Under $250

Release number 4 from Rising tide spirits consists of 4 different variations. 

This variation of the highly limited and sought after release is hand curated barrel proof single barrels of potstill wheated bourbon.  Aged 11 to 14 years.  

*No specific barrel requests will be honored and orders will not be combined*

Tasting Notes

Nose
Complex fruit with drizzles of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla; brown spice and toasted oak.

Taste
Spicy at first, but quickly sweetened with rich caramel, vanilla and butterscotch, atop a deep layer of dried fruit.

Finish
Lingering hints of dry fruit and caramelised wood sugar.

Our favorite felines are back in the next iteration of Mars’s charming and popular Lucky Cat series. Honoring two cats we’ve previously seen grace a label (but never together), this “Double Individuals” blend features May, a twenty-year-old cat represented by rich sherry maturity, and Hana, nearly half May’s age, whose gregariousness is represented by elegant port wine influence. The two energies combine to create a lavish whisky evocative of cats napping peacefully in their favorite sun-splashed room.

• Limited edition blended Japanese whisky produced by Mars Komagatake Distillery (fka Mars Shinshu) in Nagano, Japan
• 10th edition of the Mars “Lucky Cat” series dedicated to the distillery cats of Mars Komagatake
• Blend of malt and grain whiskies lightly peated
• Malt distillate double distilled in copper pot stills
• Aged in ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels and ex-port casks; non-age statement
• Aromas of vanilla, caramel, and raisin lead to a palate of stewed apricot, bittersweet chocolate, and ripe red berries
• No added coloring
• Non-chill filtered; 43% ABV

Rare Character Limited Release Kentucky Straight Whiskey #6 (139.76 Proof)

Rare Character Limited Release Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey #8 (119.4 Proof)

Rare Character Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon #14 (126 Proof)

Arak Farid is produced by husband and wife duo Fred Abi Khalil and Jess Kandalaft.

Farid was their beloved grandfather – a man of few words & a raw attitude. no flattery. no praise. only pure untamed conversations. he had a unique taste for life. Fred and Jess make this arak in his name & handcraft it in his hometown of Ain Jouaiya, Lebanon. 

For those of you who don’t know much about Arak, it's a spirit made from pure grape alcohol and anise, we drink it with water & ice. And when mixed with water, Arak turns white!

Arak Farid is an authentic, craft Lebanese spirit meticulously produced by the husband-and-wife duo Fred Abi Khalil and Jess Kandalaft in Ain Jouaya, Lebanon. Officially launched in 2020, this premium Arak is crafted from a base wine of organic Lebanese Merwah grapes grown in the village of Ferzol within the Bekaa Valley. The harvest typically spans from late September to mid-October, followed by a 20-day fermentation process that brings the base wine to approximately 14-15% ABV. The wine is triple-distilled in a copper alembic pot still. During the third distillation, pure green aniseed sourced from Heneeh, Syria, is introduced to the still to provide its signature anise flavor. 

• Distilled: Kentucky, Indiana, Teneessee, Canada
• Aged In: Kentucky
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits )
• Age:  11 Years (11-20yr Whiskeys)
• More Info: Single Barrel, No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength 
• ABV: 129.8 Proof 
• T8ke's Tasting Notes: 
  • Nose: Loaded with apple butter, brioche and sweet toffee, this release is inviting, balanced between sweet and fruit with lovely oak, brown sugar, a hint of cinnamon, white grape and baked pears, apples and oak. 
  • Taste: Fat and silky on the palate: viscous with this velvet-y, pillow-y sort of chew richness between the oak, the proof, the lovely viscosity of the ice wine. Ice wine delivers a balance of sweetness and acidity with white grape, apple butter, fresh baked brioche and honey with a creamy vanilla, nougat, sweet oak, and a crisp candied ginger and pepper on the back palate. The French oak plays so wonderfully here with nuanced addition of spice without going full mocha or the odd woodiness it can sometimes bring. 
  • Finish: Finish is long and opulent, packed with sweet baking spices, decadent dessert and more maple, toffee, butterscotch as well as pleasant oak, bold tannin, a hint of drying spice and cinnamon to pair with the gorgeous wine character.
  • Overall: Divine dessert you can't miss. 

ABV: 54% ABV

• T8ke's Tasting Notes: Gorgeous, opulent, bold, rich. The goal of this blend was to show off bourbon AND sauternes, weaving a complex base bourbon that could integrate further with the tricky and concentrated flavors of Sauternes. The nose is bright, it's full, it's exploding: sweet oak, rich pepper, gorgeous butter cream and caramel pops with undertones of apple and brioche, lemon butter and candied pears, decadent sweetness and honeycomb. The palate dials up the oak and spice, full of body and a rich, pillowy, viscous blend of great oak structure, honey comb, apple butter, white grape, a hint of tropical fruit, butterscotch, and building spice. Pepper, ginger, a hint of clove, the oak brings this to balance. Long finish, a wild exit that's expressive and in-line: brioche meets sweet candied pears, apples, cinnamon, lovely white grape reduction and baking spice, honey comb, butterscotch and an exit full of oak and maple. 

• Magueys: Barril (A Angustifolia)
• Producer: Nicolas Garcia Vasquez, Miguel Garcia Ortiz
• Village: Logoche, Miahuatlan:
• Region: Sierra Sur, Oaxaca
• Liters Produced: 230 LIters
• Oven: Conical Earthen Oven
• Mashing: Machete and Shredder
• Fermentation: Native yeasts in Motezuma, 2 day dry ferment, cypress wood tanks, 7 day wet ferment
• Water Source: Well water
• Distillation: 2x in Copper Pot Stills
• Alcohol Content: 51.5%, proofed with puntas y colas 
• Lot No: BRLMGO2305
• About this batch: Most likely a variety of Agave angustifolia, this locally-grown Barril is distinct from other plants bearing the same name in different parts of Oaxaca. Though oriignally collected in the wild, the seeds that produced the agaves in thisbatch were cultivated by the Garcia family in Logoche. 
• T8ke's Tasting Notes: This batch is wild to me, one of the most distinctive of the day - an orchestra of tropical fruits like guava and mango and lime with this savory and rich character: black pepper, a faint touch of cinnamon, slate and the faintest touch of cedar and mesquite. It was distinctive and assertive on the nose, bright and loaded with character right away. The palate is a fusion of fresh fruits: lime, pineapple, mango, guava, vanilla, fantastic balance and balanced with a hint of white pepper, some cinnamon, light smoke - natural and essenced, not industrial or overpowering. The finish is a gorgeous blend of fruit and spice, tropical fruits, more salinity and minerality pairing beautifully with citrus and tropical fruit and this creamy, vanilla sweetness. Incredible, distinctive. 

BEGINS SHIPPING JUNE 27th, 2025

• Distilled: Kentucky & Indiana 
• Aged In: Kentucky & Indiana
• Bottled In: Kentucky (Barrell Craft Spirits)
• Age: NAS (Blend of straight bourbons and straight ryes from Kentucky & Indiana 7yr+)
• More Info: No Coloring, No Filtering, No Additives, Barrel Strength
• ABV: 57.9% ABV 
• T8ke's Tasting Notes: A big punch of pepper and oak on the nose, with creamy sweetness, cake batter, nougat and brown sugar popping in to complement herbal rye spice, a hint of ginger, spearmint and vanilla bean. Rich on the palate, layered and viscous with caramelized sugar, creme brulee, white grape, honey, toffee, black pepper, butterscotch and peppy, spritely rye spice, lightly herbal, a hint of grassiness and a pop of opulent maple, brown butter, toffee and baking spice. Long spicy finish that's clean, spice driven first with a syrupy, dessert laden finish: batter, cola, brown butter and toffee. One moment it's a sweet, decadent bourbon, the next a punchy, loud rye. 

W.L. Weller Special Reserve (2025 Gold Foil Edition)

The Original Wheated Bourbon – Elevated for 2025

Known as the "Original Wheated Bourbon," W.L. Weller Special Reserve replaces the traditional rye grain with wheat to create an exceptionally soft, smooth, and approachable profile. This 2025 Gold Foil Edition takes that heritage and wraps it in a stunning, limited-edition presentation.

Featuring the iconic gold foil neck wrap, a design cue historically reserved for the most prestigious "dusty" bottles produced at the old Stitzel-Weller distillery this 2025 release is as much a centerpiece for your display as it is a world-class sipper.

Why the "Gold Foil" Matters to Bourbon Collectors

• Nostalgic Heritage: The gold foil aesthetic is a direct tribute to the high-end Weller bottlings of the 1970s and 80s, bridging the gap between modern Buffalo Trace excellence and the "Old School" Weller legacy.

• Limited 2025 Allocation: Unlike the standard Special Reserve, the Gold Foil release is produced in significantly lower quantities, making it a high-velocity target for "Weller Completionists."

• The Buffalo Trace Pedigree: Distilled at the world's most awarded distillery (DSP-KY-113) using the same wheated mash bill as Pappy Van Winkle, this bottle offers a 90-proof masterclass in balance and sweetness.

Tasting Notes: The Gold Standard Profile

• Nose: A warm, inviting bouquet of honey, butterscotch, and soft floral notes, underpinned by a hint of toasted oak.

  Palate: Remarkable creaminess on the tongue. Expect flavors of caramel apple, vanilla bean, and a delicate honeyed sweetness that only a 10-year-plus aging cycle (relative to standard batches) can provide.

• Finish: Exceptionally clean and calm. It leaves a lingering sweetness with a "burnt orange" citrus zest that defines the 2025 harvest.

Age: 2025

ABV:  45% ABV, 90 Proof

This bourbon aged and matured in the finest oak barrels from Canton Cooperage at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Harvested from select American white oak, these staves are hand-sorted and open-air seasoned in Kentucky. This rigorous preparation ensures the wood perfectly influences the spirit’s flavor, honoring the storied journey from forest to barrel.

Single barrel reposado at cask strength.

Agave Field: San Jose (900 masl)
Cooking: 24 hours brick steam oven
Cook resting: 24-36 hours
Extraction: Double pass mill at 11 brix
Fermentation: Open stainless steel for 7 days
Yeast: Wild and Propietary
Water: Natural spring
Distillation: Stainless and copper
Barrel: No. 6 for 9 months

Caballito Cerrero is a modest distillery compared to the giant producers in Mexico’s tequila industry. However, their reputation looms large amongst fans of high-quality, additive-free agave spirits. With a history that runs parallel to some of the biggest names in tequila, and an independent streak as long as the Rio Grande, Caballito Cerrero has managed to overcome adversity and prosper. Beloved in its homeland, the brand first arrived in the United States in 2019, and its popularity has been on the ascent, despite losing its official classification as a tequila.

Like American bourbon or French wine, Mexico’s tequila industry was historically the domain of family enterprises, with new brands birthed through mergers and, in some cases, marriage. Caballito Cerrero was founded in 1950 by Don Alfonso Jiménez Rosales, and the Jimenez family owns it to this day. Don Alfonso learned the ropes of the spirits business while working at Tequila Herradura, then owned by his cousins, the Rosales family.

Don Alfonso left Herradura following an unspecified family dispute. Seeking to forge his own path and create a brand that placed a premium on quality, he founded 'El Caballito Cerrero, El que no necesita herraduras,' which translates to "The Untamed Horse, the one that doesn't need horseshoes," according to their website. The name is both a play on their origins, a dig at Herradura, and a statement of purpose. Like the stallion rearing on its label, Caballito Cerrero has never been afraid to kick and bray against Mexico's spirits industry.

In the world of Mexican spirits, the CRT (Consejo Regulador del Tequila) holds sway as the regulatory authority governing tequila production. Established in 1993, the CRT oversees every aspect of tequila manufacturing, from agave cultivation to bottling and labeling. Its primary purpose is to establish certification criteria and ensure quality standards across the industry. The Mexican government pays and authorizes the CRT to manage regulations, but it isn't a government agency. Therefore, critics argue the CRT lacks real authority to conduct oversight, and is simply an extension of the big tequila producers that enables them to control the market and dictate terms to the disadvantage of small independent distillers.

Caballito Cerrero’s Javier Alfonso Jimenez Vizcarra, and son Javier Alfonso Jimenez Teran, were among those who helped formulate the CRT's regulatory guidelines. Over the years, however, they distanced themselves from the organization, believing their regulations were too restrictive for distillers and not stringent enough to protect consumers. In 2018, they made the bold decision to remove the word tequila from Caballito Cerrero bottles, instead classifying their spirits as “destilado de agave.”

By abandoning the tequila designation, Caballito Cerrero is free from the restrictions of the CRT. The Jimenez family has been outspoken in its criticism of the organization. They believe it pressures distillers towards mass production, and limits their ability to craft unique spirits by dictating which ingredients must be used to be classified as a tequila, down to the type of agave.

Caballito Cerrero Chato Puntas is made with maguey Chato (Agave angustifolia). The agave are cooked in a brick steam oven, milled in a double pass mill, fermented in open stainless steel tanks with both wild and proprietary yeast, and distilled in stainless steel and copper. This high-ABV version is made with the first cuts from the 2nd distillation and is only available in limited quantities.

Made from 100% blue agave and rested to perfection, this reposado showcases the beautiful balance between raw agave character and the mellowing influence of time in oak. Bottled at 46% ABV, AZUL Reposado offers bold, unapologetic flavor with a smooth, refined finish that reveals the true essence of quality agave spirits.

Rich and complex, expect notes of cooked agave, warm spice, vanilla, and subtle oak, with an underlying earthiness. The reposado aging adds layers of complexity while maintaining the bright, vegetal character that makes agave spirits so captivating. Each sip is a journey through Mexico's storied spirit-making traditions.

Caballito Cerrero represents small-batch, traditional production that respects both the agave plant and centuries-old techniques. This isn't mass-produced spirit—it's a carefully crafted expression that prioritizes quality, authenticity, and the preservation of Mexican heritage.

JP Brun Domaine des Terres Dorees Fleurie (2022)

Color: Red
Vintage: 2022
Region: Beaujolais
Varietal: Gamay