Luke is a Level I Certified Whiskey Specialist with a passion for exploring and unearthing the best whiskeys around. Luke has a preference for Rye whiskeys but has tasted over 250 different whiskeys to date varying from bourbons to scotches. He continues to expand upon his whiskey knowledge by tasting dozens of bottles monthly and reviewing them here on Barrel and Brew as he pursues his Masters of Whiskey certification.
William Grant & Sons has been a prominent producer of Scotch and Irish Whiskey for over a century. Their notable brands include Balvenie, Grant’s, Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder, Tullamore Dew, Hendrick’s Gin, and Sailor Jerry. Well, recently they’ve moved into the bourbon market with Fistful of Bourbon. I have written a couple reviews of William Grant…
As a Colorado resident and frequent traveler to Breckenridge, I’ve had Breckenridge Bourbon before. I’ve never actually sat down and done a tasting with it, though. So, I figured it was high time I pour myself a glass and write a Breckenridge Bourbon review. After we discuss some of the history and specs of Breckenridge…
Rye used to be a prominent grain used in American whiskeys. For hundreds of years, rye matched or outpaced corn as the predominant grain used in the production of whiskey. That’s even with bourbon requiring at least 51% corn in its mash bill. However, rye was unable to recover from the effects of prohibition. Corn…
With brands such as Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, it’s no wonder why Old Forester isn’t the most popular bourbon produced by Brown-Forman, but they are the oldest. We’re going to peak inside some of the history of Old Forester to see how they’ve managed to stay around for so long. Along with that, we’ll…
According to reports done by Drizzly, Bulleit and Woodford Reserve are the #1 and #3 best selling bourbons in the US, respectively. Last night I found myself drinking Bulleit, and the Kentucky Derby is coming up, which Woodford has sponsored for over 20 years. So, I figured it was a great time to write a…
Over the last couple years fake Hennessy has been a way for scammers and con artists to make money. They are distilling their own liquor and selling it in Hennessy bottles. We’re here to cue you in on the best ways to spot fake Henny because it’s not only unethical but potentially dangerous. This isn’t…
Tequila is notorious as a shot. So, if someone shows up to a party with a handle of this Mexican spirit, you can be sure that shots will be taken. If you’re anything like me, you don’t need to take a shot of liquor ever again, but you certainly will. When that bottle of Tequila…
Wild Turkey 101 is the standard Wild Turkey whiskey. In 2021, the company was the #8 best selling American whiskey across the world. So, what is it about this high proof whiskey that has so many people drinking it? Is Wild Turkey a good whiskey? What is it distilled from? These are all questions we…
Single malt whisky is the golden child of Scotland, so to say. Scotch whisky is known around the world for its quality and history, but it’s really the single malt scotch that so many out there crave. So, we’re going to compare the most popular single malt scotch in the US to the most popular…
American whiskey, bourbon especially, is heavily associated with Kentucky. However, whiskeys such as TX Whiskey and Balcones are starting to put Texas on the map as a premier state for distilling. Balcones Distilling comes to us out of Waco, TX and makes a handful of whiskeys, including bourbon. In this guide, we’re going to look…
In this comparison guide of Evan Williams vs Jack Daniels, we have 2 of the most popular American whiskeys facing off. Jack Daniels, out of Tennessee, has been the largest seller of whiskey in the US for years. On the other hand, we have Evan Williams – the second largest seller of Kentucky Bourbon. When…
When it comes to Irish whiskey, especially popular Irish whiskey, there are a couple of names you need to know. Tullamore DEW and Jameson are two of them. These two blended Irish whiskeys are number one and two in annual sales, with Jameson leading the way. That’s precisely why Tullamore DEW vs Jameson make for…