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Whiskey Barrel Weekend in Coeur d'Alene: What a Master Class Taught Us About Tasting

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Some whiskey events are a room full of tables and plastic cups. The Coeur d'Alene Resort's Whiskey Barrel Weekend , presented with Maker's Mark, is not that. We spent September 18 and 19 on the lake in North Idaho, and it was one of the best-run spirits weekends we've been to. Here's what it was like, and the one thing from the master class that changed how we taste. Friday: Fuego & Oak The weekend opened with Fuego & Oak at the Hagadone Event Center: tomahawk steaks hung over an open flame grill on the terrace with Lake Coeur d'Alene behind them, tacos, small bites and appetizers going around, and a 120-proof pour to match. It's the kind of evening that sets a high bar for the rest of a weekend, and the rest of the weekend cleared it. Saturday: the Whiskey Master Class The master class was the highlight. An hour, a four-glass flight served blind , a board of smoked provolone, gouda, and cheddar with whiskey cheese straws, an...
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A Federal Court Just Ruled the Home Distilling Ban Unconstitutional (Here's What Actually Changed)

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The Freedom to Home Distill Act: What H.R. 10157 Would Change (and What It Wouldn't)

Update, November 3, 2026: We've updated this post. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the McNutt case, the bill's cosponsor count is corrected to four, the description of what the McNutt ruling covers is corrected, and the equipment section now describes the bill's product standard without practical advice. Earlier this month we covered the Fifth Circuit ruling that found the federal home-distilling ban unconstitutional. The courts aren't the only branch moving now. On August 27, Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee introduced H.R. 10157, the Freedom to Home Distill Act . It would put home distillers in the same category home brewers and winemakers have been in since 1978. It's a bill, not a law. Here's what it says, what the numbers mean in real bottles, and what it leaves alone. Why it exists In 1978, Congress changed the tax code to let adults make beer and wine at home, tax-free, for personal use: up to 200 gallons a year per household. Distilled ...
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