The Waiting Glass

Issue No. 57 — May 22, 2026

Your daily discovery of 8 exceptional wines and spirits

In This Issue

Bourbon Scotch Whisky Irish Whiskey Tequila Gin Rum Red Wine White Wine

Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Brand: Old Forester

Distillery: Brown-Forman Distillery

Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Deep burnished copper with mahogany edges

MSRP: $50–$60

Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

Barrel Type: New charred American oak

Nose: Rich caramel and charred oak lead, followed by dried cherry and a thread of leather. Underneath, there's a warm butterscotch sweetness that mingles with faint tobacco leaf.

Palate: Full-bodied and chewy, with dark cocoa and brown spices landing squarely mid-palate. Ripe cherry and vanilla weave through a persistent oak backbone, while a subtle rye grain note adds structure and grip.

Finish: Long and warming, trailing off with leather, charred oak, and a lingering caramel sweetness that fades slowly.

Bourbon Kit Aromas: Caramel, Charred Oak, Cherry, Leather, Brown Spices

The Verdict: Statesman is the overlooked sibling in the Old Forester range, but it may be the most complete expression they offer at this price. The extra proof carries deeper barrel influence without tipping into harshness. A bourbon built for contemplation, not cocktails — though it handles both admirably.

Classification: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: GlenDronach

Distillery: The GlenDronach Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 12 Year

Color: Rich amber with reddish-gold highlights

MSRP: $50–$65

Region: Highland

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley

Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: Aged 12 years in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks

Cask Type: Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks

Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered

Nose: Dried fruit — figs and raisins — lead the way, layered with honeyed malt and a suggestion of dark cocoa. A gentle floral rosewater note emerges with patience in the glass.

Palate: Buttery and full, with waves of caramel and clove spice balanced by hazelnut and a persistent dried fruit sweetness. The sherry cask influence is authoritative but never cloying, with a gentle woody structure underneath.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering dried fruit, clove spice, and a final echo of honey.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Dried Fruit, Honey, Buttery, Clove Spice, Nut (Hazelnut)

The Verdict: GlenDronach 12 is a benchmark for sherry-matured Highland malt at this age and price. The distillery's commitment to genuine sherry cask maturation — no shortcuts, no finishes — is evident in the depth and cohesion of the palate. If you want to understand what patient sherry cask aging does to spirit, start here.

Classification: Blended Irish Whiskey

Brand: Midleton

Distillery: Midleton Distillery

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Pale gold with warm straw highlights

MSRP: $180–$220

Mash Bill: Blend of single pot still and single grain whiskeys

Distillation: Triple distilled in copper pot stills (pot still component); column distilled (grain component)

Maturation: Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks

Chill-Filtered: Chill filtered

Nose: Delicate honeyed cereals open with fresh peach and vanilla. A subtle green cut grass note adds brightness, while floral rosewater lingers just beneath the surface. Time in the glass reveals gentle almond and a wisp of oak.

Palate: Silky and refined, with buttery grain character meeting stone fruit and a suggestion of cocoa. The mid-palate broadens into caramel and woody spice, balanced by a gentle ethereal quality that keeps the whiskey light on its feet.

Finish: Measured and elegant, trailing off with vanilla, peach, and a last touch of honey.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Honey, Peach, Vanilla, Buttery, Cocoa (Dark)

The Verdict: The 2023 vintage continues the Midleton Very Rare tradition of showcasing the distillery's remarkable range of pot still and grain whiskeys. Master Blender Kevin O'Gorman's selection emphasizes restraint over intensity, creating a whiskey where every element has space to breathe. It rewards those who approach it slowly.

Classification: Añejo Tequila

Brand: Don Julio

Distillery: Tequila Don Julio

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 18 Months

Color: Rich amber gold

MSRP: $55–$70

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave

Cooking Method: Traditional brick oven roasting, roller mill extraction, double distilled in pot stills

NOM: 1449

Nose: Cooked agave and butterscotch form the foundation, with vanilla and toasted oak adding dimension. A gentle honey note weaves through, accompanied by hints of cinnamon and dried citrus peel.

Palate: Smooth and layered, with caramel and agave sweetness balanced by peppery spice and a pronounced oak presence. Dark chocolate and almond emerge mid-palate, and a subtle earthy minerality grounds the sweetness.

Finish: Long and gently warming, with lingering vanilla, oak, and a final note of cooked agave.

Tequila Kit Aromas: Agave (Cooked), Butterscotch, Vanilla, Oak, Cinnamon

The Verdict: Don Julio Añejo remains one of the most reliable entry points into aged tequila. The 18-month maturation in American white oak strikes a balance between barrel influence and agave character that many longer-aged expressions lose. It's a study in how restraint in aging can produce a more honest result than ambition.

Classification: London Dry Gin

Brand: Hayman's

Distillery: Hayman's Distillery

Proof: 82 (41.2% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear

MSRP: $22–$30

Style: London Dry

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander seed, lemon peel, orange peel, angelica root, orris root, cassia bark, cinnamon, nutmeg, liquorice root

Base Spirit: Grain neutral spirit

Distillation: Single-shot distillation in a copper pot still after 24-hour botanical steeping

Nose: Classic juniper — green and resinous — opens cleanly, followed by bright lemon peel and warm coriander seed. Angelica root adds an earthy anchor, and a faint floral note floats at the edges.

Palate: Balanced and direct, with juniper leading into citrus and cassia bark warmth. The mid-palate reveals orris root and a gentle peppery spice, while the texture stays clean and medium-bodied without any cloying sweetness.

Finish: Clean and dry, with lingering juniper and a whisper of angelica.

Gin Kit Aromas: Juniper (Green), Lemon, Coriander, Angelica, Cassia Bark

The Verdict: Hayman's London Dry is a gin that trusts its botanicals rather than burying them. Fifth-generation distiller Christopher Hayman keeps the recipe honest — ten botanicals, no gimmicks, no barrel resting. It's the kind of gin that makes you wonder why anyone needs twenty botanicals when ten, chosen well, do the job this effectively.

Classification: Jamaican Rum

Brand: Appleton Estate

Distillery: Appleton Estate Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 21 Year

Color: Deep mahogany with amber-copper highlights

MSRP: $100–$130

Base Ingredients: Molasses

Distillation: Blend of copper pot still and column still distillates

Nose: Rich dried fruit and orange marmalade open with a wave of toffee and roasted coffee. Layers of oak and leather develop, while a subtle vanilla sweetness ties the complex aromatics together.

Palate: Full and velvety, with molasses-drenched tropical fruits giving way to chocolate, tobacco, and a spice complexity that builds gradually. The oak is prominent but integrated, lending a cask-aged depth that never overwhelms the Jamaican pot still character.

Finish: Remarkably long, fading through coffee, dried fruit, and a final lingering note of spiced oak.

Rum Kit Aromas: Dried Fruit, Toffee, Coffee, Oak, Tobacco, Orange

The Verdict: Twenty-one Jamaican years — where heat and humidity accelerate the angel's share dramatically — means this rum has sacrificed more to the tropics than most spirits twice its stated age in cooler climates. Master Blender Joy Spence's hand is evident in the seamless integration of pot and column still distillates. This is rum as serious contemplation spirit, demanding nothing but a glass and time.

Classification: Grand Cru Classé (Second Growth)

Brand: Château Pichon Baron

ABV: 14.5%

Primary Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Blend: 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot

Vineyards: 73 hectares on deep Günzian gravel in Pauillac

Maturation: Vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete vats, malolactic in barrel

Color: Opaque dark purple-black with violet rim

MSRP: $120–$160

Nose: Concentrated blackcurrant and violet emerge first, followed by cedar and graphite. A subtle mint note adds freshness, and toasted oak spice develops with air.

Palate: Dense and structured, with layers of blackcurrant and cherry wrapped in firm, fine-grained tannins. Vanilla and cedar from the oak aging are well-integrated, and a pronounced minerality gives the mid-palate a seriousness that demands attention.

Finish: Exceptionally long, with cedar, blackcurrant, and a persistent violet note that lifts the finish above its weight.

Wine Kit Aromas: Blackcurrant, Cedar, Violet, Cherry, Mint

The Verdict: The 2018 vintage was tailor-made for Pauillac, and Pichon Baron capitalized fully. The Cabernet Sauvignon dominance shows in the structure and dark fruit intensity, but what distinguishes this bottle is its patience — it's built to evolve over two decades, yet already shows remarkable composure. A wine that asks you to wait and rewards those who do.

Classification: Alsace AOC

Brand: Domaine Weinbach

ABV: 14%

Primary Varietal: Gewürztraminer

Blend: 100% Gewürztraminer

Vineyards: Clos des Capucins, Kaysersberg, Alsace

Vinification: Whole-cluster pressed, spontaneous fermentation in large oak foudres, extended lees aging

Color: Deep golden yellow with copper tints

MSRP: $35–$50

Nose: Intense rose petal and lychee open immediately, followed by honey-soaked citrus and a hint of ginger spice. An underlying minerality keeps the floral exuberance grounded.

Palate: Rich and textured, with melon and tropical pineapple notes meeting a honeyed mid-palate. Despite the generous fruit, the wine carries a fine green thread of acidity and a mineral backbone that prevents any sense of heaviness. A touch of marzipan emerges on the back palate.

Finish: Persistent and aromatic, with rose, honey, and citrus lingering elegantly.

Wine Kit Aromas: Floral (Rose), Honey, Melon, Citrus (Generic), Marzipan

The Verdict: Cuvée Théo honors the late Théo Faller who shaped modern Domaine Weinbach, and it embodies his philosophy: let the terroir speak, but give it time to gather its voice. This is Gewürztraminer without the caricature — aromatic power held in check by the Clos des Capucins' exceptional soils. It demonstrates that the grape's expressiveness, when grown with discipline, is a virtue rather than a flaw.

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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 Côte 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.

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