Most Recent Tasting Table Expert Reviews

These are the most recently reviewed spirits by Distiller's Tasting Table of spirits experts.
Jun 02, 2025
  • 20
    87
    This limited edition release is a cask strength expression of the brand's flagship Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon. Aged 8 years, this Kentucky straight bourbon is bottled without chill-filtration at 130 proof (65%). This allocated limited edition special release is available beginning April 2025. (SRP $69.99)
  • 19
    81
    Fanged Pursuit is a release from Diageo's Orphan Barrel Whiskey Co. portfolio which features rare and nearly forgotten barrels of whiskey. Aged for 17 years, this Kentucky straight bourbon is made from a mash bill recipe of 68-74% corn, 18-22% rye, and 8-10% malted barley. The label depicts a Kentucky bobcat prowling its native Bluegrass State's forests. Bottled without chill-filtration at 46% ABV, this limited edition is available at select retailers nationwide beginning March 2025. (SRP $200)
  • 18
    94
    Blood Oath is an annual limited edition release crafted by Lux Row Master Distiller & Blender John Rempe. For Pact No. 11, Rempe blended three batches of Kentucky straight bourbon. A 14 year-old ryed bourbon and a 10 year-old wheated bourbon were blended with a 7 year-old ryed bourbon which had been finished in añejo tequila barrels. As with all Pact releases, this was bottled at 98.6 proof (48.3% ABV). For this limited edition release there were 51,000 bottles produced with availability beginning April 2025. (SRP $129.99)
  • 17
    78
    This limited edition release from independent bottler & blender Buzzard's Roost begins with a 4 year-old straight bourbon (mash bill 74% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley) from Indiana's MGP distillery. It was then finished in with toasted French oak staves for 6 months- 1 year before bottling at 100 proof. Available beginning March 2025. (SRP $95)
  • 16
    83
    Penelope Wheated Bourbon is the fifth expression added to Penelope's Core Series which also includes Architect, Barrel Strength, Four Grain, and Toasted. The wheated mash bill consists of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley. Bottled at 95 proof, it's available nationwide beginning February 2025. (SRP $39.99)
  • 15
    88
    The Vinyl Blend is the sixth release for the 2XO's Icon Series. Like the others, this one was blended by American whiskey blender Dixon Dedman using a double-barrel process (2XO means Two Times Oak). For this bottling, two bourbon mash bills were used — one with a high-rye 35% recipe and another with a moderate 18% rye recipe. Dedman double-barreled the high-rye recipe into new, charred oak barrels (#4 char levels) for 9 months to a year. This high-rye portion makes up 40% of the blend. Available nationwide beginning April 2025. (SRP $99.99)
  • 14
    88
    The 2025 Limited Release from Woodinville features their fully-matured straight bourbon finished in extra añejo tequila barrels. This is a grain-to-glass release using grains cultivated on the Omlin Family Farm in Quincy, Washington. Bottled at 100 proof, the first 500 hand-numbered bottles will be released at the distillery on May 3, 2025 followed by online availability shortly after. (SRP $69.99)
  • 13
    87
    This is one of the first three releases in The Glendronach's Master's Anthology series which highlights the art of sherry cask aging. Ode to the Dark is matured exclusively in Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks. It is bottled at 50.8% ABV. Available in the US beginning May 2025. (SRP $97.50)
  • 12
    89
    This is one of the first three releases in The Glendronach's Master Anthology series from Master Blender Rachel Barrie. This lightly peated non-age statement single malt is matured in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry casks. It is bottled at 48.4% ABV. Available in the US beginning May 2025. (SRP $91)
  • 11
    91
    This release is one of the first three in The Glendronach's Master's Anthology series that highlights the character of different types of sherry cask maturation. Ode to the Valley is a non-age statement single malt that is matured in a combination of ruby port casks from the Douro Valley in Portugal and Spanish sherry casks. It is bottled at 46.2% ABV. Available in the US beginning May 2025. (SRP $84.50)
  • 10
    92
    The 2025 release for Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon is set for April 2025. As with most recent releases, the barrels were selected by Master Distiller Dan McKee, along with Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson. Also, like the rest of the Michter's whiskeys supplies are allocated due to the high demand. (SRP $195)
  • 9
    91
    Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 9 Year is the fifteenth nationwide release in the bottled in bond decanter series. Produced by Heaven Hill, Old Fitzgerald is a wheated bourbon brand. This bottled in bond version was distilled in one distillation season (spring 2016). Aged for 9 years before bottling in spring 2025, this release bears a green label as other spring releases have done. As required, it is bottled at 100 proof. Available on an allocated basis nationwide as of May 2025. (SRP $129.99)
  • 8
    81
    Announced in May 2025, this is the first limited edition expression from the brand. Aged for 13 years, the single malt was matured in a marriage of American oak first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill European oak ruby port casks. Available for purchase at select retailers in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, and Arizona. (SRP $59.99)
  • 7
    86
    This is the second edition of Grain to Glass Bourbon featuring a unique corn seed varietal (Beck's 6225) from seed company Beck's Hybrids. The chosen varietal was then grown at Peterson Farms in Nelson County, Kentucky. The bourbon mash bill recipe here is 52% corn, 35% rye and 13% malted barley and is aged over 6 years. The label features the specific corn varietal, distillation year, and release year. Bottled at 105 proof without chill-filtration, this is available nationally in limited quantities beginning May 2025. (SRP $99.99/700ml)
  • 6
    85
    Star Hill Farm is Maker's Mark first new mash bill and first wheat whiskey released in the distillery's history. This is an annual release with the mash bill recipe evolving each year. This 2025 release is made of from two recipes: 70% soft red winter wheat/30% malted barley and 100% malted soft winter wheat. Its aged 7-8 years in five distinct cask types including American oak, French oak, American-French hybrid, and grooved barrels. It's bottled uncut at cask strength. Named after the 1,100 acre farm that is home to Maker's Mark, this will be available in the US & UK beginning mid-May 2025 and in Australia later in 2025. (SRP $100)
  • 5
    93
    This is the inaugural release from Hawk's Rock Distillery in County Sligo, Ireland. Blended by Master Blender Helen Mulholland and released by the Sazerac Company, it is composed of single malt whiskeys that are each double-distilled and initially aged for a minimum 14 years in ex-bourbon American oak casks. These are then transferred to a variety of finishing casks including French Muscat, French Sauternes, Spanish Pedro Ximénez (PX) sherry, Barbadian rum, and others, for a minimum 20 years of total oak maturation. It is bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV) and available in limited quantities as of June 2025. (SRP $199 /700ml)
  • 4
    87
    SYC:01 2013 is the seventh release in the brand's Cask Exploration Series. Made with 100% Scottish barley which was malted to 40 ppm, the single malt was distilled in 2013 and first matured in a combination of first-fill (75%) and second-fill (25%) ex-bourbon casks. The whisky was then recasked in 2018 into first-fill syrah wine casks from Rhône, France. After four years the whisky was refinished in refill bourbon casks. Bottled without added color or chill-filtration at 54.4% ABV. Released in the UK in fall 2024 with the US availability beginning May 2025. (SRP $149.99)
  • 3
    90
    Founded in 1794 by brothers Hugh & John Stevenson, Oban is located in the West Highlands of Scotland. This limited edition single malt expression was aged initially in European oak butts and American oak hogshead barrels. It finished its aging in oloroso & Palo Cortado sherry barrels for over four years. Bottled at cask strength of 55.3% ABV, it's available beginning April 2025. (SRP $150)
  • 2
    90
    The 15 is a permanent addition to The Glenrothes portfolio. The single malt is matured exclusively in European oak sherry-seasoned casks which are seasoned in Spain to the brand's specifications. Each cask used in the bottling is selected by Master Whisky Maker Laura Rampling. The 15 debuted in the US beginning May 2025. (SRP $100)
  • 1
    86
    While Jefferson's is primarily known for its bourbon bottlings, limited edition rye whiskeys have been released by the brand including an Ocean Aged at Sea Rye Whiskey and a Rye finished in Cognac Casks. This rye release from Jefferson's is a made from a blend of straight rye whiskeys (sources not disclosed) aged 9-, 7-, and 6-years-old. Also included in the blend is the aforementioned Ocean Aged at Sea Rye Whiskey. Bottled at 88 proof, it's available nationwide beginning May 2025. (SRP $34.99)