Whiskies are distilled from grains: barley, rye, corn, wheat, and several others. They can be distilled quickly and at volume on column stills, or slowly on potstills. The best are double-distilled. Here’s a few of the best: great reviews, but generally not easy to find.
Devin’s Soft ‘n Tasty
Devin’s SOFT ‘n TASTY Whiskey:
Batch 2, 306 cases. Lovely golden color. Rich fresh corn aromatics and flavor. Very light polishing filtration to preserve its deep flavor. Revolutionary whiskey.
Low Gap
LOW GAP 10Yr Old Blended Rye “Old Family Recipe”:
Special Limited bottling: "Old Family Recipe": 93% malted rye, 7% malted wheat. Crispin distilled the whiskies from 2010 to 2014; the blend was re-barreled in two small 15-gallon Minnesota oak casks, and has reduced from 28,3 gallons to 16.5 gallons. The 42% reduction in volume is in good part evaporation of the water content of the original distillates; the esters remain, creating substantial concentration of flavor. Aging in small casks is a plus: we said about our Germain-Robin small casks that one year was equal to 3 in a standard barrel. Crispin says that this is his absolutely his best stuff.
LOW GAP 3 Year Barrel Strength Straight Corn Whiskey:
Distilled on an antique cognac still. Aged 3 years in premium air-dried oak. All the sweet richness of a great bourbon but with astonishing depth. 210 bottles only.
LOW GAP 3yr Bourbon:
Double gold medals at 50 Best Whiskies competition against far older bourbons. Crispin Cain started to distill whiskey for sale in 2010, but he waited for three years before making a bourbon because he wanted to feel completely confident in the process. The mash bill is corn, barley, and rye; aged in air-dried Minnesota oak. A number of devotees have told us this is the best bourbon they have experienced. Wonderfully approachable, smooth, soft, and rich.
LOW GAP 8Yr Old Cask Strength Straight Bourbon:
Special Limited bottling: "Old Fussbudget": 20% malted barley, 15% malted rye. Crispin Cain’s bourbons, superb whiskies, are in high demand—subtle richness & complexity.
LOW GAP 8Yr Old Rye Malt Whiskey:
Special Limited Bottling: Spirits maven Paul Pacult this year wrote: “I consider Low Gap Rye Malt Whiskey as being one of the monumental achievements of this American whiskey genre.” Enough said.
Old Sugar Whiskey
OLD SUGAR DISTILLERY Bourbon:
The extra rectification chamber adds to the complexity of this corn-based bourbon, with aromatic and cherry wood-smoked malt. Aged in new oak, finished in rum barrels. Interesting stuff.
OLD SUGAR DISTILLERY Queen Jennie Sorghum Whiskey:
Named after a famous local bootlegger. Distilling syrup instead of a wash means the whiskey is silky and very easy to drink: plenty of complex richness with no heaviness. Aged in Minnesota oak.
The Exceptional
THE EXCEPTIONAL BLEND, Batch 2:
Mature grain whisky from Loch Lomond, North British, Strathclyde, and Cameron Bridge malt whiskies from Glenfarclas, William Grant, Westport, Alt-a-Bhainnie, Ben Nevis, Mortlach, Glenallachie, Auchroisk, and Imperial, with a 30-year-old Macallan. Finished 18 months in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. Deep & layered complexity.
THE EXCEPTIONAL GRAIN, Batch 2:
A blend of remarkable aged grain whiskies, including a barrel of 33-year-old from the Carsebridge Distillery, long since closed. Finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. Subtle, elegant, authentically individual, with great structure.
THE EXCEPTIONAL MALT, Batch 3:
Rich & balanced blend of whiskies selected from Glenfarclas, Ben Nevis, Alt-a'Bhainne, Auchroisk, Clenallachie, Westport, Speyside, and a 30-year-old Macallan. Finished 18 months in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. Wonderfully subtle complexity
WORKHORSE/MODERN ANCIENT
MODERN ANCIENT Bolita Belatove Whiskey:
An ancient pink corn from the central valley of Oaxaca, close to extinction before Easter, and others revived it. Let it sit in your glass to allow the deeper alcohols to open. Creamy, with mineral overtones; long finish. 6 bottles only, 1 per customer
