America | NYC Whiskey Review

Town Branch Overproof

February 18, 2026 America

Name: Town Branch Overproof

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, vanilla, oak, spices, orange

Taste: Corn, vanilla, dry oak, white pepper, orange cream

Town Branch Distillery is located in Lexington, Kentucky and was founded in 2012. I believe St. Matthew and I dropped by around 2015 but we realized we could not visit as we were on our way to Keeneland for the first race of the day.

The Town Branch Overproof is a four barrel blend that is made up of 90% bourbons and 10% rye. The whiskeys used are Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, Double Oak, & Rye. The average aging is five to six years and it is bottled at 52% abv (104 proof). From my research I learned this expression was released restaurant/bars as a mixer for higher end and higher proofed cocktails.

On my first taste the dry wood finish was very noticeable and the orange cream finish complimented well with the blend of the four whiskeys. On my second taste I noticed more of the spice and orange cream blend along with the hot taste due to the proof. I immediate thought was “this was created to be a mixer”. I could tell by the high proof, balance, and that solid Kentucky Straight Bourbon Chew. A lot of bourbons are “Straight Bourbon” but many are just weak, unbalanced corn mash that gets the job done. They like to masquerade as quality bourbons but nothing more than a cheap mixer. Town Branch Overproof is not that type of whiskey.

Old Fashioned: Town Branch Overproof makes an excellent cocktail. The four whiskey flavor profile and the high proof work very well. I enjoyed the touch of spice with the bourbon as I usually use high rye to get a spicy kick.

Priced around $40 a bottle and I recommend it for the home bar or as base for your cocktail of choice at the bar.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples, and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Old Soul – Tintype Series #1 “Captain Luke”

January 21, 2026 America

Name: Old Soul – Tintype Series #1 “Captain Luke”

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn, rye/malt mix, vanilla, orange, spices

Taste: Corn, malt, rye, spices, oak, vanilla, caramel

Cathead Distillery was founded in 2010 and is based in Jackson, Mississippi. This expression is from their “Tin Type Series” and is Series #1 “Captain Luke” inspired by the Southern States influence on American music. Series #1 is distilled in Indianna and has a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. It is aged 7 years, is unfiltered/uncut, and bottled at 60.9% abv which equates 121.8 proof.

When took my first sip of Series #1 I thought of famous quote from Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid movie. So if I ever get the chance to meet the distiller I will ask, “Do you think you used enough dynamite there Butch?” At 121.8 proof Series #1 is the strongest whiskey I think I have ever sampled in my life. I am struggling to remember a stronger one and if you read my reviews I generally do not like cask strength whiskeys, but this one is very good once you soften it up a little bit.

On my first tasting I really struggled to nose and taste this whiskey neat. I added a few drops of water and I struggled less, but it was still a challenge. I added a small ice cube and tried again, but I think I was in a bit of a shock so I stopped tasting. I re-tasted two weeks later and I was prepared for the shock. The second tasting was only with a small ice cube and that allowed me to really detect and enjoy the flavor profile. Old Soul Series #1 is a very strong whiskey, but the mash bill and the vanilla, orange, and spice notes on the finish are very good.

Old Fashioned Cocktail: This cocktail has a lot of kick to it and now is giving my go-to mixer (Sagamore Rye Cask Strength) a real run for the top spot. Series #1 holds the flavor for a long time and works very well in a cocktail. I need to do a side-by-side cocktail tasting with Series #1 vs. Sagamore Cask in the near future.

Other Cathead Distillery Expressions: Cathead Original Vodka, Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka, Cathead Satsuma Mandarin Vodka, Cathead Raspberry Vodka, Bristow Gin, Hoodoo Chicory Liquor, and Old Soul Bourbon Whiskey Series, Cathead Sparkling, and canned cocktails.

Priced around $100 and well worth the price. This stuff needs to be in the NYC bars and stores immediately!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Two Trees – Land of the Sky

January 7, 2026 America

Name: Two Trees – Land of the Sky

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, malt, wheat, vanilla, oak, light spices

Taste: Corn, wheat, dry oak, orange spice

Two Trees Distilling Company is located in Fletcher, North Carolina and was founded in 2018. The distillery states that is uses “Appalachian water and quality grains” to create their expressions. The Land of Sky is a limited release from their Uplifting Spirits expression line with the mash bill being of corn, wheat, and malted barley. The whiskey is aged for 3 years, finished in toasted white oak barrels, and is bottled at 46% abv.

On my first taste the whiskey came off a young and dry which did not surprise me due to the maturation time and the wheat I detected on the nose. On my second taste I noticed the heat from the higher proof and the wheat came off stronger. The dryness is quite pronounced, but the overall flavor profile is good. I am not a huge fan of wheat whiskeys (aka wheaters) as the dryness is too noticeable when I sample it neat. However, in cocktail I do enjoy them, so my third taste I opted for an Old Fashioned.

I prefer my Old Fashioned the following way: Two ounces of whiskey, 3 dashes of bitters, sugar, splash of soda water, stir, and serve on large ice cube with an orange peel. The nose was fresh and the taste was sharp. The higher proof gave it a nice kick, and the cocktail was very tasty. It hit the spot and I recommend Land of the Sky as a mixer.

Two Tree Expressions: Land of Skye, Batch 314, Wood Crafted Bourbon, Snarly Yow, Owl Head, Wampus Cat, Old Fyre Dragaman, Two Trees Vodka, and the “ready to drink” Old Fashioned & Manhattan.

Flavored Expressions: Sea Salted Caramel, Candy Apple, Carolina Peach, Michigan Cherry, Cinnamon Spice, Peanut Butter, Golden Honey, Crisp Apple, Pumpkin Spice, and Peppermint.

Priced around $50-$60 and well-priced if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Note: I contacted the distillery to purchase some samples and they sent me this bottle for gratis.

Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey

December 23, 2025 America

Name: Old Scout Bourbon Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn/rye, barley, vanilla, orange

Taste: Corn, barley, vanilla, orange, sugar-spice

2 Days before Christmas arrives! Last chances to get your bottles!

Old Scout Bourbon is produced by Smooth Ambler, which is located in Maxwelton, West Virginia. I was not familiar with this distillery and this bottle was a gift from my good friend Sam Dean.

On my first taste I found the bourbon a little hot and lacking body structure, it just tasted very light. The overall taste is a little rough, but I think that is due to the rye. The finish was decent and I expected it would work better in a cocktail and I was correct. This bourbon is not really a sipper. It works fine on the rocks but better in an old fashioned as the high proof holds the flavor longer.

Old Scout Bourbon is bottled at 49.5% abv and is non-chilled filtered. The mash bill is 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley, however, the corn was more forward tasting, and the rye gave it a little spice, but not too much.

Priced around $40 and a decent bourbon for cocktails. I look forward to trying more of their expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

New Riff Malted Rye

December 18, 2025 America

Name: New Riff Malted Rye

Color: Copper

Nose: Rye, corn, vanilla, orange, spices, cedar

Taste: Rye, corn, cinnamon, spices, cedar

7 Days left to Christmas! Do you have your bottles yet?! This is #7 on my list for 2025!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! – Chris

New Riff Malted Rye is produced by New Riff Distilling and is located in Newport, KY. The distillery was founded by Ken Lewis who used to own The Party Source Store in the same plaza. It is my understanding that you cannot produce and distribute in Kentucky, so he sold the store to start the distillery.

The rye expression is 100% malted rye, aged 6 years, non-chilled filtered, and bottled at 50% abv. It is noted to be the oldest aged whiskey currently offered by New Riff. It was also a gift from St. Matthew, so thanks very much buddy!

New Riff Malted Rye may be a 100% rye, but for some odd reason it tastes like a hybrid of New Riff Bourbon & Rye. I just can’t shake the feeling that there is some corn in this whiskey. I think I will have to pick up a bottle of their Single Barrel Bourbon and compare them side by side. I was curious how it would hold up in an Old Fashioned and I had some doubts. I was good but I prefer my 120 proof ryes as it watered down too fast.

Priced around $70 and a good rye.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

December 16, 2025 America, Japan

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 10^th 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!

Bulleit – Manhattan Cocktail

September 24, 2025 America

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!

Bulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail

August 6, 2025 America

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!

Cocktail Series – Bucatino’s Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned

July 30, 2025 America

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!

Angels Envy Bourbon – Revisited 2025

June 18, 2025 America

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!

Town Branch Overproof

Old Soul – Tintype Series #1 “Captain Luke”

Two Trees – Land of the Sky

Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey

New Riff Malted Rye

Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

Bulleit – Manhattan Cocktail

Bulleit – Old Fashioned Cocktail

Cocktail Series – Bucatino’s Lemon Peppered Old Fashioned

Angels Envy Bourbon – Revisited 2025

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