Issue 152 · August 25, 2026
The Grain of Hunger
Theme: Appetite Shapes Everything
When desire meets discipline, the best bottles emerge — eight selections that prove ambition without restraint is hollow, but restraint without ambition is forgettable.
Hunger is the first ingredient. Before grain meets water, before juice meets barrel, someone has to want something badly enough to risk failure. The bottles in this issue share a common thread: they were made by people who refused to settle for adequate. Each producer channeled ambition through the narrow aperture of craft, and what emerged on the other side carries the unmistakable mark of purpose.
From a Kentucky distillery pushing the boundaries of wheat-forward mashbills to a Martinique estate where sugarcane is religion, these eight selections reward close attention. They ask you to slow down, pay attention, and meet them halfway. That exchange — between what the maker intended and what you discover — is where the real pleasure lives.
This issue's selections span an unusually wide aromatic range — from the cocoa and leather of long-aged spirits to the mineral snap of young white wine. Pay attention to how the same base note, like vanilla, expresses itself differently across bourbon, gin, and rum depending on the material and maturation that produced it.
Don’t see your special bottle? Request a review at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com/request-review — we’ll get to it. See every bottle we’ve reviewed to date at reviews.schoolofwineandspirits.com.
Bourbon Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 2 Small Batch Bourbon
Distilled from grain grown on the volcanic soils of Wyoming's Big Horn Basin, Wyoming Whiskey was founded in 2009 by a cattle rancher determined to prove the West could rival Kentucky.
Classification: Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brand: Wyoming Whiskey
Distillery: Wyoming Whiskey Distillery
Proof: 100 (50% ABV)
Age: 5 Year
Color: Rich amber with copper edges
MSRP: $80 – $90
Mash Bill: 68% Corn, 20% Winter Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Barrel Type: New charred American white oak
Wheated: Yes
Nose: Warm caramel and toasted corn open the nose, followed by a layer of dried orange peel and soft vanilla. A faint herbal note, almost sage-like, anchors the sweetness with an earthy counterweight.
Palate: The entry is buttery and round, with butterscotch and oak arriving in tandem. Mid-palate brings a pleasant rye spice that cuts through the richness, while roasted pecan adds depth and texture.
Finish: Medium-long with charred oak and lingering caramel, resolving into a gentle, dry warmth.
Cocktail — Teton Mule — 2 oz Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 2 · 0.75 oz fresh lime juice · 4 oz ginger beer · Build over ice in a copper mug, garnish with candied ginger.
Pair with: The bourbon's charred oak and butterscotch complement the smoky bark and rendered fat of brisket, with pickled jalapeño slaw cutting through both.
Scotch Whisky Wolfburn Aurora Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Reopened in 2013 on the ruins of a 19th-century distillery in Thurso, Wolfburn is a two-still operation guided by former Glenfarclas distiller Shane Fraser.
Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brand: Wolfburn
Distillery: Wolfburn Distillery
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Pale gold with straw highlights
MSRP: $40–$55
Region: Highland
Mash Bill: 100% Scottish Malted Barley
Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills
Maturation: First-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill bourbon barrels
Cask Type: Ex-bourbon barrels
Peat Level (PPM): 0
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Clean malt and fresh-cut green grass give way to a gentle honeyed sweetness. Hints of peach and a whisper of sea salt emerge with time in the glass.
Palate: Light-bodied but confident, with vanilla and buttery shortbread on the entry. The mid-palate introduces subtle floral notes and a thread of white pepper. Coastal minerality adds intrigue without dominating.
Finish: Clean and medium-length, with lingering malt and a trace of lemon zest.
Cocktail — Northern Highball — 2 oz Wolfburn Aurora · 4 oz chilled soda water · 0.25 oz honey syrup · Stir gently over tall ice, garnish with a lemon twist.
Pair with: The whisky's briny minerality and buttery texture mirror the caramelized crust and sweet flesh of seared scallops, served with a light celeriac purée.
Irish Whiskey Kilbeggan 21 Year Old Limited Release Irish Whiskey Cask Strength
Drawn from Cooley-distilled stock and aged at the Kilbeggan Distillery — one of the oldest licensed distillery sites in the world, dating to 1757 — this cask strength release represents Ireland's patient ambition.
Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Brand: Kilbeggan
Distillery: Kilbeggan Distillery (sourced from Cooley)
Proof: 106 (53% ABV)
Age: 21 Year
Color: Deep burnished gold with amber edges
MSRP: $180 – $220
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Distillation: Blend of Sourced Whiskey
Maturation: Ex-bourbon barrels, minimum 21 years
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Rich dried fruit and polished leather open confidently, followed by layers of dark honey and toasted almond. A restrained woody spice adds backbone without aggression.
Palate: Full-bodied and viscous, with caramel and cocoa on entry. Clove spice emerges mid-palate alongside dried apricot. The oak presence is assertive but never tannic, structured by decades of slow maturation.
Finish: Long and warming, with waves of vanilla, gentle smoke, and lingering dried fruit that persist well after the sip.
Pair with: The whiskey's cocoa and dried fruit notes harmonize with a rich ganache tart, while the cask strength proof stands up to the bittersweet chocolate and fleur de sel.
Tequila Cascahuin Tahona Extra Añejo 5 Year
The Rosales family has operated Cascahuín since 1904 in El Arenal, using a volcanic stone tahona to crush slow-roasted agave in a process that predates industrialization.
Classification: Extra Añejo Tequila
Brand: Cascahuín
Distillery: Destilería Cascahuín
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 5 Year
Color: Deep mahogany with copper reflections
MSRP: $120–$160
Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave
Cooking Method: Tahona-crushed, brick oven roasted
NOM: NOM 1123
Additives Free: Yes
Nose: Cooked agave and dark chocolate lead, followed by butterscotch and warm vanilla. A leathery richness emerges alongside dried tobacco leaf and a distant note of roasted coffee.
Palate: Dense and layered, with caramel and oak dominating the entry. The tahona-crushed agave character survives the long aging, presenting as a mineral undertone beneath the wood influence. Cinnamon and nutmeg create a spice framework that keeps the sweetness in check.
Finish: Very long, with espresso, leather, and lingering agave that refuses to fade. A trace of smoke appears at the very end.
Pair with: The tequila's chocolate and spice notes mirror the complex layers of a traditional Oaxacan mole, while the rich meat stands up to the spirit's oak-driven weight.
Gin Kyrö Dark Gin
Founded in 2014 inside a converted cheese factory in Finland's rye-growing heartland, Kyrö Distillery uses whole-grain rye as the foundation for all its spirits.
Classification: Dark Gin
Brand: Kyrö
Distillery: Kyrö Distillery Company
Proof: 84.6 (42.3% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Dark amber, almost walnut-toned
MSRP: $45–$55
Style: Barrel-aged / Dark Gin
Botanicals: Juniper, cassia bark, coriander, angelica root, meadowsweet, lemon peel, orange peel, cranberry
Base Spirit: 100% whole-grain rye
Distillation: Pot distilled with vapor infusion of botanicals
Nose: Juniper pine and cassia bark open assertively, followed by notes of dark cocoa and dried orange peel. Underneath, a whisper of vanilla from the barrel aging anchors the botanicals.
Palate: The rye base spirit gives a spicy, peppery backbone that sets this apart from neutral-grain gins. Mid-palate offers meadowsweet and angelica root, while the cask influence contributes a gentle woodiness without overwhelming the botanical profile.
Finish: Medium-long with lingering juniper, cocoa, and a warm ginger fade.
Cocktail — Midnight Negroni — 1.5 oz Kyrö Dark Gin · 1 oz Campari · 1 oz sweet vermouth · Stir with ice, strain into a rocks glass over a large cube, garnish with an orange coin.
Pair with: The gin's rye backbone and cocoa notes pair naturally with dark Finnish rye bread, while cold-smoked salmon amplifies the spirit's subtle sweetness.
Rum Neisson Le Galion Rhum Agricole Blanc
Distilled at the family-run Neisson estate — the smallest independent distillery on Martinique, founded in 1931 and still overseen by Claudine Neisson-Vernant — from cane grown on the seaside plots overlooking the Bay of Le Galion.
Classification: Rhum Agricole Blanc AOC Martinique
Brand: Neisson
Distillery: Distillerie Neisson
Proof: 104.6 proof (52.3% ABV)
Age: NAS (Unaged)
Color: Water-clear with a faint silvery sheen
MSRP: $55 - $65
Base Ingredients: Fresh-pressed sugarcane juice from estate-grown cane
Distillation: Single-column Creole copper still, distilled to approximately 70% ABV then reduced with spring water and rested in stainless steel before bottling
Nose: Bright and green up front — fresh-crushed sugarcane stalk, cucumber skin, and lime leaf — followed by a wave of white flowers, sweet fennel, and a whisper of green olive brine.
Palate: Dense and oily on entry, coating the palate with cane juice sweetness that quickly turns savory: grilled lemongrass, unripe pear, black pepper, and a mineral streak reminiscent of wet river stone. High proof drives without heat.
Finish: Long and vegetal, with lingering anise, lime pith, and a saline hum that keeps the mouth watering for the next sip.
Cocktail — Appetite for Le Galion — 2 oz Neisson Le Galion Blanc, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz cane syrup (1:1), 3 dashes celery bitters. Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a thin cucumber ribbon.
Pair with: Grilled dorade with green mango slaw, toasted coconut, and a squeeze of lime — the rhum's saline vegetal edge mirrors the fish's char and cuts the coconut richness.
Awards: Consistently scored 90+ points at the Rhum Fest Paris competitions; the Neisson blanc range has earned repeated Gold at the International Rum Conference (Madrid).
Red Wine Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021
The Brunier family has farmed the plateau of La Crau since 1898, where vines grow in fields of smooth quartzite stones that radiate heat upward into the canopy at night.
Classification: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC Rouge
Brand: Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
ABV: 14.5%
Primary Varietal: Grenache
Blend: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault
Vineyards: La Crau plateau, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Maturation: Traditional whole-cluster fermentation with extended maceration
Color: Deep garnet with violet rim
MSRP: $35–$50
Nose: Fresh red cherry and crushed violets dominate, with black pepper and a subtle garrigue herbal note in the background. A light minerality keeps things focused.
Palate: Juicy and medium-bodied, with ripe berry fruit and a core of cherry. Fine-grained tannins and a restrained mintiness create structure without heaviness. A touch of cedar emerges on the back palate.
Finish: Medium-length with cherry and violet persistence, ending on a clean, slightly spicy note.
Pair with: The wine's garrigue-scented fruit and peppery tannins complement the charred herbs and rendered fat of simply grilled lamb, with roasted fingerling potatoes alongside.
White Wine Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Excelsior 2023
Pierre-Marie Luneau farms organically across multiple parcels of old-vine Melon de Bourgogne in Le Landreau, where granite and gneiss soils produce some of Muscadet's most mineral-driven wines.
Classification: Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie AOC
Brand: Domaine Luneau-Papin
ABV: 12%
Primary Varietal: Melon de Bourgogne
Blend: 100% Melon de Bourgogne
Vineyards: Old vines on granite and gneiss soils, Le Landreau
Vinification: Direct pressing, temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, extended sur lie aging
Color: Very pale lemon with green reflections
MSRP: $18–$25
Nose: Crisp green apple and wet stone open cleanly, with citrus zest and a faint floral lift. Extended lees contact contributes a yeasty complexity that deepens the aromatics beyond simple fruit.
Palate: Lean and precise, with citrus and gooseberry on the attack. The mid-palate broadens with a chalky minerality and subtle nuttiness from the sur lie aging. The texture has a gentle creaminess that belies the wine's light body.
Finish: Brisk and clean, with lingering mineral notes and a saline quality that begs another sip.
Pair with: The wine's saline minerality and citrus brightness are a classic match for steamed mussels in white wine, shallot, and parsley — each sip resetting the palate for the next briny bite.
Train Your Nose: Today's Aroma Spotlight
This issue's selections span an unusually wide aromatic range — from the cocoa and leather of long-aged spirits to the mineral snap of young white wine. Pay attention to how the same base note, like vanilla, expresses itself differently across bourbon, gin, and rum depending on the material and maturation that produced it.
Each bottle below maps to aromas you can isolate with your kit before your next pour — then see if you catch them in the glass.
Today's Kit Reference
| Today's Product | Key Aromas | Train With |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 2 Small Batch Bourbon (Bourbon) | Caramel, Corn, Butterscotch, Pecan, Oak | Bourbon Kit |
| Wolfburn Aurora Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotch Whisky) | Malt, Honey, Green (Cut Grass), Peach, Vanilla | Whisky Kit |
| Kilbeggan 21 Year Old Limited Release Irish Whiskey Cask Strength (Irish Whiskey) | Dried Fruit, Honey, Cocoa (Dark), Clove Spice, Woody | Whiskey Kit |
| Cascahuin Tahona Extra Añejo 5 Year (Tequila) | Agave (Cooked), Chocolate (Dark Chocolate, Cocoa), Leather, Oak, Cinnamon | Tequila Kit |
| Kyrö Dark Gin (Gin) | Juniper (Pine), Cassia Bark, Cocoa (Dark), Vanilla, Peppery | Gin Kit |
| Neisson Le Galion Rhum Agricole Blanc (Rum) | Agricole, Citrus (Generic), Tropical Fruits, Spice (Generic) | Rum Kit |
| Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021 (Red Wine) | Cherry, Violet, Berry (Generic), Cedar, Mint | Wine Kit |
| Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Excelsior 2023 (White Wine) | Apple (Green), Citrus (Generic), Gooseberry, Nut (Almond/Coconut), Green (Cut Grass) | Wine Kit |
Explore the School of Wine and Spirits
Train your nose to identify these aromas with precision using the School of Wine and Spirits aroma training kits, designed to build sensory literacy one session at a time. Our Aroma Masterclass Kits are designed to teach it to you, one aroma at a time.
Our books on Amazon go deeper into the science and history behind every sip — from America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, Chablis, and Côte d'Or pocket guides.
Explore our Aroma Masterclass kits and books at schoolofwineandspirits.com
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The distance between tasting and understanding is just a few deliberate breaths — start bridging it today.
Until tomorrow's pour — cheers.
The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.
Wyoming Whiskey National Parks No. 2 Small Batch Bourbon
Wyoming Whiskey
Wyoming Whiskey has quietly improved with every release, and this National Parks bottling shows a distillery hitting its stride. The higher proof carries the corn-forward sweetness without letting it become cloying. An honest, well-made bourbon that rewards a second pour.
Wolfburn Aurora Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Wolfburn
Wolfburn is mainland Scotland's most northerly distillery, and Aurora showcases a spirit that prioritizes clarity over complexity. The combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and Caithness water produces something genuinely refreshing. This is a whisky for people who value precision.
Kilbeggan 21 Year Old Limited Release Irish Whiskey Cask Strength
Kilbeggan
This cask strength release from Kilbeggan's oldest stocks proves that Irish whiskey can play the long game as well as any Scotch. The extra proof amplifies the complexity without masking the spirit's essential softness. It's a rare opportunity to taste Irish whiskey at this age with this much integrity.
Cascahuin Tahona Extra Añejo 5 Year
Cascahuín
Cascahuín's tahona production method gives this extra añejo a textural density that roller-milled tequilas struggle to match. Five years in oak has added enormous complexity without stripping the agave identity. This is a sipping tequila that earns its place alongside fine aged spirits of any category.
Kyrö Dark Gin
Kyrö
Kyrö's Dark Gin bridges the gap between gin and whiskey without losing its identity as either. The rye spirit base brings a grain-forward character that most gins lack, and the time in American white oak barrels adds just enough warmth. It's a gin for whiskey drinkers and a whiskey for gin drinkers.
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Télégramme Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2021
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
Télégramme is the second wine of Vieux Télégraphe, made from younger vines and declassified lots — but calling it a 'second wine' undersells it. This is Châteauneuf-du-Pape with energy and immediacy, designed for drinking rather than cellaring. It captures the terroir of La Crau's galets roulés in a more approachable frame.
Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur Lie Excelsior 2023
Domaine Luneau-Papin
Pierre-Marie Luneau is one of Muscadet's most meticulous vignerons, and Excelsior demonstrates why this often-overlooked appellation deserves serious attention. The combination of old-vine Melon de Bourgogne and granitic soils produces a wine of surprising depth at a price that makes daily drinking a pleasure rather than a luxury.
Neisson Le Galion Rhum Agricole Blanc
Neisson
A precise, terroir-forward blanc that rewards slow sipping and elevates any cocktail it touches — proof that appetite for authenticity shapes the finest agricole.
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