One for the little guys!

[Dolph Lundgren]

I'm not a fan of "craft" whiskey. Its too woody and young; there is something statutory about it all. But I had a chance to taste Journeyman Distillery's Kissing Cousins at WhiskeyFest this year, and I was impressed. It wasn't liquid gold - but it was good..more than just palatable, which I think goes a long way. Kissing Cousins is only a year old and finished in a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel. The wine influence is strong and flavor profile is not typical - but its good, so who cares. If I run across a bottle, I'll buy one.

We crap on a lot of "craft" whiskey here on SB, and most of it is merited (check out the most recent "Cleveland Bourbon Whiskey" thread). But there might be some decent micros lurking out there. Are there any that you are willing to plug on SB? If so, what bottles are worth our time and money?

Edited May 7, 2013 by Dolph Lundgren

[omgmarclol]

i'm digging koval's lines. i'm really crushing on dark oat with this warmer weather.

[squire]

I an in favor of craft whiskys and wish success to all who make their own stock. I doubt I'll be a customer though because I view whisky as a daily commodity and since there is an abundance of first rate four year old stuff available at rock bottom prices I won't be paying a premium for craft products. Twenty years ago perhaps but not now, wish them well though.

[VAGentleman]

I've tried a bunch of craft bourbons and have yet to try one that tasted good to my palette. Hopefully some of the micro's will go to bigger barrels and let them age more. That being said a few of the non bourbon whiskies are interesting and have a decent taste such as Balcones Brimstone and MB Roland Black Dog.

[callmeox]

Tom's Foolery doesn't have any whiskey in release yet, but what I've tasted from their aging stock makes me very hopeful that I will find a micro that I can drink.

[luther.r]

The only micro I've been impressed with is the Leopold Bros. American Small Batch Whiskey. It doesn't try to be a highly-aged product, but it's great for what it is. I'd like to try the McKenzie Rye, as well as other things Tom makes when they get older.

[MyOldKyDram]

I really like some of the things that Corsair is doing. Balcones, too.

[ramblinman]

I've only had Balcones True Blue, but I thought it was a very tasty high proof corn whiskey.If I see any of their other offerings at a bar I wouldn't hesitate to try it.

[DBM]

I think the majority opinion is that craft distillers can't compete with the establishment for traditional whisky, and especially bourbon. This often results in a business model that requires a brand to make a name for themselves with a product that is unique, that doesn't directly compete with Beam, HH, BT, etc. The result is whisky with flavor profiles that can be polarizing to consumers, or that requires gimmicky marketing to make it on retail shelves.

I personally like Woodinville Whiskey Rye, but for its $50 asking price (after 55% Washington State taxes) I would pick up a bottle of Rittenhouse BIB or Bulleit Rye at nearly half the price for a better bottle. The craft distillers need to make a product that has no alternative (and optionally with a plan to offer a good 4 to 6 year old product in quantity). Balcones and Corsair are two that come to mind that are doing this successfully. I would be surprised if any craft distillers are making "traditional" whisky that is both 1) equally as good as an established product and 2) competitively priced with an established product.

[Alden]

We have one here, Winter Park Distilling Company. I tried their "Bear Gully Corn" and it just tasted like vodka to me.

http://www.wpdistilling.com/

This is more interesting to me. When I was a kid my dad would take me on drives to Winter Park's Genius Drive, where there were flocks of wild peacocks. It's a back road in WP where some one long ago started raising the birds and they just flourished for many years.

http://www.wpdistilling.com/page8.html

Edited May 7, 2013 by Alden

[HighInTheMtns]

We have one here, Winter Park Distilling Company. I tried their "Bear Gully Corn" and it just tasted like vodka to me.

http://www.wpdistilling.com/

This is more interesting to me. When I was a kid my dad would take me on drives to Winter Park's Genius Drive, where there were flocks of wild peacocks. It's a back road in WP where some one long ago started raising the birds and they just flourished for many years.

http://www.wpdistilling.com/page8.html

How about that single barrel that has some age on it? Have you tried that? Nicely proofed... They say it's a traditional charred oak barrel, wonder if their traditions extend to full size barrels?

[Alden]

How about that single barrel that has some age on it? Have you tried that? Nicely proofed... They say it's a traditional charred oak barrel, wonder if their traditions extend to full size barrels?

Not yet. It's kind of expensive.

[Danger]

Nothing starts as a massive mainstream institution.

[Richnimrod]

I an in favor of craft whiskys and wish success to all who make their own stock. I doubt I'll be a customer though because I view whisky as a daily commodity and since there is an abundance of first rate four year old stuff available at rock bottom prices I won't be paying a premium for craft products. Twenty years ago perhaps but not now, wish them well though.

[GaryT]

One of the most interesting whiskies I've tasted in a long time was Corsair's Old Punk (think bourbon meets pumpkin spice latte). I'm also typically not a big fan of flavored whiskey, but as I sipped that Old Punk I could envision sitting out back in the fall watching the leaves fall. When I asked where I could buy it, they shattered the dreamscape I had painted by telling me it wasn't in production, and not sure if it would make it to retail (one of their "experimental" items they brought to the tasting). Some of the other stuff from them I've tried has been interesting as well. Unfortunately it is all understandably more expensive, as they have to recoup the fixed costs the larger distilleries have already covered. But something really unique (like that Old Punk) would get a place in my cabinet if it wasn't outrageous (ie - somewhere under $50).

[brettckeen]

Kissing Cousins? Too close in name to my special blend Cousin Touchers... oh well, I didn't try it. I do like Koval's Bourbon it's unique. But too pricey for me to be a customer.

[omgmarclol]

up until a couple months ago, old punk was in many of the local shops here in chicago. i think they're still at a couple of my locals. what i'm looking forward to being released is grainiac though.

One of the most interesting whiskies I've tasted in a long time was Corsair's Old Punk (think bourbon meets pumpkin spice latte). I'm also typically not a big fan of flavored whiskey, but as I sipped that Old Punk I could envision sitting out back in the fall watching the leaves fall. When I asked where I could buy it, they shattered the dreamscape I had painted by telling me it wasn't in production, and not sure if it would make it to retail (one of their "experimental" items they brought to the tasting). Some of the other stuff from them I've tried has been interesting as well. Unfortunately it is all understandably more expensive, as they have to recoup the fixed costs the larger distilleries have already covered. But something really unique (like that Old Punk) would get a place in my cabinet if it wasn't outrageous (ie - somewhere under $50).

[Dolph Lundgren]

One of the most interesting whiskies I've tasted in a long time was Corsair's Old Punk (think bourbon meets pumpkin spice latte). I'm also typically not a big fan of flavored whiskey, but as I sipped that Old Punk I could envision sitting out back in the fall watching the leaves fall. When I asked where I could buy it, they shattered the dreamscape I had painted by telling me it wasn't in production, and not sure if it would make it to retail (one of their "experimental" items they brought to the tasting). Some of the other stuff from them I've tried has been interesting as well. Unfortunately it is all understandably more expensive, as they have to recoup the fixed costs the larger distilleries have already covered. But something really unique (like that Old Punk) would get a place in my cabinet if it wasn't outrageous (ie - somewhere under $50).

Thanks, Gary. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Another craft that I thought was interesting was the Balcones Brimstone - the Octomore of American whiskey. That scrub smoke was powerful! Not an everyday (or everyweek) pour, but worthy of consideration if you're feeling adventurous.

This is a bit of a deviation from bourboun, but the blogging-heads keep fawning over the Balcones single malt. Got any of that at Ds, Brett?

[omgmarclol]

justin,

i have a bottle so you can try some tomorrow. it's good. pear and brown sugar and juicy malt. it's good, not trying to be scotch.

Thanks, Gary. I'll keep an eye out for it.

Another craft that I thought was interesting was the Balcones Brimstone - the Octomore of American whiskey. That scrub smoke was powerful! Not an everyday (or everyweek) pour, but worthy of consideration if you're feeling adventurous.

This is a bit of a deviation from bourboun, but the blogging-heads keep fawning over the Balcones single malt. Got any of that at Ds, Brett?

[SmoothAmbler]

The Balcones Single Malt is damn fine whiskey...from a big or small distillery...it's good.

[SqueakScolari]

The only micro I've been impressed with is the Leopold Bros. American Small Batch Whiskey. It doesn't try to be a highly-aged product, but it's great for what it is. I'd like to try the McKenzie Rye, as well as other things Tom makes when they get older.

I bought some of the McKenzie Rye today. I really like it. It's only aged a year, but they use smaller casks and then finish it in sherry casks. It doesn't taste young at all. It reminds me of Scotch.

[ethangsmith]

I'm going to put in some votes for:

Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye

McKenzie whiskies

Tom's Foolery Distillery

Delaware Phoenix Distillery

[ChainWhip]

I'm going to put in some votes for:

Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye

McKenzie whiskies

Tom's Foolery Distillery

Delaware Phoenix Distillery

How is the Dad's Hat in comparison to the Old Overholts or old 70's/80's ryes from PA?

[WhiskyRI]

I think Dad's Hat is a very tasty young rye. I personally prefer it to Old Overholt. And if you get a chance check out their Vermouth Aged Rye. Really interesting.

[ChainWhip]

I have a 200ml bottle of '77 Old Overholt so I'm curious if the Dad's Hat is in that tradition of Pennsylvania rye - if you think it's better, I may need to start bunkering up on the Dad's Hat.