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In true "pocket sized review" fashion, I aim to keep this short and sweet, so let's dive in!

Nc’nean matures its whisky on site in ex-bourbon, sherry and scraped, toasted, and re-charred ex-red Let's jump into that pocket-sized review I promised you. 66% scraped, toasted, and recharred ex-red wine, 31% ex-American whiskey, and 3% oloroso sherry casks Pocket-Sized

Where do you start when you want to get to know a new distillery? Their flagship product? Their bourbon? Their rye? Their vodka? Their gin? For me, and the generous soul who shared this sip with me, the answer lies in bond. Bottled-in-bond. A simple recipe that has been followed since the Act was first introduced in 1897, producers must meet the following criteria for their product to be considered bonded: The entirety of the whiskey composition must have been distilled at a single distillery (no blending from out of house!), during a single distillation season (half year interval, spring vs fall), at a proof no higher than 160. The whiskey must have entered into a new, charred oak container (typically a barrel) at no higher than 125 proof and have remained in that container for a minimum of 4 years. Bottling proof is to be an industry standard 100 proof and the exterior of the bottle must list the distillery where it was produced. The bottled in bond designation on the label is therefore a testament to the fact that the distillery took all these standardized measures and followed them to a tee. It would only make sense, therefore, for this to be a great representation of what a distillery is capable of in a single distillation season. Evaluating bottled in bond expressions from different distilleries puts everyone on an even playing field, ultimately letting the nuance of the whiskey making process shine for those who take care to do things right. Will Cedar Ridge rye sing in the glass? Let's find out. Company on Label: Cedar Ridge Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 85% malted rye, 12% corn, and 3% malted barley Proof: 100° Age: 4 years Further identification: This is release 001 of the small batch bottled in bond rye from Cedar Ridge; a sample from bottle 1292 was generously provided by Jes Smyth; the latest batches can be found for around a $45 MSRP Nose: Lemon hard candy leaps out of the glass upon first lifting it to my nose. Warm pine bark, silly nilly pink vanilla cotton candy, and a touch of the ever-present underlying Cedar Ridge funk. After a long rest, level, silky vanilla tones swirl in sweet waves. Black pepper, allspice, grenadine, and light maple sugar all develop in a rather reserved fashion, like they're hiding from the nose under a heavy blanket. Time for a sip! Returning from a sip offers wonderful oily copper-tinged esters bopping around. I find the ones that contribute more creamy and delicate fruity tones, like ethyl lactate and ethyl butyrate. The stills at Cedar Ridge have left a lot of good character here, and the maturation has perfectly melded the original mash bill into something approachable and delectable. In the waning moments of the glass, the subtle barrel funk returns with little else, especially no sharp edges or complaints. The empty glass smells of warm, buttery salted pretzels. Palate: Ooh! Much like the nose led, I immediately get that distinct Perle di Sole lemon hard candy. It's puffy, fluffy, and light in the mouth. Delicate—just like the cotton candy parallel drawn from the depths of the aroma. Another sip... and by golly, wouldn't you know it... creamy vanilla! This is proving to be a masterclass in consistency between the nose and palate. Visions of Vermont maple syrup, canned peaches, and a savory generality one might find in a boutique deli all invade the mind on the thought-provoking linger. I picture this sipping perfectly from the comfort of a cozy cabin in Vermont while the snow piles up outside. Its lightness sticks in the mind, urging the observer towards subsequent sips with the promise of more of that fleeting flavor. Sipping through late in the glass offers hints of strawberry daiquiri and a kiss of lime. Wild mint and bergamot offer subtle complexity for the patient observer. My last sip is the bittersweet end, as beets, earthy raspberry leaf tea, and a kiss of strawberry mint finish out a wonderful sipping experience. The finish is long but tenuous, with a whisper of chocolate. TL;DR: A subtle, well-blended rye; a masterclass in synchronization between nose and palate Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I really enjoyed this pour. Juxtaposed next to some other craft distilleries and big-name blenders, this continues to shine ahead of a lot of the competition. I hope they have kept up the consistency with this one as the years of experience Murphy Quint and team have under belt continue to tally. I'm looking forward to trying more from Cedar Ridge in the years to come. Long live craft whiskey!

tasting notes and ratings out to you, my dear reader, I have begun penning short-form reviews called "Pocket Sized Reviews".

Today's pocketful is a sample that @gigglesnsips shared with me recently.

A fan favorite from Redwood Empire since the introduction of the cask strength releases, Pipe Dream is the 116.8 proof bourbon that whiskey enthusiasts have been begging for. Let's find out if this one is worth picking up, shall we? Company on Label: Redwood Empire Distilling Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 74% corn, 20% rye, 1.5% wheat, and 4.5% malted barley Proof: 116.8° Age: 4 years (a blend of 4-12 year old bourbons from California, Indiana and Kentucky) Further identification: The cask strength variants of Redwood Empire were first released in October 2022 as an expansion of their core offerings with batch 1 Cask Strength Pipe Dream being offered at an MSRP of ~$65; Pipe Dream owes its name to the 367 foot tall. 1,340 year old tree - the 14th tallest in the world Nose: Leathery, oak-forward notes jump out of the glass first, which is traditionally a welcome introduction to well-aged whiskey. Soft hints of cherry skins layer in on subsequent sniffs as the glass begins to warm in my hand. The aromas are reserved early, but the air passing into the nose is notably creamy & delicate, offering no qualms of sharpness or heat for the senses to scowl at. Deep inhales from a buried nose reveal hints of toffee, coffee, and chocolate. Oh! Lightswitch moment... Hello nutmeg, I'm pleased to see you've joined the coffee aromas. You've taken me into the comfort of a warm java house, a stark contrast to the frigid air of winter's chill. Deep barrel influence is starting to shine through in a great wave of warm aromas. Delicate wood spice begins to tickle the nostrils before venturing in for a sip. Coming back to the glass after a few sips shows a nose that has returned to a well-tempered, typical bourbon. Nuggets of caramel, barrel boogers, and Columbian coffee beans are fun to continue to find later in the pour. The empty glass smells of amaretto and hot chocolate, which pair wonderfully together if you've never tried them together. Palate: The first sip of Pipe Dream swirls in the mouth with delicate, creamy fruit. I find cherry prominently, before strawberry parfait tones pull me to attention with raised eyebrows. The linger is soft in its texture and flavor, but gargantuan in its volume. Another sip layers in more distinct fruit layers like pear, grapefruit, peach, and blood orange. I'm quite a fan of that level of sweet complexity. A longer sip and swish opens the mind to the wonderful balance between the delicate fruit basket and some Christmas spices that land in cozy comfort like Sunday dinner with a loving family around you. The linger stands tall like the redwood tree it is named after, showing off a whiskey that is well crafted from start to finish. Sipping late into the glass shows off layers upon layers, like counting the rings on an arborist's cross-section cut. I find hints of walnut, tiramisu, raspberry, and a distinct flash of tobacco on the back end. My last sip is perfectly balanced with stewed pears loaded with cinnamon and red grapes. The finish is long and tingling with nutmeg, soft espresso, and a satisfying sugary sweetness that sticks in the gums and teeth. TL;DR: A wonderfully layered bourbon with a funky nose and a complex delicious palate Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Oh this is lovely. I can easily say this is the best release that Redwood Empire puts out right now. It's classic, delicate, layered, creamy, and offers a long thought-provoking finish. It's everything I look for in a great whiskey. I will be hunting this one down to have in the whiskey study.

We store and mill our corn and grain on-site from corn that is grown on our own family farm in Winthrop

What does an independent bottler from Florida know about 'Wisconsin Waffles'? Apparently a lot. When James Estrada and Chad Civetti ventured out to create their own bottling company to bring exceptional spirits from the best craft distilleries in the US to the center stage, it's not likely that they had a cheeky little name like Wisconsin Waffles in mind. But that's the beauty of what can happen when a really well-made whiskey speaks to you. It's the call we all feel as whiskey enthusiasts to find what tastes the absolute best and the desire to share it with those we care about. It's really a noble mission, and one I find myself rallying behind lately as I see what Two Soul Spirits has built in the last few years. They have already managed to bring several really interesting distilleries to my attention that weren't even on my radar—and I would consider myself pretty in tune with the craft whiskey world. With a growing list of partners like Yahara Bay Distillers, Watershed Distillery, Finger Lakes Distilling Co, Sutherland Distilling Company, J. Henry & Sons, Rush Creek Distilling, Middle West Spirits, and now Wollersheim Distillery, I can certainly see more of the niche distillers that I know and love looking to Two Souls to solve their distribution woes. I recently caught their backstory in a September 16, 2022, blog post from James Estrada, who goes by the "Whiskey Doctor" thanks to his PhD in Agronomy. I'll save you the Google search, my dear reader... Agronomy is the study and science of soil management and crop production—a very relevant field of study for someone diving into an industry built on the proper growth of the flavorful grains that produce the whiskey we know and love. In his Doctor's Notes, he described the simple origin of the brand, saying: We came up with the concept for Two Souls Spirits over a couple drinks and an order of quiche. The basic idea centered on two observations we made about craft spirits a few weeks earlier. First, we both agreed that US craft distillers were making spirits that were every bit as good, and often more distinctive, than their larger, more established counterparts. Second, despite a boom in popularity, craft spirits were still not widely available to consumers. In fact, the best craft products on the market were largely inaccessible to all but a few lucky folks – i.e., those living in the immediate vicinity of the distillery (there are many reasons why this is the case, but that’s a LONG conversation for another blog entry). What we realized at that restaurant, with a face full of crusty, eggy goodness, was that we had stumbled upon a major flaw in the system. Craft distillers were creating great spirits, but the people who would appreciate those products the most couldn’t find them. We decided then and there that we wanted to play a role in solving this problem. With that, Two Souls Spirits was born. In short, the goal of Two Souls Spirits is to make the best craft spirits in the US available to consumers across the country. We travel to our distillery partners, hand-select their very best barrels, bottle them under our label (always with full transparency), and ship them directly to your door (we can deliver to 43 states!). We bring the distilleries to you. This means that you can try craft spirits from all over the country by just clicking the “Shop” button on our website. And if that isn’t enough to pique your spirit curiosity, each of our releases is a one-of-a-kind product that you will not find offered anywhere else – even at the source distillery. Simply put, finding premium, rare craft spirits has never been this easy. That’s it – that’s our origin story. Nothing fancy, just two friends with a passion and goal to change how people find, purchase, and enjoy craft spirits. We hope you find your journey through our spirits and partner distilleries as rewarding and enjoyable as we have. Cheers! From someone who also rips on how overrated and overhyped modern pappy is, I have to say I love this origin story. I have personally worked through the difficult logistics of bringing several craft distilleries from across the US to the state of Massachusetts, pairing them up with the right distributor that is going to work for them, setting up the right liquor stores to be able to accurately communicate the brand and what they are doing, and finally even selecting several single barrels to help the distillery make a splash in their new state. All that hard work, and guess what—I still only got those craft distilleries I love a tiny sliver of exposure in the grand scheme of things. Enter Two Souls Spirits: taking your little mom-and-pop distillery in the boonies of who knows what state and projecting them onto the national stage. I'm looking forward to seeing who is up next, but for now, let's dive in for a full review of Wollersheim Wisconsin straight rye whiskey. Company on Label: Wollersheim Distillery (Bottled by Two Souls Spirits) Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 66% rye, 22% corn, 12% malted barley Proof: 118.4° Age: 6 years Further identification: Barrel WW1 is a limited release single barrel that was bottled by Yahara Bay Distillers in Fitchburg, WI for Two Souls Spirits, an independent bottler bringing craft whiskey to new markets that wouldn't otherwise have access; this sold out release was available for a short while at an MSRP of $84.99; the barrel was filled at a low barrel entry proof of 114.1 on 1/22/2018, bottled 3/28/2024, and came from Wollersheim barrel 17-166, yielding 166 bottles Nose: The glass opens with a wow—huge waves of molasses, maple syrup, and black bread leap out of the glass. I can tell it all comes from a place of wild wood interactions, like this barrel has been aged hard and fast in some wicked weather systems. There is a distinct barrel funk that I know and love. It reminds me a lot of Starlight’s rye, and as it turns out, Borden, IN, and Prairie Du Sac, WI, are of similar elevations. Diving my nose back in, I find simple, sweet rock candy and just a whisper of silicone. Hints of old-fashioned lemon drops and a kiss of rye grain enter the mind on deep inhalations. Overall, this feels like a gateway whiskey, reminding me of the first one to really open my eye: Willett rye. Time for a sip for this guy. Returning from a sip, glass warming in hand, I find pine bark, beeswax, and a further depth of maple sweetness. The funk has settled down distinctly, and I find it far more comfortable—more like a bit of tobacco by the fireside now. Vanilla extract drizzled over freshly mixed cookie dough rounds out a wonderfully complex nose. The empty glass smells of warming candle wax and sweet perfume coming across from a nearby pew during Christmas service. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this one! Palate: My first taste offers cinnamon, maple sugar, and a handful of runts. Some of the nose translates well, namely the rock candy, as new flashes of sweet cotton candy tingle the tip of the tongue. The linger is soft and creamy, like a lemon milkshake. This definitely screams craft rye whiskey in all the best ways. Pie crust and waffle cone round out the breadiness the nose was exhibiting early on. Sipping later in the glass offers some more tannic wood tones alongside honeysuckle and bread pudding drenched in blackberry coulis. The finish is distinctly citrus without ever really registering on the tongue—like a second-hand experience of key lime pie found through a kiss. My last sip is a tingly tango offering gingerbread and graham cracker. It’s a lovely dram with a finish that holds on just right, with clinging, sweet, bready notes holding pressure against the center of the tongue. In a fun surprise during the long linger, a flash of bubblegum cropped up, making me want to pour another glass. Overall? Endlessly satisfying. TL;DR: Share this with someone who needs to know just how good craft rye can be Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I found much more citrus character in this glass than waffle tones personally, and that is A-okay with me. At its heart, it's a well-crafted rye whiskey that could certainly serve as a gateway whiskey for anyone who might be afraid of either rye, craft whiskey, or both. It's a delicious pour, and I am glad to have savored it thoroughly thanks to a sample provided to me by my fellow whiskey writer, Jes Smyth. I'd love to see more of these 50mL samples make it into the whiskey community to help spread the word about just how good the whiskey in these bottles is. Fun fact: Michter's 25 year bourbon was recently rated in this same 4/5 category. I'll leave you with that. Cheers! NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com, and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

in for a quick exploration of the 2008 release of Four Roses Mariage, and I'll do my best to keep it pocket-sized

We're back with another pocket-sized review, my new take on a short-form review.

deep to find anything worth talking about; touches of plum, vinegar and raisin can be found in tiny pockets

Despite this being a whiskey that almost nobody other than the most ardent whiskey enthusiasts or deep-pocketed 415 bottles available; it carries an MSRP of $1,500—which is exactly what I paid for it out of my own pocket