Club Corner
American Whiskey Club Q3 2026: Wathen's Barrel Proof #147
Charles Medley Distillery Originally dating back to 1800, when John Medley IV moved to Kentucky and began distilling whiskey, the Medley family has been distilling spirits for 8 whole generations. While their family owned distillery experienced ups and downs throughout the years, they have never relinquished their recipe and control over the liquid bottled under their brands. Their entry level, which began bottling in 1940, is meant for folks who prefer higher proof, versatile bourbons that stand out in a cocktail. They have also recently revived their Single Barrel lines, initially started by 6th generation distiller R. Wathen Medley who would bottle special barrels for use exclusively at his own home. The current edition of these programs are still hand picked by Sam Medley and proofed down before bottling. However, this bottle before you is a very special edition which has yet to be proofed down! While they now source through another undisclosed distillery, Sam Medley continues to be hands-on in his guidance using the same techniques, recipe, and palate that he has inherited from the generations of distillers before him. Cheers! Daniel Ruppert Beer and Spirits Buyer Wathen’s Barrel Proof Barrel #147 Location: Owensboro, Kentucky Tasting Notes: Nose: Sweet corn balanced by oak with a dark red fruit note making up the background. Palate: With primary notes of caramel apple, with oaky vanilla softening the heat. Finish: With a sweet oak on the exhale there is a lasting finish featuring cereal grain notes. Price: $107.99 Proof: 126.87 Mashbill: High-Corn, High-Malted-Barley, Low-Rye
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American Whiskey Club: Bourbon Buddies
With the sun out longer in the evening, we feel obliged to enjoy more than just one drink after dinner. In that spirit, we have two great bourbons for the club. We here at PlumpJack have been working more with Sazerac (more on that later in the year) and we started out with a private barrel pick of the venerable Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Our second selection is Old Fitzgerald’s 7 Year Bottled in Bond. Old Fitz is best known for their decanter series which are older, more allocated, offerings. Additionally, they have other more entry level focused offerings, but this marks their first foray into a mid-tier offering. Cheers to double the enjoyment! Cheers! Will Popko Spirits Buyer Buffalo Trace Bourbon PlumpJack Private Barrel & Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon Location: Kentucky Buffalo Trace Distillery, located in Frankfort, traces its roots to the late 1700s, when settlers began distilling whiskey near an ancient buffalo migration route that crossed the Kentucky River. In 1870, bourbon pioneer E. H. Taylor Jr. purchased and modernized the distillery, introducing innovations that helped establish Kentucky bourbon's reputation for quality. Later, under the leadership of George T. Stagg, the distillery grew into one of the region's most important whiskey producers. Renamed Buffalo Trace in 1999, the distillery is now recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating bourbon distilleries in America and produces some of the industry's most celebrated brands, including Buffalo Trace, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and Pappy Van Winkle. Old Fitzgerald is one of Kentucky's classic wheated bourbons, first created in 1870 by John E. Fitzgerald. Unlike many bourbons that use rye in the mash bill, Old Fitzgerald uses wheat, giving it a softer, smoother, and slightly sweeter flavor profile. It later became closely associated with Pappy Van Winkle and the legendary Stitzel-Weller Distillery, helping establish the reputation of wheated bourbon. Today, Old Fitzgerald is produced by Heaven Hill Distillery and is best known for its highly sought-after Bottled-in-Bond decanter releases, which have become favorites among bourbon collectors and enthusiasts. Price: $32.99 | $69.99 Proof: 90 | 100 Tasting Notes: Nose: BT: vanilla, caramel, dark fruit Old Fitz: toffee, oak, baking spices Palate: BT: butterscotch, chocolate, oak Old Fitz: sweet wheat, dried fruit Finish: BT: warm oak, mild spice Old Fitz: honey, sweet spice Mashbill: BT: Mashbill #1 Old Fitz: 68% Corn 20% Wheat 12% Malted Barley
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 1: Dark Arts Whiskey House
There are a lot of independent bottlers getting their juice from MGP. In our humble opinion perhaps only a handful have the palate and the finishing technique required to make a good whiskey, great. To kick off this new year, we thought we’d bring out an anticipated, new offering from our friends at Dark Arts Whiskey House. This is an 8 Year Cask Strength Rye whiskey sourced from Indiana and finished in Madeira and Armagnac casks in Lexington, Kentucky. The Blunt Blend is the first whiskey designed to pair with marijuana, but even smokeless this selection is a surefire hit. Cheers! Will Popko Spirits Buyer Dark Arts Straight Rye Whiskey Blunt Blend Vol. 3 Madeira/Armagnac Cask Finish Location: Indiana/Kentucky Located in Lexington, Kentucky, Dark Arts Whiskey House was started by Macaulay Minton and David Peet. There are multiple “cigar blends” on the market - from American whiskey producer Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon to the Highlands of Scotland for The Dalmore Cigar Malt Scotch. The rationale behind this release by David has been quoted as “ We don’t smoke cigars. We smoke blunts. And we needed a whiskey that paired.” The first batch was released almost 2 years ago on 420 Day that year. Dark Arts Whiskey House was started by President/Chief Alchemist Minton after he ran the single barrel program at Wilderness Trail and Peet (CEO) in 2023. The company specializes in blending, re-barreling, and finishing whiskey using unconventional barrels and creative maturation techniques. Dark Arts offers 4 core selections and a whole host of special releases and private barrel picks. Back in September of last year, Dark Arts was invited to join the Kentucky Distillers’ Association, a non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Dark Arts Whiskey House also officially joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in January of this year. Price: $114.99 Barrel: Vol 3 Proof: 114.8 Tasting Notes: Nose: red grapes, cherries, mission fig, sweet dates, subtle pipe tobacco Palate: cinnamon, clove, smooth caramel, milk chocolate, nuttiness Finish: long and lingering fruit and spice w/ subtle tobacco and oak sweetness Mashbill: 95% Rye 5% Malted Barley
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 4
An Up-and-Comer There are a lot of newer whiskey distilleries here in America, but leading into the New Year we wanted to shine a spotlight on a producer that has a bright future, Augusta Distillery. For this selection we decided to spice it up. We have 3 different single barrels that will be going out at random of the Augusta Distillery Old Route 8 Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon. All three barrels are aged 8 years, close in proof, and are the same mashbill. We have tried them and concluded they are each a delicious holiday treat. We think you’ll be pleased to either revisit Augusta or get a fine first introduction. Cheers! Will Popko Spirits Buyer Augusta Distillery Old Route 8 Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon Location: Kentucky Located in Augusta, Kentucky, two hours east of Louisville on the southern bank of the Ohio River, Augusta Distillery pledges itself to bourbon’s historical benchmarks by bottling only single barrel, cask strength Kentucky whiskey at a minimum of eight years old. Augusta was conceived in 2017 by three college friends, Lance Bates, Robert Burns and Jeff Johnson, and the launch of Buckner’s 13 Year in 2020 earned the venture swift acclaim and a cult following. While current bottlings reflect Augusta’s talent for sourcing quality whiskey and its steadfast commitment to core production parameters, a state-of-the-art distillery and event center came online in 2024 and is run by Augusta’s Director of Distillery Operations & Master Distiller, Alexandra Castle—a celebrated member of the American whiskey community and former distiller at Old Dominick Distillery in Memphis and Wild Turkey in Lawrenceburg—promising an exciting continuation of Augusta’s nascent bourbon legacy. We think this selection is fitting this time of year, specifically as an ideal pairing with holiday snacks, sweets and home cooking. And since it is that time of year for gathering with family and friends we think this selection would also be excellent for sharing and comparing with your whiskey friends. We are already looking ahead to making next year a fun one with some exciting partnerships and a great slate of American whiskey releases. Happy holidays and Happy New Year. See everyone in 2026! Price: $114.99 Barrel | Proof: #108 | 120.2 #135 | 120.5 #69 | 120.6 Tasting Notes: Nose: maple sugar candy, smoked cedar, dehydrated lemon Palate: creme brulee, saltwater taffy Finish: rich with toffee, white pepper and heated earth spice Mashbill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 3: A Fond Farewell
This is my final selection for the American Whiskey Club. It is a bittersweet moment, but all good things must come to an end. By the time you read this, I will no longer be at PlumpJack. Over the last several years, I’ve had the opportunity to select barrels from some of my favorite distilleries, and it has been a privilege to share them with all of you, my fellow whiskey devotees. And I’m leaving on a high note (if I do say so myself) with this nearly eight-year-old Kentucky Bourbon bottled by Rare Character. Dare I say, it might have everything I want from my Bourbon: sweet, spice, and a finish that lasts for hours. Cheers! Sam Crocker Spirits Buyer Rare Character VER-110 Single Barrel Bourbon Selected by PlumpJack Wine & Spirits Location: Kentucky About Rare Character: Rare Character Whiskey was founded by Pablo Moix and Peter Nevenglosky in 2021. Over the years, Pablo and Pete have developed a strong relationship based on their shared love of fine distilled spirits. When catastrophe hit the restaurant and hospitality industries in 2020, the idea for Rare Character Whiskey was born. With Pablo’s renowned palate and passion for the artistry behind whiskey, as well as Pete’s experience in carefully building spirits brands such as Avuá Cachaça and Drifter Spirits, Rare Character is led by a passionate team with the goal of shaking up the American whiskey game. Their mission is to provide each customer with “the perfect American whiskey” - whatever they as an individual may see that as. They do this by utilizing their great levels of access to rare and unique whiskeys, an extreme emphasis on customization, and an overarching ambition to challenge norms and explore the wide range of American whiskeys yet to be discovered by the general public. Price: $115.99 Proof/ABV: 117.68/58.84% Tasting Notes: Nose: Brandied cherry, apricot, orange blossom Palate: Warming backing spices (clove), maple candy, salted caramel Finish: Super long and lingering with sweetness and subtle spice Mashbill: 75% corn/21% rye/4% malted barley
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 2: California Whiskey
When we talk about American Whiskey, the conversation is often focused on whiskey made in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana. In fact, whiskey is made in all 50 states, including right here in California! Old Potrero Rye was one of the first craft whiskies produced in the United States, made by San Francisco-based Anchor Distilling, now known as Hotaling & Co. This quarter’s selection is an exclusive single barrel hand-selected by their Master Distiller Emeritus, Bruce Joseph, who retired earlier this year. Cheers! Sam Crocker Spirits Buyer Old Potrero Single Barrel Toasted Rye Location: San Francisco, CA Anchor Distilling was founded in 1993 by Fritz Maytag and was located inside of Anchor Brewing on Potrero Hill. The distillery operated alongside the brewery for 24 years before the brewery and Anchor intellectual property were bought by Sapporo in 2017. Anchor Distilling remained independent and changed its name to Hotaling & Co., a name that reflects San Francisco’s whiskey history. It is named after Anson Parsons Hotaling, a significant figure in San Francisco’s history of spirit production, distilling, warehousing and distribution. In 2020, the Hotaling distillery moved from its original location on Potrero Hill to Pier 50, a move that allowed the distillers of Old Potrero to continue operating and innovating. Bruce Joseph started his career at Anchor Brewing in 1980, starting out on the bottling line before quickly being promoted to cellar worker. When Fritz Maytag opened Anchor Distillery, Bruce became its first full-time employee, and remained a fixture there, even as its parent brewery saw a tumultuous several years. In February 2025, Bruce retired from his role as master distiller, passing the baton to a dedicated group of distillers, among them Kevin Aslan. This Single Barrel was selected by Bruce Joseph for the Old Potrero Rye Trail, which incorporates historic watering holes around San Francisco. It was aged in medium-toast American Oak barrels for 8 years and 1 month before being bottled at 131.6 proof. Price: $69.99 (club member price) One jar of Luxardo Maraschino cherries also included this quarter Proof/ABV: 131.6/65.8% Tasting Notes: Nose: bitter almond, maraschino liqueur, toffee, cinnamon, chestnut, sage. With a splash of water, sweet notes of s’mores emerge Palate: cherry cola, cinnamon bark, salted caramel brittle Finish: lingering cinnamon spice
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 4 2024: Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OBSV
This past June, I sat down with a few of my fellow whisk(e)y lovers to select a single barrel from Four Roses Distillery. We had 4 samples from which to make our selection. We tasted blind so that our initial impressions would not be influenced by stats like proof, recipe, etc. After some discussion and debate, we selected a 10-year-old OBSV which we feature as this quarter’s club selection. Longtime club member (and recently awarded Master of Bourbon) Kevin Malta was among those who selected the barrel with me, and he was kind enough to provide his tasting notes as well as some history of Four Roses. Here’s wishing you a wonderful holiday season. See you in 2025! Cheers! Sam Crocker Spirits Buyer Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OBSV (Aged 10 years 1 month) Location: Lawrenceburg, KY Four Roses, an iconic Kentucky Bourbon started in the late 1880s, has a storied history marked by resilience and innovation. After surviving Prohibition as one of six distilleries with a medicinal license, the brand thrived through the 1930s and 1940s before being acquired by Seagrams. Under Seagrams’ ownership, Four Roses became an export-only product, and began to prioritize bottom-shelf blends, tarnishing its domestic reputation. However, the passion and dedication of industry legends like Jim Rutledge and Al Young brought Four Roses back to the US in the early 2000s, and restored Four Roses’ legacy. Today, Four Roses is iconic for its 10 recipes derived from two mashbills and five yeast strains—a nod to Seagrams’ five historic bourbon-producing sites. Their whiskey is aged in single-story “flathouses,” which minimize temperature fluctuations between the barrels, ensuring a consistent maturation process. These flathouses allow their yeast-derived flavors to shine. This month's club pick is a Tier 3 OBSV Four Roses Single Barrel pick, aged 10 years and 1 month, and bottled at 58.4% ABV. While we initially hesitated to choose the OBSV, because it mirrors the recipe of the 50% ABV core expression, we had no choice after trying this flavor bomb! As a big Four Roses fan, I can confidently say this is one of the best OBSVs I've had the pleasure of trying—I hope you enjoy it too. Cheers! -Kevin Malta, Master of Bourbon (https://www.whiskeymasters.org/master-of-bourbon) Price: $114.99 Proof/ABV: 116.8/58.4% Tasting Notes: The nose welcomes you with notes of vanilla, spearmint, tart raspberry, and fresh flower stems. Deeper undertones of leather, sweet oak, caramel, and a hint of nougat add richness and depth. The palate opens boldly with a burst of spicy black pepper, polished leather, cooling mint, juicy pear, dark cherries, and vanilla. As it develops, layers of caramel, ripe apricot, raspberry, and creamy nougat sweetness unfold, culminating in a long, lingering finish. (Sampled after resting 30 minutes in the glass. I recommend letting this whiskey breathe before sampling.)
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 3: Lost Lantern Far Flung Bourbon
Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon Our featured producer this quarter has been making quite a buzz in the whiskey world as of late. Lost Lantern is an independent bottler and blender based in the small town of Vergennes, Vermont. Founded by two self-proclaimed whiskey nerds, they are devoted to showcasing the best craft distilleries across the country, some of which have never been distributed outside the borders of their home states. Lost Lantern has garnered numerous awards, including double gold and best in class at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Cheers! Sam Crocker Spirits Buyer Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon Batch 1 Components: A blend of Straight Bourbons from - Frey Ranch Distillery, Fallon, NV - Watershed Distillery, Columbus, OH - Boulder Spirits, Boulder, CO - Still Austin Whiskey Co., Austin, TX Lost Lantern is an independent bottler and blender of small-batch and single cask whiskeys from craft distilleries across the United States. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski each got their start in different segments of the spirits industry; Nora as a Sales Manager at Astor Wine & Spirits, one of the country’s top spirits retailers, and Adam as a Senior Whisky Specialist at Whisky Advocate, focusing on new American distilleries. Together they are the tasting panel for Lost Lantern, with Nora heading production and operations and Aaron sourcing unique casks from craft distilleries around the country. Lost Lantern Far-Flung Bourbon is a blend of straight bourbons from four distilleries in four states that have never been blended before: 3-year-old bourbon from Still Austin, 5-year-old bourbon from Frey Ranch, 6-year-old bourbon from Boulder Spirits, and 7-year-old bourbon from Watershed. Frey Ranch is one of the country’s only estate distilleries, growing all their own grain for their distillery onsite in a uniquely arable pocket of northern Nevada. Their spicy, earthy whiskey reflects that climate. Boulder Spirits, founded by a Scotsman, makes a lot of single malt and their bourbon shows that influence with its uniquely high-malt mashbill. Coupled with high-elevation aging, their bourbon is incredibly bold and powerful. Still Austin makes their whiskies entirely with Texas-grown grains, reflecting the intensity of the Texas climate. Finally, Watershed is located in a more temperate climate, creating a whiskey that is full and balanced. The bourbon for this release came from a unique five-grain mashbill that includes locally grown spelt. Adapted from LostLantern.com Price: $107.99 Proof: 136.8 Tasting Notes: Oak spice, cocoa and ginger notes on the nose, with a rich, spicy palate balanced by clove and dark chocolate notes.
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American Whiskey Club Quarter 3: Lost Lantern Soaring Spice
Lost Lantern Soaring Spice Bourbon Our featured producer this quarter has been making quite a buzz in the whiskey world as of late. Lost Lantern is an independent bottler and blender based in the small town of Vergennes, Vermont. Founded by two self-proclaimed whiskey nerds, they are devoted to showcasing the best craft distilleries across the country, some of which have never been distributed outside the borders of their home states. Lost Lantern has garnered numerous awards, including double gold and best in class at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This release is a blend of 4 barrels distilled at one of the country’s only farm distilleries, Frey Ranch. Longtime club members may recall that we previously featured two of our own single-barrel selections from Frey. They continue to produce outstanding whiskey, and we are thrilled to share this release with you. Cheers! Sam Crocker Spirits Buyer Lost Lantern Soaring Spice Bourbon Location: Vergennes, Vermont (distilled in Fallon, Nevada) Lost Lantern is an independent bottler and blender of small-batch and single cask whiskeys from craft distilleries across the United States. Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski each got their start in different segments of the spirits industry; Nora as a Sales Manager at Astor Wine & Spirits, one of the country’s top spirits retailers, and Adam as a Senior Whisky Specialist at Whisky Advocate, focusing on new American distilleries. Together they are the tasting panel for Lost Lantern, with Nora heading production and operations and Aaron sourcing unique casks from craft distilleries around the country. Soaring Spice is the first bourbon in Lost Lantern’s Single Distillery Series. It is a blend of four barrels distilled at Frey Ranch in Fallon, Nevada, one of the only estate distilleries in the country. Fifth-generation farmers Colby and Ashley Frey grow all the grains used in their whiskies onsite at the Ranch. The Frey family has been ranching and farming in the region since 1854, when Nevada was still a territory. They are known for a rich and earthy style of bourbon. With this release, Lost Lantern set out to showcase their depth and range, seeking barrels that displayed rich baking spice flavors. Although made from Frey Ranch’s standard four-grain mashbill, Soaring Spice is quite distinct from Frey’s own Straight Bourbon, showing just how much of an impact natural barrel variation and deliberate blending choices can make. Price: $107.99 Proof: 127.6 Mashbill: 67% corn 12% malted barley 11% rye 10% wheat Tasting Notes: notes of clove, nutmeg, orange peel, cardamom, and allspice, a deep oak flavor, and a long, warming finish. Aged 4 years 900 bottles produced
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