year-olds that speak to their long history. But the 16 Year Old is the gem of the range. Initially matured in Oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels, the whiskey is then finished in port casks to deliver waves of ripe berries, dark chocolate and malty caramel. Australia Australia has hardly been a historic leader in whisky production; but in true national style we’re an underdog come good. The diversity of the Australian climate, which is generally warmer, drier and altogether less predictable than more stable locations like Scotland, means spirits mature quicker in the barrel. This means Australian whisky can pick up a lot of flavour from its barrel at a relatively young age. Because we’re also less bound by traditional distillation rules, Australian whisky has also developed a reputation for experimentation, with bold, complex Australian whiskies demanding attention beyond our borders.

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own cask of Bruichladdich? It is one of the most accessible entry points into cask ownership on Islay, and as a whisky broker, it is a question I field regularly. Whether you are an independent bottler, someone planning a private bottling, or simply a whisky lover who wants to own a piece of one of Scotland’s most characterful distilleries, this is my guide to how it all actually works, including the behind-the-scenes details that most people never get to see. The first thing to understand is where these casks come from. Bruichladdich does not currently sell whisky directly to the public, so every cask you buy today comes from a historic ownership scheme. Back in 2001, when Mark Reynier and his investors reopened the distillery, they sold casks to the public much as he had done with Springbank. Those original prices are almost unbelievable now, with refill bourbon barrels going for £775 and fresh sherry butts for around £2,195. Today, you are buying from private individuals through a broker like me, and the casks broadly date from 2001 up to around 2011 or 2012. There is one rule that trips people up more than any other, and that is labelling. You cannot call your bottling “Bruichladdich” because that is a trademark. What you can say is that it was “distilled at the Bruichladdich distillery,” because a geographic location cannot be trademarked under UK law. Your own brand simply has to appear in larger lettering than the distillery description, in line with Scotch Whisky Association regulations. Pricing is an awkward question, a bit like asking how much a property in London costs. You might be looking at seven, eight or £9,000 at the lower end, rising to £20,000 or £30,000 for something special. The price reflects the volume of remaining liquid, the ABV, and the wood. Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals. By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals. By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Mark Reynier was fanatical about wood, so the quality is almost always awesome. You have five spirit styles to consider too, from unpeated Bruichladdich through Rhinns, Port Charlotte, Lochindaal and the fiercely peated Octomore. Provenance, to my mind, is gold plated, simply because HMRC monitors every millilitre for tax purposes. That said, there are real risks. The biggest by far is overpaying, which is where most whisky fraud actually happens. You also need to monitor the ABV with regular re-gauges, since anything under 40% legally stops being Scotch whisky. Ultimately, I would not buy a cask purely as an investment. Buy it because there is nothing else quite like it. A Rolex superfan cannot make their own Rolex, but with whisky you can leave your own unique thumbprint on a single cask release that will never exist again. Would you take the plunge and bottle your own? Of course, this is a very quick rundown. If you would like to know more about owning a cask of Bruichladdich, check out my YouTube video.

A dram fine show! King Charles is all smiles as he dons a kilt and drinks a tot of whisky at the Highland Games - Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source King Charles was all smiles today as he wore a kilt and sipped a dram of whisky while attending the Mey Highland Games. Donning his traditional kilt, the monarch met spectators and competitors enjoying the Caithness event, where he saw several traditional sports on Saturday. The King has had the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his grandmother, the late Queen Mother. Today, he joyfully watched on as competitors took part in a game of tug o’ war, with even a group of firefighters taking part, who emerged victorious. King Charles congratulated each by shaking their hands, while also spending some of his day embracing the Celtic culture by chatting with several traders at stalls. Among those to meet the monarch were the Wounded Highlanders, a team of injured veterans who often participate in adaptive competitions in the games. The monarch also saw the tossing of the caber – which involves entrants carrying a long and heavy tree trunk and throwing it in an attempt to turn it end over end. Meanwhile, he was entertained by troupes of Highland dancers and pipe bands who also took part in the celebrations. King Charles was all smiles today as he wore a kilt and sipped a dram of whisky while attending the Mey Highland Games Donning his traditional kilt, the monarch met spectators and competitors enjoying the Caithness event, where he saw several traditional sports on Saturday The monarch smiles as he watches troupes of Highland dancers dance while attending the the Mey Highland Games The Mey Highland Games take place each year at the John O’Groats showground, traditionally on the first Saturday of August. The first Mey Games was held in the nearby village of Mey in 1970 to celebrate the late Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. As guest of honour on the day, she declared the event a success and encouraged its organisers to make it an annual event. The event has grown considerably since it was founded in 1970 and around 2,000 people can turn out for it. The King's recent visit comes as his son Prince William, also the Duke of Rothesay, attended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow along with his wife and children. On the penultimate day of the so-called 'Friendly Games', the family joined spectators to watch a packed sporting schedule involving the world's best competitors. Prince Louis, now eight years old, delighted royal fans in a rare public appearance as he watched the Games alongside his siblings. The family were in the stands for the netball semi-finals earlier today, which was a visibly tense match which decided who went through to the final playoffs for a medal. They were later spotted at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome – where little Louis took great joy in his bucket hat – and were joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. The King had had the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his grandmother, the late Queen Mother King Charles meets firefighters after winning the tug of war at the Mey Highland Games at the John O'Groats Showground He also spent some of his day embracing the Celtic culture by chatting with several traders at stalls The monarch also saw the tossing of the caber – which involves entrants carrying a long and heavy tree trunk and throwing it in an attempt to turn it end over end Louis appeared animated, biting his nails, gasping and pointing in the stands as he enjoyed the game, sat in between his siblings. Prince George, who celebrated his 13th birthday last week, was pictured sitting next to his father, William. William was spotted chatting to his sons throughout the match, pointing at the players and explaining the play. Charlotte, meanwhile, regularly turned to speak to Kate, whispering to her mother throughout the match. Princess Charlotte, 11, wore her hair like her mother's in long curls and was dressed in a polka-dot navy blue and white dress. Her two brothers, George and Louis, wore smart blue and white shirts, while William also opted for a smart blazer. Kate and William – who are known by their Scottish titles, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, when visiting the country – and their children also met Team Wales athletes and their families on Saturday. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis revealed their favourite sports as they sat and chatted with the sportsmen and women on what was the final stop of their busy day at the Commonwealth Games. And when Welsh TV presenter Gethin Jones asked George if he wanted to see his parents team up on a tandem in the velodrome, the 13-year-old quickly replied 'no,' clearly embarrassed by the prospect. The family of five received a warm welcome from the Welsh athletes and their families as they arrived at Wales House in the centre of Glasgow.

A new era has launched in Captain’s Flat with the opening of a flashy little whisky bar, and you could say it’s right out of the last century. The velvet-lined, speakeasy-inspired space sits within the walls of the Captain’s Flat Hotel. Named after the year the pub originally opened, 1938, it may share a date, but it’s a big departure from the look and feel of what is one of Australia’s best-preserved pubs of its era. The new bar, which opened its doors on 17 July, has been a handmade labour of love for the pub’s owner, Sharanne Witt, who has even surprised herself at what she’s managed to pull together in an essentially dead area of one of the longest bars in the country. “Every person that walks through just goes, ‘Oh my God!’ So it turned out a lot better than even I expected,” laughs Sharanne. If you’re worried about what happened to the original wall tiles and heritage bar, Sharanne had no intention with this project of ripping out any of the pub’s original features; instead she cleverly hid them all under draped curtaining suspended from the picture rails. “It’s all still there; we had my mum upstairs in her little sweatshop making the curtains and we’ve spent months collecting the furniture and decorations,” Sharanne tells Region. With the pub best known for pulling a good beer, the process of moving into whisky and cocktails has been one that Sharanne explains is all new to her, but for a woman who purchased a pub with no hospitality experience, it’s not a stretch to believe that she’ll master the medium of spirits. “We’ve been practising smoking whisky which helps mellow it out and build the complexity, so the team are all across that now and we’re working on the perfect whisky sour for the cocktail menu.” In the coming weeks Sharanne will launch a menu of nibbles designed to complement the whiskies from around the world that they’ve sourced and stocked. “We’ll have cheese platters, cob with baked brie, oysters, and the whisky menu will show what they each pair with.” With the town embracing the new social space, Sharanne’s newfound enthusiasm for the brown stuff will take full flight next year when she and her sister head to Scotland and Ireland to tour the distilleries and really delve into what makes a great whisky, and she’s excited to bring her knowledge back and continue the journey with the people of Captain’s Flat. “It’s a fun experience; we’re headed to Scotland, we’ve joined the Whisky Club of Australia, and the locals are sharing their knowledge with us. One of our locals gave us a $360 bottle of whisky for the collection, and it’s now one of our feature whiskies.” 1938 is open Friday and Saturday night from 5:30 pm, or for the original country pub experience the Captain’s Flat Hotel is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 am until 10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am until 12 am and Sunday from 11 am until 7 pm. Original Article published by Tenele Conway on About Regional.

In pictures: King dons kilt and sips a dram of whisky as he attends Mey Highland Games Charles has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his grandmother, the late Queen Mother. The King sipped a dram of whisky as he attended the Mey Highland Games in the north of Scotland, where he saw a number of traditional sports. Listen to this article Wearing his traditional kilt, the King met spectators and competitors enjoying the Caithness event on Saturday. Charles has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his grandmother, the late Queen Mother. The King watched as athletes participated in the traditional tug o’ war, with a group of firefighters taking part. Charles shook hands with the group after they won the competition. Other groups to meet the King included the Wounded Highlanders, a team of injured military veterans who regularly take part in the adaptive competitions in the Mey Highland Games. Charles also saw the tossing of the caber – which involves entrants carrying a long and heavy tree trunk and throwing it in an attempt to turn it end over end. Read more: Prince Louis makes surprise appearance alongside William and Kate at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow Read more: Temperatures expected to cool for parts of UK with chilly start to weekend Troupes of Highland dancers and pipe bands also took part in the Highland Games. The Mey Highland Games takes place each year at the John O’Groats showground, traditionally on the first Saturday of August. The first Mey Games was held in the nearby village of Mey in 1970 to celebrate the late Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. As guest of honour on the day, she declared the event a success and encouraged its organisers to make it an annual event. The event has grown considerably since it was founded in 1970 and around 2,000 people can turn out for it. The King’s visit to the Mey Highland Games took place as his son William, who is known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, attended the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow along with his wife and children. Kate, the Duchess of Rothesay – along with Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George – joined spectators watching netball at the Hydro arena.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review. Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued. Both are sweet Johnnie Walker blends, but which one belongs in your glass? We compare Black Ruby’s jammy fruit against Gold Label Reserve’s honeyed silk. Ever dreamed of owning your own cask of Bruichladdich? Discover how it really works, what it costs, and the labelling rule that trips up nearly everyone. Can a Barolo cask elevate a Romanian single malt—or dry it out? Discover Carpathian’s honeyed red-fruit profile, spicy finish, and verdict.

Learn More About Your Whiskey's Quality By Paying Attention To The Finish Among the various elements that make up a great whiskey (or whisky), is, perhaps surprisingly, one that takes place after you've swallowed it. It's called the finish, and it refers to the aftertaste. After you've tasted the whiskey and it's gone down your throat, you may experience lingering flavors and sensations that are an important part of tasting a spirit and shouldn't be overlooked. Like other aspects of whiskey tasting, such as the spirits' appearance, nose (aroma), and the palate — that is, what it tastes like — the finish can be a rather subjective experience. But, in general, it's a fairly good indicator of a spirits' quality. What you're looking for when it comes to judging quality via the finish is its intensity, complexity, and length. If there's nearly no aftertaste or if there's an off note at the end, this might indicate a young or a less well-made spirit. If, on the other hand, you get similar flavors as those on the palate or, even better, new ones that pop up and linger for a minute or more, this tends to indicate a well-matured and thoughtfully made whiskey that deserves your attention. Read more: 8 Cuts Of Steak You Should Always Buy And 4 You Should Avoid A whiskey with a good finish doesn't have to be pricey While some bourbons that are renowned for a beautifully long finish, like Pappy Van Winkle 15, which can cost $2,000 on the secondary market (if you can find it), there are plenty of quality bourbons known for their outstanding finishes that won't drain your bank account. The award-winning Four Roses Single Barrel OBSV features a long, mellow finish with notes of rye spice, and will only set you back about $40. Advertisement Around the world, there's a long list of whiskies that offer wonderful finishes, along with other qualities of a great spirit. One Indian single malt, Indri Trini, renowned for its long and complex finish, comes in at around $50. Scotland's Glen Scotia Double Cask, from Campbelltown, also around $49, has a long, lovely finish as well. For Irish whiskey, Writer's Tears Copper Pot, at about $45, offers a lingering finish with oak spice. While whiskey with a long, complex finish may indicate a high quality spirit, it's not the end-all-be-all when it comes to a great dram. There are many wonderful spirits that have robust flavors on the palate and a shorter, clean finish. Still, paying attention to a whiskey's finish can provide you with hints to its quality as part of an overall assessment of its look, smell, and palate. And a good starting point if you're unfamiliar with the whiskey is to try it neat at a well-stocked bar or at a tasting. Want more food knowledge? Sign up to our free newsletter where we're helping thousands of foodies, like you, become culinary masters, one email at a time. You can also follow us or add us as a preferred search source on Google. Read the original article on Chowhound.

Bourbon is more than simply a drink in Kentucky. It’s a way of life. More than 95% of the world’s bourbon is produced in the Bluegrass State, with distilleries located everywhere from the rolling hills around Bardstown to the banks of the Ohio River. But for much of the last century, the state’s biggest city played no part in the bourbon tourism boom. In 2007, Louisville had just two bourbon distilleries, and neither welcomed visitors. But as interest in America’s only native spirit has grown, that number has exploded. Today, more than a dozen distilleries call Louisville home, and bourbon tourism is a major part of the Louisville experience. Walk down Whiskey Row, conveniently located in the heart of downtown, and you’ll find visitors from around the world lining up to taste rare releases, tour stillhouses and pick up a few souvenirs to bring home. But Louisville’s bourbon culture extends far beyond the tasting room. From behind-the-scenes distillery experiences and historical producers to food walking tours and bourbon-infused wellness treatments, here are eight experiences every bourbon lover should add to their Derby City itinerary. Dive Into Bourbon History If you plan just one stop, make it the Frazier Kentucky History Museum. The official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail provides a thorough overview of bourbon’s development, as well as explaining its prominent place in Kentucky’s rich history and culture. Bourbon’s origins are closely tied to Kentucky’s early settlers, who used the corn that grew abundantly in the region and learned to age it in charred American oak barrels. Dozens of museum exhibits trace the evolution of America’s native spirit from cheap frontier tipple to globally lauded drink, and enthusiasts can view hundreds of rare and historic bottles. For a more hands-on experience, you can also learn more about the history of Louisville’s official cocktail, the Old Fashioned, and make one that’s designed to tickle your taste buds on the Craft Your Own Cocktail Experience. Get a Taste of Tradition To get a sense of how bourbon’s long legacy has influenced the product we drink today, it makes sense to visit one of the oldest operating distilleries. Founded by a pharmaceutical salesman in 1870, Old Forester is the only bourbon brand that has been continuously sold before, during and after Prohibition. Unsurprisingly, the Whiskey Row distillery offers one of the most thorough overviews of bourbon production. The Old Forester Tour follows the distilling process from bubbling fermentation tanks to the towering copper still known as “Old Penny” and the all-important storage. Tours even take in a rare cooperage where barrels are made and charred before being filled with the precious liquid. Each tour concludes with a guided tasting of four whiskies made from the same mash bill, illustrating how maturation and proof can dramatically alter flavour. Fill Your Own Bottle Once you’ve tried several different bourbons and figured out what you like, it’s time to get serious. Buzzard’s Roost offers tastings, cocktails and education classes that take a deep dive into the science behind bourbon production and tasting. Step into the classroom and you can learn about the brand’s signature maturation process, which allows the bourbon to develop flavour in two separate barrels, as well as how toast and char levels affect the finished product. Or head to the back room to see how that knowledge is applied. The Straight From The Barrel Experience takes you behind the scenes to sample whiskey directly from ageing barrels before choosing your favourite. Then, using a traditional copper whiskey thief, you can fill and hand label a bottle for the ultimate souvenir. Sip on a Classic Cocktail Louisville’s long history as an important river trading port has blessed the downtown area with an embarrassment of eye-catching architecture. One of the most striking buildings is Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery, a gorgeous brick and cast iron building in the Romanesque style that dates to 1890. Guides on the distillery tours are more discreet than most. They jealously hold onto trade secrets and don’t release any of their mash bills, but the generous tastings include six different whiskies. Head upstairs and you’ll find an even more memorable experience at The Bar at Fort Nelson. This elegant cocktail bar has wonderful views over Whiskey Row and an even more impressive drinks list designed by cocktail historian David Wondrich. It’s worth reserving a seat, as the venue stays open later than most distillery bars, but once you arrive, the bartenders will happily guide you through a flight of hard-to-find pours, serve up a cocktail with a stamped ice cube or even measure out a shot of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash Whiskey if you have a spare $1,400. Taste Bourbon Beyond the Glass After a few tastings, you can expect to feel the warmth in your chest known as a “Kentucky hug”. That’s usually a good time to explore another side of Louisville’s bourbon culture. Fortunately, bourbon is so deeply ingrained into the city’s identity that you can now find plenty of experiences that don’t involve drinking at all. Located in the historic Butchertown district, Bourbon Barrel Foods’ slogan is “Eat Your Bourbon.” Owner Matt Jamie is a former chef who has been brewing his own soy sauce for two decades, using locally grown soybeans that are fermented for a year and stirred by hand every day before being aged in old bourbon barrels for a month. Broken staves go into a smoker to add flavour to spices and salts, and the product line includes everything from bourbon-smoked chilli powder and togarashi to caramels, cocktail cherries and bitters. You can taste the products on their own at the tour’s conclusion, but they’re best appreciated alongside a bento box packed with tuna, nori and a soft egg. Explore Louisville’s Up-and-Coming Food Scene Many visitors never make it beyond Whiskey Row, but head east and you’ll discover one of Louisville’s dining hotspots. The pedestrian-friendly NuLu neighbourhood has several conveniently located hotels and makes a great base for exploration, but the best way to learn about the area’s rich history is with an expert guide. Part tasting, part history lesson and part progressive dinner, NuLu Food Tours’ Beyond the Barrel walking tour brings the city’s rich history to life with tales of whiskey rebellions and bootleggers, stopping at some of the neighbourhood’s best venues along the way. The exact itinerary varies seasonally, but guests will usually have the chance to sip exclusive barrel picks in a hidden tasting room and visit an underground speakeasy where Kentucky’s rich bourbon culture feels alive and well. Because no visit to NuLu is complete without sampling the local restaurants, the tour guide also introduces guests to a range of forward-thinking pairings. These might include a barley-roasted Manhattan with black pepper and togarashi alongside modern Korean anju, or a modern take on a mint julep with a bourbon-smoked devilled egg and an Old Fashioned bread pudding. Get a Kentucky Glow On While none of the distilleries will let customers bathe in their product, at least not yet, one local operator offers the next best thing. If you need to unwind after your fill of barrel-strength pours, Bourbon & Blush offers a more restorative way to experience Louisville’s bourbon culture. Tucked into a lovingly restored historic building, the salon offers a wellness experience centred around Kentucky’s signature spirit. “The idea is to intoxicate your senses,” explains owner Melissa Jacobi, though she can also make you a mean Blush Bourbon cocktail if you’re not quite done drinking. Experiences like the Bluegrass Bourbon Body Scrub feature an exfoliating bourbon-infused sugar scrub, while the Bourbon Bliss range incorporates Kentucky’s finest spirit into body lotion, body butter and a three-in-one cleanser, scrub and moisturiser. If you’ve overindulged

It's been a good week for King Charles. Days after a new poll revealed that 68% of Brits believe King Charles III is doing a good job as monarch, the highest recorded by YouGov's tracker to date, the King's good mood continued as he attended the Mey Highland Games and was seen enjoying a dram of whisky. King's day out The King, wearing his traditional kilt, was full of smiles as he watched several Highland sports – including tug o’ war between a group of firefighters, the stone put, and the caber toss – and shook hands with competitors after the win. He met with local entrepreneurs selling their products and shook hands with competitors after the win, including members of the Wounded Highlanders – a team of injured military veterans who participate in the adaptive competitions. A dram of whiskey is a small, unmeasured serving of whiskey meant for sipping. What are the Mey Games? The first Mey Games was held in the nearby village of Mey in 1970 to celebrate the late Queen Mother’s 70th birthday. As the guest of honor, she declared the event a success and encouraged its organizers to make it an annual event. It now takes place each year at the John O’Groats showground on the first Saturday of August. Charles has close ties with Scotland – it is home to the family's beloved private Balmoral estate – and his consistent appearances help maintain his popularity rating. He has held the title of Chieftain at the Mey Highland Games since 2002, when he took it over from his grandmother. Family in Scotland While the King enjoyed the traditional Highland festivities, his son and daughter-in-law the Prince and Princess of Wales took on duties further south in Glasgow. Kate and William were joined by Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and eight-year-old Louis, who marked their first public appearance in Scotland to watch a tense netball match between the World’s No 1 team Australia and Birmingham 2022 silver medalists, Jamaica. They also attend a track cycling event with Sir Chris Hoy, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. While this isn't the first time Charlotte has attended the Commonwealth Games, 2026 marks the first year George and Louis have attended the tournament. The children are currently enjoying their summer break from school, and it's clear the family-of-five are making the most of their time together before George becomes a full-time boarder at Eton College, also situated in Windsor. It's the same school William and his brother, Prince Harry, attended, although Charles attended Gordonstoun School in Scotland, his father, Prince Philip's, alma mater.

Whiskey & Wiles hosts multiple author signings in partnership with Book Nook on Main Published 10:00 am Saturday, August 1, 2026 This last Saturday, an author signing set up by the Book Nook on Main and was hosted at Whiskey & Wiles. With 13 total authors attending, two vendors, a tattoo artist, and a coffee truck, the day held a wide variety of goods and genres. With over a thousand people showing up, it’s safe to say the event was well-attended. Opening at 11 am, many had already begun to line up outside. While many local authors did have limited stock, the main reason for the lines was the limited number of available spots for the pop-up tattoo artist, Autumn Dennis. Traveling in from Morehead, KY, Dennis participates in frequent pop-ups and is well adapted to working at similar events. For the author signing, Dennis offered a small variety of book-themed tattoos to those who were able to put their name on the sign-up sheet early enough. These tattoos included a few writer/reader pieces of art as well as simple stacked books. Although the tattoo list filled up only a few minutes after the event began, all of the book authors were signing and selling their merchandise throughout the entire day. One such author was H.K Laurin, the writer behind ‘Crowns of Resemblance’ and ‘Woven by Starlight’. H.K Laurin began writing as a child and continued to love it into adulthood. With her first book, ‘Crowns of Resemblance’, being published in 2022, the third book in the series is currently in the works and is expected to come out soon. The series follows a complicated tale of soulmates, with the first book leading to two main characters falling out of love and going into a 500-year war with one another. The second book serves as a prequel to the first and explains how the two became lovers in the first place and how things fell apart. Another author present was T.A. Cruz, a murder mystery and dark romance writer. First published in 2010, T.A. Cruz has continued writing since he had a dream when he was younger about becoming a famous author. To this day, he continues to chase that dream, working on more books with every year that passes. With books ranging from ‘Have You Seen Sarah Baker,’ a murder mystery about a young girl going missing, to ‘The Red Room,’ a werewolf dark romance, T.A. Cruz strives in the gritty world of mystery and horror. By the end of the day, most authors had sold out of their stock, with participants and eventgoers leaving with new books and even more new friends. The Book Nook on Main continues to hold smaller book signings at their main shop throughout the year, with even T.A. Cruz making another appearance soon.