One of my favorite things in the world is a good mashup. I love the idea of taking two contrasting things and putting them together to form a new and interesting combination with the best of both worlds. If you think about it, this is pretty much the premise of any cocktail. So when I heard about High West Distillery blending a bourbon, a rye, and a scotch whisky… I knew I needed to give it a test.

I’m home in New York for the holidays, and with very little else to do around the house I found myself working my way through my father’s liquor cabinet. Some of these were very familiar, but there were a couple that I’d never tried. One of the more intriguing of that list is this Auchentoshan Select Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

I don’t think there’s a single thing that Nick Offerman has ever done that is a disappointment. From his years on Parks and Recreation to his 45 minute video of him sitting by a fire and drinking Lagavulin, he’s a national treasure. So when I heard that he was collaborating with Lagavulin to produce his own version of their scotch whisky, I knew there was no way I would be missing out on it. And since it’s Christmas, what better way to treat yo’ self?

Writing whiskey reviews, I’ve been feeling a bit like an archaeologist. There’s a clear distinction between the type of spirits that are popular today and the spirits that lined the shelves in times gone by. Ancient Age was once the cool newness, but now it represents a time capsule from bygone era (that, perhaps, we should leave in the past where it belongs).

I was at the company holiday party recently, talking with some coworkers about our favorite whiskies. While I recognized most of the names, one stood out: Legent. The person who brought it up said it was the best thing they had tried all year and I knew I had to give it a sip.

There are a handful of bourbons that have a long and storied past, bourbons that have influenced the course of history or been involved in significant cultural events. Today, we’re looking at one of those unique bourbons: Rebel Yell.

Sometimes I pick up a bourbon because of the good things I’ve read about it online. In this case, I picked up J.T.S Brown Kentucky Straight Bourbon specifically because I couldn’t find anything about it online. There’s barely any mention of it, and very few reviews. Obviously, I felt compelled to boldly go where few taste buds have gone before and give it a try.

Thanksgiving is a time for friends, family, overeating and… drinks, of course. This year’s drinks included a new whiskey, introduced to me by my wife’s uncle and made in upstate New York not far from where I spent my childhood summers. After trying some on its own (and then in far too many Manhattans), a new Thanksgiving tradition may have been born.