Redemption Bourbon (2026 Revamp)

I’d like to thank the folks at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Redemption Bourbon bottle with red label and wood-topped cork sitting on a deck railing outdoors, green trees blurred in the background, BourbonGuy watermark in lower left.

Do you remember a couple of weeks ago when we were doing the BourbonGuy Brackets? I had one matchup where I said both of the competitors were “products in transition.” Well, shortly after I published the results of the bracket competition, I got an email from the producers of one of those products, completely coincidentally. They were announcing the new bottle and proof of Redemption Bourbon—an announcement that I had apparently scooped by looking at their website.

I immediately asked for a sample to be sent to me. I was very interested to give the proof bump a thorough look. When it arrived, I noticed that it also had a higher stated age than previously, having gone from a 2-year-old at 88 proof to a 3-year-old at 92 proof. All good things, especially since it is still distilled in Indiana (assuming MGP) and there is some fantastic bourbon coming out of there even at a younger age.

I am not a reporter. I don’t break news, hell I don’t even really report it. But it tickles me that they reached out days after I published my accidental “scoop.” I like fun coincidences—they make life interesting. Anyway, here’s what the brand has to say about their revamp:

At the heart of the relaunch is Redemption’s new bottle design. Dramatic and symbolic, the refreshed packaging features an eagle in mid-flight, formed from rye with its wings spread wide. More than a design evolution, the eagle represents courage and ambition—leaving the safety of the ground for the unknown horizon. It embodies Redemption’s refreshed brand philosophy: Choose Redemption. Rise Above. A symbol of resilience and forward momentum, the new bottle captures the spirit of Redemption’s next act: fearless, confident, and rooted in the attitude and soul that defines its rye-built whiskeys.

Prompted by a trademark dispute initiated by a competitor a few years ago, Redemption took the opportunity to reimagine its brand identity, beginning with its packaging. Rather than looking backward, the brand chose to move forward, transforming a challenge into a catalyst for reinvention. The new bottle stands as a visible symbol of that transformation.

While the new packaging makes an immediate visual statement, the evolution extends beyond aesthetics. Redemption’s refreshed portfolio includes its signature Rye, High Rye Bourbon, and Straight Bourbon expressions, with the bourbon now bottled at 92 proof to deliver a bolder, more balanced profile.

Ok so now that we know why and how the bourbon has changed, let’s see how it tastes.

Redemption Bourbon

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: Distilled in Indiana. 46% ABV. 3 years old. Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley. Batch #1.

Nose: Nutmeg, vanilla, mint, a touch of red fruit, and a little oak.

Mouth: Almond, vanilla, mint, and just a touch of oak and baking spice.

Finish: Medium in both warmth and length. Lingering notes of cinnamon, mint, and fruit.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn Smiley face that denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: This, while young, is a perfectly fine bourbon. It’s got a nice spice, along with some mint and fruit notes that I’m enjoying. I’d drink this one neat or in a cocktail, personally. It doesn’t really handle dilution well in my experience, but if you’re making a cocktail that’s built in the glass with minimal dilution—like an Old Fashioned—it performs well. For what it is, I like it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye

I’d like to thank the folks at Frey Ranch Distillery and their PR team for providing this bottle with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Frey Ranch Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey (aged 6 years) bottle on a wooden deck with backyard trees in the background, showing green and black label details and BourbonGuy watermark in the corner

Now, I don’t know about you, but I seldom think of farming and Nevada in the same sentence. Mostly because I’ve really only been to the areas that tourists go to. I’ve been to Vegas, visited nature in the area, and driven through Northern Nevada on I-80 a couple of times. And honestly, I never thought about grain farming as I drove through.

But apparently I should have. Just over the southern horizon (poetically speaking) from I-80 lives a small town named Fallon. And when you look for Fallon on a satellite view, you notice one thing quite clearly: there is a lot of green on that image. More than my brief visits to the state would have ever led me to believe. I must not be the only one with those thoughts, as the press release spends a few words explaining just that:

Using his own slow-grown grains that take Northern Nevada’s climate, topography, and terroir into account provides Colby with almost unlimited freedom to experiment with different grain varieties and blends. Valuing a common-sense approach to sustainable farming, Colby, along with Master Distiller Russell Wedlake, built a distillery born from a desire to create a distinctive, long-lasting product from the quality grains that the Frey family has been growing and perfecting for generations. The new Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye is another prime example of Frey Ranch’s commitment to centering its whiskey enterprise around their grains and farming background first and foremost. 

The Frey family values a common-sense approach to sustainable farming, with Colby’s inspiration to build a distillery born from a desire to create a distinctive, long-lasting product from the quality grains his family has been growing and perfecting for generations. The family has long abided by the motto, “Be good to the land and the land will be good to you,” which is embossed on the bottom of each bottle of Frey Ranch Whiskey.

Now I don’t know about you, but I love having my perspective on the world widened. It’s why I travel so much and end up taking a lot of road trips when I do. I love seeing for myself just what this country has to offer.

But we are here to talk about whiskey. So let’s see what this whiskey has to offer. Right off the bat, it isn’t offering you any water. This is a cask strength whiskey, uncut with water—which I actually like. Why bother shipping water across the country when I have plenty here at home? Plus, I get to find my preferred dilution point. Frey Ranch Uncut Rye is six years old, bottled at 124.52 proof, and has a mash bill of 100% Canadian winter rye, grown by the Frey family. So now onto the most important part—how does it taste?

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Rye

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided for review purposes at no charge. The suggested retail price is $79.99 and it is available for the time being at the Frey Ranch Distillery website.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.33

Details: 6 years old. 62.26% ABV. 100% rye mash bill.

Nose: Caramel, honey, mint, black pepper, oak.

Mouth: Very hot and thick in the mouth. Notes of cinnamon, honey, cola, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long. Notes of cinnamon, mint, cocoa, black pepper, caramel, and oak linger.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn Smiley face which denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: Rich, sweet, and very spicy when neat. This is a release that is begging for water—which I am totally fine with. As I said earlier, it doesn't make much sense to ship water across the country when there is plenty here at the house. Water tames some of the heat and brings out cedar notes, as well as a hint of citrus. This also makes a killer Sazerac, the cocktail I test all ryes with. Overall, this is very good. I really like it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2: Straight Wheat Whiskey

I’d like to thank the folks at Ross& Squibb and their PR teams for sending this bottle with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Close-up of Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2 Straight Wheat Whiskey bottle showing label details (distilled in 2017, 113 proof) on a wooden deck, with rich amber-red whiskey color and BourbonGuy watermark visible

Spring has sprung here in Minnesota, and you know what that means. Yep, it was 80 degrees last weekend, and it’s looking like there’s a chance of snow this coming weekend. In spring, Minnesota gets a taste of all the seasons at once: summer, winter, mud, road work—even football if you follow the NFL Draft or the spring game for the local college. You don’t get to experience all of them in their full force (for example, even at 80 degrees, I didn’t turn on my AC for more than a test run, and the Draft/Spring Games are poor substitutes for real games), but you do get the opportunity to remember what you can look forward to and what you are leaving behind.

It seems that, much like living through a Minnesota spring, MGP—producer of tonight’s whiskey—is also currently trying to decide what to leave behind and what is coming in the future, as they announced the “temporary idling” of the stills in their Lux Row and Limestone Branch facilities, affecting 33 employees. Not something you ever want to read if you are a fan of American whiskey. They will, however, still be bottling and running the visitor centers at each location.

However, we aren’t here to do economic reporting. We are here to discuss the products that are actually in front of us. And tonight, that is MGP/Ross & Squibb’s first wheat whiskey. It was created using their 95% Wheat Whiskey mashbill. The liquid was finished in a combination of Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry, and Ruby Port casks before being bottled at 56.5% ABV, or 113 proof, as the second release in the company’s Master Distiller Experimental Series. Here is what they have to say about the series:

Building on the acclaim of Experimental Series No. 1, including its gold medal win at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the second installment continues the annual limited-edition program. Originally designed as an outlet for creative exploration, the series gives Master Distiller Ian Stirsman a blank canvas to push beyond traditional boundaries by exploring new heirloom grains and unique barrel finishes. The result each year is a one-of-a-kind expression defined by unconventional flavor profiles, depth, and innovation that is made for adventurous whiskey connoisseurs and collectors.

The whiskey is available in limited quantities nationwide for $69.99 for a 700 mL bottle.

Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 2: Straight Wheat Whiskey

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $69.99 for a 700 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00

Details: Distilled in 2017. 56.5% ABV. Wheat whiskey finished in a combination of Tawny Port, White Port, Oloroso Sherry, and Ruby Port casks.

Nose: Wintergreen, stone fruit, caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Mouth: Spicy, hot, and sweet. Cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, red fruit, honey, and oak.

Finish: Hot and long. Notes of cinnamon, mint, honey, oak, and red fruit.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Hot, sweet, with a great mouthfeel. That sums it up neatly. It is really delicious, especially neat. Unlike most whiskeys of this proof level, you want to be judicious with adding water. It really doesn’t take it very well, bringing out more grain notes and suppressing many of the rich notes. Even so, I really like this one. It is much more complex and satisfying than other straight wheat whiskeys I’ve had, probably due to the proof and the barrel finishing. If you see it for around the suggested retail, it’s a decent splurge, should you be able to swing it.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Revisited: Woodinville Straight Bourbon

I’d like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottle (aged 6 years) on a sunlit wooden deck with backyard in the background; large “REVISITED” text overlays the bottom with a BourbonGuy watermark in the corner

It has been thirteen hundred, thirty-nine days since I last look a look at Woodinville Whiskey. It was the first time that I’d had one of their whiskeys, and it certainly wasn’t the last. Since that time, we’ve looked at a number of their products and liked most of them quite a bit. However, I hadn’t picked up the original bourbon again for a while. So I was very excited when they sent me this bottle in order to promote their recent bottle redesign and new 6-year age statement. God, I love age statements showing up. And it really is a lovely bottle. And since that new bottle was the entire reason I got to take another look at it, I should probably let them tell you a little about it.

Woodinville's updated bottle pays homage to the traditional shape that has become synonymous with Woodinville but has been refined to reflect the ultra-premium liquid they produce. The bottle features two different textures of glass, the clear and refined upper part representing the purity and terroir of Woodinville where the whiskey is distilled, and the rugged lower half representing the dramatic climates of Quincy where the whiskey is matured. All four flagship whiskeys feature the fresh look and will also feature an updated 6 year age statement on the bottle. The whiskeys are: Woodinville Straight Bourbon Aged 6 Years (90 proof $39.99 MSRP), Woodinville Straight 100% Rye Aged 6 Years (90 proof $39.99 MSRP) Woodinville Port Finish Bourbon (90 proof $44.99 MSRP), and Woodinville Applewood Finish Bourbon (90 proof $44.99 MSRP).

So now that I’ve let them have their say, let’s see what I had to say about this bourbon the last time. I gave it a “Like” rating and said: “This is pretty darn tasty. If you like hot honey, this should be one to pick up. I look forward to trying a few more from their product line.” Now let’s see how a current bottle tastes, shall we?

Woodinville Straight Bourbon, Aged 6 Years

Purchase Info: This bottle was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $39.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.67

Details: 6 years old. 45% ABV.

Nose: Hay, cherry, vanilla, oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon, honey, vanilla, oak, and almond.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of cinnamon, honey, and almond.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face that denotes I like this product.

Thoughts: This is still really tasty. It has a lovely, viscous mouthfeel, which just adds to the honey notes. The almond/cherry notes are nice throughout. There is good warmth. And as mentioned above, it now comes in a bottle that is pretty enough that I might throw some solar lights in it and put it out on the deck for decoration. This remains a Like. It’s quite tasty.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey

I’d like to thank Columbia Creek and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey bottle, 6-year, 95.6 proof, 47.8% ABV, 750ml, on an outdoor deck railing with bare trees and a red building in the background.

The sun is coming out here in Minnesota. The snow is melted, or at least it was. We are in that time of year where you don't know if you need to shovel the driveway or if you can sit on the deck in shorts. And no, I don't mean you folks from more southern climates. In Minnesota, it isn't unusual for folks to be in shorts as soon as the temp hits the 50s in the spring. And by "folks" I mean me. Of course, I tend to wear shorts all year long. I'm not going to let a little thing like the outside weather keep me from being comfortable in my house. That's what blankets are for. I'm stubborn like that.

Which leads me nicely to tonight's whiskey. Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey is a sourced whiskey out of Columbia, Tennessee, which the press release says is "where mules outnumber stoplights and pride runs as deep as the creeks." They also use the mule as a mascot on the bottle. The company that has released this particular Tennessee Whiskey is SNL Alcohol Beverage Group who, according to their website (SNLCapitol.com), specializes in buying ingredients, making new make whiskey, aging it, and then selling it to other producers at a profit. Not a bad idea as long as you can keep finding buyers. Here is what the press release has to say about the whiskey:

“Inspired by the legendary mule — Columbia’s enduring symbol of strength and persistence — Columbia Creek moves to its own tempo. Made with a classic Tennessee mash bill of 80% corn, 10% rye, and 10% malted barley, then distilled in a traditional column‑and‑doubler system, every drop balances purity with bold, full-bodied flavor.

Before barreling, the whiskey undergoes the slow, time-honored Lincoln County charcoal mellowing process, giving it a smooth, refined edge that separates Tennessee whiskey from bourbon pretenders. The spirit then rests — not rushed, not disturbed — in heavy-charred new American oak, soaking up six long Tennessee years of heat, cold, and honest change.”

Let’s see how they did, shall we?

Columbia Creek Tennessee Whiskey

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer at no cost for review purposes. It is available on the ColumbiaCreekWhiskey.com website for $49.95 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: 47.8% ABV. 6 years old. Mash bill: 80% corn, 10% rye, 10% malted barley.

Nose: Delicate on the nose with notes of dried grains, apple, caramel, baking spice, and oak.

Mouth: Spicy with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, bubblegum, vanilla, fruit, oak, and a mineral note.

Finish: Medium in both length and warmth. Lingering notes of minerals, bubblegum, and cinnamon.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face denoting that I liked the product

Thoughts: I wasn't expecting that kind of spice on the palate after such a delicate nose. Quite tasty, though. Good flavor on the mouth and finish. I can honestly say that I would have walked past this on the shelf, being a sourced Tennessee whiskey, but I like it. I will happily finish the bottle. If you see it and have an extra $50 in your pocket, it is worth trying.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

My Wandering Eye: Tamworth Garden V.S.O.P. Apple Brandy, 7-year-old

I’d like to thank Tamworth Distilling and their PR team for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Tamworth Garden VSOP Apple Brandy bottle, 7-year Napoleon, 50% ABV, made with NH Cortland heirloom apples, Calvados style, on an outdoor wooden surface.

It has been quite a while since we last did a My Wandering Eye post so I thought that I might start with a reminder of what we are doing in this series. My Wandering Eye is an ongoing series reacting to the continually rising prices in the bourbon world. We’ve reached a place where even average products have hit the range where they compete price-wise with other types of aged spirits. If I’m going to be asked to drop $40 to $75 on a mid-range bourbon, I might as well see what else I can get for that money. I hope to see if another spirits category offers something downright tasty in that price range. The goal isn’t to find cheap spirits but to maximize the quality I’m getting at a particular price point. The reviews in this series will all be written through a bourbon drinker’s lens.

I used to make hard cider every year. I've been traveling during apple season for the past few years, but it really is a fun project to do at home with friends or family. I got really into it too. I'd travel to rural Wisconsin and pick up apples straight from the orchards (the more rural you get, the less expensive the apples get). I had my own blend of apples that I liked to use. I'd calculated over the years which apples yielded the most juice per bushel, how each affected the flavor I wanted, all of that. Like I said, I was into it.

Because of my interest in both distilling and cider making, it wasn't surprising when I discovered that I really enjoyed apple brandy. It's just hard cider all grown up. And so when the PR folks for Tamworth Distilling reached out to see if I was interested in taking a look at their apple brandy, my answer was something along the lines of "yes please!" And when the bottle showed up, I was ecstatic to see that the variety of apple used to create it was one of the cornerstones of my own cider experiments: the Cortland apple. This was one of my family favorites growing up. I'd travel with my grandparents to the orchard (coincidentally in the same area I went to as an adult) and we'd pick apples. I don't remember all of the varieties, but I remember Grandma getting McIntosh and Cortland for sure. Cortland would last in the cellar for a decent amount of time, so we'd get to have one every now and then when going down for something else.

So that made me just a little predisposed to be happy to taste the product. Of course, the other thing is who made it. I'll quote the PR email for this bit:

Tamworth Distilling founder, booze baron Steven Grasse (AKA the father of craft gin), is known for creating brands including Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Narragansett and more – but he is also a historian and author whose passion for American history underscores the craft-forward approach of his distillery and his spirited books, including Colonial Spirits: A Toast to Our Drunken History.

So now that we know the pedigree and why I was excited to give this a taste, let's get on with the tasting, shall we?

Tamworth Garden V.S.O.P. Apple Brandy, 7-year-old

Purchase Info: This item was sent at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $75 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00

Details: 50% ABV. 7 years old.

Nose: Cinnamon, oak, apple, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Mouth: Juicy apple, almond, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Finish: Warm and of medium length. Lingering notes of juicy apple and vanilla.

IMAGE: A hand drawn smiley face. This denotes that I like the product.

Thoughts: Yum, yum, yum. Yumyum. Yum, yum, yum.

As you can see, I really like this. Unlike many apple brandies I've had, this tastes less of dried fruit and more like a juicy apple — which, I'll be honest, I really enjoy. There is a whiskey-like amount of heat and spice. This is a warm one, but not overly so. Fruity, baking spice, vanilla. It's delicious! It also makes a wonderfully apple-forward Sidecar with Grand Marnier and lemon juice. Big fan. So big, in fact, that before I even finished the tasting, I was on the company website ordering the XO 10-year-old version and a few other goodies that may or may not make it into future posts. I adore this brandy.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Yellowstone Recollection Bourbon

I’d like to thank Yellowstone Bourbon and their PR partners for providing this sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 8 Years, 110 proof, photographed on a snow-covered wooden railing with winter trees in the background and warm sunlight illuminating the amber bottle.

Yellowstone bourbon is one of those brands that is near and dear to my heart. First off, Stephen Beam is a great guy. I’ve had the opportunity to hang out with him and a few other distillers for an “off-the-record” talk and enjoyed every minute of it (though with the amount of alcohol we had that night, I’m not quite sure I remember any of it…). I love the family connection that Stephen Beam has with the brand through multiple family lines. I love that he, along with his partners at Luxco, brought the brand back from where it had been languishing on the bottom shelf for many years. I love that they love the history of the brand and maintain a connection to the national park that originally inspired the name by supporting various organizations that protect the park and its ecosystem.

And when I was offered a sample of what used to be a Limestone Branch Distillery-exclusive bottle, I jumped at the chance. Especially when I knew that I wouldn’t be getting to Lebanon, Kentucky any time soon. So what is this newly more broadly available product, and why should you care about it?

Well first off, just look at it. I don’t usually spend a lot of time talking about the bottle a bourbon comes in, but as both a history nerd and a guy with a degree in graphic design, I really like this one. The bottle was inspired by the bar-back bottles the brand would have used in the late 1800s. And with the painted and embossed front, it succeeds in evoking exactly that. But if you’re more interested in what’s inside the bottle, you’ll have reason for excitement there as well. Eight years old and 110 proof? Yes, please. And at a suggested retail price of just under $70, it comes in at a fairly reasonable price. Before we see how it tastes, let’s let the producer speak for themselves:

Non-chill filtered and bottled at 110 proof, Yellowstone Recollection Bourbon is crafted by seventh-generation Master Distiller Stephen Beam and aged eight years to deliver a bold yet balanced liquid. Drawing from the brand’s earliest visual identity, the bourbon is presented in an ornate decanter that pays homage to Yellowstone’s once hand-painted bottles. Featuring the iconic Yellowstone Lower Falls and classic embossing, the design reflects the brand’s roots as the “Greatest American Whiskey” named for the national park, while celebrating the dedication to craftsmanship that has sustained the distillery for centuries.

“When I brought Yellowstone to Limestone Branch in 2015, it wasn’t just about reviving a name, it was about honoring the people who gave this bourbon its meaning, ” said Stephen Beam, Master Distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery. “Our bottles have always drawn inspiration from the spirit and natural beauty of Yellowstone National Park, and when you hold this bottle, I hope it captures the sense of history, craftsmanship, and awe that makes both the park and this bourbon so special. ”

Ok, now for the fun part. Let’s dig in.

Yellowstone Recollection Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample was provided by the producer at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $69.99 for a 700 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00

Details: 8 years old. 55% ABV.

Nose: Leather, oak, vanilla, allspice, mint, and caramel.

Mouth: Spicy and hot. Notes of cinnamon red hots, cocoa, mint, caramel, vanilla, leather, and oak.

Finish: Long and warm with notes of oak, mint, chocolate, and cinnamon.

IMAGE: A hand-drawn smiley face that denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: This one is really delicious. It really showcases the age, with lots of oak derived notes throughout. Leather, cocoa, and oak. There is a nice warm spiciness in the mouth and finish. Water tames the heat some, but still leaves it vibrant. What’s inside the bottle really is just as fun as the outside. I like it a lot.

If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Stoll & Wolfe Pure Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength

I’d like to thank Stoll & Wolfe and their PR partners for providing this sample bottle with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Stoll & Wolfe Distillery Pennsylvania Single Barrel Rye Whiskey, 100% Pure Rye, 107 proof, photographed on a snowy deck with warm amber whiskey glowing in winter light.

Hello my friends. Tonight we have a real treat for you. Stoll & Wolfe Pure Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength is described by the distillery as an interpretation on the historic Monongahela-style of Rye Whiskey that was once much more common than it is today. It was a rye whiskey developed along the Monongahela River, which flows through West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania before joining the Allegheny at Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River.

Now, being in Lititz, PA, Stoll & Wolfe aren’t necessarily very close to that Monongahela River Valley (being about as close to it as I am to the U.P. of Michigan from here in the Twin Cities of Minnesota), but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a lot of state pride in their regional whiskey style. I know I would.

But, to me as a history nut, the most intriguing thing about this whiskey is the guy who helped start the company—and has his name on the bottle. Dick Stoll was the last distiller at a (now) pretty famous Pennsylvania distillery. It went by many names over the years, but the two that are most well known these days are Bomberger’s Distillery and Michter’s Distillery (this was back before the current owners of the Michter’s name acquired the lapsed trademark and started making their own pretty darn tasty whiskeys under the name). Here is the brief synopsis quoted from the Stoll & Wolfe website:

Dick Stoll’s roots stretch back to his tenure at the historic Pennsylvania Michter’s Distillery. There, under the mentorship of Master distiller C. Everett Beam, Stoll honed his skills and mastered the particular style of Pennsylvania whiskey distillation.

Despite Pennsylvania Michter’s closure in the 1980s, Stoll’s passion for both whiskey and the region has endured. As a capstone to his career, he partnered with Avianna and Erik Wolfe to revive the historic legacy right here in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

I’ve been reading a lot about Mr. Stoll over the course of the last couple of days in preparation for this review. I’d do a hell of a lot worse than these legendary Whiskey writers so I’m just going to point you to them instead. Here is Lew Bryson’s remembrance of Dick Stoll upon the occasion of his death in 2020. And of course, the book that brought my attention to the history of the Pennsylvania Michter’s Distillery and those that worked there Chuck Cowdery’s The Best Bourbon You’ll Never Taste (I also reviewed said book shortly after it was released, in case you wonder what I thought of it back in 2012).

Now, before you go read all those links, let’s get into the reason we are all here. The actual whiskey. Stoll & Wolfe Pure Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength was made from a mash bill of 80% Rosen Rye and 20% malted rye. This rye strain was almost lost to history until local farmers worked with the distillery to recover it. The rye is made using a sweet mash process that doesn’t use any “setback” from previous runs to help maintain pH levels. It’s a trickier process, as without the proper pH levels the mash could get infected by undesirable non-yeast organisms. It’s a much older mashing process, but it was the one most often used in Monongahela-style rye. The whiskey is bottled at 107 proof and is available from the distillery website for $78.15 per 750 mL bottle. Now let’s see how it tastes.

Stoll & Wolfe Pure Rye Single Barrel Cask Strength

Purchase Info: This sample was provided to me at no cost for review purposes. This item is available for nationwide shipping on the distillery website for $78.15 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.21

Details: Barrel 1225. Aged 34 months. 53.5% ABV. Mashbill: 80% Rosen Rye, 20% malted Rye.

Nose: Butterscotch, cedar, almond, and a faint note of wintergreen.

Mouth: Spicy & hot in the mouth with notes of allspice, cedar, wintergreen, peppermint, and almond.

Finish: Medium in warmth and length. Notes of butterscotch, cherry, mint, and baking spice.

IMAGE: a hand-drawn smiley face that denotes I like the product.

Thoughts: I'm really digging this one. The nose is super sweet, sweeter than most ryes. The mouth and finish bring more traditional rye notes to the party. Mouth is spicy and hot but the mint on the finish is almost cooling. It' is less than three years old, too young to be called whiskey in many countries, but is still a fully mature product. Young? Yes. Brash? At times. Delicious? Absolutely. I like this one a lot.

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