Guidance Whiskey Small Batch Review

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Guidance Whiskey Small Batch Quick Stats:

Spirit: Guidance Whiskey Small Batch

Distiller: Guidance Whiskey

Aged: 2 years aged, but this little guy is a newer bottling just over 3 years old

Price: $50-59.99

Proof: 80

Guidance Whiskey Website


About The Distillery:

Inspired by culture and motivated by a deep concept of family and friendship, Jason Ridgel founded Guidance Whiskey in October of 2018. He made a promise to his family back home in Alabama to always pursue greatness. For Ridgel and his team, the word ‘Guidance’ just made sense. It represents all those that came before and those that helped along the way. Guidance can also represent a journey or direction.

About The Bottle:
This bottle is aged for 2 years. A premium adult beverage introduced and distilled in Iowa in a small batch and housed in Nashville, TN. An American whiskey. Guidance is a careful blend of corn and rye with a touch of malted barley. You can’t miss the burnt caramel from smoked barrels. That leads to the maraschino cherry and vanilla base on your palate. This bottle is a 350ml version of the 750ml and bottle about a year after the original release. Let’s give it a taste and see what it has to offer.

Woodford Reserve Rye Carson’s Store Pick Review

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Woodford Reserve Rye Quick Stats:

Spirit: Woodford Reserve Rye Carson’s Store Pick

Distiller: Woodford Reserve

Aged: This rye is at least 4 years old

Price: $40-45

Proof: 90.4

Woodford Reserve Website


About The Distillery:

The art of making fine bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery in 1812. The history of bourbon is the history of Kentucky and the history of the United States. Woodford is focusing on sustainability. It has a vision for protecting and conserving natural resources. Woodford takes a focus on recyclability. 98% of waste material is recycled . Ten acres of land on the property is for native grass restoration. 97% of all food scraps are composted on site at the Woodford Reserve property. Woodford Reserve builds upon details. Quality is what we strive for. And if we aren’t great, nothing else matters.

About The Bottle:
The whisky mashbill uses a pre-prohibition style ratio of 53% rye in its mash bill. This pays homage to history’s original rye whiskeys. Baking spice and tobacco are the dominant notes among a sea of fruit, floral, and sweet aromatics, yields a nice sweetness and overall balance. Woodford’s Rye whiskey can deliver complex flavors – neat, on ice, or in a cocktail. A balanced rye makes a more balanced cocktail.

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Weller Antique 107

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Weller Antique 107 Quick Stats:

Spirit: Weller Antique 107

Distiller: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Aged: NAS (more than 4 years)

Price: $49.99

Proof: 107 Proof

Buffalo Trace Website


About The Distillery:

Throughout the challenges of floods, fires, tornadoes and even Prohibition, Buffalo Trace Distillery has never compromised. A timeless dedication to respecting the past while fearlessly innovating for the future has served us well for more than two centuries. No matter the challenge, be it Mother Nature or man, the people of our Distillery have been part of the story that shaped America and the spirit industry as well.

About Weller Antique 107:
Weller is a wheated bourbon with a full-bodied flavor and a balanced palate. Old Weller Antique is bottled at 107 proof. It offers a complex taste and bold finish. It’s certainly a recognizable member of the Weller label, with its own unique characteristics to compliment the high proof.

A true whiskey pioneer, W.L. Weller helped create wheated bourbon whiskey. Many even believe he was the first!

Initial Impressions

We miss the days where Weller Antique 107 sat on the shelf. It used to have a plump bottle and be available almost everywhere. However, since the new bottle has taken over, it’s become incredibly difficult to find.

As a result of this, many are unable to get their hands on one other than the occasional bar pour.

However, the bottle is absolutely worth the hunt. We were excited to pop this bottle open and review it for you all!

You can also check out our Weller Special Reserve review by clicking here.

  • A bottle of Weller 107 Antique Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace
  • The back label of a bottle of weller antique 107 bourbon whiskey

Nassif Family Reserve Review

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Nassif Family Reserve Quick Stats:

Spirit: Nassif Family Reserve

Distiller: Cat’s Eye Distillery

Aged: Blended, a 3 year 10 month bouyre and a 14 year light whiskey from MGP

Price: $39.99

Proof: 107 Proof

Cat’s Eye Distillery Website


About The Distillery:

Cat’s Eye Distillery is a small family owned micro-distillery. Their mission is to create truly EPIC tasting products. John Baker, one of the owners, previously worked at Honey Creek Distillery in Van Buren County. There, he gained his initial experience distilling products.  Since then, he has done considerable research and met with owners of 22 different micro-distilleries in Colorado.

About Nassif Family Reserve:
Nassif Family Reserve was first developed by co-founder Gene Nassif. He wanted it to be a whiskey he could enjoy with his family and friends for his wedding. They enjoyed it so much that he decided to bottle it as a permanent, entry-level whiskey for the Obtainium brand. Nassif Family Reserve is a blend of 50% 14-year light whiskey from MGP and 50% 3-year 10-month bourye (a blend of 36 rye bourbon and 95 rye distillate aged together in new oak). The blend 107 proof. The result is a whiskey that is both approachable for a novice, great in cocktails, yet complex enough to be enjoyed neat by a whiskey enthusiast.

Initial Impressions

We had seen this bottle on shelves in the area, often next to Obtanium Light Whiskey. This, however is a much more paired down version, settling at a popular 107 proof rather than the 130+ that Obtanium is often found at.

We wanted to find out if this bottle held up to the standard Obtanium set forth. So, we grabbed a bottle and decided to see for ourselves!

Rabbit Hole – Mizunara

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Quick Stats:

Distiller: Rabbit Hole Distillery

Spirit: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Aged: 16 Years

Price: Around $1,500

Proof: 114.2

Rabbit Hole Distillery Website


About The Distillery
“Rabbit Hole is a legacy in the making. In a matter of years, Kaveh and his family have accomplished what takes most generations to achieve. With an innovative mindset and Michael, Cameron, and Henri by his side, he has shaken the bourbon industry to its core. From the onset, his love for spirits led him to create something new. With a mission to redefine the standard for American Whiskey, he envisioned every detail of the Rabbit Hole Distillery, which has been heralded as the new architectural icon on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, then elegantly made distinct, innovative recipes for each of his whiskeys at a time when only a few existed.”

About The Bottle
“For this Founder’s Collection edition, our Founder, Kaveh Zamanian, an avid collector of rare bottles and barrels of whiskey, has selected a handful of 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey barrels from his personal trove and finished them in casks made of Japanese Mizunara Oak, the most elusive and coveted barrels on the planet, to create this one-of-a-kind double oaked cask strength bourbon.”

Pure Kentucky Whiskey Review

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Bottle of Pure Kentucky Whiskey


Pure Kentucky Whiskey Quick Stats:

Spirit: Pure Kentucky Whiskey

Distiller: Willett Distillery

Aged: At least 4 years old

Price: $30-35

Proof: 107

Willett Distillery Website


About The Distillery:

Once on the distillery grounds, one begins to understand just how unique the distillery and its surroundings are. Great efforts went to restore the main distillery building, cistern room, and aging warehouses. As a result, these restorations of the grounds have the left the property totally transformed. We have even more exciting developments in the works. From underground, spring-fed lakes, to the Kentucky split-face limestone exterior, it truly makes for a memorable trip. Our old turn-of-the-century belt and pulley fan systems running throughout the distillery and visitor center are a sight to see.

About The Bottle:
Kentucky, USA- Pure Kentucky is an all natural product. Made with all natural ingredients and from pure limestone water. It is a true masterpiece among Kentucky’s finest Bourbons. This bourbon is hand-bottled, extra old, in very limited quantities. One small batch at a time. This bottle is an update from its previous appearance. It is exchanges a cork for its previous screw top as well as some curves in the neck and body of the bottle.

Benriach Smoky 12

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Quick Stats:

Distiller: Benriach

Spirit: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

Aged: 12 Years

Price: Around $64.99

Proof: 92

Benriach Website


About The Distillery
“A Speyside single malt Scotch whisky as intriguing and extraordinary as Benriach could not have come to be without a unique whisky making heritage, dating from 1898, when founder John Duff built his distillery.

Ruggedly beautiful, Benriach stands on the site of the old Riach farm in north Speyside, drawing water from a mineral-rich aquifer, deep beneath the distillery. Thanks to a long-standing tradition of distilling three styles of whisky; classic unpeated, Highland peated and triple distilled, together with an eclectic selection of casks from around the world, our whisky makers are able to explore the full flavour possibilities of single malt, creating some of the richest, most multi-layered whiskies in Speyside.

This tradition continues today, under the guidance of Master Blender, Dr Rachel Barrie. Benriach is the story of a hidden Speyside gem; quietly revealing its treasures to be discovered and savoured.”

About The Bottle
“The Smoky Twelve is the perfect marriage of fruit, malt, oak and rich layers of smoke. Crafted from a combination of unpeated and peated spirit and three cask matured for at least twelve years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Marsala wine casks. The whisky from each cask is then expertly married together to create a smooth, creamy single malt, multilayered with flavours of ripened fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and warming oak spice.”

  • The front label of Benriach The Smoky Twelve Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
  • The back label of Benriach The Smoky Twelve Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

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Quick Stats:

Distiller: Nikka Whiskey

Spirit: Straight Rye Whiskey

Aged: NAS

Price: Around $79.99

Proof: 102.8

Nikka Whiskey Website


About The Distillery
“Masataka Taketsuru got his chemistry degree and apprenticed in Scotland before returning to Japan. It was there he entered a contract with Kotobukiya (Suntory) in 1923 to direct building the Yamazaki Distillery

After his ten year contract with Kotobukiya, Masataka decided to become independent to make his own ideal whisky. In 1934 he went north and built his first distillery in Yoichi, Hokkaido, a place – though inconveniently located – he had always considered to be the ideal site for him to make whisky. The environmental conditions of Yoichi were in many ways similar to those of Scotland with a cool climate, crisp air and appropriate humidity. The company first started producing apple products under the name of “Dai Nippon Kaju”, meaning the “Great Japanese Juice Company” while he was preparing to produce whisky. In 1936 the first pot still designed by Masataka and made in Japan was installed and started distillation. Finally in 1940 the first whisky from Nikka was launched. The brand name of this whisky was “NIKKA WHISKY”, short for “Nippon Kaju”, which later became the name of the company itself.”

About The Bottle
“The complex formula is created by blending more than 100 different batches of malt and grain whiskies. After blending, the whisky is filled into used barrels and matured for another few months. This “marriage” process harmonizes all components in the formula, resulting in a mellow taste. Bottling is controlled at 51.4% ABV, almost equivalent to 90 British proof, that Nikka blenders determined through repeated experiments to achieve the ideal taste profile.

The iconic square bottle reflects its concept “a small block of whisky” and embodies the intense and rich flavors of the whisky inside. Long after its launch, this bottle is still timeless and recognized for its ultimate simplicity.”

  • A bottle of Nikka Whiskey From The Barrel
  • The Back Label of Nikka Whiskey From The Barrel

Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

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Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Quick Stats:

Spirit: Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Distiller: Old Elk Distillery

Aged: Blended Whiskey 5 years aged

Price: $50

Proof: 88 Proof

Old Elk Distillery


About The Distillery:

“We started with passion and vision. To transcend tradition by creating a timeless bourbon recipe and innovative process that elevates the bourbon landscape. As a result of his passion to create a legacy bourbon brand with unsurpassed quality and taste, Curt turned to Greg Metze, a Master Distiller with 38 years of experience specializing in developing bourbon whiskeys. In doing so, This collaboration produced an innovative bourbon, which transcends tradition. This evolved into the collaboration of Old Elk Distillery with Master Distiller Greg Metze. His visionary leadership refined and enhanced the Old Elk bourbon recipe to create a top shelf bourbon.”

About The Bottle:
“The key to our bourbon is our high malted barley content in our mashbill. We invested in our bourbon by using four times more malted barley than traditional recipes. In doing so, we created a non-traditional bourbon that generates sweet and light components. The malted barley combines with the spicy essence of clove from the rye. The classic rich bourbon character from the corn, amounts to a robust and smooth taste profile.”

  • The front label from a bottle of Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • The Back Label of a bottle of Old Elk Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Aberlour – A’Bunadh

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Quick Stats:

Distiller: Aberlour Distillery

Spirit: Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Aged: 5-25 year blend

Price: Around $94.99

Proof: 122.4

Abrlour House


About The Distillery
“James Fleming founded Aberlour Distillery 1879, choosing a location that not only provided a sure supply of pure spring water that flowed over the pink granite of Ben Rinnes, but also a place rooted in ancient times and noted for its magical relationship with water.

Steeped in centuries of legend and surrounded by the dramatic Highland scenery of Ben Rinnes, the village of Aberlour lies at the very heart of Speyside, where the Lour burn joins the River Spey. The exceptionally pure, soft spring water used for making Aberlour whisky is drawn from nearby natural springs.”

About The Bottle
“Meaning ‘the original’ in Gaelic, A’bunadh is made in homage to Aberlour’s founder, James Fleming. A’bunadh is a whisky hand-made from start to finish with each batch being created to ensure a rich and complex flavour of moist raisin, and homemade fruit cake. It is bottled at cask strength resulting in a robust and deeply intense, sherried whisky.”