the Whisky Friends

In this episode, we sample Heaven Hill Quality House bourbon. This bourbon is a wallet-friendly selection that isn't widely distributed from the Heaven Hill Distillery We couldn't find any official information from Heaven Hill on this particular offering. Our member was able to acquire this selection on the cheap, and from our tasting, it punches above its weight. Learn more about 'Heaven Hill Dis...

In this episode, we sample Blue Note Juke Joint Bourbon. Blue Note is crafted in Memphis and throws back to the Blue's that helped to make that city an icon. According to the website of Blue Note, "We offer six expressions of Blue Note, each having its own unique twist on a perfectly smooth straight bourbon whiskey.." Learn more about Blue Note Bourbon online at -  https://www.bluenotebourbon...

In this episode, we sample Thirteenth Colony Sour Mash And Southern Bourbon. This Georgia Distillery has the two bourbons and a rye that we've not had the opportunity to try yet. According to the website for Thirteenth Colony, "Georgia's original craft distillery. Producing award-winning spirits since 2009." Learn more about Thirteenth Colony Distilleries online at -  https://www.thirteenthco...

In this episode, we sample 'Smoke Wagon - Uncut - Unfiltered' as a group of 'friends'. This particular is from batch 127 which was produced near the end of 2021. J-Bones has several different batches and shares his thoughts about the differences he's experienced. According to the website for Smoke Wagon, "We took the same vintage blending philosophy that we used to create Small Batch, except this...

In this episode, we sample 'Tom's Town Pendergast's Royal Gold' as a group of 'friends'. The creation is according to the distillery named after Tom Pendergast, "the country’s most corrupt political boss." According to their website, "Tom Pendergast, procured the finest bourbon, bottled it, trademarked the brand name, and sold Royal Gold to a thirsty public." We think they have a fun marketing tea...

In this episode, we revisit Ozark Distillery and taste a creation that certainly caught our attention. The craftsmen at Ozark Distillery "took a barrel that had bourbon aged for 2 years and filled it with an imperial stout beer. That aged for 6 months. We then filled that barrel with the same bourbon distillate but of course, can't call it bourbon due to the used barrel. That aged for 50 months."...

In this episode, we fresh crack a bottle of '1792 Full Proof' as a group of 'friends'. We're not real serious in this episode, with the exception of how much we approve of the taste, and those amazing bottles the whiskey comes in. According to their website, "Bottled at its original 125 barrel entry proof, just as it was years ago when the barrels were first filled, 1792 Full Proof Bourbon is exce...

In this episode, we sample 'Rock Chalk Straight Rye Whiskey' in honor of the Kansas Jayhawks Nation Title. Our question is if this limited edition release was just all hype, or was it good juice? According to their website, "After 120 years, people still come to KU for the best in college basketball, and they come to us for the finest whiskey." Learn more about ' Rock Chalk Straight Rye Whiskey' o...

In this episode, we sample 'Jim Beam' from a 1976 decanter that was aged 100 months as a group of 'friends'. Will the juice inside this 45 plus year old decanter be any good? What will this taste like? According to their website, "The story of the Beam family is one of seven generations, more than 200 years, countless challenges and one goal; to make the best bourbon in the world." Learn more abou...

In this episode, we sample 'Peerless Bourbon' as a group of 'friends'. We'll discuss this reconstituted namesake and give our thoughts about the juice and how it stacks up compared to its peers. According to their website, "The first Peerless whiskey went into barrels in 1889. We've revived the craft in our own state-of-the-art distillery, where we use the finest ingredients." Learn more about 'Pe...

In this episode, we sample 'Barrell Seagrass' regular and 16-year offerings as a group of 'friends'. We'll find out if the high-end version is worth the extra money. According to their website, "Seagrass highlights the grassy oceanside notes we love in rye and the opulence and spice of finishing barrels." Learn more about 'Barrell Seagrass' online at -  https://www.barrellbourbon.com/seagrass...

In this episode, we sample 'Elijah Craig' single barrel as a group of 'friends' and will finish our trip around the world in a glass landing back in Kentucky, sampling a single barrel, barrel-proof offering. According to their website, " Our namesake is known as the Father of Bourbon, because he was the first to char oak barrels. That was just the beginning. Explore the many expressions of Elijah...

In this episode, we sample 'Hatozaki Finest Japanese Whisky' as a group of 'friends' and for some of this, it's our first taste of Japanese whisky. According to their website, "Elegant, smooth and easy to enjoy, our whisky enhances the pleasure of relaxing moments spent with friends, family, and loved ones. From the curious amateur to the local connoisseur," Learn more about 'Hatozaki' online at -...

In this episode, we sample 'Port Charlotte 10' as a group of 'friends' and continue our sampling of whisky from around the world, and in this case, back to Scotland. According to their website, "This Port Charlotte 10 year old has been conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay alone. We are a young team with deep-rooted values, and an ambition to make the ultimate “Islay” Islay whisky." L...

In this episode, we sample 'Glenmorangie 10 Year Scotch' as a group of 'friends' and continue our sampling of whisky from around the world, and in this case, back to Scotland. According to their website, "First released more than 175 years ago by our founders, the original Glenmorangie 10 year old was known for its mellow tones and delicacy of flavour. All these years later, The Original remains a...

In this episode, we sample 'Arran 10 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky' as a group of 'friends' and share our thoughts on this classic from Scotland. According to their website, "Our classic Arran 10-Year-Old Single Malt encompasses the unique taste of the beautiful island we call home and is one of the best single malt whiskies Scotland has to offer." Learn more about 'Arran' online at - https://www...

In this episode, we sample 'Paul John Single Malt Whisky' as a group of 'friends' and share our thoughts on this offering from the west coast of India. According to their website, "Established in 1996, John Distilleries grew to be a leading spirit company within less than a decade, not just in India but across the globe." Learn more about 'Paul John Single Malt Whisky' online at - https://pauljohn...

We sample and blind taste three different 10-year age stated bourbons, and give our thoughts about them. Are you surprised? I know we were with some of them.  Would you have chosen something different? Sample #1 - Eagle Rare Sample #2 - McKenna 10 Sample #3 - Russell's Reserve 10 Sample #4 - Michter's 10 Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/ Music by Adam Whitehead - https://w...

In this episode, we sample 'Ardbeg Blaaack' as a group of 'friends' and share their thoughts on this very limited release. This release was curated and then aged in pinot noir casks from New Zealand. It's no longer available on the shelf, but we were lucky to have a "friend" with some limited quantity still. Learn more about 'Ardbeg Blaaack' online at - https://thewhiskeywash.com/reviews/whisky-re...

Recorded March 6th, 2022 In this episode, we blind taste four different New Riff bottles. A standard New Riff, a local barrel pick, an ADHD Whiskey pick, and a master distillers pick.  It's a close call on who wins out. Visit New Riff online at - https://www.newriffdistilling.com/ Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/ Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhit...

In this episode, we share a couple of tastings 'Penelope Corn Select' and  'Caribou Crossing' as we begin a series of tastings from around the world. Penelope Barrel Strength Corn Select came to us at 57.1 ABV while the Caribou Crossing Single Barrel was 40%. Visit Penelope Bourbon online at - https://shop.penelopebourbon.com/collections/bourbon/products/private-select Visit Caribou Crossing...

In this episode, we taste 'Ardbeg Corryvreckan' as a group of 'friends' share their impressions of this heavily peated Scotch. Join us as we sample this non-chill-filtered at 57.1% ABV peaty monster. Visit Ardbeg online at - https://www.ardbeg.com/en-US/whisky/ultimate-range/corryvreckan Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/ Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwh...

In this episode, we taste 'Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Cask Strength' as a group of 'friends' share their impressions of this Scotch. Join us as we dive into this Islay single malt that is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for 10 years. Visit Glenturret online at - https://www.theglenturret.com/whisky/core-range/aged-10-years-peat-smoked Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/ Music by Adam Wh...

In this episode, we head to the Sunshine State and the oldest city in America, St. Augustine. We'll share our thoughts on the micro-distillery's bourbon, and maybe wish we had some of that warm Florida sunshine here in Iowa on a cold and snowy winter day. Visit St. Augustine Distillery - https://www.staugustinedistillery.com/florida-straight-bourbon Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends...

In this episode, we taste 'Lagavulin Natural Cask Strength 12-Year-Old Single Malt ' as a group of 'friends' share their impressions of this Scotch. Join us as we dive into this sweet, smokey 10-year-old for a sample. Learn more about Lagavulin online at - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagavulin_distillery Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/ Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www....