Industry is no longer the most underappreciated gem on TV. Clearly, we are big fans of the HBO show after wondering whether the “financial drama” (an oversimplified label for sure) is more addictive thanSuccession and calling the game-changing finale evidence of the best show on TV right now.
On a more collective audience note, the show’s third season exploded its ratings records on a nearly weekly basis while also imploding several characters’ little worlds in the third season finale. Yep, Industry is prestige TV that doesn’t skimp on the soap operatics, and it’s working, so although that third season finale could have functioned as a series finale, too, we will fortunately see more Industry. Let’s hedge our bets on the fourth season.
Cast
HBO is staying (officially) mum on this topic for now, but we will likely see the usual suspects again, including Myha’la ^^^ as Harper Stern (now alongside Roger Barclay as Otto Mostyn), Marisa Abela as Yasmin Kara-Hanani (soon to be “Thoroughly Modern Lady Muck”), Sagar Radia as Rishi Ramdani, and Ken Leung as Eric (god knows where and whether he will still be working).
HBO
Kit Harington’s return as Sir Henry Muck feels guaranteed, especially since we need to see whether he and Yasmin can survive each other as spouses.
HBO
Then there would be the ambiguity of whether Harry Lawtey will return as Rob Spearing, whose pure heart is now stateside and working for Little Labs, which likely puts him in the Silicon Valley zone for the foreseeable future.
HBO
We, of course, could go on forever discussing other characters and whether they will be back, but for now, it’s worth noting that Jay Duplass’s Jesse Bloom has now emerged from prison, so stay tuned there, and what of David Jonsson as Gus? He’s been occupied with a Xenomorph problem (and a busy movie career), but we’ll be waiting to hear differently.
Plot
To be perfectly blunt, HBO hasn’t disclosed a synopsis, which almost 100% does not exist yet, and it has only been about a month since Industry was officially renewed (the week prior to the third season finale). However, co-creators Konrad Kay and Mickey Down opened up the writers’ room, as Down revealed (via Instagram) as of October 16. And clearly, everything changed in the blink of an eye with Pierpoint & Co.’s erasure and Eric leaving as an impossibly wealthy free agent, not by a situation of his choosing.
The future is wide open, so to speak, with ex-colleagues Harper, Rob, Yas, and Eric all heading in different directions. Sure, Harper and Yas have semi-patched up their riff with Yas apparently setting out for a life of British nobility, and Harper will move into “forensic accounting and corporate espionage,” which will feed her need for a consistently volatile environment.
And with everybody’s metaphorical balls up in the air, creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay did speak with GQ to field a question about whether the series (with multiple characters heading stateside or at least thinking about it) has a future in America. Heck, Harper expressed interest in working from New York, but here’s how Down answered:
“It’s very hard to answer that. I mean without giving it too much away. It’s an American-effected show because we grew up watching those shows and obviously it follows several American characters. There is something about London and, especially in the last season, our exploration of London, and in particular London high society, which I think is unique to this show and I would hate to lose. And I think there are other shows that have done similar things in the US, but there is nothing in the UK which feels real and authentic and is actually giving you a sort of a firsthand, I would say, insight into that world. And I think that’s probably what you do for season four.”
Obviously, that’s clear as mud and intentionally so, but the seeds exist.
Release Date
The second and third seasons both premiered in August, two years apart, so if the timeline stays consistent, we can bet on August 2026 at the latest. It that too long to wait for a premium cable series without CGI dragons? Arguably, but perhaps a strike-free Hollywood will bring these characters back sooner.
Trailer
In light of where Eric wound up the last time we saw him, it’s worth a look back at how good Ken Leung is at methodically losing his sh*t.
(WARNING: Spoilers for Shrinking will be found below.)
Shrinkingseason two is in full swing and there are a few things that we’ve learned in the new season’s first two episodes. Sean is no longer a client of Jimmy’s after Paul steps in after Jimmy’s “jimmying” goes a bit too far with Grace. Gaby still has some feelings for Jimmy, but Liz wants her to get over it. Jimmy is starting to spiral a bit, and despite pleas from his daughter Alice for him to communicate better with her, Jimmy continues to play like everything is okay, even though it’s obvious to everyone that it’s not. Lastly, Paul admits that he loves Julie. Great start to the season if you ask me.
Here’s when you can expect another episode:
When Does Shrinking Season 2, Episode 3 Come Out?
The third episode in Shrinkingseason two, titled “Psychological Something-ism” will arrive on October 2. The episode will be available on Wednesday, 10/23 on Apple TV+ starting at 3am EST/12am PST. The synopsis for “Psychological Something-ism” can be found below:
Jimmy and Brian help Grace deal with unexpected news. Paul and Julie face her past. Liz worries she’s come between Sean and his dad.
You can check out some highlight clips from the first two episodes from Shrinking episodes one and two below:
There are few beer styles more complicated than the West Coast IPA. This divisive style is beloved by its fans and loathed by its haters. Often hopped (and dry-hopped)with iconic hop varieties like Cascade, Simcoe, Chinook, Citra, and Centennial, it’s well known for its high (sometimes over-the-top) hop bitterness, dank pine, tropical fruit, citrus aromas and flavors, and dry finish. If you love it, you enjoy it for its balanced resinous, fruity, and bitter flavors.
Like with any style, there are a handful of classic West Coast IPAs that need to be imbibed to truly grasp the complexity of the style. Some are OGs from the 90s and others are more contemporary. All are West Coast bangers that deserve a permanent spot in your beer refrigerator.
To help you on your West Coast journey, we did the work for you. We found ten of the most balanced, flavorful, dynamic West Coast IPAs that you need to try if you consider yourself a connoisseur of the style. Did we rank them? You’d better believe it!
There are few West Coast IPAs more well-known than Ballast Point Sculpin. This year-round 7% ABV brew gets its name because of the well-balanced citrus and tropical fruit palate with a bitter, hoppy sting reminiscent of the Sculpin fish.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, you’ll find aromas of caramel malts, candied orange peels, grapefruit, and floral, piney hops.
Palate: A balanced palate of tangerine, grapefruit juice, pineapple, caramel malts, and dank, resinous pine greet you on the palate.
Finish: This beer finishes with a final hint of citrus and a bitter, prickly kick of piney hops.
Bottom Line:
There’s a reason this beer is one of the most popular West Coast IPAs. It’s a great balanced of malts, citrus, and stinging pine.
This iconic West Coast IPA was brewed with English Crystal, Caramel, and Munich Malts. It’s hopped with a smattering of Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook hops. The result is a balanced, malt-forward IPA with a ton of floral, piney, hop bitterness to temper everything.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is a mix of orchard fruits, orange peels, cracked black pepper, caramel malts, and floral, dank pine.
Palate: Sipping it reveals hints of ripe berries, lemon peels, caramelized pineapple, grapefruit, and bitter, resinous pine needles.
Finish: The finish is a great mix of caramel malts, tropical fruits, and bitter, hoppy pine.
Bottom Line:
Lagunitas has managed to make a balanced, complex IPA that deserves its place among the essential West Coast IPA list.
This award-winning West Coast IPA begins with a malty base of malted barley, wheat, and Crystal malts. But you’re here for the hops. This beer features a mix of Columbus and Cascade hops known for their aromatic, flavorful mix of floral and pine notes.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Before your first sip, you’ll be greeted with aromas of bready, caramel malts, tangerine, lemongrass, and dank pine.
Palate: There more of the same on the palate in the best way possible. It starts with a nice caramel malt backbone before moving into tangerine, lemon peels, wet grass, grapefruit, and resinous, sticky pine.
Finish: The finish is bitter and piney but has a nice caramel sweetness as well.
Bottom Line:
This is as classic as West Coast IPAs get. It has a nice malt backbone and a fair amount of tropical fruit flavors, but it’s the bitter, sticky, dank pine that’s the star of the show.
Stone IPA is one of the most award-winning, best-selling West Coast IPAs for a reason. First brewed in 1997, this beloved IPA gets its balanced, malty, citrus, and pine-driven flavor profile from the use of select malts and Magnum, Chinook, Centennial, Azacca, Calypso, Ella, and Vic Secret hops.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: An aromatic nose of lemon peels, orange zest, grapefruit, caramel malts, and resinous, floral pine starts everything off on the right foot.
Palate: The palate is a symphony of sweet caramel malts, tangerines, pineapple, grapefruit, lemongrass, and floral, dank pine.
Finish: The last sip is a mix of grapefruit, lemon zest, pine needles, and memorable, pleasing hop bitterness.
Bottom Line:
The use of so many different hop varieties means that you’ll find different aromas and flavors every time you drink this beloved beer.
This 7.25% ABV, year-round offering is one of the highest rated West Coast IPAs ever made. It’s well-known for its mix of sweet malts, citrus fruits, tropical fruits, and pine thanks to the liberal use of Columbus and Citra hops.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Before your first sip, you’ll be greeted with scents of bready malts, lemongrass, ripe peaches, candied orange peels, and herbal, dank pine.
Palate: Drinking it brings forth notes of bready, sweet malts as well as grapefruit, caramelized pineapple, orchard fruits, pepper, tangerines, and herbal, prickly pine needles.
Finish: The finish is a gentle mix of citrus sweetness and a healthy kick of bitter, dank, memorable pine.
Bottom Line:
If you enjoy balanced West Coast IPAs, Alesmith is for you. Malts, citrus, and bitter pine, it has everything West Coast IPA drinkers love.
If you’re an IPA fan, you probably know all about the pine-fueled prowess of San Diego’s Green Flash. Brewed with British Crystal malt as well as Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial, Citra, and Cascade hops, it’s known for its mix of caramel malts, citrus, tropical fruits, and herbal, earthy pine.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Nosing this beer reveals aromas of tangerines, lemon peels fresh cut grass, sweet malts, grapefruit, pineapple, and pine needles.
Palate: The palate is a mix of toasted, caramel malts, grapefruit juice, lemon, candied orange peels, mango, pepper, and sticky pine.
Finish: The finish is a mix of citrus peels, tropical fruits, and herbal, earthy, bitter hops.
Bottom Line:
If you’re a West Coast IPA purist, you’ll love the balance and hop bitterness of this popular beer.
Russian River might be more famous for its “Pliny” beers, but if you want to true West Coast classic, you’ll get a bottle of Russian River Blind Pig. Known for its balanced, full-bodied flavor, it’s hopped with Willamette, Cascade, and Magnum hops.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is very citrus-forward with a ton of orange zest, lemon peels, and grapefruit as well as fresh, earthy pine.
Palate: Complex flavors of sweet malts, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon peels, candied orange peels, pepper, and dank pine make for a memorable palate.
Finish: There’s a ton of balance with this beer, with the finish being gently hoppy and pleasantly bitter.
Bottom Line:
This is one for the citrus fans. If you prefer your beer to have classic citrus and bitter pine-forward flavors, this is your jam.
If you’ve never tried a beer from San Diego’s Societe, we suggest starting with its award-winning Societe The Pupil. This highly-rated West Coast IPA is brewed with Nelson Sauvin, Citra, and Centennial hops. The result is a tropical, citrus, and pine-filled IPA you’ll go back to again and again.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: There’s a major tropical element to this beer’s nose. There’s mango, guava, caramelized pineapple, as well as bright citrus, and pine needles.
Palate: The palate continues this trend with gentle bready malts followed by guava, wheat, mango, pineapple, grapefruit, lemongrass, pepper, and dank pine.
Finish: It all ends with a mix of sweet malts, pineapple, citrus peels, and bitter, dank pine.
Bottom Line:
This is a beer for the tropical fruit fans. It ticks all the West Coast IPA boxes with the addition of tropical fruit flavors more often found in hazy IPAs.
Firestone Walker is a big name in the IPA game and its Union Jack IPA is one of the best. This popular 7% ABV beer is brewed with 2-row, Munich, and Crystal Light malts. It’s kettle hopped with CTZ, Cascade, and Centennial hops and dry-hopped with Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Citra, Amarillo, and Chinook hops.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A lot is going on with this beer’s nose. It’s a mix of caramel, pineapple, mango, candied orange peels, grapefruit, and pine.
Palate: A balanced palate of sweet malts starts everything out right. This is followed by notes of pineapple, guava, grapefruit, wet grass, and resinous, earthy pine needles.
Finish: The finish is loaded with citrus. It’s bitter, dry, and leaves you craving more.
Bottom Line:
There’s a reason Firestone Walker Union Jack is so well regarded. It’s just an all-around exceptional take on the West Coast style.
There’s a chance that even if you’ve tried most of the other beers on this list, you haven’t tried Alpine Duet and that’s a shame. This 7% ABV West Coast IPA, featuring Amarillo and Simcoe hops is known for its balanced mix of malts, citrus, and pine.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: On the nose, you’ll find aromas of biscuit malts, candied orange peels, ripe peach, caramelized pineapple, and dank pine.
Palate: Sipping it reveals a mixture of malt sweetness, grapefruit, tangerine, apricot, ripe pineapple, fresh cut grass, and earthy pine.
Finish: The finish is citrusy, piney, bitter, and dry. Just the way you want to finish a West Coast IPA.
Bottom Line:
If you only drink one beer on this list, make it this beer. This duet of Amarillo and Simcoe hops is as good as West Coast IPAs get.
In case you’re not up to date on trends that are specific to Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s Sweat tour, one of the show’s popular elements is the “Apple” Dance Cam. It involves a specific audience member being featured on the in-arena Dance Cam as they perform the viral dance to Charli’sBrat song “Apple.” Well, one recent Dance Cam moment has generated some attention online.
It happened at one of Charli’s recently Los Angeles shows, and it involved Brittany Brokski (as Daily Dot notes). For the uninitiated, Broski is an influencer who came to viral fame in 2019, over her back-and-forth reaction to trying kombucha for the first time. Well, Broski and some friends were featured on the Dance Cam in San Francisco, but in a video that has now gone viral, a man pushes Broski out of the way in order to be featured on camera himself.
Word of the incident has clearly made its way back to Charli, who seemingly referenced it while performing in San Francisco on October 20, when she said, “You don’t wanna be like that guy in LA on the internet.”
Also unimpressed was Dionne Warwick: She reacted to the video of Broski getting shoved, writing on X (formerly Twitter), “Now this is just crazy. Security!”
(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent Love Is Blind episode will be found below.)
It all comes down to this! The remaining couples on Netflix’sLove Is Blind have reached their respective wedding days and have one question to answer before their time on the series is up (for the most part). It’s wedding day for the final episode of Love Is Blind season 7, and in just a couple of days, we’ll see who can prove that love is indeed blind. The remaining couples are Taylor & Garrett, Ashley & Tyler, and Marissa & Ramses with previous couples Hannah & Nick, Alexandra & Tim, Monica & Stephen, and Brittany & Leo failing to make it to the altar without their relationship falling apart.
Here’s when you can watch the final episode of this season’s Love Is Blind:
When Do Love Is Blind Season 7, Episode 12 Come Out?
The final episode in Love Is Blind season seven available to stream on Netflix on October 23 at 3am EST/12 am PST. This follows a weekly release schedule that began with episodes 1-6 premiering on Netflix back on October 2 as viewers watched this season’s couples fall in love in the pods, propose, and enjoy a honeymoon together. Next came episodes 6, 7, and 8 (released on October 9) which followed the couples back home to their regular lives where’d they go on to meet each others’ family and friends. Last week’s episode release, episodes 10 and 11, saw some relationships end while others prepared for wedding day. Now, for the season finale, we’ll see which couples will say “I do” to each other.
That won’t be all for Love Is Blind season 7 though, as next week Netflix will air a reunion episode with many of the cast members coming back together for the first time in a year.
‘Love Is Blind’ season 7 is now streaming on Netflix. Episodes 1-11 are out now.
Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.
While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.
Porridge Radio – Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me
A common fixture of Porridge Radio’s music is repetition. “Thank you for making me happy,” Dana Margolin sings over and over again at the end of 2020’s “Born Confused.” “Lock all the windows and shut all the doors / And get into the house, and lie down on the cold, hard floor,” go the recurring lyrics in 2022’s “Back To The Radio.” For the Brighton post-punk group’s fourth album, Margolin ends matters on an uncharacteristically hopeful note: “I’m sick of the blues / I’m in love with my life again.” Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me, through this lens, is a document of resilience, a real-time realization of the constants in your life that keep you afloat.
Kelly Lee Owens – Dreamstate
A Kelly Lee Owens track sounds like a dream. Enveloping synths stand in for the diaphanous imagery, and clubby house drums ground it in the reality your brain pulls those dreams from. Fittingly, the Welsh electronic producer’s fourth record, Dreamstate, is both her haziest and most tactile work to date. Many of its songs, such as “Time To” and “Love You Got,” prominently feature Owens’ vocals, usually a rarity in her catalog. Her featherlight voice augments the surreal qualities of her music. Unlike a dream, however, Owens’ latest record is something that won’t be forgotten.
Japandroids – Fate & Alcohol
The fourth and final Japandroids album has arrived. Fate & Alcohol is a bittersweet record that almost didn’t even exist, but it demarcates a closing chapter on a storied indie rock duo. Even though guitarist-vocalist Brian King and drummer David Prowse rarely talk these days, Japandroids captured male friendship in a way that felt corny, yes, but also touching. That spirit is here on their last outing. Anthemic choruses, soaring hooks, and cathartic singalongs are all here. To put it another way, the dudes rock.
Panda Bear – “Defense”
Animal Collective have been on a wild run recently. They’ve released Time Skiffs and Isn’t It Now? — two of the best records of their career — and celebrated their history with a reissue of their debut plus a live version of their seminal 2004 record Sung Tongs. On his own, however, Noah Lennox (AKA Panda Bear) has largely been content with one-off collaborations, including everyone from Sonic Boom to Braxe + Falcon. Now, he’s coming back with Sinister Grift, his first solo record since 2019, in February. “Defense,” its lead single, still finds Panda Bear in collaboration mode, though. Featuring Cindy Lee, who was just on a hot streak of their own with Diamond Jubilee, “Defense” brings Lennox to the foreground once again. “Here I come,” he sings in the song’s denouement, not a portentous warning so much as an assured promise.
Anxious – “Counting Sheep”
Contrary to Anxious’ statement, Anxious are not breaking up. After teasing a hiatus on the site formerly known as Twitter, the Connecticut emo outfit announced their second album, Bambi, a self-described “big swing” record in the vein of Blink-182’s self-titled (or untitled) album and Jimmy Eat World’s Clarity. If “Counting Sheep,” its lead single, is any indication, then they’re pretty much on the money. The five-piece retains the hardcore at their core while injecting it with an explosive poppiness. On their latest song, Anxious do indeed take a big swing. They don’t miss.
Dazy – “It’s Only A Secret”
James Goodson’s influences range far and wide. Taking equal cues from Britpop and Dookie, Goodson packs punk’s serrated edge into power-pop’s melodic mannerisms. As Dazy, the Richmond musician achieved that on his 2022 debut album, OUTOFBODY, and he has refined that recombinant approach for his new single, “It’s Only A Secret.” Featuring MSPAINT barker Deedee, Goodson condenses his entire ethos into a succinct two minutes and 45 seconds. Deedee’s pugnacious snarls accentuate the chorus’ earworm, the final result straddling the line perfectly between hardcore and jangle-pop. On his new tune, Dazy keeps their potent formula a secret.
Sorry – “Waxwing”
The last time we heard from London indie rockers Sorry, it was for their excellent 2022 album, Anywhere But Here. They’re now back with a one-off single, “Waxwing,” which interpolates Toni Basil’s ubiquitous “Mickey” for a brooding slow-burn that replaces that song’s carefree ebullience with harrowing synth stabs. Compared to Charli XCX’s shiny interpolation from last year’s Barbie, Sorry’s take on the song is its evil cousin, and I mean that as the highest form of praise.
Drop Nineteens – “Daymom”
Drop Nineteens are not dropping anything. As shoegaze looms ever larger in the cultural consciousness, the Boston shoegazers’ 2023 comeback album, Hard Light, marked an auspicious return. They weren’t done there, though. Earlier this year, they reissued their classic 1992 album Delaware, and now they’re on the cusp of sharing their never-before-released 1991 LP. Simply titled 1991, the album has been transformed from an open-secret bootleg, known among fans as Mayfield (1991), into an official chapter in Drop Nineteens’ discography. Lead single “Daymom” is a six-minute swirl of gauzy guitars, gossamer vocals, and blissful reverie. It begs the question: If the material is this good, why’d it have to live in the vault? It seems the group are finally asking themselves that question, too.
FKA Twigs – “Perfect Stranger”
Only someone like FKA Twigs could bring Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Yves Tumor together. In the music video for her new single, “Perfect Stranger,” the Fleabag star and experimental glam musician each take a turn playing Twigs’ paramour. Throughout the video, Twigs assumes different roles in various relationships. It’s a tidy metaphor for how Twigs approaches her music; “Perfect Stranger” is one of her poppiest tracks yet, one that sits comfortably alongside more outré fare like “Thousand Eyes” and “Water Me.” In both presentation and execution, “Perfect Stranger” showcases the plurality of its creator.
The Head And The Heart – “Arrow”
Pop-folk staples the Head And The Heart have returned with “Arrow,” their first release on new label home Verve Forecast and their first new material since 2022’s Every Shade Of Blue. After going to Richmond for a reset, they re-emerged with the self-produced one-off single “Arrow,” which vocalist-guitarist Jonathan Russell describes as a song about “providing yourself with confidence when you’re out there in the dark.”
Not all electronic producers are built the same. If there’s anyone who can attest to this statement, it’s award-winning artist and producer Ben Böhmer, and this includes how he approaches his global travels.
Fresh off several major performances, including festivals such as Sonar by Night and a closing set at Lollapalooza, and serving as direct support for ODESZA’s finale at The Gorge and Madison Square Garden, Böhmer isn’t slowing down. For the rest of the year, he’ll round out his airline miles with tour stops in Australia and Europe to perform his latest third studio album Bloom.
The 11-track LP is a confident reassertion of Böhmer’s improvisational origins as a songwriter, bringing his innate skill and passion for songwriting and composing to the foreground. Bloom is bursting with raw and emotive electronica melodies that explore new genres and tempos. From the very first piano notes of the introductory track “Martin,” Ben’s melodies are the stars of the show, whether in orbit with vocals by The Blaze’s Enfant Sauvage on “Evermore” or rooted by grounding dancefloor rhythms on “Rust.”
Meanwhile, “The Sun” perfectly encapsulates the feeling of rebirth throughout Bloom. Featuring alt/dance-pop duo Oh Wonder’s Josephine Vander West, Ben toes the line between his established sound and his sophisticated instincts as a composer.
As he sets off on the second leg of his tour, we sat down to chat with Böhmer on his travel essentials, how he beats jet lag no matter the circumstances, his favorite cities to run in, and more.
Let’s talk about your global travels. You’re coming off a huge summer season of festivals and are about to embark on sold-out shows in Australia and in Europe. I see you were also just in the Dolomites. What’s one thing you consider necessary to take on tour that a lot of people might find odd/not agree with?
There’s one thing that I rarely see—slippers on the plane. I like bringing my own shoes that I wear inside my house. It’s really just a comfort thing that might be very unusual, but I like to bring them on the plane.
NATHAN D
What are your travel essentials?
I always travel with a small keyboard, so whenever there’s an idea, I can still play around and compose. Headphones, of course, so I can work while on tour and listen to music in good quality. I always like using biodynamic headphones, those big ones that fit over your ears and they’re comfortable. They sound great. On the plane though I use Bluetooth headphones with a noise-cancelling function.
I also love to run in cities or areas which I’ve never seen before. Especially in America, I wake up often pretty early because of the jet lag and the time zone difference, so I always have running shoes with me everywhere I go. It’s always something magical having a run during sunrise when there are no humans or no big city life going on. It keeps the balance, staying active on tour. It took me years to figure out how to combat jet lag in a really good way. Exercising in the sunlight and in nature is the best thing that works for jet lag.
The best thing to do after a long flight or when you’re traveling for 20-plus hours is just take a shower and go in the woods or the park and just walk around until the sun goes down.
NATHAN D
What’s one city in the U.S. that you absolutely love to run in?
I recently played a show in Aspen, and that’s probably one of the most beautiful surroundings I’ve ever seen in years. I’m also completely in love with Central Park in New York. I like to stay close to Central Park when I play shows in NYC and go for runs there.
Are you sitting in the window or aisle on an airplane?
I love to sit at the window and look out.
What are some of your favorite foods or snacks that you have while traveling and on tour?
I always have a big pack of nuts. They really can be lifesavers. If you’re jet-lagged and you wake up too early before anything is serving breakfast, a bag of nuts is a very good thing to have.
When staying in a hotel, do you tend to order room service or go out to eat? What are you ordering?
I never eat after playing shows. There is always so much going on, and my body just kind of shuts off. I don’t need or push for food after a show.
Before shows, though, I do try to eat quite heavily. I love to go visit new restaurants. I make food a part of touring for me, trying different places and the food of the culture.
Not too long ago, I played in Lima, Peru, and I discovered the best food I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. I was there for five days, and around the show, I had many, many people telling me that Lima has great food. I can agree that ceviche is out of his world, and it’s now my favorite food.
What city are you always excited to return to?
New York City. I’m always excited to come back to that city. I spend a lot of time there because I met my wife there, so I connect lovely memories to that city. And food-wise, it’s also a fantastic place. The shows are nice and the city is just impressive. It doesn’t get boring.
50 Cent is getting ready for his first Las Vegas residency later this year. He’s also ready to add a reported $15 million to his bank account for the shows. Speaking of big paydays, 50 Cent recently told Billboard that Eminem turned down “ridiculous amounts of money” to go on tour back in the day.
“I texted him, ‘Happy birthday.’ Not about the baby. He’s gonna be a granddad,” 50 Cent said about the last time they got in touch. “It’s crazy because a lot of times when we were going on tours, they would offer Em ridiculous amounts of money for us to tour and him go out on a run. He would just be like, ‘Nah, I just don’t wanna go out and then come back and Hailie’s grown.’ I didn’t know what the f*ck he was saying.” He does now, though.
50 Cent continued, “I had a moment where I told him at the wedding — because I went to Hailie’s wedding — I told him I understand now. That sh*t happened really fast. The time went by really fast, and she’s grown. I’m like, ‘What the…?’ She was right there with us the whole time. It’s ill. The time goes by. He’ll be working on a project and be working on the next record. Simple but complex at the same time, because he’s putting intricate things inside the records. I had to listen to it for three or four days before I understood it.”
You can see the dates for 50 Cent’s Las Vegas residency here.
Michter’s was recently voted the World’s Most Admired Whisky brand, and for anyone familiar with their work, that comes as no surprise. The brand dates back to 1753 and is in a modern Renaissance period spearheaded by the Magliocco family. At the tip of that spear is Joe Magliocco, President of Michter’s and its parent company, Chatham Imports, who was instrumental in acquiring the Michter’s trademark in the 1990s for a grand total of $245.
On his quest to produce the best whiskey in the world Joe Magliocco recognized early on that having access to the industry’s top minds would be a top priority. That meant he had to relocate the Michter’s brand, which had deep roots in Pennsylvania, to the modern heartland of bourbon production in Louisville, Kentucky. Along the way, he added several Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Famers (he even became one himself in 2023) to the Michter’s family, along with other industry leaders.
Leading the production team, there’s Master Distiller Dan McKee, Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, and Distiller/Vice President of Production Matt Bell. Together, along with the rest of the team, they’re the ones responsible for implementing Michter’s proprietary filtration on every single product that the brand releases, tailoring the taste of each expression for optimal flavor. It’s a level of attention to detail that’s seldom seen across the industry, and it’s indicative of Michter’s commitment to putting quality products at the top of its priority list.
As for the whiskeys they’re producing, they span both bourbons and ryes, plus American whiskey blends. They’ve got outstanding evergreen products, which we’ll detail below, but also some of the country’s most highly rated limited edition expressions. Simply put, Michter’s is putting out some of the best whiskey in the world from top to bottom.
So, given how much great whiskey Michter’s makes, we decided to put them to the test by ranking every single expression they’ve produced over the past few years to crown the very best. As a final production note, there’s one significant omission on this list: Michter’s 25-Year-Old Rye. The highly sought and high-priced expression hasn’t been released into the wild since 2014, and as such, it’s a little hard to come by. It also falls outside of the scope of our ranking, which focuses on Michter’s more recent releases, but for the completists out there, it’s certainly worth mentioning.
Now, with all of that out of the way, here’s our ultimate ranking of Michter’s whiskey lineup!
This is how you know that the Michter’s lineup is full of bangers: the first entry on this list is the absolutely delicious US*1 Unblended American Whiskey. If “Unblended” on the label gives you pause, here’s the full rundown: this expression doesn’t contain any neutral grain spirits, which can technically be part of any “blended whiskey” here in America. Furthermore, the end product for this expression was aged in “whiskey-soaked” barrels, which is part of what makes it an American whiskey because bourbon can only use new, charred, American oak barrels for primary maturation.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Michter’s American Whiskey features some Smarties candy, dilute honey, and pound cake with a faint bit of oak in the mix as well.
Palate: On the palate is where you pick up some ripe stone fruits like apple and peach, while the Smarties candy chalkiness can be found in the texture. There’s a touch of cinnamon to go with the flavor of pound cake at mid-palate, but overall, the flavor wheel is fairly restrained.
Finish: The finish is brief and marked by the infusion of a bit of nutmeg while maintaining the whiskey’s general sweetness and lean mouthfeel.
Bottom Line:
This is a delicious bottle of whiskey for sipping neat, but be advised, it’s even more excellent as a mixer. You can throw this one in the freezer and keep it on hand for chilled cocktails. Trust us, you’ll be thanking us later.
15. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
While this expression doesn’t feature an age statement, consumers would be well advised to know that they use 8-year-old bourbon for these small-batch blends, which include up to 20 barrels in each batch. After undergoing the brand’s proprietary filtration process, the bourbon is brought to bottling proof with Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Michter’s US*1 Bourbon has a dense aroma bouquet that immediately appears well-refined. Notes like honeysuckle, brown sugar, raisins, and youthful oak fill the air, with each well-developed layer greeting the olfactory senses warmly.
Palate: On the palate, what’s immediately remarkable about this bourbon is the texture, as it gently coats your tongue with moderate warmth, and before you know it, the taste of brown sugar, raisins, and walnuts is suddenly everywhere on your tongue. That deceptively viscous texture works well here and is a credit to Michter’s proprietary filtration process and their atypical proof-point.
Finish: The finish here is brief, with brown sugar and cinnamon coexisting harmoniously alongside new oak and clove, making for a gentle send-off after every sip.
Bottom Line:
This is one of those instances where labeling something a “great bourbon for beginners” is far from a participation trophy. We recently ranked this number one in our “Smoothest Bourbons Under $50” blind-tasting, and it also placed highly on our list of the best-tasting bourbons under $50. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a newcomer, this bottle is sure to impress.
14. Michter’s US*1 Small Batch Original Sour Mash Whiskey
This ground-breaking bottle was the very first American whiskey to be crowned “Whiskey of the Year” by The Whiskey Exchange in the U.K. way back in 2019. The term “sour mash” refers to the process in which some fermented mash is held over from one batch of whiskey to start the fermentation on the next batch. Regarding this expression in particular, the mash bill is undisclosed, but there is likely less than 51% and less than 51% rye, meaning it can’t legally be called either a bourbon or a rye.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: This whiskey opens with the aroma of dates and cinnamon, which soon cede ground to youthful oak, a dilute splash of honey, and white pepper.
Palate: The palate on Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey is gentle, with a lean texture full of honey graham crackers, herbal tea, and dried cranberries with a touch of barrel char and vanilla extract, helping to add a bit of nuance.
Finish: The finish features more vanilla extract, but the stone fruits also rise to the fore as they curtly close out each sip with a plume of smokiness.
Bottom Line:
The sour mash process is typically credited with creating a slightly sweeter distillate, and Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey certainly provides evidence for that notion. This well-rounded, sweet whiskey is simply delicious for easy sipping and is one of the brand’s bottles most likely to win converts to the category.
Michter’s, primarily its Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson, is responsible for putting toasted American whiskey on the map. What began in the fall of 2014 with their Toasted Bourbon has since branched out to include a Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey and this tasty Toasted Rye expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is full of roasted marshmallows with an almost cloying sweetness while rye spice, mint candy, and butterscotch all compete for second billing against the toasted oak notes.
Palate: The cloying sweetness of the marshmallow note from the nose follows through on the palate. At the same time, the flavor of herbal tea, dilute butterscotch, vanilla custard, and semi-bitter walnuts provide some intriguing variance. The mouthfeel is prototypical of Michter’s, which is to say it’s deceptively viscous without ever becoming overtly so.
Finish: The finish is moderately drying as a bit of smokiness encroaches on the sweetness as a touch of dark chocolate and tobacco leaf washes away the marshmallow tones and concludes succinctly with a smattering of oak and vanilla pods.
Bottom Line:
As one of Michter’s most polarizing releases, this expression, above all others, is the whiskey most subject to personal preference. The strong campfire vibes make it a delicious autumnal option, while the underlying rye spice offers some welcome balance to the sweeter notes wrought by the toasted finishing cask.
12. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
For its flagship rye whiskey, Michter’s rests the liquid for an undisclosed period of time before blending it in 20-barrel small-batches and bringing it to bottling proof with some of that famous Kentucky limestone water.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lime zest and Manuka honey lead the charge on the aroma note with a gentle, approachable profile that draws you in for deeper inhalation. On the second pass, you pick up notes of cracked black pepper, oak, and, surprisingly, brisket fat.
Palate: What stands out immediately is that Michter’s US*1 Rye has a really supple mouthfeel, and its flavors of honeyed mint tea with a touch of black pepper and oak are restrained yet well-defined. It’s a flavor profile that plays coy and encourages you to meet it halfway before enchanting you with how well-developed each of the notes truly is.
Finish: Some red pepper flakes, honey, and mint punctuate the sadly brief finish. Overall, each sip is impressively smooth and rich, which makes for easygoing good sipping.
Bottom Line:
While other rye expressions in Michter’s portfolio bring more pizazz, their standard edition rye is the life of the party. Equally excellent on its own or as a mixer, this bottle can either be the lifeblood of your bar cart or the not-so-guilty pleasure that fills your glass on a regular basis.
Created to honor the memory of John Shenk, the man responsible for founding a distillery that would grow to become Michter’s, this whiskey uses a substantial amount of rye and is aged in French oak casks sourced from the Vosges region of France. It is then naturally air-dried and seasoned for 24 long months and toasted to Michter’s exacting specifications. The unique grain recipe for this year’s whiskey also includes malted rye and caramel malt.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Aroma notes like chocolate wafers and orange buttercream enchant the senses at first before the scent of rose petals, allspice, and basil cut in to form a well-arranged symphony of scents.
Palate: As this whiskey splashes across your palate, the senses are primed to pick up the rich notes of chocolate truffle dust and almond meat that wash over the front of the palate before vanilla frosting with orange zest and mellow prickles of baking spice assert themselves on the middle of the palate.
Finish: Youthful oak interrupts things, inciting a brief finish with a bit of malted chocolate and more expressed orange peel at the end.
Bottom Line:
There are years when Shenk’s is the best-kept secret in Michter’s entire portfolio and years when it falls to the middle of the pack. For the 2024 edition, despite an intriguing mix of grains, it falls into the latter camp and places as a mid-tier entry in Michter’s incredibly competitive lineup.
Michter’s is famed for having a low barrel-entry proof, at 103 proof. For this expression, which is bottled at cask strength, the ABV has crept up ever-so-slightly. That means you get to enjoy Michter’s bourbon undiluted and in its rawest form for this expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is immediately dense and quickly grasps you with a touch of black cherry syrup, molasses, mature oak, and salted caramel for a classic arrangement of aromas that exhibits some deft blending from the Michter’s team.
Palate: Once on the palate, the whiskey is just as dense as the nose gave an indication, with the oak becoming more pronounced, while the black cherry and molasses notes sashay to the side and allow a drizzling of caramel and peanut shell to dash up the middle of the tongue.
Finish: The protracted finish finds the black cherry notes morphing into a singed orange wheel, and the peanut shell transforms into more of a spiced walnut before it’s all said and done.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s bourbon is already damn good, so it should come as no surprise that presenting it undiluted at full cask strength offers an explosion of flavor with every sip. This bottle still undergoes the brand’s proprietary filtration, so the experts are able to fine-tune the liquid and present it at its optimal flavor.
Comprised of barrels that Michter’s deems too good for blending, this single-barrel expression showcases the best of their rye whiskey at undiluted cask strength. Be advised that with the exception of Michter’s 25-Year-Old Rye, this is typically one of the brand’s hardest rye whiskeys to find.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Smoked caramel leads the way, with milk chocolate, mint, and graham cracker aromas following closely behind on this whiskey’s robust nose. It immediately comes across as a proofy, dense ride, and it will leave you salivating in anticipation of the first sip.
Palate: Smoked caramel and barrel char with leather lead the way on the palate before mint flows in at midpalate, cooling the tongue and introducing milk chocolate before the finish.
Finish: The finish is full of black pepper and nutmeg, but the smoked caramel is the note that most stubbornly persists. There’s also a touch of mocha present before the liquid completely evaporates.
Bottom Line:
What happens when you take Michter’s excellent rye whiskey and offer it at its full barrel-proof potency? Predictably delicious results, as this expression proves that the brand’s cask curation is as much a science as it is an art.
For this expression in the Michter’s Legacy Series, the brand sought to honor Bomberger’s Distillery, which would later become known as the Michter’s Distillery. Bomberger’s is comprised of bourbon aged in Chinquapin oak, which was naturally air-dried and seasoned for three years before being toasted and charred to the brand’s specifications.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: A rush of aromas fills the air once you pour Bomberger’s, ranging from peanut brittle and fudge brownies to lavender and maple candy. There’s also a slight nuttiness that fuses with a touch of black pepper spice.
Palate: The palate opens with a dark sweetness like molasses, chocolate fudge, leather, and black cherry. The mouthfeel isn’t overly viscous, but it offers just enough grip on the palate to allow the flavors to develop without appearing either dense or too thin.
Finish: The finish is medium-long, with the baking spices extending the pleasure of each sip and rounding out with molasses sweetness and the gentle influence of walnuts and black pepper.
Bottom Line:
This year’s Bomberger’s release continues the brand’s streak of excellence by offering a spicy take on its standard bourbon thanks to its use of extensively air-dried Chinquapin oak. While Shenk’s is an annual threat to dethrone this expression atop the Michter’s Legacy Series pyramid, Bomberger’s fans can rest assured that for 2024, it’s the clear winner of the two.
Like Michter’s standard sour mash whiskey, this toasted version doesn’t meet the legal requirements to be called either a bourbon or a rye, but who cares? This one is different from the entry-level version because Michter’s finishes the whiskey in 18-month air-dried and lightly toasted barrels.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Michter’s Toasted Sour Mash Whiskey welcomes the nose with the aroma of apricots, cinnamon, marshmallow, and milk chocolate. The flavors are really rich yet delicate, all glued together by the toasted oak backbone.
Palate: Once on the palate, there’s a bounty of more s’mores-like flavors with chocolate, roasted marshmallows, and oatmeal cookies coming together and gently massaging your tastebuds. There’s also a mellow fruitiness, with stone fruits again announcing their presence and a mellow, faintly viscous mouthfeel that ties it all together.
Finish: The finish introduces a tad more oak and a barely perceptible influx of black pepper, but the campfire vibes are still prevalent, with honeyed graham crackers and milk chocolate standing out.
Bottom Line:
By combining an intense richness of flavors and just the right amount of Kentucky limestone-filtered water, this expression is a nigh-perfect display of Michter’s excellent low-proof whiskey. In fact, it would be the ne plus ultra of their relatively affordable entries in that category if it weren’t for the following expression on this list…
Michter’s has been releasing a fun, new toasted whiskey annually for ten years now, and in 2024, they decided to return to where it all started. To create this release, Michter’s takes their award-winning bourbon recipe and subjects it to secondary maturation in an 18-month air-dried wood stave barrel that’s toasted but not charred.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Marshmallow, brown sugar, and cinnamon toast aromas first come wafting out of the glass. There’s some chocolate ganache and Cafe au lait with the faintest hint of mint in the mix as well. Initially, the marshmallow takes a strong lead, but in time, the aromas balance out and present themselves with magnificent balance.
Palate: It’s slightly smoky initially, with cinnamon, smoked caramel, marshmallow tones, and toasted oak splashing across the palate. Then, a faintly savory undertone helps to push the whiskey’s honey sweetness to the fore. The texture is rich and almost syrupy, which is a proper credit to Michter’s filtration process because I’m in awe that they can wring so much viciousness out at such a modest ABV.
Finish: The medium-length finish has a gentle kiss of ripe orange, and an elusive touch of bananas fosters flavor that cedes to the faint barrel char and toasted oak tones.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s kicked off the toasted bourbon party, and this expression proves they’ve still got the crown. This year’s Michter’s Toasted Bourbon delivers exactly what you’re looking for in a toasted barrel whiskey, but it pushes your palate into unfamiliar territory courtesy of a delightful balance that sees cinnamon, maple candy, and caramelized banana notes join the expansive palette this whiskey has to paint with.
5. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 10 Years Old
Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon, one of the American whiskey world’s most critically lauded expressions, is on an annual release schedule that sends bourbon fans into a fervor each time it’s announced. Utilizing Michter’s well-aged sourced whiskey stock, their blending team subjects hand-picked barrels to their proprietary filtration process for the end result.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Mango, brown sugar, and black cherry all burst out of the glass once this bourbon is poured like they’ve got places to go. I highly encourage sitting with it for a while, as rich oak and a touch of leather add new dimensions to the aroma profile of this intriguing whiskey.
Palate: Milk chocolate, coconut cream, and almonds splash across the palate on the first pass, making this taste like an Almond Joy in a glass. The barrel tones round things out, and it comes complete with a slick texture that brilliantly carries all of those well-developed flavors without going overboard.
Finish: The finish on this year’s Michter’s 10-year bourbon is medium in length but long on notes like hazelnut and coconut with oak tones and black pepper included.
Bottom Line:
With its low proof, Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon perfectly encapsulates the dog in the fight/fight in the dog paradox. This is one whiskey that doesn’t need a heavy dose of ethanol to tightly layer a ton of flavor and stand toe-to-toe with the best bourbon on the planet. Michter’s puts its high-quality craftsmanship on display with every bottle in its portfolio, but when it comes to relatively accessible bourbon released at regular intervals, this is one you need to put a premium on finding.
4. Michter’s US*1 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 10 Years Old
Michter’s is known for being meticulous with its releases, not just the ultra-premium ones. It utilizes proprietary custom filtration for each of its whiskeys. For 2024’s 10-year single-barrel rye whiskey, Michter’s uses yet another custom filter to ensure this year’s version is different from previous years while maintaining the expression’s award-winning quality.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Huge scoops of vanilla ice cream with mint sprigs melt out of the glass. With Manuka honey and gentle leather accents in the background, this is such a classic Michter’s rye nose that it’s immediately identifiable. And awesome.
Palate: Rich buttercream, fresh cinnamon bark, creamy milk chocolate, crisp red apples…need I go on? Michter’s always does an incredible job with whiskey at a lower proof, and these 10-year expressions offer the grandest stage for them to showcase that prowess. Here, the mouthfeel is jaw-dropping, and the richness of the flavors hit you in lush waves, one after another, but they never threaten to overwhelm your senses. There’s enough runway for each excellent flavor note to take flight.
Finish: The finish undulates away gently after a considerable length of time, sucking your teeth for more hazelnut cream and sweet oak tones.
Bottom Line:
In a year full of legendary rye whiskeys, it should be enough to tell you, dear reader, that Michter’s 2024 10-Year Single Barrel Rye stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is one of the whiskeys that will define the year, and if you aren’t already in love with rye, then the 2024 Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel is Cupid’s arrow in a bottle.
3. Michter’s Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 25 Years Old
To create their vaunted 25-year-old bourbon, Michter’s curates some of their most exceptional hyper-aged barrels and blends them for this semi-regular expression. Bottled at full cask strength, this super-premium bourbon offers a glimpse into the liquid being distilled at an undisclosed distillery (or undisclosed distilleries) a quarter of a century ago; that’s a rare treat.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose on Michter’s 25-Year Bourbon is resplendent with refined chunks of peanut butter, a light cinnamon dusting, oak, and dark chocolate. Each of those dark notes is well-developed and distinct, with a certain sprightliness that allows them all to dart in and out of focus, weaving in concert brilliantly.
Palate: On the palate, the flavors’ impressive refinement and spry nature remain evident. Roasted nuts, stewed raspberries, and peanut brittle stand out on the flavor wheel, and the texture is mellow but expansive, gently unfurling over the entirety of your tongue and clinging to the roof of your mouth for dear life.
Finish: The finish is extensive, thanks to the viscous texture, allowing the flavor of roasted Brazil nuts, dried cherries, and dark chocolate to linger long after each sip.
Bottom Line:
This bourbon is expectedly rich and oaky, and that two-piece combination is enough to knock out most of the competition. That is, of course, unless the competition comes from within the rest of Michter’s ultra-limited portfolio, where we can find the remaining two bottles on this list.
Michter’s has only ever released four Celebration Sour Mash expressions, and 2022’s was the first one since 2019. Limited to just 328 bottles worldwide, Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash is the brand’s second-most exclusive offering. A true collaboration between Michter’s Master Distiller, Dan McKee, and Master of Maturation, Andrea Wilson, the pair selected seven bourbon and rye whiskeys, ranging from twelve to thirty-plus years old, for this premium blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is surprisingly expressive, with orange blossom, raw honey, and mellow oak making up the core aromas while a touch of vanilla custard and milk chocolate flit along the edges.
Palate: The delicate texture of the liquid implores you to sip it gently as the rich flavor of raw honey bursts across your palate, along with cooked red apples and buttery pie crust. This is a whiskey that I would describe as elegant, as the mouthfeel is lean yet surprisingly viscous and mouth-coating, sticking to your palate and boring deep into your tastebuds with those rich, sweet flavors.
Finish: The finish is medium-length, but again, the elegant viscousness causes the liquid to slowly dissipate from your palate, leaving orange marmalade, crème brulée, and milk chocolate behind.
Bottom Line:
Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash is the bottle that Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson most frequently cite as their proudest achievement. Not only is the blend of bourbon and rye a showcase of Michter’s most premium barrels, but it also represents the two masters’ most challenging assignment across the brand’s entire portfolio. The result, a labor of love, is one of the greatest whiskeys this country has ever produced.
1. Michter’s US*1 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 20 Years Old
Master Distiller Dan McKee selects the barrels that end up in this hyper-limited expression, showcasing Michter’s limited, well-aged bourbon stock. Although the age statement on this release says “20 years old,” it’s no secret that Michter’s age-stated portfolio tends to include significantly older whiskey in these blends.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Oh, yeah…this is seriously mature bourbon. It plays all of the classics – black cherry sweetness, deep leather aromas, and refined oak – and does little to stray from them.
Palate: Again, Michter’s 20 is a straightforward sipper with black cherries, leather, and well-aged oak taking the reins and refusing to let go. Along the periphery, clove and black pepper are found in the spice department, and sweet bits of butterscotch, brown sugar, and vanilla extract enhance the sweetness at every level across this dense, decadently textured bourbon.
Finish: The remarkably lengthy finish is where those guest appearances recede, and we’re back showcasing the three primary flavors, which impress due to their ample richness.
Bottom Line:
Featuring a blend of sourced bourbon that is painstakingly mingled and undergoes a proprietary filtration process, Michter’s 20 might be the quintessential bourbon. Full of rich oak, mature leather, and black cherry, this is the whiskey, above all others, that demonstrates what well-aged bourbon should taste like.
We’re finally (allegedly) approaching the cool weather season, which means plenty of brand-new whiskeys are being released that are worth chasing down.
We’re talking about everything from premium-priced, rare offerings from Japan to excellent, everyday expressions out of Kentucky and everything in between. After all, Bourbon Heritage Month is behind us, but the world of whiskey is far larger than just one category. In celebration of that, we decided to round up a bunch of the must-try expressions from around the globe, targeting whisk(e)y at every price point.
Are you ready for the complete list?
Keep reading to see our collection of 24 new whiskeys to chase down this fall!
The Dalmore’s latest iteration of its venerable Cask Curation Series was created in partnership with Graham’s Port, pairing exquisite single-harvest tawny port pipes with The Dalmore’s mature whiskey. The exclusive three-bottle package is limited to just 150 sets globally, with only a shade over 20 sets making their way Stateside.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich malt notes and Brazil nuts with juicy blood orange and caramel greet the nose once this whiskey tumbles into the glass. The aroma of fresh walnuts comes wafting up, too, with candied ginger, cinnamon, redcurrants, and coconut joining for the journey.
Palate: The palate is marked by an incredible creaminess as the flavor of nougat, Tahitian vanilla, flan, and tobacco leaf pool at midpalate, leaving the taste of Medjool dates and chocolate wafer cookies gently undulating at the periphery. It’s far nuttier than either the 27-year-old or 43-year-old iteration.
Finish: The rich liquid concludes with a medium-length finish full of gently toasted walnuts and sweet red berries while hints of vanilla also persist.
Bottom Line:
This ultra-premium set of decidedly mature whiskeys succeeds in matching the beauty of the liquid with the luxury of the packaging that houses it. With only 150 sets available globally (and a hefty asking price), it’s perhaps the most challenging whiskey on this list to acquire, but for those with a sense of adventure and the commensurate coin to seek this release out, it’s well worth the hunt.
Beyoncé’s much-talked-about entry into the whisky world comes in the form of a bespoke blend of American whisky made with a grain recipe that’s 51% rye and 49% malted barley, meaning this is officially a rye whisky. Once the whisky, hand-selected by Dr. Bill Lumsden, reached maturity, it underwent a secondary aging process in Texas. It was dumped into Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for that aging process, imparting it with a ruby hue, a creamier texture on the tongue, and a more berry-forward flavor profile.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cherries and rye spice delight the nose at first, and with a twist of orange rind in the mix, it actually smells a lot like an Old Fashioned cocktail. Swirl SirDavis in your glass, and you’ll also begin to pick up notes of honeyed wheat toast, oregano, and black tea.
Palate: The flavor of fresh mint sprigs, vanilla pod, and nutmeg greet the tongue while notes of honey and ripe cherries begin to spring up once you get past that initial wave of baking spices. The notes of nutmeg and black pepper kick up again at the end of each sip, as does some sherry flavor, which leaves a whisper of Brazil nuts with a gentle kiss of dessert wine sweetness.
Finish: On the finish, as the whisky trickles off your palate, the taste of sherry is again prominent. Fresh hazelnuts, oak from the barrels it was aged in, and black pepper are also evident. The flavors dissipate fairly quickly, giving the whisky a smooth impression overall. For its final act, you’ll notice that your mouth begins drying out, encouraging repeat sips so you can return to the flavor found early on.
Bottom Line:
This whisky lends itself well to mixed drinks and features luscious, balanced flavors, making it an attractive, moderately proofed option for drinking neat. Its unconventional production method, from the grain recipe to its secondary maturation under the Texas sun, offers enough intrigue to entertain hardcore whisky enthusiasts, and the sweet, sherry-enhanced approachability helps corral newcomers.
Always the product of barrels from a single rickhouse, thus the name — 2024’s Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse focuses on the brand’s Camp Nelson B rickhouse. Also of note: this is the highest proof offering to ever come from the Russell’s Reserve lineup at 120.2 (landing just shy of Wild Turkey Generations’ 120.8 for the highest proof from a Wild Turkey offering).
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes open with a ton of cinnamon, nutmeg, dates, and some savory bacon. With a second whiff, you pick up the aroma of Tahitian vanilla with candied ginger and a touch of milk chocolate.
Palate: Wow, a ton of ginger candy and apple galette notes spring onto the palate, with cinnamon and brown butter in spades. The liquid itself is really active on the palate, especially on the roof of the mouth, with spice and nougat notes thrumming throughout.
Finish: The finish seemingly lingers forever, with the vanilla and cinnamon tones blending with cardamom and nougat for a satisfying send-off.
Bottom Line:
Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Camp Nelson B is the lineup’s most unique bourbon yet, soaring to new heights for Wild Turkey when it comes to proof but also delivering a mouth-watering melange of flavors that aren’t typically associated with the brand. For fans of the classic Turkey flavor profile, don’t assume that means this isn’t for you. This is an incredible bourbon fit for anyone who appreciates in credible bourbon.
Kinfolk Trust is a brand-new blend of American whiskeys from Taste Select Repeat’s Orlando “OJ” Lima. The unique blend takes barrels sourced from Dark Arts Whiskey House (potentially Danville-distilled bourbon) and Bainbridge Distillery. While there are only three batches of the cask strength version planned per year, the same is anticipated for the lower “Preferred Proof” version.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma notes unveil hints of beeswax at first, while butterscotch, oak, and orange blossom aromas follow close behind. It has a very creamy, approachable nose despite the proof, with a faintly vegetal note pulsing throughout as well.
Palate: Bubblegum reaches the palate first, then the faintly citric, sweet note of orange pith comes in. It’s big and flavorful at midpalate, with loads of butterscotch, slightly floral notes, orange marmalade, and restrained spice blossoming. The heat fans out over the edges of the tongue and then dart up the roof of the mouth, with black pepper leading the charge.
Finish: Kinfolk Trust’s Cask Strength offering has a lingering finish that hangs on the palate for a long time, with some nougat and black pepper leaving the most lasting impression.
Bottom Line:
As part of an intimate product reveal in Louisville, Lima indicated that he wasn’t intent on creating an empire with Kinfolk Trust, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is whiskey fit for a king. If this thoughtful, well-constructed inaugural blend is indicative of what we can expect from the future of the brand then you’ll want to keep them firmly on your radar this fall.
For Octomore 15.2, the whiskey was initially aged in second-fill wine casks (42%) and second-fill Bourbon casks (58%) before being finished in second-fill French oak ex-Cognac casks that push the flavor profile in an intriguing direction. The 15.2 features the same batch of Scottish-grown barley as 15.1, also malted to 108.22 PPM.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The aroma notes sing with Brie cheese, lime zest, walnuts, and cherries. Despite having the same phenol level of 15.1, the 15.2 comes across as less smoky thanks to its pine-like woodsiness, with moss, ginger cookies, and brown butter.
Palate: Once on the palate, those nosing notes delicately unfurl with wisps of moss and smoke, subtly masking the vanilla custard, dried apricot, and Rainier cherry notes. The slick, velvety texture finds a home in every corner of the mouth as it gently coats the palate, allowing each flavor note to develop with ample space.
Finish: The finish is where a greater infusion of smoke comes through with pink peppercorn, nutmeg, and a slight salinity.
Bottom Line:
While this year’s Octomore 15.3 is drawing a lot of attention for being a phenomenal phenolic force, it’s the finesse of the 15.2 that stands tall in the lineup. With a balanced bouquet of aromas married to a patient, revealing palate, Octomore 15.2 is a testament to the delicate deployment of peat.
Four Roses’ highly anticipated Limited Edition Small Batch for 2024 has finally been announced, and we were able to get a first taste of it. For this year’s release, Master Distiller Brent Elliott opted to blend three of Four Roses’ ten bourbon recipes with a 12-year-old OBSV, 15-year-old OESK, 16-year-old OESF, and more OBSV, this time at 20 years old, to create the final product.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose is initially floral with ripe apples, butterscotch, and butter pecan ice cream. Faint bits of dark chocolate, star anise, and tobacco leaf help to round out the beautiful bouquet of aromas.
Palate: The butterscotch and apple note really pops on the palate off the bat. The whiskey is well-rounded with a mellow black pepper baking spice tone to go with a more pronounced helping of cinnamon bark, pecans, and brown sugar. The range of flavors reminds me a lot of fried apple pie with a splash of citrus zest. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and enhances the depth of the flavors without becoming an attraction unto itself.
Finish: The finish has a mature oak backbone with the additional flavor of caramel chews and Fuji apple skin. It’s medium-length, but that brevity really works, urging your focus on the next sip rather than your last.
Bottom Line:
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is annually considered one of the stars of the fall-release schedule and its consistently high quality is indicative of why. While last year’s release soared to incredible heights, this year’s expression seems equally eager to touch the sky, making it one of the best bourbon releases to chase after this autumn.
Westward Milestone Edition 2 American Single Malt Whiskey
For Westward’s premium Milestone expression, Master Blender Miles Munroe created a twenty-one-barrel Solera system to continuously age and blend some of the brand’s most precious whiskey in various casks. Two other things that make this release unique? The distillate is slow-proofed in-cask, and new for this year is the inclusion of Amburana barrel-aged whiskey in the solera blend.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rich orange marmalade and cinnamon notes come leaping out of the glass when you run your nose over the rim, with further aromas of malt chocolate and dense French vanilla drawing you in and imploring an initial sip.
Palate: This is an incredibly lush and smooth whiskey with cinnamon and nougat meshing harmoniously with the orange marmalade, French vanilla, and malt chocolate notes from the nose. The texture is also remarkably creamy, allowing all of those decadent flavors to coat your palate and blossom at length.
Finish: The medium-length finish gently recedes with orange blossom, Brazil nuts, and cinnamon, leaving the final impression before it escapes your palate.
Bottom Line:
Westward Whiskey’s annual Milestone expression has quickly established itself as a whiskey not to be missed, exhibiting Master Blender Miles Munroe’s expert blending prowess. This expression’s moniker, a sly nod to Mr. Munroe and aptly named to mark Westward’s growth, definitely fits, and the whiskey exemplifies the neck tag’s Latin dictum Verum Factum, the maker’s knowledge.
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey Small Batch 2024 Release
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey from Michter’s is always one of the brand’s more intriguing annual blends, and the 2024 edition keeps things interesting by utilizing liquid housed in French oak sourced from the Vosges region of France. The grain recipes include malted rye and caramel malt and showcase Michter’s casks, which underwent natural air drying and seasoning casks for 24 months before being toasted to their specifications.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Once in the glass, Shenk’s whiskey begins giving off the aroma of chocolate wafers and orange buttercream, rose petals, allspice, and basil. It’s a lovely medley of scents that work well in concert with one another and draw you in for an initial sip.
Palate: The flavors of chocolate truffle dust and almond meat come together on the palate with vanilla frosting and orange zest on top. The texture is spry, spreading over the length of the tongue with ease and gently rolling over the palate with a bit of baking spice, seizing the opportunity to make an impression before it transitions to the finish.
Finish: Youthful oak interrupts things with a curt finish that introduces a bit of malted chocolate and roasted coffee notes before gently receding.
Bottom Line:
Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey from Michter’s, as part of the Legacy Series, is always a sought-after release and this year’s expression is a sterling example of why, thanks to its fusion of atypical flavors that come together for a complex yet easy-sipping experience.
Brook Hill is the Rare Character brand’s ne plus ultra expression, which, as you should already know, means this is some absolutely epic whiskey. With a history that dates back to the turn of the 19th century, the modern-day revival of Brook Hill is releasing exclusive bourbons and rye, with a highly limited number of single barrels of the rye hitting the market so far this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Milk chocolate, like the milk in a bowl after you finish your Cocoa Puffs, and sweet mint are most immediately alluring on the nose. Stick around a while, and you’ll also find chunks of toffee, polished leather, and paprika contributing to this dark and brooding nose.
Palate: Candied walnuts hit the palate along with a big spoonful of brown sugar before that Cocoa Puff milk note begins to pool at midpalate, whetting the edges of your tongue. Paprika and barrel char are relegated to the shotgun seat as some nutmeg, Smarties candy, and dried cranberries steer the ship before this transitions into the finish.
Finish: Almost chalky as the texture grips the back of your tongue before tapping out. There’s some oak and nuttiness on the finish, along with drops of honey, but despite the impressive length of those flavors, you’ll probably be on your second glass before you truly appreciate them.
Bottom Line:
Brook Hill came out of the gate strong, but then, that’s what Rare Character has become known for. They don’t half-step when it comes to new releases, and ever since introducing Brook Hill to the market in 2023, they’ve been batting 1.000.
Yamazaki Mizunara 18-Year-Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky 100th Anniversary Limited Edition
Yamazaki has a real treat to offer with this 18-year-old Japanese Single Malt, which sees the entirety of its maturation subjected to Mizunara oak. Created in honor of Suntory Whisky’s centenary, this 100th Anniversary Edition is brand-new for 2024.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Black cherries and peaches introduce this whisky on the nose as a fruit-forward treat before baking spices like cinnamon and nutmeg reveal themselves.
Palate: The palate is delicate, with flavors that coyly sidle up to your tongue with subtly spiced torched orange wheels combining with floral undertones, vanilla custard, and a gentle drizzle of honeyed black tea. The texture is very soft, but the flavors hold together even when rolling them over the tongue.
Finish: Despite the sparse texture, the finish lingers with medium length, as aspects of clove, sandalwood, and dried coconut close things out.
Bottom Line:
Yamazaki Mizunara 18-Year-Old shows just how well Yamazaki’s delicate liquid can interact with the porous Japanese oak, utilizing the cask’s characteristic notes of subtle spice and sandalwood to mold the distillery’s mature liquid in an oft-used albeit impressive fashion.
King of Kentucky is the Brown-Forman brand’s most regal annual release. For 2024, it features a fleet of single-barrel bourbons, all aged for at least 16 years. With 5,100 bottles produced from just 63 barrels distilled between July 19, 2007, and November 15, 2007, this expression’s popularity and relative rarity make it difficult to find.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Lush chocolate-covered coconut notes open things up, with vanilla bean and caramel joining brown sugar and the aroma of caramelized fruit, dense oak, and a whisp of malt to close things out.
Palate: The palate begins with intense, dark, sweet notes as chocolate, mature oak, toasted coconut, and Madagascar vanilla make an initial impression before faint leather and sumptuous toffee notes find their way at mid-palate. The bourbon’s texture is incredibly viscous and chewy, making it all the more attractive to sit with this pour at length and parse each dense layer of flavor.
Finish: This might be the bourbon with the lengthiest finish of the year as it lingers for minutes after the final sip with caramel, toasted coconut, dark chocolate, and mature oak reverberating across the palate until the very end.
Bottom Line:
King of Kentucky has gained a reputation as the pinnacle of bourbon’s annual release calendar, and this year’s edition is a hallmark example of that. While some recent releases have struggled to integrate those mature oak notes into the overall structure of the whiskey, resulting in other Limited Edition snatching the crown, this year’s offering shows that Master Distiller Chris Morris hasn’t lost his iron grip.
Keeper’s Heart 21-Year-Old Irish Single Malt Finished in Tokaji Barrels
Keeper’s Heart’s new 21-year-old Irish Single Malt whiskey, crafted by the brand’s Master Distiller, Brian Nation, is truly presented as a work of art. Encased in a luxurious wooden box is this equally luxurious liquid, finished in Tokaji Hungarian dessert wine barrels for an added layer of complexity.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes open with apricots drizzled in honey, vanilla custard, and burnt sugar atop a crème brulée. A few waves of the hand grant the nose further aromas like Medjool date syrup, a faint, creamy nuttiness, butterscotch, and floral notes.
Palate: On the first sip, you’re welcomed by the decadent butterscotch and malt notes one can expect with well-aged Irish whiskey, but they’re joined by soft dates, white sugar, and orange zest with some elusive dark chocolate rounding things out at midpalate.
Finish: The finish is where you notice how silky the texture is, lingering for a moderate length with dessert wine sweetness melding well with the malt and dilute butterscotch left on the palate.
Bottom Line:
While Keeper’s Heart has thus far made its name with delightful fusions of American and Irish whiskey, by staying in one late and deploying an atypical, albeit entrancing finishing cask, they’ve taken things to new heights. This pricy expression of Master Distiller Brian Nation’s visionary blending prowess is a show-stopper.
Fortuna Barrel Proof Bourbon is the pinnacle of the revived Fortuna brand from Rare Character. This beefed-up barrel-proof bourbon is sourced from an undisclosed distillery in Kentucky and blended in three-to-five barrel lots. What’s new, however, is the addition of an age statement, a bit of a throwback to how bourbon was labeled in the early 1900s, which reads “8 Summers Old.”
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with boozy cocktail cherries, cinnamon bark, rich oak tones, and even a hint of mocha. After a wave of the hand, as the liquid tumbles around your glass, aerating it will reveal further aromas of butterscotch, black pepper, cacao nibs, and strawberry jam.
Palate: The nosing notes offer a solid roadmap for what follows on the palate as blackberry jam replaces the strawberries found on the nose while cinnamon, almond extract, dense oak, and sticky toffee run rampant on the tongue. The texture is robust and offers a fullness that allows each flavor to present itself distinctly, revealing its impressive richness.
Finish: The finish is long-lasting and introduces clove, freshly grated ginger, and black pepper for one final baking spice sizzle before the syrupy black cherry notes leave a sweet final impression.
Bottom Line:
Fortuna Barrel Proof entered the market with a splash, immediately challenging the supremacy of several cask-strength stalwarts at 7 years old. Now, nearly a year after its introduction to the market, and with the addition of an 8-year age statement, it’s become clear that it isn’t just beginner’s luck that warrants its place in the conversation. Fortuna Barrel Proof Bourbon is quickly becoming an implacable answer to the question of the best barrel-proof bourbon on the market.
Old Line Navy Strength 114 Proof American Single Malt Whiskey
Old Line Distillery, based in Maryland, created this release by taking hand-selected four, five, and six-year-old barrels based on their unique characteristics and then bottled them at a hefty 114 proof point.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with notes of butterscotch, malted barley, honey, and white pepper that practically leap out of the glass. True to expectations, this noses like an amped-up version of Old Line’s stellar flagship American Single Malt. There’s even a surprising note of star anise to be found.
Palate: It has a heavy mouthfeel with lilac, dark chocolate, star anise, and honey featured most prominently. The rich, floral note is perhaps the most surprising part of the transition to the palate, but the dense texture works well to display the flavors and temper the high heat of this one.
Finish: The lengthy finish is where the oak hangs out, and the lilac note fuses with lavender and honey in a major way. It’s an unusual but wholly welcome development that makes this one fun to sip slowly and savor at length.
Bottom Line:
This Navy Strength version of Old Line’s flagship distillate is a wild departure from the norm with far more floral aspects and an incredibly robust texture that marks this as some of the best liquid coming out of the distillery.
Premier Drams is a new brand that was launched early this summer by the same man behind Washington D.C.’s legendary whiskey bar, Jack Rose, Bill Thomas. 8 years ago, Thomas began procuring contract-distilled whiskey from an elusive producer in Bardstown, Kentucky, and aging it at the site of the historic Old Taylor Distillery, which today is the home of Castle & Key. Due to Castle & Key’s uniquely cool maturation facilities, many of the barrels that went into these Premier Drams single barrels saw a significant drop in ABV, with the majority hovering right around the 100-proof mark at cask strength.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Strawberry saltwater taffy escapes the grasp of the glass to greet the nose at first before evolving into a cherry Luden’s note and partnering up with truffle honey, white pepper, and peanut brittle for a mellow and intriguing medley.
Palate: On the palate, it’s a delight to discover that the Luden’s cherry note has evolved into a full-blown Rainier cherry, carrying white pepper, allspice, nutmeg, and honey in tow. The flavors here are markedly rich, defying its moderate proof and delivering a depth and richness that will have you sucking your molars, frantically trying to prevent even a single drop from slipping through the cracks.
Finish: Vanilla pods, salted butter, fatty Brazil nuts, and white pepper prevail on the finish with a dollop of honey and Rainier cherries, adding a sweet closing kiss as it succinctly slides off your palate.
Bottom Line:
By delivering cask-strength bourbon at such a moderate proof point, Premier Drams is quietly revolutionizing the modern bourbon landscape. In the fashion of any groundbreaking innovator, I’m not entirely sure the public is ready for it yet, but that’s what makes discovering excellent single-barrel offerings like this so awesome.
Wolves Whiskey has been producing some stellar and incredibly unique premium blends over the past few years, but this expression is the brand’s very first crack at creating an evergreen product. Aged for five years in California wine barrels before being finished in Cognac casks, this brand-new American Single Malt debuted in September this year.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nose opens with mocha, deep honey tones, and roasted Brazil nuts. After a few waves of the hand, cinnamon and doughy notes emerge out of the glass, along with dried strawberries.
Palate: This whiskey is immediately supple and expansive on the palate, defying its modest proof to flood your tastebuds with the flavor of Manuka honey, crème brulée, clove, and fresh figs. There are additional layers of nutmeg, cinnamon, and half-baked pastries, complete with a slight doughiness and well-developed sweetness.
Finish: The finish is medium-length and just as silky as the liquid itself, causing it to gently recede, leaving a touch of black pepper and clove with cinnamon bark at the end.
Bottom Line:
Wolves Whiskey’s brand-new American Single Malt is sure to turn heads as the brand’s very first evergreen product showcases an impressive utilization of finishing casks. While the brand has a ton of intriguing higher-end offerings, this new entry-level whiskey is sure to capture a new audience thanks to its more affordable price point and approachable flavor profile.
Maker’s Mark’s sole age-stated product, Cellar Aged, is now in its second year of production. This year’s release features 15% 12-year-old bourbon and 85% 13-year-old bourbon, making it their oldest release to date.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Dark chocolate truffle dusting, orange blossom, and floral aromas kick off this aromatically impressive bourbon. Further notes of brown sugar, lavender honey, faint umami, wet soil, and coconut soon follow.
Palate: Citrus and red berries with vanilla and black pepper hit the palate at first, with heavy dark chocolate notes following thereafter. The texture is very creamy up front, with a tasty pop of cinnamon on the back end. Luscious caramel and toasted coconut develop at midpalate.
Finish: The finish is lengthy and has dried strawberries with black pepper, gentle oak, and vanilla.
Bottom Line:
The question you may have is whether or not this year’s Cellar Aged is better than 2023’s edition. The answer: it depends. While last year’s version is full of caramel tones that are very true to Maker’s Mark’s standard product, this year has much more chocolate and an atypical coconut note that will bring newcomers into the fold.
Uncle Nearest 777 Anniversary Blend Premium Tennessee Whiskey – The Lost Chapter (Batch 007)
For this special Anniversary Blend, created to honor Uncle Nearest’s 7th year in operation, the brand takes 7-year-old Tennessee whiskey that’s been hand-selected and mingled by their Master Blender, Victoria Eady Butler. The ABV for these small batch blends varies, but the one we’ll be considering today from Batch 007 landed on the higher side at 121.7 proof.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Rainier cherries, maple candy, and white chocolate. There’s some clove and more faint cinnamon, but the cherries are the strongest aroma.
Palate: Incredibly smooth and supple mouthfeel that instantly and gently coats your palate with honey, rainier cherries, and allspice hitting the palate. It’s remarkably even-keeled, and it’s only as it transitions to the finish where baking spices from clove to black pepper start to tingle the tongue.
Finish: The lengthy finish finds white pepper, sage, and rich, well-rounded honey, gently sending this whiskey on its way.
Bottom Line:
This is far and away the best whiskey I’ve ever had from Uncle Nearest. The 777 Anniversary Blend has an incredible depth of flavor coupled with an impressive balance that subtly and effectively coats the palate this whiskey will leave you craving a backup bottle as soon as you take your first sip.
The latest project from the Henderson family, the same folks who founded Angel’s Envy, is True Story. True Story’s whiskey lineup features an Amburana and Sherry-finished rye with a Moscatel-finished bourbon as their flagship.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: The nosing notes fling the door open with delightful honey, surprising macadamia nuts, and stewed stone fruits. It’s a balanced and generally light melange that is a treat to nose at length despite not being overly complex.
Palate: The palate opens with vanilla frosting, dates, and macadamia nuts’ faintly nutty, creamy flavor. This is easy-sipping bourbon for sure, with a nice roundness that highlights how balanced and well-integrated it is with those Moscatel secondary maturation casks.
Finish: The finish ends succinctly with a touch of white pepper joining red berries and dilute honey.
Bottom Line:
True Story doesn’t just have a highly unique bottle the bourbon (and rye) housed in those opaque bottles is one of a kind as well. With a light, sweet flavor profile ideal for the bourbon-curious, but rich enough for the enthusiasts, the Henderson’s definitely have another hit on their hands.
New for 2024, Old Grand-Dad’s first age-stated expression is a hefty 16-year-old bourbon proofed down to 50% ABV. This expression joins Old Grand-Dad, Old Grand-Dad Bonded, and Old Grand-Dad 114 in the lineup.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Cornbread and caramel fill the air at first, with notes of brown sugar, peanuts, and wheat toast closely following behind for a classic Jim Beam-esque profile with added depth and nuance.
Palate: Well-aged oak, cinnamon, brown sugar, tobacco leaf, and Chex Mix make for the most striking flavors on the palate, which is even-keeled and even a bit restrained, which is typical of bourbon in this age range. The texture is admittedly quotidian, given this whiskey’s moderate proof point. Still, there’s no denying the depth of flavor, as the mature oak tones provide plenty of runway for the rest of the tasting notes to develop to their fullest potential.
Finish: Old Grand-Dad 16 concludes with a medium finish that’s slightly drying with heavy spice and peanut shell vibes punctuating the end of every sip.
Bottom Line:
The newest Old Grand Dad in Jim Beam’s portfolio, this stellar 16-year-old bourbon pushes the OGD flavor wheel to new heights with increased richness and beautiful depth of flavor previously out of reach for the lineup. While one is left wondering whether or not the expression would benefit from added proof (16-year OGD 114, anyone?), there’s no denying that this well-constructed, balanced bourbon is worth seeking out immediately.
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