Get ready for a thrilling taste adventure 🚀 into the shadowy world of Blind Barrels! 🕵️♂️ In this episode, we’re plunging headfirst into the unknown, blind tasting 👀 and dissecting FOUR ENIGMATIC MYSTERY WHISKEYS! 🥃🥃🥃🥃 Can our palates decipher their secrets? 🤔
Join us as we become whiskey detectives 🔎, meticulously sniffing👃, swirling 🔄, and savoring 😋 each anonymous dram. We’ll delve deep into their intriguing flavor profiles and captivating aromas ✨, piecing together the clues 🧩 to uncover what makes each one truly unique.
The anticipation is building! ⏳ Will we correctly identify their origins? 🌍 Which hidden gem 💎 will steal our hearts (and our taste buds 👅)? And ultimately… which mysterious whiskey will rise above the rest and claim the coveted top spot 🏆 in our ranking?
Prepare for unexpected twists 😲, surprising revelations 🎉, and maybe even a few gasps of delight! 😮 You might just discover your next favorite pour lurking within these blind barrels. Hit play ▶️ now and join the mystery! 😉
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NOTE: We were not compensated by the spirit producers or Blind Barrels for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Get ready to explore the fascinating history and innovative whiskies of West Bottoms Whiskey Co.! In this video, we dive deep into the story of a Kansas City distillery rooted in pre-Prohibition heritage and taste four of their unique expressions: Kansas City Whiskey, Convergence Whiskey, American Blended Malt Whiskey, and Distiller’s Cut American Single Malt Whiskey.
West Bottoms Distillery was founded in 2016 by Alex Lindsey, aiming to revive the spirited history of the West Bottoms district – a bustling 19th and early 20th-century railroad and agricultural hub with a thriving saloon scene. We’ll uncover how this history inspires their brand and their whiskies, even featuring a “Murdock” mascot that embodies the industrial age’s hardworking spirit.
We’ll start with Kansas City Whiskey, a pre-Prohibition style blend of rye, bourbon, and a touch of dry Oloroso sherry. This unique “rectification” process gives it a warm, spicy start and a smooth, fruity finish.
Next, we have Convergence Whiskey, a fitting name for this blend of rye and single malt. Its signature Malbec wine cask finish merges old traditions with modern techniques for a uniquely flavorful spirit.
Prepare for a surprise with our American Blended Malt Whiskey, a special combination of our own peated Distiller’s Cut and a 4-year-old single malt. It’s the perfect introduction to smoky, complex whiskies!
Finally, we’ll savor Distiller’s Cut, our premium American Single Malt. This limited-run, hand-waxed bottle is Kansas City’s first peated whiskey, distilled and aged in-house on our copper pot still for a true taste of our craft.
Join us as we explore the unique flavors and story behind West Bottoms Whiskey Co. So grab your favorite glass, settle in, and let’s explore these incredible whiskeys together! Click play ▶️ NOW!
We highly recommend that you add West Bottoms Whiskey Co in Kansas City MO to Your Bourbon Journey!
What’s your favorite state for bourbon outside of Kentucky? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
Are you a true bourbon fanatic, always on the hunt for the next exceptional pour? Then smash that like button 👍 to show your appreciation for fine whiskey! Hit subscribe 🔔 so you never miss our reviews of rare and remarkable spirits, and share this video ➡️ with your fellow whiskey lovers. Let’s build a community of enthusiasts who appreciate the art of exceptional bourbon!
This is Part 2 of 4 about Kansas City Distilleries! Don’t miss next week!
Kansas City Whiskey is a pre-prohibition style of blended American whiskey based on the process of rectification, the blending of up to 2.5% sherry into the whiskey. Our unique Kansas City Whiskey blends Rye and Bourbon whiskeys with a dry Oloroso sherry from Spain. The result is a beautiful sipping whiskey with a warm spicy front and a smooth, earthy, fruity finish. Retail $40
✴️ Convergence Whiskey
Convergence Whiskey embodies this rich history, combining rye and single malt whiskeys into a distinctive blend, which rests in a Malbec wine cask for its signature finish. This cask resting process allows time and tradition to merge into one uniquely blended whiskey that honors both classic and modern whiskey making techniques. Retail $50
✴️ American Blended Malt Whiskey
This truly unique blend is a very special combination of our peated Distiller’s Cut, and a 4-year-old selected single malt whiskey. This complex whiskey will continue to surprise as you sip. This blended malt whiskey is the perfect intro to those exploring scotches with light smoke and intricate flavors. Retail $60
✴️ Distiller’s Cut – American Single Malt Whiskey
Our premium offering. 100% distilled and aged by West Bottoms Whiskey Co. on our 211-gallon copper alembic pot still. The first peated whiskey in Kansas City. 50% malted barley/ 50% peated malt. Aged 1 year in 5-gallon barrels. Limited runs being released. and available in our Parlor. Each bottle has been hand wax dipped and crested with our seal. Retail $70 (375 ml)
NOTE: The spirits in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Excited to dive into the Penelope Bourbon Cigar Sessions Chapter 1? 🥃💨 This isn’t just another whiskey; it’s a revolutionary cigar pairing bourbon designed to elevate your favorite medium-bodied cigars! In this whiskey review, we’re exploring Penelope’s innovative approach to blending, featuring Straight Bourbon, American Single Malt, and American Light Whiskey.
Join us as we uncork this limited release aged six years and bottled at a robust 101 proof (50.5% ABV). We’ll cover everything from its unique mash bill (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% malt) to its rich, balanced profile crafted specifically for whiskey and cigar lovers.
This video introduces Penelope Bourbon Cigar Sessions Chapter 1, a groundbreaking cigar pairing whiskey. We share how we acquired this sought-after bottle before diving deep into its unique characteristics, including its beautiful color and appearance and captivating aromas—truly a whiskey for cigar aficionados. Our review culminates with a first taste of this innovative whiskey, followed by a discussion of its finish and our honest thoughts on this exceptional Penelope Bourbon release.
Don’t miss out on this groundbreaking Penelope Bourbon Cigar Sessions Chapter 1 review! Click play ▶️ now for our completely unfiltered tasting notes.
Passionate about bourbon and exceptional whiskey? Hit that LIKE 👍 and SUBSCRIBE 🔔 so you never miss our deep dives into the most exciting new releases! Share this with your bourbon buddies and let’s celebrate the art of fine spirits together! Cheers to rare finds and unforgettable pours! 🥂
#bourbon #penelope #CigarSessions
❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌
✴️ Penelope: Cigar Sessions – Chapter 1
Classification: American Whiskey
Distillery: Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP)
Blend: Straight Bourbon, American Single Malt, and American Light Whiskey
Bourbon: 72% Corn, 15% Rye, 13% Malted Barley; Non Chill-Filtered; Finished with French Oak Staves
Age: 6
Proof: 101
MSRP: 79.99
Released: June 2025
Other: Pair with medium-bodied cigars
Purchased: 06/13/25 at High Spirits Liquor Store, Evansville IN
NOTE: The spirit in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Get ready for a thrilling taste adventure 🚀 into the shadowy world of Blind Barrels! 🕵️♂️ In this episode, we’re plunging headfirst into the unknown, blind tasting 👀 and dissecting FOUR ENIGMATIC MYSTERY WHISKEYS! 🥃🥃🥃🥃 Can our palates decipher their secrets? 🤔
Join us as we become whiskey detectives 🔎, meticulously sniffing👃, swirling 🔄, and savoring 😋 each anonymous dram. We’ll delve deep into their intriguing flavor profiles and captivating aromas ✨, piecing together the clues 🧩 to uncover what makes each one truly unique.
The anticipation is building! ⏳ Will we correctly identify their origins? 🌍 Which hidden gem 💎 will steal our hearts (and our taste buds 👅)? And ultimately… which mysterious whiskey will rise above the rest and claim the coveted top spot 🏆 in our ranking?
Prepare for unexpected twists 😲, surprising revelations 🎉, and maybe even a few gasps of delight! 😮 You might just discover your next favorite pour lurking within these blind barrels. Hit play ▶️ now and join the mystery! 😉
NOTE: We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
It is hard to believe that last week at this time Wayne and I were attending the Bourbon Women SIPosium in Louisville. One of the events of the weekend was an ongoing auction. Thrilled that, together, we won four auctions. This tasting is from one of those winning auctions.
This tasting from a three-bottle set of J.T. Meleck. We will be tasting the two rice whiskeys but not the rice vodka.
From the J.T. Meleck Distillers Website: One family, one farm, one great idea… It begins in 1896, when John Meleck had the crazy idea to grow his 1st rice on 20 acres of marshland in s. Louisiana. Against the odds, the name J.T. Meleck became synonymous with Louisiana rice, but to us he is great, great uncle John. Five generations later we still grow rice – and now crawfish – on the same 20 acres as our Uncle John. We’ve grown since then but we are still as connected to the dirt as J.T. Meleck. I began thinking, what if we could make a great spirit from our rice? It would make our Uncle John proud. The result is something truly special. It’s American Rice, born right here on our farm, just off hwy 35 in Branch, LA. We´re proud to take our rice from grain to bottle. We work the dirt and grow the seed, just like Uncle John did. That’s why we’ve named it J.T. Meleck. Because our crazy idea has managed to create a whole new Louisiana classic. One that goes straight from our farm to your front porch.
J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey: Released in 2022, this is J.T. Meleck’s staple and long talked about American Rice Whiskey. Aged in new American oak barrels for almost 5 years their whiskey is amber in color and deep in intensity.
J.T. Meleck Single Barrel Cask Strength American Rice Whiskey: This single barrel pick is 120.4 Proof/ 60.25% alcohol, and aged for 4+ years. J.T. Meleck’s Single Barrel Program was launched in October of 2022. They decided to launch this program after discovering that some barrels were not like the others. They were meant to be enjoyed separately. Whether it be the nose, flavor or finish, they knew these barrels were special and needed to be shared with their fans.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
J.T. Meleck American Rice WhiskeySmall Batch
Mashbill – 100% Rice Age – at least 4 years Proof – 96 Specifics – Small Batch #323 Price Paid – $31.67 (average of total auction price for all three at $95; MSRP $44.99)
Color – Medium Honey
Aroma – A light sweetness such as caramel or vanilla pudding, baking spices – mostly cinnamon, and a light berry note – perhaps raspberry.
Tasted Neat – Sweet and savory at the same time. The sweetness is confectionery and leans toward cotton candy. The savory note includes a light taste of black pepper.
Finish – There are nice notes of wood, tobacco, and medium spice flavors. It finishes very nicely with savory feel.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This created an immediate taste of orange zest on the palate. The sweetness and pepper have vanished to give way to a light and refreshing orange sherbet experience.
Tasted with a pecan – Spice and wood is definitely prominent. Not much else with the pecan.
J.T. Meleck Single Barrel Cask Strength American Rice Whiskey
Mashbill – 100% Rice Age – at least 4 years Proof – 120.4 Other – Barrel 194, Bottle 122 Price Paid – $31.67 (average of total auction price for all three at $95; MSRP $59.99)
Color – Medium to Dark Amber; nice legs/viscosity.
Aroma – Maple syrup, vanilla, nutmeg, dark cherry, and warm butter.
Tasted Neat – Caramel, molasses, vanilla cream, dark cherry, nutmeg, white pepper, and oak.
Finish – A lovely finish with notes of sweetness from the cherry, warm nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon, oak with leather and tobacco. It really takes a flavor and sensation journey and lingers in a most pleasant manner.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This brought wood and lemon zest to the forefront. There is also a sour candy note and a shorter finish that is warm but not distinct in any way.
Tasted with a pecan – Spices, oak, leather, and pecan. No sweetness. Limited finish.
Discussion and Final Notes
Small Batch – The contrasting sweet and savory was a journey on the palate. It drinks very smoothly and enjoyably. It would likely pair well with some light fruits and berries or a lovely sorbet.
Single Barrel – This is a great single barrel. It had some memorable notes to it. It starts out with an amazing nose that leads to an almost bourbon-like palate and then finishes very well. It would be challenging to say this was a rice whiskey in a blind tasting as most people would assume it is a bourbon. The complexity of this might pair well with a charcuterie board of meats and hard cheeses.
The small batch is very light and summery with the taste of raspberries; whereas, the single barrel, with its dark cherry notes, comes through more like we’re ready for fall. Happy to have won this auction so we could taste and enjoy the uniqueness of these Louisiana American Rice Whiskeys.
Cheers, Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Whiskey Requirements
Whiskey (generic) must be made from cereal grains, distilled below 190 proof, placed into an oak container, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof.
There doesn’t seem to be an official category for American Rice Whiskey at this time. However, I will keep an eye out for developments in this category.
NOTE: The whiskeys in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
April 12, 2024 Wayne and I attended the Black Stone Cherry, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd concert at the Ford Center in Evansville, IN. Each group contributed outstandingly, and we had fabulous front row center seats for an amazing night of music and memories.
Johnny singing Whiskey Rock-a-Roller 04/12/24.
I wore my “Talk Bourbon To Me” T-Shirt and didn’t realize that might catch the eye of Johnny Van Zant. That is because I missed their announcement of partnering with Bespoken Spirits and the release of American Hell House Whiskey in July, 2023. Honestly, the first I knew about it was during their 5th song, Whiskey Rock-a-Roller when it was on the screen. Then I was intrigued.
At the conclusion of Sweet Home Alabama (right before the encore), Johnny Van Zant pointed to me and tossed me a “Hell House” hat. Unfortunately, the woman sitting next to me grabbed it. This did not sit well with Johnny, and he AGAIN pointed at me and ensured that I got their “Lynyrd Skynyrd Forever” hat. Super cool!!
Rebecca, Wayne, and Trevor Herman by the tour bus after the concert.
About Hell House Whiskey
American Hell House Whiskey was released in July 2023. In an announcement by PR Newswire (07/27/23), it was shared that the name is a tribute to the band’s legendary cabin. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Hell House, a humble cabin nestled in the woods of Florida, played a pivotal role in the band’s early success. It served as their rehearsal and writing space, where iconic songs like “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” were born. The cabin’s legacy lives on in the band’s new whiskey, Hell House Whiskey, which pays homage to the raw and creative spirit of their formative years.
The whiskey is produced by Bespoken Spirits that launched in January 2018 in California. Most recently, March 2024, Bespoken moved their headquarters and operation to Lexington, Kentucky. They pride themselves on creating a process for sustainability. Their approach to whiskey is accomplished with less wood, water, and energy. Early supporters of Bespoken include T.J. Rodgers of Cypress Semiconductor and Derek Jeter, Baseball Hall of Famer and owner of the Miami Marlins. As of their move to Kentucky, they were available in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, and North Carolina. However, they announced plans to expand into Colorado and Illinois in 2024.
Following the concert, we really wanted an opportunity to taste Hell House Whiskey. Using the locator on Bespoken’s website, we found a place just over the bridge in Henderson, KY. Saturday, 04/13/24, we were able to purchase a bottle at the location indicated.
American Hell House Whiskey Tasting Notes
If you haven’t already, please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey.
Taste – Some sweetness and a light floral note; however, the dominate taste coming forward is tobacco. On the finish the tobacco lingers and is joined by leather, oak, and black pepper.
Tasted with dried cranberry – With the cranberry it has a lighter overall feel to it. A bit less tobacco, but the leather remains it still finishes with oak and black pepper.
Tasted with a pecan – More sweetness with caramel on the front, the tobacco and leather has faded but the finish is now cinnamon and oak.
Tasted with dark chocolate – This did not complement the spirit. The previous taste characteristics are no longer present and it now has a rather bitter finish similar to tasting ground cinnamon. We certainly would not recommend this paired with chocolate.
Bespoken Spirits Tailored Wood Finishing
According to an article published by Whisky Advocate (03/21/24), Bespoken Spirits uses a proprietary rapid-aging process called Tailored Wood Finishing. Unlike traditional whiskey-aging methods that rely on extended barrel storage, Bespoken uses “micro staves” to infuse flavors of wood, toast, and char into its spirits in just a few days. This innovative approach allows them to create diverse flavor profiles from a single base liquid while reducing material consumption, water usage, energy expenditure, and eliminating evaporation losses.
In a related article published last year by Robb Report (04/11/23), Bespoken’s unique Tailored Wood Finishing process uses “activators” to rapidly age whiskey by applying heat and pressure, simulating years of aging in just days. This method allows the company to finish or rectify whiskey for other brands, potentially resolving flavor issues. While the process can produce whiskey that tastes different from traditionally aged products, lacking depth and maturity, blind tastings have shown that Bespoken’s whiskeys are often distinguishable from others.
Summary Notes
I have loved Lynyrd Skynyrd since I was in High School, and it is hard to believe that they are celebrating FIFTY YEARS! I really wish they would have partnered with a spirit company that has the depth and maturity to match who they are. That said, as a fan, it is very cool to listen to a band’s music and have a whiskey to drink that has their name on it.
We are looking forward to the next warm day when we can sit on the patio and enjoy a cigar. With the tobacco and leather notes of this whiskey, we believe it will go quite nicely with a cigar and the cigar won’t negatively impact the flavor of the whiskey.
If you are a fan and locate a bottle of Hell House – buy it! You will enjoy it for the same reasons that we do … its story and connection to Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Cheers, Rebecca
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
American Whiskey (as per the label)
Whiskey (generic) must be made from cereal grains, distilled below 190 proof, placed into an oak container, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof.
When aged less than four years and without an age statement, it might need to be labeled as corn whiskey. To be considered American Corn Whiskey, it must be made from at least 80% corn, but isn’t required to be aged. Aged American corn whiskey must rest in either used or uncharred oak barrels. Note: Based on the mash bill of Hell House, it could qualify as a corn whiskey.
Regarding the labeling of American Hell House Whiskey as American Whiskey, according to Whiskey Advocate’s 03/21/24 article, it was sourced from MGP (Midwest Grain Products); thus, likely achieved the placement into oak barrel requirement during its time at MGP. In addition, that would add to the accumulated age.
NOTE: The whiskey in this review was purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producer for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.
Your Bourbon Journey 