Jim Vorel
@jimvorel.bsky.social
Movies editor at Paste Magazine, rabid genre geek. Spirits and cocktail wonk.
Jim Beam Hardin’s Creek (Owl) bourbon review:
Nose: Sweet, charred and also a little on the earthy side in a pleasant way. A kiss of smoke, sweet espresso and traces of rye spice, meeting cinnamon brown sugar. I dig the interplay of sweet and spice.
Nose: Sweet, charred and also a little on the earthy side in a pleasant way. A kiss of smoke, sweet espresso and traces of rye spice, meeting cinnamon brown sugar. I dig the interplay of sweet and spice.
December 4, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Jim Beam Hardin’s Creek (Owl) bourbon review:
Nose: Sweet, charred and also a little on the earthy side in a pleasant way. A kiss of smoke, sweet espresso and traces of rye spice, meeting cinnamon brown sugar. I dig the interplay of sweet and spice.
Nose: Sweet, charred and also a little on the earthy side in a pleasant way. A kiss of smoke, sweet espresso and traces of rye spice, meeting cinnamon brown sugar. I dig the interplay of sweet and spice.
Jim Beam Hardin’s Creek (Beaver) bourbon review:
Nose: Cotton candy sweetness, fresh apple, vanilla cream, glazed donut, hints of brown spice. Getting a little brighter red fruit, like raspberry and strawberry.
Nose: Cotton candy sweetness, fresh apple, vanilla cream, glazed donut, hints of brown spice. Getting a little brighter red fruit, like raspberry and strawberry.
December 4, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Jim Beam Hardin’s Creek (Beaver) bourbon review:
Nose: Cotton candy sweetness, fresh apple, vanilla cream, glazed donut, hints of brown spice. Getting a little brighter red fruit, like raspberry and strawberry.
Nose: Cotton candy sweetness, fresh apple, vanilla cream, glazed donut, hints of brown spice. Getting a little brighter red fruit, like raspberry and strawberry.
Jim Beam Hardin’s Creek (Mushroom) bourbon review:
Nose: Caramel candies, old rickhouse oak and mustiness, vanilla buttercream, charred caramel sauce on flan. Fresher notes of apple flesh, biscuit and almost a hint of something surprising and resinous.
Nose: Caramel candies, old rickhouse oak and mustiness, vanilla buttercream, charred caramel sauce on flan. Fresher notes of apple flesh, biscuit and almost a hint of something surprising and resinous.
December 4, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Jim Beam Hardin’s Creek (Mushroom) bourbon review:
Nose: Caramel candies, old rickhouse oak and mustiness, vanilla buttercream, charred caramel sauce on flan. Fresher notes of apple flesh, biscuit and almost a hint of something surprising and resinous.
Nose: Caramel candies, old rickhouse oak and mustiness, vanilla buttercream, charred caramel sauce on flan. Fresher notes of apple flesh, biscuit and almost a hint of something surprising and resinous.
Mount Gay Silver Eclipse Rum (2025) review:
Nose: Light vanilla, sugar cookie, hints of roasted pineapple. Gentle fruity esters, a little hint of barrel spice, and mild, approachable sweetness. The pot still component is certainly noticeable.
Nose: Light vanilla, sugar cookie, hints of roasted pineapple. Gentle fruity esters, a little hint of barrel spice, and mild, approachable sweetness. The pot still component is certainly noticeable.
December 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Mount Gay Silver Eclipse Rum (2025) review:
Nose: Light vanilla, sugar cookie, hints of roasted pineapple. Gentle fruity esters, a little hint of barrel spice, and mild, approachable sweetness. The pot still component is certainly noticeable.
Nose: Light vanilla, sugar cookie, hints of roasted pineapple. Gentle fruity esters, a little hint of barrel spice, and mild, approachable sweetness. The pot still component is certainly noticeable.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon (cask strength) review:
Nose: Toasted and gently caramelized elements. Sawdust and baked oak, graham cracker, lightly honeyed sweetness. Citrus and baked apple with light cinnamon and clove. Surprisingly gentle ethanol for 125 proof.
Nose: Toasted and gently caramelized elements. Sawdust and baked oak, graham cracker, lightly honeyed sweetness. Citrus and baked apple with light cinnamon and clove. Surprisingly gentle ethanol for 125 proof.
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Willett Family Estate Small Batch Bourbon (cask strength) review:
Nose: Toasted and gently caramelized elements. Sawdust and baked oak, graham cracker, lightly honeyed sweetness. Citrus and baked apple with light cinnamon and clove. Surprisingly gentle ethanol for 125 proof.
Nose: Toasted and gently caramelized elements. Sawdust and baked oak, graham cracker, lightly honeyed sweetness. Citrus and baked apple with light cinnamon and clove. Surprisingly gentle ethanol for 125 proof.
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tanyard Hill Rye whiskey (145.9 proof!) review:
Nose: Maple syrup, caramel dipped apple, dried fruit, deep caramelized sugars. A slightly musty graininess and deeply browned rye bread, with hints of clove and pepper. Vinous, concentrated dark fruitiness and wet oak.
Nose: Maple syrup, caramel dipped apple, dried fruit, deep caramelized sugars. A slightly musty graininess and deeply browned rye bread, with hints of clove and pepper. Vinous, concentrated dark fruitiness and wet oak.
November 20, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tanyard Hill Rye whiskey (145.9 proof!) review:
Nose: Maple syrup, caramel dipped apple, dried fruit, deep caramelized sugars. A slightly musty graininess and deeply browned rye bread, with hints of clove and pepper. Vinous, concentrated dark fruitiness and wet oak.
Nose: Maple syrup, caramel dipped apple, dried fruit, deep caramelized sugars. A slightly musty graininess and deeply browned rye bread, with hints of clove and pepper. Vinous, concentrated dark fruitiness and wet oak.
Charbay S “Hop-Flavored” distilled stout whiskey review:
Nose: Toasted malt, crisp grain and hints of more assertive roast, dark chocolate and a little smoke. Faint hints of earthiness and resin as well, maybe similar hop character but much more subtle than the R5. Slightly musty.
Nose: Toasted malt, crisp grain and hints of more assertive roast, dark chocolate and a little smoke. Faint hints of earthiness and resin as well, maybe similar hop character but much more subtle than the R5. Slightly musty.
November 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Charbay S “Hop-Flavored” distilled stout whiskey review:
Nose: Toasted malt, crisp grain and hints of more assertive roast, dark chocolate and a little smoke. Faint hints of earthiness and resin as well, maybe similar hop character but much more subtle than the R5. Slightly musty.
Nose: Toasted malt, crisp grain and hints of more assertive roast, dark chocolate and a little smoke. Faint hints of earthiness and resin as well, maybe similar hop character but much more subtle than the R5. Slightly musty.
Charbay R5 Whiskey (distilled IPA beer) review:
Nose: Honey Graham cracker, sweet malt, citrus, resin and grass. A very interesting nose, it has floral elements but also a bit of warming spice that crosses over into the citrus, like coriander or chamomile. Could almost pass as a barrel-aged gin.
Nose: Honey Graham cracker, sweet malt, citrus, resin and grass. A very interesting nose, it has floral elements but also a bit of warming spice that crosses over into the citrus, like coriander or chamomile. Could almost pass as a barrel-aged gin.
November 12, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Charbay R5 Whiskey (distilled IPA beer) review:
Nose: Honey Graham cracker, sweet malt, citrus, resin and grass. A very interesting nose, it has floral elements but also a bit of warming spice that crosses over into the citrus, like coriander or chamomile. Could almost pass as a barrel-aged gin.
Nose: Honey Graham cracker, sweet malt, citrus, resin and grass. A very interesting nose, it has floral elements but also a bit of warming spice that crosses over into the citrus, like coriander or chamomile. Could almost pass as a barrel-aged gin.
1. George T. Stagg Bourbon 2025
Nose: Big, bold, oak driven and spicy. Old funky rickhouse oak, spiced cherry lozenge, hot cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Dark chocolate, roast and considerable ethanol.
Nose: Big, bold, oak driven and spicy. Old funky rickhouse oak, spiced cherry lozenge, hot cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Dark chocolate, roast and considerable ethanol.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
1. George T. Stagg Bourbon 2025
Nose: Big, bold, oak driven and spicy. Old funky rickhouse oak, spiced cherry lozenge, hot cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Dark chocolate, roast and considerable ethanol.
Nose: Big, bold, oak driven and spicy. Old funky rickhouse oak, spiced cherry lozenge, hot cinnamon, brown sugar and nutmeg. Dark chocolate, roast and considerable ethanol.
2. Eagle Rare 17 Year Bourbon 2025
Nose: A deeper combination of sweet and funky oakiness. Espresso, dark chocolate, toffee, black cherry, but more unexpectedly light florals dancing around as well. The sweet roast is great, but slightly muted overall.
Nose: A deeper combination of sweet and funky oakiness. Espresso, dark chocolate, toffee, black cherry, but more unexpectedly light florals dancing around as well. The sweet roast is great, but slightly muted overall.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
2. Eagle Rare 17 Year Bourbon 2025
Nose: A deeper combination of sweet and funky oakiness. Espresso, dark chocolate, toffee, black cherry, but more unexpectedly light florals dancing around as well. The sweet roast is great, but slightly muted overall.
Nose: A deeper combination of sweet and funky oakiness. Espresso, dark chocolate, toffee, black cherry, but more unexpectedly light florals dancing around as well. The sweet roast is great, but slightly muted overall.
3. William Larue Weller 2025
Nose: Strawberry jam, toasted wheat, tobacco, slightly earthy, a little bit of smoke. Some clove and cinnamon as well. It’s actually more distinctly grainy than Weller nose tends to be, but gets sweeter and more caramelly with air.
Nose: Strawberry jam, toasted wheat, tobacco, slightly earthy, a little bit of smoke. Some clove and cinnamon as well. It’s actually more distinctly grainy than Weller nose tends to be, but gets sweeter and more caramelly with air.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
3. William Larue Weller 2025
Nose: Strawberry jam, toasted wheat, tobacco, slightly earthy, a little bit of smoke. Some clove and cinnamon as well. It’s actually more distinctly grainy than Weller nose tends to be, but gets sweeter and more caramelly with air.
Nose: Strawberry jam, toasted wheat, tobacco, slightly earthy, a little bit of smoke. Some clove and cinnamon as well. It’s actually more distinctly grainy than Weller nose tends to be, but gets sweeter and more caramelly with air.
4. Thomas H. Handy Rye Whiskey
Nose: Toasted oak, cocoa, herbal rye. A greater sense of oakiness, but also some greater freshness. Big spearmint and a more grassy rye character, with lingering rye grain. Ethanol isn’t as big as you might expect.
Nose: Toasted oak, cocoa, herbal rye. A greater sense of oakiness, but also some greater freshness. Big spearmint and a more grassy rye character, with lingering rye grain. Ethanol isn’t as big as you might expect.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
4. Thomas H. Handy Rye Whiskey
Nose: Toasted oak, cocoa, herbal rye. A greater sense of oakiness, but also some greater freshness. Big spearmint and a more grassy rye character, with lingering rye grain. Ethanol isn’t as big as you might expect.
Nose: Toasted oak, cocoa, herbal rye. A greater sense of oakiness, but also some greater freshness. Big spearmint and a more grassy rye character, with lingering rye grain. Ethanol isn’t as big as you might expect.
5. Sazerac 18 Year Rye Whiskey
Nose: Toasty, really evoking buttered rye bread with caraway seed. Pepper, toasted sugar, orchard fruit, glazed donut. Rye grain certainly expresses itself with a slightly malty sweetness.
Nose: Toasty, really evoking buttered rye bread with caraway seed. Pepper, toasted sugar, orchard fruit, glazed donut. Rye grain certainly expresses itself with a slightly malty sweetness.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
5. Sazerac 18 Year Rye Whiskey
Nose: Toasty, really evoking buttered rye bread with caraway seed. Pepper, toasted sugar, orchard fruit, glazed donut. Rye grain certainly expresses itself with a slightly malty sweetness.
Nose: Toasty, really evoking buttered rye bread with caraway seed. Pepper, toasted sugar, orchard fruit, glazed donut. Rye grain certainly expresses itself with a slightly malty sweetness.
6. E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond bourbon
Nose: Cherry pie, grape jelly and significant fruitiness, meeting halfway with sweet roast, dark chocolate and barrel char. A certain tart dimension to the fruitiness, but also some caramel candies and hints of leather. On the mild side.
Nose: Cherry pie, grape jelly and significant fruitiness, meeting halfway with sweet roast, dark chocolate and barrel char. A certain tart dimension to the fruitiness, but also some caramel candies and hints of leather. On the mild side.
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
6. E.H. Taylor Bottled in Bond bourbon
Nose: Cherry pie, grape jelly and significant fruitiness, meeting halfway with sweet roast, dark chocolate and barrel char. A certain tart dimension to the fruitiness, but also some caramel candies and hints of leather. On the mild side.
Nose: Cherry pie, grape jelly and significant fruitiness, meeting halfway with sweet roast, dark chocolate and barrel char. A certain tart dimension to the fruitiness, but also some caramel candies and hints of leather. On the mild side.
High West Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 review:
Nose: Big dark fruit and dried fruit here. Currant, raisin, plums, blackberries, with vanilla custard and wafers. Honeyed tones and modest spicy rye swirling below, with traces of mint and roasted nuts. #whiskey
Nose: Big dark fruit and dried fruit here. Currant, raisin, plums, blackberries, with vanilla custard and wafers. Honeyed tones and modest spicy rye swirling below, with traces of mint and roasted nuts. #whiskey
October 29, 2025 at 12:51 AM
High West Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 review:
Nose: Big dark fruit and dried fruit here. Currant, raisin, plums, blackberries, with vanilla custard and wafers. Honeyed tones and modest spicy rye swirling below, with traces of mint and roasted nuts. #whiskey
Nose: Big dark fruit and dried fruit here. Currant, raisin, plums, blackberries, with vanilla custard and wafers. Honeyed tones and modest spicy rye swirling below, with traces of mint and roasted nuts. #whiskey
The sentiment holds for Bluesky film posting as well.
October 24, 2025 at 4:17 AM
The sentiment holds for Bluesky film posting as well.
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass LE Chinquapin Oak rye review:
Nose: Deeply toasted rye bread, honey, caramel. Sweet roast, caraway and faint pepper. Big cigar wrapper and more savory notes, with hints of black cherry. This nose is really inviting. Reminds me of very mature MGP rye.
Nose: Deeply toasted rye bread, honey, caramel. Sweet roast, caraway and faint pepper. Big cigar wrapper and more savory notes, with hints of black cherry. This nose is really inviting. Reminds me of very mature MGP rye.
October 21, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass LE Chinquapin Oak rye review:
Nose: Deeply toasted rye bread, honey, caramel. Sweet roast, caraway and faint pepper. Big cigar wrapper and more savory notes, with hints of black cherry. This nose is really inviting. Reminds me of very mature MGP rye.
Nose: Deeply toasted rye bread, honey, caramel. Sweet roast, caraway and faint pepper. Big cigar wrapper and more savory notes, with hints of black cherry. This nose is really inviting. Reminds me of very mature MGP rye.
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass LE Chinquapin Oak wheated bourbon:
Nose: Brown sugar cinnamon, toasted wheat strands, more delicate floral tones, nougat, vanilla pudding, a little cocoa. Similar toasted oakiness hinting at the secondary barrel finish.
Nose: Brown sugar cinnamon, toasted wheat strands, more delicate floral tones, nougat, vanilla pudding, a little cocoa. Similar toasted oakiness hinting at the secondary barrel finish.
October 21, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass LE Chinquapin Oak wheated bourbon:
Nose: Brown sugar cinnamon, toasted wheat strands, more delicate floral tones, nougat, vanilla pudding, a little cocoa. Similar toasted oakiness hinting at the secondary barrel finish.
Nose: Brown sugar cinnamon, toasted wheat strands, more delicate floral tones, nougat, vanilla pudding, a little cocoa. Similar toasted oakiness hinting at the secondary barrel finish.
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass LE Chinquapin Oak bourbon review
Nose: Sweet, toasty and lots of baking spice. Molasses cookie and toasted sugar, with sweet cinnamon, licorice candy, faint rye and toasted oak. Definitely does feel like another level of oak.
Nose: Sweet, toasty and lots of baking spice. Molasses cookie and toasted sugar, with sweet cinnamon, licorice candy, faint rye and toasted oak. Definitely does feel like another level of oak.
October 21, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass LE Chinquapin Oak bourbon review
Nose: Sweet, toasty and lots of baking spice. Molasses cookie and toasted sugar, with sweet cinnamon, licorice candy, faint rye and toasted oak. Definitely does feel like another level of oak.
Nose: Sweet, toasty and lots of baking spice. Molasses cookie and toasted sugar, with sweet cinnamon, licorice candy, faint rye and toasted oak. Definitely does feel like another level of oak.
Jim Beam Booker’s Bourbon Jerry’s Batch review:
Nose: Dark caramel, clove, rickhouse funk, vanilla bean, maybe a hint of banana. Candy apple and delicate florals. Not the most assertive nose, but also quite light on ethanol for the proof. Easygoing, honestly. #whiskey
Nose: Dark caramel, clove, rickhouse funk, vanilla bean, maybe a hint of banana. Candy apple and delicate florals. Not the most assertive nose, but also quite light on ethanol for the proof. Easygoing, honestly. #whiskey
October 19, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Jim Beam Booker’s Bourbon Jerry’s Batch review:
Nose: Dark caramel, clove, rickhouse funk, vanilla bean, maybe a hint of banana. Candy apple and delicate florals. Not the most assertive nose, but also quite light on ethanol for the proof. Easygoing, honestly. #whiskey
Nose: Dark caramel, clove, rickhouse funk, vanilla bean, maybe a hint of banana. Candy apple and delicate florals. Not the most assertive nose, but also quite light on ethanol for the proof. Easygoing, honestly. #whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Sweet Mash review:
Nose: Really rich, sweet nose. Brown sugar, caramelized bananas, butterscotch and something a little bit more earthy, almost peat-like without the smoke element. The fruity-grainy-sweet combination of apple crisp. Interesting.
Nose: Really rich, sweet nose. Brown sugar, caramelized bananas, butterscotch and something a little bit more earthy, almost peat-like without the smoke element. The fruity-grainy-sweet combination of apple crisp. Interesting.
October 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Sweet Mash review:
Nose: Really rich, sweet nose. Brown sugar, caramelized bananas, butterscotch and something a little bit more earthy, almost peat-like without the smoke element. The fruity-grainy-sweet combination of apple crisp. Interesting.
Nose: Really rich, sweet nose. Brown sugar, caramelized bananas, butterscotch and something a little bit more earthy, almost peat-like without the smoke element. The fruity-grainy-sweet combination of apple crisp. Interesting.
There's something truly wonderful about using a service like Kanopy/your library card to access film content as deeply tawdry as "CHOLO ZOMBIES." It's like using some ancient library full of beautiful manuscripts to read Danielle Steel romance novels. #horrormovies #halloween
October 8, 2025 at 3:07 PM
There's something truly wonderful about using a service like Kanopy/your library card to access film content as deeply tawdry as "CHOLO ZOMBIES." It's like using some ancient library full of beautiful manuscripts to read Danielle Steel romance novels. #horrormovies #halloween
Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Blend Bourbon review:
Nose: Caramel chews, molasses cookie and intense wood spice. Cinnamon combo of cinnamon and vanilla icing, and a deeply toasted sugar. Strong woodiness that hits both toast and also sawdust-like note. Cedar cigar box and baking spice.
Nose: Caramel chews, molasses cookie and intense wood spice. Cinnamon combo of cinnamon and vanilla icing, and a deeply toasted sugar. Strong woodiness that hits both toast and also sawdust-like note. Cedar cigar box and baking spice.
October 7, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Blend Bourbon review:
Nose: Caramel chews, molasses cookie and intense wood spice. Cinnamon combo of cinnamon and vanilla icing, and a deeply toasted sugar. Strong woodiness that hits both toast and also sawdust-like note. Cedar cigar box and baking spice.
Nose: Caramel chews, molasses cookie and intense wood spice. Cinnamon combo of cinnamon and vanilla icing, and a deeply toasted sugar. Strong woodiness that hits both toast and also sawdust-like note. Cedar cigar box and baking spice.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Beacon Bourbon review:
Nose: Heavy, rich caramel sweetness, paired with underlying herbal rye and tobacco notes. Dark vanilla, flan, cigar wrapper. Mildly funky rickhouse oak. Baked apples? Over time in glass, showing more roast and old, dusty leather.
Nose: Heavy, rich caramel sweetness, paired with underlying herbal rye and tobacco notes. Dark vanilla, flan, cigar wrapper. Mildly funky rickhouse oak. Baked apples? Over time in glass, showing more roast and old, dusty leather.
September 30, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Beacon Bourbon review:
Nose: Heavy, rich caramel sweetness, paired with underlying herbal rye and tobacco notes. Dark vanilla, flan, cigar wrapper. Mildly funky rickhouse oak. Baked apples? Over time in glass, showing more roast and old, dusty leather.
Nose: Heavy, rich caramel sweetness, paired with underlying herbal rye and tobacco notes. Dark vanilla, flan, cigar wrapper. Mildly funky rickhouse oak. Baked apples? Over time in glass, showing more roast and old, dusty leather.
Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey Toasted Barrel Finish review:
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, fragrant cinnamon, honeycomb cereal, toasted oak, complex and warm oaky spice. Can’t miss the toasted barrel. It dominates a bit, but there’s also baked apple fruitiness and a hint of cocoa.
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, fragrant cinnamon, honeycomb cereal, toasted oak, complex and warm oaky spice. Can’t miss the toasted barrel. It dominates a bit, but there’s also baked apple fruitiness and a hint of cocoa.
September 26, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey Toasted Barrel Finish review:
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, fragrant cinnamon, honeycomb cereal, toasted oak, complex and warm oaky spice. Can’t miss the toasted barrel. It dominates a bit, but there’s also baked apple fruitiness and a hint of cocoa.
Nose: Toasted marshmallow, fragrant cinnamon, honeycomb cereal, toasted oak, complex and warm oaky spice. Can’t miss the toasted barrel. It dominates a bit, but there’s also baked apple fruitiness and a hint of cocoa.