Outside the United States, whiskey is king, but American whiskey doesn't always command the same attention. While bourbon has exploded in popularity at home, many bars abroad still dedicate far more shelf space to Scotch, Irish whiskey, or Japanese whisky.

Few things capture a whiskey enthusiast's attention faster than a big age statement and a proof north of 140. I think that's one of the biggest reasons American Light Whiskey (ALW) has gained so much attention over the last few years.

The frenzy of the bourbon boom has cooled. Shelves that sat empty for years are beginning to fill back up, and while we probably won't see age statements magically reappear on bottles like Blanton's or find ultra-aged releases collecting dust the way enthusiasts remember from the 1990s, there is something equally exciting happening.

Many new bourbon drinkers assume one must be better than the other. The truth is they're simply describing two different ways bourbon gets bottled. Understanding the difference can help you make a more informed purchase—and maybe save you from chasing a bottle based on marketing alone

Walk into any liquor store and you'll eventually spot the phrase "Barrel Proof" on a label. For many bourbon drinkers, it's become a sign of quality. In some circles, it's even treated as the highest expression a distillery can offer. But what does barrel proof actually mean? More importantly, does it automatically make a bourbon better? The short answer is no. The longer answer is a little more interesting. First, Let's Talk About Proof Proof is simply a measurement of alcoh

Bourbon A whiskey made in the United States from a mash bill containing at least 51% corn, aged in new charred oak containers, distilled at no more than 160 proof, entered into the barrel at no more than 125 proof, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. No flavoring or coloring may be added. Straight Bourbon Bourbon that has been aged for at least two years and contains no added flavors or colors. If it is less than four years old, an age statement is required. Age Statement T

Any time there's a new addition to the Beam lineup, I get a little excited—not necessarily because of what's in the bottle, but because it serves as a reminder of where my bourbon journey started.

Finding Eagle Rare at or near MSRP used to be a no-brainer for me. At one point, I may or may not have had a closet full of the stuff. It was my tried-and-true daily drinker when I first moved to Washington, D.C.

While I've tried a fair amount of the Wild Turkey and Russell's Reserve lineup over the years, I can't believe I've never picked up a bottle of Rare Breed until now.

On a recent trip to my local grocery store, I noticed they had started carrying a new brand of post oak. The brand itself didn't catch my attention, but the fact that it was post oak certainly did. Here in Texas, post oak is king. Normally, I have to search around town and check inventory online before I can even think about planning a cook. Seeing it sitting on a shelf, ready to grab on a whim, felt like a small victory.

This bourbon review may come with a small amount of bias, as I originally hail from Virginia and had the pleasure of discovering A. Smith Bowman Distillery nearly seven years ago. While I never had the opportunity to taste Batch #2, I've followed these releases closely and have enjoyed what the distillery has put forward so far.

Every bourbon drinker seems to have that one bottle they recommend when someone asks for the best value on the shelf. For a lot of people, that bottle is Old Grand-Dad 114.