Drew Beard

Virginia

Social Media Manager and Assistant Editor at Drinkhacker

Freelance Staff Writer at The Land Report

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Articles

Review: Whiskies of Single Cask Nation, Spring 2025 Releases

3 weeks ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

Since their acquisition by Artisanal Spirits last year, the folks at Single Cask Nation have been extra busy bringing a lot of unique single casks to both their online and retail markets. Today, we’re looking at six different SCN single malts available to Nation members via their online marketplace (no membership fees, just an email to sign up and a flat $15 to ship).
Review: Conniption Gin, Complete Lineup

3 weeks ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

The founders of Conniption Gin, Melissa and Lee Katrincic, have been at the forefront of America’s gin renaissance over the last decade. They were reportedly the first gin distillery to employ cold vacuum distillation, a process which allows gins to incorporate more delicate botanicals that would otherwise be compromised by the heat of traditional vapor infusion.
Review: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 9 Years Old Spring 2025 Edition

3 weeks ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

We’re entering our seventh year of Heaven Hill’s bi-annual Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond releases. While these whiskeys have always featured the distillery’s wheated mashbill bourbon, their age statements have varied wildly, from as old as 19 years to a comparatively youthful 8 years. The first Old Fitz that really got our attention, however, was the impressive Fall 2018 release which, like this latest offering, clocked in on the younger side at just nine years old. How does it compare?
Review: Fosforo Mezcal - Tobala, Tobala Penca, and Ensamble

1 month ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

Fosforo Mezcal is a one of a growing list of mezcal brands launched by famous people. But its founder isn’t exactly your typical celebrity spirits backer. The mezcal was launched in 2022 by Jim Cramer, the animated former hedge fund manager famous for emphatic “Booyahs” and bizarre sound effects on his long-running financial advice show, Mad Money. Jim and his wife, Lisa Detwiler, caught the mezcal bug while vacationing at their home in Mexico.
Review: Remus Master Distiller Experimental Series No. 1

1 month ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

Ross & Squibb Master Distiller Ian Stirsman has already proven he knows how to blend a great bourbon (Repeal Reserve being a particular favorite), but he hasn’t had the chance to really innovate much in Lawrenceburg. That appears to be changing now with the launch of a new experimental series from the distillery that will reportedly explore different grains, recipes, and maturation techniques.
Amari Reviews and News

1 month ago | drinkhacker.com | Christopher Null |Drew Beard

The Pathfinder is an up-and-coming non-alcoholic brand with a unique production method. The core product, Hemp and Root, is fermented from hemp and then distilled. The non-alcoholic spirit is then infused with a variety of botanicals, including wormwood, angelica root, ginger, sage, juniper, saffron, orange peel, and Douglas fir. Note that though it’s made from hemp,… Read More
Review: Tres Generaciones Tequilas - Plata, Reposado, and Anejo (Updated 2025)

1 month ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

Tres Generaciones is an old school tequila brand. The premium offering from the Sauza portfolio launched in 1977 when it was difficult to find many tequila options at most American bars. How times have changed. We first reviewed the core portfolio – plata, reposado, and anejo – back in 2009, and even in that time, the agave spirits world has transformed drastically.
Review: Blue Spot Irish Whiskey 7 Years Old

1 month ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

We thought that we had diligently kept up with Midleton’s “Spot” whiskeys over the years, but we completely missed the youngster in the lineup. This 7-year-old release got quite a bit of buzz when it relaunched in 2020. And rightly so. It had been over five decades (!) since the last Blue Spot release, and its triumphant return marked the reunification of the entire Spot Family. What’s more, it was the first release in the lineup to be bottled at cask strength.
Whisky Island Hopping: Colin Gordon Finds His Home at Ardbeg

1 month ago | drinkhacker.com | Drew Beard

When I traveled to Islay last summer, I had two goals for my visit to the iconic Ardbeg Distillery. One was to see the brand new stillhouse, which had effectively doubled Ardbeg’s production capability, and the other was to meet the guy that ran the place, Colin Gordon. I knew he had bounced between Islay and mainland Scotland in a variety of whisky roles before landing at Ardbeg, and I was anxious to hear about his journey. Our conversation would have to wait, however.
A Unique Blend of Rye & Vintage Spirits

1 month ago | bourbonbanter.com | Drew Beard

BOTTLE DETAILSDISTILLER: BHAKTA SpiritsMASH BILL:60% – 2018 Rye whiskey finished in virgin French Oak30% – XO Calvados10% – Blend of Armagnacs from 1928, 1941, 1962, 1973, 1996AGE: 15 years old (average)YEAR: 2023PROOF: 100MSRP: $69BUY ONLINE: Buy from BHAKTA SpiritsDREW'S NOTESSHARE WITH: The adventurous American whiskey lover looking for something a little bit different. If they are already a fan of exotic whiskey finishes, chances are good they will enjoy this one. WORTH THE PRICE: Yes.