🥃Review #69: Mellow Corn Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey

Introduced in 1945 by the Medley Distilling Company in Owensboro, Kentucky. Mellow Corn was created to utilize excess corn stocks while catering to a palate that preferred a lighter, less tannic, spirit than popular bourbons of the the time. Heaven Hill acquired rights to the brand in its 1993 transaction with United Distiller's (now part of Diageo), also picking up a few other historic brands like Old Fitzgerald. Since then, Heaven Hill has done little to change the brand, keeping the original label design. Somewhat unexpectedly, this retro chic aesthetic has found a happy home in the internet subculture, eliciting a cult following. The popularity of "Mellow F-ing Corn" (MFC) really took off during the lockdowns of 2020 and seemed to be a reaction to the scarcity and hyper-premiumization of the whiskey and bourbon market around the same time. Though most of the initial hype has subsided, you can still find some fair activity on r/MellowCorn and similar whiskey forums. In the service industry, Mellow Corn also performs well, achieving "Bartender's Handshake" status for its utility in understated cocktails or as the perfect sidecar for boilermakers. It's cheap, it's mild, and it's available.

🛒Sourced: $18.99 Total Wine, GA 750ml - I also have a newer 1.75L that was 34.99 at Local Vine in Vinings, GA. The big ones are pretty hard to come by unless you just have a store that loves stocking them or want to order a case. Pretty much a 25% difference in cost per ml.

Mellow Corn Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey 1.75L with a banana for scale

Poof of both bottle sizes - 1.75L Above

🧪Proof: 100 proof, 50% ABV - per bottled-in-bond regulations

🎨Color: Y5 - It's pretty yella y'all, limited legs

🥔Mash Bill: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley - The relatively high 12% malted barley is needed for enzymatic reasons, helping to free fermentable sugars from the starchy corn. Corn whiskey can be aged in used oak containers or uncharred new barrels and do not have an explicit age requirement (bonded whiskies like this one still must sit for four years). For economic reasons, Mellow Corn ages in used Heaven Hill barrels, typically those that held HH's regular bourbon previously. Mellow Corn uses the 80% corn minimum and is barreled at 125 proof. Heaven Hill uses this same mash bill for some other limited edition releases (see the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2023), but they only run corn whiskey distillate 8-10 days per year so it is a very small part of overall production.

👃Nose: A bit abrasive, wafts of hard candy confection, barnyard hay

😜Palate: Nutty and slightly sweet, light of body, fresh cornbread (the savory kind), a small bit of tingle on the tongue in the turn to the finish but otherwise quite smooth and easy-going. I get a bit of circus peanut banana flavor that comes and goes. Corn itself is pretty darn neutral flavor-wise, so I think we're getting a little bit rye in the tingle. Remainder of the flavor is understated.

💦Finish: A last flash of salted praline that is quite short. It's easy to take quite a big slug at once in which case you'll receive a pleasant belly warmth of solid duration.

🏆 Overall: 5.69420 - Very Nice - It's a unique bottle with a fun following in a product category ghost town. Mellow Corn delivers on its name as an unobtrusive, corn-nut delight. While most MFC fans likely have a good number of options on their shelves, it shines for its economy, simplicity, and reliability. I find myself passing up allegedly "better" bottles for it with alarming frequency. Every whiskey enjoyer should try it at least once, though don't expect it to dethrone your favorite barrel proof or limited edition release. Goes great in most cocktails featuring bourbon, vodka, or rum.

💵Would buy again? Without hesitation sir. From a value perspective, you're getting a four-year aged, 100-proof spirit for the price of Vodka. There simply isn't much around this price point with anywhere near the smoothness of this drinking experience.

⚖️Rating Scale:

🥃Review #53: Costco's Kirkland 15YR Highland Single Malt Scotch - 2025

The 2025 release of Costco's Kirkland 15-year Highland Scotch hit shelves in late January and is a recurring installment on an annual cadence. The first pallet to hit my local store sold out almost immediately. Thankfully, we got two more shipments at one pallet each that hung around a bit longer and I was able to snag a bottle. Like in previous years, this Highland Scotch is finished in sherry casks. Alexander Murray & Co. is the bottler with MISA imports out of Texas bringing it to the States for consumption (Costco's standard sourcing pattern for Scotch). The bottle has a nice heft to it and there is an ensconced Alexander Murray Lion adding some nice texture to the front of the bottle. Steve Lipp, CEO of Alexander Murray, calls it "Perfect for after dinner drinking." All-in-all, this shows an attempt to elevate the product and presentation from the ubiquitous blends and non-age stated iterations you'll sometimes find under the Kirkland label. Neither Alex...

🍺 Definitive Light Beer Tier List: Meta-Analysis & Ranking

Trends come and go: Craft Beer, Hard Seltzer, Canned Cocktails, and more. In the world of beverage, the currents are constantly shifting, but one drink has an irrevocable grip on America: Light Beer. Good old beer flavored beer may take a hit from new competition, but brands like Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra constantly sit at the top of sales volume lists, even with the fall of Bud Light and rise of Modelo's Flagship. But which light beer is best? Let's find out. Methodology - Light Beer Ranking Taste preferences vary significantly between consumers, but across a large sample we should be able to get a somewhat representative picture of the populations preferences. For this ranking, we will combine data sourced from multiple beer rating sites with an internal Castle & Cairn house ranking to create an overall beer quality score. The starting population of beer brands will be those that are explicitly branded as "flagship light" or beers with less than 100 calor...

🥃 Review #40: Kirkland Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024)

Like Costco's other Scotches, the Kirkland Signature Islay Single Malt is bottled for Alexander Murray and imported by MISA Imports after being distilled and aged in Scotland (TTB.gov plant registry TX-I-1277). The isle of Islay is one of the southern most islands in Scotland and is one of the five whisky regions ensconced in law. There are only nine active distilleries on the island, and the Islay style is typified by strong peat or smoky flavors. As a single malt, we know that the juice in this bottle comes entirely from one of those nine! All of the distilleries are significantly smaller than Glenlivet and many of the mainland producers. Taste testing has people split between Caol Illa, Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte), and Bunnahabhain as being the source. Caol Illa and Laphroig both have done deals for private brand scotch without rights to name the source distillery, but Laphroig does not match the flavor profile for this bottle. Realistically, Caol Illa is the most likely cand...

🍺🍷🥃 Beer, Wine, and Spirits Rebate Website Master List

If there is anything I love more than a good drink, it's saving money buying that good drink! The rules for providing discounts on alcohol differ substantially between states with some allowing outright discounts or coupons and others entirely disallowing any sort of purchase incentive. Thankfully though, in my native Georgia as well as most states, a simple reimbursement approach is permissible. Last Updated & Validated 2/4/2026 . Alcohol Rebate Site Master List The following sites are relatively stable for each manufacturer. New offers usually come out every few months. None of these are affiliate links and I provide no assurance as to the process. I have saved so much money using rebates and hope you have similar success. Best practices and general process advice will be presented at the bottom. New sites will be added as I uncover them. Beer Rebates Boston Beer Company Brands - Angry Orchard, Dogfish head, Hard Mountain Dew, Samuel Adams, Sun Crusher, Truly, and Twis...

🎮 Call of Duty Warzone - The Drinking Game

Fairly self explanatory per the graphic below. What could be more fun than tossing back a few cold ones with your closest buds while rampaging through one of your favorite video games? Call of Duty Warzone might not have as much nostalgia as it did in the Verdansk days, but it still has some charm. The best part: you'll already be at home when you're done so there's no need to worry about a designated driver! Obligatory plug to know your limits, be legal, and drink responsibly, we don't respawn IRL (yes I know that's a cringe statement - that's the joke). Call of Duty Warzone Drinking Game Prep To play the game, you'll need the following in addition to an internet connection, gaming device, and Call of Duty: A Party Sipper of your Choice - I recommend something relatively low ABV. We balanced the rules for a player of moderate ability and a sipper of 4-8% alcohol. Light beer is my go-to here since it has enough lovely hydrating water to soak up any shots. ...

Castle & Cairn

Search This Blog