<p>Let's be honest, dads can be hard to shop for.&nbsp; I say this as a dad myself, because when my wife and kids ask what I would like for Father's Day, I usually just shrug and tell them whatever they come up with will make me happy. And while that's generally true, one thing that always brings me&mdash;and many other dads&mdash;a great deal of joy is a good bottle of whiskey.&nbsp;</p>
<p>There is no shortage of fantastic options to choose from in all categories these days, from bourbon to single malt scotch to Japanese blends. And there can be real intention in finding a good bottle to gift for Father's Day, because so many brands and distilleries have long family ties, particularly when it comes to American whiskey. Generations of fathers and sons have worked or are still working at distilleries like Wild Turkey, the James B. Beam Distilling Co., and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Angel%27s+Envy&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angel's Envy</a>. Keeping this in mind, and of course focusing on really high-quality releases, we've put together a list of some of the best bottles to consider giving to your dad this Father's Day.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Little+Book&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Book</a></h3>
<p>This series of blended whiskeys was created by Freddie Noe, eighth-generation master distiller at the James B. Beam Distilling Co., the home of <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Jim+Beam&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jim Beam</a> bourbon. Noe is the son of master distiller Fred Noe and the grandson of the late, legendary master distiller Booker Noe, who created the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection (<a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Knob+Creek&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Knob Creek</a>, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Baker%27s&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Baker's</a>, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Booker%27s&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Booker's</a>, and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Basil+Hayden&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basil Hayden</a>). Each chapter of Little Book differs from the last one in terms of the component whiskeys in the blend. The latest, Chapter 10, was one of the best, combining older, cask-strength versions of the entire Small Batch Collection along with some Jim Beam finished in sherry and toasted bourbon casks.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Booker%27s&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Booker's</a></h3>
<p>It would be remiss not to include Booker's in this list, the uncut, unfiltered bourbon created by Booker Noe in the late '80s that is part of the Jim Beam Small Batch Collection. This bourbon is released in four batches per year, and there is some consistency&mdash;the whiskey is usually aged somewhere between six and seven years and bottled between 120 and 130 proof. But of course there are differences between batches, and it can be fun to try a couple of bottles side by side to see how they compare. In addition to the regular releases, there are also some highly collectible expressions like <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Booker%27s+Rye&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Booker's Rye</a> and the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Booker%27s+30th+Anniversary&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">30th Anniversary</a> edition to look out for.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Russell%27s+Reserve+15&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell's Reserve 15</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Wild+Turkey&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Turkey</a> is another distillery with three generations of fathers and sons that are part of its legacy: master distiller Jimmy Russell, his son Eddie Russell (also master distiller), and his grandson Bruce Russell (associate master blender). Their namesake brand, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Russell%27s+Reserve&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell's Reserve</a>, has been overseen by Eddie and is generally is made up of smaller batches of whiskey compared to regular Wild Turkey. A few years ago, they started releasing age statement expressions, starting with a 13-year-old and moving into this 15-year. Each batch differs a bit depending on the year, but this is a truly fantastic bourbon with a strong family lineage behind it.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Wild+Turkey+Gold+Foil+Edition&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Turkey Gold Foil Edition</a></h3>
<p>This whiskey is significant for a few reasons. Most importantly, it represents the first time that Wild Turkey has really leaned into the legacy of its <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Cheesy+Gold+Foil&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheesy Gold Foil</a> whiskeys, vintage expressions from the '80s and '90s that have become serious collector's items at auction. Also, it's the first bourbon that Bruce Russell has overseen from conception to bottling, continuing his family's legacy at the distillery. This is a 16-year-old bourbon bottled at 120 proof with a label design that recalls the vintage era, and it's a superb new release from Wild Turkey.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Angel%27s+Envy+Cask+Strength+Bourbon&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon</a></h3>
<p><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Angel%27s+Envy&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angel's Envy</a> was founded in 2010 by a father-son team: master distiller and Bourbon Hall of Fame member Lincoln Henderson, and his son Wes.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the elder Henderson died a few years later, but his son steered the brand until he left in 2022 (Angel's Envy is now owned by Bacardi, and Wes started a new brand called True Story). Over the years, Angel's Envy has stood out because of its focus on cask-finishing&mdash;the core bourbon is given a secondary maturation in port barrels. That is also the case with the very popular cask-strength expression. This annual release differs in terms of age and strength each year, but has become a very popular and often sells out soon after it comes out. The good news is that you can find many past expressions available to purchase at auction now.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Jefferson%27s+bourbon&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jefferson's Presidential Select 18 Year</a></h3>
<p>Trey Zoeller founded Jefferson's along with his father Chet back in 1997, and the brand (now owned by Pernod Ricard) is still going strong today. There are many different expressions to choose from, including the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Jefferson%27s+ocean+aged&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ocean Aged</a> series, in which barrels are placed on container ships to travel the world and expose the whiskey to different climates as it matures. The Presidential Select expression doesn't go on any journeys, however; instead, this is just a really excellent well-aged bourbon that has been released in different batches over the years. This can be hard to find and a bit pricy when you do, but it's well worth the expense and effort.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Pappy+Van+Winkle+15+Year&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year</a></h3>
<p>As most bourbon fans already know, the Van Winkles have a long history in American whiskey. The Pappy Van Winkle lineup has been produced at <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Buffalo+Trace&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buffalo Trace </a>since the turn of the century in partnership with the Van Winkle family, and the brand is still led by third-generation family member Julian Van Winkle III&mdash;son of Julian Jr., grandson of Pappy himself&mdash;along with his son Preston. There are some younger and older age statements in the Pappy lineup to consider, but the 15-year hits that sweet spot of maturation, resulting in a delicious bourbon that is worth hunting down.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Kentucke County 12 Year Old American Whiskey</h3>
<p>Father and son master blenders Rick and Ricky Johnson make up the team behind 15 Stars, a brand of sourced whiskeys that,&nbsp; it should be noted, just released its first in-house produced expression. They also launched the new Kentucke County brand recently with two inaugural expressions, a six-year-old bourbon and a 12-year-old American whiskey. The latter is a blend of straight bourbon and American whiskey that was aged in used oak for seven years followed by another five in virgin oak&mdash;a pretty unconventional formula, but one that really works here, making this a great new whiskey that your dad will enjoy.</p>
<h3>Fathertime</h3>
<p>This bourbon brand was founded by comedian Jim Gaffigan, an avid father and whiskey fan (read our interview with him <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/unicorn-review/jim-gaffigan-interview-bourbon-set" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>). The Father's Day tie-in is right there in the name, but this is a good whiskey in its own right, with several expressions to choose from. The most recent is called The Caboose, a blend of barrels selected by Jim and his partner and friend Stu Pollard that was bottled at 92.4 proof. It also comes in the Empty Nester cask strength version at 121 proof.&nbsp; Many of the past releases are sold out, but take a look around to see what you can find, and if your dad is a fan of comedy and bourbon&mdash;or just bourbon&mdash;this would be a great bottle to gift.</p>
<h3>Sweeten's Cove Father's Finish</h3>
<p>This whiskey brand was founded by some star athletes and musicians, including Andy Roddick, Peyton Manning, and Drew Holcomb. There have been several releases over the past few years, and the most recent is called Father's Finish. This is a blend of Kentucky and Tennessee bourbons that was finished in cuvee wine barrels and bottled at 98 proof. Granted, the main tie-in to Father's Day is really in the name, but the juice is good so this is a bottle to consider gifting.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Willett&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Willett</a></h3>
<p>Where do you even start when it comes to Willett? The modern history of the brand and distillery is certainly a family affair. Norwegian immigrant Even Kulsveen took over the property with his wife Martha in the mid-'80s, and he was responsible for releasing bourbons like <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Rowan%27s+Creek&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rowan's Creek</a> and Noah's Mill. His son Drew joined the business in 2003, and his daughter Britt a few years later, and eventually the distillery started releasing its own in-house produced whiskey. The old purple top bottles are still some of the most popular that you'll find at auction, and for good reason&mdash;they are often well-aged, high-proof, superb bourbons and rye whiskeys. Any of these would be a treat for dad.</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Four+Roses&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Four Roses</a> Father's Day</h3>
<p>Last month, Four Roses released its Mother's Day Private Barrel Selection, a single barrel release made from the OBSQ recipe and bottled at 115.78 proof (the distillery uses five yeast strains and two mashbills to create 10 different recipes). Later this month, it will release a Father's Day version, made using the OBSV recipe, aged for 14 years, and bottled at a high 128.71 proof. This is Four Roses for the dads who are hardcore Four Roses fans, a singular bourbon that will never be repeated in this exact form. It will be released on June 20 (SRP $139) with a two bottle per customer limit.</p>

The Best Whiskeys to Give Your Dad On Father's Day

<p dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s happening in wine and whiskey this week:</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">This Week&rsquo;s Unicorn Review Stories</h3>
<p dir="ltr">🥃 Susannah Skiver Barton <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/unicorn-review/bill-lumsden-ardbeg-glenmorangie">spoke to Bill Lumsden</a>, master distiller for Ardbeg and Glenmorangie, about his whisky philosophy, penchant for experimentation, and that one time an Ardbeg fan wanted to kill him.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">New Bottle Releases</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Michter&rsquo;s 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye (SRP $210)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=michter%27s+10+year+rye&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc">Michter&rsquo;s 10 Year Rye</a> is back for 2026. This year&rsquo;s release, like past ones, is a single barrel expression that was bottled at 92.8 proof, and is made from an undisclosed mashbill that likely falls somewhere just above or at the 51 percent required rye grain. Look for flavors like baking spice, citrus, and some floral notes, with a sweetness and some tannic character from a decade in oak.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Very Olde St. Nick Immaculata (SRP $260)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This is the second release of Preservation Distillery&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Very+Olde+St.+Nick+Immaculata&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc">Very Olde St. Nick Immaculata</a>, following the initial 2023 release. The 2026 edition is a blend of just three barrels bottled at 118.2 proof: 10-year-old and 19-year-old bourbon sourced from another distillery, and 8.5-year-old wheated bourbon distilled at Preservation. Look for notes of toasted almonds, espresso beans, cr&egrave;me br&ucirc;l&eacute;e, dried apricot, fresh blueberries, tobacco, and some black pepper spice on the palate.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Unicorn Whiskey Pick of the Week</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Barrell Bourbon Batch 38 (SRP $85)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Over the years, Louisville blending house <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Barrell+Craft+Spirits&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc">Barrell Craft Spirits</a> has become one of the best in the business, sourcing barrels of whiskey from distilleries around the country, blending them, and sometimes giving them unique and innovative cask finishes. Batch 38 of the core expression, Barrell Bourbon, was just released, combining whiskey from four different states into another cask-strength blend of straight bourbons that proves why BCS is a name that you should be familiar with.</p>
<p><strong><img src="https://directus-11-4sui.onrender.com/assets/ef79dd65-766a-421d-8663-4dd2e7cf334e.jpg?width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Batch 38"><br></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">The specs of Batch 38 are as follows: it&rsquo;s a blend of straight bourbons distilled in Kentucky (12-year), Tennessee (12 and 15-year), Indiana (9 and 10-year), and Maryland (8-year). It has a derived mashbill (meaning the mashbill derived from all the bourbons in the blend) of 79% corn, 17% rye, and 4% malted barley, and the whiskey was bottled at cask strength of 116.96 proof (58.48% ABV). The sources of the whiskeys are not revealed, but you might be able to pick some likely suspects based on the source states and ages of each component&hellip; or perhaps not. For example, the Maryland component seems like it could be from Baltimore&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=sagamore+spirit&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc">Sagamore Spirit,</a> but that is just speculation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The result is another high-quality bourbon from BCS that is full of classic flavors and sips pretty easily at less than 117 proof. Dark, tannic oak notes are present as you sip, which should not be a surprise given the ages of the whiskeys in the blend. This is a pleasant experience, however, and not overpowering, allowing flavors like vanilla, maple, caramel, honey, dark plum to shine, along with black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg notes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">How do you rate which batch of Barrell Bourbon is the best? The only way to do that is to try them all side by side, an achievable but pretty overwhelming task to undertake. The other option is to not really worry about which one reigns supreme, and just enjoy each batch on its own merits. That&rsquo;s what I would advise here, because Batch 38 is a solid one&mdash;and it comes in a special bottle with a red, white, and blue label to celebrate America&rsquo;s 250th anniversary, if you&rsquo;re feeling a little patriotic as the 4th of July approaches.</p>

The Week in Wine and Whiskey: May 29

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Master Distiller Bill Lumsden Doesn’t Care What You Think

<p dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s happening in wine and whiskey this week:</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">This Week&rsquo;s Unicorn Review Stories</h3>
<p dir="ltr">🥃 Gina Pace spoke to Wild Turkey&rsquo;s Bruce Russell about the new Austin Nichols Archive Collection Gold Foil Edition, a tribute to the highly collectible Cheesy Gold Foil whiskeys of the 1980s and 1990s.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">New Bottle Releases</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Penelope Architects of Golf (SRP $60)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This is the latest release from <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=penelope+bourbon&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Penelope Bourbon</a>, a brand that started out in 2018 by sourcing its whiskey from MGP and is now owned by the distillery. The Architects of Golf collection starts out with three different bottles, each at 94 proof but finished with a unique combination of wooden staves. Golf Hole 1 is said to have notes of dark chocolate, sweet oak, and roasted nuts; Golf Hole 2 is said to have notes of dark chocolate, butterscotch, and vanilla; and Golf Hole 3 is said to have notes of chocolate mousse, vanilla, and oak.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Blended With Laird's Apple Brandy (SRP $65)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Chicken+Cock&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chicken Cock</a>, a brand that we&rsquo;ve covered before, has an interesting new expression that is worth mentioning. As you can tell by the name, this whiskey, which is being released to celebrate America&rsquo;s 250th anniversary, is a blend of 70% Chicken Cock Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and 30% Laird&rsquo;s Apple Brandy, both of which were aged for a minimum of four years. As you&rsquo;d expect, the rye whiskey definitely dominates the palate, but the apple brandy shines through as well making this an interesting blend of spirits to try in your favorite cocktail.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Unicorn Whiskey Pick of the Week</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Rye Bourbon (SRP $75)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Buffalo+Trace&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buffalo Trace</a> launched two new whiskeys that kind of flew under the radar, at least compared to the distillery&rsquo;s major tentpole annual releases like <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Pappy+Van+Winkle&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pappy Van Winkle</a>, the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Antique+Collection&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antique Collection</a>, and ultra-aged <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Eagle+Rare&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eagle Rare</a> bourbons. The pair consisted of <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Low+Entry+Proof+Wheated+Bourbon&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Low Entry Proof Wheated Bourbon</a>, part of its Experimental Collection, and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=buffalo+trace+%27single+oak%27+rye+bourbon+%28barrel+80%2C+375+ml%29&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Single Oak Rye Bourbon</a>. This week we are going to take a closer look at the latter, and dive into what makes this outstanding bourbon tick.</p>
<p><strong><img src="https://directus-11-4sui.onrender.com/assets/ece49d5a-72c3-4d53-a3eb-69c3cc04e6bc.jpg?width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Single Oak"><br></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Buffalo Trace launched its Single Oak Project back in 1999, which involved picking 96 oak trees from the Missouri Ozarks and cutting them into 192 individual barrels. To study the effects of maturation on the whiskey, the following steps were varied: mashbill (either wheat or rye bourbon), length of time the staves were seasoned, wood grain size, barrel char level, what part of the tree the staves were cut from, and warehouse type (wooden or concrete floor). In 2011, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=buffalo+trace+%27single+oak%27+rye+bourbon+%28barrel+80%2C+375+ml%29&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Barrel #80</a> was selected by consumers as being a standout from the bunch, and this new permanent release is a recreation of that whiskey in terms of mashbill and maturation conditions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Specifically, this is Buffalo Trace&rsquo;s rye bourbon (the distillery does not reveal exact mashbills). It was entered at 125 proof into barrels made from staves cut from the bottom half of a tree that were seasoned for 12 months and then charred to level four. This bourbon was aged in one of the distillery&rsquo;s concrete-floored warehouses for a full eight years and the whiskey was bottled at 90 proof. Of course, this is not going to be the same as that initial Single Oak release from 15 years ago, but if you&rsquo;re going to attempt to recreate a past whiskey, this seems to be as close as you can get.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And it&rsquo;s a really tasty bourbon. At 90 proof, there&rsquo;s just a bit of heat on the palate, but nothing that overwhelms the notes of vanilla, caramel, black pepper, oak, maple, cherry, orange, and butterscotch. This bottle might be a bit hard to find&mdash;it&rsquo;s available in 375-ml size at the distillery and select retailers in limited quantities&mdash;but check the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=single+oak+buffalo+trace&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">website</a> to see if any are available at auction&mdash;if you&rsquo;re a fan of Buffalo Trace&rsquo;s more experimental side, this is one worth checking out.</p>

The Week in Wine and Whiskey: May 22

<p dir="ltr">For collectors, the 1985 to 1992 run of <a href="unicornauctions.com/search?term=wild+turkey+12+year&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Turkey 12‑year</a>&mdash;which bears the reflective gold‑foil label that earned its &ldquo;Cheesy Gold Foil&rdquo; nickname&mdash;remains one of the most mythologized bourbons of the Glut Era. These are the bottles that turned a lot of people into Turkey obsessives, and taught a generation of dusty hunters what mature&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=wild+turkey&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Turkey</a> could taste like. Even now, a single pour can feel like a time capsule.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Four decades later, Wild Turkey has decided to touch that nerve again.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This week, the distillery released Gold Foil Edition ($400), the debut whiskey in the new Austin Nichols Archives Collection. This is a project that Bruce Russell, associate master blender and the third generation of his family to work at the distillery, first conceived more than a decade ago.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For collectors, the name alone is a signal flare. Austin, Nichols &amp; Co. was the New York distributor whose label appeared on every legendary Wild Turkey bottling of the &rsquo;70s, &rsquo;80s, and &rsquo;90s, including the original Cheesy Gold Foil. If you&rsquo;ve ever hunted dusty Turkey, you&rsquo;ve been on the lookout for an Austin Nichols bottle.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Russell didn&rsquo;t take reviving this revered name lightly. &ldquo;Those old bottles are what made me fall in love with whiskey,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I wanted to do something that honored that era without pretending we can recreate it.&rdquo;&nbsp;That distinction matters. Collectors know why CGF tasted the way it did: Glut Era aging conditions, older stock, wooden fermenters, and a distillery environment that was far from sterile. Back then, Turkey&rsquo;s barrels were often made from older, tighter‑grain oak, wood that releases flavor more slowly and builds deeper oxidative complexity. It&rsquo;s one of the reasons those bottles taste the way they do.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&ldquo;Vintage whiskey&hellip; it has a big, sweet, powerful nose,&rdquo; Russell said. &ldquo;That kind of stewed‑fruit thing going on. That dark, almost walnut‑cola thing that a lot of Jimmy&rsquo;s old whiskeys had. Sweet tobacco. Mature oak funk.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">According to David Jennings, Wild Turkey historian and author of <em><a href="https://rarebird101.com/book-reviews/">American Spirit: Wild Turkey Bourbon From Ripy to Russell</a></em>, the age and the quality is what sets CGF bourbon apart from other vintage Wild Turkey releases. &ldquo;While stated at 12 years of age, there is reportedly much older whiskey in those bottles, as old as 18‑plus years,&rdquo; he said. He noted that the new Gold Foil Edition is composed of 16‑year‑old bourbon, which in some ways mimics what was actually in the original Cheesy Gold Foil releases. Also, while modern Wild Turkey isn&rsquo;t the same as dusty Wild Turkey in terms of flavor profile, the two share &ldquo;a lot of oak‑driven characteristics.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Aaron Goldfarb, author of&nbsp;<em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dusty-Booze-Search-Vintage-Spirits/dp/1419766791">Dusty Booze</a></em> and a whiskey writer who has&nbsp;<a href="https://punchdrink.com/articles/how-wild-turkey-bourbon-funk-became-whiskey-geek-obsession/">chronicled</a> Wild Turkey&rsquo;s Glut Era mystique for years, thinks this release is a smart move for the distillery. He pointed out that the drinkers obsessing over every detail&mdash;the ones who can tell a 1987 CGF from a 1991, or who can identify a Glut Era bottling by nose alone&mdash;are exactly who this release is speaking to.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Still, Gold Foil Edition reaches for the spirit of those bottles without trying to mimic them exactly. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not trying to recreate the past,&rdquo; said Russell. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m trying to honor it.&rdquo; That means that this is a modern whiskey built with a vintage sensibility, and while it will likely be a hot commodity on the secondary market and at auction, it is not a museum piece&mdash;it's a conversation with the past.</p>
<p dir="ltr">It arrives at a pivotal moment for the Russell family. As mentioned before, Archives has been led by Bruce from start to finish. It&rsquo;s also a new high-end series that seems poised to replace the collection that his father Eddie shepherded,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=wild+turkey+master%27s+keep&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Master&rsquo;s Keep</a>, which ended with last year's <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=wild+turkey+master%27s+keep+Beacon&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beacon</a> release.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And it marks the first time Wild Turkey has intentionally engaged the mythology of CGF since the original run ended in 1992. The packaging makes that clear with the return of the old flying‑turkey emblem pulled from vintage Austin Nichols tubes, an illustration of the original station master&rsquo;s house on the Tyrone grounds, and typography lifted from archival labels. Even the gold foil itself is a deliberate callback. &ldquo;I wanted people to pick it up and immediately feel like, &lsquo;Oh, this is Turkey history,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Russell. &ldquo;Not a replica, but something that nods to all the things we grew up loving.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Gold Foil Edition is another example of how the Russell family&rsquo;s role at Wild Turkey is evolving. Bruce's grandfather Jimmy spent more than 70 years defining the house profile&mdash;notes of sweet oak and tobacco, and the signature Turkey funk. Eddie carried that forward while modernizing the portfolio and shaping the distillery&rsquo;s character into the 21st century. And now Bruce is helping to decide what the next era of Wild Turkey will look like, while recognizing why the vintage era bottles matter to the people who love them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For collectors, that context matters because the hierarchy of rarity in American whiskey has shifted dramatically over the last decade. <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Pappy+Van+Winkle&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pappy Van Winkle</a> may be the bottle that civilians are most likely to namecheck, an auction mainstay that still sells for thousands of dollars, but it&rsquo;s also an annual release with a more predictable cadence. As Goldfarb pointed out, Pappy's scarcity is real, but it&rsquo;s also navigable. &ldquo;[Pappy] is expensive and kind of hard to find, but not that hard to find,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Standing in Manhattan right this second, I could probably find a <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Pappy+23&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pappy 23</a> within the next 30 minutes.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Cheesy Gold Foil lives in a different universe. It&rsquo;s not just older; it&rsquo;s finite. There is no annual drop, no retail channel, no lottery. There are only the bottles that survived the 1980s and early &rsquo;90s, scattered across private collections up for auction, back bars, and the occasional estate sale. Even for someone like Goldfarb, who has spent years writing about dusty culture, tracking one down isn&rsquo;t a matter of walking into the right shop. &ldquo;Even I would have to start making some calls and emailing some people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s another echelon of rarity.&rdquo;</p>
<p dir="ltr">And that&rsquo;s the challenge Russell is taking on&mdash;to build the kind of whiskey that future collectors will argue about decades from now. He sees Gold Foil Edition as part of a broader run of modern Wild Turkey releases shaped by the last of the great <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=camp+nelson&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Camp Nelson</a> barrels: the F, D, and E rickhouses whose mature stock powered <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=russell%27s+13&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell&rsquo;s 13</a>, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=russell%27s+15&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell&rsquo;s 15</a>, Beacon, and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=wild+turkey+Generations&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Generations</a>, and which won&rsquo;t last forever.</p>
<p dir="ltr">&ldquo;It&rsquo;s almost like this mini dusty era,&rdquo; said Russell. &ldquo;For the past handful of years&hellip; when the next generation looks back, they&rsquo;ll say that era&mdash;from 2023 until whenever the Camp Nelson liquids finally dries up&mdash;was a really special time at Wild Turkey.&rdquo;<strong id="docs-internal-guid-7334986c-7fff-df2d-3357-ff16785a43ef"></strong></p>

Wild Turkey’s New Bourbon is a Fitting Tribute to its Vintage Cheesy Gold Foil Era

<p dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s happening in wine and whiskey this week:</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">This Week&rsquo;s Unicorn Review Stories</h3>
<p dir="ltr">🥃 Susannah Skiver Barton <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Little+Book&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc">recommends some bottles to check out</a> if you&rsquo;re a fan of Jack Daniel&rsquo;s Single Barrel Select.</p>
<p dir="ltr">🍷 Gina Pace talked to comedian Eric Wareheim and winemaker Joel Burt about their Las Jaras Wines brand, and how they shaped its identity over the years.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">New Bottle Releases</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Stitzel Reserve 31 Year Bourbon ($3,000)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This is the second release in the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Stitzel-weller&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stitzel Reserve</a> collection, following last year&rsquo;s 24-year-old bourbon. Stitzel Reserve 31 Year is, as you can tell by the name, a 31-year-old whiskey. That&rsquo;s really, really old for bourbon, but according to Diageo&rsquo;s director of American whiskey liquid development and capabilities, Nicole Austin, the 13 barrels she selected for this release were outstanding. This bourbon, which was bottled at a staggering 163.2 proof, was not actually distilled at Stitzel-Weller, but it was aged there. The 176 bottles are available to purchase onsite, with a limit of one per customer.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Green River Honey Finished Bourbon Whiskey ($25)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Green+River&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green River </a>may have paused most of its production recently, but the distillery, which is now part of Lofted Spirits with <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Bardstown+Bourbon+Company&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bardstown Bourbon Company</a>, just released this interesting new expression. This is a four-year-old straight bourbon that was finished with honey, which was added directly into the barrel, and bottled at 92 proof. That means it&rsquo;s technically no longer a straight bourbon, or even a bourbon, but a whiskey specialty product. Whatever the case, this is a uniquely honey-flavored bourbon that should work well in a variety of cocktails.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Unicorn Whiskey Pick of the Week</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Smokehead 15-Year-Old ($70)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">If you&rsquo;re a fan of smoky scotch whisky, you&rsquo;re familiar with all the big names that are located on the island of Islay&mdash;<a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Laphroaig&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laphroaig</a>, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Ardbeg&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ardbeg</a>, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Lagavulin&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lagavulin</a>, Caol Ila, and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Bowmore&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bowmore</a>, to name a few. Each has its own distinct style, and each produces whisky to its preferred level of smokiness&mdash;some are verifiable smoke bombs, others are more subtle. One peated scotch that prefers to keep its source a secret is Smokehead, a brand owned by Ian Macleod Distillers, which also owns the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Glengoyne&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glengoyne</a>, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Tamdhu&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tamdhu</a>, and Rosebank distilleries. Smokehead recently released a 15-year-old expression, which turns out to be an affordably priced peated whisky that is worth trying.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><img src="https://directus-11-4sui.onrender.com/assets/65544fdb-71bc-430f-91ce-c2a87153a380.jpg?width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Smokehead 15"></p>
<p dir="ltr">Of course, secrets are meant to be sleuthed, especially when it comes to whisky. With the caveat that nothing I&rsquo;m about to write is confirmed, if you search online there are three likely suspects that come up as being the source of Smokehead&rsquo;s whisky: Ardbeg, Caol Ila, and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Bunnahabhain&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bunnahabhain</a>. Again, to be clear, none of these are confirmed, so this is just conjecture. But the fact that the distillery is not disclosed, and given that there are only 10 working distilleries on Islay, whisky fans can&rsquo;t help but speculate.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Anyway, on to the bottle at hand. The new 15-year is the oldest expression to date to be released here in the U.S. from this brand that has been around since 2006. Other expressions include the NAS Original and various cask-finished releases, like Sherry Cask Blast and Tequila Cask Terminado. What you can expect here is, of course, a very smoky whisky, with layers of peat that span the range from seaweed to iodine to smoldering campfire. In between there are notes of vanilla, oak, citrus, black pepper, and ripe berries, but if you&rsquo;re drinking Smokehead you&rsquo;re here for the smoke&mdash;and it delivers. This is not the most complex smoky scotch you&rsquo;re ever going to drink, but at about $70 it certainly packs a punch (it&rsquo;s bottled at 86 proof), and at 15 years old it&rsquo;s in that nice mid-range of maturation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Of course, you&rsquo;re also going to have to get past the packaging. The skull on the label feels like a second rate Punisher logo, and overall the design and even names of these whiskies just feels a bit aggro, a little bro-y, a tad middle school Halloween. Still, it&rsquo;s about what&rsquo;s inside the bottle, not the bottle itself, and if you&rsquo;re a fan of peated single malts this is a whisky worth trying.</p>

The Week in Wine and Whiskey: May 15

<p dir="ltr">Though best known for its iconic Old No. 7, <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Jack+Daniel%E2%80%99s&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jack Daniel&rsquo;s</a> has a much bigger portfolio of whiskeys, and one that stands out is <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Single+Barrel+jack&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Single Barrel Select</a>. More complex than the flagship, it is nevertheless overlooked surprisingly often by connoisseurs, perhaps because it sits in the shadow of high-profile releases like the barrel-proof (and sometimes hazmat) <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Coy+Hill&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coy Hill</a> and Jack&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=jack+daniel%27s+age+statement&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">age-statement range</a>. But those who drink Single Barrel Select love it, thanks to its consistently high quality and crushable flavor at a price (around $55, sometimes significantly less) that&rsquo;s hard to beat.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Made from the same recipe as Old No. 7&mdash;80% corn, 12% malted, and 8% rye&mdash;Single Barrel Select is a few steps up in terms of both proof (47% ABV) and depth of flavor. You might not like the bananas foster character of the JD mashbill, but many people do, and here it takes on a br&ucirc;l&eacute;ed edge that injects depth and complexity into the familiar sweet, creamy profile. There&rsquo;s also plenty of oak&mdash;lightly tannic and just the right amount of bitter&mdash;to counterbalance all those dessert notes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This whiskey was well ahead of the single barrel boom when it debuted in 1997. Since then, Jack has also unveiled versions at 100 proof and barrel strength, as well as special editions like <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Single+Barrel+Heritage+Barrel&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Single Barrel Heritage Barrel</a>, which is matured in high-toast, low-char casks. But the 94-proof Single Barrel Select remains popular and widely available for a reason. It may be chosen by the Jack Daniel&rsquo;s tasting staff or by a store or bar owner, but either way the whiskey will be sweet and smooth while avoiding the bland territory its lower-proof siblings tend to occupy.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">Jack's single barrels have enough variety to keep many fans engaged from bottle to bottle, but when you're ready to explore beyond these, there are plenty of whiskeys from other distillers that share similar flavors. Rather than jumping right into another single barrel line&mdash;where individual bottlings aren't predictable&mdash;we're recommending core whiskeys that provide a consistent drinking experience and a grounding in the brand's house style. These bottles deliver the effortless enjoyment&mdash;and similar smooth sweetness&mdash;of the best Jack single barrels, again and again.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Old Forester 1870 Original Batch</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Jack and <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Old+Forester&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Old Forester</a> share the same parent company, Brown-Forman. And although one is a Tennessee whiskey and the other is a Kentucky bourbon, they share some flavor similarities. In particular, both showcase an estery sweetness that comes from fermentation; while Jack&rsquo;s is notably banana-forward, Old Forester&rsquo;s highlights more honey and vanilla ice cream. At 90 proof, the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=old+forester+1870+Original+Batch&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1870 Original Batch</a>&mdash;which pulls together three types of barrels to showcase different entry proofs, age profiles, and aging locations&mdash;is a great example of the brand&rsquo;s house style and a satisfying all-rounder.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Widow Jane 10-Year-Old</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Forget the silly claims about New York mine water somehow making this bourbon special; it&rsquo;s just good whiskey, full stop. The current bottling combines straight bourbons from Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee&mdash;it&rsquo;s worth noting that <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Heaven+Hill&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Heaven Hill</a> acquired <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Widow+Jane&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Widow Jane</a> in 2022, so it&rsquo;s possible that eventually one of the company&rsquo;s two Kentucky distilleries will be the source for this brand. For now, the blend&rsquo;s evenhanded mix of sweet oak and caramel, bottled at 91 proof, requires no pedigree to be enjoyed.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Traveller</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">It&rsquo;s okay if you can&rsquo;t name a single Chris Stapleton song. You can still drink the whiskey he endorses, made by <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Buffalo+Trace&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buffalo Trace</a> master distiller Harlen Wheatley, which is neither bourbon nor Tennessee whiskey but something else altogether. This is a blend whose components haven&rsquo;t been disclosed, but there is likely a decent amount of straight bourbon in the mix, as well as some light whiskey, corn whiskey, and/or general used-barrel American whiskey (Sazerac states that it contains no neutral spirit). Regardless of the makeup, Traveller is a sweet and straightforward whiskey that rolls right down the middle of the road with flavors of vanilla and chocolate and a warm, cushiony texture. If you get thirsty for something stronger, there&rsquo;s a new high-proof&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=traveller+whiskey&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Traveller</a> sporting a chunky 60.5% ABV.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>George Dickel Barrel Select</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Since Tennessee whiskey is a pretty small category, this offering from the state&rsquo;s number-two distillery was obviously created to compete with Jack&mdash;I mean, the names are almost identical, and in fact <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=george+dickel&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dickel&rsquo;s</a> mashbill is almost exactly the same at 84% corn and 8% each rye and malted barley. This whiskey, however, is batched from multiple barrels, typically showcasing pastry notes of apple pie and pecan roll. It&rsquo;s proofed to 86 for a milder sip, but punches well above its weight with a minimum of nine years&rsquo; maturation. And there&rsquo;s a single-barrel option for when you&rsquo;re ready to step up in proof (103) and try out some more varied flavors.&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Sweeten&rsquo;s Cove Bourbon</strong></p>
<p>This golf course&ndash;inspired brand, backed by Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick, hit it right down the fairway with its first release in 2020, a 13-year-old Tennessee bourbon that has long since sold out. But the new flagship bourbon, made by Tennessee Distilling Group and aged for five years, carries through well to the next hole. Proofed to 93.7, it has weight without heaviness and ample sweetness in notes of Werther&rsquo;s Original and cr&egrave;me br&ucirc;l&eacute;e. And it goes down very easy&mdash;no need to wait for the 19th hole to wet your whistle with this one.</p>

What to Drink Next if You Love Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select

<p dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s happening in wine and whiskey this week:</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">This Week&rsquo;s Unicorn Review Stories</h3>
<p dir="ltr">🥃 Gina Pace picked some of the <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/unicorn-review/best-tequila-for-whiskey-fans">best aged tequilas for whiskey drinkers</a>, from single estate expressions to anejos aged in wine barrels to a reposado matured in Japanese mizunara oak.</p>
<p dir="ltr">🍷 Alissa Bica Raines took a <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/unicorn-review/new-zealand-central-otago-wine-region">deep dive into the world of New Zealand&rsquo;s Central Otago region</a>, exploring its world-renowned Pinot Noir and highlighting a range of white wines that are worth collecting.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">New Bottle Releases</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>TX Whiskey Texas Straight Rye Whiskey Full Proof ($40)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">This is the 16th edition of TX Whiskey&rsquo;s Experimental Series, which highlights the Fort Worth distillery&rsquo;s use of different mashbills and maturation techniques. This rye whiskey was aged for seven years and bottled at 120 proof, an attempt to showcase how the specific climate in Texas affects a whiskey&rsquo;s flavor. Look for notes of toasted oak, cinnamon, molasses and caramel, along with a healthy dose of spice.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Jack Daniel&rsquo;s Halo MK1 Tennessee Whiskey ($600)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=jack+daniel%27s&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_aschttps://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Jack+Daniel%E2%80%99s&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc">Jack Daniel&rsquo;s</a> partnered with the Formula 1 McLaren Racing team back in 2022, and has released special edition bottles every year since. Those have basically been the same whiskey as you&rsquo;d find in a bottle of Old No. 7 with different label designs, although sometimes the proof has been bumped up. But the latest release is something totally different&mdash;Halo MK1 is a $600 bottle of whiskey aged in barrels made from staves that were seasoned for much longer than usual, and the liquid was bottled at an impressive 117.4 proof. Look for notes of caramel, chocolate, pipe tobacco, and baking spice.</p>
<h3 dir="ltr">Unicorn Whiskey Pick of the Week</h3>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition ($100)</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">There are a lot of celeb-backed booze brands out there, and most of them fall into the tequila category. From George Clooney&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Casamigos&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Casamigos</a> to Kendall Jenner&rsquo;s 818 to The Rock&rsquo;s Teremana, there&rsquo;s a face and persona for everyone looking for an agave spirit. The whiskey world doesn&rsquo;t have quite as many examples, but there are a few of note. Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=brother%27s+bond+bourbon&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brother&rsquo;s Bond</a> is one of the best, and it&rsquo;s a brand that the two actors seem to be quite actively involved in. More recently, Willem Dafoe partnered with smoky scotch distillery <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Laphroaig&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Laphroaig</a>. Concurrently, Harrison Ford embarked upon an ad campaign with Highland distillery <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Glenmorangie&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Glenmorangie</a> called &ldquo;Once Upon a Time in Scotland,&rdquo; and the corresponding whisky has finally arrived. It&rsquo;s aptly called Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition, and it&rsquo;s a classic example of a single malt that you might expect from this distillery, with or without Ford&rsquo;s name attached to it.</p>
<p><strong><img src="https://directus-11-4sui.onrender.com/assets/aac13657-6d2d-4e4b-bc8f-45c25908089e.png?width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Harrison Ford Limited Edition   K V2"><br></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">Of course, the official line is that Ford &ldquo;co-created&rdquo; the whisky, and there might be some truth to that, but it&rsquo;s always good to take it with a grain of salt. The reality is more likely that director of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden MBE and his team did most of the heavy lifting. He&rsquo;s often called the mad scientist or Willy Wonka of whisky, but we are not going to do that here because it&rsquo;s a total cliche. What we will say is that he&rsquo;s been responsible for some very unique and innovative whiskies from both Glenmorangie and its sister distillery <a href="https://www.unicornauctions.com/search?term=Ardbeg&amp;state=LIVE%26UPCOMING&amp;sortBy=number_asc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ardbeg</a> over the years.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This new whisky might not fit that bill as far as going to the extremes of barley varietal or maturation experimentation, but it&rsquo;s still a very nice version of Glenmorangie&rsquo;s house style that has been given a cask finish. In other words, this is a non-age statement single malt that was initially aged in bourbon barrels and then given a secondary maturation in toasted Portuguese red wine casks. It&rsquo;s bright and zesty with notes of honey, maple, cherry, vanilla, spiced apple, orange marmalade, and dark chocolate on the palate, with a bit of heat slowly lingering beyond your final sip.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Like Laphroaig&rsquo;s collab with Willem Dafoe, Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition stays true to the distillery&rsquo;s core character, but just gives it a little boost, a bit of a spin, a wee twist. This single malt is not the most interesting whisky Glenmorangie has ever released, but it&rsquo;s a very satisfying sipper that fans of the distillery&rsquo;s honeyed, citrusy, vanilla-infused character will certainly enjoy.</p>

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