You mentioned Middle West, I would send a vouch for their neighbors down the street: Watershed Distillery. I had their uncut, unfiltered release and it is solid.
Great list! People are sleeping on Old Scout. Every bottle I had was very good! A liquor store here in the Charlotte area is selling a 7 year store pick, so I'll be picking one up tomorrow.
I need to try me some JT Mellick, Hard Truth & Kluke too, but that Mellick has my interest peaked. I have or had the others, and you are right, I have enjoyed those. Cheers Judge, have a great trip
Headed to New Orleans next weekend for the Jazz Festival and I’m going to get a Meleck cask hopefully. My wife booked a tasting and blending class at the Sazerac hotel I’m going to love that. I’d add Redwood empire and Corbin and Cash to this list as well as High Bank and Middle West out of Ohio. Which I believe you did a pick at Middle West. Safe travels. Enjoy!!
I haven't tried any of these except for Sagamore Spirits Rye, which I lik, but not as well as Pikesville Bottled-in-Bond. My six non-Kentucky picks that won't break the bank are Woodinville (WA), !3th Colony (GA), McKenzie (NY), Cedar Ridge (IO), George Dickel (TN), and Far North (MN). and my asterisk, because I just brought home a bottle but haven't yet cracked it, is Wyoming Whiskey.
All six of your picks were solid. I have three of the bottles on your list and will be hunting the other three. Affordable, non-allocated, high quality. You have checked all my boxes. Well done Judge!
Just tried the Starlight Honey Barrel Finished the other day. Liquor store near my house had a barrel pick that they let me sample... Good move on them because I walked out with a bottle!
Thank you for not including Ben Holladay on the list. The hype on that distillery is out of control:). It's fine, but I'd rather find a bottle of Hard Truth Wheated bourbon or J.T. Meleck rice whiskey on the shelf.
Right in my home state of Wisconsin we have J. Henry and Driftless Glen. Both are making waves in the whiskey world! The master blender of J. Henry studied under Nancy Fraley and he's really coming out with some fantastic whiskey! Still Austin is a great one out of Texas. Ben Holladay out of Missouri is also a popular one lately. Their Soft Red Wheat BiB is great! I hear the Rickhouse Proof is even better, but I haven't tried it yet.
Great list. Mine would be journeyman, hard truth, ASW, Sagamore, k. Luke. My 6th would be Found North. I’d also say check out Columbus Oh and Michigan distilleries. (And yes, I’ve had all of your 6)
Can’t go wrong with any of those brands. Good luck on the JT Meleck pick. I can’t wait to get my hands on that one. Your Hard Truth pick has opened up to be one of my favorites of the year. Travel safe 🥃
When I was home for Easter I got a small batch JT. Melleck than 3 weeks later back in Tx came across a store pick cask strength 128 proof. Both bottles good and 128 is so easy sipping slight sting first few sips.
Great list! I agree with all of those, except that I haven't tried Hard Truth yet (have to fix that ASAP!). A few others that I really like are Watershed in OH, Boulder Distilling in CO, Ironroot in TX, and Rock Town in AR.
You mentioned Middle West, I would send a vouch for their neighbors down the street: Watershed Distillery. I had their uncut, unfiltered release and it is solid.
Indeed
Redwood Empire is one of my favorites
Great picks, Judge!
To your list, I'd add:
- Chattanooga Cask Strength (the rye is also enjoyable)
- Still Austin Cask Strength
Great list! People are sleeping on Old Scout. Every bottle I had was very good! A liquor store here in the Charlotte area is selling a 7 year store pick, so I'll be picking one up tomorrow.
I agree- I need to try them again
I need to try me some JT Mellick, Hard Truth & Kluke too, but that Mellick has my interest peaked. I have or had the others, and you are right, I have enjoyed those. Cheers Judge, have a great trip
You should! Amazing whiskey
Thanks for another great video! You are definitely helping me better understand what to try and avoid. Keep being awesome! I appreciate your wisdom
You are so welcome!🙏🏾 🥃
JT Meleck is definitely on my hit list.
Headed to New Orleans next weekend for the Jazz Festival and I’m going to get a Meleck cask hopefully. My wife booked a tasting and blending class at the Sazerac hotel I’m going to love that. I’d add Redwood empire and Corbin and Cash to this list as well as High Bank and Middle West out of Ohio. Which I believe you did a pick at Middle West. Safe travels. Enjoy!!
Excellent add ons
Big fan of this list !
Starlight, Traverse City Whiskey Co , Whiskey Acres, Middlewest Spirits, Ben Holladay, this list goes on and on
Thnx bruh
I haven't tried any of these except for Sagamore Spirits Rye, which I lik, but not as well as Pikesville Bottled-in-Bond. My six non-Kentucky picks that won't break the bank are Woodinville (WA), !3th Colony (GA), McKenzie (NY), Cedar Ridge (IO), George Dickel (TN), and Far North (MN). and my asterisk, because I just brought home a bottle but haven't yet cracked it, is Wyoming Whiskey.
Wyoming- absolutely
All six of your picks were solid. I have three of the bottles on your list and will be hunting the other three. Affordable, non-allocated, high quality. You have checked all my boxes. Well done Judge!
Redwood Empire, Frey Ranch, Starlight, High West, Boulder, and Still Austin
Just tried the Starlight Honey Barrel Finished the other day. Liquor store near my house had a barrel pick that they let me sample... Good move on them because I walked out with a bottle!
Great choices
Love me some starlight honey
Thank you for not including Ben Holladay on the list. The hype on that distillery is out of control:). It's fine, but I'd rather find a bottle of Hard Truth Wheated bourbon or J.T. Meleck rice whiskey on the shelf.
Woodinville and Still Austin are two of my non KY favorites … and Dickel in TN
Woodinville all day!
Still Austin and JT Meleck are my non-Kentucky favorites.
Same here!
Great list Judge. I would have 13th Colony, Driftless Glen, J Henry & Sons and Whiskey Acres on my list. 🥃
Thnx
Right in my home state of Wisconsin we have J. Henry and Driftless Glen. Both are making waves in the whiskey world! The master blender of J. Henry studied under Nancy Fraley and he's really coming out with some fantastic whiskey!
Still Austin is a great one out of Texas.
Ben Holladay out of Missouri is also a popular one lately. Their Soft Red Wheat BiB is great! I hear the Rickhouse Proof is even better, but I haven't tried it yet.
Great add ons..🥃
KO distillery in VA, Still Austin in TX, Corbin Cash is CA, Hard Truth in ID, Southern Grace in NC, and Bull Run in OR.
Corbin cash is amazing
Frey Ranch is definitely a winner!
I would add Dettling to the list.
Great list. Mine would be journeyman, hard truth, ASW, Sagamore, k. Luke. My 6th would be Found North. I’d also say check out Columbus Oh and Michigan distilleries. (And yes, I’ve had all of your 6)
That’s awesome Liz!!!
Been on a single malt kick lately so… Old Line and Balcones
I like my Balcones True Blue corn whiskey. Unique, delicious and inexpensive (IMO).
Always a great review! Cheers Marcus
Tab my friend 🥃
ASW is making some awesome whiskey. Hard Truth is one I really want to try.
Great picks judge!
Can’t go wrong with any of those brands. Good luck on the JT Meleck pick. I can’t wait to get my hands on that one. Your Hard Truth pick has opened up to be one of my favorites of the year. Travel safe 🥃
When I was home for Easter I got a small batch JT. Melleck than 3 weeks later back in Tx came across a store pick cask strength 128 proof. Both bottles good and 128 is so easy sipping slight sting first few sips.
Thnx my friend
So I tried to predict the 6, got 5, had Driftless Glen instead of Journeymen. Almost picked Lucky 7
Wow - you know me too well
Great list! Try Dettling cask strength bourbon from my home state of Alabama. Trying to get my hands on the JT Melek.
Dettling single barrels are amazing!
Will do!
I got a JT Meleck cask strength store pick today and MAN it’s a banger
Absolutely
Can't disagree with that lineup at all. They're all doing great!. I'd toss in Cedar Ridge on my list.
Great list! I agree with all of those, except that I haven't tried Hard Truth yet (have to fix that ASAP!). A few others that I really like are Watershed in OH, Boulder Distilling in CO, Ironroot in TX, and Rock Town in AR.
Watershed and Ironroot.. check and check
Redwood Empire, Ben Holladay and Widow Jane should be added to this list.
Great additions
That J.T. Meleck is good, well they're all good
I wish you would review redemption wheat bourbon
I will look for it..
No Starlight? Weak.
Lol love them too
JT MELECK, cut above and King's family disturbing.