Issue 036: The Thread Between - Invisible Lines Drawn

Issue No. 36 — May 1, 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: Bardstown Bourbon Company

Distillery: Bardstown Bourbon Company

Proof: 95.9 (47.95% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Burnished amber with copper edges

MSRP: $45–$55

Mash Bill: Blend of high-rye and traditional corn-forward mash bills

Barrel Type: New charred American oak

Nose: Opens with toasted caramel and dried cherry, followed by a thread of baking spice and leather. A subtle cornbread sweetness anchors the more volatile top notes.

Palate: Medium-full body delivers layers of butterscotch, charred oak, and rye spice that build with each sip. There's a pleasing interplay between vanilla custard richness and a dry tobacco leaf accent.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering oak tannin, dark cocoa, and a trailing hint of maple.

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

The Verdict: Bardstown's Fusion Series demonstrates what happens when sourced and estate-distilled whiskeys are married with care rather than convenience. The ninth release is their most balanced yet — a bourbon that drinks well above its price point and rewards slow exploration.

Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: AnCnoc

Distillery: Knockdhu Distillery

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 12 Year

Color: Pale gold with a slight straw tint

MSRP: $40–$55

Region: Highlands

Mash Bill: 100% malted barley

Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: Predominantly ex-bourbon American oak casks

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon American oak

Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated

Chill-Filtered: Yes

Nose: Bright and inviting — honeyed malt with fresh-cut grass and a whisper of lemon peel. Behind it sits a gentle floral note, almost rosewater, that gives the nose real lift.

Palate: Clean and medium-bodied with buttery cereal sweetness upfront, moving into peach and a delicate vanilla. A thread of white pepper keeps it from tipping into softness.

Finish: Medium length, clean, with lingering honey and a trace of almond.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Honey, Green (Cut Grass), Buttery, Peach, Floral (Rosewater)

The Verdict: AnCnoc 12 is a Highland malt that favors clarity over volume. It's an ideal entry into the style for those who equate 'light' with 'uninteresting' — there's real depth here, just expressed in a lower register. A weeknight dram that never bores.

Classification: Blended Irish Whiskey

Brand: Clonakilty

Distillery: Clonakilty Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Rich gold with amber highlights

MSRP: $35–$45

Mash Bill: Blend of malt and grain whiskey

Distillation: Column and pot still distillation

Maturation: Ex-bourbon barrels with a finish in virgin American oak

Chill-Filtered: Yes

Nose: Warm butterscotch and vanilla lead, with toasted hazelnut and a gentle dried fruit sweetness. A faint green grassiness provides freshness underneath.

Palate: Creamy and approachable, with layers of caramel, cocoa, and soft orchard fruit. The double oak influence adds a woody backbone without overwhelming the malt character.

Finish: Medium and smooth, fading with clove spice and lingering vanilla warmth.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Vanilla, Caramel, Nut (Hazelnut), Cocoa (Dark), Clove Spice

The Verdict: Clonakilty's double oak treatment isn't a gimmick — it genuinely rounds out a blend that might otherwise read as simple. The second cask adds depth and spice without losing the easy drinkability that defines great Irish whiskey. A strong value in an increasingly crowded field.

Classification: Añejo Tequila

Brand: Tequila Ocho

Distillery: Destilería La Alteña

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 1 Year

Color: Deep amber with golden undertones

MSRP: $60–$75

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave

Cooking Method: Slow-cooked in brick ovens, tahona-crushed, naturally fermented, double-distilled in copper pot stills

NOM: NOM 1474

Additives Free: Yes

Nose: Roasted agave and butterscotch open the glass, with undertones of vanilla, cinnamon, and a distinct earthy minerality. A whisper of dried tropical fruit emerges with time.

Palate: Rich and layered, with cooked agave sweetness balanced by oak, dark chocolate, and a light peppery bite. The barrel influence is present but never masks the agave core.

Finish: Long and gently spiced, with caramel and a lingering mineral-soil quality that speaks to terroir.

Tequila Kit Aromas: Agave (Cooked), Butterscotch, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Earth (Mineral, Soil Notes)

The Verdict: Ocho's single-estate philosophy treats tequila like wine — each vintage and field is documented. The Añejo expression proves that a year in barrel can add complexity without erasing origin. If you want to taste how terroir translates through oak, start here.

Classification: London Dry Style Gin

Brand: Dingle

Distillery: Dingle Distillery

Proof: 85 (42.5% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear

MSRP: $35–$45

Style: London Dry Style

Botanicals: Juniper, rowan berry, bog myrtle, heather, hawthorn, coriander, angelica root, chervil seed

Base Spirit: Grain neutral spirit

Distillation: Single-shot distillation in a copper pot still

Nose: Bright juniper leads with a piney, resinous edge, followed by waves of floral rose, gentle coriander seed, and a bright citrus thread. There's a creamy, almost waxy quality underneath.

Palate: The juniper stays central but makes room for angelica root's earthy bitterness, a distinct violet note, and a warming ginger spice. It has real textural weight for a London Dry style.

Finish: Medium-long with herbal juniper, a flicker of lavender, and a clean, peppery exit.

Gin Kit Aromas: Juniper (Pine), Floral (Rose), Coriander, Violet, Ginger

The Verdict: Dingle's gin captures the wild Atlantic hedgerows of Kerry without relying on novelty botanicals. The balance between classic juniper structure and softer floral elements makes it versatile — equally at home in a Martini or a G&T with a sprig of rosemary.

Classification: Blended Rum

Brand: Velier

Distillery: Blend (Diamond, Hampden, Long Pond, Foursquare)

Proof: 114.6 (57.3% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Deep mahogany with reddish-brown tints

MSRP: $55–$70

Base Ingredients: Molasses

Distillation: Blend of pot and column still rums

Nose: Intensely aromatic — dried tropical fruits, molasses, and leather hit first, followed by coffee, dark chocolate, and a funky banana ester lurking beneath. Time in the glass reveals roasted oak and a peppery spice edge.

Palate: Full-bodied and unapologetically bold. Layers of toffee, roasted nut, and muscovado sugar compete with sharp citrus and a tarry, almost burnt rubber note that Jamaican pot-still fans will recognize. The Foursquare component brings balance and polish.

Finish: Exceptionally long, with tobacco, molasses, and a slow fade of dried fruit and oak.

Rum Kit Aromas: Molasses, Tropical Fruits, Coffee, Toffee, Leather, Tobacco

The Verdict: Velier's Tiger Shark is a navy-strength blend that honors the historical tradition of combining rums from across the Caribbean. It's demanding but never chaotic — each component contributes a distinct voice. Add a few drops of water to open it up, then let the conversation unfold.

Classification: Bandol AOC Red Wine

Brand: Domaine Tempier

ABV: 14%

Primary Varietal: Mourvèdre

Blend: Mourvèdre dominant with Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan

Vineyards: Estate vineyards across the Bandol appellation on limestone and clay terraces

Maturation: Destemmed, fermented in concrete vats with indigenous yeasts

Color: Deep garnet with violet-purple rim

MSRP: $45–$60

Nose: Dark berry fruit — blackcurrant and wild cherry — leads, intertwined with dried herbs, crushed violet, and a savory, almost gamey meatiness. A cedar note develops after several minutes.

Palate: Firm and structured with a mineral spine. The berry fruit is present but plays second fiddle to earthy garrigue flavors, toasted spice, and a green peppercorn bite. Tannins are ripe and grippy.

Finish: Long, savory, and drying, with cedar and blackcurrant lingering well past the swallow.

Wine Kit Aromas: Blackcurrant, Cherry, Violet, Cedar, Gamey

The Verdict: Domaine Tempier is the benchmark for Mourvèdre-based Bandol, and the 2020 vintage delivers the classic tension between sun-drenched fruit and wild, herbal depth. This is a wine that insists on food — bring it roasted lamb and watch it come alive.

Classification: Alsace AOC White Wine

Brand: Domaine Marcel Deiss

ABV: 13.5%

Primary Varietal: Pinot Gris

Blend: 100% Pinot Gris

Vineyards: Biodynamically farmed estate parcels in Bergheim, Alsace

Vinification: Whole-cluster pressed, fermented with indigenous yeasts in large oak casks

Color: Deep straw gold with a faint copper blush

MSRP: $28–$40

Nose: Honeyed stone fruit and beeswax give way to subtle smokiness and a floral rose petal note. There's an underlying minerality — almost flinty — that keeps the richness in check.

Palate: Lush and textured, with melon, quince, and a marzipan creaminess balanced by citrus acidity and a pleasant bitter almond undertone. The weight is generous without crossing into heaviness.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering honey, gentle spice, and a clean mineral close.

Wine Kit Aromas: Honey, Melon, Marzipan, Floral (Rose), Citrus (Generic)

The Verdict: Jean-Michel Deiss's biodynamic approach in Alsace consistently produces wines that taste like place rather than variety. This Pinot Gris is rich yet disciplined — the sort of white that converts people who think they don't like Pinot Gris. Pair it with anything involving cream, mushrooms, or cured pork.

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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.

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