At my apartment I have a whiskey barrel. Pretty cool right? Even better is that it’s a bar! This past summer I converted a whiskey barrel into a bar with a double lazy-suzan and colorful lights on the inside. Right now I have a lot of whiskey inside the barrel, but I will have to say two of my favorites are Eagle Rare and Crown Royal Texas Mesquite! These bottles hold very different tastes and can be found at reasonable prices.

The Texas Mesquite Crown is a limited edition that can only be found in some liquor stores. This unbelievably smokey whiskey is one that you either love or hate due to the mesquite wood flavors that are infused in! The first time I tasted this whiskey I thought it was too smokey, but it grew on me and turned into one of my favorites! As soon as you take a sip you’ll get a hit of oak and mesquite, and then followed up by a barbecue spice! You can find this bottle for about $28, so it is very reasonable! This drink is one of a kind and worth trying if you ever get the opportunity!

Moving onto the Eagle Rare! This bourbon whiskey comes straight from the Buffalo Trace Distillery and is packed full with aromas of toffee, orange peel, honey, and oak! Eagle Rare is aged for at least 10 years and has won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition! The taste is bold, dry and delicate with hints of candied almonds and very rich cocoa. The finish is dry and lingering. Eagle Rare is easily one of the most expressive bourbons I’ve ever tasted! There is also a Double Eagle Very Rare that is aged 20 years but will cost you a pretty penny. The Eagle Rare can be found for about $48 at some stores. All in all these whiskeys are some of my favorites and something you should consider the next time you are visiting your local liquor store!

I know this is a whiskey blog, BUT this drink had to be mentioned! While I was driving around Little Rock with my friends last semester I randomly found Legacy Liquor, which is located at 16900 Chenal Parkway. While I walked through their wide selection of whiskey I noticed a jar that was out of place. It was a jar of Firefly moonshine. Before then I had only had moonshine once and it wasn’t flavored.

Around that time I fell in love with caramel flavored whiskeys, so when I saw this caramel flavored moonshine I had to give it a try! I bought it and tried it that night. And wow! This moonshine leaves such a rich caramel taste that is like no other. A week later I was looking around other liquor stores but couldn’t seem to find it, and found out that Legacy is one of the only stores that carry it around the area.

Overall this $25 jar is worth the money and something that’ll not only provide a strong kick, but leave an everlasting hint of sweet and smooth caramel lingering among your tastebuds!

These past few weeks I’ve seen a lot of whiskeys with a multitude of flavors. I’ve had the opportunity to try some and I even took home a bottle of Ole Smoky Whiskey that is Mango Habanero flavored. This whiskey had a very unique taste with the Mango flavor that hits first and is followed up with a one-of-a-kind kick of the Habanero.

When I looked up Ole Smoky Whiskey I noticed they have a Salted Caramel Whiskey, so I’ll have to try it since I love Crown Royal’s Salted Caramel! If you’ve had Ole Smoky Salted Caramel whiskey then please comment below and let me know what you thought!

Another whiskey I fell in love with was Knob Creek. They make a smoked maple whiskey that is jam-packed with maple and hints of vanilla, caramel, and a smokey aftertaste. This is an affordable bottle and I’ve had friends that use it to make their homemade eggnog!

This bourbon started out as an experiment with just three bourbon barrels on a ship, in a curious effort to discover what would occur if bourbon was left to age the extreme temperature fluctuations, salt air and the gentle rocking of the ship. The result was a thick, dark bourbon that carries complex flavors similar of other spirits. The almost black color and caramel flavors resemble a dark rum as the sugars within the barrels caramelized; the briny, savory taste come from the barrels breathing the sea air is consistent with Islay Scotch.

All together at its core, it’s a true bourbon. Due to the extreme demand from consumers, it was commercialized and they sent hundreds of barrels around the world. Each voyage of Jefferson’s Ocean typically crosses the equator four times, visits five continents and over 30 ports on an average sailing.

This Bourbon is one of my favorites and something worth trying. If you can find this bottle it usually sells for $90 and comes with a story all in itself!

Throughout the world there are a multitude of options when it comes to whiskey. I haven’t come close to experiencing all the flavor-packed whiskeys, but would like to expand my horizon over the next few years. Of the whiskeys I’ve tried, here are a couple that I absolutely love.

I tried this first whiskey at my uncle’s wedding. It was a Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey called Redbreast that is aged 15 years. This bottle alone stands out due to its green tint and longer neck. Redbreast traditionally has bottles that are aged for 12, 15, and 21 years. The aged 12 years comes in a red box, the 15 in a dark turquoise box, and the 21 years comes in a dark blue box!

This Whiskey comes from Midleton Distillery and was named Redbreast by wine merchants since it’s Jameson whiskey that they matured and bottled. Redbreast is considered one of the world’s finest whiskeys that has flavors ranging from ginger to cinnamon, peppermint to linseed, and licorice to camphor. All in all, Redbreast is a whiskey worth trying since a bottle that is aged 12 years can be bought for only $60.

Another whiskey worth mentioning is Crown Royal – Salted Caramel! This seasonal spirit is only available during certain times of the year. It is very hard to find since it’s desired by many, but is very affordable at $40. This whiskey is 70 proof and has an amazing mixture of caramel and rich vanilla oakiness! This is a whiskey worth trying is one of my absolute favorites!

Please comment below any recommendations you have and if you have ever tried these two!

Whiskey should always have a smell and kick that any whiskey should have, but when appreciating it to the fullest, you should go beyond this generic description! These nine key flavors are what most whiskey fall within.

The first flavor that we’ll focus on is Cereal. As you might assume, this flavor comes from the grain present. Some whiskeys that contain this taste are Knockando, Tullibardine, and McDowell’s which are all single malt scotch whiskeys.

Second is the fruity flavor that are very freshly developed in the spirit itself while being fermented and distilled. This occurs when the dried and cooked fruit flavors come from the wood in which the whiskeys are matured/ aged. Glenmorangie, Yoichi, and Yamazaki are examples of whiskeys that offer a variety of fruity flavors!

Floral is the third flavor of many whiskeys. Scottish Loweland malt are the typical floral whiskeys that are well suited to aperitif-styled whiskeys. Some of these bottles are Auchentoshan and Glenkinchie. Some of the floral scents are rose, lavender, and heather.

One of the most popular flavors throughout the South is Smoky. Seated malts give off the smokiest flavored whiskeys. Islay malts exemplify this smoky flavor in whiskeys such as Lagavulin, Talisker, and Longrow. Some of these smoky flavors include smoked meat, bonfires, peat smoke, and tobacco.

A taste not meant for everyone is the flavor of medicinal tang. For those who like it, love it and focus their attention on the malts of Islay. This acquired taste is present in bottles such as Laphroaig, Benriach’s Curiositas, and Ardbeg’s 10-year-old whiskey.

Another popular flavor among those in the South is the Woody flavor. This taste is acquired by a two-fold cask process. Flavors such as pine, oak, cedar, and cigar boxes are those found in bottles like Balvenie and Glenrothes.

Wood Extractive is the next flavor that comes in the form of vanillin and tannins within the wood. Vanillins are particularly strong in American oak and all bourbons. European oak is richer in tannins which provide spicier and winey influences.

Sulfury is another flavor that can be found in great and recognizable whiskeys such as Alberlour and Macallan which is around $65 depending on where you shop.

The last but not least is an Oily flavor that heavier spirits tend to hold. You’ll find this taste in Dalmore, Jura, and pure pot still Irish whiskey such as Redbreast which use unsalted as well as malted barley. This flavor includes butter, cream, cheese, and even creme brûlée!!

Whiskey is an extravagant and acquired taste. As many people go on wine tours throughout different regions of the world, so do whiskey lovers/ collectors. There are a multitude of distilleries and routes you can travel to experience the different tastes and processes that are taken to produce such a bold spirit.

If you want to go on a whiskey tour you’d most likely be visiting Speyside (Scotland), Islay (Scotland), Ireland, Japan, or Kentucky! The trip to Speyside lasts 3 days is a span of 90 miles. During this 3 days you visit these 5 main distilleries: Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Macallan, Cardhu, Glenlivet. The whiskey tour at Islay is a 60 mile trip that takes 4 days to visit 8 distilleries. “Peat freaks” are in love with the unique Islay taste. As you work your way South through Islay you’ll hit these eight distilleries: Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain, Kilchoman, Bruichladdich, Bowmore, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Ardbeg. At all 8 distilleries you’ll have a chance to not only taste but learn the rich history behind ever cask.

If you travel Southwest about 13 hours you can tour the whiskeys of Ireland! Once you reach Ireland, this trip will last around 4 days as you visit four distilleries along a 375 mile ride. It starts with the Bushmills distillery, which is still in production. While you’re there you’ll get samples and get food as well! As you travel South, you’ll hit the Cooley distillery which is not open to the public but a great sight to see. Further South is the Old Jameson distillery which offers guided tours and high-quality whiskey sampling. The fourth distillery is Kilbeggan, which has not been in production since 1957, but now houses a micro-distillery and a whiskey museum that has a working waterwheel, restaurant, shop, and whiskey bar!

With a plane ticket to Tokyo you can experience the next whiskey tour that holds a lengthy 530 mile trip to 4 distilleries over a span of 4 days. The tour starts at Chichibu, which is Japan’s newest distillery that’s only a 90 minute train ride from Tokyo. As we travel Southwest we hit the Hakusu distillery. This stop not only provides a great tour and museum, but some beautiful hiking trails that run through the forest. Third is Kirin’s Gotemba distillery which is close to Mount Fuji! They provide an extensive tour and sight-seeing experience. The final stop of Japan’s whiskey tour is Suntory’s distillery at Yamazaki. This is one of the most prestigious distilleries throughout Japan. They provide a great atmosphere with an impressive tasting bar with exclusive bottles, and a chance to buy a cask through its owner’s cask scheme.

Last but not Least is the whiskey tour around the great state of Kentucky! This trip is something very feasible for Arkansas residents since it starts only 8 1/2 hours from Conway, AR. This whiskey tour consists of 8 distilleries and 85 miles over 5 days. You start at the very famous distillery that is the home of Buffalo Trace. They offer a tour throughout most of the distillery any time of the year. As we travel South, we hit the Woodford Reserve distillery which lies near the stunning town of Versailles, KY. Throughout this tour, you’ll get to experience samples and the famous copper pot stills! Our next stop is the Wild Turkey Boulevard distillery which is situated on a hill above the Kentucky River. The Wild Turkey distillery provides tours and even lets you into its production areas, so you’ll se up-close and personal how their product is produced. Go South just a tad bit more and you’ll visit the Four Roses distillery! Tours are available from fall to spring. As we shoot across East the next distillery we hit is Heaven Hill in Bardstown. Fun Fact, Bardstown is known as the “World Capital of Bourbon”. While at Heaven Hill you get a tour of a bourbon-aging rackhouse and the chance to sample two of their prized whiskeys. In downtown Bardstown is the Barton 1792 distillery. You can get an extensive tour of their production areas and visit their state-of-the-art visitor center. Only a few blocks away from Barton sits the Oscar Getz Whiskey museum that houses a collection of whiskey artifacts, including rare antique bottles, advertising art, and even Abraham Lincoln’s original liquor license! If you travel a little South you’ll get to tour the seventh distillery, Maker’s Mark. It stands on Hardin’s Creek and provides tours of it’s beautiful distillery daily. Our last stop is Northwest of ever other stop in Kentucky. This distillery has a rich history and a very strong name throughout the U.S. Jim Beam! The Jim Beam distillery provides a tour of the site grounds, a working rackhouse, and the Hartmann Cooperage Museum that holds whiskey memorabilia that has seen more than two centuries of bourbon productions!

Overall, there are a lot of distilleries around the world, but these tours throughout four countries provide the most enjoyable and memorable experiences for all of you whiskey lovers!

As you’re walking down the aisles of your local liquor store you notice so many different types of alcohol. You may scour over red wine, white wine, brandy, gin, rum, tequila, vodka, or whiskey. But the whiskey is broken down into different aisles/sections. For instance, why is Chivas Regal usually away from the Woodford Reserve? The answer is Chivas is a Blend and Woodford is a Bourbon. I know you are saying, “But what’s the difference?” In the following sections, I’ll thoroughly describe the different types of whiskeys and give example for each along the way.

The first whiskey we may run across is a malt. Made from malted barley in copper pot stills, malts are made in Scotland, Japan, Canada, parts of Asia, and in almost all European countries. An example is Bunnahabhain.

Grain is the next type of whiskey that is usually made from wheat or corn along with unmalted and malted barley. It is distilled in a continuous still but is rarely bottled since it is mostly used for blending. An example is Haig Club.

Next, we have Blends which are normally a mixture of 40% malt and 60% grain whiskey. This accounts for 92% of all Scotch. An example is Chivas Regal.

Moving on we have a blended malt. Instead of being the product of just one distillery (like a single malt), a blended malt is a mix of malt whiskeys from more than one distilleries. An example is Sheep Dip.

The type of whiskey you hear about a lot is bourbon. Bourbon uses at minimum 51% corn in the mashbill, and the rest being made of either barley, wheat, or rye. The major characteristic is it must be matured in new, charred white-oak casks for at least two years. An example is Woodford Reserve.

A whiskey unique to Ireland is called Pure Pot Still whiskey. It is made of malted and unmalted barley. An example is Green Spot.

The next type of whiskey is a Rye. Ryes are uncommon today but is seen as the original American whiskey. For it to be considered rye, it must contain at least 51% rye and be matured in new, charred white-oak casks for at least two years like a bourbon. As of now, Canada produces a lot of rye whiskey compared to anywhere else in the world. An example is Ragtime Rye.

Last but not least is Tennessee whiskey. Made similar to bourbon, Tennessee whiskey is at least 51% corn, and is unlike any other whiskey because it goes in filtration through a deep bed of sugar-maple charcoal. This filtration process is also referred to as the Lincoln County Process. An example is Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey.

All in all, there are a lot of options when it comes to whiskey, so make a wise decision by being educated on the possible options that sit on the shelves at your local liquor store!

Whiskey is both a simple product and an endlessly ponderable drink. It consists of grain, water, and yeast, and yet the spectrum of aromas and tastes can be mouthwatering.

It all starts with Malting. This is when barley goes through a process that activates enzymes and maximizes its starch content, which is later converted into sugar and then alcohol. Some distilleries have their own floor maltings, but most use independent maltsters.

The second step is Mashing. In this process, the malt is milled to produce a floury grist. The grist is then mixed with steaming water in a machine called a mash tun which extracts most sugars. Then the sugared-laden (wort) water is sent off to use.

Next is the Fermenting stage. The wort is mixed with yeast and heated in a washback system. Alcohol and carbon dioxide is produced as the yeast feeds off the sugars. This process lasts between 48 and 74 hours and results in how whiskey is strong unlike a tart beer.

The next step is Distilling. The purpose is to extract alcohol from the wash. Most whiskeys are distilled twice, but Irish whiskey is distilled three times. Next is “The Cut” where distillers can assess their spirit and see which parts will make the cut.

Filling the Casks is the next step where the spirit is piped from a holding tank into oak casks. In Scotland, it is filled into used casks, and in the United States, the spirit is filled into new, charred barrels. The whiskey is then matured over different periods of time depending on climatic conditions, legal requirements, and the type of casks.

The last two steps are Blending and Bottling! The majority of whiskeys are blended to marry flavors so they are balanced and unified. Finally, the bottling stage is often carried out in automated plants, but some high-quality whiskeys are even bottled and labeled by hand!

Pappy Van Winkle. I know you all are saying, “Wait what did you just say?” I thought the same thing when I ran across this unique bourbon. But in fact, a man named Pappy Van Winkle did exist! In the same year the first official college basketball game was played, Van Winkle was a traveling salesman for W.L. Weller and Sons.

Later, Van Winkle bought a distillery and merged with Weller and Sons to become the Stizel-Weller distillery and started production in 1965. As they progressed, they gathered popularity for using wheat in their mash instead of rye. This resulted in the mouthwatering taste that is softer and smoother.

Only 7,000 cases of Pappy’s is produced and distributed per year. Compared to the industry’s 2 million barrels of bourbon produced per year, this number is nothing. The wait list for just one bottle of Pappy Van Winkle is now over 10 years at some places throughout the world! With this tiny supply and the vast demand, some bottles like the 23 year old Family Reserve Pappy can reach $14,500 for just a 750ml bottle!