Elmer T. Lee is a name synonymous with bourbon – he was a man, a myth, and a legend all in one and above all a visionary who transformed the bourbon industry. Lee’s journey from truly humble beginnings to legend status is a course that tracks the quintessential American dream. In this week’s post we’ll […]
For a decade, bourbon collecting has been defined by expansion — more bottles, more shelf space, more releases to chase. The thrill was in the hunt, not the pour. But in 2025, the conversation is shifting. The secondary market is maturing, prices are normalizing, and a new mindset is taking hold: quality over quantity. The […]
If you’ve ever stared at the penned in barrel number on a Willett Family Estate bottle and wondered what it meant, if anything, beyond the barrel number, you’re not alone. Willett is one of the most cult-followed names in bourbon, yet its single-barrel releases often feel like secret messages only insiders can decipher. In this […]
There’s something about bourbon that feels almost alchemical. It doesn’t just fill glasses; it pulls people together—strangers, friends, and unlikely companions—until a shared pour becomes a shared story. A week and a half ago, I found myself living proof of that truth. It started innocently enough. About a month ago, my friend Brady—one half of […]
The bourbon boom is slowing down. For years, the category could do no wrong — distilleries couldn’t keep allocated bottles on the shelf, secondary prices were out of control, and tater culture was in full swing. But now? Shelves are fuller, it’s not uncommon to see a rogue Blanton’s here or there in the wild […]
Let’s say you’re sipping a nice pour of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. You’re in your garage, classic rock playing in the background, the scent of sawdust lingering in the air, and your buddy Jason just walked in with a bottle you haven’t seen for years. You take a sip. Damn. It tastes… perfect. Now fast-forward […]
Let’s face it—bourbon drinkers are a loyal bunch. Once you’ve found your groove with caramel-rich, vanilla-heavy, oak-forward Kentucky nectar, it can be hard to stray too far from the fold. But there’s a secret corner of the whiskey world tailor-made for bourbon lovers looking to branch out, what I refer to as “bourbon-y ryes.” Now, […]
Bourbon has always been shaped by nature: by wood, water, grain, and especially time. But as the world warms, distillers are facing a new variable they can’t control—climate. Rising temperatures and more extreme weather events are reshaping the science of whiskey aging in real time. And nowhere is this more evident—or more embraced—than in Texas. […]
Let’s face it: keeping up with new bourbon releases in 2025 feels like drinking from a firehose. Between the big heritage distillers dropping wave after wave of limited editions, and craft distilleries fighting for attention with bold new finishes and branding gimmicks, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a casual […]
Have you ever been sitting around having a snort of bourbon and heard someone say something like “that just needs to sit for a bit,” or “Let’s let it breathe.” Maybe you’ve even heard that when pouring a glass, you need to let it sit for a number of minutes to rest before enjoying a […]
