2025 Advent Calendar

2025 Whiskey Christmas Advent Calendar

Welcome to the 2025—our third edition of the Whiskey Christmas Advent Calendar.

This collection of thirteen bottles contains a sampling of our favorite whiskeys and ryes that were tasted over the past year and wanted to share with our family and friends.

The fun of preparing this calendar are exchanges that take place in the comments section of the website. My reviews are, of course, entirely debatable. We all bring our own tastes and preferences to the glass—and that’s exactly what makes this so much fun.

We’re deeply grateful to our friends and we’re equally fortunate to have family we not only love, but (mostly) like—and proudly call friends as well.

We hope you enjoy this 2025 editions’ offering.

Cheers and love to you all.

Paul and Meliza

Day 13 - Wolves x Willett

For the final tasting I would like to introduce Wolves and Willett limited edition rye whiskey. A collaboration between Kentucky’s Willett Family Estate and Wolves Distillery in California. This was such a delight, I chose this to end this year’s calendar. This 10-year whiskey project has a mashbill of many rye blends, coming in at a respectable 103 proof. The nose is bright, slightly creamy. Vanilla, orange and caramel and cinnamon. The initial pallet is tobacco, caramel and

Paul Mora

Dec 24, 20251 min read

Day 12 - Dad’s Hat

Welcome to Bristol, Pennsylvania. Home of Dad’s Hat Straight Rye Whiskey. With a mash bill of 80% rye, 15% malted barley and 5% rye malt dad's hat straight rye whiskey comes in at 128 proof. Aged 6 years this whiskey benefits from a few drops of water to open all those amazing flavors. The nose is cinnamon forward with plums and pleasant vanilla sugar. The palette reminds me of Mesquite and a bit of dill. There is smoke and the sweetness that is very pleasant. The finish is s

Paul Mora

Dec 23, 20251 min read

Day 11- Old Soul Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tintype Series #2

Let us introduce you to the Cathead Distillery of Jackson Mississippi. They are the first legal distillery in the state of Mississippi founded in 2010. Today we are tasting the Old Soul Tintype Series #2 straight bourbon. Aged 8 years and 10 months, this bottle comes in at 113.7 proof. It is uncut and unfiltered and is in pure cask strength with only 29 barrels produced. The Mashbill is 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. The nose is sweet with corn and spicy from the rye

Paul Mora

Dec 22, 20251 min read

Day 10 - Manifest Whiskey Project 10-year High Rye small batch #3

Manifest Distilling was founded in 2016. Based in Jacksonville Florida, they emphasize organic and sustainable agriculture. Today we are tasting Bottle 137, batch #3 of their year rye. It comes in at 106.2 proof. The mash bill consists of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley. This one has a super bright nose. There are notes of cane sugar, caramel and maple syrup. Considering its proof, the pallet starts sweet and velvety smooth. Beautiful notes of oak, cherries and spice f

Paul Mora

Dec 21, 20251 min read

Day 9 - Still Austin- Cask Strength

The Still Austin Whiskey Company began distilling in 2017 And released their first straight bourbon in 2020. Some of my very favorite whiskies come from Texas. Hands down- always in my bar is a bottle of the Garrison brothers. Still Austin we'll be a new addition to always have on hand. Today we are tasting their cask strength bourbon whiskey. It has a mash bill of 70% white corn, 25% rye and 5% malted barley. This bottle comes in at 118 proof. The nose is brown sugar, vanil

Paul Mora

Dec 20, 20251 min read

2025 Day 8 - Hirsch Single Barrel Kentucky Double Oaked Bourbon

Today's tasting comes from Bardstown, Kentucky. This is a single barrel bourbon that has been double oaked in its maturation. This bottle has been aged 7 years and 5 months. The mashbill is 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% malted barley. The nose begins with Vanilla and Maple, also soft notes of oak and fig. The palette is caramel, vanilla and cinnamon. The finish is more vanilla, light caramel, tannin and raw sugar. This is quite a delightful bottle, and given its high proof, a Ve

Paul Mora

Dec 19, 20251 min read

2025 Day 7 - Whiskey War Single Barrel Cigar - “Would you like fries with that?”

Today's selection comes from High Bank Distillery out of Westerville Ohio. This is a single barrel whiskey that comes in at 116.88 proof. The undisclosed mashbill states it's a rye heavy blend. First off, the nose is a combination of tropical and holiday. That speaks to coconut cream, pineapple and apple bread with all the spices that go it. It’s like apple bread meets a pina colada… The palette starts with that apple and spice, I get a bit of banana, woody spice and pepper.

Paul Mora

Dec 18, 20251 min read

2025 Day 6 - Roknar Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey

I hope what’s in the glass makes this one notable. Far North Spirits is in Minnesota, just 25 Miles from the Canadian border. They have the distinction of growing their own grains, which is credited to the rich and fertile soils that came about because of the ice age. The Mash bill is 80%, 10% corn and 10% malted barley and comes in at 100 proof. The nose is honey, cinnamon, prunes and black licorice. The palette is more honey, pepper and vanilla. The finish is tannic but ple

Paul Mora

Dec 17, 20252 min read

2025 Day 5 - Never Say Die Rye Whiskey

I never want to belittle a company’s story, but it involves horses, England, Kentucky And shipping barrels back and forth. Go search them out if you are interested after you have tasted this selection. I will stick to what is in the bottle. This is considered the Brit’s take on American Bourbon. Never Say Die has a mash bill of 56% Rye, 33% corn and 11% malted barley coming in at 105 proof. The nose begins with cinnamon roll, orange zest, pepper and vanilla. The pallet offers

Paul Mora

Dec 16, 20251 min read

2025 Day 4 - Blue Run Kentucky Straight Golden Rye Whiskey

Blue Run comes from Georgetown, Kentucky. Each of the gorgeous bottles is emblazoned with a Viceroy Butterfly, the state butterfly of Kentucky. Although founded in 2020, Blue Run has made a name for itself with this straight rye whiskey. Batch 1 won the World Spirits Competition. We will be tasting batch 2. This one benefits from sitting in the glass for a few minutes to allow it to breathe. The mash bill is undisclosed and non-age stated. This rye comes in at 95 proof. The n

Paul Mora

Dec 15, 20251 min read

2025 Day 3 - 13th Colony Distillery Southern Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Today’s offering comes from the oldest operating Distillery in Georgia. 13 th Colony began in 2009. They are small and average about 80 barrels per batch. We are tasting their Flagship bourbon. The mash bill is made up of 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley and the bottle is 95 proof. The nose is sweet corn with candied cherries. I also got some oak and leather. The pallet starts with a pop of oak, more corn and apricots. The finish is lingering with a nut type tannin and

Paul Mora

Dec 14, 20251 min read

2025 Day 2 - New Southern Revival Rye Whiskey

This whiskey also comes from High Wire Distilling Company. This bottle happens to contain 100% Rye. This company is making a name for itself by using stand out grains for distilling. The varietal used imparts a sweetness to the rye. Warning, at 111.2 proof, Revival does start off hot in both the nose and first sip. If you manage to get passed that, the nose is maple syrup, vanilla and black pepper. The palette is walnuts, fruit; maybe canned, and more vanilla. The finish is v

Paul Mora

Dec 13, 20251 min read

2025 Day 1 - Jimmy Red Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Bottled in Bond)

Jimmy Red. Straight bourbon whiskey from the High Wire Distilling Company in Charleston, SC. This has a mash bill of 100% pure heritage red corn, which gives this whiskey its name. Sitting at 100 proof. It is yellow and gold in color. The nose starts sweet, which speaks the corn. But that changes after the first sip. It transforms the nose to the aroma of brown sugar, vanilla, stone fruit and smoke, almost oaky. The pallet is cherry, peppercorn, vanilla and more smoke. The fi

Paul Mora

Dec 12, 20251 min read