David Thomas Tao

Agree, halfway agree, or disagree? When @vinepair asked me to put together my list of the most important American whiskeys released this century, I knew it’d be a tough task. And while no list is perfect, I’m proud of how this one turned out. Check out the full article (for full context!) at the link in my bio. After you read, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments. Bonus points for anyone who can name: 1. The two smallest distilleries on this list 2. The only distillery with more than one entry on this list 3. The youngest producer on this list

Last night, I had the fortune to join some of my favorite whiskey writers for an early taste of the 2025 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. For the first time, this year’s collection features a version of E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, in this case aged 15 years. My initial thoughts on each of six whiskeys are below, and definitely check out my Food & Wine article diving into more specs on each (linked in my stories!). Overall, I thought this year’s collection was (no surprise!) very very good, and these deserve high marks across the board. I have great things to say about them ALL —but my top 3 for this year are listed in the comments! E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond A 15 year and 4 month old bourbon, the nose is a brown sugar bomb, along with plenty of dusty funk, barrel char, brûlée, sour mash, and (curveball) persimmon. It’s a fantastic nose that harkens back to a much earlier time in whiskey — it even reminded me of some pre-Prohibition profiles. The most intriguing nose of the bunch this year. On the palate, we’ve got lots of orchard fruit/caramelized apple skins, and to me it drinks a touch above 100. It’s got a mid-length and bright finish for a 15 year bourbon. William Larue Weller This year’s version is 129 proof, aged 12 years and 7 months. On the nose, that classic cherry cough drop and rich wood spice lead. It noses a bit more mature than the past couple years, at least to my mind! A nice hit of cherry cordial with dark chocolate wafts out of the glass early and throughout. The palate features more great interplay between cherry and chocolate, then transitions into pronounced wood sugars before a spicy and hot cherry finish. A nearly top tier WLW for me. Eagle Rare 17 Aged 18 years and 4 months. Baking spice (specifically clove) and seasoned wood lead the nose. The palate has a classic ER profile with some extra sassafras, root beer, and cinnamon spice, though red fruit/cherry are never too far away. Flavor-wise, this reminded me of the E.H. Taylor, but with more punch and pizzazz even though it’s only proofed one point higher. An 18+ year version that’s composed, elegant, and darn good. Another top performer. (Continued in the comments…)

1985 “Cheesy Gold Foil” Wild Turkey. I’m fortunate to try a lot of great whiskey. But this one…this one is extra special. When Wild Turkey launched this gold foil labeled, 101 proof, 12 year bourbon in 1985, the MSRP was $40-$50. At the time, that was a pretty hefty price tag for American whiskey. According to @34yearsmaster , these sat (and sat, and sat) on many a shelf. “Sometimes, we couldn’t give them away.” It’s always a treat to learn from Eddie, and hearing him (and @russellsryeguy ) talk about this whiskey WHILE drinking it takes things to another level. A huge thanks to Eddie, Bruce, and the Wild Turkey team for sharing. This bottle was opened and thoroughly enjoyed by our group in about an hour. There’s a reason dusty bourbon hunters swoon over this particular release. It’s drip dead delicious stuff. The label says 12 years, but there’s undoubtedly much older bourbon in the bottle, including whiskey Wild Turkey bought from other producers. Consider it a super premium blend, made during an era when distilleries had to get creative to move aged liquid that wasn’t exactly in high demand. CGF — released domestically between 1985 and 1992 — is always great. I haven’t had a bad year. But ‘85 just hits different. And in this instance, the people were even more of a highlight than the whiskey.

Come taste delicious sotol, American apple brandy, and tomato water gin cocktails at @neuehouse on May 21st!

What other American whiskey terms are confusing?

Thank goodness I’m smooth with it

Thrilled to be hosting/moderating a few panels this year at Brewzle Fest! Big thanks to @brewzle and the team for celebrating America’s craft producers. I’m honored they asked me to pick the brains of some of the country’s best distillers, blenders, founders, and more. August 29th — tickets in my bio and stories.

What are your (way too early!) Bourbon of the Year Contenders? If I had to pick one today, here are some (but not all!) I’d consider in the running. Note: I generally don’t consider single barrels eligible for this title, with the exception of wide releases made up of many single barrels at generally consistent quality. (Elijah Craig 15 and Michter’s 10 fall under that category.) Notably, Eagle Rare 30 would DEFINITELY be a contender, except all bottles come from a single consolidated barrel. We still have 8 months and a LOT of whiskey left to go in 2026. I just thought this would be a fun thought experiment 1/3 of the way through the year!

Who remembers the moment

What’s the best Scotch for a bourbon drinker? @thewhiskyinfluencer and @davidthomastao discuss. Any tips or expressions you’d add? #bourbon #scotch

The second edition of Star Hill Farm Wheat Whisky is here — and I’ve got the early details on this release from Maker’s Mark! -Cask strength 58.2% ABV -7 and 8 year old components -100% malted wheat + 70% wheat/30% malted barley mash bills -Three wheat varieties used -$100 MSRP I thought the 2025 Star Hill Farm was really good stuff. I had the chance to taste 2025 and 2026 side by side, and while I won’t go into full tasting notes here, this year’s release dials up the complexity, with a thicker mouthfeel that leads to a (very) long finish. I anticipate this one being a hit. Check out more at the link in my stories!

A little news: I’m honored to be serving as a judge for the 2026 San Fracisco World Spirits Competition. It’s my first time judging this event, and I couldn’t be more excited to work with some of the industry’s absolute best. Looking forward to tasting some exceptional entries alongside an incredible panel. For brands still interested in submitting, details are on the second slide! #TheTastingAlliance #SFWSC #Spirits