The Stave and the Stem

Issue No. 82 — June 16, 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: Ezra Brooks

Distillery: Lux Row Distillers

Proof: 99 (49.5% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Burnished amber with copper edges

MSRP: $22–$28

Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 12% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

Barrel Type: New charred American oak

Nose: Caramel corn and vanilla custard open things up, followed by a dusting of brown spices and dried cherry. There's a subtle charred oak backbone that gives the nose more depth than you'd expect at this price.

Palate: Medium-bodied with butterscotch up front, then rye spice kicks in mid-palate. Charred oak and a faint leather note add complexity, while corn sweetness keeps everything approachable.

Finish: Medium length with lingering caramel and a touch of oak char. Clean and warm without any bitterness.

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

The Verdict: Ezra Brooks 99 punches well above its price point, delivering a balanced pour with enough proof to stand up in cocktails while remaining comfortable neat. It's a workhorse bourbon that rewards attention without demanding it.

Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: Dailuaine

Distillery: Dailuaine Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 16 Year

Color: Rich gold with amber highlights

MSRP: $70–$95

Region: Speyside

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley

Distillation: Copper pot stills with worm tub condensers

Maturation: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, 16 years minimum

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon and ex-sherry

Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated

Chill-Filtered: Yes

Nose: Honey and dried apricot lead, followed by malt and a subtle waxy quality. Sherry influence brings dried fruit and a whisper of clove spice into the back of the nose.

Palate: Full-bodied and slightly oily, with butterscotch and stewed peach at center stage. Cocoa and hazelnut emerge mid-palate, supported by gentle woody tannins.

Finish: Long and warming, with dried fruit and a lingering malty sweetness. A faint earthy note anchors the close.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Honey, Dried Fruit, Malt, Cocoa (Dark), Nut (Hazelnut), Clove Spice

The Verdict: Dailuaine is one of Speyside's great unsung distilleries, and this 16-year Flora & Fauna bottling shows why. It's a rich, sherried malt with serious depth, offering a masterclass in how wood and fruit negotiate over time.

Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Brand: Bushmills

Distillery: Old Bushmills Distillery

Proof: 97 (48.5% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Deep gold with apricot hues

MSRP: $125–$160

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley

Distillation: Triple distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: Initial aging in ex-bourbon casks, finished in Muscatel wine casks

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered

Nose: Honeyed peach and floral rosewater open with elegance, then dried figs and almond paste emerge. A faint vanilla thread ties the aromatics together.

Palate: Silky and generous, with honey, dried fruit, and a muscatel sweetness that never becomes cloying. Clove spice and cocoa add structure, while the mouthfeel is rich and coating.

Finish: Long and layered, with peach, vanilla, and a gentle woody dryness. The muscatel influence lingers beautifully without overwhelming the malt.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Honey, Peach, Floral (Rosewater), Dried Fruit, Clove Spice, Vanilla

The Verdict: This Causeway Collection release demonstrates how carefully chosen cask finishing can elevate an already accomplished distillate. The muscatel influence is assertive but never domineering — a study in controlled extravagance.

Classification: Blanco Tequila

Brand: El Tesoro

Distillery: La Alteña Distillery

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear with faint silver luminosity

MSRP: $40–$50

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave (Highland, Arandas)

Cooking Method: Slow-roasted in stone ovens, tahona-crushed, naturally fermented

NOM: NOM 1139

Additives Free: Yes

Nose: Bright cooked agave dominates, with lime zest and wet mineral notes underneath. White pepper and a hint of green herb add dimension without competing.

Palate: Creamy entry with sweet agave, then citrus and grassy notes expand across the mid-palate. There's a subtle earthiness that grounds the sweetness and a gentle peppery bite that adds tension.

Finish: Medium length with clean agave sweetness and a mineral tail. The grassiness fades slowly, leaving a pleasant herbal warmth.

Tequila Kit Aromas: Agave (Cooked), Citrus (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit), Grass, Earth (Mineral, Soil Notes), Pepper

The Verdict: El Tesoro Blanco is a textbook expression of traditional highland tequila production. The tahona-crushed agave and copper pot distillation create a blanco with unusual depth and texture — the kind of bottle that converts skeptics.

Classification: Flavoured Gin

Brand: Whitley Neill

Distillery: City of London Distillery (contracted)

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Very pale blush, nearly transparent

MSRP: $25–$32

Style: Flavoured Gin

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelica root, cassia bark, ginger root, rhubarb extract, lemon peel

Base Spirit: Neutral grain spirit

Distillation: Pot distilled

Nose: Rhubarb tartness hits first, followed by warm ginger root and a recognizable juniper backbone. Lemon peel and a whisper of cassia bark keep the nose grounded in gin territory.

Palate: Juicy and balanced, with the rhubarb adding a fruity sharpness that pairs well with the ginger's warmth. Juniper reasserts itself mid-palate alongside angelica and coriander, preventing any drift toward mere flavored vodka.

Finish: Medium length with ginger warmth and a tart rhubarb echo. Clean and refreshing, inviting the next sip.

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

The Verdict: Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger succeeds where many flavored gins fail — it integrates its signature botanicals without sacrificing gin identity. The juniper spine holds firm, making this a versatile bottle that works as well in a G&T as it does in more creative builds.

Classification: Aged Barbados Rum

Brand: Plantation

Distillery: West Indies Rum Distillery

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 5 Year

Color: Deep amber with mahogany edges

MSRP: $28–$35

Base Ingredients: Barbados molasses

Distillation: Column and pot still blend

Nose: Toffee and toasted coconut open the nose, followed by ripe banana and vanilla. A gentle oak presence and a note of dried orange peel round out the aromatics.

Palate: Smooth and medium-bodied, with caramel, tropical fruit, and baking spice arriving in sequence. The double aging — first in Barbados, then in French cognac casks — lends a creamy vanilla richness that holds up well against the oak tannins.

Finish: Medium with lingering toffee and a touch of spice. The tropical fruit echo fades slowly into a clean, slightly dry close.

Rum Kit Aromas: Toffee, Coconut, Banana, Vanilla, Oak, Orange

The Verdict: Plantation Grande Réserve demonstrates how double-cask maturation creates complexity beyond what either environment could achieve alone. At this price, it delivers remarkable polish and makes an exceptional foundation for elevated rum cocktails.

Classification: Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Brand: Château Pape Clément

ABV: 14.5%

Primary Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot

Vineyards: Château Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan, gravel and clay soils

Maturation: Destemmed, cold soak, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete vats, malolactic in barrel

Color: Deep garnet with violet rim

MSRP: $85–$120

Nose: Blackcurrant and crushed violets lead, followed by cedar, pencil shavings, and a hint of mint. There's a smoky toasted oak quality underneath that speaks to careful barrel selection.

Palate: Full-bodied and structured, with ripe dark cherry and blackcurrant at the core. Cedar and vanilla from new French oak provide architecture, while the tannins are firm but polished. A graphite-mineral thread runs through the mid-palate.

Finish: Very long, with cedar, dark fruit, and a persistent violet note. The tannins linger gracefully, promising significant development with cellaring.

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

The Verdict: The 2019 vintage at Pape Clément is one of the estate's finest modern efforts. The wine balances opulence with restraint, offering immediate pleasure while clearly built for aging. It demonstrates how the right vintage year and skilled élevage can produce a wine that feels both generous and precise.

Classification: Chablis AOC

Brand: Domaine Vincent Dauvissat

ABV: 12.5%

Primary Varietal: Chardonnay

Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Vineyards: Village-level parcels in Chablis, Kimmeridgian limestone and clay soils

Vinification: Whole cluster pressed, natural fermentation in old oak, extended lees aging, minimal sulfur

Color: Pale straw with green-gold reflections

MSRP: $45–$65

Nose: Green apple and lemon zest dominate, with a flinty mineral note beneath. A subtle honeyed quality and just a trace of white flowers add complexity without weight.

Palate: Taut and precise, with citrus and green apple flavors wrapped around a chalky mineral spine. There's a delicate creaminess from lees contact that keeps the wine from feeling austere, while the acidity is bracing and clean.

Finish: Medium-long with a persistent mineral-citrus echo. The finish is razor-sharp and refreshing, with a saline quality that calls you back for another taste.

Wine Kit Aromas: Apple (Green), Citrus (Generic), Honey, Floral (Rose), Green (Cut Grass)

The Verdict: Dauvissat's village-level Chablis drinks like a wine well above its station. The meticulous viticulture and restrained winemaking let the Kimmeridgian terroir speak clearly — chalky, mineral-driven, and absolutely alive. This is Chablis with nothing to hide.

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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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