My Picks
A note on the links below. Some are affiliate links — if you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Here's what that does not mean: it doesn't buy a good review, move a rating, or get a bottle onto this page. I only list things I actually own, use, or would hand to a friend. The ratings are the ratings. No bottle has ever landed here — or earned its score — because of a commission. That's the whole point of this site.
Where to Buy Whiskey Online
The retailers worth your time. Selection, pricing, and shipping availability vary a lot by state, so check what actually ships to you before you get attached to a bottle.
- ReserveBar — Best for premium and allocated bottles; their catalog leans toward the high-proof and limited stuff I tend to review. Affiliate link coming soon.
- Flaviar — A bottle club / membership model that's a genuinely fun way to taste-test before committing to a full bottle. Affiliate link coming soon.
- Caskers — Good hunting ground for craft and harder-to-find bottles when your local shelves come up empty. Affiliate link coming soon.
- Total Wine — Best for everyday selection and competitive pricing, though their online affiliate options are limited and state-dependent. Affiliate link coming soon.
Whiskey Gear
The glassware and accessories I actually use at home. (These are Amazon links — Amazon doesn't sell the bourbon, but it's the easy button for the gear around it.)
- Glencairn Glass — The gold standard for nosing whiskey neat. If you buy one thing on this page, make it this. Amazon link coming soon.
- NEAT Glass — Surprisingly good at taming the ethanol on barrel-proof pours. Amazon link coming soon.
- Large Ice Cube Mold — One big cube melts slower than a handful of little ones — chill without watering down your pour too fast. Amazon link coming soon.
Whiskey Books
Worth a spot on the shelf next to the bottles.
- Pappyland by Wright Thompson — The book behind the Rock Hill Farm history I mention in my Rock Hill Farms review. More a story about family and legacy than a bourbon manual, and better for it. Amazon link coming soon.
Bottles Worth Your Money
Not a random list — these are pulled straight from my reviews and organized by what you're actually after. Click through for the full writeup and rating.
Start Here (gettable, won't break the bank)
- Wild Turkey Rare Breed — The best on-ramp to barrel proof. Always available, never allocated, hard to beat for the money.
- Larceny Small Batch — The most gettable daily wheater on the shelf, and it earns that spot honestly.
Best Barrel Proof You Can Actually Find
- Larceny Barrel Proof — A legitimate Weller alternative at full strength, released three times a year with real distribution. Top Shelf.
Worth the Hunt (Top Shelf)
- Four Roses Single Barrel OBSV — A spice-lover's single barrel, and a Costco-priced steal when you find it.
- Maker's Mark Private Selection “Golden Hour” — Custom stave finishing done right, at real proof.
- Old Carter Batch 6 — 13 years of MGP at 134 proof — syrupy, tropical, and brutally long. Buy it if you see it.
- Remus Repeal Reserve Series V — The high-water mark of the Repeal Reserve line, built on 13–16 year stocks.
Want the complete picture? Browse every review or read how my rating system works.