“Sip it and dream — it is a dream itself. Sip it and say there is no solace for the soul, no tonic for the body like old Bourbon whiskey.” -J. Soule Smith
This site was created with a pretty simple mission in mind: To provide the most relevant, usable content to whiskey consumers of all levels and expertise, share my passion for whiskey, and to be your trusted resource on the American Whiskey Industry.
In addition to whiskey reviews, which i will do very frequently, I try to showcase the great people that dedicate their lives to making the finest American Whiskey. It’s a labor of love for the individuals that make a living around whiskey. I’ve heard some folks say, “If you want to make a little money in the whiskey business, first start with a lot of money.” The same is true much of the beverage alcohol business, but people do it because they love it.
It also takes a lot of hard work and craftsmanship to make great whiskey; from farmers cultivating grains, barrel coopers coaxing desired flavors from natural resources like American White Oak, recipe formulation, distillation, tasting, waiting, and more tasting and waiting. It’s all done in order to produce one of the most affordable luxuries on the planet. I genuinely think about this symphony of people every time I pour a drop in my glass. If I can pay homage to them as much as possible then that’s fantastic also.
Finally, Websites like this are the most fun when visitors comment and interact with one another. I want to encourage you to comment and share whenever you can. Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line with suggestions or just to touch base. Until then……..
Drink your Whiskey!
Jason Pyle
Sour Mash Manifesto
1738 Liberty Pike
Franklin, TN 37067
eMail: jmpyle1@gmail.com
Phone: 615-406-6026
NOTE: Whiskey is something to be respected, not abused. Please enjoy it responsibly if you are of legal drinking age.
thanks for bennie wylie! he’s already made a few of the texas players who were used to NOT working out throw up. exactly what texas needed after the regime of the jeff “fatdog” madden (he did nothing).
We’ve gone through more Strength and Conditioning coaches than we have Head coaches, and you know how many that is! ; )
It sucks losing Bennie, he just got it. He worked out with the guys, knew what they could take, when they needed a break, etc. etc. The man is an insane dude when it comes to S&C. Replacing him will be tough. It’s a reminder how far we’ve fallen. The other UT called and he went. Of course he’s from Texas so I suppose I understand.
The “other UT” – why, that’s what we say in Texas about y’all! LOL!
Bennie is putting the boys through their paces now. GOOD. They should finally be in shape and live up to their potential.
I hope the other UT will recover from Kiffin soon. I’m still waiting for the conclusion of the FBI’s investigation into Auburn, its boosters and banks. The SEC adds spice to college football in more ways than one.
Back to bourbon – spotted a few pewter top WTKS that needed to be in my bunker. I’m not as successful as Greg when it comes to dusty hunting (but then again, who is? That man is the benchmark when it comes to dusty hunting) but I do have a blast.
Jason –
I really think you are doing a great job with the site. I only discovered it about 2 months ago, but have been using it as a steady resource of information. I’ve always enjoyed bourbon but it wasn’t until this summer that I was struck with an insatiable itch to really delve into everything bourbon and really understand all the complexities of the tastes I was experiencing. About 2 years ago I made my first trip up to bourbon country. It was my bachelor party and I brougth a group up to Louisville for the 8th Annual Lebowski Fest and made sure to set up a VIP behind the scenes tour of Woodford’s distillery. That place really made me see first hand the painstaking process (really a much smaller operation than I imagined) to bring it to market, and how the history of the drink is woven into the fabric of America. Even the historical nature of the distillery itself had me impressed. And of course the confidence that they had in their product and pride in their industry, sitting us at a boardroom-esque table and having us sample not only Woodford, but Wild Turkey, Makers, and Knob Creek, explaining the differences between all the products, and letting us decide what our favorite was. So I guess each summer is my anniversary of indulgence so to speak, with this great beverage. I’m currently enjoying the Willet, Booker’s, Rittenhouse Rye, and Knob Creek. I also think the Ancient Age 10 is a great value and underated brand.
Keep up the great work. It is easy to see when someone has a passion about something.
Adam, thank you for the comment! I greatly appreciate it. I love that you too share such a passion for whiskey and bourbon and the time and hard work it takes to make a great whiskey. Your point on thinking Woodford and others are much bigger than they are cannot be underscored enough. While certainly not considered “small”, these types of operations, along with Four Roses and many others, are still very much growing. It’s an exciting time for American whiskey with more new products hitting the market each month.
And that sounds like a hell of a bachelor party! Thank you for the comment. I appreciate your visiting the site – keep on sipping!
-Jason
Hi Jason,
Just wanted to say thanks for such an invaluable resource. I’m over in the UK and as such, Bourbon or any american spirits are significantly more expensive. It means that it’s not so easy to just pop out and grab a bottle. I’ve got about 20 in my ‘collection’ at the moment and I’ve learned a lot about them by listening to your reviews and trying to pick out the scents at the same time.
I’m considering a move to the States to further my knowledge and shelf but alas, I don’t think my wife shares my enthusiasm!
Thanks again and I look forward to your next post
Danny
Danny, I just want thank you for checking it out. It means a lot. I appreciate the comment also. I have heard nothing but horror stories about the cost overseas. I’m sorry to hear that, but seems you’ve managed to amass a solid collection in spite of that. I’m a big fan of whiskey values so I’m working on some things to help shed more light on that. Cheers to you Danny!
Hi Jason,
I have only recently discovered your site, but I must say this has become my go-to resource for comparing notes with my tastings. I’m only beginning to develop the sensitivity needed to give decent evaluations, but your reviews really help explain alot of what I experience as I expand my tastings. Thanks so very much for making this available, and please do explore more of the bottom shelf bourbons and ryes. My budget cannot usually justify more than $30 per bottle, so having a clearer picture of how you have rate these would be much appreciated. Lastly, I look forward to you reviewing a Beam rye product called R1. I tried this in a bar and was really impressed with its body and smoothness…so much so that I sprang for the $40 price tag. It wasn’t quite as smooth as I remembered it in the bar however, which is too bad. Thanks again for all you do! Scott
I Recently (past year) became an enthusiast of American Whiskey, soon after I stumbled upon your website which I now use as a guide for trying my next bottle. Absolutely enjoy the reviews, and wealth of knowledge; I must admit, though, that some times I wonder if you are being soft on some reviews… Love what you have going here. Keep it going, I’ll be a reader for years to come. Happy Holidays, and New Year!
Javier, thanks for the comment and the honesty. I appreciate your visiting and glad you’ve gotten some good insights from the website. Each review I do I approach it with as much fairness and balance as I possibly can. It’s a sharp edge many times between giving my readers/visitors the honest opinions on products that they come here for, while at the same time respecting these products. I believe strongly that I can give honest reviews that stay true to my readers without just berating products unnecessarily.
Also, it’s worth noting that this is perhaps one of the best times ever to be a whiskey enthusiast. Sure there are products that are bad out there, but they are most times the exception to the rule. There’s such a high percentage of at least good whiskey, which is why it’s so fantastic when something really approaches Excellent territory and beyond.
Thanks again for the comment.
Jason Just bought a bottle of Jesse James American Outlaw Bourbon. I know marketing sold me after watching the Full Throttle Saloon tv series (true tv sturgis ). What the hell is it and who is making it and why did I buy it ? Any info would be great
Paul – Kansas
Paul, I’m sorry, but I’ve not had the Jesse James Bourbon yet, but I hope it doesn’t let you down. Let me know what you think!
I’ve just stumbled upon your site looking for reviews of St George’s B&E. I’ve been a whisky enthusiast for around a decade, and a writer who I have found to be very helpful to me is Jim Murray(Whisky Bible). His scoring is all over the place but he is appreciative of almost everything. I notice this in your reviews too, you give them time and admire the qualities even if they aren’t mind-blowing. I find most of what is available in stores(at least where I live in Canada), is enjoyable and has its time and place. I enjoy Scottish blends from time to time, occasionally I like more expensive single malts like Laphroiag and have enjoyed the milder Irish and Canadian blends, but most often I like to drink bourbon for its full warm flavour and for the quality it is more affordable than Scottish single malts. Favourites of mine have been Russell’s Reserve, Knob Creek small batch, and Elijah Craig 12 yr Old. I have recently acquired bottles of Knob Creek Single Barrel, Bakers, Bookers, and Breaking & Entering(Christmas was good to me!), which I am gradually getting into. In the future I will check out some Canadian rye, the super cheap Alberta Premium scored really well by Jim Murray.. anyway, I’m rambling.. I have read most of your reviews and watched several videos now, you seem to really know your stuff. I enjoy the background knowledge you share about the distilleries and insight into the production of bourbon. I will follow your website. Thanks for the good work!
Daniel, thanks for the comment. I really appreciate it. Honestly my approach to each whiskey is that one mans junk is another mans pleasure. I can provide my thoughts and give my assessment but there is no need to bash a whiskey to the point that it’s unnecessary. The score and the comments stand alone. I try not to be excessively harsh. Some might call that soft, but I just don’t see the point in handling it another way.
I like the favorites you mention. All are good. I’d recommend trying Elmer T. Lee – it’s in that price range of the 3 and very good. Four Roses Single Barrel as well.
Cheers!
Hi Jason,
I live in Australia i can never find the expensive bourbons and whiskey in the AU $40-100 Price Range. Over a course of 2 Months i have while listening to your reviews and doing it myself a bit of a comparision. So i bought Buffalo Trace (Namesake) , Makers Mark, Wild Turkey 86.6 Proof for some reason that i dont think you reviewed that yet , Wild Turkey Rare Breed and Russells Reserve and yes i will mention this website to cousin Sam and hes friends cause they just love there bourbon / whiskey btw im 19 in legally allowed to drink in Australia. Sorry for going on But there is no Pappy Van Winkle in Australia . Keep up the Great Reviews your inspring to be a bourbon enthusiest.
Jon, thanks for visiting and commenting man. Thanks also for mentioning the site. I do appreciate it.
Cheers to you in Australia.
-jason