The Blind Stitch

Issue No. 65 — May 30, 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: Calumet Farm

Distillery: Undisclosed (Kentucky)

Proof: 106 (53% ABV)

Age: 16 Year

Color: Deep mahogany with burnt copper edges

MSRP: $150–$180

Mash Bill: Undisclosed (traditional corn-heavy bourbon mash bill)

Barrel Type: New charred American oak

Nose: Dark caramel and charred oak lead, followed by a gentle wave of dried cherry and tobacco leaf. Underneath, there's worn leather and a faint maple sweetness that holds everything together.

Palate: Full-bodied and layered, opening with butterscotch and pecan before shifting into brown spices and dark cocoa. The oak is firm but never dominates, framing the sweetness with tannic structure.

Finish: Long and warming, with charred oak, vanilla, and a trailing note of raisins that lingers well past the final sip.

Bourbon Kit Aromas: Charred Oak, Butterscotch, Pecan, Tobacco, Cherry

The Verdict: Sixteen years in Kentucky heat could easily produce an over-oaked brute, but this bourbon threads the needle. The wood influence is deeply integrated, never calling attention to itself. A textbook case of patience paying dividends.

Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: Glenfiddich

Distillery: Glenfiddich Distillery

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: 21 Year

Color: Warm tawny gold with amber highlights

MSRP: $220–$270

Region: Speyside

Mash Bill: 100% malted barley

Distillation: Copper pot still, double distilled

Maturation: Aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, finished in Caribbean rum casks

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, Caribbean rum finish

Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated

Chill-Filtered: Yes

Nose: Honey and ripe peach dominate, with vanilla and a subtle floral rosewater note underneath. A whisper of dried fruit and toasted coconut appears after a few minutes in the glass.

Palate: Silky and rounded, with caramel, malt, and orange zest flowing into warm clove spice. The rum cask influence is present but deeply woven — a faint tropical sweetness rather than an overt fruity push.

Finish: Medium-long, with buttery malt, gentle oak, and a clean honey fade.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Honey, Peach, Vanilla, Coconut, Clove Spice

The Verdict: This is an exercise in invisible finishing. The Caribbean rum casks add dimension without ever announcing themselves, and two decades of Speyside maturation provide the canvas. Elegant rather than bold, it rewards slow, contemplative drinking.

Classification: Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Brand: Teeling

Distillery: Cooley Distillery / Teeling Whiskey Company

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age: 24 Year

Color: Deep polished amber

MSRP: $200–$375

Mash Bill: 100% malted barley

Distillation: Undisclosed

Maturation: Aged in ex-bourbon casks with Sauternes wine cask finish

Chill-Filtered: Non-chill filtered

Nose: Rich dried fruit and honeycomb open the nose, followed by toasted almond and a soft clove spice. There's a subtle earthy quality beneath, grounding the sweetness.

Palate: Dense and enveloping, with cocoa, caramel, and vanilla leading into orange peel and nut. The wood is deeply integrated — you taste age without tasting tannin. A faint smoky undercurrent adds complexity.

Finish: Exceptionally long, with dried fruit, dark cocoa, and a lingering warmth that slowly fades to clean malt.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Dried Fruit, Honey, Cocoa (Dark), Almond, Clove Spice

The Verdict: At 24 years, Irish single malt can lose its nerve or its balance. This one retains both. The extended maturation has polished every edge into a seamless whole, and the non-chill-filtered bottling preserves texture. A rare expression worth seeking out.

Classification: Blanco Tequila (100% Agave)

Brand: Don Fulano

Distillery: Tequilera Corralejo / NOM 1146

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear with silver sheen

MSRP: $40–$55

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave (estate-grown)

Cooking Method: Traditional tahona and roller mill, copper pot distillation

NOM: NOM 1146

Additives Free: Yes

Nose: Clean cooked agave and bright citrus — lime and grapefruit — with an herbal mint quality and a hint of white pepper. A subtle mineral earthiness sits underneath.

Palate: Crisp and focused, with agave sweetness balanced by grass and green pepper notes. Citrus runs through the center, and there's a pleasant yeasty, bread-like quality that adds body.

Finish: Medium, with a clean agave fade, a flicker of white pepper, and lingering citrus peel.

Tequila Kit Aromas: Agave (Cooked), Citrus (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Grapefruit), Herbal (Mint, Thyme, Eucalyptus), Pepper, Yeast (Bready)

The Verdict: Don Fulano's blanco is a study in discipline. Nothing shouts, nothing hides. The agave is allowed to speak clearly, supported by a clean distillation that lets varietal character shine. An exceptional mixing tequila that's equally compelling neat.

Classification: London Dry Gin

Brand: Hayman's

Distillery: Hayman's Distillery

Proof: 82 (41% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear

MSRP: $28–$35

Style: London Dry

Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, exotic citrus peels (grapefruit, lemon, sweet orange, bitter orange), angelica root, cassia bark, orris root

Base Spirit: Neutral grain spirit

Distillation: One-shot copper pot still distillation

Nose: Juniper leads cleanly, followed by bright grapefruit and lemon zest. Coriander seed provides warmth, with a faint floral rose note and a trace of angelica root beneath.

Palate: Balanced and citrus-forward without losing its gin backbone. Juniper stays present throughout, while grapefruit and orange peel add brightness. A peppery spice keeps it grounded.

Finish: Clean and medium-length, with lingering juniper, citrus pith, and a whisper of cassia bark warmth.

Gin Kit Aromas: Juniper (Green), Grapefruit, Lemon, Coriander, Peppery

The Verdict: Hayman's manages the trick of bold citrus character without abandoning the juniper core. The exotic citrus peels are integrated so fully that they feel like a natural extension of a classic London Dry rather than an overlay. Versatile in cocktails, satisfying neat.

Classification: Aged Jamaican Rum

Brand: Worthy Park

Distillery: Worthy Park Estate

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Medium gold with amber tint

MSRP: $25–$35

Base Ingredients: Molasses from estate-grown sugar cane

Distillation: 100% copper pot still distillation

Nose: Ripe banana and tropical fruits open, followed by vanilla and a subtle oak note. Underneath there's a touch of caramel and a clean citrus brightness that keeps it fresh.

Palate: Medium-bodied with tropical fruit sweetness balanced by spice and a slight funkiness typical of Jamaican pot still rum. Toffee and oak provide structure, while banana and citrus weave through the mid-palate.

Finish: Medium, with warm spice, vanilla, and a lingering tropical fruit echo.

Rum Kit Aromas: Banana, Tropical Fruits, Vanilla, Toffee, Oak

The Verdict: This is Jamaican rum with its seams hidden. The estate's signature funk is present but smoothly integrated into a broader flavor profile rather than leading the charge. Approachable enough for new rum drinkers, complex enough to keep veterans interested. Exceptional value.

Classification: Madiran AOC

Brand: Château Montus

ABV: 14.5%

Primary Varietal: Tannat

Blend: 80% Tannat, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyards: Château Montus estate vineyards, clay-limestone soils at 300m elevation

Maturation: Destemmed, cold soak, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel, aged 18 months in new French oak

Color: Inky purple-black with violet rim

MSRP: $35–$50

Nose: Blackcurrant and dark cherry lead, backed by cedar and a hint of violet. A toasted oak note adds complexity without heaviness, and there's a subtle green herbal quality in the background.

Palate: Dense and structured, with ripe berry fruit and cedar tannins that are firm but finely woven. Mint and dark cherry carry the mid-palate, and a woody spice anchors the finish approach.

Finish: Long and grippy, with blackcurrant, cedar, and a dusting of toasted oak that slowly resolves.

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

The Verdict: Alain Brumont's Tannat-based Madiran is a masterclass in taming a notoriously tannic grape. The 2018 vintage shows power and polish in equal measure, with new oak integrated so thoroughly it reads as structure rather than flavor. This is a wine that hides its considerable muscle behind elegance.

Classification: Alsace Grand Cru AOC

Brand: Domaine Weinbach

ABV: 12.5%

Primary Varietal: Riesling

Blend: 100% Riesling

Vineyards: Grand Cru Mambourg, Kientzheim, calcareous-clay soils

Vinification: Whole cluster pressed, spontaneous fermentation, aged on fine lees in large old oak foudres, biodynamic viticulture

Color: Pale gold with green highlights

MSRP: $70–$95

Nose: Ripe melon and honeycomb open, with citrus peel and a subtle floral rose quality. There's a faint minerality underneath — almost chalky — and a whisper of toasted almond.

Palate: Rich and textured, with honey and melon giving way to a vibrant citrus acidity that keeps everything taut. Apple and marzipan emerge mid-palate, and the wine carries a surprising freshness for its weight.

Finish: Long and precise, with citrus, green apple, and a mineral-driven persistence that invites the next sip.

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

The Verdict: Mambourg is one of Alsace's warmest grand cru sites, and in lesser hands it can produce blowsy, overripe Riesling. Weinbach navigates this risk flawlessly. The wine is rich but never heavy, complex but immediately readable — a blind stitch of winemaking, where the difficulty is hidden inside the pleasure.

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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.

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