The Chronicle
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49 results across all types
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Review: Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon: 100 Proof, Cask Strength, and 1776 Edition (2026)
Today, the United States marks its 250th anniversary. In the months surrounding the occasion, “America 250” became nearly impossible to avoid. Advertising campaigns, commemorative releases, and media coverage all joined the celebration, each offering its own interpretation of a quarter millennium of American history. When people around the world picture the United States, certain images… The post Review: Lost Lantern United States of Bourbon: 100 Proof, Cask Strength, and 1776 Edition (2026) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Peg Leg Porker America 250 Bourbon
Chances are pretty good that there is barbecue in your future this holiday weekend, and Tennessee’s Peg Leg Porker, founded by award-winning pitmaster Carey Bringle, has the whiskey to pair with it. Warning: like the barbecue you’re probably planning to eat, it’s quite the mouthful. The new Spirit of America Limited Edition Summer Series –… The post Review: Peg Leg Porker America 250 Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Dark Arts America 250 Years of Spirit 5X Blend Bourbon 11 Years Old
Great whiskey often asks a simple question: can a collection of individual parts become something greater than any one of them alone? Dark Arts Whiskey House has built its identity around that very idea. Its philosophy of alchemy is not centered on turning lead into gold, but on transformation. Separate barrels, each with its own… The post Review: Dark Arts America 250 Years of Spirit 5X Blend Bourbon 11 Years Old appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey 4 Years Old (2022)
For such a humble brand, Old Overholt Rye has undergone an awfully large number of reinventions over the last decade, including a full relaunch with proof change only 2 years ago, a bonded expression, and an overproof version. Now standard-issue Old Overholt is changing once again, keeping the new 43% abv but adding a 4… The post Review: Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey 4 Years Old (2022) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Copper & Cask “Wave That Flag” Bourbon and “Boston Rum Party” Rye
In 2026, consumers have been inundated with American whiskey releases bearing America 250 branding in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. For many producers, the formula has been fairly predictable: add an America 250 logo to the label, reference “1776-2026,” and attach a patriotic name. Numerous releases also direct… The post Review: Copper & Cask “Wave That Flag” Bourbon and “Boston Rum Party” Rye appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Virginia Distillery Split Barrel Project #1
How do you get more bourbon drinkers to embrace American single malt? Virginia Distillery Co. thinks they might have the answer with their latest line extension. The Split Barrel Project is a first of its kind blend of bourbon and American single malt conceived as a gateway to American single malt for those traditional American… The post Review: Virginia Distillery Split Barrel Project #1 appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Green River Honey Finished Bourbon
Honey-finished whiskey (and other spirits) appears to be a full-on trend right now, with Green River the latest bourbon to get in on the fun. This expression is more straightforward that some, using a small amount of 100% local honey added directly to the barrel of its Kentucky bourbon, rather than attempting to finish the… The post Review: Green River Honey Finished Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Stitzel Reserve Bourbon 31 Years Old
In today’s bourbon market, some discerning collectors chase age. Others chase proof. And if I had to guess, the center of that Venn diagram is pretty big, such that very old and very high-abv bourbon will turn a lot of heads. In April 2026, spirits giant Diageo announced a whiskey with stats so eye-popping, I… The post Review: Stitzel Reserve Bourbon 31 Years Old appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Old Stubborn Cask Strength Rye, Old Swagger Cask Strength Rye, and Old Swagger Bourbon
There are plenty of people in the industry who can make whiskey. Far fewer have built a reputation on their ability to recognize exceptional whiskey when it reaches the glass. For years, Ed Bley earned the respect of enthusiasts not as a distiller, but as a selector. Through countless single barrels and private picks, he… The post Review: Old Stubborn Cask Strength Rye, Old Swagger Cask Strength Rye, and Old Swagger Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Breckenridge Honey Flavored Whiskey
Founded in 2008 by Dr. Bryan Nolt in Breckenridge, Colorado, Breckenridge Distillery built its reputation around high-rye blended bourbon and the claim of being the “World’s Highest Distillery.” From the beginning, the distillery’s approach centered on marrying whiskey distilled in-house with sourced stocks, creating a portfolio that has become one of the defining names in… The post Review: Breckenridge Honey Flavored Whiskey appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Frey Ranch Bourbon 10 Years Old (2026)
It’s easy to criticize “grain-to-glass” as a designation, but by any definition, Nevada’s Frey Ranch certainly qualifies. The family owned and operated company grows its own grains, then malts, mashes, distills, ages, and bottles all whiskeys on site. They even create their own “peat” via a home-built bioreactor, which accelerates the decay of farm-sourced organic… The post Review: Frey Ranch Bourbon 10 Years Old (2026) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Silverthorn Reserve Blender’s Art Bourbon 10 Years Old and Single Barrel Rye 13 Years Old
Drew Thorn spent more than a decade helping build Sagamore Spirit from an ambitious startup into a nationally recognized whiskey brand. As the company’s CEO, he played a pivotal role in guiding its growth and establishing its place in the modern rye whiskey market. From the beginning, Sagamore Spirit’s identity was rooted in the blending… The post Review: Silverthorn Reserve Blender’s Art Bourbon 10 Years Old and Single Barrel Rye 13 Years Old appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Bardstown Bourbon Co. Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend
Bardstown Bourbon Co. has proven to be one of the more consistent producers of creative, cutting-edge American whiskeys. Nowhere in their generous portfolio is that more evident than the limited-edition Distillery Reserve Series, a thrice annual showcase of some the distillery’s boldest creations available exclusively at their Kentucky outposts and to members of their whiskey… The post Review: Bardstown Bourbon Co. Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Spirits of Griffo Distillery (Updated 2026)
Northern California’s Griffo Distillery enticed us with its recent release of whiskey distilled from Lagunitas’ The Waldos beer, so we’re diving back into the distillery’s offerings with a deeper dive into some of its more mainstream, permanent releases. Let’s not sit on ceremony as we delve into a collection that spans vodka, gin, whiskey, and… The post Review: Spirits of Griffo Distillery (Updated 2026) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Koopers Father’s Office Bourbon and Sweetheart of the Rodeo Bourbon (2026)
Texas-based Kooper Family Distilling recently rebranded, dropping the Family and simplifying to Koopers (no apostrophe). Sorry, fam! Labels have been revamped across the board, with Koopers branding much more prominent and consistent across the lineup. The brand is also ramping up production with all manner of special releases, one of which we look at below… The post Review: Koopers Father’s Office Bourbon and Sweetheart of the Rodeo Bourbon (2026) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Fettercairn 12 Years Old and 16 Years Old
For 200 years, Fettercairn’s Highland single malts never officially graced American shores, at least via branded releases. In 2025, the brand introduced part of its core range to the U.S., with limited distribution on 24, 28, and 40 year old single malts. Now, the Whyte & Mackay-operated distillery is rolling out its 12 and 16… The post Review: Fettercairn 12 Years Old and 16 Years Old appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Top Spirits Gifts for Father’s Day 2026
Your dad has worn the same belt for 10 years and hasn’t put on a tie since the Clinton administration, so why are you going to give him one of those tired old gifts for Father’s Day once again? Take it from a dad: Booze is well-known as the international currency of fatherly love. With… The post Top Spirits Gifts for Father’s Day 2026 appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Ardbeg Dolce
This year’s release for Ardbeg Day — marked on the final day of Islay’s Feis Ile celebration — features one of the distillery’s most evocative — and successful — aging regimens. That regimen is Marsala dolce, the sweetest style of Sicilian Marsala wine, which spans secco (dry), semisecco (semi-dry), and the sweet dolce, which is… The post Review: Ardbeg Dolce appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Michter’s US-1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash Whiskey 2026
Michter’s launched its first barrel strength product, Barrel Strength Rye, in 2015 and followed it up not long after with a barrel strength offering of their core US-1 Bourbon. While both Barrel Strength expressions have reappeared over the years (the rye more frequently than the bourbon), Michter’s Toasted series has been the more consistent, non… The post Review: Michter’s US-1 Barrel Strength Sour Mash Whiskey 2026 appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: WhistlePig Declaration Wheat Whiskey and PiggyBank 2026
Ready to get your patriotism on for the big 250? Well, WhistlePig is, offering up its latest PiggyBank in red, white, and blue along with a brand new wheat whiskey called Declaration, named after the only Declaration you’ve ever heard of in your life. July 4 will be here before you know it, so get… The post Review: WhistlePig Declaration Wheat Whiskey and PiggyBank 2026 appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Gambit No. 6 Bourbon
Chip Tate, the mastermind behind Balcones whiskey and now a sort of whiskey ronin, just arrived with his latest project, Gambit No. 6. Why number 6? Not because there are five gambits before it, but because it’s a 6 year old Kentucky bourbon that features 6 different finishes: in wine (Sonoma chardonnay and Sonoma cabernet… The post Review: Gambit No. 6 Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Russell’s Reserve Bourbon 13 Years Old (Updated 2026)
Wild Turkey’s Russell’s Reserve brand tends to fly under the radar a bit, but ignoring this latest release would be a mistake. It might be the best bottling ever to come out under the label. You’re getting a 13 year old cask-strength bourbon, available for a limited time. Here’s a bit of the story behind… The post Review: Russell’s Reserve Bourbon 13 Years Old (Updated 2026) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Blue Note Wheated Bourbon
Memphis-based Blue Note recently added a small batch wheated bourbon to their growing lineup of contract-distilled whiskeys, all of which age in a uniquely humid Tennessee climate near the intersection of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers. The mashbill of 70% corn, 21% soft winter wheat, and 9% malted barley will be familiar to fans of… The post Review: Blue Note Wheated Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .
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Review: Oaklore Story Series 2026 – Old Fashioned and Port Cask Finished Bourbon
A bourbon’s story doesn’t necessarily end when it leaves its original barrel. Increasingly, distillers are turning to secondary maturation to add another chapter, one that can reshape the whiskey beneath it. That idea sits at the heart of Oaklore’s Story Series. Built around the belief that every barrel has a story worth telling, Oaklore Distilling… The post Review: Oaklore Story Series 2026 – Old Fashioned and Port Cask Finished Bourbon appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking .