My FedEx and UPS delivery drivers continue to think I’m the laziest drinker ever as they make me sign for several bottle deliveries a week. They think I don’t even go to the trouble of driving to the liquor store. What they likely don't realize is that I didn’t order any of these bottles, and often there is only a small 100-milliliter sample bottle inside the sloshing package.
This isn’t to say that I don’t appreciate the chance to try so many new things, but I am getting a little behind on my review shelf, so here are some quickie reviews for your consideration.
Jack Daniel’s Special-Release Small-Batch Rye
I was slightly hesitant to include this small release, because it is only available in small quantities at the White Rabbit bottle shop at the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Lynchburg, but it is pretty remarkable. Maybe you’ll find yourself in the neighborhood sometime with $64.99 burning a hole in your pocket.
This release is part of master distiller Chris Fletcher’s series of special bottlings to show off the particular qualities of some of Jack Daniel’s individual rickhouses. Following the iconic high-proof Coy Hill and Tanyard Hill releases, these particular rye barrels have spent about a decade in repose in warehouses on Coy Hill and Boiler Hill and in an area they call the Fire Brigade Fields. In total, five batches of barrels will be released, ranging in proof between 142.7 and 146.1.
The sample I tried was at the low end of that very high alcohol level range and came from Boiler Hill. The high alcohol content and extra time in oak leeched a lot of color and oakiness from the barrels, and the nose exhibited an unusual black pepper note. There was also a nice dark chocolate and cherry character that came across on the nose and palate that I quite enjoyed. It’s not a delicate whiskey, but it is still approachable and enjoyable because of the sweetness that complements the big, bold flavors.
Barrel Craft Spirits Cigar Blend Bourbon
“Cigar blend whiskeys” have been around for a while — special concoctions designed to pair well with a stogie. Usually a blend of whiskeys will be finished in different types of casks to add new flavors and complexity to the end product. Often these casks previously held Armagnac, Cognac, sherry or wine, which can contribute savory and nutty flavors to pair with the tobacco.
The master blenders at Barrel Craft Spirits have put out some of my favorite whiskeys over the past few years, so when I heard they had created a Cigar Blend, I had to check it out. Retailing at around $85, this bourbon is a blend of several different lots of whiskey aged between seven-and-a-half and 18 years. That blend was divided up for finishing between Madeira, Armagnac, rum and Hungarian oak casks before final bottling.
The brandy casks contributed a lot to the end product, especially the unexpected Grape Nehi aroma on the nose. That was a pleasant surprise but faded quickly as cinnamon and vanilla became the most prominent aromas and flavors, kind of like a cream soda. Paired with a nice cigar, fruit notes complement the tobacco nicely with cherry and raisins acting as a good companion to the smoke. If you like a good cigar, a glass of this and a back porch are all you need for a great night!
Sweetens Cove Father’s Finish
The mad scientists behind Sweetens Cove Spirits are at it again. They have previously released a blend of Kentucky bourbon and Tennessee whiskey under their “Kennessee” label, and now they’ve come up with something similar as a special release in advance of Father’s Day. Father’s Finish is intended to be the first in a series of annual experimental small-run whiskeys.
The 2026 First Release is a blend of aged Kentucky and Tennessee bourbon, both finished in cuvée wine barrels. Bottled at 98 proof, this is a fantastic offering from Sweetens, especially if you like dark fruits like plums and cherries that are all over the palate of this whiskey, thanks to those juice wine barrels. The finish is quite long and complex, and I imagine there are plenty of dads who would appreciate a bottle of this for Father’s Day. There’s even a magnetic Sweetens Cove ball marker embedded in the cap, so it’s two gifts for the price of one for dad. And that price should be about $65.
JB Kirk Bourbon Whiskey
This is a fun (albeit a little odd) story. JB Kirk was a notorious whiskey distiller and merchant back in the 1800s operating out of Woodbury, Tenn. He grew the corn, milled the grain and produced what was reportedly a pretty damn fine whiskey on his property, and he apparently operated right on the margins of legality with a lot of his business practices. So he spent a lot of time in the courts and ended up getting a pardon from the governor.
Although the distillery never came back after Prohibition, generations later two of his great-grandsons have revived the family legacy with a new release of JB Kirk Bourbon Whiskey. Preferring to keep their ancestor in the spotlight, the two cousins are staying out of the media, but they do share that their whiskey is still made with Tennessee products and made in the state.
And I've gotta say, it’s an objectively delicious bottle of bourbon! Bottled at 90 proof, this small-batch whiskey isn’t super complex, but the balance of sweet caramel and vanilla is quite nice, and the alcohol level is high enough to make it appropriate for home mixology uses. Or just enjoy it with Coke or ginger ale. At $42.99, it’s fairly priced for a small-batch product, and I like to support small family businesses when I can.
The only potential problem I see is that there is already a JD Kirk Scotch whiskey that is a vanity project of a children’s author, and a James T. Kirk Straight Bourbon Whiskey created for Star Trek fans. Just don’t get them confused!
Blue Note Wheated Bourbon 101
First, a quick definition. Wheated bourbon is not the same thing as a wheat whiskey. Wheated bourbons have to, by law, contain at least 51 percent corn in their mash bill, and they usually substitute wheat instead of rye as one of the other components of the recipe as a “flavor grain.” Some people call these “wheaters,” and people who love them really love them. Famous wheaters include Weller, Pappy van Winkle and Maker’s Mark. Actual wheat whiskeys are rarer, and they must have at least 51 percent wheat in their mash bills.
To understand the difference between what wheat contributes to the flavor as opposed to corn or rye, just think about the subtle sweetness of a Wheat Thin cracker as opposed to the buttery sweet flavor of corn bread or the sharp spice of rye bread.
Memphis-based B.R. Distilling, the parent company of the excellent Blue Note line of whiskeys, has launched a new expression, a small-batch wheated bourbon blend. B.R. likes to say they add a little “Memphis magic” to products that they source, blend and age in the Bluff City. I surmised the source of this particular wheater almost immediately when I recognized the mash bill of 70 percent corn, 21 percent wheat and 9 percent barley.
I’m on record as saying I don’t care where the actual chemical reaction takes place when you’re converting grains into ethanol; I only care that you do it well. And the distillery where I suspect this wheater came from already makes great juice. But darned if B.R. didn’t improve on it again. Bottled at 101 proof and unfiltered, Blue Note has a wonderful mouthfeel sipped straight from a snifter. The soft winter wheat adds a different kind of sweetness and complexity to the majority corn, and there’s a gentle “breadiness” to the aroma and palate that I quite enjoyed. I also detected a hint of one of my favorite snack treats as a kid, Honey Maid Cinnamon Graham Crackers, so this was a delightful flashback for me. It’s a smaller release than other Blue Note products, but at $45 a bottle, I’m planning to track down a few extras.
Cheers!
