Issue 178 · September 20, 2026
The Grain of Resolve
Theme: Stubbornness Made Liquid
Eight bottles forged by producers who refused to compromise — makers who held to method, material, and conviction when the market urged otherwise.
Resolve is not glamorous. It shows up in the decision to keep a slow process slow, to source from a single field when blending would be easier, to age longer than accountants recommend. The bottles in today's issue share a quiet stubbornness — a refusal to cut corners that you can taste in every sip.
From a Kentucky distillery that grinds its own grain to a Martinique estate that still harvests cane by hand on volcanic slopes, these eight producers earned their reputations the hard way. Let's see what happens when resolve meets the glass.
Today's aroma theme is resolve in its aromatic form — the notes that refuse to fade, the ones that anchor a sip and give it backbone. We focus on persistent aromas like charred oak, juniper resin, and dried fruit that define a spirit's or wine's identity long after the glass is empty.
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.
Before you pour tonight — cover the glass for a minute, then nose it in three short sniffs before you sip. Notice how much you can smell but can't name? That's the 90% gap — the part of every bottle you paid for but aren't tasting yet.
Our free field guide closes it: the 30-second proof, the smell → name → anchor method, and a 6-week path to a real tasting vocabulary. The 90% Gap →
Bourbon Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2023
Distilled and aged in the limestone-spring-fed hollows of Versailles, Kentucky, the Batch Proof series captures Woodford Reserve's pot- and column-still bourbon at whatever strength the barrels dictate.
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brand: Woodford Reserve
Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery
Proof: 127.8 (63.9% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Deep mahogany with burnt-copper edges
MSRP: $130–$150
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Barrel Type: New charred American oak
Nose: Intense dark chocolate and toasted pecan lead, followed by layers of dried cherry and brown sugar. A thread of tobacco smoke weaves through the heavier notes.
Palate: Full and dense, with charred oak asserting itself immediately before giving way to caramel and baking spices. Ripe red apple and a touch of leather emerge at mid-palate as the proof integrates.
Finish: Long and warming, with espresso-roast oak, butterscotch, and lingering rye spice.
Cocktail — Black Walnut Old Fashioned — 2 oz Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2023 · 0.25 oz black walnut liqueur · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Stir over a large ice cube and garnish with an expressed orange peel.
Pair with: The char and caramel in the bourbon mirror the bark on slow-smoked short ribs, while the proof cuts through the fat. A side of creamy polenta softens the pairing.
Scotch Whisky Springbank 18 Year Old
Springbank remains one of the very few Scottish distilleries that malts its own barley, distills two-and-a-half times, and bottles on-site — all within the same Campbeltown facility the Mitchell family has operated since 1828.
Classification: Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Brand: Springbank
Distillery: Springbank Distillery
Proof: 92 (46% ABV)
Age: 18 Year
Color: Rich amber with rose-gold highlights
MSRP: $280–$350
Region: Campbeltown
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Distillation: Two-and-a-half times distilled (partial triple distillation)
Maturation: Matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks for a minimum of 18 years
Cask Type: Bourbon and sherry casks
Peat Level (PPM): Lightly peated (~12–15 ppm)
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Dried apricot and orange marmalade over a base of beeswax and salted caramel. Faint coastal peat adds a savory undertone without dominating.
Palate: Silky and layered, with honeyed malt, dark chocolate, and roasted hazelnuts. A gentle smokiness rises at mid-palate, flanked by clove and dried fig.
Finish: Exceptionally long, with waves of dried fruit, vanilla, and maritime salinity fading slowly.
Pair with: The nutty, crystalline sweetness of 24-month Comté meets the whisky's dried-fruit richness, while quince paste echoes the honeyed smoke on the finish.
Irish Whiskey Dingle Single Malt Cask Strength Batch No. 4 Irish Whiskey
Located at the tip of Ireland's Dingle Peninsula, this small-batch distillery uses copper pot stills and triple distillation to craft whiskey shaped by the wild Atlantic air of County Kerry.
Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Brand: Dingle
Distillery: Dingle Distillery
Proof: 122 (61% ABV)
Age: NAS
Color: Burnished gold with amber undertones
MSRP: $90–$120
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Distillation: Triple distilled in copper pot stills
Maturation: Bourbon and sherry casks
Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Nose: Rich honey and toasted almond greet the nose, joined by stewed orchard fruit and a drizzle of butterscotch. A faint whiff of vanilla oak sits beneath.
Palate: Creamy despite the proof, delivering waves of baked pear, clove spice, and malt. The mid-palate darkens with cocoa and a gentle woody tannic grip.
Finish: Medium-long, with warming spice, orange zest, and lingering honeycomb sweetness.
Cocktail — Dingle Sour — 2 oz Dingle Single Malt Cask Strength · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup · 1 egg white · Dry shake, then shake with ice. Strain into a coupe and garnish with grated nutmeg.
Pair with: Seared scallops in brown butter with a squeeze of lemon mirror the whiskey's butterscotch and citrus notes, while the caramelized crust echoes the toasted malt.
Tequila Mijenta Añejo Tequila
The word 'mijenta' is Jalisco slang for 'mi gente'—my people—and the brand was born from a stubborn insistence that premium tequila could be produced sustainably without sacrificing quality. Founder Mike Dolan spent years assembling a team anchored by Ana María Romero Mena, one of Mexico's few female master distillers, who brought decades of unyielding standards to the project. At NOM 1591, the agaves are slow-cooked in traditional brick ovens for 72 hours—an obstinate refusal to adopt the faster autoclaves used by many competitors. The añejo rests in a combination of American and French oak barrels, selected with the same tenacity that defines every step of Mijenta's process. In a market flooded with celebrity-backed shortcuts, Mijenta stands as a monument to the grain of resolve: the belief that doing things the hard way is the only way worth doing.
Classification: Añejo Tequila
Brand: Mijenta
Distillery: Destilería El Refugio (NOM 1591)
Proof: 80
Age: Aged up to 24 months
Color: Deep amber with copper highlights
MSRP: 115
Nose: Rich caramel and roasted agave open the glass, followed by waves of dark chocolate, toasted oak, and a thread of dried orange peel. A faint whisper of cinnamon bark and black pepper emerges with patience, rewarding the drinker who refuses to rush.
Palate: Full-bodied and resolute, the palate delivers cooked agave at its core, surrounded by butterscotch, baking spice, and espresso. A mineral earthiness anchors the mid-palate, while vanilla custard and a touch of leather give it an unyielding, almost defiant richness. The texture is viscous and creamy, clinging to every surface.
Finish: Long and persistent, with dark chocolate, smoked pepper, and toasted oak lingering stubbornly. The cooked agave reasserts itself at the very end, a reminder that no amount of barrel aging can erase the plant's original character.
Cocktail — The Unmoved — 2 oz Mijenta Añejo Tequila · 0.5 oz Ancho Reyes Original chile liqueur · 0.25 oz agave nectar · 2 dashes mole bitters · Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass with ice. Stir firmly for 30 seconds until well-chilled and properly diluted. Strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a single large ice cube. Express the orange peel over the surface, releasing its oils, then rest it on the drink. · Garnish: Wide orange peel, expressed and laid across the surface · Glass: Old Fashioned glass
Pair with: The añejo's dark chocolate and smoked pepper notes mirror the complexity of a traditional Oaxacan mole negro, while its butterscotch sweetness tempers the sauce's bitter-sweet chili depth. Braised short ribs provide fatty richness that the tequila's oak tannins cut through cleanly, and the agave's earthiness finds kinship with the mole's toasted sesame and plantain undertones. Each bite and sip reinforce the same stubborn truth: the best things refuse to be simple.
Awards: San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 — Double Gold, International Wine & Spirit Competition 2023 — Gold Outstanding
Gin Neversink Spirits Gin
Neversink Spirits was born from the dogged vision of two friends — Yoni Rabino and Noah Braunstein — who left comfortable careers to make spirits in a tiny facility in Port Chester, New York. Named after the Neversink River, a famously resilient waterway that has weathered centuries of change in the Catskills, the distillery operates with an almost pigheaded commitment to small-batch production. Every botanical is individually macerated and distilled, then blended — a laborious process most producers abandon for efficiency. The result is a gin that feels handmade in every sip, a testament to the belief that if you refuse to compromise, the liquid will eventually speak for itself.
Classification: American Dry Gin
Brand: Neversink Spirits
Distillery: Neversink Spirits
Proof: 86
Age: NAS
Color: Crystal clear
MSRP: 36.99
Nose: A resolute wave of green juniper leads, followed by bright citrus peel, a whisper of chamomile, and a grounding earthiness — like crushed pine needles on a forest floor that refuses to yield to winter.
Palate: Medium-bodied and unyielding in its botanical conviction. Crisp juniper anchors the mid-palate while coriander seed and lemon zest push through with determination. A subtle floral quality — orris root and dried wildflowers — refuses to be overshadowed, creating tension and depth. The texture is silky but firm, like a handshake that won't let go.
Finish: Long and persistent, with juniper reasserting itself over drying angelica root and a trailing note of white pepper. The finish simply will not quit — it lingers with the stubbornness of a distiller who insists on doing things the hard way.
Cocktail — The Holdfast — 2 oz Neversink Spirits Gin | 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice | 0.5 oz wildflower honey syrup (1:1) | 2 dashes celery bitters | 1 sprig fresh thyme. Shake gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, and bitters vigorously with ice. Fine-strain into a chilled coupe. Express a lemon twist over the surface and garnish with a thyme sprig laid across the rim.
Pair with: The gin's bright juniper and citrus character mirrors the preserved lemon's briny intensity, while its herbal undertones complement the anise sweetness of charred fennel. The fish's delicate flesh provides a clean canvas, allowing the gin's persistent botanical finish to echo through each bite — two stubborn flavors that refuse to yield to one another, creating harmony through sheer persistence.
Rum Rhum J.M Multimillésime 2006
Perched on the volcanic slopes of Mont Pelée in northern Martinique, Distillerie J.M crushes estate-grown cane within hours of harvest and distills in Creole column stills fed by mountain spring water.
Classification: Rhum Agricole Vieux (AOC Martinique)
Brand: Rhum J.M
Distillery: Distillerie J.M
Proof: 86.4 (43.2% ABV)
Age: Multi-vintage (base 2006)
Color: Deep amber with tawny edges
MSRP: $85–$110
Base Ingredients: Fresh pressed sugarcane juice (vesou)
Distillation: Continuous distillation in a Creole copper column still
Nose: Ripe tropical fruit — mango and papaya — layered with dried fig, cacao nibs, and a distinctive grassy cane character. Vanilla oak and tobacco leaf develop with air.
Palate: Elegant and complex, with agricole funk balanced by caramel, roasted coffee, and dried orange peel. The oak integration is seamless, and a vein of spice runs through the mid-palate.
Finish: Long and distinguished, with leather, dark chocolate, and lingering tropical fruit sweetness.
Pair with: The rum's cocoa and coffee notes harmonize with 70% cacao truffles, while the fleur de sel finish amplifies the agricole funk and caramel undertones.
Red Wine Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019
The Brunier family has farmed the famed Plateau de La Crau — blanketed in smooth river stones that radiate stored heat — since 1898, making them one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's longest-tenured families.
Classification: Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
Brand: Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
ABV: 14.5%
Primary Varietal: Grenache
Blend: Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Cinsault
Vineyards: Plateau de La Crau, galets roulés soils
Maturation: Destemmed, fermented in concrete vats, aged in large oak foudres
Color: Deep garnet with violet rim
MSRP: $65–$85
Nose: Dark cherry and crushed blackcurrant, interwoven with dried lavender, garrigue herbs, and a smoky, stony minerality. A hint of cured meat adds complexity.
Palate: Powerful yet refined, with layers of ripe berry fruit, black olive tapenade, and toasted spice. The tannins are firm and polished, providing structure without austerity. A savory, earthy core anchors the mid-palate.
Finish: Very long, with cedar, dried herbs, and a persistent mineral-tinged berry fruit that lingers.
Pair with: The wine's garrigue character and firm tannins are ideal alongside slow-braised lamb scented with rosemary and thyme, served with white bean purée.
White Wine Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Mambourg 2022
The Faller family has cultivated these ancient Capuchin monastery vineyards in Kaysersberg since 1898, transitioning fully to biodynamic viticulture to let the marl-and-limestone Mambourg terroir speak without interference.
Classification: Alsace Grand Cru AOC
Brand: Domaine Weinbach
ABV: 14.0%
Primary Varietal: Gewürztraminer
Blend: 100% Gewürztraminer
Vineyards: Grand Cru Mambourg, Sigolsheim, marl-limestone soils
Vinification: Whole-cluster pressing, fermented and aged in large Alsatian oak foudres, biodynamic viticulture
Color: Deep gold with amber tinges
MSRP: $75–$100
Nose: Intense rose petal and lychee, backed by ginger, beeswax, and a whiff of smoke. There is a marmalade-like richness that hints at the warmth of the Mambourg slope.
Palate: Opulent yet precise, with honeyed stone fruit, Turkish delight, and marzipan balanced by a firm mineral spine. The texture is almost oily, and a subtle bitter-almond note adds gravitas.
Finish: Long and layered, with persistent floral notes, a hint of saffron, and a dry, slightly saline close that keeps the richness in check.
Pair with: The pungent, washed-rind Munster — a classic Alsatian pairing — meets its match in the wine's aromatic power, while cumin seeds bridge the spice notes and the cheese's creaminess.
Train Your Nose: Today's Aroma Spotlight
Today's aroma theme is resolve in its aromatic form — the notes that refuse to fade, the ones that anchor a sip and give it backbone. We focus on persistent aromas like charred oak, juniper resin, and dried fruit that define a spirit's or wine's identity long after the glass is empty.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2023 (Bourbon) | Charred Oak, Cherry, Pecan, Caramel, Tobacco | Bourbon Kit |
| Springbank 18 Year Old (Scotch Whisky) | Dried Fruit, Honey, Smoky, Cocoa (Dark), Clove Spice | Whisky Kit |
| Dingle Single Malt Cask Strength Batch No. 4 Irish Whiskey (Irish Whiskey) | Honey, Almond, Clove Spice, Cocoa (Dark), Orange | Whiskey Kit |
| Mijenta Añejo Tequila (Tequila) | Agave (Cooked), Caramel, Chocolate (Dark Chocolate, Cocoa), Oak, Pepper, Vanilla | Tequila Kit |
| Neversink Spirits Gin (Gin) | Juniper (Green), Lemon, Coriander, Chamomile, Orris Root, Angelica | Gin Kit |
| Rhum J.M Multimillésime 2006 (Rum) | Agricole, Tropical Fruits, Coffee, Leather, Vanilla | Rum Kit |
| Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 (Red Wine) | Cherry, Blackcurrant, Cedar, Gamey, Violet | Wine Kit |
| Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Mambourg 2022 (White Wine) | Floral (Rose), Honey, Marzipan, Citrus (Generic), Woody | Wine Kit |
Explore the School of Wine and Spirits
Train your nose to detect these foundational aromas with the School of Wine and Spirits Aroma Kit — the same tool our educators use in professional tasting courses. 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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Resolve isn't just a virtue for makers — it's a skill for tasters, built one deliberate sip at a time.
Until tomorrow's pour — cheers.
The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.
Woodford Reserve Batch Proof 2023
Woodford Reserve
Woodford's annual Batch Proof release is always a showcase for the distillery's character at full strength. The 2023 edition delivers remarkable depth without harsh edges, proving that high proof and balance are not mutually exclusive.
Springbank 18 Year Old
Springbank
Springbank 18 is a distillery benchmark — proof that Campbeltown's last independent family-owned distillery still does everything in-house and does it brilliantly. The interplay of fruit, smoke, and coastal character is impossible to replicate anywhere else.
Dingle Single Malt Cask Strength Batch No. 4 Irish Whiskey
Dingle
Dingle's Batch No. 4 demonstrates the young Kerry distillery's growing confidence. Bottled at cask strength without chill filtration, it rewards careful water additions that unlock layer after layer of fruit and spice.
Mijenta Añejo Tequila
Mijenta
Mijenta Añejo is stubbornness distilled and barrel-aged—a tequila that refuses to let oak dominate the agave's voice. Created by master blender Ana María Romero Mena and sustainability-minded founder Mike Dolan, this añejo represents an uncompromising vision: slow-roasted agave, extended fermentation, and careful barrel selection in pursuit of balance rather than trend. The result is a tequila that stands its ground between tradition and modernity, yielding to neither completely. Like the best expressions of resolve, it finds strength in patience.
Neversink Spirits Gin
Neversink Spirits
Neversink Spirits Gin is the product of mulish dedication to terroir-driven distilling in the Hudson Valley. Using a combination of local botanicals and classic gin architecture, this small-batch gin reflects the obstinate vision of its makers: no shortcuts, no trend-chasing, just relentless focus on balance and character. In an issue celebrating stubbornness made liquid, Neversink embodies the quiet resolve of craft — a gin that earns its place on the shelf through sheer tenacity of flavor.
Rhum J.M Multimillésime 2006
Rhum J.M
The Multimillésime 2006 is J.M at its most refined — a blend of vintages anchored by a 2006 base that reveals the depth possible when volcanic terroir, fresh cane juice, and patient aging converge.
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe
The 2019 La Crau is exceptional — a vintage that gave the Bruniers extraordinary ripeness without sacrificing the nervous energy that defines this galets roulés plateau. It is the kind of wine that rewards both patience and attention.
Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer Grand Cru Mambourg 2022
Domaine Weinbach
Mambourg is one of Alsace's warmest Grand Crus, and Weinbach's biodynamic stewardship extracts its full potential without tipping into excess. This is Gewürztraminer as a serious wine — structured, complex, and built to evolve.
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