Issue 18 · April 13, 2026
The Roots Run Deep
Theme: Heritage & Tradition
Every bottle today carries the weight of tradition and the confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you are — heritage as a living argument that the old ways survive because they still produce something no shortcut can replicate.
Heritage is not a museum exhibit. It is a living argument — proof that the old ways survive not out of stubbornness but because they still produce something no shortcut can replicate. Today's eight selections share roots that reach back through centuries: a bourbon named for the year Kentucky entered the Union, a Highland Scotch distilled on the banks of the Dornoch Firth since 1843, an Irish whiskey from a distillery licensed in 1608, and a tequila aged in the same hacienda that has shaped the spirit since 1870.
From a gin recipe that has barely changed since Charles Tanqueray first locked his four-botanical formula in 1830, to a Panamanian rum estate whose family has grown sugarcane since 1908 and distilled rum since 1936, a Second Growth Bordeaux classified in 1855, and an Alsatian Riesling house whose vineyards trace back to 1639 — every bottle today carries the weight of tradition and the confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you are.
TODAY'S SELECTIONS
Bourbon Scotch Whisky Irish Whiskey Tequila Gin Rum Red Wine White Wine
BOURBON 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Distilled at the Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky — the heart of bourbon country — this small batch expression takes its name from the year Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the fifteenth state. The distillery itself has operated on this site since 1879, and its limestone-filtered water and traditional copper-column distillation have remained constants through nearly a century and a half of production.
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small Batch
Company: Sazerac Company
Distillery: Barton 1792 Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky
Proof: 93.7 (46.85% ABV)
Age: No age statement (estimated 6-8 years)
Mash Bill: Undisclosed high-rye mash bill
Color: Rich amber with copper highlights
MSRP: $28-32
Nose: Warm caramel and vanilla layered over toasted oak, with undertones of baking spice, orange peel, and a faint sweetness of corn.
Palate: Full-bodied with a surge of brown spice and butterscotch, followed by rye-driven pepper and a mid-palate richness of dark caramel. Oak tannins provide structure without bitterness.
Finish: Medium-long, with lingering caramel, warm spice, and a clean, dry oak fade.
Cocktail — The 1792 Old Fashioned: Muddle a sugar cube with two dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of water. Add 2 oz 1792 Small Batch and stir with ice. Strain into a rocks glass over a single large cube. Express an orange peel over the surface and drop it in.
Pair with: Smoked pork ribs with a brown sugar and black pepper dry rub, or aged cheddar with honeycomb.
Awards: Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 90 points, Wine Enthusiast.
SCOTCH WHISKY Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old
From the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, Ross-shire, on the Dornoch Firth in the Scottish Highlands. Founded in 1843 by William Matheson, Glenmorangie houses the tallest stills in Scotland — their necks rise over five meters — which produce a remarkably delicate and pure new-make spirit. Only the finest middle cut is kept, aged exclusively in first- and second-fill American white oak ex-bourbon casks.
Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Company: The Glenmorangie Company (LVMH)
Distillery: Glenmorangie Distillery, Tain, Ross-shire
Proof: 86 (43% ABV)
Age: 10 Years
Mash Bill: 100% malted barley
Distillation: Copper pot stills (tallest in Scotland, necks over 5 meters); only the middle cut is retained
Maturation: 10 years in first- and second-fill American white oak ex-bourbon casks
Filtered: Non-chill filtered
Color: Pale gold with bright lemon tints
MSRP: $36-42
Nose: Fresh citrus and peach blossom give way to vanilla cream, a whisper of honeyed florals, and hints of ripe orange.
Palate: Silky and elegant, with ripe peach, vanilla custard, and a gentle sweetness. A mid-palate wave of floral rosewater adds complexity before the oak gently asserts itself.
Finish: Medium-length, clean and creamy, with lingering orange and vanilla.
Cocktail — Highland Peach Fizz: Combine 1.5 oz Glenmorangie The Original, 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice, 0.5 oz peach liqueur, and 0.5 oz honey syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake well, strain into a coupe, and top with a splash of soda water. Garnish with a thin peach slice.
Pair with: Lightly smoked Scottish salmon with a lemon-dill crème frache, or vanilla panna cotta with roasted peaches.
Awards: Gold Medal, International Wine and Spirit Competition; consistently rated 88-92 points across major publications.
IRISH WHISKEY Bushmills Black Bush
From the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland — granted a license to distill in 1608, making it one of the oldest licensed distillery sites in the world. Black Bush is a blend built around a high proportion of single malt whiskey matured in Oloroso sherry casks, giving it a richness uncommon in blended Irish whiskeys.
Classification: Blended Irish Whiskey
Company: Proximo Spirits (José Cuervo)
Distillery: Old Bushmills Distillery, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: No age statement
Mash Bill: Blend of triple-distilled single malt and grain whiskey
Distillation: Triple-distilled in copper pot stills (malt component)
Maturation: Predominantly Oloroso sherry casks with some bourbon barrel maturation
Color: Dark amber with tawny highlights
MSRP: $28-35
Nose: Rich dried fruit and Christmas cake, layered with honey, toasted malt, and a warm undercurrent of vanilla and clove.
Palate: Full and generous, with sherry-driven dried fruit sweetness, honeyed malt, and a gentle spice of clove. The triple distillation smooths the delivery while the sherry casks add weight and depth.
Finish: Medium-long, warm and fruity, with lingering dried fruit, honey, and a soft spice fade.
Cocktail — Black Bush Irish Coffee: Warm a stemmed glass with hot water, then discard. Add 1.5 oz Bushmills Black Bush, 1 tsp demerara sugar, and hot strong coffee. Stir to dissolve. Float lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon. Do not stir after adding the cream.
Pair with: Soda bread with Irish butter and a drizzle of wildflower honey, or dark chocolate truffles with sea salt.
Awards: Gold Medal, International Spirits Challenge; Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
TEQUILA Herradura Añejo
From the Hacienda San José del Refugio in the town of Amatitán, Jalisco — a property that has been producing tequila since 1870. Casa Herradura pioneered the reposado category in 1974 and the extra-añejo category in 1995, helping define the aged tequila landscape before those categories were formally recognized. The añejo rests for 25 months in American white oak barrels, nearly a year beyond the minimum requirement.
Classification: Tequila Añejo, 100% Blue Weber Agave
Company: Brown-Forman Corporation
Distillery: Casa Herradura, Hacienda San José del Refugio, Amatitán, Jalisco
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 25 months in American white oak barrels
Agave: 100% estate-grown Blue Weber agave from the Amatitán valley
Production: Traditional brick ovens for agave cooking; natural fermentation; double-distilled in stainless steel pot stills
Color: Rich amber gold
MSRP: $50-60
Nose: Cooked agave and caramel, joined by butterscotch, vanilla bean, and a warm oak backdrop with hints of dried fruit.
Palate: Smooth and layered, with rich caramel and butterscotch leading into cooked agave sweetness. The oak influence brings vanilla and a gentle tannic structure, while a soft peppery spice emerges mid-palate.
Finish: Long and warm, with fading butterscotch, oak, and a lingering agave sweetness.
Cocktail — Herradura Oaxacan Sunset: Combine 2 oz Herradura Añejo, 0.75 oz fresh lime juice, 0.5 oz agave nectar, and 2 dashes of orange bitters in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a rocks glass over ice. Garnish with an orange wheel.
Pair with: Slow-roasted carnitas with pickled onion and fresh cilantro, or cajeta flan.
Awards: Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Gold Medal, International Spirits Challenge.
GIN Tanqueray London Dry Gin
The recipe dates to 1830, when a twenty-year-old Charles Tanqueray began distilling in Bloomsbury, London. The formula uses just four botanicals — juniper, coriander, angelica, and liquorice — a simplicity that has become its signature. Now distilled at the Cameronbridge distillery in Fife, Scotland, using the original surviving still known as Old Tom, Tanqueray London Dry has remained one of the world's most respected gins for nearly two centuries.
Classification: London Dry Gin
Company: Diageo
Distillery: Cameronbridge Distillery, Fife, Scotland (recipe origin: Bloomsbury, London, 1830)
Proof: 94.6 (47.3% ABV)
Botanicals: Juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, liquorice root
Distillation: One-shot distillation in Old Tom, a copper pot still surviving from the original London distillery
Base: Neutral grain spirit
Color: Crystal clear
MSRP: $22-28
Nose: Bold juniper pine leads, followed by bright citrus zest, a dry herbaceous quality from the angelica, and a warm coriander spice.
Palate: Crisp and assertive, with pine-forward juniper driving the palate. Coriander adds a peppery warmth, while angelica provides a dry, earthy backbone. The higher proof gives it excellent structure and presence.
Finish: Clean, dry, and lingering, with pine juniper and a touch of lemon peel.
Cocktail — The Perfect Tanqueray Martini: Stir 2.5 oz Tanqueray London Dry with 0.5 oz dry vermouth and ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Express a lemon twist over the surface and drop it in. The higher proof ensures the gin's juniper character cuts through the vermouth.
Pair with: Chilled oysters with mignonette, or a classic English cucumber sandwich on white bread.
Awards: Gold Medal, International Wine and Spirit Competition; consistently rated among the world's top London Dry gins.
RUM Ron Abuelo Añejo 7 Year Old
From Varela Hermanos in Pesé, Panama — a family company founded in 1908 when Don José Varela Blanco established the Ingenio San Isidro sugar mill. The family began distilling rum in 1936, and the Ron Abuelo brand — meaning 'Grandfather Rum' — launched in 1960. Uniquely, Varela Hermanos is estate-produced from cane to bottle: the family grows its own sugarcane on over 1,600 hectares, mills it, ferments the molasses, distills the spirit, and ages it in small American white oak barrels on site.
Classification: Aged Panamanian Rum
Company: Varela Hermanos S.A.
Distillery: Varela Hermanos Distillery, Pesé, Herrera Province, Panama
Proof: 80 (40% ABV)
Age: 7 Years
Base: Sugarcane molasses (estate-grown)
Distillation: Column-distilled
Color: Deep gold with amber edges
MSRP: $22-28
Nose: Warm caramel and toffee, supported by vanilla, toasted oak, and hints of dried tropical fruit.
Palate: Smooth and medium-bodied, with caramel and toffee sweetness balanced by oak tannins. Vanilla and dried fruit provide depth, while a gentle spice adds interest through the mid-palate.
Finish: Medium-length, warm and clean, with fading toffee, oak, and a touch of dried fruit.
Cocktail — Abuelo Daiquiri: Combine 2 oz Ron Abuelo 7 Year Old, 1 oz fresh lime juice, and 0.75 oz simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard and strain into a chilled coupe. The aged rum adds a caramel depth that transforms this classic.
Pair with: Grilled pineapple with a brown sugar glaze, or a rich tres leches cake.
Awards: Gold Medal, Ministry of Rum tasting competition; rated 88 points by Rum Ratings.
RED WINE Chteau Léoville-Las Cases Grand Cru Classé 2018
From the commune of Saint-Julien in the Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux — classified as a Second Growth (Deuxième Grand Cru Classé) in the 1855 Classification. The estate's vineyards adjoin those of Chteau Latour in Pauillac, and the property has been producing wine since the eighteenth century. The 2018 vintage is widely regarded as one of the finest modern Bordeaux vintages.
Classification: Saint-Julien AOC, Deuxième Grand Cru Classé (1855 Classification)
Company: Domaines des Grands Crus de la Famille Delon
Winery: Chteau Léoville-Las Cases, Saint-Julien, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux
ABV: 13.6%
Primary Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend: Approximately 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Vineyards: Grand Enclos vineyard — 55 hectares of deep gravel soils adjacent to Chteau Latour, average vine age 40+ years
Maturation: 18 months in French oak barriques (80% new oak)
Color: Deep garnet with violet rim
MSRP: $180-250
Nose: Intense blackcurrant and dark cherry, layered with cedar, violet, and a subtle graphite minerality. A whisper of vanilla from new oak integrates seamlessly.
Palate: Structured and powerful yet remarkably refined. Dense blackcurrant fruit anchors the palate, framed by fine-grained tannins, cedar, and a persistent mineral thread. The mid-palate offers violet florality and dark cherry richness.
Finish: Exceptionally long, with cedar, blackcurrant, and fine tannins that promise decades of evolution.
Cocktail — Bordeaux Sangria: Combine one bottle of a young Bordeaux blend with 2 oz brandy, 1 oz orange liqueur, sliced oranges, blackberries, and a cinnamon stick. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Serve over ice. (Reserve the Léoville-Las Cases for drinking neat — this cocktail is for everyday Bordeaux.)
Pair with: Rack of lamb with a rosemary-garlic crust, or aged Comté cheese with walnut bread.
Awards: 98 points, James Suckling; 97 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate; rated among the top wines of the 2018 Bordeaux vintage.
WHITE WINE Famille Hugel Riesling Classic Alsace 2022
From Famille Hugel in Riquewihr, Alsace — a family that has been making wine in this medieval village since 1639. Now guided by the thirteenth generation, Hugel is one of the most respected names in Alsace, known for rigorous quality standards and a classification system that predates the official French appellation rules. Their Classic Riesling is vinified dry and showcases the purity of Alsatian terroir.
Classification: Alsace AOC, Riesling
Company: Famille Hugel
Winery: Famille Hugel, Riquewihr, Alsace, France
ABV: 12.5%
Primary Varietal: Riesling
Blend: 100% Riesling
Vinification: Whole-cluster pressed; fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel; extended lees contact for texture
Color: Pale gold with green highlights
MSRP: $18-24
Nose: Bright citrus zest and green apple, with undertones of white floral, a subtle honey note, and a stony minerality.
Palate: Crisp and precise, with citrus and green apple acidity driving the palate. A mid-palate honey sweetness adds dimension, while the mineral backbone and clean floral notes provide length and complexity.
Finish: Long and refreshing, with lingering citrus, gooseberry, and a persistent mineral thread.
Cocktail — Alsatian Spritz: Combine 3 oz Hugel Riesling Classic with 1 oz elderflower liqueur and 2 oz sparkling water in a wine glass over ice. Stir gently. Garnish with a thin slice of green apple and a sprig of fresh mint.
Pair with: Alsatian tarte flambée (flammekueche) with crème frache, onions, and lardons, or a fresh chèvre salad with green apples and walnuts.
Awards: 90 points, Wine Spectator; consistently rated among the best-value Alsace Rieslings by major critics.
Train Your Nose: Today's Aroma Spotlight
Recognizing the Aromas of Tradition
Heritage is not just a story on a label — it is embedded in the aromas themselves. The traditions behind each of today's selections have shaped their flavor profiles: decades in the same cask program, generations of the same botanical recipe, centuries on the same vineyard soils. Training your nose to recognize these aromas is the first step toward understanding what tradition tastes like.
Exercise 1 — Oak Traditions: Set up a comparative tasting of today's bourbon (1792 Small Batch) and today's Scotch (Glenmorangie The Original). Both are matured in American white oak, but the results are radically different. In the bourbon, look for caramel, brown spice, and charred oak — flavors driven by the new charred barrel requirement. In the Scotch, find vanilla, peach, and floral notes — the product of tall stills and gentler ex-bourbon casks. Same wood, different traditions, different aromas.
Exercise 2 — Cask vs. Base: Now compare the Irish whiskey (Bushmills Black Bush) with the rum (Ron Abuelo 7 Year Old). Both feature dried fruit and vanilla, but the sources differ: Black Bush gets its richness from Oloroso sherry casks, while Ron Abuelo's character comes from American oak and estate-produced molasses. Nose each spirit and ask: where does the sweetness come from — the cask, the base ingredient, or both? This is how heritage shapes flavor from the ground up.
Today's Kit Reference
| Today's Product | Key Aromas | Train With |
|---|---|---|
| 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Caramel, Vanilla, Brown Spices, Oak, Rye | Bourbon Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old | Vanilla, Peach, Orange, Floral (Rosewater), Honey | Whisky Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Bushmills Black Bush | Dried Fruit, Honey, Malt, Vanilla, Clove Spice | Whiskey Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Herradura Añejo | Agave (Cooked), Vanilla, Caramel, Oak, Butterscotch | Tequila & Mezcal Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Tanqueray London Dry Gin | Juniper (Pine), Coriander, Angelica, Lemon, Juniper (Herbaceous/Waxy) | Gin Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Ron Abuelo Añejo 7 Year Old | Caramel, Vanilla, Toffee, Oak, Dried Fruit | Rum Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Chteau Léoville-Las Cases Grand Cru Classé 2018 | Blackcurrant, Cedar, Violet, Cherry, Vanilla | Wine Aroma Masterclass Kit |
| Famille Hugel Riesling Classic Alsace 2022 | Citrus (Generic), Apple (Green), Honey, Floral (Rose), Gooseberry | Wine Aroma Masterclass Kit |
Explore the School of Wine and Spirits
Today's selections span centuries of unbroken tradition. Our books on Amazon take you deeper into those places — from the limestone hollows of Kentucky in America's Spirit, the misty distilleries of Scotland's Spirit and Ireland's Spirit, the volcanic highlands of The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, the ancient vineyards of The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, and the fossilized seabeds of Burgundy in our Chablis and Cte d'Or pocket guides.
Explore our Aroma Masterclass kits and books at schoolofwineandspirits.com
Join the School of Wine and Spirits Community
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Our kits make the perfect gift for the curious drinker in your life — because once you learn to identify aromas, you never taste the same way again.
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Until tomorrow's pour — cheers.
Robert R. Mohr, CPA, CGMA, WSET Level 3, WSG Certified Spirits Specialist — author of America's Spirit, Scotland's Spirit, Ireland's Spirit, The Ultimate Northern Italian Wine Journey, The Tequila y Mezcal Revolution, The Definitive Pocket Guide to Chablis, The Definitive Pocket Guide to the Cte d'Or, and Strategic Tuning. Published author of the Aroma Academy Tequila/Mezcal and Distiller's training kits.
The Still & The Vine is a daily publication of the School of Wine and Spirits.
1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Sazerac Company
1792 Small Batch is a bourbon that punches well above its price point. The high-rye mash bill gives it a spice-forward character that balances beautifully against the caramel sweetness, and at 93.7 proof it delivers flavor without overwhelming heat. The Barton 1792 Distillery, which has been producing spirits in Bardstown since 1879, brings a quiet consistency to this bottle — heritage you can taste in every sip.
Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old
The Glenmorangie Company (LVMH)
Glenmorangie The Original is a masterclass in the Highland style — delicate, fruity, and approachable without sacrificing depth. Those famously tall stills, the tallest in Scotland, strip away heavier compounds and deliver a spirit of unusual purity.
Bushmills Black Bush
Proximo Spirits (José Cuervo)
Bushmills Black Bush is one of the great values in Irish whiskey. The high proportion of sherry-cask-matured single malt in the blend gives it a richness and complexity that belies its modest price, and the Old Bushmills Distillery — whose site has held a distilling license since 1608 — brings centuries of craft to bear.
Herradura Añejo
Brown-Forman Corporation
Herradura Añejo is tequila heritage in a glass. Casa Herradura has been making tequila at the Hacienda San José del Refugio since 1870, and this añejo — aged 25 months, well beyond the 12-month minimum — shows the patience that comes with long experience.
Tanqueray London Dry Gin
Diageo
Tanqueray London Dry is the benchmark against which other London Dry gins are measured. Charles Tanqueray's four-botanical formula, created in 1830, has endured because it works — bold juniper, balanced spice, and a higher proof that stands up in any cocktail.
Ron Abuelo Añejo 7 Year Old
Varela Hermanos S.A.
Ron Abuelo Añejo 7 Year Old is estate rum at its purest. The Varela Hermanos family has controlled every step of production — from sugarcane field to bottle — since establishing their sugar mill in 1908 and beginning rum distillation in 1936.
Château Léoville-Las Cases Grand Cru Classé 2018
Domaines des Grands Crus de la Famille Delon
Château Léoville-Las Cases is frequently described as the finest of the Super Seconds — Second Growth estates that rival the First Growths in quality — and the 2018 vintage makes a compelling case.
Famille Hugel Riesling Classic Alsace 2022
Famille Hugel
Famille Hugel has been making wine in Riquewihr since 1639, and their Classic Riesling is a distillation of everything they have learned across thirteen generations. This is Alsatian Riesling at its most pure.