The 10 Best Cigars of 2026: The Humidor's Greatest Hits
From Nicaraguan powerhouses to refined Cuban classics, these ten cigars represent the pinnacle of the roller's art in 2026.
The 10 Best Tequilas of 2026: Beyond the Shot Glass
Tequila has evolved from party fuel to a world-class sipping spirit. These ten expressions prove that the agave renaissance is real—and it's spectacular.
The 10 Best Whiskeys of 2026: A World Tour of Excellence
From Scotland's misty highlands to Japan's meticulous distilleries, these ten whiskeys represent the pinnacle of the craft in 2026.
The 10 Best Bourbons of 2026: A Gentleman's Definitive Ranking
We tasted over 100 bottles to find the ten bourbons that define excellence in 2026. Some are old friends; others are new arrivals. All of them earned their place.
Illusione Epernay Le Petit: Champagne in Cigar Form
Named after France's Champagne capital, the Epernay is the thinking person's cigar—refined, elegant, and subtly complex in a world that mistakes volume for value. This is the antidote to bigger-is-better.
Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf: The Unicorn You Can (Sometimes) Find
Released twice a year and selling out almost instantly, the Supreme Leaf is Aganorsa's showcase blend—and the FOMO is completely justified. This is Nicaraguan terroir at its absolute finest.
Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro: The Five-Year-Aged Daily Driver
All tobacco from a single farm plot, aged five years, and priced at $8. If that sounds too good to be true, welcome to the Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro—the cigar that makes the entire industry look overpriced.
Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor IV: Five Generations in a Single Smoke
The family that grows more tobacco than anyone in Central America finally launched their own brand—and the Alma Fuerte proves they can make cigars every bit as well as they grow tobacco.
AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial: Seven Dollars of Nicaraguan Fury
Named after Columbus's discovery of tobacco, the New World is AJ Fernandez's love letter to bold Nicaraguan puros—and at $7, it's the most generous love letter you'll ever receive.
Ashton VSG Torpedo: The Dominican Dark Horse
Blended by Carlos Fuente Jr. for the Ashton brand, the VSG is a full-bodied Dominican that has been quietly embarrassing flashier cigars for twenty-five years. The cognoscenti know.
Foundation Charter Oak Habano: The Six-Dollar Miracle
Cigar Aficionado's #1 Best Value Cigar has no business tasting this good at this price. Foundation's Charter Oak Habano is the cigar equivalent of finding a Michelin-star meal at a diner.
Padron 60th Anniversary: The $75 Question That Has Only One Answer
Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of 2025. At $75 per stick, it forces the ultimate question: is any single cigar worth that much? After smoking ours, we have a very clear answer.
Drew Estate Undercrown Shade: The Connecticut That Changed Minds
Connecticut cigars have a reputation problem—too mild, too boring, too forgettable. Drew Estate's Undercrown Shade dismantles every one of those assumptions with creamy, nuanced elegance.
Tatuaje Black Label Petite Lancero: The Thin Line Between Good and Transcendent
Pete Johnson's former private reserve blend in a slim lancero format that concentrates flavor like nothing else. This is the cigar that converts lancero skeptics into lancero evangelists.
Montecristo No. 2: The Shape That Launched a Thousand Conversations
The torpedo that defined the format. Created in 1935, the Montecristo No. 2 remains one of the most iconic cigars ever made—when you get a good one, nothing else quite compares.
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story: Forty Minutes of Pure Perfection
The world's most beloved short smoke has been converting non-smokers and delighting veterans for over thirty years. The Cameroon wrapper is the secret weapon, and the perfecto shape is the delivery system.
Padron 1926 Serie No. 9 Maduro: The Greatest Cigar Ever Made
Bold claim? Perhaps. But when a cigar achieves near-universal adoration across every corner of the enthusiast world, at some point you stop hedging and simply acknowledge greatness.
My Father Flor de las Antillas: The People's Champion
Cigar Aficionado's 2012 Cigar of the Year at under $10 a stick. Flor de las Antillas is the gateway cigar that never gets old, the everyman's smoke that punches absurdly above its weight.
Cohiba Robusto: The Most Debated Cigar on Earth
Is the Cohiba Robusto the greatest cigar ever made, or the most overhyped? After fighting through counterfeits, inconsistency, and eye-watering prices, we finally have our answer.
Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado: Nicaragua's Most Perfect Smoke
Named after patriarch Melanio Oliva, this figurado represents four generations of tobacco expertise distilled into a single, flawless cigar. The construction alone deserves a standing ovation.
Liga Privada No. 9: The Cigar That Wasn't Supposed to Exist
Born as Drew Estate's private blend for factory workers, Liga Privada No. 9 became an accidental legend—the ninth attempt at perfection that finally got everything right.
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo: The Garcia Family Masterwork
Full-bodied, relentlessly complex, and built with the craftsmanship of a family that has been rolling cigars since before most of us were born. Le Bijou 1922 is the Garcia family at their most uncompromising.
Arturo Fuente Opus X: The Forbidden Fruit of Dominican Tobacco
They said it couldn't be done—a full-bodied, sun-grown wrapper cigar from the Dominican Republic. Carlos Fuente Jr. didn't listen, and the result changed cigar history forever.
Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro: The Standard by Which All Others Are Judged
There are cigars you smoke, and cigars that change the way you think about smoking. The Padron 1964 Anniversary is emphatically the latter—a Nicaraguan puro so perfectly balanced it borders on unfair.
GlenDronach 12 Original: The Sherried Scotch That Delivers on Every Promise
While Macallan raises prices, GlenDronach quietly produces one of the finest sherried Scotch whiskies in the world—at a price that makes you feel guilty.
Suntory Toki: Japan's Most Misunderstood Whisky
Marketed as premium Japanese whisky, priced like a budget blend, and debated endlessly. We pour through the confusion to find out what Toki actually is.
Talisker 10: The Storm in a Glass
From the shores of the Isle of Skye comes a whisky of maritime peat, black pepper, and wild beauty. Talisker 10 is Scotland's most dramatic distillery in a bottle.
WhistlePig 10 Year Rye: The Vermont Revolution
A 100-proof, 10-year rye whiskey from a farm in Vermont. WhistlePig challenged everything we knew about American rye—and the revolution succeeded.
Monkey Shoulder: The Blended Malt That Made Scotch Fun Again
Three Speyside single malts walk into a bottle. The result is a blended malt so versatile and approachable that it's become bartenders' favourite Scotch.
Green Spot: Ireland's Most Charming Secret
Named after colored spots on aging barrels, Green Spot is the entry to Ireland's most distinguished whiskey family. Creamy, fruity, and entirely irresistible.
Bunnahabhain 12: Islay's Gentle Giant
An unpeated whisky from Islay? Bunnahabhain 12 breaks every expectation about the island of peat and delivers something utterly unique—and utterly delicious.
Highland Park 12 Viking Honour: The Bridge Between Worlds
Neither purely peated nor purely sherried, Highland Park 12 stands at the crossroads of Scotch styles—and that's exactly what makes it indispensable.
Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask: The Vacation in a Bottle
David Stewart's genius idea: finish 14-year Scotch in West Indian rum casks. The result is the sweetest, most approachable single malt you'll ever sip.
Rittenhouse Rye BiB: The Cocktail King at $25
Bottled-in-Bond at 100 proof and priced for everyday drinking, Rittenhouse Rye is the bartender's secret weapon and the Manhattanist's best friend.
Glenfiddich 12: The Gateway That Still Has Something to Teach
The world's best-selling single malt has introduced more people to Scotch than any other bottle. But beyond the gateway, is there genuine quality here?
Redbreast 12: Ireland's Finest Argument for Pot Still Whiskey
While the world chases Scotch and bourbon, Redbreast 12 has been quietly producing one of the most rewarding sipping whiskies on the planet. The secret is out.
Nikka Whisky From The Barrel: Japan's Most Explosive Export
At 51.4% ABV in a bottle that fits in your pocket, Nikka From The Barrel punches harder than whiskies twice its size and three times its price.
GlenAllachie 15: The World's Best-Kept Speyside Secret
The distillery that won World's Best Single Malt twice has a 15-year expression that most people haven't tried. That needs to change immediately.
Macallan 12 Sherry Oak: The World's Best-Selling Single Malt, Examined
Macallan has built an empire on sherry-seasoned oak. But in an era of soaring prices and diminishing age statements, does the 12-year flagship still deliver?
Laphroaig 10: The Marmite of Whisky, and We Love It
You either love it or you hate it—and both responses are equally valid. Laphroaig 10 is the most polarizing whisky in the world, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Ardbeg 10: Islay's Young, Ferocious Prodigy
At only 10 years old and 46% ABV, Ardbeg delivers more peat, more smoke, and more intensity per dollar than any whisky on the planet. Approach with reverence.
Lagavulin 16: The Smoke Signal That Changed Scotch Forever
The Islay icon that Ron Swanson made famous—and that was already legendary long before television discovered it. Peat, smoke, and maritime grandeur.
Cascahuin Tahona Blanco: The Distillery Behind the Curtain
Cascahuin makes tequila for some of the biggest boutique brands. Now their own house expression is demanding—and deserving—the spotlight.
Fuenteseca Cosecha Blanco: The Collector's Tequila
Vintage-dated, variable-proof, and from the same master distiller behind budget darling Cimarron. Fuenteseca is where tequila meets fine wine ambition.
Cimarron Blanco: The Best Bang for Your Buck in All of Tequila
Made by the same master distiller behind ultra-premium Fuenteseca, Cimarron delivers $40 flavor at a $20 price. In a liter bottle. The math is absurd.
LALO Blanco: Don Julio's Grandson Goes Back to Basics
The grandson of Don Julio himself returns to traditional roots. Three ingredients, no shortcuts, and the fastest-growing upscale tequila in America.
Arette Blanco: Twenty Dollars of Pure Rebellion
From the third-oldest distillery in the town of Tequila itself, Arette is rapidly replacing Espolon as the budget blanco every enthusiast recommends. And at $20, the math is irresistible.
Casamigos Blanco: The Billion-Dollar Smooth Operator
George Clooney's tequila empire sold for nearly $1 billion. But when you set aside the celebrity, what does the liquid actually deliver? Less than you'd hope.
Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo: The Pappy Van Winkle of Tequila
Five years in three types of oak. Limited to 9,000 bottles per batch. Tears of Llorona is the ultra-premium tequila that actually justifies its price tag.
Olmeca Altos Plata: The Bartender's Best Friend
Created by bartenders, priced for everyone. At roughly $20, Olmeca Altos is the additive-free workhorse that every home bar needs and every cocktail deserves.
Terralta Blanco 110: The Mineral-Driven Masterpiece
Deep well water from 150 meters underground gives Terralta an earthy, mineral complexity unlike anything else in tequila. This is liquid terroir.
Don Julio 1942: The Status Symbol That Missed the Point
Rap lyrics, nightclub menus, and Instagram feeds can't be wrong... can they? We pour the world's most famous premium tequila and ask the uncomfortable questions.
Clase Azul Reposado: The Emperor's New Tequila
The most Instagram-famous tequila in the world. That hand-painted ceramic decanter is undeniably gorgeous. But what about the liquid inside? We investigate.
Siete Leguas Blanco: The Original That Patron Left Behind
This is the distillery that originally made Patron—before they refused to compromise their traditional methods. That refusal created something extraordinary.
Tapatio Blanco 110: The Undisputed King of High-Proof Tequila
Bottled at the legal maximum of 55% ABV, Tapatio 110 is often called 'the GOAT' of blanco tequila. After tasting it, we're not inclined to argue.
Tequila Ocho Plata: Where Terroir Meets the Agave Field
Single-estate, vintage-dated, and terroir-driven—Tequila Ocho is the wine lover's tequila, proving that where agave grows matters as much as how it's distilled.
Wild Common Still Strength Blanco: The Boutique Sensation
From the same Jalisco distillery as some of tequila's biggest names, Wild Common is the boutique brand that's earned its spot at the grown-ups' table.
G4 Blanco 108: Felipe Camarena's Full-Volume Statement
Bottled at 108 proof—nearly the legal maximum—G4's high-proof blanco is an unfiltered, undiluted expression of what highland agave can truly deliver.
El Tesoro Reposado: Highland Elegance in a Glass
Carlos Camarena's highland masterpiece rests just long enough in ex-bourbon barrels to achieve that rarest of things: perfect balance between agave and oak.
Fortaleza Blanco: The Tequila That Refuses to Compromise
Fifth-generation craftsmanship meets volcanic tahona stone. Fortaleza Blanco is the tequila the cognoscenti stack their shelves with—and for damn good reason.
Wilderness Trail Cask Strength: The Future of American Bourbon
From one barrel per day to a $600M acquisition, Wilderness Trail has arrived. Their cask strength singles are a glimpse at bourbon's next golden era.
Evan Williams Single Barrel: The $28 Secret the Industry Hopes You Never Discover
Vintage-dated. Single barrel. From one of Kentucky's most storied distilleries. Under $30. Evan Williams Single Barrel is bourbon's best-kept secret—period.
George T. Stagg (BTAC): The Crown Jewel of American Whiskey
The annual BTAC release that bourbon collectors would trade their firstborn for. At 142 proof in 2025, this is bourbon pushed to its absolute limits.
Russell's Reserve 10 Year: The Other $38 Gem
Crafted by the Russell dynasty—father and son, 100+ years of combined experience—this is the shelf bourbon that Eagle Rare fans need to discover.
Knob Creek 9 Year: The Specs King of Bourbon Value
100 proof. 9-year age statement. Under $40. Available everywhere. Knob Creek's numbers don't lie—this is the best set of specs in bourbon for the money.
W.L. Weller Special Reserve: The Pappy Connection That Cuts Both Ways
Same distillery, same mashbill as Pappy Van Winkle. But is Weller Special Reserve actually good bourbon, or just famous by association?
Woodford Reserve: Kentucky Derby Bourbon Under Scrutiny
As the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, Woodford Reserve has the pedigree. But does the liquid in the glass match the prestige of the name?
Elijah Craig Small Batch: The Quiet Giant of Value Bourbon
Heaven Hill's workhorse bourbon proves that under $30, there's still a world of genuine quality. Steady, reliable, and criminally underrated.
Four Roses Single Barrel: Bourbon's Beautiful Equation
With 10 unique recipes from 2 mashbills and 5 yeast strains, Four Roses is the bourbon equivalent of a master perfumer's workshop. Each barrel is its own creation.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: The Dark Horse of High Proof
Named for an era when bourbon went underground, Old Forester 1920 has emerged as one of the best kept non-allocated secrets in Kentucky. Rich, bold, and revelatory.
Wild Turkey Rare Breed: The Shelf Bourbon That Embarrasses Unicorns
Here sits a barrel-proof masterpiece collecting dust on shelves while grown adults camp outside liquor stores for lesser bottles. This is bourbon's cruelest irony.
Stagg Bourbon: The Cherry Bomb That Shakes the Earth
Formerly known as Stagg Jr., this barrel-proof brute has been renamed but not tamed. At 130 proof, it's Kentucky in its most concentrated, uncompromising form.
Maker's Mark: Bourbon's Great Divide
Few bourbons provoke more passionate disagreement than Maker's Mark. Reliable classic or forgettable also-ran? We wade into America's oldest bourbon argument.
E.H. Taylor Small Batch: The Bottle They Should Be Hunting
While the masses chase horse toppers, the cognoscenti quietly stock their shelves with E.H. Taylor. Here's why this Bottled-in-Bond beauty is the real prize.
Eagle Rare 10 Year: The Quiet Overachiever
Ten years of patience, 90 proof of polish. Eagle Rare is the allocated bourbon that actually deserves the attention—if you can find it at retail.
Booker's Bourbon: Beam's Unfiltered, Unapologetic Beast
Jim Beam's barrel-proof flagship doesn't do subtlety. Each quarterly batch is a knuckle-cracking, chest-thumping celebration of uncut Kentucky power.
Blanton's Single Barrel: The Bottle That Launched a Thousand Hunts
That iconic horse-topped bottle started the single barrel revolution. But three decades later, is Blanton's still worth the chase—or just the shelf decor?
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year: The Legend Behind the Lottery
The most famous bourbon in the world. But after cutting through decades of hype, does the liquid justify the legend? We poured one to find out.
Buffalo Trace: America's Most Debated Daily Sipper
Buffalo Trace built an empire on approachability. But in the age of allocation, this gentle bourbon has become a surprisingly divisive pour.
Wild Turkey 101: The Bourbon That Never Lies
In a world of allocated unicorns and limited editions, Wild Turkey 101 remains the most honest pour in Kentucky. Here's why the wise keep coming back.
Master Distiller James Calloway on the Art of Patience and Bourbon
We sat down with Heritage Creek's legendary Master Distiller to talk barrel selection, the bourbon boom, and why great whiskey can't be rushed.
2025 Gentlemen's Holiday Gift Guide
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The Gentlemen's Fathers Day Gift Guide 2025
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2024 Holiday Gentleman's Gift Guide
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What Is A Whisky Neat? (What Neat Means)
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The Fathers Day' Gentlemens Gift Guide 2024
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Springtime Gentlemens Gift Guide
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The Gentlemens Valentines Day Gift Guide
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How To Make Bourbon At Home: Distill Like A Moonshiner
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Funniest and Most Outrageous Beer Names - A to Z List
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How Much 5% Alcohol Will It Take To Get Drunk?
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Bourbon Stardust Soiree Recipe – A French 75 Alternative
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Chillin' With A Drink In the Sun - Springtime Gift Guide
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2023 Fathers Day Gift Guide
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How Many Buzzballs Will It Take To Get Drunk?
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Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide For Trendy Guys
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How Many Calories Are In A Shot Of Whiskey?
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How Many Carbs Are In Bourbon?
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The Gentlemen's Finer Things (Fathers Day) Gift Guide
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Gentlemen's Finer Things Holiday Gift Guide
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How Much Wine Will Get You Drunk?
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How To Make Your Own Whisky
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What Is An Old Fashioned?
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How Much Water to Put in Whiskey (And Why Add It at All?)
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Review
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Is Bourbon Gluten-Free?
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Is Jack Daniel's Bourbon?
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What Is The Best Way To Store Bourbon? Open/Unopened?
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Are Bourbon And Whiskey The Same?
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Best Custom Shot Skis For Weddings & Parties
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How To Shotgun A Beer
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Build Your Perfect Home Bar: Gift & Buyer Guide
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Best Whiskey of the Month Club Reviews – 2021 Edition
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Compass Box No Name Whisky Review
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U.S. Home Distilling Laws by State: A Complete Guide
A comprehensive state-by-state breakdown of home distilling laws in the United States, including which states would allow moonshining if federal law changed.
A 180-Day-Old Whisky Barrel-Aged Kit Kat Review – It’s Delicious!
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Which Bourbon Has A Horse On Top?
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Extract Brewing: The Ultimate Guide for Beginners
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How To Homebrew: The Beginners Guide
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Making a Yeast Starter: Improving Your Beer and Speeding Things Up a Bit
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3 Homebrew Recipes for Beginners
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6 Reasons Why Homebrewing Wine Is Better Than Store-Bought
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Two Quick Homebrew Ginger Beer Recipes
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How Strong Is The Smell Of Homebrewing?
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Kit and Kilo Brewing: The Ultimate Guide
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All Grain Brewing: The Ultimate Guide
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Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Homebrewing Equipment
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Bottling Beer: How to Do It and The Best Bottling Tip Ever
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Glenlivet Founder's Reserve Whisky Review
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Hudson Baby Bourbon Review
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Homemade Moonshine Rye Whiskey Recipe
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Freeze Distillation - How to Make Spirits Without a Still (Like the Moonshiners)
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Russell's Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon Review
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Kilchoman Single Bourbon Cask Review
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Angel's Envy Straight Bourbon Review
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Weller Special Reserve Review
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Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whisky Review
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Laphroaig Cairdeas Quarter Cask Review
The Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 edition represents a polarizing release finished in quarter casks with pronounced oakiness and bitter spice characteristics.
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Best Bourbon Glasses Reviews – 2021 Edition
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Knob Creek 12 Year Small Batch Bourbon Review
Knob Creek's 12-year expression is a straight bourbon from Beam Suntory with rich flavor profile.
Pinhook Bourbon Fall 2018 “Bourbon Country” Review
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Banana Moonshine Recipe - Make Your Own Waragi
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All About The Fermentation Process - How Alcohol is Produced
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The Freezing Point of Alcoholic Drinks
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