The Furnace and the Field

Issue No. 88 — June 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: Pinhook

Distillery: Castle & Key Distillery

Proof: 97 (48.5% ABV)

Age: 6 Year

Color: Rich amber with copper edges

MSRP: $60 - $70

Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley

Barrel Type: New Charred American oak

Nose: Opens with toasted brown sugar and dried cherry, followed by a wave of rye spice and worn leather. Beneath the sweetness sits a solid foundation of charred oak and a whisper of dark cocoa.

Palate: Full-bodied entry with caramel and butterscotch up front, transitioning quickly to black pepper rye bite and tobacco leaf. A pleasant nuttiness — almond and toasted pecan — emerges mid-palate, keeping the sweetness in check.

Finish: Long and warming with lingering charred oak and a final note of dried cherry. The rye spice persists, tapering slowly into a clean, dry close.

Bourbon Kit Aromas: Cherry, Charred Oak, Rye, Butterscotch, Leather, Pecan

The Verdict: Pinhook's thoroughbred-themed vertical series consistently overdelivers for the price, and this 6-year expression is no exception. The high-rye mash bill brings structure and spice that stand up to the robust char influence without being overwhelmed. A serious sipper that rewards patience.

Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Brand: Inchgower

Distillery: Inchgower Distillery

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 14 Year

Color: Pale gold with straw highlights

MSRP: $65–$85

Region: Speyside

Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley

Distillation: Double distilled in copper pot stills

Maturation: 14 years in refill American oak hogsheads

Cask Type: Refill American oak hogsheads

Peat Level (PPM): Unpeated

Chill-Filtered: Yes

Nose: Coastal salinity meets honeyed malt and fresh cut grass. Subtle peach and a faint floral rosewater quality develop with time in the glass, along with a light almond nuttiness.

Palate: Medium-bodied with a buttery, slightly waxy mouthfeel. Honey and vanilla dominate the early palate, giving way to clove spice and a saline mineral edge. A whisper of coconut arrives late, adding complexity without weight.

Finish: Medium length, clean and mildly briny, with lingering honey sweetness and a woody dryness that fades gracefully.

Whisky Kit Aromas: Honey, Buttery, Peach, Green (Cut Grass), Clove Spice, Coconut

The Verdict: Inchgower is one of Speyside's most underappreciated distilleries, and this Flora & Fauna bottling shows why it deserves wider recognition. The coastal influence sets it apart from fruitier Speyside neighbors — there's a savory tension here that makes it more versatile than its modest reputation suggests. An excellent introduction to the distillery's character.

Classification: Blended Irish Whiskey

Brand: Hinch

Distillery: Hinch Distillery

Proof: 86 proof (43% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Pale gold with light amber edges

MSRP: $30 - $40

Mash Bill: Blend of malted barley and unmalted grain (column-distilled grain whiskey married with pot still malt)

Distillation: Blend of Single Malt and Single Grain Irish Whiskeys

Maturation: Matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon American oak barrels

Chill-Filtered: Yes

Nose: Soft vanilla and toasted oak open the glass, joined by ripe orchard fruit — golden apple and pear — with a faint dusting of honeycomb and cereal sweetness.

Palate: Light to medium-bodied and smoothly oily, leading with vanilla cream, baked apple, and barley sugar; mid-palate brings a gentle spice lift of clove and toasted almond, framed by a buttery malt core.

Finish: Medium length, warming and clean, drying toward toasted oak, lingering honey, and a final whisper of orange peel.

Whiskey Kit Aromas: Vanilla, Honey, Malt, Almond, Woody, Orange

The Verdict: An approachable, well-made everyday Irish whiskey that punches above its price — a sound introduction to Hinch's house style and a versatile pour for newcomers and cocktail makers alike.

Classification: Tequila Blanco (100% Agave)

Brand: Terralta

Distillery: Tequilera Alteña (NOM 1139)

Proof: 80 (40% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear with silver brightness

MSRP: $35–$50

Agave: 100% Blue Weber Agave (Highland grown)

Cooking Method: Slow brick oven-cooked agave, natural fermentation with wild yeast, double distilled

NOM: NOM 1139

Additives Free: Yes

Nose: Bright cooked agave and wet mineral earth open the nose. Citrus — lime zest and a touch of grapefruit — float above green herbal notes and a faint floral lavender quality.

Palate: Clean and medium-bodied with sweet roasted agave, white pepper, and a gentle grassiness. Mid-palate delivers citrus pith and a subtle yeastiness that adds savory depth. Mineral notes persist throughout, anchoring the sweetness.

Finish: Medium length with lingering cooked agave and a peppery, slightly herbal fade. Clean and appetizing.

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

The Verdict: Terralta's standard-proof blanco is often overshadowed by its high-proof sibling, but this 80-proof expression is a study in highland elegance. Felipe Camarena's work at the family distillery in the highlands of Jalisco produces tequila with remarkable mineral clarity. At this accessible price, it's one of the best entry points into serious craft tequila.

Classification: London Dry Gin

Brand: Hepple

Distillery: Hepple Spirits

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Age: NAS

Color: Crystal clear

MSRP: $35–$50

Style: London Dry

Botanicals: Juniper berries (triple-extracted), coriander, angelica root, lemon peel, green cardamom, black pepper, fennel seed, cassia bark, Douglas fir, lovage

Base Spirit: Wheat neutral spirit

Distillation: Triple technique: copper pot distillation, vacuum distillation, supercritical CO2 juniper extraction

Nose: Pine-forward juniper leads confidently, supported by bright lemon citrus and a waxy, herbaceous juniper undertone. Coriander adds a gentle spiced warmth, while black pepper gives lift to the aromatics.

Palate: Crisp and assertive with layered juniper — green, resinous, and waxy all at once. Lemon zest and grapefruit pith provide acidity, while angelica root adds an earthy, drying backbone. A subtle peppery heat builds through the mid-palate.

Finish: Long and clean with persistent juniper resin and a dry, peppery close. The citrus echoes linger pleasantly.

Gin Kit Aromas: Juniper (Pine), Juniper (Herbaceous/Waxy), Lemon, Grapefruit, Peppery, Angelica

The Verdict: Hepple's unique triple-technique juniper extraction — combining copper pot distillation, vacuum distillation, and supercritical CO2 extraction — produces a gin where juniper is explored in three dimensions rather than one. It's technically innovative without being gimmicky, delivering a deeply juniper-forward spirit that respects London Dry traditions while pushing them forward. Essential for gin enthusiasts seeking complexity.

Classification: Aged Blended Rum

Brand: Plantation

Distillery: West Indies Rum Distillery (Barbados) & Clarendon Distillery (Jamaica)

Proof: 86 (43% ABV)

Age: 9 Year

Color: Deep amber with mahogany edges

MSRP: $65 - $80

Base Ingredients: Molasses

Distillation: Blend of column still (Barbados) and pot still (Jamaica) distillates

Nose: Ripe tropical fruits — mango and pineapple — burst forward alongside warm vanilla and toasted oak. Beneath the fruit, molasses and a touch of leather ground the nose. A faint coffee note emerges with patience.

Palate: Rich and full-bodied with brown sugar, toffee, and dried fruit leading the charge. The Jamaican component asserts itself with funky tropical esters and a hint of banana, while the Barbadian side brings caramel smoothness and oak structure. A spicy warmth builds mid-palate.

Finish: Long and complex with lingering toffee, oak spice, and a final echo of tropical fruit. Clean without being thin.

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

The Verdict: This blend showcases Plantation's skill in marrying complementary rum traditions. The Barbadian base provides polish and sweetness, while the Jamaican addition injects personality and ester-driven complexity that keeps the palate engaged. At nine years old, there's genuine oak maturity here without over-extraction. A versatile rum that works neat, on ice, or in elevated cocktails.

Classification: Barbera d'Alba DOC

Brand: Luciano Sandrone

Distillery: Luciano Sandrone

ABV: 14.5%

Primary Varietal: Barbera

Blend: 100% Barbera

Vineyards: Estate vineyards in Barolo commune, Piedmont

Maturation: Temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, 12 months in French oak tonneaux

Color: Deep ruby with violet rim

MSRP: $28–$38

Nose: Bright ripe cherry and blackcurrant dominate, supported by violet florals and a hint of fresh herbs. A subtle toasted oak note provides structure without masking the fruit.

Palate: Juicy and medium-to-full-bodied with vivid cherry, crushed berry, and a streak of green peppercorn spice. The natural acidity of Barbera drives the mid-palate with precision, while fine tannins and a gentle vanilla oak influence round out the texture.

Finish: Medium length with lingering cherry fruit, a touch of mint, and clean acidity that calls for another sip.

Wine Kit Aromas: Cherry, Blackcurrant, Violet, Toasted, Berry (Generic), Mint

The Verdict: Sandrone's Barbera is always a masterclass in restraint and fruit purity. The 2021 vintage delivered ideal conditions in Piedmont, and this wine captures the variety's defining bright acidity alongside ripe, generous fruit. It over-performs for Barbera d'Alba — the kind of bottle that reminds you why this grape deserves a permanent place at the table, not just as Barolo's understudy.

Classification: Kamptal DAC

Brand: Bründlmayer

Distillery: Weingut Bründlmayer

ABV: 12.5%

Primary Varietal: Grüner Veltliner

Blend: 100% Grüner Veltliner

Vineyards: Terraced vineyards in Langenlois, Kamptal, on löss and crystalline rock soils

Vinification: Whole-cluster pressed, temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, aged on fine lees for 5 months

Color: Pale straw with green-gold glints

MSRP: $20–$28

Nose: Crisp green apple and white pepper lead, followed by citrus zest and a faint herbal mintiness. Subtle stone fruit and a gentle floral quality round out a restrained, inviting nose.

Palate: Lean and mineral-driven with green apple acidity, lemon pith, and a peppery snap that is classic Grüner Veltliner. Mid-palate offers a hint of honeyed weight and melon freshness without sacrificing the wine's taut structure.

Finish: Clean, dry, and refreshing with lingering citrus and a stony mineral aftertaste. The pepper spice echoes faintly.

Wine Kit Aromas: Apple (Green), Citrus (Generic), Green (Cut Grass), Melon, Honey, Mint

The Verdict: Bründlmayer is one of Austria's most respected estates, and this Kamptaler Terrassen bottling is the ideal introduction to their work. It delivers everything you want from Grüner at this level: peppery snap, mineral tension, and effortless drinkability. The 2023 vintage is bright and precise, built for the table. Pair it with anything from asparagus to sushi and let the wine's acidity do the heavy lifting.

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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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