The Heart Cut
Cutting to the heart of whisk(e)y tasting. Reviews, industry insights, blending, maximizing the whisk(e)y nerd in all of us.

Latest

Nov
16
Do Large Beverage Companies Care About Enthusiasts?

Do Large Beverage Companies Care About Enthusiasts?

How do enthusiasts feel about large whisky companies like Diageo? Should these behemoths care?
5 min read
Sep
13
Whisky Book Review: Warehouse H

Whisky Book Review: Warehouse H

Warehouse H by Dominic Guglielmi outlines the history of Blanton's Bourbon. Does it give whisky nerds what we want?
3 min read
Aug
31
Free Download: The Ten Essential Parts of a Whisk(e)y Label

Free Download: The Ten Essential Parts of a Whisk(e)y Label

This handy guide will help you to know what to pay attention to on your next bottle of whisky.
1 min read
Aug
08
Left: Julian Van Winkle stands behind a barrel with a set of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon on top. Right: The Pappyland Cover

Whisky Book Review: Pappyland

After grabbing Pappyland from the library, I recently finished it and found it intriguing in various ways. But it's not for everyone.
2 min read
Jul
31
Diagram of a simple alembic pot still

Distillation Cuts: How Distillers Decide When to Make Cuts

Fermentation creates flavors, and making cuts decides which flavors make it into the barrel and ultimately into the final whisky. This post will cover why cuts are necessary and how distillers determine when to make them.
5 min read
Apr
20
Whisky Tastings - What to Expect and How to Prepare

Whisky Tastings - What to Expect and How to Prepare

I've run several personal whisky tastings for friends and professional tastings for local bars and restaurants. If you're interested in doing the same, I'd like to explain my thought process for each tasting.
5 min read
Dec
16
A bottle of whiskey next to a glass with whiskey and ice with an orange slice inside.

Blended Recipe Reveal: Pond Voyáge

When I discussed home blending, I mentioned that I'd be working to create some great home blends to share with you. I'm pleased to announce that I've discovered a fantastic blend with exciting flavors.
1 min read
Nov
15
At Home Whisky Blending Made Easy - Supplies and Steps

At Home Whisky Blending Made Easy - Supplies and Steps

To create whisky blends at home, you'll need some tools. This article will give you a simple outline of how to blend and what tools you'll need. It's easier than you think.
4 min read
Nov
10
Rye Whiskey Review: Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye

Rye Whiskey Review: Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye

Every once in a while, you come across a transformative dram. Something that changes your entire perspective of what flavor possibilities exist. Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye is one of those whiskies.
2 min read
Sep
07
A Japanese building on a river surrounded by a colorful forest.

The Seasons of Whisky

Japanese culture captures the ebb and flow of seasons in the concepts of hashiri, shun, and nagori. There are three ways these concepts apply to whisky: maturation, tasting, and blending.
5 min read