Grand Rapids Stewards

09/10/2026

𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹 "𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁"
🥃 100 Proof | Rickhouse K-1

Sitting down at the table with the three of us to pick this Steward Select single barrel, we knew exactly what we were hunting for: that sweet spot where classic Old Forester DNA meets the distinct, darker character of Rickhouse K. Old Forester's signature 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley mashbill always promises a great interplay between rich confectionary notes and a firm, structural rye spice, but Rickhouse K brings its own reputation to the glass.

Because this barrel matured on Floor 1, we were hoping for a sweet science of location: all the deep oak, leather, and cocoa Rickhouse K is famous for, but tempered by the lower floor's gentle, steady climate. We wanted integrated structure without the aggressive, palate-drying tannins that upper-floor heat can sometimes force into the wood.

👃 The moment we poured the 100-proof black label, the nose immediately confirmed we had found something special. It opens undeniably Old Forester: black cherry, dark apple, and rich banana bread layered over creamy butterscotch and warm maple syrup. But as it sat in the glass, the three of us kept picking up those unmistakable K-house telltales: toasted pecan, fresh-sawn cedar, bright orange peel, and a dusting of dark cocoa.

👅 On the palate, it hits with incredible balance. Rounded brown sugar and maple sweetness lead the entry, opening up into cherry cola, baked apple, Bit-O-Honey, and buttery caramel. Right through the middle, the rye punch rolls in: cinnamon crust, nutmeg, and allspice balanced by toasted oak and warm pecan. That 18% rye component drops just enough citrus peel and cracked pepper to cut through the richness and keep the wh***ey impeccably poised.

The finish is long, warm, and composed. Burnt sugar, lingering dark cherry, and black tea fade into a dry, elegant thread of cedar, dry cocoa, and charred oak. Thanks to its time on the first floor, the barrel char supports the pour rather than dominating it, leaving a finish that is firm and structured without ever turning overly tannic.

When you pour a glass of this release, the ultimate fun is deciding where your palate lands: does it lean into rich pecan pie and maple, vibrant cherry cola and chocolate, or that classic banana and brown sugar Brown-Forman baseline?

We couldn't be prouder of this selection. Bottles drop soon, don't miss out on grabbing a pour of Rickhouse K at its absolute finest. 🥃

08/24/2026

‼️🥛KBS SELECT has arrived at Rockford, Knapp, and Cascade!!🥛‼️

🍺 ANNOUNCING... KBS SELECT! 🍺

Coming Monday, August 24th!

We are SO excited! This one took years. Actual years of asking Founders for a single barrel Steward Select KBS, and getting told no, the volume didn't work at that scale.

We didn't let it go. If a full barrel wasn't realistic, the question became what else could actually make a version of KBS worth doing on its own.

So we talked. And talked and talked and talked, for what felt like forever. What would differentiate a great new version of KBS? Along with the brewing team, we eventually landed on a custom finish. Then we talked some more. What should that finish be? How long should it rest? After much back and forth, experiments, and test runs, we came up with one we loved.

That b**r is KBS Select! The same KBS you already love, aged 12 months in bourbon barrels, then rested two weeks on sugar maple. Deep coffee, dark cocoa, cherry cola, vanilla, with the maple showing up at the edges instead of taking over. Great focus all the way through, with the soft sugar maple tannins very well integrated into the textbook KBS richness. This gave the extra depth and grip that we hoped to see, and the brew team just nailed the exposure levels. All of you out there that remember the excitement around the original KBS launches, and all that depth and intensity, this one is for you!

This will be going out to the wider market too, but this is one that we fostered into existence, and after years of going back and forth on it, we're not going to undersell how big a deal it is that it's finally happening. It's a limited, one time only run, so grab it while you can.

KBS Select hits shelves Monday! We'll let you know as soon as we have it ready! Landing at Knapp, Cascade and Rockford, but look at your favorite store soon.

08/22/2026

🍺 ANNOUNCING... KBS SELECT! 🍺

Coming Monday, August 24th!

We are SO excited! This one took years. Actual years of asking Founders for a single barrel Steward Select KBS, and getting told no, the volume didn't work at that scale.

We didn't let it go. If a full barrel wasn't realistic, the question became what else could actually make a version of KBS worth doing on its own.

So we talked. And talked and talked and talked, for what felt like forever. What would differentiate a great new version of KBS? Along with the brewing team, we eventually landed on a custom finish. Then we talked some more. What should that finish be? How long should it rest? After much back and forth, experiments, and test runs, we came up with one we loved.

That b**r is KBS Select! The same KBS you already love, aged 12 months in bourbon barrels, then rested two weeks on sugar maple. Deep coffee, dark cocoa, cherry cola, vanilla, with the maple showing up at the edges instead of taking over. Great focus all the way through, with the soft sugar maple tannins very well integrated into the textbook KBS richness. This gave the extra depth and grip that we hoped to see, and the brew team just nailed the exposure levels. All of you out there that remember the excitement around the original KBS launches, and all that depth and intensity, this one is for you!

This will be going out to the wider market too, but this is one that we fostered into existence, and after years of going back and forth on it, we're not going to undersell how big a deal it is that it's finally happening. It's a limited, one time only run, so grab it while you can.

KBS Select hits shelves Monday! We'll let you know as soon as we have it ready! Landing at Knapp, Cascade and Rockford, but look at your favorite store soon.

08/19/2026

Last night, our Steward group — Jim, Michael, and Paul — had the opportunity to revisit some of the core Ridge Vineyards lineup, and it reminded us just how remarkable this w**ery remains.

Ridge has never seemed particularly interested in chasing trends. In many ways, their philosophy hasn’t changed dramatically since the 1960s. And somehow, that approach feels more relevant today than ever.

What fascinates us most is their willingness to let the vineyard dictate the w**emaking.

Geyserville, one of Ridge’s benchmark w**es, comes from an old mixed vineyard planted primarily to Zinfandel, alongside Carignane and other varieties. The grapes grow together, are harvested together and co-fermented — a true field-blend approach that has largely disappeared from modern California w**emaking. The result is a w**e that can be wonderfully wild, savory, spicy and expressive of the place it comes from.

Then consider Monte Bello.

Here, Ridge takes almost the opposite approach. Cabernet Sauvignon and the other Bordeaux varieties are harvested and vinified separately, evaluated individually, and gradually assembled through careful blending. It is deliberate, precise and remarkably disciplined — and Monte Bello remains, vintage after vintage, one of the great Cabernet-based w**es of the world.

Two vineyards. Two completely different approaches.

And Ridge excels at both.

That willingness to be nimble — to honor the vineyard rather than impose a formula upon it — is one of the things that has always set Ridge apart. Geyserville can remain this wonderfully untamed expression of an old California vineyard while Monte Bello can stand comfortably among the world’s great Cabernet w**es.

Every bottle on the table last night reminded us of that.

And perhaps that is the most impressive thing about Ridge: w**es conceived decades ago still speak remarkably well to today’s w**e drinker — authenticity, sense of place, thoughtful farming and minimal manipulation long before those ideas became fashionable.

Not all of these w**es are available in our stores, but they are all worth the search. If you’ve never really explored Ridge beyond seeing the familiar label on the shelf, seek them out.

There is a lot of California w**e history inside those bottles — and they remain every bit as compelling today.

07/28/2026

🥃 Our First Smoke Wagon Private Barrel Selections Have Arrived! 🥃

We're excited to be among the first retailers in Michigan to bring in Smoke Wagon Private Barrel picks! We're thrilled to be able to offer two distinct barrels, with very differing characters.

We had the opportunity to spend some time on Zoom with Smoke Wagon founder Aaron Chepenik. Aaron is a fascinating guy with some very definite ideas about wh***ey, blending, and barrel selection. Hearing his philosophy and his excitement only got us more jazzed about what Smoke Wagon is building.

One topic Aaron was especially passionate about was the historic Seagram's rickhouses at MGP. These traditional timber warehouses were built decades ago and have a very different character than many modern facilities. With the structures being less open to the outside, their heavier construction and more controlled airflow create a slower, steadier maturation environment, allowing wh***ey to develop depth and complexity over time without becoming overly oaked. Aaron searches for barrels from specific warehouses and even specific floors, convinced that those subtle differences in maturation are what separate a good barrel from a truly exceptional one.

After tasting these two barrels and hearing Aaron's perspective, we're super excited about the future of Smoke Wagon.



🥃 Barrel #36-47
9 Years Old • 116.44 Proof • 36% Rye

This barrel is all about balance and refinement. Deeper aromatics of roasted hay, cooking-fire embers, and dark cocoa lead into a beautifully composed palate with a tight core and remarkable poise. Nothing rushes to the front. We loved how each flavor revealed itself gradually, with mature oak, gentle spice, and cocoa unfolding sip after sip. This is one that rewards slowing down and paying attention rather than looking for an initial punch in the face. This felt like an example of those old Seagram rickhouses and how their slower, steadier maturation can produce bourbons with exceptional balance. Nothing loud or flashy here, just a remarkably complete and harmonious wh***ey that will keep you coming back sip after sip.



🥃 Barrel #36-10
9 Years Old • 124.18 Proof • 36% Rye

Only 54 bottles produced.

This is a dark wh***ey lover's dream. Tea tannins, dark cocoa, sea salt, cedar, to***co leaf, caramel, and the unmistakable aroma of an old woodworker's shop create a deep, brooding profile from the very first nosing. Everything lives in the lower register; rich, earthy, and savory rather than bright or sweet. On the palate, layer after layer unfolds, with cocoa, mature oak, baking spice, dark herbs, and leather taking turns without ever overwhelming one another. Just enough peach compote and warm peach pie emerge through the middle to lift the profile before it settles back into a long, gripping finish of cocoa, cedar, and lingering spice. It's remarkably complex, endlessly engaging, and a wh***ey that seems to reveal something new with every sip. Some whiskies pair well with a cigar; this one feels like a maduro in a glass! Extremely limited!

07/21/2026

Available now at Cascade—and in extremely limited quantities.

We are hoping to secure additional bottles of this legendary w**e for our other flagship locations soon, but when a w**e this scarce becomes available, there are no guarantees. For serious Pinot Noir drinkers, this is one worth seeking out.

Some w**es are famous. Others are known by the people who pay very close attention.

Pisoni Vineyard is one of California’s defining Pinot Noir sites—a rugged, wind-swept property planted high above the Salinas Valley in the granite soils of the Santa Lucia Highlands. Its w**es are revered by w**emakers, collectors and serious Pinot Noir drinkers, even if the name has never become familiar outside those circles.

The Pisoni family produces essentially one Estate Pinot Noir each vintage, blending its finest blocks into a complete expression of the vineyard. Just 728 six-pack cases of the 2023 were made.

This is Pinot Noir with both beauty and presence: ripe raspberry and dark cherry layered with wild herbs, dried flowers, forest floor and crushed stone. It has the depth and structure of a serious cellar w**e, but polished tannins and cool, energetic acidity make it wonderfully compelling today. Powerful without being loud, it continues to reveal itself as the evening unfolds.

Open it with roast duck, grilled salmon, wild mushrooms—or simply make it the reason to plan a better dinner. Give it some air, pour it into generous glasses and share it with people who will take their time.

This w**e scores a rare 98-point rating, and you’ll see why! The vineyard, the family and the experience in the glass explain why it matters.

2023 Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands
$109.95 | Available now at Cascade

07/18/2026

🥃 Founders KBS Bourbon is Back! For Now... 🥃

Around West Michigan, KBS is an icon. The imperial stout that helped put Founders on the world stage became famous for its year spent in bourbon barrels, creating layers of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and oak that b**r lovers have chased for years.

Now the KBS story gets back to where the b**r began: Bourbon.

Founders starts with a well-crafted and well-aged Kentucky bourbon, laid down in new charred oak before being finished in barrels that once held KBS. While many b**r-barrel finishes end up overly b**r-forward or hop-forward, the KBS bottling remains a bourbon first, with classic notes of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak enhanced by subtle hints of chocolate, roasted coffee, and cocoa from its time in those legendary barrels.

We were impressed with how well this was executed and the balance the team achieved. It's a bottle that respects Kentucky bourbon tradition while giving a nod to one of Grand Rapids' most celebrated brewing achievements.

This was a limited run, and it's running low. Come by and pick up a bottle (or two) while they're still here!

07/11/2026

🍯🥃 GREEN RIVER HONEY HAS ARRIVED! 🥃🍯
.And boy, we’re weirdly excited about this one!

We knew this was coming to market, but we didn’t know anything about it, or why it might be different than any of the other offerings out there. Then we got the story from the Bardstown/Green River team.

Instead of reaching for flavorings or sweeteners, they start with their 4-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon and add 100% real, locally sourced honey directly into the barrel. Not honey flavoring. Not aged in a former honey barrel. Four gallons of real, actual wildflower honey. Dumped right into the barrel. So much honey, in fact, that they have to mix it in with the proofing water to account for the volume. Then they just sit back, let time and the barrel do the rest.

The result is something that's bourbon-forward and really well integrated. Bottled at real-wh***ey 92 proof, you still get the oak, vanilla, and baking spice you'd expect from Green River, but now they're wrapped in real honey instead of artificial sweetness. It's rich without becoming syrupy, and the bourbon never disappears behind the finish.

We've been really impressed with what Green River has been doing over the last few years, and this release is one more example of them taking quality seriously, and delivering another crazy good value.

If you've written off honey wh***ey in the past... this might be the bottle that changes your mind.

🍯 Available now!

The difference between honey flavored and honey finish! 100% real h...

07/02/2026

07/02/2026

‼️ BARREL ALERT ‼️

🎆 Fourth of July Release:
Steward Select Single Barrel of Larceny 🎆

We’re excited to share the release of Larceny Barrel Proof (we have been waiting for this one)
– Barrel #8120500, a standout wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill’s historic Bardstown rickhouses, arriving just in time to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Barrel Details
• Rickhouse: H1, Bardstown Main
• Age: 7 years, 5 months
• Proof: 126.1

Heaven Hill’s renowned wheated mashbill brings a signature softness and approachable sweetness that sets Larceny apart. Aged in the time-honored warehouses of Bardstown—home to some of Kentucky’s most storied rickhouses—this barrel has developed beautifully. It opens with a deep amber hue and inviting aromas of fresh summer corn, ripe peaches, and stone fruit.

On the palate, you’ll find comforting notes of corn pudding, honey-kissed wheat bread, gentle barrel toast, butterscotch, and brûléed sugar. A delicate pear eau-de-vie lifts the profile, while the finish offers warm baking spices of clove and cinnamon that linger smoothly. Despite the barrel proof, the texture remains remarkably balanced and composed—rich yet remarkably easy to enjoy.

This selection beautifully represents the craftsmanship and heritage of Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbons, making it an ideal choice for toasting with family and friends this Independence Day. It captures the spirit of Americana and Kentucky’s proud wh***ey tradition in every sip.
Limited inventory — available now at Cascade, Rockford, and Knapp’s Corner while supplies last.

We hope you have the opportunity to experience this special barrel. How do you plan to enjoy it during your Fourth of July celebrations?