"One soaring, beautiful eagle." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible We first tasted Eagle Rare in 2006 when it was labelled 'Single Barrel'. As of 2019, that changed to a multi-barrel blend with a ten year old age statement. It remains a standout value - an American whiskey with the unusual credentials of maintaining a reputation for exceptional quality while being relatively easy to come by. The profile confirms a #1 Mashbill from Buffalo Trace, which is reported to be low rye (10% or less), yielding notes of caramel, new charred oak, liquorice bullets, cocoa and peppermint rock lollies plus cinnamon in support. The complexity grows with time. Re-tasted from a 20ml sample, it's lean on entry, but fills out beautifully into a medium-bodied, chewy whiskey with muted rye spices before vanilla and Bounty Bar flood the finish, the sugars checked by balancing oak and more creamy vanillas. Ever reliable and better than many Bourbons at twice its price, Eagle Rare remains hard to beat. 45% Alc./Vol.

It’s made with the good stuff – real Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged for two years in American oak barrels toasted with an aggressive #4 alligator char. It is then blended with natural banana flavour for a smooth, kick of bananarama goodness. At a full 80 proof, one taste and you will know they aren’t monkeying around.Tasting Notes: The nose offers layers of cream and vanilla over slivers of sweet banana and wood. On the palate are bites of caramel, banana candy, and baked spice.

Uniquely finished to deliver a more elevated experience, Maker’s 46 is aged longer with special seared French oak staves. With subtly layered bourbon notes and balanced complexity, 46 is the legacy of Bill Samuels, Jr., son of Maker’s Mark founders Bill and Margie. Released in 2010, Maker’s 46 was the first new major expression to be created at Star Hill Farm since classic Maker’s went into production in 1953. The first new bourbon since opening their doors had to make a statement. And Maker’s 46 did, as the first offering from the distilleries breakthrough wood-finishing series. Today, they continue to experiment with the effects of wood finishing to craft new expressions of Maker’s Mark, always remaining true to the original Maker’s – and the expertise, passion and persistence of Bill and Margie.

Old Virginia's 12 Year Old showcases the rare quality of authentic Bourbon from Kentucky. Presented in

The Gospel Straight Rye Whiskey is made from 100% Australian Mallee Rye, grown in one of the driest regions of the driest country in the world. We use 100% rye mash - double distilled and then aged for at least two years in new American Oak barrels in Melbourne, Australia. Full flavoured Rye, fresh baked rye bread on the nose, caramel and spice on the pallete.

In 1874 M.W. Heron, a bartender, developed Southern Comfort in his bar near La Rue Bourbon in New Orleans and first served it in traditional fashion from a whiskey barrel. In 1934 after a short break in production due to Prohibition, Southern Comfort introduced their current distinctive label featuring the now famous Currier and Ives lithograph of a Southern plantation house on the banks of the Mississippi. The plantation is known as "Woodland Plantation", built in 1834. Southern enthusiasts can visit the newly renovated mansion, which now operates as a nine bedroom country inn. Southern's identity as a bourbon lies only in its origins. Its inception was in an awful whisky batch that Heron was attempting to improve. Actually, Southern Comfort was originally a Peach Liqueur, and one of the few peach liqueurs on the market. Produced using neutral spirit and over 100 ingredients, the final liqueur matured for eight months prior to bottling. Since then the formula has changed and Southern is now branded a 'whiskey liqueur'. Sweet and rich with a molasses background and faint medicinal flavour, it's America’s “Take it easy Drink”. Enjoy it straight, on the rocks or with cola.

Elijah Craig are another of Heaven Hill's successful brands. When a surge in popularity for the 12 year led to an inability to meet demand, it was removed from US shelves in 2016 (no surprise, age statements are now sought after). The core whiskey has since been re-labelled “Small Batch". Typically made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley, rumour has it this contains a fair proportion of whiskeys in the 8-12 year old range.

The Four Roses distillery is located in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky on the banks of the Salt River in Anderson County. The distillery has a unique Spanish Mission-style architecture rarely seen in Kentucky and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The company attributes their products quality to several factors: A unique Limestone water source, the spring-fed Salt River; a high quality grain source (Four Roses are the only distillery using the same grain source for 45 years, paying a premium for quality); Two Mash Bills in daily production - one mash bill contains significantly more rye than any other Bourbon, resulting in a spicy, full-bodied taste; and five proprietary yeast strains, each producing uniquely different flavours. Tasting note: Polished brass gold. Aromas of lamington cake and cherry ripe interchange with peppermint and drying oak as damp cedar wood enters. Lots of American oak input in the mouth: anise infused honey, cocoa and cherry ripe. A splash of minty-rye to finish. Rounds off finely tannic/peppery with hints of Turkish Delight and caramel fudge in the aftertaste. Youthful, but surprises with its complexity. Solid value if you're looking for a rye-heavy Bourbon. 45% Alc./Vol.