Coming in a variety of ages and finishing durations, Bull Run American Whiskey is a delightful combination that begs the question, why isn’t everyone doing this? One batch in particular, Batch 011 which came in at 13 years old, really stood out. Working with a base of sourced light whiskey that is aged in ex bourbon barrels, Bull Run finishes it in used Oregon pinot noir casks. The end result is dessert in a glass finding impeccable balance. The base whiskey takes the pinot noir finishing incredibly well, allowing the dark fruit notes of the pinot noir to be enveloped by the sweet underlying whiskey base forming a perfect marriage of flavors. Unlike many wine finished whiskeys which compete with the flavors of the finishing barrels, Bull Run American Whiskey 13 Year’s flavors work in perfect harmony and everything is kept in check. Best yet, it’s only $40.

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We love to see new bottled in bond whiskeys, and we especially love it when they come from a craft distillery who adds their own unique twist to it. The first release in a permanent line extension, Bottled in Bond Vintage Series is a collaborative effort between all of Chattanooga Whiskey Co.’s distillers. The Spring 2017 edition was crafted from a blend of four different bourbon mashbills all barreled from January-June of 2017 (known as the “Spring” distilling season). The distillery’s unique high malt bourbon style is on full display with this complex blend, featuring malty aromas on the nose followed by rich notes of honey, butterscotch, and raisin which is punctuated by warming spice and a dash of chocolate. Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond Bourbon Vintage Series Spring 2017 nails everything we love about bottled in bond and craft whiskey at the same time, with an impressive bourbon that combines a wide range of recipes into a well balanced end result.

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You may not be familiar with Watershed Distillery in Columbus, Ohio, but they are a try-hard, do-good distillery that is quickly making a name for themselves thanks to quality distilling and inventive products. Nowhere is that more on display than their annual Nocino Finished Bourbon. Nocino liqueur is traditionally produced in Italy and is created with unripe walnuts that are still soft in their husks. Watershed Distillery creates their own version of Nocino, taking these used Nocino barrels to finish their bourbon in. The result is a finished whiskey that’s in a class of its own. Watershed Nocino Finished Bourbon is a one-of-a-kind finished bourbon that not only carves out its own niche, but does so with creativity, boldness, and undeniable enthusiasm.

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Wyoming Whiskey has quietly been making a name for itself in the bourbon world. The company takes its namesake to heart, sourcing all of its ingredients from the equality state, and also aging onsite too. While their National Parks bourbon may be the same price and proof as their standard release, the end result is far from standard. Wyoming Whiskey National Parks is an elegant bourbon that charms you with its refinement and drinkability. Delivering an incredibly balanced sip at a reasonable price, National Parks bourbon is one of those whiskeys that makes you perk up your head and want to dive into the other products that the company is distilling. If Wyoming Whiskey wasn’t on your radar already, it should be after this year's National Parks release.

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