Back in 2009, navy veteran Tom Lix started experimenting with whiskey. But not in the traditional sense. Cleveland Whiskey seeks to push the envelope about what is possible with whiskey, from how it is produced and aged to the regular taste profiles generally expected in the industry. The Underground series is the distilleries main line, each offering ages in traditional barrels for about six months before going through a proprietary process involving pressure extractions and differing wood combinations using more exotic woods rarely seen as finishing elements. The Cleveland Underground Super Maple is a bourbon finished with sugar maple wood using this transformative method.
Glenkinchie 12 Year
Located only a short distance from Edinburgh in the peaceful farmlands of East Lothian, Glenkinchie is one of the few Lowland distilleries left operating in Scotland. Known as “The Edinburgh Malt,” the distillery first opened in 1837, closed for a time, then reopened under new ownership at the end of the 19th century and has remained in production ever since. Not a large producer of single malts, there are currently only two offerings: this 12 year and a Distiller’s Edition, which ages an additional two years in Amontillado sherry casks. Thankfully, under ownership of the Diageo conglomerate, they remain in relative constant supply.