Issue 135: The Ledger of Ash - Flavor Forged by Fire

Issue No. 135 — August 8, 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: Yellowstone

Distillery: Limestone Branch Distillery

Proof: 115 (57.5% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Deep russet amber with copper highlights

MSRP: $70–$100

Mash Bill: Undisclosed

Barrel Type: New charred oak

Single Barrel: Yes

Nose: Immediate charred oak and butterscotch, followed by dark cherry and a whiff of tobacco leaf. Underneath, baking spices and a faint nuttiness develop with time in the glass.

Palate: Full-bodied and viscous, with caramel and brown spices leading the charge. Midpalate brings ripe cherry and leather, while a subtle cornbread sweetness grounds the experience. The proof is well-integrated despite the high barrel entry.

Finish: Long and warming, with charred oak, vanilla, and a lingering hint of pecan that slowly fades to dry tobacco.

Bourbon Kit Aromas: Charred Oak, Butterscotch, Cherry, Leather, Tobacco

The Verdict: This hand-picked single barrel delivers the kind of concentrated, oak-driven bourbon that rewards patience. It's not subtle, but it's disciplined — the heavy char never overwhelms the underlying grain character. A strong pour for anyone who wants their bourbon to carry some weight.

Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: Benromach

Distillery: Benromach Distillery

Proof: 118.6 (59.3% ABV)

Age: 11 Year

Color: Burnished gold with amber edges

MSRP: $85–$100

Region: Speyside

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley (lightly peated at ~12 ppm)

Distillation: Traditional copper pot still, double distilled

Maturation: First-fill bourbon barrels and first-fill sherry hogsheads

Cask Type: First-fill bourbon barrels and first-fill sherry hogsheads

Peat Level (PPM): ~55 ppm

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: Warm honey and toasted malt, with a gentle wisp of smoke underneath. Orange peel and dried apricot add brightness, while a hint of clove spice drifts in behind.

Palate: Dense and chewy, with butterscotch and cocoa joining the malt backbone. A restrained smokiness weaves through the midpalate, meeting peach and vanilla notes. Water opens up more floral, rosewater-like qualities.

Finish: Medium-long, with smoky malt, earthy undertones, and a trailing sweetness of dried fruit.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Honey, Malt, Smoky, Cocoa (Dark), Peach, Clove Spice

The Verdict: Benromach's cask strength vintages are consistently excellent value, and the 2012 is no exception. The distillery's signature gentle peat adds complexity without domination, and the high proof delivers texture rather than heat. A well-rounded Speyside with a backbone.

Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Brand: Knappogue Castle

Distillery: Cooley Distillery

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age: 14 Year

Color: Polished gold with faint copper edges

MSRP: $70–$90

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley

Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: Aged 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered

Nose: Rich honeyed malt with ripe peach and a thread of vanilla. Green apple and a subtle dried fruit note develop behind a whisper of toasted oak.

Palate: Silky and well-structured, with butterscotch and almond leading into clove spice and caramel. The malt character remains prominent throughout, giving it a cereal sweetness that balances the wood influence. A faint floral quality appears midpalate.

Finish: Medium-long, with woody spice, lingering peach, and a clean, slightly nutty fade.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Honey, Peach, Almond, Clove Spice, Vanilla

The Verdict: This 14-year expression sits in a sweet spot where the extra maturation adds depth without overshadowing the distillery's inherently clean, fruit-forward character. It's proof that Irish single malt can compete on complexity, not just smoothness. Well-priced for the age and quality.

Classification: Reposado Tequila (100% Blue Weber Agave)

Brand: Tequila Ocho

Distillery: Destilería La Alteña

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 8 Weeks

Color: Pale straw with golden hints

MSRP: $50–$65

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave, Highland grown (Arandas)

Cooking Method: Slow-roasted in traditional brick ovens for 72 hours, tahona and roller mill extraction, natural fermentation

NOM: NOM 1474

Additives Free: Yes

Nose: Bright cooked agave and citrus zest open immediately, followed by a gentle oak influence and subtle butter. Underneath, a mineral earthiness and light herbal quality keep things grounded.

Palate: Medium-bodied with a clean entry of roasted agave and white pepper. The brief oak aging adds vanilla and a whisper of butterscotch without overwhelming the agave's natural sweetness. Green herbs and a touch of ripe pear emerge midpalate.

Finish: Clean and medium-length, with lingering agave, a dusting of pepper, and a pleasant mineral note.

Tequila Kit Aromas: Agave (Cooked), Citrus (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit), Vanilla, Pepper, Earth (Mineral, Soil Notes)

The Verdict: Ocho's single-estate approach delivers terroir-driven tequila with unusual transparency. The 2023 vintage reposado walks the line between blanco freshness and oak influence beautifully — just enough barrel time to add dimension, never enough to mask the land. This is tequila for people who want to taste the field.

Classification: London Dry Gin

Brand: Whitley Neill

Distillery: City of London Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear

MSRP: $25–$35

Style: London Dry

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, cassia bark, nutmeg, cape gooseberry, baobab fruit, grapefruit peel, lemon peel, orris root

Base Spirit: Grain neutral spirit

Distillation: Pot distilled in small batches

Nose: Assertive juniper leads with pine and a waxy, resinous quality. Behind it, coriander seed and a distinctive citrus oil lift, with angelica root providing earthy depth. A faint peppery note and cassia bark warmth add intrigue.

Palate: Medium-bodied and well-balanced, with juniper remaining the structural pillar throughout. Grapefruit peel adds a bitter-bright accent, while nutmeg and cassia bark contribute a warming spice layer. The finish of each sip carries a lightly floral, almost violet-like quality.

Finish: Medium, with lingering juniper resin, dry angelica, and a clean peppery close.

Gin Kit Aromas: Juniper (Pine), Juniper (Woody/Resinous), Coriander, Grapefruit, Cassia Bark, Peppery

The Verdict: Whitley Neill's core expression is a proper London Dry that respects juniper without being one-dimensional. The interplay between African-sourced botanicals and classic gin architecture makes it versatile behind the bar and genuinely enjoyable neat. Outstanding value at the price point.

Classification: Exceptional Cask Selection Barbados Rum

Brand: Foursquare

Distillery: Foursquare Distillery

Proof: 120 (60% ABV)

Age: 14 Year

Color: Deep mahogany with garnet edges

MSRP: $90–$120

Base Ingredients: Barbados molasses

Distillation: Blend of pot still and twin column still distillates

Nose: Rich and layered, with toffee and dark chocolate dominating the opening. Dried fruit — raisin and fig — follows, alongside toasted oak and a suggestion of espresso. A leather note underpins the sweetness.

Palate: Full-bodied and remarkably balanced for the proof. Molasses and muscovado sugar form a dark, sweet base, while vanilla and coconut from the barrel aging smooth the delivery. Midpalate brings roasted coffee bean and baking spice. The texture is oily and persistent.

Finish: Very long, with leather, dark chocolate, oak char, and a slow-burning warmth that resolves into clean tobacco and dried orange peel.

Rum Kit Aromas: Toffee, Chocolate, Leather, Oak, Vanilla, Coffee

The Verdict: Richard Seale continues to set the standard for unadulterated Barbadian rum with this release. Equipoise earns its name — it's 60% ABV but drinks with a composure that belies the proof. The interplay of pot and column still distillates gives it both weight and elegance. A serious rum for serious drinkers.

Classification: Etna Rosso DOC

Brand: Pietradolce

ABV: 14%

Primary Varietal: Nerello Mascalese

Blend: 90% Nerello Mascalese, 10% Nerello Cappuccio

Vineyards: North slope of Mount Etna, Contrada Rampante, 700-900m elevation, volcanic soils

Maturation: Hand-harvested, destemmed, fermented in stainless steel with native yeasts, gentle extraction

Color: Translucent garnet with ruby rim

MSRP: $28–$38

Nose: Red cherry and wild strawberry dominate, underscored by a distinctive minerality that speaks of volcanic soil. Violet and dried herb notes add complexity, with a subtle smoky quality emerging with air.

Palate: Light to medium-bodied but intensely focused, with tart cherry and cranberry offset by a savory, almost stony minerality. Fine-grained tannins provide structure without weight. A hint of dried rose petal and gentle earthiness carry through.

Finish: Lingering and lifted, with cherry, volcanic mineral, and a whisper of violet that refuses to let go.

Wine Kit Aromas: Cherry, Violet, Floral (Rose), Berry (Generic), Toasted

The Verdict: Pietradolce farms some of the highest vineyards on Etna's north slope, and this entry-level Rosso punches well above its price. Nerello Mascalese shows its best here — transparent, mineral-driven, alive with tension. It's a red wine that feels like it was drawn from the rock itself.

Classification: Etna Bianco Superiore DOC

Brand: Benanti

ABV: 12.5%

Primary Varietal: Carricante

Blend: 100% Carricante

Vineyards: Contrada Monte Serra, eastern slope of Mount Etna, 950m elevation, volcanic soils rich in ash and mineral deposits

Vinification: Hand-harvested, whole-cluster pressed, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel, extended lees aging

Color: Pale gold with green-tinged highlights

MSRP: $55–$75

Nose: Intensely mineral — wet stone and crushed flint — with layers of white peach, citrus blossom, and a saline edge. Lemon zest and a faint almond quality emerge with time.

Palate: Medium-bodied with razor-like acidity and a tightly wound structure. Green apple and citrus dominate the palate, wrapped in a chalky, almost ashy minerality that defines the volcanic terroir. A honeyed richness develops midpalate without softening the wine's essential tension.

Finish: Exceptionally long, with persistent mineral salinity, citrus pith, and a fading note of toasted almond.

Wine Kit Aromas: Citrus (Generic), Apple (Green), Honey, Toasted, Nut (Almond/Coconut)

The Verdict: Pietra Marina is arguably Sicily's greatest white wine, and the 2022 vintage continues the tradition. Carricante from Etna's highest vineyards delivers a rare combination of power and precision — it has the depth to age but the freshness to drink now. If you want to understand what volcanic soil tastes like in a glass, start here.

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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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