Maker's Mark uses a lower barrel entry proof of 110, as opposed to the 125 proof that is more standard across the industry.

Manzanilla sherry is on the dry side of the sherry flavor spectrum - it typically displays notes such as salt or brine, nuttiness, and crisp bright fruit.

Ardmore is generally classified as a "lightly peated" whisky, with its barley being peated to a specification of around 12ppm to 15ppm.

Blair Athol, a Highland distillery, is a key piece of the Bell's blended Scotch whisky brand.

This Linkwood also employs a cask from one of the premier vineyards in France - it's Chateau Margaux, in the Bordeaux region.

Burnside isn't actually a single malt, although it's about as close as you can get - this is technically a blended malt, but it's almost entirely Balvenie spirit which has been 'teaspooned.'

In June 2026, we attended a whisky tasting centered around the ImpEx Collection, a series of releases from small independent bottler ImpEx Beverages.

This might be one to dig into and spend some time with to pull out all of the nuances.

Strathclyde, based in Glasgow, is owned by Pernod Ricard and produces a huge amount of grain whisky which is destined primarily for blended Scotch.

There's a wide range of ages of bourbon in this blend - technically an age statement of 2 years, but an average age closer to 6 or 7 years.

The total maturation time was 11 years, and after that, this was bottled at a cask strength of 55.3% ABV.

The aging process used a refilled toasted French oak cask, specifically a barrique, which points toward an ex-wine cask.

This bottling from Signatory Vintage, also labeled as a 'Secret Orkney,' is a Highland Park which was matured for 15 years in bourbon hogsheads.

Using a MGP-esque mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, Green River produces this core range Kentucky Straight Rye at their distillery in Owensboro.

Tobermory, established back in 1798, is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland.

This whisky was distilled in 2013 and bottled in 2024, so we have an 11 year age statement.

Laphroaig's annual Cairdeas series began back in 2008.

This distillery was originally established in 1885, but after a fire in 1918 and prohibition in the 1920s, production and distribution waned and finally ceased.

While Knob Creek's current standard rye is aged for 7 years, this single barrel rye was aged for a total of 8 years based on the barreling and bottling dates.

This is a peated Speyside distillate, a little uncommon but not unheard of.