Jack Daniel's 2023 Special Release Twice Barreled Heritage Barrel Tennessee Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $70

- 100 Proof

- 8 years, 4 mos.

- Tennessee

While Jack Daniel's has seemingly shifted focus towards its age stated Tennessee Whiskey (and for good reason, those are incredible!), we'd all be remiss if we forgot about these initial Heritage Barrel limited releases that seemed to open a lot of people's eyes to just how amazing some of the stuff coming out of Jack Daniel's really is.

This was the second rye that Jack released as part of the Heritage Barrel series. It's "twice barreled," but now days that would be more readily recognized as a "toasted barrel," as its second maturation was in "heavy-toast, low-char heritage barrels."  Given that I've had other toasted barrel ryes that I've loved (Michter's and Elijah Craig, to name two), I didn't think twice about picking this bottle up. 

On the nose I got some of those great notes that made me love rye -- a sort of wintergreen mintyness, along with a light licorice note and a spicy cinnamon note. These are the kinds of flavors that made me fall in love with rye in the first place. It had a rich molasses sweetness on the nose as well, along with a hint of unsweetened vanilla.

I couldn't wait to dive in after pouring my first glass.  After smelling this from the bottle, I anticipated a certain level of sweetness that was never really there. Rather, it was full of rich and earthy flavors. I got licorice or anise almost right away, along with that spicy cinnamon hitting the tip of my tongue. It was also very vanilla forward, but, again, that unsweetened vanilla.

While this rye didn't sit in the barrel long, it was double barreled, and the oak certainly came through. It wasn't bitter or drying, but just added another layer of earthy notes. That oak was complemented by a pine note as well, a bit resin-like, but which seemed to go great with the unsweetened vanilla.

I really did miss the minty note that I got off the nose. I was excited when that aroma first hit, but then a bit disappointed when I didn't get that note on the palate. However, I did get a sweet walnut note that was a very pleasant surprise. It kept with the earthy notes, but added a sweet, almost candied element that was very welcome. As a result, this really seemed to sweeten up on the finish, completing the ride in a way.

Although I wanted that mint, this was still a very fun whiskey, and I really couldn't put my glass down. It was earthy and punchy and yet softly lowered you to the ground with a sweet finish. 

Grade: B+

Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2012 9 year Highland Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $60

- 116.8 Proof

- 9 Years

- Cask No. 521

- Highlands

I have to admit that I didn't have much experience with Glenglassaugh prior to buying this bottle. This was just one of those where a friend of mine told me this was delicious, and the price tag told me that, for a cask strength bottling, I'd be a fool not to at least try it.

This particular single cask was matured in American Wine Hogshead (that could be anything, right??) for 9 years, though given its distillation date of May 9, 2012, and bottling date of sometime in 2022, it had to be pushing those double digits. This barrel was hand selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie, whom I was already familiar with from her work with Brown-Forman and specifically Benriach. Pretty much everything about this bottle, including my buddy who had already purchased one, told me I needed to get one.

The nose was soft and pillowy (I know, kind of a weird way to describe the way something smells, but that's what it was).  It was definitely fruit forward, indicating that it was a sweeter American wine cask that was used for maturation.  But, the fruit was more like baked fruit with cinnamon and other spices.  I got baked pear and plum, along with a bit of a brown sugar sweetness and a malty backbone that gave off serious fruit pie vibes.

As to flavor, while similar, it was a bit different in that it led with more of a spiced or mulled wine note. It was sweet, but also had notes of cinnamon and anise, coupled with dark fruit notes like plum and cherry. There was also a sweet tobacco leaf note that added to those dark, rich notes, but added a sort of sweet earthy quality to it.

The malt backbone was certainly making itself known as well, as I got a significant wheat bread note that seemed as though it were sweetened by butterscotch.  It was almost like a good, hearty bread with butterscotch drizzled over top. It was incredibly delicious, particularly paired with the baked fruit notes.

On the finish, it was all fruit pie! I got the baked pear and plum, and even a bit of that cherry, all of which was sweetened by a brown sugar note and even a hint of that butterscotch. And, of course, the crackery pie crust was there as well.

If there are "dessert" whiskeys, this is without question one of them. It was never over the top sweet, but it definitely found those various flavors that all complemented each other so well it ended up being almost one cohesive fruit pie note with all the individual notes that entails. This was a gem of a whiskey, and I'm so glad my buddy told me to grab one.

Grade: A

Wild Turkey 70th Anniversary Release 8 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $75

- 101 Proof

- 8 Years

- Kentucky

It wasn't that long ago that age statements on Wild Turkey products just weren't a thing.  At least not here in the United States.  You could find 8 year and 12 year (and probably some others) in various other parts of the world.  I know I've had a couple of each muled back from Japan for me a few times.  But, here in the United States, age statements on Wild Turkey bottles were saved for their special releases.

I've had the 8-year 101 brought back to me from Japan. I always found it to be quite tasty, and at about $35, I loved the price.  So, I was excited to see this 8 year get released here--much closer in proximity and I did not need to rely on the generosity of others to get it. However, what I wasn't a fan of was the more than double price for what is likely the same whiskey.  I wrote it off to this being a special release, however, and threw caution (and $75) to the wind.

The nose gave off many of those traditional notes I associate with Turkey products.  I got a bit of cherry and some light oak. There was also a great combination of peanut and caramel in the aroma that I loved. It also had a bit of a peppery spice tingling my nose and just a light amount of that Wild Turkey "funk," kind of mossy or dusty. 

The palate hit a lot of these same notes. Right up front this hit on the spicier end of the sweet vs. spice spectrum of bourbons, with an unsweetened cinnamon spice leading the way, as well as a bit of a black pepper spice. It was also very crackery up front, kind of like a wheat cracker.

Behind all that, though, the cherry notes from the nose came through, almost like a cherry cola note, with notes of dark caramel and even root beer at times.  There was a slight vegetal note as well, kind of like that mossy note I got on the nose.

On the finish, that root beer note seemed to come through a bit more heavily, especially after each swallow.  At the back of my throat lingered this root beer and wheat cracker combination that, while it sounds odd, actually really worked and I found the finish to be more enjoyable than expected, particularly given the relatively thin mouthfeel on this whiskey.

Wild Turkey 8 year is good whiskey, whether it comes from Japan or is released here in the states.  I only hope that it becomes more of a mainstay on the shelves and at a cheaper price, and not just some limited release simply because they slapped an age statement on it.

Grade: B

Russell's Reserve Binny's Private Barrel Selection 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $75

- 110 Proof

- 10 Years

- Barrel #: 24-0375

- Kentucky

While in recent years there seems to have been a flood of store picks and private selections, particularly at the big box stores like Binny's, there are certain ones that I will still pick up nearly every time I find them. Russell's Reserve is one of those. While the demand for these picks isn't what it once was, the quality continues to be there, and I keep finding myself impressed with every one I try.

This bottle was no different for me.  Many of these are hovering around 9 years, even 8 years old.  So, I was pretty excited to grab a 10-year bottling (with an extra month thrown in for good measure).  Not that the age really matters, and I would have purchased the bottle regardless, but I'm still pulled in by those double digit age statements.

Right away the nose told me this was going to be good.  I got notes of cherry and caramel, and even a bit of cinnamon spice. It definitely had a cherry cola note, but with a little something extra to tingle my nostrils.  There was a light oakiness as well, along with some chocolate notes, but that cherry cola note really took hold.

And, much to my delight, the flavor carried those notes forward. Right up front were the cherry and caramel notes, even bordering on rich molasses. But, together they gave this distinct cherry cola note, almost like a concentrated version, that was rich and delicious.

It never go to be cloying, though. That's thanks to the cinnamon and even at times peppery spice that not only hit the tip of my tongue right up front but lasted throughout the finish. The light oak I got from the nose was also present, and that also helped keep this from becoming too sweet.  

I don't comment much on viscosity, but this bourbon was just oily and absolutely coated my mouth, lending to an extremely long finish that filled my mouth with cherry cola and chocolate notes, as well as the aforementioned (lawyer talk) cinnamon spice.  

This was one of those whiskeys that just checked every box for me. I know I love Russell's Reserve picks, and that I have a certain predisposition. But I was even shocked at just how much I loved this bottle.  Once it was opened it was gone within days, because I just found myself not wanting anything else until it was all gone.

Grade: A+

Star Hill Farm 2025 American Wheat Whisky

VITALS:
- $100

- 114.7 Proof

- 8 years

- Kentucky

Maker's Mark has always been somewhat limited in its offerings. After all, it just makes a wheated bourbon, and everything else they offer is some sort of play on that, whether that be their Maker's 46 with the stave finishes, the Cask Strength, their Private Selection program, or, more recently their limited releases. They all at least start with the standard wheated bourbon mashbill.

So, when they decided to release something a little different, I was pretty excited to get my hands on a bottle. This Star Hill Farm bottling is not a wheated bourbon, but rather a wheat whisky. So, while the focus is still on the wheat, it's not a bourbon. Quite frankly, other than Heaven Hill's Bernheim Wheat, there's not much out there on the market like this.  Plus, the bottle is pretty sweet -- it's substantial in weight and the cork is like it's made from a chunk of quartz countertop.

As to the whisky itself, the nose is very fragrant. I got notes of cherry and cinnamon, as well as a decent amount of oak. The cherry note, however, came across as that artificial cherry--not quite like cough syrup, but fairly close. And the cinnamon was more of a dry, unsweetened cinnamon note, kind of like smelling a cinnamon stick.

The flavor was interesting, because at first I wasn't a big fan. Right away I got that cherry note along with a healthy dose of oak. However, unlike on the nose, the cherry note was more medicinal in nature. And, to add to that, the oak note really didn't offer much other than a significant amount of bitterness.  Pair all that with the high proof, and this was not an easy sipper.

But, having then let the bottle sit for a couple weeks before going back to it, I found that I actually really enjoyed it. The cherry note seemed to transform form the artificial to the natural. It took on more of a black cherry note, not like candy but more like fresh black cherry off the tree.  The oak note didn't come across nearly as bitter. In fact, the whisky as a whole sweetened up, with notes of brown sugar and even a slight hint of maple syrup, to not only counter-balance the oak note, but to even complement it.

While the heat remained, it certainly was much more enjoyable, and the high proof helped provide a long and oily finish that was dark cherry, brown sugar and cinnamon. The oak seemed to fade a bit, leaving a rich, sweet and dark finish to linger at the back of my throat.

I was really quite floored at how disappointed I was with this whisky at first, and how much I enjoyed it at the end. It makes it a bit tough to grade, but I'll just say that in the end, I wasn't disappointed in the slightest with my purchase.

Grade: B+

Laphroaig Cairdeas Cask Favourites 10 Year Islay Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $110

- 104.8 Proof

- 10 Years

- Islay

Year after year Laphroaig releases what I would call (in my attempt to sound cooler than I am) absolute bangers as their annual Cairdeas releases.  These have been some of my favorite bottlings each year.  Of course, some have been better than others, but I have never been disappointed in a bottle, and, better yet, I've found all of them to be exceptional.

This particular bottling is no different.  Interestingly, this one uses "as inspiration" two previous releases, the 2019 Triple Wood and the 2021 PX Cask.  These were both great releases, so a release that's an ode to both of those seemed almost guaranteed to be good.  What caught me by surprise was just how good. As I've said, I've loved every Cairdeas release, but this one for me stood above the crowd.  I didn't just "love" this bottle, but I was "in love with" this bottle! Don't tell my wife.

There was a slight jamminess on the nose, with dark fruit notes of fig and cherry hitting right up front. But it wasn't over the top as you sometimes get. There was also a rich dark chocolate note, offering those deep cocoa notes, but without any sort of bitterness, at least not hitting on the nose. Of course, the peat hit as well, but it came across as a light barbecue note, thanks to those complementary fruit notes, along with a bit of char.

The palate was fruity and smokey, of course, but it was actually quite a bit brighter than the nose.  Right up front I got sweet notes of raspberry and currant, carrying forward that light jammy quality I got off the nose.  The bright raspberry was a very pleasant surprise, and that note seemed to stick around from the second it touches the tongue through the finish.

The rich dark chocolate came through, but again without any offensive bitterness.  In fact, the most bitterness came from the raspberry notes, a type of bitterness I don't find offensive at all. As I sipped some of those deeper, darker fruit notes came through, and fig seemed to the be the most pervasive flavor here.

And, while it seemed to take a second to come out from behind the curtain, that barbecue note was certainly prevalent throughout.  It was sweet and fruity and smokey with a lightly bitter char note, and it was absoutely delicious. In fact, I'd love to replicate this flavor in a barbecue sauce the next time I smoke ribs.  

Like I said, I think this is my favorite Cairdeas release yet. Of course, there may be a bit of recency bias here, but I loved and am in love with this whiskey.  Or at least I was until I killed it.

Grade: A+

Doc Swinson's Exploratory Cask Summery Retreat White Port Cask Finished Straight Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $60

- 105.2 Proof

- 7 years

- Release No. 24-003

- Indiana

I can't say I've had a lot from Doc Swinson's. But, I have had a few of their Exploratory Cask series bottlings, and I've really enjoyed them (not to mention their amazing easy-cracking wax!!).  The Cognac-finished bourbon was absolutely delicious.

So, when a handful of new offerings hit the shelves, all with sharp, newly designed labels, I knew I'd be grabbing one of them. And this one stood out as something worth a go.  Starting with 7 year MGP rye and bottled at cask strength, boxes were quickly being checked. The relatively modest price certainly helped as well. And, it piqued my curiosity a bit with the white Port finish.  So in my cart it went!

Up front on the nose, I got a little bit of a red or purple grape note. It was certainly sweet, and smelled . . . juicy??  I'm not really sure how one smells "juicy," but it was there. I also got a bit of dark, rich cherry. However, that was balanced out by a light bitter note, kind of a mix between red wine vinegar and oak. It wasn't strong, but it was there enough to be noticeable.

Interestingly, the flavor didn't necessary fall in line with the nose. Right away I found the good underlying rye notes, including cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla, along with a light minty note. There was even a good peppery spice to it right away on the tip of my tongue.

But, the Port notes quickly found their way in, as dark fruits like plum and black raspberry took centerstage.  While it was very fruit-forward, it was never super sweet. Rather, fresh notes of raspberry and even cherry and blackberry dominated, giving it a nice sweet and tart combination.

On the finish, the rye seemed to push its way through again, providing a great cinnamon heat on the finish, along with a light dark chocolate note. As each swallow faded away, I also got light lingering notes of maple syrup and even anise at times. 

This was absolutely an interesting bottle, with the rye taking the spotlight at the beginning and the end, and the white Port finish providing robust dark fruit notes throughout the middle. It was a pretty fun ride, and a successful "exploration" by Doc Swinson's.  

Grade: B+