This edition of Whiskey Frankenstein ( home whiskey blending ) brings together two bottles that just didn't "Wow" me. Dread River's Birmingham Bourbon is lovely distillate, very well balanced, but really needed more time in the oak. Rebel Cask Strength , in this case a store pick single barrel, delivered thick flavor but no nuance and more heat than I'd prefer. Can these two misfits from my shelf be better together? Let's find out. Vámonos! 🧪Preparation I made three 45-50 ml samples for a total of just under two shots of each whiskey consumed. Samples & Ratios: A: 50/50 "Half and Half" - 105 proof - Average Age ~4.12 years B: 75/25 Majority Dread River Bourbo n - 97.5 proof - Average Age ~3.43 years C: 75/25 Majority Rebel Cask Strength - 112.5 proof - Average Age ~4.8 years Whiskies are measured using a 100ml lab-quality graduated cylinder wielded with questionable skill. Mechanical agitation (stirring/shaking) is applied at the time of...
The 2025 release of Costco's Kirkland 15-year Highland Scotch hit shelves in late January and is a recurring installment on an annual cadence. The first pallet to hit my local store sold out almost immediately. Thankfully, we got two more shipments at one pallet each that hung around a bit longer and I was able to snag a bottle. Like in previous years, this Highland Scotch is finished in sherry casks. Alexander Murray & Co. is the bottler with MISA imports out of Texas bringing it to the States for consumption (Costco's standard sourcing pattern for Scotch). The bottle has a nice heft to it and there is an ensconced Alexander Murray Lion adding some nice texture to the front of the bottle. Steve Lipp, CEO of Alexander Murray, calls it "Perfect for after dinner drinking." All-in-all, this shows an attempt to elevate the product and presentation from the ubiquitous blends and non-age stated iterations you'll sometimes find under the Kirkland label. Neither Alex...