We crack open another rye whiskey, this one from Rossville Union. Their website describes them, "It began in 1847 with a bold, satisfying taste that would make Indiana the rye capital of the world. For nearly 200 years, Lawrenceburg's master distillers and blenders have been perfecting the original  handcrafted rye blends in one of America's last Prohibition-era distilleries."

Find out what we thought about this pour. Did it make our shelf?

Learn more about Rossville Union Rye online at - https://www.rossvilleunion.com/

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

We've talked about how blending bourbon has helped bring to life a whole new segment in the bourbon industry, and Penelope has been one of those making their mark in that world.

We had an opportunity to sample their barrel-strength version, and we talk about impressions during the podcast. 

Penelope describes their barrel-strength blending as "Each batch is blended from three bourbon mash bills aged in new American oak barrels and completely uncut and non-chill-filtered. Each barrel was hand selected and blended into a single batch in order to create this unique offering."

Learn more about Penelope Bourbon online at - https://shop.penelopebourbon.com/

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

Pikesville Rye is something we don't always find so easy here in Iowa, and the Whisky Friends found one, and we opened it up at our table to give this Heaven Hill juice a taste.

Heaven Hill says on its website, "The brand reemerged after Prohibition and became the last standing  Maryland Rye, as the rest of the industry's production had ceased. Now  produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse  locations, Heaven Hill Distillery keeps this historic Maryland mark alive."

Learn more about Pikesville Rye online at - https://heavenhilldistillery.com/pikesville-straight-rye

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

Michael brought us a taste from the Carolinas, and we were happy to try something new and different. We love trying out new whiskey from regional and micro distillers.

John A.P. Conoley's website describes how they came to be, "This American-made, bourbon whiskey is named in honor of John A.P.  Conoley (John Alexander Patterson Conoley). The whiskey’s journey began  when John’s father-in-law transported a still from Scotland to America  to produce whiskey and brandy to provide for his family and did so until  his death."

Learn more about John A.P. Conoley online at - John A.P. Conoley 

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

The art of blending whiskey and bourbon is an art form on its own, and Pinhook has been making some exceptional blends. The Verticle Series from Pinhook is an interesting concept.

Pinhook describes how the Verticle Series is handled. "The Bourbon Vertical Series is a unique opportunity to follow a group of  1,350 MGP bourbon barrels as they age from four to twelve years, and experience the arc of flavors throughout the nine-year journey."

Learn more about Pinhook online at - https://www.pinhookbourbon.com/

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

Elijah Craig Bourbon is a common staple behind most bars and is found in many homes. The story of how Elijah Craig bourbon was first made is interesting and worth a read.

The single barrels offer a unique take on their already delicious bourbon. What will we think as a group of this pick by Jacobs Liquor Exchange?

Learn more about Elijah Craig Single Barrels online at - https://elijahcraig.com/barrel-proof

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

Marksman Kentucky Straight Bourbon shouldn't have been a surprise to us, as it's made by Sazerac at their Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky.

This 80-proof is said to be aged 5 years, and the online reviews and fairly positive for this pricepoint. What will we think of this what might be considered a bottom-shelf whiskey? No matter what, I know we had fun. What can go wrong for under 25 bones?

Learn more about Marksman Kentucky Straight Bourbon online at - Marksman Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

Many of us started our whiskey journey by sneaking a sip of grandpa's Old No. 7 black-label bottle of Jack Daniels. The distiller has a long and storied history and a process that helps make their whiskey stand out.

From the Jack Daniels website describing the Jamaican Allspice, "it's only natural that we search the world to discover new and rare woods to complement its character. Tennessee Tasters' No. 6 is an exotic experiment that finished our Old No. 7 whiskey with Jamaican allspice  wood. The result has a nose of fruit and smoke that melts into subtle,  sweet tobacco and a taste that begins with dark spice and clove and  lingers to finish long and bold."

They then describe the Twin Blend as  "This is the secret behind Jack Daniel's 14E19 "Twin" Blend. We  hand-selected 50 barrels of our Tennessee Whiskey and Tennessee Rye, all with a barrel entry date of May 19, 2014. Blended together and bottled  at a flavorful 107 proof, "Twin" Blend complements Rye's spice with  Tennessee Whiskey's sweet, floral accents for a doubly complex spirit."

Learn more about Jack Daniels Distillery online at - Jamaican Allspice and Twin Blend Tasters Select

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

So we are tasting wheated bourbon from the oldest distillery around, Buffalo Trace. These bottles are made available yearly after Passover.

This wheat recipe is produced in partnership with the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), and is made with the same new make that goes into the W.L. Weller Bourbons.

The juice is then aged in specifically designated Kosher barrels to satisfy Passover rules.

"After aging for seven years, this Wheat Recipe Bourbon was bottled at 94  proof after ensuring the bottling lines were cleaned beforehand and that no contact was made with non-Kosher spirits.

Learn more about BT Kosher Wheat online at - https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/kosher-whiskey.html

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]

We've had Cooper's Craft products in the past, but none of us remember their 100-proof Barrel Reserve edition, so we break the seal on a new bottle and give it our impressions.

From the distillery website, "Coopers' Craft Barrel Reserve is born from our one-of-a-kind, chiseled and charred American White Oak barrel. This expression is a bold and  complex Kentucky bourbon bottled at 100 proof."

Coopers Craft has a special way of preparing their barrels to receive their new make. We'll find out if the taste shows their craftsmanship in creating this bourbon whiskey.

Learn more about Coopers Craft Distillery online at - https://www.cooperscraft.com/bourbon/barrel-reserve/

Catch us on the web at - http://thewhiskyfriends.com/

Music by Adam Whitehead - https://www.facebook.com/adamwhiteheadmusic

Email us at - [email protected]