From the Shelf.
These are bottles I actually drink. Straightforward tasting notes, honest impressions, and whether I think a bottle is worth keeping around.
What I'm Pouring
No scores and no shelf worship. Just what I taste, what I like, what I paid, and whether I would reach for the bottle again.
Blanton's Original Single Barrel
Smooth, sweet, and familiar, but the new Oregon price makes the value harder to justify.
Eagle Rare
10 Year
Honey, toasted brown sugar, baking spice, and toffee in a smooth 10-year bourbon that remains one of my go-to bottles.
W.L. Weller
Antique 107
Rich, balanced, and remarkably smooth at 107 proof. My favorite bourbon, and a bottle I will buy whenever I find it.
Buffalo
Trace
Vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, and spice in a smooth 90-proof flagship. Always a buy at $28.95.
Drink It First.
Talk About It Second.
Bourbon does not need to be complicated to be interesting. I pay attention to the nose, palate, finish, proof, price, and how the bottle actually drinks. But the most important question is simpler: do I enjoy pouring it?
These reviews are based on my own bottles and my own palate. As this shelf grows, this page will grow with it.