Neat, On the Rocks, or Not at All

Reviews worth reading. Recipes worth making. Distilleries worth visiting.
American Craft Whiskey Lives Here

Minglewood Distilling in Wooster, Ohio: A Coal and Ice Plant’s Second Life as a Whiskey Destination

—Start Here

Bourbon, Rye, and American Whiskey Foundations

Drink up knowledge about America’s native spirits.

Why Kentucky Became the Heart of Bourbon
How Bourbon Tastes: A Beginner’s Guide to America’s Sweet Whiskey
The Complete Guide to Bourbon Whiskey: History, Production, and What Makes America’s Native Spirit Special
Where Did Bourbon Originate? A Journey Through Early American Spirits

—Up Your Game

Perfect Your Pours

Train your palate, host a tasting, and learn how to get the most out of your bourbon and whiskey.

The Bourbon and Food Pairing Guide: What to Serve With Every Pour
How to Plan a Bourbon Trail Trip
Bardstown Kentucky Bourbon Trail Guide: Distilleries, Where to Stay & More
The Complete Guide to Traveling the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
Do You Need a Whiskey Decanter?
The Frankfort Bourbon Trail Guide

—Bar and Distillery Visit Recaps

Pour Tour

Distilleries, whiskey bars, and cool stops along the way

Minglewood Distilling Co.
Minglewood Distilling in Wooster, Ohio: A Coal and Ice Plant’s Second Life as a Whiskey Destination
Our visit to Minglewood Distilling Co in downtown Wooster, Ohio — single barrel bourbon and rye made from local grain, a rehabbed 1921 coal and ice plant, repurposed equipment from a salsa factory and a chemical reactor tank, and a barrel signing tradition that'll bring you back every year.
Irons One Distillery
Irons One Distillery
There's a certain kind of place that doesn't announce itself. You have to go looking for it. Irons One Distillery, tucked into a corner of Huntsville's Lowe Mill arts complex, is exactly that kind of place — and the bourbon inside is worth every turn of the corridor it takes to find it.
Black Patch Distilling Review
Black Patch Distilling
The building looks like somewhere you'd go to dispute a billing error. Walk around the corner anyway. Black Patch Distilling is one of Huntsville's best kept secrets — a small operation with a serious story, a veteran's legacy, a chef's instincts behind the bar, and a pecan pie liqueur that will make a non-drinker reach for her wallet.
Augusta Distillery
There is no bridge at Georgetown, Ohio. What there is instead is a ferry — and on the other side of a five-minute river crossing sits Augusta, Kentucky, a Twain-era river town with a distillery that just won Best Bourbon in the World. Not a bad trade for missing the bridge.

—Neat or Not

Latest Reviews

Neat, not, or not at all, honest reviews to help you decide which whiskey is right for you

Detrick Straight Bourbon

Dayton,
Ohio
Everyday Sipper
The first pour of the day at any bourbon festival sets the tone for everything that follows, and mine happened to be a 122.8-proof cask strength bourbon poured into a…
Neeley Family Boubon-N-Steel Oat Mashbill Single Barrel Bourbon
Cask Strength, Single Barrel, Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky

Bourbon-N-Steel

Barrel 881’s unique grain bill creates a standout craft bourbon experience

FULL REVIEW →

109.4 Proof
Age: 4 years 4 months
Outstanding
Leather & Oak
Bourbon
Ohio

Leather & Oak

Catching up from the old bourbon journal, this 94.9 proof pour wears its name on its sleeve and hints at bigger things with more time.

FULL REVIEW →

94.9 Proof
Age: Unspecified
Everyday Sipper
Penelope Toasted Rye
Straight Rye Whiskey
Missouri

Penelope Toasted Rye

A Toasted Twist on Traditional Rye That Brings Heat and Herbaceous Character

FULL REVIEW →

100 Proof
Age: 6
Recommend
$50
Old Jett Brothers Whiskey from Neeley Family Distillery
Finished Bourbon

The Old Jett Brothers

A Christmas gift that keeps on giving with French oak finishing and surprising smoothness at high proof

FULL REVIEW →

114.8 Proof
Age: Finish Time: 44 months
Outstanding
Buckner' 10 Bourbon from Augusta Distillery
Single Barrel, Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky

Buckner's Single Barrel 13

Augusta Distillery’s premium expression showcases fruit-forward bourbon craftsmanship

FULL REVIEW →

141.7 Proof
Age: 13 years
Excellent
Neeley Family Distillery High Rye Bourbon
Cask Strength, High Rye, Single Barrel, Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Kentucky

Single Barrel - Barrel Strength High Rye

Second pour from the tour tasting, spice forward with a floral wink

FULL REVIEW →

108.8 Proof
Age: 4 years 5 months
Excellent

—Libations

Cocktails For Any Occasion

Whiskey based cocktails fo any occasion and any skill level.

Rye
intermediate
5 min
A Manhattan variation with Bénédictine that’s more interesting than it sounds and better than most things.

Cocktail Recipe

The Clover Club

intermediate
Shaken
20 MIN
Coupe

See the recipe →

Cocktail Recipe

Bourbon Lemon Drop

easy
Shaken
5 MIN
Coupe

See the recipe →

Cocktail Recipe

The Stone Fence

easy
Built
3 MIN
Highball

See the recipe →

Cocktail Recipe

The Preakness Cocktail

intermediate
Stirred
5 MIN
Nick & Nora

See the recipe →

Pull Up A Chair.

Let’s Talk Bourbon

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Five bottles. Five styles. One framework so you never stand in front of 200 bottles wondering what to buy again 

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