The Most Wished For Whiskeys Last Week

This premium, small batch bourbon is produced at Barton 1792 and sits on the same land as the historic Tom Moore Distillery that opened it's doors in 1879. Aged 8 years in "Warehouse Z", this high rye bourbon is as complex as it is smooth. Note: This 8 Year bottling was changed to a No-Age Statement release in 2013 and is no longer produced.

The first mass-produced single-barrel bourbon, bottled by Master Distiller Elmer T Lee in 1984, gets its name from Colonel Albert Blanton. Colonel Blanton spent more than 55 years producing, studying and upholding whiskey traditions; holding almost every job imaginable at what is now the Buffalo Trace Distillery. Insider's note: Save the stoppers. They spell out Blanton's and depict eight different moments from the beginning to end of a horse race.

Four Roses Small Batch is a straight bourbon that is comprised of 4 of the 10 recipes Four Roses employs. They use an equal measure of both of their mash bills (60% corn, 35% rye, 5% barley and 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley). They also use yeast strains which highlight both a light and spicy profile along with a rich and fruity one. It is bottled at 45% ABV.

A far from traditional bottling, Spice Tree has certainly caused folks to pay close attention (its former incarnation was deemed illegal by the SWA). Heavily toasted French oak heads are used along with American oak in the 2nd maturation. This rich, spicy whisky is a prime example of how Compass Box is changing the perception of blended Scotch.

Michter's US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye is a limited edition release. Barrels were selected by Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson who both deemed this 2025 batch ready for release. This a single barrel release so expect variations to appear from barrel to barrel, as is the nature of such offerings. On average, the proof of this batch is 110.5 proof (55.25% ABV). Barrels will be available on an allocated basis as of March 2025. (SRP $110)

When a malt whisky and a grain whisky come of age, leave the casks they’ve called home, and fall in love, they get “married” - the process of blending and re-casking whisky. It’s a complex wedding for a master distiller to arrange but can ultimately lead to marital bliss in the form of this whisky from Nikka that only comes in 500ml bottles. Nikka From The Barrel is drawn from a blend of more than 100 different batches of malt and grain whisky produced at the brand's Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. Note: This will be made available in the US as of June 2018 in 750ml sized bottles.

The recipe used for this Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon (2014) is the brand's OESF. This means the mash bill was 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% barley mash-bill and the yeast strain they use is one that highlights herbal notes. Bottled at 56.7% abv. This single barrel bourbon is 11 years old and bottled at 56.7% ABV.

Wheated bourbon is bourbon with wheat as the predominant grain in the mash bill after corn. Traditionally, rye takes that second billing. Weller 12 Year is often referred to by some as the "poor man's Pappy". With the exception of the 23 Year Pappy Van Winkle which still has some Stitzel-Weller juice in it, all Pappy and Weller bourbons use the Buffalo Trace wheated mash bill. The main difference will be in the barrel management.

The Michter's brand was originally based in Pennsylvania, but shut its doors in 1989. It was resurrected in the 1990's (under new management) and its homebase is now in Kentucky. This 10 year-old release is a single barrel, Kentucky straight bourbon. The latest batch is set to reach markets beginning April 2018 and was approved by Pam Heilmann, master distiller; and Andrea Wilson, master of maturation.

You might be asking "what is a grain whisky?" In short, it is whisky distilled in a continuous still from a mixture of cereals, most typically wheat, corn, and barley. These whiskies generally are sold very young to other blended whisky companies. What Compass Box have done here is to take grain whiskies from a few different grain distilleries, on average 25 years old, and blended them together. The result is superb.