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Neeley Family Distillery Old Jett Flight: Full Review

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Neely Family Distillery’s Old Jet Bourbon Flight: 5 Unique Barrel Finishes! 🥃

Happy Monday, Bourbon Family! Today Your Bourbon Journey is taking a deep dive into the Old Jet line from Neeley Family Distillery. We’re spending January opening up the “2025 Vault”—bottles we picked up late last year but haven’t had the chance to share with you until now.

Named in honor of the 19th-century Jett Brothers Distilling Company, these “Old Jet” expressions by Royce Neeley bridge the gap between Kentucky history and modern finishing techniques. From a bright Sake barrel finish to a powerhouse 41-month Toasted French Oak, this flight is full of surprises!

🥃 The “Old Jet” Flight Lineup:

  • Sake Barrel Finish
    • Time: 8 Months | Proof: 101 | Mash Bill: High Rye
    • Notes: Light, bright, and fruity—the perfect “spring” bourbon.
  • Amarone & New Toasted French Oak
    • Time: 7 Months | Proof: 100 | Mash Bill: High Rye
    • Notes: A beautiful marriage of red wine grape notes and sweet vanilla.
  • Red Port Wine Barrel Finish
    • Time: 22 Months | Proof: 106.7 | Mash Bill: Wheated
    • Notes: Dark, deep, and jammy—like a fine Tawny port.
  • Maple Syrup Barrel Finish
    • Time: 7 Months | Proof: 107 | Mash Bill: Wheated
    • Notes: Rich and viscous without being overly sweet; the ultimate breakfast bourbon.
  • New Toasted French Oak
    • Time: 41 Months | Proof: 127.24 | Mash Bill: High Rye
    • Notes: A powerhouse bottle with creamy French vanilla custard and bold wood notes.

📍 Visit Neeley Family Distillery:

If you’re traveling between Cincinnati and Louisville on I-71, make sure to stop by Sparta, KY (near the Kentucky Speedway). Royce and Rebekah are doing incredible things with pot-distilled, uncut, and unfiltered spirits. Tell ’em Wayne and Rebekah from Your Bourbon Journey sent you!

Shop Online: Neeley Family Distillery Website

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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.

#Bourbon #WhiskeyTasting #OldJet #NeeleyFamilyDistillery #KentuckyBourbon #BourbonReview #WhiskeyTube #FinishedBourbon #CraftDistillery #BourbonJourney #MapleBourbon #WineFinishedWhiskey #SakeFinish #ToastedOak #BourbonLovers

Blind Barrels XVI Best of the Best Blind Tasting Results

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Is it a Buy? Blind Barrels Release XVI “Best of the Best” Tasting! 🥃

Happy Friday, whiskey lovers! Today, Wayne and Rebecca are diving into Blind Barrels Release XVI, aptly titled “The Best of the Best.” This curated box features standout picks from award-winning craft distilleries, and we’re putting our palates to the test to see if we can identify these mystery pours.

From a rare bourbon finished on local wood to a high-proof whiskey ranked in the Top 20 of 2025 by Whiskey Advocate, this flight is full of surprises! Are these regional gems worth the hunt? Watch as we break down the nose, palate, and finish of each mystery pour to decide: Is it a BUY?

🕵️ The Mystery Lineup (Revealed in Video!):

  • Sample A: A unique bourbon from the “Cherry Capital of the World,” finished on toasted cherry wood staves for a bright, floral profile.
  • Sample B: An “out of this world” 100-proof, four-grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon released to celebrate a total solar eclipse.
  • Sample C: A 115-proof American Single Malt from the ADI “Distillery of the Year,” aged for 7 years and rarely seen outside its home state.
  • Sample D: A powerhouse 125-proof Wheat Whiskey from Ohio, recently honored as one of the most prestigious spirits in the world for 2025.

Enjoying the journey? If you like honest whiskey talk and real-world buying advice, hit SUBSCRIBE and the bell to join us for every pour!

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✅ Please SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

✅ Visit: https://yourbourbonjourney.com  for additional stories to enhance Your Bourbon Journey!

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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.

#WhiskeyTasting #BourbonJourney #BlindBarrels #BourbonReview #WhiskeyLover #CraftDistillery #AmericanSingle Malt #CaskStrength #BourbonLife #CraftWhiskey #WhiskeyAdvocate #KentuckyBourbon #WhiskeyCommunity #WhiskeyCollector #Cheers

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

‼️🚨SPOILER ALERT🚨‼️

Casey Jones Total Eclipse Four Grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

  • Producer: Casey Jones Distillery – Hopkinsville, KY
  • Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
  • Age Statement: 4 years old
  • Mashbill: 75% Corn, 10% Wheat, 10% Rye, 5% Malted Barley (Mash Bill 4)
  • Size: 750ml

Mammoth Distilling Northern Bourbon – Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished on Toasted Cherry Wood Staves

  • Producer: Mammoth Distilling – Central Lake, MI
  • Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)
  • Age Statement: 5 years old
  • Mashbill: 74.8% Wapsie Valley Corn, 21% Wheeler Rye, 4.2% Conlon Malted Barley
  • Size: 750ml

Middle West Spirits Cask Strength Straight Wheat Whiskey

  • Producer: Middle West Spirits – Columbus, OH
  • Proof: 125.2 (62.6% ABV)
  • Age Statement: 5 years old
  • Mashbill: 95% Ohio Soft Red Winter Wheat, 5% Two-Row Malted Barley
  • Size: 750ml

Southern Star American Single Malt Whiskey – Cask Strength (375ml)

  • Producer: Southern Distilling Company – Statesville, NC
  • Proof: 115.2 (57.6% ABV)
  • Age Statement: 7 years old
  • Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
  • Size: 375ml

❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

Elite Eight Blind Battle: Who Made the Final Four? 

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🥃 Blind Whiskey of the Year: The Elite Eight Final Showdown!

The road to the Final Four ends here! In today’s high-stakes episode, we conclude the Elite Eight with Battles 11 and 12. It’s a classic showdown of 1-seeds vs. 2-seeds, where the scores are razor-thin and the pressure is at an all-time high.

Wayne and Rebecca dive deep into a blind sensory evaluation to see which bottles have the complexity, the “legs,” and the finish to survive the cut. One of these battles resulted in a dead tie—stay tuned to see how we broke the tie and which powerhouse whiskies officially punched their ticket to the semifinals!

🕒 In This Episode:

  • Battle 11 (U vs. V): A clash of opposites. One brings sweet confectionary notes and power, while the other offers deep, dark “winter bourbon” vibes.
  • Battle 12 (W vs. X): The battle of the titans. We’re talking barrel-heavy cocoa notes versus traditional caramel and baking spice perfection.
  • The Big Reveal: We unmask the winners and losers! See how Craft Distilleries are holding their own against the “Big Boys.”
  • Final Four Announcement: The bracket is set! Find out which four bottles are moving on to compete for Whiskey of the Year.

📢 JOIN THE JOURNEY

If you love deep-dive whiskey reviews, blind tastings, and bourbon hunting, hit that SUBSCRIBE button! We release new tournament battles daily as we head toward crowning the undisputed Champion.

🏆 WOTY TOURNAMENT HUB: View the live bracket, match results, and winner scores.16 Bottles. One Champion. No Labels. HERE: https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/01/03/%f0%9f%8f%86-the-definitive-2025-whiskey-of-the-year-bracket/ 

🥃 THE ROAD TO 2025 WOTY: We spent 12 months hunting for the best juice—see our complete selection process and the 100% blind bracket logic on our website: https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/01/01/the-road-to-the-2025-whiskey-of-the-year-the-blind-bracket-revealed/

Connect With Us & Support The Journey! 

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❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: All spirits in this tournament were purchased by us for the purpose of evaluation. We were not compensated by any producer for reviews or inclusion in this series. These rankings are based solely on our blind tasting scores and the performance of the liquid in the glass throughout the 2025 season.

#whiskeyoftheyear #bourbon #blindtasting #whiskeytournament #bourbonreview #yourbourbonjourney #bestwhiskey2025 #sweet16 #whiskeybracket #kentuckybourbon

Who Survived the Sweet Sixteen Gauntlet? The Scores are In!

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The opening round of the 2025 Whiskey of the Year Tournament is officially in the books, and the results are staggering. This wasn’t just a tasting; it was a battle of the best. With an incredible 93.5 average winner score, the margin for error was non-existent. Even the bottles sent home averaged a 92.1, proving that every contender in this year’s field is a “must-try” for any serious enthusiast.

From massive wildcard upsets to #1 seeds holding their ground by a single point, the Elite Eight is now set. Who moved on? Who fell short? Explore the full scorecard below and track the live bracket as we head into the Quarterfinals.

The Sweet Sixteen Scorecard

Key Takeaways from the Round

  • The High-Score Hero: Patriotic Meri-COB (Battle 8) took the highest score of the entire opening round with a massive 95, narrowly edging out a phenomenal Neeley 4-Grain.
  • The Power of the #1 Seed: All four of our #1 seeds (Old Louisville, Bardstown, Wild Turkey, and McBrayer) successfully defended their brackets, though several battles came down to a single point.
  • The “Wheat” Surprise: Star Hill Farms Wheat Whisky remains the only non-bourbon in the field, proving its complexity can stand up to the biggest names in Kentucky Bourbon.

What’s Next?

The tournament shifts gears tomorrow as we begin the Elite Eight. The matchups only get tougher from here as we fight for a spot in the Final Four.

📺 Catch up on all the happenings on the Tournament Tracker Page

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

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#WhiskeyOfTheYear #WOTY2025 #BourbonBracket #EliteEight #BlindTasting #BourbonJourney #WhiskeyReview #KentuckyBourbon #CraftWhiskey #BourbonCommunity #WhiskeyTuber

The Road to WOTY: Who Made the Elite Eight?

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🏆 WHISKEY OF THE YEAR: The Sweet Sixteen Finale! (Battles 7 & 8)

The opening round of the 2025 Whiskey of the Year Tournament concludes today! After 12 months of evaluations, it all comes down to the final two spots in the Elite Eight.

In this episode, we face our final #1 seed taking on a high-scoring Wildcard, followed by a clash between our final #2 and #3 seeds. Will the heavy hitters hold the line, or are we about to witness the ultimate “Giant Slayer” upset right before the quarterfinals?

🥃 In This Episode:

We wrap up the Sweet Sixteen with two massive matchups that pushed our palates to the limit.

  • Battle 7: A high-proof showdown where one bottle “sings” with complexity while the other brings a “bag of peanuts” to the face.
  • Battle 8: A battle of the “beast mode” noses. One bottle smells like a Crème Brûlée dessert, while the other offers an intriguing ginger-spice balance.

Watch as we break down the nose, palate, and finish—completely blind—to see which two bottles survive the gauntlet to join the Elite Eight.

📉 The Sweet Sixteen Scorecard

The competition in this opening round was incredibly tight. To give you an idea of the caliber of these whiskeys, here is how the scoring broke down across all 16 contenders:

  • Average Winner Score: 93.5 (Elite Eight Bound)
  • Average Eliminated Score: 92.1 It is rare to see a tournament where the “losers” are still scoring in the 90s! This proves that every bottle in this bracket truly earned its spot among the best of 2025.

🏆 The Elite Eight Reveal

Stick around for the end of the video where we finally pull the tape! For the first time, we reveal the 8 Bottles moving on to the Quarterfinals.

The Elite Eight Field includes: 

✅ Our final #1 seeds that held the line. 

✅ The “Giant Slayers” that pulled off the upset. 

✅ A mix of Heritage Kentucky brands and Craft powerhouses.

📢 Join the Journey!

Who are you rooting for in the Elite Eight? Did your favorite bottle get eliminated too early? Let us know in the comments!

Subscribe to follow the rest of the bracket as we head toward the Grand Finale!

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❌YOUR BOURBON JOURNEY DOES NOT SELL ALCOHOL❌

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

🥃 THE ROAD TO 2025 WOTY: We spent 12 months hunting for the best juice—see our complete selection process and the 100% blind bracket logic on our website: https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/01/01/the-road-to-the-2025-whiskey-of-the-year-the-blind-bracket-revealed/

NOTE: All spirits in this tournament were purchased by us for the purpose of evaluation. We were not compensated by any producer for reviews or inclusion in this series. These rankings are based solely on our blind tasting scores and the performance of the liquid in the glass throughout the 2025 season.

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

#whiskeyoftheyear #bourbon #blindtasting #whiskeytournament #bourbonreview #yourbourbonjourney #bestwhiskey2025 #sweet16 #whiskeybracket #kentuckybourbon

🏆 The Definitive 2025 Whiskey of the Year Bracket

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Searching for the best bourbon of 2025? Welcome to the official hub of the Your Bourbon Journey WOTY Tournament.

We don’t just pick a winner—we earn it through a rigorous, 100% blind tasting process. We’ve taken the top-rated whiskeys from our monthly reviews and pitted them against each other in a single-elimination playoff. From heritage Kentucky distilleries to the most innovative craft whiskey brands, this is the ultimate quest for the best bottle of the year.

Bookmark this page to track live results, scoring averages, and the updated Elite Eight and Final Four standings as we crown our 2025 Champion.

2025 WOTY Tournament Tracker

RoundMatchupResults AvailableVideo Link
Sweet 16Battles 1 & 2Jan 2S16 Round 1
Sweet 16Battles 3 & 4Jan 3S16 Round 2
Sweet 16Battles 5 & 6Jan 4S16 Round 3
Sweet 16Battles 7 & 8 + RevealJan 5S16 Round 4
Elite 8Battles 9 & 10Jan 6E8 Round 1
Elite 8Battles 11 & 12 + RevealJan 7E8 Round 2
Final 4Semi-FinalsJan 8Final Four
FINALECHAMPIONSHIPJan 9Championship

🥃 THE ROAD TO 2025 WOTY: We spent 12 months hunting for the best juice—see our complete selection process and the 100% blind bracket logic on our website: https://yourbourbonjourney.com/2026/01/01/the-road-to-the-2025-whiskey-of-the-year-the-blind-bracket-revealed/

NOTE: All spirits in this tournament were purchased by us for the purpose of evaluation. We were not compensated by any producer for reviews or inclusion in this series. These rankings are based solely on our blind tasting scores and the performance of the liquid in the glass throughout the 2025 season.

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

#WhiskeyOfTheYear #BestBourbon2025 #WhiskeyReview #BourbonJourney #SpiritsAwards #WOTY#BlindTasting #BourbonBracket #WhiskeyTuber #SmallBatchBourbon #BarrelProof #WhiskeyTournament

The Road to the 2025 Whiskey of the Year: The Blind Bracket Revealed!

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January 1, 2026

Happy New Year, Bourbon Family!

At Your Bourbon Journey, we spent all of 2025 searching for the absolute best pours on the market. We tasted over 100 expressions, from heritage Kentucky legends to innovative craft distillers. But now, the “fun” part of the year is over, and the evaluation begins.

Starting tomorrow, January 2nd, we launch our 2025 Whiskey of the Year Sweet Sixteen Playoff.

The Integrity of the Process

We believe the label on the bottle shouldn’t dictate the score. To find our winner, we use a 100% Blind Bracket System.

  1. Selection: We took our 12 Monthly Winners and our 4 highest-scoring runners-up (Wildcards).
  2. Seeding: Bottles were seeded based on their performance in our “Whiskey of the Quarter” battles.

The Playoff: A head-to-head, single-elimination tournament where we have no idea what is in the glass until the Championship trophy is awarded.

The Class of 2025: The Contenders

To make it into the Sweet Sixteen, these bottles had to be the best of their respective months. Here is the field of 16 that earned a spot in the starting bracket: (with links to the original tasting videos)

The #1 Seeds (Quarterly Winners)

The #2 Seeds (Quarterly Runners-Up)

The #3 Seeds (Quarterly 3rd Place)

The #4 Seeds (The Wildcards)

How to Follow the Tournament

We will be releasing the results in stages. Every bottle you see on the table will be masked. We won’t know the winners of the early rounds until the very end, ensuring that our palates stay objective through the Grand Finale.

  • Jan 2–5: The Sweet Sixteen (4 Videos)
  • Jan 6–7: The Elite Eight (2 Videos)
  • Jan 8: The Final Four
  • Jan 9: The Grand Finale & 2025 Champion Reveal

Who is your pick for the title? Will a #1 Seed hold the line, or are we looking at a “Cinderella Story” from the Wildcard ranks?

Subscribe to our Your Bourbon Journey YouTube channel to see every battle as it happens.

Cheers to the journey! — Wayne & Rebecca

🚨REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DRINK RESPONSIBLY🚨

❓Questions❓ YourBourbonJourney@gmail.com

NOTE: All spirits in this tournament were purchased by us for the purpose of evaluation. We were not compensated by any producer for reviews or inclusion in this series. These rankings are based solely on our blind tasting scores and the performance of the liquid in the glass throughout the 2025 season.


#whiskeyoftheyear #bourbon #blindtasting #whiskeytournament #bourbonreview #yourbourbonjourney #bestwhiskey2025 #sweet16 #whiskeybracket #kentuckybourbon

Bourbon & Whiskey News: December 2025

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01/01/26
Curated by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Bourbon & Whiskey Industry Highlights from December 2025 >> 50 Stories!

In December 2025, the bourbon and whiskey industry faced diverse developments, including American whiskey’s production decline, strategic partnerships, and bankruptcy filings. Notable awards highlighted the year’s best spirits. Upcoming festivals and new bottle releases signaled ongoing market engagement, while global trends indicated growing barrel demand for 2026.

Industry Market News & Related Announcements >> 12 Stories

12/01: Meet the Next Generation of Japanese Whisky Producers

12/03: Tariffs, Surpluses And Soft Demand—What’s Going On With American Whiskey?

12/04: Whiskey maker Brown-Forman tops Q2 sales estimates, sticks to annual targets

12/05: DUNAMIS PREMIUM SPIRITS AWAKENS SLEEPING GIANTS

12/09: How U.S. Distillers Are Weathering the Tariff Turmoil

12/09: Misunderstood Brands Announces Strategic Partnership with Lofted Spirits

12/10: World Spirits Report 2025: Scotch whisky

12/11: Brewery and distillery search engine launches

12/11: World Spirits Report 2025: American whiskey

12/11: American Whiskey Production Has Plummeted to a New Low

12/29: The Whiskey Trends That Defined 2025, From Ultra-Aged Bourbon to Smaller Formats

12/30: Global Demand Surge: The Growing Market for Used Whiskey, Wine & Rum Barrels in 2026

Distillery News >> 9 Stories

12/01: Luca Mariano Distillery files for bankruptcy

12/01: Building on tradition: How Holladay Distillery continues its legacy in Kansas City and beyond

12/10: Brother’s Bond Bourbon Wraps 2025 With Strong Global Growth and Market Momentum

12/11: KDA Announces Benson Valley Bourbon as Newest Member

12/11: Maker’s Mark nets first sports league sponsorship with Unrivaled

12/20: Why Is Jack Daniel’s So Cheap? The Mystery Behind America’s Best-Selling Whiskey

12/22: Jim Beam to pause production at its main distillery on Jan. 1

12/29: What Does ‘MGP’ Mean in American Whiskey?

12/30: Bardstown Bourbon Again Winds ENERGY STAR Certification

Distillery Trail >> 2 Stories

12/03: The Ingram Distillery Opening for Tours in 2026, Including The Chartered Experience

12/08: WhistlePig ‘crashes’ Louisville’s Bourbon district

Awards Announced >> 10 Stories

12/02: The World’s Best Scotch Whisky from the Top Shelf Awards Gala 2025

12/02: Best Value Whiskies From The Top Shelf Awards Gala 2025

12/05: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Named Whisky Advocate’s 2025 “Whisky of the Year”

12/08: Award-Winning Whisky Design: Meet the 4 ‘Master’ Bottles of 2025

12/08: Starlight Distillery wins top honors at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

12/09: We Awarded Over 100 Bottles for the 2026 Men’s Journal Whiskey Awards. Here Are the Pours That Raise the Bar

12/10: The World’s Best American Single Malt Whiskey, According To BevTest

12/10: Distillery in Colorado wins “America’s Greatest Whiskey” award at International Spirits Competition

12/18: 2025’s Best World Whiskey, According To The Council Of Whiskey Masters

12/31: The 100 Best Whiskeys of 2025, Ranked

Bourbon Festival News & Updates >> 6 Upcoming

Jan: BourbonCon, Lexington KY

Feb: Bourbon Classic, Louisville KY

Mar: New Orleans Bourbon Festival

May: BBQ & Barrels, Owensboro KY

Sep: Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown KY

Sep: Bourbon & Beyond, Louisville KY

Bottle Releases >> 11 Stories

12/02: Wilderness Trail Distillery Debuts 6-Year-Old Private Barrel Offering

12/03: Ole Smoky® Distillery Announces Launch of New Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey

12/03: WhistlePig’s 30-Year-Old BigShəBäng Rewrites North American Malt Whiskey History

12/05: Old Forester Honors its Prohibition Legacy with New 117 Series Release

12/09: Liberty Pole to Release Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon

12/09: A Dozen Tennessee Distilleries Have Blended Their Whiskeys Together for This Excellent New Expression

12/10: Chattanooga Whiskey Opens Up Their Experimental Vault For Three New Releases

12/10: Garrison Brothers Releases 2025 Cowboy Bourbon

12/11: Midleton rounds off 200th anniversary with 28YO whiskey

12/15: Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Fall 2025 Edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series

12/19: One of the Top American Craft Distilleries Just Brought Back One of Its Best Whiskeys

Book Releases >> 0 Titles

The Ultimate Winter Boulevardier: The Oloroso Dusk 

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Elevate your winter spirits with The Oloroso Dusk—a sophisticated, deep, and intense twist on the classic Boulevardier.

Welcome back to Your Bourbon Journey for Episode 49 of Thirsty Thursday Cocktails! We are currently in Part 3 of our 5-part December Cocktail Series, and tonight, we are moving away from the bright and bubbly into the elegant and mysterious.

If you love a traditional Boulevardier cocktail, you’ll adore this winter variation. By swapping standard vermouth for a rich, sherry-cask-aged Valdespino Sweet Vermouth, we create what we call the “Oloroso Bridge.” This connects the bold, oaky notes of Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon with the herbal bitterness of Campari.

To round out the “forest floor” profile, we’re layering in Black Walnut and Aztec Chocolate bitters. The result? A drink that tastes like a toasted walnut cake drizzled in dark chocolate, enjoyed right by the fireplace.

🥃 Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon (for those dark chocolate and brown sugar notes)
  • 1 oz Campari (the essential bitter backbone)
  • 1 oz Valdespino Sweet Vermouth (Oloroso Sherry cask aged)
  • 2 Dashes Fee Brothers Black Walnut Bitters
  • 2 Dashes Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters
  • Garnish: One Luxardo Brandied Cherry

🛠️ Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass.
  2. Add ice and stir for 25–30 seconds to achieve the perfect chill and dilution.
  3. Strain into a chilled coupe glass (or over a large ice sphere in a rocks glass).
  4. Garnish with a brandied cherry and enjoy your ultimate winter sip!

Next Week: Don’t miss Episode 50! We’re heading to New Orleans for a festive holiday treat: The Pomegranate Sazerac!

🛒 Featured Cocktail Ingredients & Tools

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NOTE: The spirits and items in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the producers for this review. Please drink responsibly.

#Bourbon #CocktailRecipes #Boulevardier #WhiskeyGram #HomeBartender #ThirstyThursday #WinterCocktails #ElijahCraig #Mixology #HolidayDrinks #BourbonJourney #ClassicCocktails #DrinkStirred #SherryCask #CocktailHour

Bourbon & Whiskey News: November 2025

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12/01/25
Curated by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Bourbon & Whiskey Industry Highlights from November 2025 >> 52 Stories!

In November 2025, the bourbon and whiskey industry saw notable developments, including declining sales for a large distillery, opportunities for American blended whiskey, and significant growth in craft spirits. Key events included distillery construction, award recognitions, and numerous new bottle releases, reflecting a dynamic market landscape.

Industry Market News & Related Announcements >> 12 Stories

11/03: One of the Largest Whiskey Distilleries in the U.S. Just Saw Its Sales Plummet Again

11/05: Why American Blended Whiskey’s Time Has Finally Come

11/05: Is American whiskey in trouble?

11/05: DISCUS Hosted Successful Trade Mission of U.S. Distilleries to Europe

11/06: ‘Painful Evaporation of Opportunities’: Government Shutdown Takes a Toll on Craft Distillers

11/09: India to emerge as largest scotch market, exploring partnership with Indian malt makers: Scotch Whisky Association

11/11: Buffalo Trace unveils most remote tasting room in US

11/14: Malt Whiskey Market May Set New Growth Story

11/19: Bourbon Whiskey Market Growth Outlook Strengthened by Strategic Collaborations and R&D Investments Through 2033

11/24: Big Things Are Happening in the Small World of Wheat Whiskey

11/24: The US states selling the most Tequila and American whiskey

11/29: Distillery Ups and Downs of 2025: Craft Spirits Industry Is Shifting, but Not Shaken

Distillery News >> 7 Stories

11/01: Construction Begins on Large, New Spirits Distillery

11/03: B.R. Distilling Company Selects Ben E. Keith Beveragesto Grow Blue Note Straight Bourbon Whiskey Footprint in Texas

11/10: Copper & Kings Launches New Core Portfolio, Ushering in a Bold New Era for American Brandy

11/10: Tennessee Distilling in talks to acquire Waterford Whisky for €6m

11/13: A Well-Known Kentucky Distillery Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

11/26: Uncle Nearest Distillery Makes New Move in Fight Against Receivership

11/28: Catoctin Creek seeks investors

Distillery Trail >> 2 Stories

11/11: I Biked 175 Miles Through the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

11/12: This Kentucky Distillery Was Just Named The Best Bourbon Tour In The Country

Awards Announced >> 6 Stories

11/05: Every Award-Winning Whisky From The New York World Spirits Competition 2025

11/06: Wood Hat Spirits Recognized As National Winner In Whiskey Competition

11/11: Covington distillery wins top honor at world’s most prestigious spirits competition

11/12: Sazerac wins IWSC 2025 Bourbon Whiskey Producer Trophy

11/18: The Best World Whiskies From The 2025 New York World Spirits Competition

11/27: World’s Best Whiskies From The Top Shelf Awards 2025

Bourbon Festival News & Updates >> 3 Upcoming

Jan: BourbonCon, Lexington KY

Feb: Bourbon Classic, Louisville KY

Mar: New Orleans Bourbon Festival

Bottle Releases >> 19 Stories

11/03: Knob Creek Just Released Its Oldest Bourbon Ever

11/04: Heaven Hill Distillery Celebrates 90 Years of Independent Family Ownership with Limited 9-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Release

11/06: Michter’s To Release Its 20 Year Bourbon

11/06: Willett Releases Family Estate Small Batch

11/07: Castle & Key Releases Two Cask Strength Expressions

11/07: WhistlePig’s Golden Pig-Shaped Bottle of Rye Whiskey Is Back Just in Time for the Holidays

11/07: Jim Beam Just Dropped a New Edition of Its Stellar Experimental Whiskey

11/07: World Whiskey Society Releases Doc Holliday 16 Year Cigar Blend

11/08: Cedar Ridge Distillery drops its highly anticipated double barrel whiskeys

11/10: Old Forester to Honor Allen with Single Barrel Release

11/10: Barrell Craft Spirits® Releases Barrell Bourbon New Year 2026

11/13: Buffalo Trace Launches Sazerac Rye Full Proof

11/13: Blade and Bow Unveils Its Oldest Whiskey Ever, a Rare 30-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

11/18: Bardstown Bourbon Releases French Brandy Barrel Finish

11/18: World Whiskey Society Unveils 12-Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Pear Brandy Casks

11/20: Milam & Greene Whiskey Releases Very Limited Quantity of Unabridged Volume 4

11/20: Wyoming Whiskey Releases Fifth National Parks Expression

11/21: New Riff Brings Back Winter Whiskey, Sherry Rye for Holidays

11/24: Buffalo Trace brings 2025 Antique Collection to UK

Book Releases >> 3 Titles

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Updated 12/2025 (Amazon): American Whiskey Master Class: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Bourbon, Rye, and Other American Whiskeys

Pre-Order: Experiencing American Whiskey!

Pre-Order for 12/09 (Amazon): Savour: A guide to tasting and exploring whiskies of the world