Reviews

Wow - a truly transcendental bourbon. This expression was aged for 18+ years and bottled at 101 proof, which makes it very approachable. It is a beautifully complex, fruit-forward, and highly elegant pour that expertly balances mature oak and rich sweetness. While it does not have the high proof-point many enthusiasts seek, it delivers an elite complexity and balance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I think the main question you need to ask yourself: is the secondary market price worth it? The answer obviously depends on your financial situation and how much you value a rare pour. For me, the 2025 BTAC Eagle Rare 17 represents the best bourbon i have ever tasted, so I pull it out on very special occasions and enjoy every delicious sip. Cheers to the good life and great whiskey!

This is an exceptional Rye Whiskey! This expression offers a wonderful complement of sweet aroma, full/complex/spicy flavor, balance, and smooth luxurious finish. It is also bottled at at an ideal proof point around 110. This batch should have a special place in any whiskey lover’s collection.

Disappointed in this release. King of Kentucky single barrel is a premium whiskey, and this falls well short of the high standard set for the brand. This mediocre expression falls flat to me and is very average. For the money, Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch smoke this one.

This is my first taste of a Bomberger’s release, and i love it! A couple of things jump out to me with this expression from legendary Michter’s. The French Oak finishing barrels aged 40+ months has a very pronounced and positive influence on the flavor profile and color (dark ruby brown) of the spirit. Additionally, the ABV at around 100 is also slightly lower than the typical release of 108 to 110, which allows some of the more subtle layers and flavors to emerge. Two minor criticisms is that it comes in a 700 ml bottle instead of the usual 750. Given the fact i had to pay a small fortune on the secondary market, jipping a fellow whiskey lover 10% of this liquid gold feels kind of crappy. The other note is that there is no publshed age statement. I am just guessing it is probably in the range of about 12 years. Regarding the good stuff, the first, second, and third wiff on the nose is so alluring and wonderful. It offers a teasing combination of chocolate, buttercream, tobacco, and light oak aromas. Each subsequent sip gets better and reveals a wonderful range of flavors including fruit sweetness, dark chocolate, espresso bean, multiple creamy undertones, and a spice finish. This is a very special bourbon that I will continue to cherish while celebrating one of life’s special occasions. Cheers!

I enjoy an occasional cigar, and i have been on the hunt for just the right whiskey to compliment my preference for a medium to bold tobacco. My search is finally over! In the past i have found most bourbons to overpower the cigar and cognac to be too sweet. This expression is a perfect complementary blend of the best qualities of both worlds. I admit when I originally got the bottle i was so anxious that I tried it neat by itself, and I wasn’t overly impressed given the strong reviews. Part of that I attribute to the fact I my taste buds have been spoiled by higher end whiskey :). However, when i added my favorite cigar in the mix, that is where the majic happens. I also wouldn’t get too hung up on the batch number, particularly if you are enjoying a good smoke. As I understand it, there are hundreds of batches released each year. My label is batch 400 for what it’s worth. Just kick and celebrate a good life!

This is an exceptional blended bourbon with an average age of approximately 14 years and the kick from an elevated ABV. The 2025 release has a beautiful combination of fruits, spices, chewy mouthfeel, and aging. The nose offers lots of sweet fruits, baking spices, caramel, and aok. The palate is full of complementary complex layers including dried fruits, rye spice, tobacco, honey, vanilla, and dusty oak. The finish is long, smooth, and chewy. This expression is right up there with the best releases from 2025 and is an exceptional value.

This the best Whiskey of 2025! I was also a huge fan of the 2024 Russell Reserve 15 year from 2024 so I am not totally surprised, but this expression is very special. I pray to the Whiskey gods that this will not be the last Master’s Keep release ever as rumored. Hopefully, this amazing father and son collaboration will continue to the delight of enthusiasts like myself for many more years. At 118 proof, i think it is ideal to enjoy neat in a glencarin. The nose is very alluring with hints of oak, cigar wrapper, honey, and fruit. The taste is a bold combination of light oak, baking spice, maple syrup, and more dried fruit. The finish is long, smooth, and full of character. I detect more oak, chocolate, orange, and a final dash of spice that leaves you wanting another sip.

This is my first Japanese whiskey. When I noticed that this expression won a 2025 international spirits competition for best overall whiskey, I decided to finally take a plunge and i am so glad i did. Japanese whiskey is built on the Scottish technique, and you can taste the lineage in the precision and balance of that defines this bottle. Compared to its Highland/Spyside Scottish peers which i love, I would say this whiskey is a bit lighter on the smoke and more emphasis on harmony and balance throughout the sipping experience. This whiskey is exceptionally drinkable and has broad appeal across a range of tastes. The nose offers a very enticing blend of dark fruit, honey, vanilla, and floral undertones. This expression comes with a nice creamy burst of complementary flavors including smoke, leather, oak, dry fruits, chocolate, and light baking spices. The finish is silky smooth with a dash of butterscotch that fades fairly fast. If you are a whiskey connoisseur, you will appreciate the smoothness, balance, and expansive range of flavors but you will probably not find the boldness and complexity of higher ABV Scottish single malts.

This is a very special aged bourbon selected from 133 barrels handpicked from the third floor of Rickhouse 1l. The bourbon was batched together and bottled at 120 proof, which is a sweet spot for my taste. Given the long aging of 18 years, the most pronounced aroma is heavy oak and tobacco. Once the bourbon has a chance to relax a little while in the glass, more subtle notes of vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch are revealed. On the palate I detect a complement of wildflower honey, hazelnut, baking spices, chocolate, leather, tobacco, and a hint of cherry. The desert-like finish is long, smooth, rich, and chewy. This one really deserves a slightly higher rating of around 4.6 but the app rounded it down. I highly recommend this bourbon for special occasions.

This is a very special 18 year whiskey barreled at 118 proof. This expression was awarded best in show at the 2025 WSWA competition and was named by Forbe’s as the world’s best whiskey. The nose was amazing! I detect hints of dark chocolate, cherry, butterscotch, tobacco, and leather. The palate complements the nose with flavors of vanilla, caramel, and baking spices. The finish is long with maple and medicinal cherry overtones. The packaging is a gorgeous distinctive trophy decanter intended to celebrate the centennial of Calumet Farms. The overall presentation and bourbon is a one-of-kind experience. However, I would rate it at around 4.4 but the app rounded it up.