Review: Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon
Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon is one of two flavored whiskeys distilled from corn mash, then filtered at the old Seagrams Distillery in Lawrenceburg Indiana. The other flavor is Island Coconut. The unaged whiskey base is blended with natural flavor including capsicum spice and cinnamon, and bottled in Houston Texas in a red custom sea glass bottle. Thanks in no small part to the success of Fireball Whisky, cinnamon is by far the most popular flavored whiskey. Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon is made with 1/3 less sugar than the market leader. Read more 
Review: Crown Royal Salted Caramel Whisky
Crown Royal Salted Caramel Whisky was just released. The felt bag included is pumpkin orange. It is a Limited Edition seasonal variety, and one of four flavored whiskies Crown currently produces. The other flavors include Crown Royal Apple, Vanilla, and Maple. They recently retired Crown Royal Honey. Each flavor starts with the signature Crown Royal base that was first created in 1939 as a gift for the King and Queen of England when they became the first reigning Monarchs to visit Canada. Pure water sourced from Lake Winnipeg naturally filtered through the limestone beneath and a grain blend of rye, corn, and barley are used to create Crown Royal. Roughly 80% of the grain used is sourced from Manitoba and surrounding Provinces. Twelve distillation columns produce the fifty whiskies that comprise the Crown Royal signature blend. This is the result of 5 different recipes aged for varying periods of time in either new or re-use charred oak barrels. Once the whiskies have been aged to the blenders satisfaction, they are meticulously blended. Natural flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Beach Whiskey Island Coconut
Beach Whiskey Island Coconut was launched in select markets in 2016 along with Beach Whiskey Original and Beach Whiskey Bonfire Cinnamon. They are in the process of building out national distribution. A quick look at the Beach Whiskey webpage only lists their Island Coconut and Bonfire Cinnamon varieties. Beach Whiskey was co-founded by a large group of people including Country Music singer Jake Owen, Gavin DeGraw, Billy Bush, J Smoke Wallin, and Ken Austin, the Chairman and Co-Founder of Avion Tequila. Beach Whiskey Island Coconut starts with a corn whiskey base that is not barrel aged, but it does undergo a unique filtration process. Natural flavors are blended before bottling at 52 proof. Some coconut flavored rums are blended with an oversweet coconut liqueur. In fact Island Coconut is made with 44% less sugar than the leading coconut brand, presumably Malibu. Read more
Review: Jim Beam Vanilla
Jim Beam Vanilla was just released. It joins a flavored whiskey lineup that includes an Apple, Honey, Black Cherry, Maple and their Cinnamon Flavored Kentucky Fire Whiskey. The bourbon base of Jim Beam Vanilla is made with a secret mix of corn, rye, and barley malt. Limestone filtered water and some “set back” up to 40% of the old mash from the previous distillation, is added to the 10,000 gallon cooker. Since Prohibition ended over 75 years ago the same strain of jug yeast is added. This yeast is used in the fermentation process once the mash is cooked and cooled. It is distilled in a 65 foot tall column still, and then distilled a second time in a doubler, similar to a pot still. The bourbon is aged in brand new charred oak barrels. While no age statement is provided for Jim Beam Vanilla, Jim Beam Original is aged for 4 years. Madagascar Vanilla Liqueur is blended with the bourbon base before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: J Seeds Apple Cider Whiskey
J Seeds Apple Cider Whiskey as the name would imply is an apple cider flavored whiskey. This whiskey is produced at the Frank-Lin Distillers Products in Fairfield California. Frank-Lin has been in continuous operation since the repeal of prohibition. They offer custom bottling, importing exporting and wholesaling. Beyond Vodka, 8 Seconds Canadian Whisky, and Bellringer Gin are three of the nearly 70 spirits they currently produce. I have found no product details on the J Seeds Apple Cider Whiskey website, their Facebook page, and I have not seen any product review. Read more
Review: Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky
Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky was introduced February 2012. Tap 357 is named for the blend of 3, 5, and 7 year old rye whiskies and the natural Canadian maple tapped at the first hint of spring in Quebec, used in crafting it. Each of the blended rye whiskies are produced in small batches in the oldest distillery in Western Canada. The whisky is distilled four times before maturing in a combination of new, second and third use bourbon barrels. Master Distiller Michel Marcil blends the whisky and then blends pure local grade 1 light Canadian maple syrup sourced from Quebec. In a proprietary finishing process the maple flavored rye whisky is left to rest until the blend is ready for release. As someone who has visited New England dozens of times and has several friends and business associates who don’t leave New England without a bottle of 100% maple syrup, I’m very familiar with how serious people in New England and Quebec take their maple syrup. Harvesting maple, commonly called maple sugaring depends on weather conditions each year, but in Quebec it generally occurs between February and April. Mild days with temperatures falling below freezing at night are ideal. Read more
Review: Revel Stoke Root Beer Whisky
Revel Stoke Root Beer Whisky was just released. It is one of eight Canadian Whisky varieties made by the Phillips Distilling Company under the Revel Stoke label. The other flavors include Roasted Pecan, Roasted Apple, Roasted Pineapple, Pumpkin Spiced, Spiced, Cinnamon, and their original Canadian whisky. Revel Stoke is named after the mountain ski resort town in British Columbia. Revel Stoke Root Beer is made with a blend of rye, corn, and barley malt. It is triple distilled in copper stills. The whisky is aged for 3 years in charred white oak barrels. Natural root beer flavors are infused before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Rebel Yell Root Beer Whiskey
Rebel Yell Root Beer Whiskey was released April 2016 along with a Ginger flavored whiskey. Both start with Rebel Yell Original Straight Bourbon as a base. This bourbon was first made in 1849 at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery with corn wheat and malt. Natural root beer flavor and caramel color are added before bottling at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey
Old Camp Peach Pecan Whiskey was launched August 2016. The whiskey was created by Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard. Yes, the same Brian and Tyler from Florida Georgia Line. This is the first of what promises to be an expanded line of whiskey. A straight whisky will be available in December. Old Camp starts with an American Whiskey base made in Lawrenceburg Indiana. The whiskey is aged for a minimum of two years in white oak barrels with a number 3 char. It is then infused with natural southern peach and pecan flavor and bottled at 70 proof. Read more
Review: Crown Royal Vanilla
Crown Royal Vanilla Whisky was just released. It is their fourth flavor infused whisky and comes just 3 months after the launch of Crown Royal Honey. Wouldn’t it be great if we could count on a new Crown Royal flavor every quarter? Crown Royal Vanilla is crafted with corn, rye, and barley with pure water naturally filtered through limestone. After distilling, the whisky is aged in oak barrels and then infused with the rich flavor of Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. The trademark velvet bag included in the box is not white like the Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla flower or the ice cream flavor, but rather brown like the bean itself. Read more