Issue 085: The Patience of Hands - Craft Without Shortcuts

Issue No. 85 — June 19, 2026

Your daily discovery of 8 exceptional wines and spirits

In This Issue

Bourbon Scotch Whisky Irish Whiskey Tequila Gin Rum Red Wine White Wine

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Brand: David Nicholson

Distillery: Lux Row Distillers

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Warm amber with copper edges

MSRP: $30–$40

Mash Bill: Approximately 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

Barrel Type: New charred American oak

Nose: Opens with a rush of caramel corn and toasted oak, followed by ripe cherry and a dusting of brown baking spices. A faint butterscotch sweetness lingers beneath vanilla and soft leather.

Palate: Medium-bodied with immediate caramel and charred oak up front. Mid-palate delivers cherry and a pleasant rye spice kick, balanced by a buttery wheat softness. The proof carries the flavors without burning.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering charred oak and a fade of vanilla and dried cherry. A subtle tobacco note emerges at the tail end.

Bourbon Kit Aromas: Caramel, Cherry, Charred Oak, Brown Spices, Vanilla

The Verdict: David Nicholson Reserve punches well above its modest price, offering layered complexity that rewards patient sipping. The 100-proof backbone gives it cocktail versatility without sacrificing neat-pour nuance. A workhorse bourbon that deserves more shelf attention.

Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: Deanston

Distillery: Deanston Distillery

Proof: 92.6 (46.3% ABV)

Age: 18 Year

Color: Rich gold with amber highlights

MSRP: $90–$120

Region: Highlands

Mash Bill: 100% malted barley

Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: 18 years in first-fill and refill bourbon casks

Cask Type: First-fill and refill bourbon casks

Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered

Nose: Warm honey and toasted almonds open the nose, followed by dried apricot and a gentle floral rosewater note. Underneath sits a solid malt backbone and a whisper of vanilla from long oak maturation.

Palate: Full and creamy on the palate with butterscotch, honeyed malt, and a developing clove spice. A pleasant nuttiness — hazelnut and almond — weaves through mid-palate. The texture is oily and satisfying without heavy wood influence.

Finish: Long and warming with lingering honey, dried fruit, and gentle woody spice. A clean, malty fade.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Honey, Almond, Malt, Clove Spice, Dried Fruit, Vanilla

The Verdict: Deanston's commitment to unchillfiltered, natural-color whisky pays dividends here. Eighteen years in first-fill and refill bourbon casks produce a whisky that speaks of patient maturation without excessive oak. This is a Highland malt for people who value substance over spectacle.

Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Brand: Tyrconnell

Distillery: Cooley Distillery

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age: 10 Year

Color: Polished bronze with rosé undertones

MSRP: $55–$70

Mash Bill: 100% malted barley

Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: Aged in ex-bourbon casks, finished in Madeira wine casks

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered

Nose: An immediate wave of dried fruit — raisins, candied orange peel — alongside buttery malt and a floral rosewater delicacy. The Madeira influence brings subtle earthy undertones and a hint of almond.

Palate: Silky entry with peach and honey dominating the early palate. Mid-palate shifts to clove spice and cocoa, with the Madeira cask contributing a vinous depth that adds complexity without overwhelming the malt character. Well-balanced sweetness and spice.

Finish: Medium-long with fading peach, gentle wood tannins, and a lingering note of dried fruit and vanilla.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Dried Fruit, Peach, Honey, Clove Spice, Cocoa (Dark)

The Verdict: The Madeira finish gives this Tyrconnell an extra dimension that its standard expressions don't reach. Ten years of maturation provides enough malt structure to stand up to the wine cask influence, and the result is an Irish whiskey with genuine layering. An underrated gem in the single malt category.

Classification: Añejo Tequila (100% Agave)

Brand: Cascahuin

Distillery: Tequila Cascahuín

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 18 Months

Color: Deep amber with golden highlights

MSRP: $50–$65

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave

Cooking Method: Brick oven roasted, tahona and roller mill, natural fermentation

NOM: NOM 1123

Additives Free: Yes

Nose: Rich cooked agave opens the nose, followed by caramel, vanilla, and a warm cinnamon note. Oak is present but restrained, allowing tropical fruit — ripe pineapple and baked apple — to emerge alongside a faint herbal quality.

Palate: Velvety entry with butterscotch and dark chocolate leading to a mid-palate of cooked agave and gentle oak. Pepper and cinnamon provide backbone. A honeyed sweetness threads throughout without cloying. The agave character remains firmly in control despite the extended aging.

Finish: Long and satisfying with lingering caramel, oak spice, and a clean agave fade.

Tequila Kit Aromas: Agave (Cooked), Caramel, Cinnamon, Oak, Vanilla, Pepper

The Verdict: Cascahuin operates a small family-run distillery that has been producing tequila since 1904, and their añejo reflects that generational patience. The oak aging complements rather than masks the agave, which is exactly what separates craft añejos from their overworked competitors. Exceptional value for the quality.

Classification: Small Batch Gin

Brand: Inverroche

Distillery: Inverroche Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear

MSRP: $35–$45

Style: Fynbos-infused gin

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, fynbos botanicals, citrus peel, orris root, lavender, rose petals

Base Spirit: Cane sugar neutral spirit

Distillation: Small-batch pot distillation

Nose: A fragrant, floral-forward nose with prominent rose and lavender, supported by citrus lemon peel and a subtle juniper herbaceousness. A hint of coriander seed adds earthy warmth beneath the brighter top notes.

Palate: Silky and rounded on the palate with juniper arriving mid-palate in its green, herbaceous form. Grapefruit pith adds pleasant bitterness. Orris root provides a powdery, almost violet-like quality. The fynbos botanicals create a distinctive profile that sets this apart from European gins without being gimmicky.

Finish: Medium length with lingering floral rose, soft juniper, and a clean citrus exit.

Gin Kit Aromas: Floral (Rose), Lavender, Lemon, Juniper (Herbaceous/Waxy), Grapefruit, Orris Root

The Verdict: Inverroche Classic demonstrates that terroir is not limited to wine. The wild fynbos botanicals hand-foraged from the Cape coastline give this gin a genuinely unique aromatic fingerprint. It is simultaneously familiar enough for a juniper-focused gin drinker and distinctive enough to reward close attention.

Classification: Clairin (Unaged Haitian Rum)

Brand: Clairin

Distillery: Distillerie Arawaks (Fritz Vaval)

Proof: 97.4 (48.7% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Water white with slight opalescence

MSRP: $35–$45

Base Ingredients: Fresh sugarcane juice

Distillation: Single distillation in a direct-fire column still

Nose: Intensely aromatic with ripe banana, fresh sugarcane, and tropical fruits — guava and overripe mango. An underlying grassiness and a faint citrus brightness give it an almost wild, untamed character. Hints of roasted nuts and a subtle minerality emerge with time.

Palate: The palate is surprisingly structured for an unaged spirit. Tropical fruits dominate early, followed by a savory, almost olive-oil-like richness. A slight fusel quality adds body. Banana and citrus weave together through mid-palate, and there is a faint agricultural earthiness that roots the spirit.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering tropical fruit, a mild peppery spice, and a clean sugarcane tail.

Rum Kit Aromas: Banana, Tropical Fruits, Agricole, Citrus (Generic), Nut (Almond/Coconut)

The Verdict: Clairin Communal Vaval is rum stripped to its most honest expression — no aging, no blending across distilleries, no additives. Fritz Vaval's small operation in Cavaillon uses native yeast fermentation and direct-fire distillation to produce a spirit that tastes of exactly where it comes from. It's a masterclass in terroir-driven rum.

Classification: Côtes du Rhône AOC

Brand: Domaine Gramenon

ABV: 14%

Primary Varietal: Grenache

Blend: 100% Grenache

Vineyards: Old-vine parcels, Montbrison-sur-Lez

Maturation: Whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, minimal sulfur

Color: Deep ruby with violet rim

MSRP: $22–$30

Nose: Bright cherry and crushed blackcurrant lead, backed by violet and a touch of garrigue herbs. A subtle earthy quality and a hint of black pepper add depth beneath the fruit.

Palate: Juicy and medium-bodied with fresh cherry fruit dominating. A gentle tannic structure provides shape without gripping. Mid-palate brings a floral rose quality and a subtle green herb note. The whole-cluster component adds a faint spice and lift.

Finish: Medium with lingering cherry, a whisper of cedar, and clean fruit acidity.

Wine Kit Aromas: Cherry, Blackcurrant, Violet, Floral (Rose), Cedar

The Verdict: Gramenon's La Sierra du Sud is a benchmark for what natural, biodynamic Rhône winemaking can achieve — purity of fruit without artifice. Michèle Aubéry-Laurent farms old-vine Grenache with obsessive care, and the wine reflects that direct connection between hand and vine. A serious Côtes du Rhône that overdelivers.

Classification: Rías Baixas DO

Brand: Do Ferreiro

ABV: 12.5%

Primary Varietal: Albariño

Blend: 100% Albariño

Vineyards: Old-vine parcels in Val do Salnés, granite pergola-trained

Vinification: Whole-cluster pressed, stainless steel fermentation, native yeasts, extended lees aging

Color: Pale straw with green-gold glints

MSRP: $20–$28

Nose: Lively citrus — lemon zest and grapefruit — mingles with ripe melon and white peach. A faint green herb note and a saline, almost oceanic quality give the nose a bracing freshness. Subtle floral hints of white blossom emerge with air.

Palate: Crisp and textured with citrus and green apple up front. The lees aging adds a creamy mid-palate weight that balances the acidity. Melon and a hint of pineapple develop through the middle, with a gentle mineral quality that recalls wet stone.

Finish: Medium-long with bright citrus acidity, a saline edge, and clean melon fade.

Wine Kit Aromas: Citrus (Generic), Melon, Apple (Green), Green (Cut Grass), Pineapple

The Verdict: Do Ferreiro is the benchmark producer for serious Albariño, and their basic cuvée is anything but basic. Gerardo Méndez tends some of the oldest Albariño vines in the Val do Salnés, and the wine's combination of fruit intensity, textural complexity, and mineral precision reflects decades of hands-on viticulture. This is white wine that earns its place at the table.

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Robert R. Mohr, CPA, CGMA, WSET Level 3, WSG Certified Spirits Specialist — author of America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, The Definitive Pocket Guide to Chablis, The Definitive Pocket Guide to the Côte d'Or, and Strategic Tuning. Published author of the Aroma Academy Tequila/Mezcal and Distiller's training kits.

The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.

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