#182: Three Whiskeys That SHOCKED me This Year

When you're reviewing a few bottles of whiskey every week, it is easy for everything to start to taste "meh." The bright side is, when something really surprises you, it sticks with you. In this episode, Chris walks through three bottles that were really pleasant surprises this year, and what it was about them that made them stand out. Featured in this episode: - Bulleit Bottled In Bond Bourbon - Loch Lomond 12yr Single Malt Scotch Whisky - JT Meleck Louisiana Rice Whiskey   Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for a monthly bonus episode, free merch, and more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs

In this double blind tasting, Chris walks through a bottle without any clue what it is, giving a score out of 100 and taking some guesses along the way - this is your warning, if you don't want to know what it is, stop reading now!   This episode features Courage and Conviction Cuvee Cask! This is an American Single Malt from the Virginia Distillery Company. For more info on the distiller, check out episode 125!   Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for a monthly bonus episode, free merch, and more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs

In this double blind tasting, Chris walks through Hard Truth's Chocolate Malt release from 2023, but (in case you are new to "double blinds") it could be any bottle from the shelf! For pure, unbiased, unadulterated views about this release, listen to the full episode! Also, any time there is a review of a special release from a brand, it is worth noting that the opinion of that release (good or bad) does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the whole brand. Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs

In this continuation of episode 178, Chris blinds through three MORE potential replacements for Eagle Rare in order to find the best one. In this blind, we put Eagle Rare 10yr against Middle West Spirits Bourbon, Cooper's Craft Barrel Reserve, and Evan Williams Single Barrel.   Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs

Eagle Rare is an exceptional bourbon with one really big problem: it's hard to find anywhere! In this episode, Chris walks through a blind tasting of three similar bourbons vs Eagle Rare with Guest Noob Bryce. Is there a good, cheaper replacement? Listen to find out! Whiskeys Tasted with Eagle Rare: - Evan Williams 1783 (American Hero Edition) - Russell's Reserve 10yr - Wilderness Trail High Rye Bourbon (Bottled in Bond) Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs

As with any topic in pop culture, whiskey is subject to a LOT of myths and stereotypes that cause confusion in the hobby. In this episode, Chris breaks down some of the biggest myths in the whiskey world as well as the underlying truths that have led to their popularity. Are women wired to naturally dislike whiskey? Does ice make your whiskey smoother? Is older whiskey better? These are the questions we will tackle in this episode. Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs NPR article referenced in the episode about women having better tasting ability: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/31/427735692/are-women-better-tasters-than-men 

Join the Whiskey Noobs Crew for more: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs Green River Wheated Bourbon we recently crowned the best bourbon in the world by the New York World Spirits Competition. In this episode, Chris breaks down the competition, how it works, and how you should look at the different "medals" you see advertised on whiskey bottles. Finally, the episode finishes with an honest review of Green River Wheated Bourbon and a couple of Q&As from the Whiskey Noobs Crew (Patreon).    Winner Announcement on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradjaphe/2025/10/19/the-worlds-best-bourbon-according-to-the-2025-new-york-world-spirits-competition/   Homebar Article: https://homebar.io/whats-up-with-the-san-francisco-world-spirits-competition/#:~:text=They%20also%20state%20that%20%E2%80%9Cwhile%20tasting%2C%20judges,a%20panel%20earn%20a%20Double%20Gold%20award.%E2%80%9D   The Tasting Alliance: https://thetastingalliance.com/

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs Can you make high end whiskey at home? A lot of whiskey lovers have never even heard of home blending, but it is a really fun way to come up with some great whiskeys. In this episode, Chris walks through the philosophy of home blending, some misconceptions, and tips on how to get started.  

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs In this special episode recorded at the WhistlePig distillery in Vermont, Chris talks with WhistlePig's Chief Blender, Meghan Ireland, and Research and Development Distiller, Mitch Mahar, about the WhistlePig core lineup, where they get their ideas from, projects gone awry, and of course, the latest release of their ultra-premium "Boss Hog" line - Boss Hog XII - Feather & Flame.  Learn more about WhistlePig: https://www.whistlepigwhiskey.com/

Support the show and access more content: http://patreon.com/whiskeynoobs Once upon a time, bourbon was aged on the Mississippi River, more or less by accident. The river was a convenient means of shipping, so barrels would spend their time floating down to Louisiana, and incidentally, the whiskey would gain some age on it's journey.  In 2015, Hank Ingram of the Ingram Distillery set out on a mission to bring that form of aging back into the world of whiskey and see what affect it had on the flavor. Today, they produce multiple different whiskeys with different mashbills and price points.  In this episode, Chris sits down with Hank to learn about their aging method, lineup, and upcoming ventures. Learn more about Ingram Whiskey: https://ingramwhiskey.com/our-story/