Archives Binny's Handpicked Heaven Hill 10 Year American Whiskey - No. 00185

VITALS:

- $120

- 129.0 proof

- 10 years

- No. 00185

- Kentucky/Netherlands

It has certainly been a while since my last post. Quite frankly, keeping up with reviewing everything I finished got to feel a bit like a chore. I'd get busy with work, and the next thing I knew I had four or five bottles sitting on my table waiting for me to write up a new post. And, the last thing I want is for this "hobby" to be tedious -- kind of defeats the point.

But, after take a break from writing reviews for a few months (sadly there will be a number of bottles that just won't be part of my own personal whiskey blog journal), the itch came back and I find myself wanting to write about one of my favorite things in this world, that sweet liquid sunshine!

So, for my first foray back into my whiskey musings, I've chosen to take on one of three bottles sitting on my shelf of Heaven Hill 10 Year single barrels bottled by Archives and handpicked by Binny's. I'm not going to lie, I had to grab three of these because, after all, each bottle had a different butterfly on it, and I kind of dug the design. Dumb reason to buy a whiskey, I know, but I've certainly made poorer decisions in my life!

Released in 2020, from my understanding these were selected by Archives, but then exported to the Netherlands where they were then aged for 10 years, only to be re-imported to the United States for such thirsty whiskey enthusiasts such as myself to try.

The nose had just a little bit of oak to it, along with a rich nuttiness, like walnut. However, it didn't allow itself to be bitter, even though it seemed to teeter on that edge. I also got a decent dark chocolate note, again lending to that rich, but not sweet, quality to the nose.

As far as flavor, friends of mine who had also picked these bottles up when they were released told me that these drank very "hot," with the alcohol burn taking over much of the flavor. One of them even likened to a high-proof corn whiskey. So, I was not optimistic going in. Yet, I first cracked this bottle open at a tasting among friends, and of the seven or eight bottles in the line-up (some of which were very nice bottles), this was the favorite by a majority decision.

This was actually on the sweeter end of the spectrum for Heaven Hill products. It certainly had heat given its proof, but it did not drink "hot" such that the heat took away from the flavor. Rather, there were sweet coffee notes, with that sweetness coming from a burnt sugar profile. It had more of that rich toffee note than a sweet caramel note, but it was still certainly a sweeter whiskey.

It had a great oily mouthfeel to it, and that viscous quality seemed to lend to a butterscotch note that really seemed to come forward on the backend and particularly on the finish. Interestingly, I got a bread note, but, to get somewhat hyperspecific, it was like the crunch crust of a good, hearty bread. I don't know that I've ever considered putting butterscotch on bread crust before, but perhaps I need to try it, as it really worked here.

This was a very unique and interesting, and at the same time delicious bottle of Heaven Hill. It was different than any other I can recall having, and yet it was really good. And, it made for a fun bottle to share with other bourbon drinkers.

Grade: A-

Kirkland Signature Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $37

- 100 Proof

- NAS

- Islay

I have had a lot of fun grabbing some of the Kirkland Signature offerings at Costco.  Of course, some of them have indicated which distillery they come from. Some have been clearly higher end or more limited release items, carrying healthy age statements at reasonable prices.

This bottle, however, is just a simple, off-the-shelf Islay Single Malt.  The bottle doesn't indicate where it's from. It doesn't carry an age statement. And, it only states that it was "matured in oak casks."  But, for a mere $37, I was more than happy to throw it into my cart.  I do love those smoky Islay single malts, and at the very least I figured I'd be getting something along the lines of Ardbeg's Wee Beastie.

The nose was full of those phenols, giving off a strong peat aroma. It was definitely along the lines of a campfire soot type of smoke.  I didn't really get the band aid note, or even fresh campfire note. It was that charcoal and ash note.  Interestingly, there was something sweet in the aroma as well. It wasn't prominent, but there was definitely a honey and even a butterscotch note.

As to flavor, this was unquestionably an Islay single malt. It was smoky, filling my mouth with that freshly put out campfire note that I was getting off the nose. It was fairly heavy and definitely took over the pour.  

However, the sweet notes were there as well.  The butterscotch that I got on the nose and was hunting for on each sip was there, but it was fleeting. However, there was a light honey note as well as a sort of cereal note that reminded me of graham crackers and even Honey Smacks cereal . . . but smoked. I assume that this is a fairly young whisky. So, it was interesting that I also got a somewhat prominent oak note. It wasn't bitter, but it definitely had that oaky flavor to it. 

The finish left that smoke all over my mouth. It was hard to escape, and it reminded me a bit of smoking a cigar, where that taste just doesn't seem to go away, no matter if you drink something else, eat something or even brush your teeth. I like the peat, but here it was just so one-dimensional that there wasn't much else left on the finish.

For the price, this is a buy. However, I'm not grabbing this off my shelf if I'm in the mood for a really good Islay single malt.  

Grade: C+ 

Weller Full Proof Binny's Single Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Batch #5

VITALS:
- $60

- 114 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #5

- Kentucky

I'm not sure if the hype or love for these bottles still remains.  I'm guessing it does, I just can't claim to have my finger on that pulse any more. That said, I know that I'm still grabbing these up whenever they are made available to me. In fact, this and Antique store picks are about all that I really grab any more from the Weller lineup.

These Full Proofs have yet to let me down, whether as the standard release or as a single barrel pick.  This one is a bit odd, though.  The sticker is a bit misleading. It identifies it as a "Single Barrel Select" but then also includes a "batch" number rather than a barrel number.  I suppose a single barrel can also constitute a batch, but that seems a bit counterintuitive.  So, I guess I don't know if this is a small batch or if it is actually a single barrel.  

On the nose I got those traditional bourbon notes I've come to expect from these Weller Full Proofs. It's certainly on the sweeter side, with a distinct toffee note. There are notes of chocolate and even a little bit of cinnamon as well. But it definitely leaned sweet on the nose.  I went into my first sip anticipating a dessert whiskey.

But, the flavor was never too sweet. It had those caramel and chocolate notes. I even got a pretty decent amount of sweet vanilla bean. Certainly all of these notes together gave off confectionary vibes.  But, it never seemed to cross that line into being overly sweet or anything I'd consider a "dessert whiskey."

I think the sweetness was tempered a bit by a fairly health oak note. I don't typically find oak in these bottlings, so that was actually kind of a pleasant surprise. It added a touch of bitterness as well as a bit of earthiness, both of which were certainly welcome and helped balance the bourbon out. I also got a bit of a cherry note, kind of a candied cherry, that added just a touch of tang and fruitiness to the flavor.

The finish is where the cinnamon note really came through. It ended up being much spicier than I expected as a result, as that cinnamon note, along with the chocolate and toffee notes, hung around for quite some time. It actually made this bourbon fun, for lack of a more creative word.

The price of these bottles remains approachable, and I'm just going to keep buying them when the opportunity presents itself. Always delicious pours, and this barrel/batch, whatever it is, was no different.

Grade: B+

Longrow Red 11 Year Tawny Port Cask Matured Peated Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $170

- 115 Proof

- 11 Years

- 2023

- Campbeltown

When it comes to Scotch, I certainly do love those peated whiskies matured in wine casks. I love that peat and sweet!  And of those, I particularly love the Longrow Red collection.  Every single one of these releases has been absolutely outstanding! And of those, I've particularly loved the port finishes!

So, it was a foregone conclusion that I'd be grabbing the 11 year Tawny Port cask when it was released in 2023.  While I have bemoaned the pricing on these bottles, at least going in I knew I was going to love this bottling, and, quite frankly, it did not disappoint.

When I popped the cork, I got more peat than I expected. Usually these Longrow releases are a bit more muted, but this one filled my nostrils with a sweet smokey aroma. That was immediately followed, though, by a rich and sweet jammy note, like raspberry and currant.  Bright and fruity, and yet dark and rich all at once. 

And what I loved most is that it had a flavor to match. Again, the peat smoke was present immediately on the tip of my tongue.  It was no Laphroaig or Ardbeg, but the peat notes were certainly there. There was also a certain salinity to it, kind of like a campfire on the beach.

But what made this release a superstar was that Tawny Port cask! This was the kind of pour that you'd want after a heavy Thanksgiving meal (even if that's not a thing in Scotland!).  It was like a smokey fruit pie, full of fig and raspberry and stewed cherries. It was unquestionably sweet, but yet almost subtly so. The dark fruits provided all of the sweetness, never giving way to being too sweet and always playfully working with the peat smoke.

I did get some graham cracker notes, and even at times a bit of honey and wheat. That really just kind of balanced out the whole pie comparison.  Every now and then I'd even get surprised by warm baking spices, like cinnamon and even nutmeg.

But, rest assured, from front to back, it was that jammy blackberry, currant, stewed cherries, fig impression from the Tawny Port that was the absolute star here, making for one of the best pours I've had in a long time.  Damn those stupid prices--I'm stuck just grabbing these Longrow Reds as I find them!

Grade: A+

Glenmorangie A Tale of the Forest Highland Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $100

- 92 Proof

- NAS

- 2023

- Highlands

I am always a fan of free whisky! I know some whiskey collectors would prefer not to get whiskey as a gift, because it might end up being something they'd never buy or it might be something that they already have. I, however, welcome any and all whiskey gifts. It's always a good present, even if it's something I've had a thousand times before. Free whisky is great whisky!

In this case, I got this bottle as a gift from my wife, who thought it came in a pretty box.  I'm fairly certain that's about all the aforethought that went into this particular gift. But, in this case, I was thrilled to receive it.  I'm a fan of Glenmorangie to start with, and a limited release with some experimentation (kilning barley with botanicals) is just the kind of thing that I want to grab when I see it, but often pass due to the risk of the unknown (and usually somewhat hefty price tag).

It could be that the packaging, and the name, and the description of the process, all got in my head making me predisposed to certain flavors and aromas. But, the first things that I noticed were all almost herbal, with notes of sage and oregano hitting me right away. There was also a decent amount of pine on the nose, along with a bit of an earthy note. I even got notes of coriander and fennel, and at times it reminded me of a good deep dish pizza, as weird as that sounds.

As to flavor, it was definitely herbal, regardless of any predisposition.  I got the sage and oregano. There was also a certain fennel note, which, while I'm not a huge fan of fennel, did offer an interesting note and seemed to blend well with everything else.

I didn't really get any pine or mossy notes, as the write-up on the box suggested.  In fact, I got a decent amount of sweetness to go with the herbal notes, including notes of honey and even richer notes of caramel.  These sweeter notes actually worked really well with the herbal notes, giving a bit of a sweet and savory balance.

The finish provided a bit of a black pepper spice to further balance out any sweetness. It also had a cracker note, kind of like a wheat cracker with a bit of an earthy note to it.  Unfortunately, here the caramel and herbal notes seemed to fade away fairly quickly, leaving me with mostly a bread note in my mouth.

All in all, this was a fun single malt.  There were things that I absolutely loved about it (the herbal honey notes) and things that I wish were better (the disappointing finish). But, I'm so glad I got to try it, and I did not find myself hesitating to grab this bottle when the mood for an unpeated Scotch hit me.

Grade: B

Mortlach Signatory Vintage Binny's Private Select 10 Year Oloroso Sherry Matured Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $100

- 118.2 Proof

- 10 Years

- Cask No. 7

- 2023

- Speyside

There are two primary reasons I picked up this bottle.  First, it came highly recommended from a Binny's manager who, while we don't necessarily share the same palate when it comes to bourbon, has certainly served me well with his Scotch recommendations. Given that it's a private pick bottled at cask strength, his recommendation was really all that was necessary to convince me to grab a bottle.

However, this bottle certainly stood out on the shelf for one particular reason -- its color!!  I'm not one typically swayed by color. I've had some incredibly flavorful whiskeys that were just a shade above clear. But, this particular whiskey was so incredibly dark, I just knew that the force of the 1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt was going to be strong with this one! It looked like a completely different type of liquor next to all the other bottles on the shelf.

One thing that was consistent on both the nose and the palate is that to call this "jammy" is an understatement.  As soon as I popped the cork, the room was filled with black raspberry and black currants. There was also a sort of toast note, making it seem a bit breakfast-ish. While it was hard to get past those rich, dark fruit notes, I also got something a bit herbal, kind of like a sage or an oregano note.

Upon my first sip, though, I was absolutely in love with this whisky! My mouth was flooded with notes of currant, black cherry and fig. It was rich and very jammy, and the 10 years spent in the Oloroso cask really allowed those fortified wine notes to take hold.  It also had a sort of syrupy quality, with that rich sweetness to it.

It also had a bit of a pie crust note, perhaps the toast I got on the nose. It was bit crackery, but also light and almost buttery. There was also a bit of balance thanks to a fresh black pepper note to add a little spice and pull from the sweetness. 

The finish is what absolutely sold me, though. I mentioned "syrupy" above, and this had a viscosity that reminded me of syrup from a jar of maraschino cherries. It absolutely coated the mouth in wonderful flavors of rich, dark fruit notes, but also that black pepper spice. There was a bit of an umami note on the finish as well, and it all kind of came together like really well-done barbecue. 

This was a sherry bomb, for sure, but it was a really, really good sherry bomb!!  I absolutely loved this bottle, and as I'm sitting here typing this I'm wishing I just had more and more of it.

Grade: A+

Colonel E.H. Taylor Warehouse Liquors Single Barrel Select Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $80

- 100 Proof

- NAS

- Barrel #035; Wrhs. H

- Kentucky

I've had plenty of store picks before, including E.H. Taylor picks. This one is a first, for me, having nothing to do with the whiskey. I bought this Warehouse Liquors Single Barrel Select back in 2021, and it's just like any other pick. What was a bit odd, however, is that Buffalo shipped all of the bottles for this Single Barrel pick in "Small Batch" tubes.

Of course, Gene at Warehouse Liquors caught this, and, rather than ship new tubes, apparently Buffalo Trace sent additional stickers to be applied to the outside of the Small Batch tubes, giving that necessary reassurance that this was, in fact, a single barrel pick.  In the end, tubes don't matter and the bottle was clearly and properly labeled.  But, it certainly was a fun little quirk with this particular bottling.  I think that's why it sat on my shelf for as long as it did before I finally got around to opening it.  I just liked having that little oddity.

No surprise here, but this was a delicious bourbon!  The nose was full of those traditional, Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1 aromas, including toffee and chocolate. It had a little bit of vanilla and a good cinnamon spice trailing behind everything.  These are consistently in my wheelhouse, and this bottle was no different.

When I took my first sip, the cinnamon spice was the first thing that I noticed up front. It was kind of a mix of baked cinnamon like you get on cinnamon rolls and cinnamon candy like redhots. It was very delicious! Interestingly, right behind that I got a decent oak note, adding a bit of tannic bitterness.  

Luckily, though, that bitterness was fleeting, and it made way for rich dark chocolate notes, as well as rich toffee notes. It wanted to be a sweet bourbon, but the spice, the oak, and the richness of those sweet notes seemed to keep it from going too far. 

There was a dark cherry, kind of a Maraschino cherry lurking behind everything.  That seemed to work incredibly well with the chocolate, providing a sort of cherry cordial quality.  It also had a sort of graham cracker note to it as well, again offering just a touch of sweetness without going too far.

On the finish it seemed that graham cracker note stuck around the longest.  The dark cherry note was there, and a bit of the toffee note as well. But that graham cracker, and even the dark chocolate note, were what really seemed to linger.  The spice that I got up front seemed to fade away fairly quickly after each sip.

The quirky tube is gone now, and, quite frankly, the bourbon in side was gone very quickly once I finally got around to opening it. This one checked a lot of the boxes of what I love about bourbon.  I almost don't want to throw my empties away (but I will because I'm not a hoarder).

Grade: A-

Hazelburn 9 Year Barolo Cask Matured Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2016)

VITALS:

- $132

- 115.8 Proof

- 9 Years

- Campbeltown

I have and will always have a soft spot for Campbeltown Scotches.  I don't know what it is about them.  I do love a good, smoky Scotch, but it seems that Campbeltown, whatever it is they're doing there, seems to find a great balance of peat smoke and salinity.  That's not to mention their (at least Springbank's) use of ex-wine casks seemingly to perfection.

Yet, even where peat is not involved, they still seem to nail it.  That's where the Hazelburn line comes in.  I honestly don't even know where I found this bottle.  If I had to guess, I'd say Warehouse Liquors in Chicago.  This was bottled in 2016, and I can assure you I hadn't been holding onto it that long.  I also can't say that I've had a whisky matured in Barolo wine casks before, so no matter what I knew this was going to be a treat.

The nose was full of a nice, malty backbone, kind of like a sweeter wheat bread. It had notes of salinity and even a little black pepper.  There were also some rich dark fruit notes. I got blackberry and even dark cherry at times.  I also got a bit of baked apple with cinnamon and nutmeg. It certainly smelled rich and lightly sweet.

On the first sip, I got that black pepper note right away on the tip of my tongue. I also got that bready note, as well as a bit of the rich dark fruit. However, it was more of a plum note, having that tangy bite that you get from plums.  There was also a fairly distinct tannic note to it, certainly coming from the wine casks.

As each sip lingered a bit more, some of the sweeter notes came through.  I did get a caramel apple note (kind of surprised by this one), adding some sweetness to the baked apple I was getting on the nose.  But it certainly never leaned too rich, rather relying on the rich, decadent notes from the Barolo casks to drive the bus. 

On the finish, there was a light pepperiness, but it was that baked apple and plum that really stuck around.  The taste that lingered was as though I had just finished a delicious pie, including some of the malt notes to provide a sort of pie crust flavor that stuck around, particularly on the tip of my tongue. It didn't come across as super viscous, but the finish was long and, quite frankly, my favorite part of the whole experience.

Grade: A-

Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $180

- 100 Proof

- 16 Years

- Kentucky

Somehow news of this release escaped me.  I've always been a fan of Old Grand-Dad. I like the spicy, almost dusty quality that it always seems to have, and OGD 114 is one of my favorite semi-regularly available bottles on the shelf.  And yet, when news of a 16 year OGD hit, it somehow went below my radar.

So, when I saw some new, unrecognizable bottle on the shelf at Costco, and upon closer inspection realized just what it was, I pulled the trigger without questioning it.  Perhaps at its price-point I should have, but, in the end, buyer's remorse is just a part of this hobby.  It's inescapable.  Luckily, though, I managed to avoid it with this bottle, which was pretty much everything I would have wanted or expected from a well-aged OGD!

Upon popping the very fat (dare I say thicc) cork on this wide-mouthed bottle, I got the immediate and familiar note of peanuts that I associate with Jim Beam products. In fact, it was more present than usual with this one, as it really took over.  Behind that peanut note were notes of oak and caramel. It even had a little bit of anise to it, as well as a pretty strong cinnamon note to tickle my nose a bit. 

Not surprisingly, my first sip gave a significant peanut note right away. However, it was definitely on the sweeter side, almost like a peanut brittle, just not quite that sweet. But, other flavors, including fairly prominent notes of honey and caramel, provided a sweetness that I didn't expect and don't usually get out of Old Grand-Dad bottlings.  There were also notes of vanilla bean and nougat that lent to the sweetness and almost dessert-like quality.

There was also a light oakiness up front. At first I was surprised at how little oak came through. However, as the bottle had been open a bit, it certainly took on a more oaky quality, definitely noticeable in later pours.  There was also a cinnamon spice which, along with that oak note, kept this from getting overly sweet. Even a dark chocolate note kept through to try to temper the sweetness.

However, on the sweet-spice spectrum, I'd put this well on the sweet end.  While there was some spice, this was unquestionably a sweet bourbon, and it was that sweet peanut note, that note that reminded me of peanut brittle, that lingered forever on the finish. While it wasn't what I was expecting, it was absolutely delicious, leaving me wanting more and more!

Grade: A-

Knob Creeck Binny's Single Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $45

- 120 Proof

- 15 yrs

- Bottled 2020

- Kentucky

This is the last of what felt like a series of well-aged Knob Creek private selections that Binny's was getting in on a regular basis for a couple years.  I was lucky enough to pick up numerous Knob Creek picks that were 13 to almost 16 years old, and all for very modest prices.

You see those posts on social media of Pappy Van Winkle just sitting on shelves, priced at less than $100, posts harkening back to a better time before the bourbon craze really hit full steam.  These bottles kind of do that for me.  They were one of the big distilleries, with well-aged bourbon at high proof, single barrel private selections, and only $45!!!  I should have been buying cases of this stuff!  And now, 5 1/2 years later, it's all finally gone.  It would be a sad day for me, if it weren't for the fact that I got to thoroughly enjoy this great bourbon!

The nose on this was great, with strong notes of toffee and dark chocolate.  There was also a distinct unsweetened vanilla note, and all of these rich notes were balanced out by a decent amount of oak. It really just smelled like a well-aged, really good bourbon.  Aside from that, I did get something along the lines of a cola or even a root beer note, adding to the sweet aromas.

As to flavor, this really checked all the boxes for me.  It starts with a dark caramel or toffee note right up front. There is no question this was caramel forward, and that was punctuated by a definite cola note that seemed to take over.  I also got up front sweet notes of butterscotch candy and even milk chocolate. It certainly hit sweet right away.

But, it didn't seem to remain that way, as that sweetness gave way to notes of rich dark chocolate, as well as a healthy amount of oak. Neither made this overly bitter by any stretch, but it certainly kept this from becoming too sweet or landing in the dessert-bourbon zone.

It also had a good amount of spice to it, with cinnamon spice leading the way, but there was also a peppery spice, particularly on the finish, that seemed to linger for quite a bit.  The thick, oily mouthfeel of this bourbon also allowed those toffee and dark chocolate notes to coat my mouth as well, leaving me with fond memories and lasting impressions of my most recent sip, at least until I went back for another (which, in all honesty, was a relatively short-lived moment).

I miss this bottle already, not only because it was the last of a bygone era, but also because it was really damn good!!

Grade: A

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon - 1985

VITALS:

- $225

- 86 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

This bottle is certainly a first for me.  While I have reviewed one "dusty" previously (an amazing bottle of Baltimore Pure Rye from around 1951), that was based on a sample that my buddy was so generous to provide me.  This, however, is the first time that I've purchased a "dusty" bottle.  This one was bottled around 1985, given the embossed year on the bottom of the bottle.  Based on my very amateur research, that means it would have been bottled around 1985 or 1986.

Of course, I had to go to that dirty, filthy corner of the internet where such secondary market bottles can be procured.  And, quite frankly, it's not a place that I frequently visit. However, when I scrolled past a picture of these old bottles of Old Forester, it gave me pause.  I've had a similar pour, just a few years off, at Bardstown Bourbon Company when I visited there, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. So, despite the asking price (which, honestly, really wasn't all that bad), I pulled the trigger. It helped that the seller worked a block from my office, making the exchange incredibly easy.

Although this wasn't super aromatic, what was there on the nose was pretty delicious.  I got a great blend of sweet caramel and vanilla right away, but tucked just behind that was a light oakiness that I wasn't expecting. I don't know what the typical age of the bourbon in these bottlings is, but I couldn't imagine they're too old. So, I was surprised to get that oak note. On later pours, I got a great nougat note as well.

The flavor went in a slightly different, but delicious direction. Right up front the most prominent note was a rich dark chocolate note--slightly sweet, a touch of bitter to balance it, and an almost creamy richness to it.  There was also a sweet ribbon of caramel in there as well, adding a bit more sweetness to counter that dark chocolate.

It had even more complexity, though, as after that initial sweet caramel and dark chocolate note came a great dark cherry note, perhaps like a maraschino cherry.  All together, it really gave of this great cordial note, with dark chocolate, sweetness added from the caramel, a rich dark cherry note, and, of course, a bit of booze to go along.

The finish wasn't long, which is to be expected given the low proof. But, it was the caramel note that lingered the longest, providing a light, sweet coating on my tongue after each sip.

While this may not be the best whiskey I've ever head, it is certainly one of the best bottles I've ever purchased. It's a talking point, for sure.  But, I really loved pulling it out at the beginning of nights centered around drinks with friends, giving them something special and different, and something that isn't going to burn their tongue with alcohol.  Plus, it's an absolutely great tasting whiskey!!  For all of these reasons, this bottle gets an "A" from me.

Grade: A

Ardbeg Heavy Vapours 2023 Committee Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $160

- 100.4 proof

- NAS

- Islay

Fair warning, this is probably a very biased review.  As of late, Ardbeg has been able to do no wrong in my book.  I have loved release after release from them, and I assure you this Heavy Vapours release is no exception.  Well, perhaps it is a bit of an exception, as explained below.

Nonetheless, this was one of the more expensive committee releases, and that price tag is a lot to ask given there's no age statement. But, again, I'm a sucker for everything Ardbeg, and like a sucker, I ponied up the money to make sure I had the newest committee release at the time.  But, that first pour took away any doubt, what little I may have had.

On the nose I get breakfast pastry with caramel.  It was like a traditional Danish, but rather than top it with fruit or cheese, it was topped with caramel.  And smoked caramel at that! It also had this sweet yeasty or bready note that gave it that pastry quality. The smoke, interestingly, didn't contract but rather complemented all of these notes, making for a smoky, slightly sweet dessert-like note.

The flavor, on the first sip, was amazing. Right up front I got this blend of smoke, salted caramel and dark chocolate that was rich, sweet (but not overly sweet) and absolutely amazing. It also had a strong malt backbone that provided a lightly sweet bready note, or, perhaps even better, a waffle batter note that I absolutely loved.

The smoke was a sweet and salty smoke, somewhat like a campfire smoke with more earthy tones. But that smoke seemed to work perfectly with those caramel and dark chocolate notes, adding an incredible additional layer, kind of like what makes s'mores so good when the marshmallow is roasted over a fire.  In fact, s'mores is not too far off here as far as tasting notes go.

The finish, despite the not-too-high proof, lingered for a long time. This whisky had a viscosity that I don't usually get around 100 proof, and it coated my mouth with a rich smoky salted caramel that I never wanted to go away.

I'm unapologetically an Ardbeg stan, and I've loved every committee release. But, this one stands above all the rest for me. I thought this was an absolutely amazing pour, and is one of my favorite whiskies ever.  I held onto the last pour in my bottle for far too long, only because I didn't want it to go away, and now I may find myself on a mission to track another one down.

Grade: A+

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+

Ardbeg Hypernova 2022 Committee Release Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $190

- 102 Proof

- NAS

- Islay

I'm not gonna lie--I was not happy at all with the price on this bottle. This seemed to be the peak of pricing for the Ardbeg Committee Releases.  While previous releases had been somewhat price, they weren't pushing the $200 range, particularly on a non-age stated whisky.  This seems especially egregious given that the most recent Committee Release came in at a relatively modest $85. 

And yet this bottle still found its way onto this sucker's shelf. I really just can't help myself when it comes to Ardbeg. Time and time again it has proven to be my favorite Islay distillery.  While not every bottle has been an absolute home run, they have released so many bottlings that I have absolutely loved that I just could never quit them!  And when they describe it as their "Possibly the smokiest dram in the world," well, I just had to find out for myself.

And yet, when I popped the cork, my first thought was, "Not nearly as smoky as I expected." The smoke was there on the nose, it just wasn't slap-me-in-the face smoke.  It was balanced out by sweeter notes of bright orange and honey. There was a sweet malty backbone, almost like graham crackers, and even a bit of a honey butter note. All these great notes may have pushed that smoke note back a bit.

On the palate, again that smoke just wasn't the heavy amount of soot or creosote that takes you back. Don't get my wrong, this was still very true to Islay and true to Ardbeg.  That soot note, even a char note, was definitely there.  There was no questioning that this was an Ardbeg.

But, what I've always loved about Ardbeg is their ability to make other notes absolutely shine alongside that heavy peat. Here, those crackery and bready notes along with those bright citrus notes all seemed to really come through and work well with that peat.  I got a sweet wheat bread note, along with citrus notes of lemon and orange. 

There was a grassy or herbal note as well that, at times, reminded me of lemongrass.  And on the bac end I got a spicy black pepper note that again seemed to complement everything else going on.  All of this was sweetened up by a bright honey note, and those smoke, citrus, wheat bread and honey notes all were incredibly well-balanced.  So much so that I wasn't really made that this did not come across as the "smokiest dram" in the world.  In fact, I was glad it wasn't, because it might have thrown off the balance.

Do I think this was a bit overpriced, yes. Do I think this was a fantastic pour and I wish I had more of it? Also yes!!  All in all, this was an absolutely great pour, and I couldn't help but keep dipping back into this bottle until it was gone.

Grade: A-