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Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

December 16, 2025 ,

Name: Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

Color: Brown

Nose: Corn/malt, oak, vanilla, cherry

Taste: Corn/malt, vanilla, spices, light oak

9 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #9 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

Discretion Single Barrel Select is produced by Tarnished Truth Distillery in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The distillery is located in the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach and states that it is “the first and only distillery in a hotel in the United States…” . They have been in operation since 2013 and was founded by Andrew Yancey and Bruce Thompson. 

My friend Sam brought this bottle to me to try and to be honest, I was not expecting much from this whiskey. I thought the name sounded goofy. It reminded me of Larceny or 10th Mountain Man, but I ended up being very surprised. The balance was good, the flavors were nice, and at 60.3% abv I was surprised it all came together when I tasted it. The mash bill is 70% corn, 18% wheat, and 12% malted barley; however, the malt was more forward than the corn or wheat to my palate. It was smoother than I expected for the proof and I would have liked to try it in an Old Fashioned. If I am every in the Virginia Beach area, I will make it a point to stop by the Cavalier Hotel and order one.

Other expressions: Discretion, Discretion Bottle In-bond, Single Barrel, Tarnished Truth, High Rye Single Barrel, AVA Vodka, Moonshine, Old Cavalier, Fourth Handle Gin, and Old Cavalier Bourbon Cream.

Priced around $50 and a good whiskey. I look forward to trying more of their expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisDiscretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey
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Wild Life Single Malt Whisky

Wild Life Single Malt Whisky

December 15, 2025

Name: Wild Life Single Malt Whisky

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Light malt, light oak, vanilla, flowers

Taste: Light malt, light oak, white fruit

10 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #10 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

Wild Life Single Malt Whisky is produced by Wild Life Distillery and comes from Alberta, Canada. The distillery was established in 2017 and from my research it takes its inspiration from Scottish Single Malts while sourcing local products.

Wide Life Single Malt uses 100% Alberta barley, is non-chilled filtered, natural colored, aged five years ex-bourbon and white America oak barrels, and is bottled at 47.5% abv. This whisky is medium bodied, light, and is clean tasting summer styled whisky. It is easy to drink, but it does not have any rich flavor or depth. It is not a bad whisky, it is just to light for my taste profile. It reminds me of Dewar’s in the sense that it is drinkable, but not impressive. However, I would like to try more expression from the distiller but I think a few more years of development will help the taste profile.

Other expressions: Rye Whisky, Single Malt, Peated Single Malt, Wheat Whisky, Sherry Cask Single Malt, Rundle gin Aged Gin, Classic Gin, Blackberry Gin, Rhubarb Gin, Botanical, Vodka, & Amaro.

Priced around $90 and too expensive (probably due to import taxes) for the taste profile for me. It is worth a try to experience a new Canadian whisky.

Thanks to Sam for bring me a sample back from Canada!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisWild Life Single Malt Whisky
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Harviestoun Brewery – Old Dubh 21 Year Reserve “Beer”

Harviestoun Brewery – Old Dubh 21 Year Reserve “Beer”

November 19, 2025

Name: Harviestoun Brewery – Old Dubh 21 Year Reserve “Beer”

Color: Black

Nose: Malt, roasted chocolate, vanilla, whiskey notes

Taste: Malt, roasted chocolate, oak, and whisky 

Harviestoun Brewery – Old Dubh 21 Year Reserve is  stout that is aged in Highland Park 21-Year-Old casks for 6 months and bottled at 8% abv. The name is pronounced ‘ola-doo’ and is Gaelic for ‘black oil’….and this is where I lost interested and stopped researching. I remember trying this beer a few years ago in The Potstill in Glasgow. I was a bit topped up, so I didn’t take any notes on it. I also remember not being impressed, but I thought I would give it another go.

This $15 bottle of black piss beer is dull and boring. It has the consistency of a flat Coke-Cola. The nose is almost nonexistent, and the flavors are of dry wood and the whisky finish is minimal. What I can taste of the whisky at the finish was not a nice addition. 

Priced around $15 and is shit. These beers finished with whisky casks are getting a bit too gimmicky for me.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisHarviestoun Brewery – Old Dubh 21 Year Reserve “Beer”
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The Great Jones Distillery – 3 Whiskey Flight

The Great Jones Distillery – 3 Whiskey Flight

October 22, 2025

The Great Jones Distillery is located at 686 Broadway, New York, NY (Broadway & Great Jones St). It was opened in August 2021 and states it is the first legal operating distillery in NYC since Prohibition (1920). 

My last review was on the facility and this review will be on the three-whiskey flight that I ordered when I visited the bar.

Great Jones Straight Bourbon: 43% abv aged for 4 years. Notes and taste of corn, oak, vanilla and pepper.

Great Jones Four Grain Bourbon: 45% abv aged 4 years. Notes of corn, rye, cream and wood with tastes of the same with notes of wheat/honey.

Great Jones Rye: 50% abv aged 4 years. Notes of rye, white pepper, dark fruit with taste of rye and spices.

These whiskeys were all very “light tasting” and the four years of aging did not impart much depth of flavor. This flight was ok, with no one whiskey being better or worse than the other. They were overall good, but they all fell a little flat for my taste. I noticed that the tasting cards are suggestive as they seem to tell you what to think with descriptions of “well balanced or complex & layered”. Hey Great Jones, I will be the judge of that one. 

This tasting cost $15 which is very affordable for NYC prices and the bar/lounge area. I will go back and try some more whiskeys soon such as Peated Scotch Cask Bourbon ($150), 10-year Distillery Reserve Bourbon ($200), and Wolffer Estate Cask Finished Bourbon ($60).

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisThe Great Jones Distillery – 3 Whiskey Flight
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Bulleit – Manhattan Cocktail

Bulleit – Manhattan Cocktail

September 24, 2025

Name: Bulleit – Manhattan Cocktail

Color: Brown

Nose: Bulliet bourbon, orange, vanilla, oak

Taste: Bulliet bourbon, orange, vanilla, oak

I saw this “Bulleit – Manhattan Cocktail” bottle in the local liquor store and I thought I would give it a try. A few years ago (ok 10 years ago….) Bulliet Bourbon or Rye was my go-to whiskey for Old Fashioneds and sometimes Manhattan’s when I was feeling fancy. It is a decent whiskey for the price point and gets the job done, however, my tastes and budget have increased in the last decade.

This premade Manhattan is bottled at 37.5% abv in a 350 ml bottle. This is 12 ounces and basically four 3-ounce drinks. The taste is good for a rye cocktail. It is not too sweet or spicy and I enjoyed it over ice. I enjoyed this one better than the Old Fashioned.

This premade cocktail is a bit of a gimmick but they work as a travel bottle or a small gift. However, for the price, I would get a full bottle (750ml – 25 ounces) and make my own batched Manhattan Cocktails.

Priced around $20 and overall good and drinkable.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisBulleit – Manhattan Cocktail
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The Pebble Bar NYC – “on tap” Old Fashioned

The Pebble Bar NYC – “on tap” Old Fashioned

August 20, 2025

The Pebble Bar is located in the historic Rockfeller Center Townhouse which is formerly known as “Hurley’s”. It opened in 2022 and is a small space focused on craft cocktails and high quality food.

I discovered this Pebble Bar from a Youtube video showing how they pre-make their Woodford Reserve Old Fashioneds that are served “on tap” due to the small bar space and the high volume of sales. While I was watching the video, I literally said out loud, “That is bullshit. That can’t taste good.” I thought next time I was in the area I would drop by and order one. I figured I could prove my uneducated non-experienced professional whisky reviewer opinion on a Youtube video that I watched at 6:30am in my underwear.

I have to say…..Holy shit. Even I am sometimes impressed by my fucking stupidity.

The on-tap Woodford Old Fashioned at the Pebble Bar was incredible! I was truly shocked at how well balanced it was and how long it held an its flavor. I am not saying this is the best old-fashioned I have ever had, but it is definitely in the top five. If you are in NYC, I highly recommend visit for a drink. Seating is limited so make a reservation or get there when the bar opens.

I highly recommend the Pebble Bar Old Fashioned!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisThe Pebble Bar NYC – “on tap” Old Fashioned
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Bulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail

Bulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail

August 6, 2025

Name: Bulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Bulliet bourbon, orange, vanilla, oak

Taste: Bulliet bourbon, orange, vanilla, oak

I saw this “Bulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail” bottle in the check in local liquor store, so I thought I would give it a try. A few years ago (ok 10 years ago….), Bulliet Bourbon or Rye was my go-to whiskey for an Old Fashioned. It is a decent whiskey for the price point and got the job done, however, my tastes and budget have increased in the last decade.

This premade Old Fashioned is bottled at 37.5% abv in a 350 ml bottle. This bottle is 12 ounces and basically four 3-ounce cocktails, but I am sure the marketing will tell you it is six cocktails. The taste is good and a  little on the sweet side. I get a touch of some chemical stabilizer flavoring. If you add a couple of drops of regular bitters in masks the chemical taste and makes the cocktail a better. 

This premade cocktail, like many of them, is a bit of a gimmick item. I could see it working well for a picnic basket or a simple affordable gift. However, for the price, I would get a full bottle (750ml – 25 ounces) and make my own batched Old-Fashioneds.

Priced around $20 and good for what it is.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisBulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail
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Cocktail Series – Bucatino’s Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned

Cocktail Series – Bucatino’s Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned

July 30, 2025

Name: Bucatino Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned

Color: Yellow/Clear

Nose: Bourbon, lemon, pepper

Taste: Bourbon, lemon, with a spicy pepper finish

The Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned is more of a summer spicy cocktail that is created at Bucatino Restaurant and Wine Bar in Falmouth, Ma. I had my doubts, but it was so unique I had to give it a try.

Bucatino Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned:

  • Woodford Bourbon
  • Pepper Syrup
  • Lemon Bitters
  • Stir on ice and on the rocks
  • Add dehydrated sliced of lemon 

This cocktail was a nice surprise. It was well balanced and refreshingly citrus with the pepper not overpowering the flavors. The Woodford works well with the lemon pepper combo and it overall a nice refreshing drink. It is easy to drink, but I would not recommend more than two. Sweeter drinking summer whiskey cocktails, even with pepper syrup can sneak up on you very fast after a long day in the sun!

I recommend this cocktails outside and/or dinner at Bucatino if you are in the Falmouth/Cape Cod area.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisCocktail Series – Bucatino’s Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned
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Cocktail Series – Ella’s White Negroni

Cocktail Series – Ella’s White Negroni

July 16, 2025

Name: Ella’s White Negroni

Color: Clear

Nose: Gin, sweet syrup, dill, green plants

Taste: Gin, dill, vermouth, green earth

The Negroni cocktail is said to originate in Italy in the 1940’s. A few years ago in France the Plymouth Gin people wanted a Negroni but could not find the ingredients so they modified the recipe to meet the requirements of what they had in the local stores. This was the birth of the “White Negroni”.

The White Negroni is more of a modern cocktail that is created from made from Plymouth Gin, Suze, and Sweet Vermouth. At Ella’s Wood Oven Restaurant in Wareham, Ma it is made little differently. I have not sampled a proper White Negroni yet, but this one version surprised me.

Ella’s White Negroni:

  • Hendricks Gin infused with dill
  • Chareau
  • Carpano bianco (sweet vermouth)
  • Stir on ice, strain, serve neat
  • Add Twist of Orange 

This version was sweeter and more refreshing than I expected. The subtle dill notes from the infused Scottish Hendricks gin were good blend. The botanicas in the gin and Chareau worked well together. I was surprised it was served neat, but it was an easy drinker and did not last long enough for me to be bothered. If I had to make a complaint is that it was too weak, but that would be expected without Campari

I recommend dinner at Ella’s and their White Negroni if you are in the Buzzard’s Bay area.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisCocktail Series – Ella’s White Negroni
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Angels Envy Bourbon – Revisited 2025

Angels Envy Bourbon – Revisited 2025

June 18, 2025

Name: Angels Envy Bourbon

Color: Light brown

Nose: Corn/malt, vanilla, orange, port wine sweet

Taste: Corn bourbon, light cream notes, port wine finish

My thoughts in 2022:

The bottle I sampled was Batch No. 752 and Bottle No. 8840. It is different tasting than most bourbons I have sampled due to the port finish. The port wine finish is nice touch, but for traditional bourbon drinker this may not be to one’s liking. The bottle is a tall and flat shaped and imprinted wing that stand out through the bourbon and is unique looking. It is also a thin bottle that is easy to hide at your desk at work. Good to drink straight or on rocks and maybe an after-dinner drink. I do not recommend it in cocktails, but the website has several receipts. 

Priced around $55 and worth the money if the flavor profile.

My thoughts in 2025:

The nose comes off a little weaker than I remembered. It really smelled like a water down bourbon. The taste is light and I am of the strong opinion you would not want to use this as a mixer. It reminds me of a softer Jim Beam Bourbon and “soft” is the word that best sums up this bourbon. Note, a coworker gave me a sample, so there is a chance it got water down by ice or accident.

My thoughts in 2025 is that I find Angels Envy too soft for my taste. It’s not a bad bourbon, it’s just an easy drinker and I prefer more of a kick in my Kentucky mash. If you like the flavor profile or softer bourbons, I would recommend it. If you have never tried it, I would recommend you not buy a bottle until order a glass neat.

Price around $65 and too soft for me for the price and flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

ChrisAngels Envy Bourbon – Revisited 2025
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