SAMPLE A

Distillery: Devils Creek Distillery - Mammoth Lakes, CA

Fun Fact: This barrel pick comes from a distillery that only has 80 barrels in existence. Its flavor profile is also unlike any whiskey we’ve ever tried, in the most awesome way, of course.

Whiskey: Single Barrel California Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 102.6 (51.3% ABV)

Age Statement: 4 years

Mashbill: 68% corn, 16% rye, 16% malted barley

Color/Appearance: Pale Copper

Aroma Notes: Grapefruit peel, sweet sparkling water (effervescent), yeast, lavender simple syrup, orange oil, agave nectar

Tasting Notes: Balanced and alive on the palate, rich and vegetal, floral, vanilla, caramelized sugar, lavender latte, dried apricot, candy apple, cherry

Finish: Mid finish, warm, true dark chocolate, the floral sticks around at the end

Our Take: Devils Creek was such a gem to discover! A true craft distillery in every sense of the term, they only have a couple hundred casks IN TOTAL of their delicious whiskey. In an era where there are more barrels of whiskey than people in the state of Kentucky, this is a sign that you are buying in early on this renowned distillery team!

Located in the Sierra Nevadas, at an altitude of 7,760 feet, Devils Creek is a family-run business, operated by the Mendels, and putting out this bourbon that delivers a taste profile unlike anything we’ve tasted yet. Spectacular floral and citrus notes are balanced out with excellent texture on the palate, providing a satisfying sipping experience that is truly invigorating after coming off the Mammoth slopes. The spirit dances on the tongue, with lavender and dark chocolate on the finish calling you back for more. Their transparency is amazing, as well, with their labels disclosing the type of yeast used (Fermentis USW-6 if you’re interested) as well as all the details of the barrel used to age the spirit, from how long the staves were seasoned for (24 months) to char level (#4).

This single barrel won’t be around for long, we’ll tell you that!

Distillery Story: Devils Creek Distillery is owned and operated by the Mendel family in Mammoth Lakes, California, 45 minutes south of Yosemite National Park. Avid skiers and hikers, John and Luan owned a home in Mammoth Lakes for fifteen years before making it their permanent residence in 2013.

In April 2017, John retired from a 41-year career in the automobile industry to pursue a “spirited retirement.” Long a lover of small-batch scotches and bourbons, John decided the time was right to enter the burgeoning craft distilling movement.

Devils Creek Distillery draws its name from Luan’s novel, Yard Sale, which is set in the fictional ski town of Devils Creek, California. Inspired by the unique and rugged beauty of the Eastern Sierra, the story focuses on the quirks and challenges of life in a ski resort. The town’s—and now the distillery’s—name is a mashup of local landmarks Devils Postpile National Monument and Mammoth Creek.

Devils Creek Distillery is a family endeavor. We are proud to be the Eastern Sierra’s original, independent, artisan distillery, and we are passionate about barrel aged spirits. In a process that should not be rushed, spirits aging in oak barrels undergo an almost magical transformation that is worth the wait for those patient few.

Since 2017, we’ve been barreling a number of unique whiskies including our flagship California Bourbon as well as our California Rye. Our head distiller has a strict reverence for the whiskey craft, and as such our methods are traditional and produce products familiar to connoisseurs of American whiskey styles. Each batch is crafted from select barrels to produce a product of depth and complexity beyond its years.

It certainly doesn’t get more American than drinking caramel colored whiskey neat or in your favorite cocktail.

SAMPLE B

Distillery: Frey Ranch Distillery - Fallon, NV

Fun Fact: We visited the ranch ourselves and hung with Colby and Ashley Frey for a whole day. Every barrel we tasted was exquisite. The barrel we picked was also an all time favorite of the distiller's wife. A very special barrel pick, indeed

Whiskey: Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 122.2 Proof (61.1% ABV)

Age Statement: 4 years 7 months

Mashbill: 66.6% dent corn, 10% winter wheat, 11.4% winter rye, 12% two-row barley

Color/Appearance: Light gold

Aroma Notes: Banana chips, plums, green apple, cinnamon bark, cedar, freshly washed veggies, mushrooms

Tasting Notes: Candied orange, earthy and musty (in a good way!), treacle, forest floor, roasted tropical fruits (papaya), sweetness punches through, candy corn

Finish: Light roast coffee beans, sweet and clean finish

Our Take: “BE GOOD TO THE LAND AND THE LAND WILL BE GOOD TO YOU”

This saying is stamped into the base of every bottle of Frey Ranch whiskey, and it is clearly stamped into the hearts of everyone involved with Frey Ranch. Founders Colby and Ashley Frey are as real as it gets, perfectly embodying the ideals of a farm distillery in every way. Colby calls himself a “whiskey farmer”, and, along with Ashley, Frey Ranch’s Chief Storyteller, is responsible for transforming the farm he grew up on into an authentic From Ground to Glass™ producer of delicious whiskey.

The Frey family has roots in Nevada going back into the 1850s, holding some of the first deeded land in the state. Colby and Ashley knew that they were growing some phenomenal grains on the 1,500 acre farm, and got tired of shipping it all off for other people to enjoy. From this grew the idea to showcase their grains in the best way they knew how to: bourbon and rye whiskey.

As we sat there mulling over cask options on their Ranch in Fallon, aircraft from the nearby Top Gun flight school kept passing overhead. We’re not sure what those multiple Gs of force do to the whiskey in the rickhouses, but it’s for certain that the Freys are “Mavericks” in the industry. It’s extremely rare to find a distillery that grows 100% of the grains it uses for its distillation process, and still more seldom do you find one that controls the malting process as well.

We are so excited to present this cask strength, single barrel offering to our members, and are thrilled to be partnering with one of the most genuine and innovative distilleries in the whole country!

Distillery Story: We grow great whiskey.

Born from over 165 years of Nevada farming tradition in our family, we are proud to be one of the few distilleries in the world to sustainably grow 100% of our whiskey grains onsite, specifically for making a Ground-To-Glass whiskey unlike any other. Our world-class, slow-grown grains are a point of pride at our Farm + Distillery and are showcased in every sip of Frey Ranch Whiskey.

Representing Five Generations of the Frey family’s agriculture tradition and expertise at the Frey Ranch, we use the knowledge of the past while looking to the future to grow our whiskey. The result is a creation of the best expression of our grains that we carefully and sustainably cultivate to bring Frey Ranch Whiskeys to a new generation of whiskey drinkers.

The Farming + Distilling process led by Co-Founder Colby Frey and Master Distiller Russell Wedlake begins with the meticulous care and farming of the whiskey grains grown on our 1,500-acre farm, located just east of the Sierra Nevada mountains in Fallon, Nevada. With 100% control over the malting, milling, mashing, distilling, maturing, and bottling process onsite at Frey Ranch, a high-quality whiskey is born of complete balance + flavor.

SAMPLE C

Distillery: Southern Distilling Company - Statesville, NC

Fun Fact: This barrel pick is the sister barrel to the barrel that won the 2022 New York Spirits competitions. You’ll notice in this article that our barrel has the same ABV. It’s also the darkest whiskey we’ve ever seen, and one of our favorite single barrels of all time.

Whiskey: Southern Star Paragon Single Barrel Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 116 Proof (58% ABV)

Age Statement: 6 Years

Mashbill: 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley

Color/Appearance: Vibrant and dark amber

Aroma Notes: Superb, rich, sweet and woody with a hint of white pepper, dusty bookshelves, walnut shells, cherry pie

Tasting Notes: Powerful, spicy, dutch pie topping, cherry, sweet mint, vanilla bean, cardamom, insanely rich texture

Finish: Long, unctuous, yummy wood presence

Our Take: Sometimes a whiskey can speak to you.

Southern Distilling Company makes whiskey that SINGS to you from the glass.

From the moment that we sniffed our first glass of Sample C, we fell in love with the opera we heard! Even though we pick our samples blind, we couldn’t help but be drawn in by the color of this whiskey, it’s that compelling. And then it blew us away from the first sip! It was only later that we found out that this was the sister cask of the Southern Star Paragon bottle that won Best in Show at the New York Spirits Competition. We were honored that Pete and Vienna Barger chose to partner with us in bringing this cask of whiskey to our subscribers.

Southern Distilling Company embodies everything we love about Craft Whiskey. Not only do they put out an insanely delicious, high quality product, but they are deeply rooted to their community and give back continually.

In addition, they are reviving a piece of history few people know about! Before Prohibition, Statesville, NC was the center for whiskey distribution in the US, with over 450 distilleries shipping their spirits there, due to it being an established train hub. It may have taken a while, but with the distilling skill at SDC, we think NC is on the map for bourbon production this time around!

They had been previously providing whiskey for over 100 other brands, but we are thrilled that they are release their superb bourbon under their own labels now.

Their Paragon Wheated Bourbon is aptly named, as it truly is the model of excellence for those crafting whiskey here in the 21st century. We hope this single barrel sings as loudly to you as it did for us, and this is a pour that we will be enjoying for years to come!

Distillery Story: We’re an artisan maker proudly reigniting North Carolina’s whiskey tradition. A tradition that has been years in the making for our founders, generations in the making for our farmers, and centuries in the making for our state.

If there’s one thing you should know about us, it’s that we give a damn about our products, our people, and our process. That’s why we work with local farmers to source local ingredients, take the time to perfectly blend classic traditions with new innovation, and that’s why we do it all right here in Statesville.

Coming from the engineering and public health fields, Pete and Vienna have found a way to bring a fresh perspective to the tradition of distilling. Pete, a Statesville native, brought his engineering background and entrepreneurial spirit back home to North Carolina to innovate the distilling process at every turn.

Vienna, a California girl, leverages her background in public health and government policy to manage daily business operations. Together, they have successfully changed antiquated laws and broken down North Carolina’s previously strict barriers for distribution and sale of distilled spirits.

Here are our beliefs at Southern Distilling Company:

1. Stay true to self - We’re proud of where we’re from, of what we do, and of the spirits we make.
2. Give a damn - We care deeply about three things: our people, our process, and our products
3. Dare to win - Before prohibition, Statesville was the liquor capital of the world. And we don’t take that lightly. Our aim is to carry on that legacy and put North Carolina’s best kept secret on the map.
4. Be grateful - Appreciation is at the core of who we are. We’re grateful for those we serve, for all we have, and all the goals worth striving for.

We’re here to put North Carolina back on the map by blending innovation with 100+ years of tradition to create consistent high quality whiskey that North Carolina can be proud of.

Every bottle and every sip is the result of passion, of hard work, and most importantly, of time. So savor that glass of bourbon or rye, and savor the moment you’re in while sipping it.

SAMPLE D

Distillery: Cat’s Eye Distillery - Bettendorf, IA

Fun Fact: This is the oldest whiskey that has ever been in our line-up, and it may stay that way. It’s also our first hazmat!

Whiskey: OBTAINIUM Canadian Whiskey

Proof: 151 Proof (75.5% ABV)

Age Statement: 26 years old

Mashbill: 100% corn

Cask Type: Aged in used Rye casks from Palliser Distillery in Alberta, CAN

Color/Appearance: Medium brown

Aroma Notes: Creme brulee, flamed orange peel, cinnamon toast, Fruity Pebbles™

Tasting Notes: Hot cinnamon candy, raw hazelnut, caramelized sugar, nutty (walnut brittle)

Finish: Soft caramel, mint, mid finish

Our Take: As soon as we tasted this whiskey from Cat’s Eye Distillery, you can be sure the cat didn’t get our tongue! This spectacular whiskey “obtained” from Canada is by far our oldest sample to date at 26 years old, and boy does it deliver. Canadian whiskey has different regulations than that made in the US, but provides a fantastic way to showcase the variety of flavors available from whiskey all across the world. The use of the 100% corn mash bill, a rarity here in the states, plus the variance in climate and the ability to employ previously used barrels (like the rye ones used here), allow the almost 3 decades of time aging to add nuanced depth to the distillate.

This whiskey is also our highest proof whiskey so far, and we guess probably the hottest whiskey many of you have tasted! At over 70% ABV, this is affectionately referred to as a “hazmat” whiskey by enthusiasts. We were inspired by the depth of flavor in this pour, and love that Gene Nassif and the whole Cat’s Eye Distillery team are committed to exploring these alternative types of whiskey. We are glad to partner with them, and hope you enjoy this high octane whiskey that can not only buy itself a drink, but probably has progressed up to middle management in its career!

Distillery Story: Cat’s Eye Distillery is a small family-owned micro-distillery whose mission is to create truly EPIC tasting products and truly unique sourced products made from high-quality barrels from around the globe that provide higher value than our competitors.

Our mission is to provide high-quality, high-value products at an affordable price.

In 2016, we founded the Cat’s Eye Distillery in Bettendorf, IA after previous experience owning another distillery. Hours of research, training classes and time spent visiting other micro-distilleries culminated in our dream coming true. A lover of outer space and a member of the Quad Cities Astronomical Society, John Baker (Owner) was inspired by a photo of a cat’s eye nebula taken by the Hubble Telescope. Not sure that his audience would quite make the connection, he chose to photograph his daughter’s cat for the logo, and the name just stuck. One of the reasons we started is because we believe in family, and we’re trying to promote family values. We believe in Bettendorf, and we are supporters of it. It’s personal for us to make this alcohol the right way and not cut corners and use the best local ingredients we can find. We’re unique in our ability to understand the science and fine tune the products as we’re making them.

What is OBTAINIUM and why do we do it? OBTAINIUM is exactly what the name implies. We “obtain” barrels from distilleries all over the world. Including the US, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. We source these spirits of varying types, light whiskey, rye, bourbon, etc. to create our own blends and products. These products are bottled at either barrel strength or blended to create our signature flavors. That being said, all of our creations, whether it’s a single barrel bottling or one of our blended products, will be unique either to that particular barrel or batch. No two will ever be “exactly” the same.