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+

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+

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch No. B523

VITALS:

- $70

- 124.2

- 11 yrs, 5 mos.

- Batch No. B523

- Kentucky

Somewhere along the line I got to a point where I stopped buying these bottles. My guess, given this batch number, is that point occurred somewhere around Summer of 2023.  At one point these Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs were pretty scarce and it was a good day when you'd stumble upon one sitting on the shelf.  Now, however, I can go into my local Binny's and see stacks of boxes of the newest release sitting on the floor.

While they're not all 12 years, they're close enough as far as I'm concerned. And I do like the transparency on the age. And, it's not as though it's decreased in quality in any meaningful manner.  In fact, when I get those cravings for a good, high proofed bourbon, these are frequently the bottles I've been grabbing. But there's just something about knowing that I can run and grab a bottle just about whenever that makes it feel a bit unnecessary to pick up each and every release like I once did. That said, these are still very good bottles, and this one was no different.

The nose was full of those traditional caramel and vanilla notes. But, it wasn't super sweet. It had a bit of dark chocolate to add some richness but also a touch of bitterness. It also had some walnut to it for some earthiness. There was something about it, though, that it took me a few sniffs to get. Eventually I got there, though, and I wrote down, "molasses cookies."  It's been a while, to be certain, since I've had a molasses cookie, but that is what I was getting here.  

When I took my first sip, I immediately got something I hadn't gotten from the nose.  there was a definite cherry note, which was paired with a cinnamon note that was a bit like the Fireball candies we used to break our teeth on as kids.  There was also a light oak note up front as well that I didn't necessarily get from the nose.

Towards the middle, though, I did get a certain shortbread note, which eventually transformed into that molasses cookie note I got on the nose.  It was sweet, but not too sweet.  The chocolate also came through in the middle as well, but again never leaned too sweet.

Interestingly, the finish seemed to go a bit of a different direction. The chocolate remained, but I also got a peanut note along with the cinnamon. There was also a light oak on the finish as well. It was almost as though it came full circle back to those notes that I got when I took that first sniff.

These are always very good and this Batch B523 was no exception. I certainly got notes I don't recall getting in other releases, but it was still well-balanced and checked all those boxes I look for in a good, sturdy bourbon.

Grade: B+

Springbank Palo Cortado Cask Matured 10 Year Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $200

- 110 Proof

- 10 Years

- Campbeltown

I feel like every time I review a Springbank I profess my love for anything coming out of Campbeltown. But, I'm all for consistency, so once again allow me to profess my love for anything and everything coming out of Campbeltown. I don't know what it is about this tiny region of Scotland, but they just seem to be able to do no wrong in my book when it comes to making whisky.

So, of course when I got the chance to grab this 10 year matured in Palo Cortado casks, I had to jump at it! Afterall, I can't say I've ever had anything matured in Palo Cortado casks, let alone a Springbank. It was about one of the easiest decisions I've ever made.

Right away on the nose I got a rich dark cherry note. Interestingly, that was immediately followed by a sort of mustiness, like walking through the woods after the rain. It was kind of mossy smelling. I did get a bit of light smoke and there was also a bright citrus note, giving it a sort of a burnt orange quality.

The peat smoke wasn't big on the nose, but it was significantly more prominent on the palate, hitting my tongue immediately upon my first sip. The cherry note was also there, kind of like a Maraschino cherry but with tempered sweetness.

I definitely got that same mossy or musty note, but oddly I found myself really enjoying it. It added a sort of an earthy note to the cherry and smoke, keeping either one from being overpowering. It also seemed to make that cherry note lean more toward blackberry or even fig on later pours.

There was also a distinct dark chocolate note that I really enjoyed, and that note seemed to really shine on the finish. This had a great, oily mouthfeel allowing for a long-lived finish. A light bit of smoke lingered a bit as well leaving me with an interesting smokey dark chocolate dessert like flavor.

This was somewhat different from other sherry matured peated Scotches, but I really liked the nuance here as well as its uniqueness.  I found myself frequently grabbing this bottle over other sherry-finished peated single malts because of what set it apart.

Grade: A-

Jim Beam Lineage Limited Batch Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $250

- 111 Proof

- 15 Years

- Kentucky

I really don't like paying this much for bourbon. However, not only is this one nearly impossible to find (it's travel retail exclusive and I just don't get out of the country that often, let alone to go somewhere that I can actually find this), but it was released three years ago.

And, in the end, it's a 15 year Jim Beam, which I knew going in was going to be great. That aged Beam seems to land right in my wheelhouse of what I love. This is a blend created by Fred Noe and his son, Freddie Noe.  It comes in a solid wood box, which I managed to break within minutes of getting this bottle, and a great bottle design. Not that any of that really matters, but it is worth noting the very nice presentation.

The nose was rich and spicy, with notes of dark chocolate and cherry, followed by a slightly sweet but spicy cinnamon note.  I did get a bit of oak, but not nearly as much as you might expect given the age. There was also a bit of a black pepper spice to it as well, but it all seemed to be rounded out by a rich amaretto note that I couldn't get enough of.

As to flavor, right up front I got that rich cherry note, kind of like a maraschino cherry. But, that was accompanied by a wheat note that I wasn't necessarily expecting. It kind of caught me by surprise and gave this bourbon a bit of a bread-like quality. But, it was a sweeter quality, as it was accompanied by a smooth caramel note up front that seemed to linger consistently throughout.

That wheat note seemed to transform a bit into more of a sweet pastry note, kind of like a cinnamon and vanilla coffee cake.  I also got a bit of brown sugar at times that gave a bit of a chocolate chip cookie note. I was surprised a bit how sweet it leaned given that the nose did not betray such notes.

However, the finish kept it from getting too sweet. That's where the oak notes really came through, adding a touch of earthiness as well as a slight bitterness to temper the pastry notes. I also got a good amount of chocolate on the finish, which just seemed to round off and balance everything out. 

This was a complex, roller coaster of a bourbon, but in a good way. It never went too far on one end of either spectrum, and the differences I got from the front end to the back end seemed to just play off one another in a way that made this one of the more fun bourbons I've had in a long time.  

Grade: A

Eagle Rare Binny's Private Selection 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Barrel #011

VITALS:

- $40

- 90 Proof

- 10 Years

- Barrel #011

- Kentucky

Not to sound too reminiscent, but there once was a time when Eagle Rare private picks were not too difficult to find. I can recall wondering into random liquor store as I was traveling about my workday and finding store picks at probably close to an 80% clip. In fact, I pretty much grabbed one everywhere I found one.

But, of course, the demand for Buffalo Trace surged, and the availability of these private picks almost completely fell off. I guess it’s not entirely without cause, as I was certainly buying them up whenever I found them, and it has consistently been really good whiskey. But, I really would like to see the day when these aren’t so “allocated” and kept in the back. In any event, this Binnys selection came out, and soon thereafter found its way onto my shelf. What can I say, I will always have a soft spot for Eagle Rare, as it was in many ways my introduction into Bourbon.

The nose on this particular barrel gave me many of the traditional notes that I love about bourbon--that rich toffee with notes of vanilla and, in this case, a slight bit of oak tempering the sweetness. I got a light real cherry note on the nose as well, along with just a bit of dark chocolate. It wasn’t very complex, and the aromas were subtle, but what was there smelled really good!

On the palate it hit many of the same notes. Right up front was the dark caramel or toffee note that I got from the nose. At times it tended to lean more towards a brown sugar note, but for the most part stayed in its lane. There was also an undercurrent of unsweetened vanilla, along with a slight bitterness from the oak barrel.

I also got a light spicy note that I didn’t get on the nose. It was somewhere along the lines of cinnamon, but with a little bit more kick. I’m not exactly sure what I would equate it to, perhaps cinnamon with just a sprinkling of cayenne pepper to bump it up a notch.

On the finish, the spice didn’t linger very long, but the rich toffee note certainly did, along with the dark chocolate that I had gotten on the nose. Those two together combined to provide a great, long-lasting, sweet finish, but not overly sweet thanks to the slight bitterness from the dark chocolate. Quite frankly, I think the finish was my favorite part, and that’s what had me going straight back to my glass for the next step.

It goes without saying that as long as the prices remain constant, I’m going to pick these up everywhere I find them. Granted, these aren’t exactly out in the open, so I don’t exactly see myself having a backlog of Eagle Rare private selections. However, when I do find them, buying them will always be a no-brainer for me. 

Grade: A-

Jack Daniel's Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey - 2024

VITALS:

- $85

- 127.8 Proof

- 10 yrs, 11 mos.

- Barrel No. 24-07204

- Tennessee

A few years ago Jack Daniel's released Coy Hill, a well-aged, single barrel limited release that clocked in at very high proof points, including the so-called "HazMat" 140+ proof bottlings. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a bottle then (though not a HazMat bottle), and I was thoroughly impressed. It was, quite frankly, one of the best Jack Daniel's whiskeys I had ever tasted.  

So, when it came out again, I was certain I was grabbing another.  What is most impressive on these, I think, is the price.  Despite that the first Coy Hill was released back in 2021, and to high praise (and a solid secondary market), Jack Daniel's only increased the price of this release by $10.  They certainly could have gone higher, and it still would have sold.  But I'm so glad they didn't, as it's refreshing to have a 10+ year, cask strength limited release from a major distiller clocking in at under a bill.

The nose gave off honey roasted peanuts right away. It was a note that I do get from Jack Daniel's from time to time, and one I also associate with Beam products. It's what I love about Beam bourbon, and I really enjoyed it here.  I also got a chocolate note, as well as something tangy and spicy, almost like anise and mulled wine. It wasn't strong, but it certainly added a bit of an interesting note.

The peanut note certainly carried through to the palate, but it was an even sweeter note. It was more like a sweet peanut butter, almost like the peanut butter filling in Reese's cups. At times it was even a peanut brittle note. These sweet peanut notes also mixed with rich notes of toffee and even light milk chocolate. 

What was great about this whiskey was that despite all these sweet notes, it never leaned too sweet. It had help from notes of oak that certainly came from the age, as well as a slight cinnamon spice. These notes helped keep it balanced, added some spice and nuance, and really made this a great whiskey. 

The oak seemed to come through more on the finish, and, unsurprisingly, it was on the sweeter side. The toffee seemed to come along for the ride, and I also got a bit of a burnt sugar note.  It finished almost more on the traditional end of the spectrum, as the peanut notes faded away, leaving me with rich toffee and sweet oak on my tongue as I finished each sip.

I hope Jack Daniel's continues to release these Coy Hills, even if they are a few years apart. These have been outstanding (I have yet to hear a detractor), and I really wish I had more!

Grade: A

Lagavulin The Distiller's Edition Double Matured Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey - 2020

VITALS:

- $120

- 86 Proof

- 15 Years

- Batch No. 4/509

- Islay

I do love sweet and peat! And by that I mean that I love peated Scotches finished in wine casks, especially fortified wine casks like sherry or port. That sweet and peat is a combination that I just can't get enough of. So, I find that I grab just about anything Lagavulin that has spent time in such casks, and this bottle was no exception.

This bottling consists of a small number of casks that were double-matured in "specially crafted Pedro Ximenez Cask-Wood."  I wish I could tell you what that means. The wording seems very careful -- "cask-wood."  I don't know what, exactly, that is. Perhaps re-purposes PX casks?  How was the "cask-wood" "specially crafted"?  I thought about doing some independent research into the backstory here, but instead I just cracked the bottle open to see if this "cask-wood" maturation, whatever that is, made for good whisky.

The smoke that I'd expect from a Lagavulin was fairly light on the nose. I don't know if that's due to the 15 years of maturation or the low proof or both.. But this was not significantly smoky smelling. That's not a terrible thing, however, as it allowed other notes to really shine, like a bright and sweet raspberry note, accompanied by honey and something herbal, like dill or sage. Though not "peaty," it still had a lot of good stuff going on.

As to flavor, this was definitely more on the fruity end of the spectrum. It was kind of like a burst of strawberry followed immediately by a black pepper spice and peat smoke. It did have a bit of a iodine lean to it, particularly as the other flavors subsided a bit. But, it certainly remained fruit-forward, with the notes of strawberry and raspberry taking center stage.

The herbal note really came through as well, which was a bit unexpected.  Those dill and sage notes added an interesting quality. I chose the word "interesting" deliberately, because even after getting through the whole bottle, I'm still not sure how much I enjoyed it. At times it was good, adding another layer, almost like seasoning. Other times it came across as mossy or incense-like, and was a bit of a turnoff. It may have just depended on my mood that day. 

That herbal note carried over to the finish, as did the bright raspberry note, and when that all collided on the finish along with the peat, it reminded me a bit of raspberry bitters. Again, I wasn't sure how much I liked it, though it was interesting.

All in all, I really wanted to like this bottle.  By and large it was great, but I kept finding those weird little nuances that just seemed to keep giving me moments of pause, trying to figure out what I was tasting and whether or not it was something I enjoyed or not. 

Grade: B

2Bar Amaretto Barrel Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey

VITALS:

- $40

- 90 Proof

- 3 Years

- Washington

Prior to buying this bottle, I had never heard of 2Bar distillery out of Seattle. And, even looking at the bottle, the packaging leaves a lot to desire with it's black and white label that looks like it could have been created in Microsoft Word. 

However, what did intrigue me was the finish. This is the first that I had seen an amaretto barrel finished whiskey. I happen to be a big fan of amaretto. I love the flavor of amaretto liqueur. There once was a time in my youth where I enjoyed the occasional amaretto stone sour. And, it's a note that from time to time I get in my whiskeys, one that I enjoy. So, given the unique finish as well as the relatively modest price tag, I felt this was something worth checking out. 

On the nose I definitely get the amaretto notes. When I first opened the bottle, not so much. But, after it had been open a while, that amaretto finish definitely had its influence. There was a sort of sweet coffee note as well, kind of like a chocolate covered coffee bean. I also got a sweet oatmeal raisin note.  Overall, it smelled pretty great.

As to flavor, I was immediately hit with those notes of youth. This was unquestionably a young bourbon, as I got that overripe apple note that I always find in craft bourbons that just need some more time in the barrel. Here it was pretty prominent right up front.

But, what I really liked about this bottle, is that the finishing then seemed to kick in shortly after, removing those "young" notes from my palate somewhat quickly, and replacing them with far more pleasant flavors of amaretto and coffee liqueur.

Even the chocolate note came through to add a bit of richness and a touch of sweetness. It all blended together with the amaretto, the chocolate, the alcohol liqueur type notes, and even a bit of vanilla, such that it reminded me of a cherry cordial, just without the cherry. 

On the finish there was a rich, dark fruit note that came through, like fig or raisin. I didn't really get this up front, but it was definitely present on the finish, accompanied by a nice brown sugar note. And by the end of each sip, those young notes were pretty much completely gone.

Despite being very young tasting, this was still very enjoyable.  If 2Bar has time to let some of this bourbon age a few more years, this amaretto finish could be something quite delicious!!

Grade: B-

Parker's Heritage Collection Double Barreled Blend Kentucky Straight Bourbon - 2022

VITALS:

- $200

- 132.2 Proof

- 13 & 14 years

- Kentucky

The Parker's Heritage releases are, for good reason, some of the more highly sought after releases. However, it seems that interest may have waned just a bit, perhaps due to the ever increasing prices of these bottles, the already existing frustration over their being hard to find, and the release of a few less-than-stellar bottlings in recent years.

And yet, when I was offered this bottle, I just couldn't help myself, despite the steep price tag.  While it is a blend, at least it's a blend of bourbon (as opposed to American single malt like I'm seeing sit on shelves everywhere theses days) and at least it provides the percentage and age of the blends. Effectively, this is a cask strength 13 year bourbon, although 33% of the blend is a 15 year bourbon. Only the 13 year was double-barreled, apparently. 

The nose was rich and deep in aroma, with healthy notes of dark cherry and oak. It had a rich sweetness to it, like a dark toffee, along with some dark chocolate. It also had a bit of an anise note to add to the richness and to keep it a bit interesting as well.  I had a really hard time taking my nose way from my glass, as I would just sit there sniffing it over and over before each sip.

The flavor hit all the marks of what I love in a bourbon, starting with one of my favorite words when writing these reviews -- "rich."  This had an incredible depth and richness to it that I just couldn't get enough of.  It started with deep dark fruit notes like cherry and blackberry, which was accompanied by a great amaretto note that kept anything from ever getting too sweet.

There was a healthy amount of oak to it, betraying its age but never leaning too bitter. That is perhaps due to the healthy amount of dark toffee that countered any bitterness, but still never leaned too sweet. There was also a rich (told you I like that word) dark chocolate that seemed to act as a sort of undercurrent to everything else going on.

The finish provided a touch of cinnamon spice, but that really gave way to the toffee, dark chocolate and cherry notes that I was getting on the front end. And, the best part was that these notes seemed to never subside and lingered in my mouth long after each sip, allowing me to really savor every single pour.

This was one of those bottles that I just hesitated to finish off the last few pours, because I just didn't want it to be gone.  I don't know that this release got a ton of love, but it was definitely one of my favorite pours in recent years.

Grade: A+

BHAKTA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Calvados Casks

VITALS:

- $150

- 107.4 Proof

- 11 Years

- Indiana

Bhakta is a brand that is pretty new to me, and I've been making it a point to learn a bit more about them. And, I have to say, I'm intrigued.  BHAKTA Spirits is a brand started by Raj Peter Bhakta, who also founded WhistlePig. Apparently after he sold WhistlePig, he found himself in the Armagnac region of France, where he proceeded to purchase a farm/vineyard, and with it some stocks of very well-aged Armagnacs and other spirits.

While this particular bottle is not an Armagnac, it is, nonetheless, a rye finished in calvados barrels. The rye has a bottling date of 2013 (Bhakta tends to operate in vintages rather than age statements), making it a 10 year whiskey before spending 75 days in the secondary cask, a Calvados selected from Chateau BHAKTA (which I assume is the name of the farm he purchased).   

After popping the glass cork (I really hate those), I immediately got the traditional notes of rye that I'd expect, with a healthy amount of cinnamon, and even some mint and pine resin. There's no denying it's an older MGP rye. The Calvados notes weren't super strong, at least not on the nose.  I did get a bit of a cooked apple sauce note, but it was pretty faint.  

The flavor was great, primarily because, despite the finishing, it was still unquestionably a really good rye.  Vanilla and cinnamon were right up front, with the spice from the cinnamon lingering throughout.  There was a light minty note, but not nearly as pronounced as I expected. That pine resin was a little more forward, along with an oak note that added a bit of bitterness.

It was that oak note that I think made the Calvados finishing work, as it added a sweetness that countered some of that bitterness, and vice versa. It never leaned too sweet or too bitter.  And the ever-present cinnamon note really seemed to work well with the apple brandy notes.

The only criticism I have about the finish is that it didn't seem to last very long.  It had great notes of cinnamon and baked apple and sweet vanilla.  But, oddly, it just seemed to disappear pretty quickly.  But, if that's my only quibble, this was still a delicious pour, telling me that, even if finished rye is not their bread and butter, they still appear to know what they're doing.

Grade: B+

Ben Holladay 7 Year Rickhouse Proof Missouri Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $70

- 119.6 Proof

- 7 years

- Missouri

With such a glut of new bottles, new distilleries and new brands still hitting the shelves nearly every day, it's impossible to keep up. While I'd love to try them all, there's just way too much out there. However, this particular bottle caught my eye. 

I normally wouldn't think twice about a Missouri distillery. It's not exactly a state that's known for producing fan-favorite bourbons. But, this Ben Holladay Rickhouse Proof certainly gives the whiskey fan a reason to grab a bottle off the shelf -- a cask strength, age-stated bourbon at a relatively reasonable price! Couple that with the fact that others have told me it's pretty decent stuff, I had to give this distillery a go, and I'm glad I did!

The nose had traditional notes of vanilla and caramel. It also had a decent amount of cinnamon spice, hitting all the hallmarks of what I love in a good bourbon. It also had a dark fruit note to it, somewhere in between blackberry and cherry, that made me want to dive into my glass.

The flavor likewise took on many of those traditional bourbon notes that, quite frankly, make me love bourbon. It was very caramel forward, underscored by a slightly sweet, natural vanilla note. But, it never leaned overly sweet, as slightly bitter notes of oak and dark chocolate also made their way through, tempering any sweetness.

The dark fruit notes were also present, and here I definitely got more of a blackberry note that I absolutely love. This played really well with the vanilla and oak and made for something delicious. The finish added in a good amount of cinnamon spice that really seemed to round things out, making me wish I had that spicy note from the start.

This is an excellent bourbon, one which should make the casual bourbon drinker think twice about passing on Missouri bourbons, or at the very least, Ben Holladay bottlings. I really enjoyed this, and the bottle wasn't long for this world once I cracked that seal.

Grade: A-

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch B522

VITALS:

- $70

- 121 Proof

- 12 Years

- Batch B522

- Kentucky

I feel like it's been a while since I've written a review on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.  It's not as though I stopped buying them (though I have held off on buying the last few releases).  Rather, it's just that I have a backlog, with three more to go after this one. And, it was almost paralysis by analysis.  I wouldn't know which to open, so I'd just open something else. 

But, I've been making it a point to have at least one open to enjoy. It is still, after all, 12 year cask strength Heaven Hill bourbon, which means, quite frankly, it's really good. That's pretty much regardless of batch. Some just turn out to be better than others. But, when I finally landed on that plan of keeping at least one open, I've been glad that I did, because it's an easy go to when I'm just in the mood for a good bourbon.

The nose on this one was absolutely delicious, which is good considering how quickly it filled up the room when I popped the cork. I was immediately hit with rich and sweet vanilla and toffee notes. There was also a touch of anise to keep it interesting (and just a touch, which is fine by me as I'm not the biggest fan of those anise notes). 

Interestingly, it wasn't the sweetness that hit right away, but rather the oak. I've found I don't typically get a lot of oak on the Barrel Proofs, but on this one it hit me right away. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't over-oaked or anything, just noticeable right up front is all. 

The rich dessert notes came through immediately after, though.  I was getting hazelnut and dark chocolate, as well as rich vanilla bean notes. I also got the toffee, but it wasn't nearly as pronounced as it was on the nose. It provided a great balance of rich and sweet and oak that kind of hit all the hallmarks of what I love in a well-aged bourbon.

The finish allowed the dark chocolate notes to linger most noticeably. The oak faded a bit, and the toffee seemed to find its way forward a bit more on the finish. There wasn't much spice to this one, but I didn't even miss it. Everything else was pretty great!

Grade: A-

Templeton 4 Year Rye

VITALS:

- $28

- 80 Proof

- 4 Years

- Indiana

Okay, this is one of those whiskeys that is just always available at nearly any place (at least by me) that sells whiskey. I grabbed this off the shelf at Meier for the simple reason that it was a bottle I've never had before. After all, it's a four year old rye from a smaller distiller, it's sourced from MGP, and it's bottled at only 80 proof. It doesn't exactly scream, "Buy me!" 

But, I wanted something new, and, quite frankly due to requests from visitors at my house, I needed some lower proof options. So, I picked this up at a very easy to swallow price of $28.  I figure, at the very least, it will set the record for the shortest blog post title.

The nose on this one was surprisingly fruity. At different times I got all sorts of different notes from apple to pear to plum.  But, it wasn't all sweet. There was a slight resin note that added some earthiness, as well as a bit of a cinnamon spice, I'm sure coming from the rye. It was kind of like an earthy fruit salad (which sounds really weird). That said, those fruity notes did make it smell a bit young.

Not surprisingly, the first thing I noted when I took a sip was that this was thin and watered down. That tends to be the case with 80-proofers. However, after a moment the flavors tend to make their way to the front, and in this case that charge was led by a fresh pear note. There was a bit of spice to accompany it, like cinnamon and perhaps a little bit of chili powder, but this was all fresh pear.

The finish, despite the watery texture, was actually surprisingly long.  Here the cinnamon spice seemed to take much more of a foothold, leaving a spicy note at the back of my throat.  Coupled with the pear or even apple notes, I did find a cinnamon apple combination that I wish was more prevalent throughout, even if it gave of those "young" vibes.

This is one of those whiskeys where I knew what I was getting when I bought the bottle. And, both good and bad, it was exactly what I expected.

Grade: C

Bulleit 12 Year 95 Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $50

- 92 Proof

- 12 Years

- Indiana

I've noticed what I hope is a growing trend in the rye section of my liquor store lately.  I've been seeing more and more ryes with age statements in, or at least approaching, double digits.  There are still only a handful out there, but Knob Creek has recently released its 10-year age-stated rye, and shortly before that Bulleit released this, their 12 year rye.

I'm an absolute sucker for aged rye, so this was a bit of a no-brainer for me to grab, particularly at a very approachable $50.  The proof isn't particularly high, but I'm willing to look past that when they're putting out products that were given a bit more time in the barrel.  Even if it is MGP rye, which is still somewhat plentiful, there still just isn't a whole lot of well-aged rye on the shelf, and I hope this is a sign of a trend in that direction!

The nose was fairly standard of what I've come to expect from MGP rye. It had a great cinnamon spice to it, as well as a sweet and soft vanilla undertone. And, of course, there was a bit of mint on the nose to tell you this came from Indiana. That said, these are all welcome notes that I've come to love in a rye.

Perhaps it's due to the lower proof, but when I took my first sip my impression was that this is sweeter than most MGP ryes I've had. Sure, the cinnamon spice and even a little bit of black pepper spice were there. It also had a familiar mint note to it. But, the sweetness took center stage. It had almost a vanilla icing note to it that, while not bad, kind of surprised me. 

That sweetness is what seemed to linger the most on the finish. Any cinnamon spice seemed to vanish, leaving just that sweet vanilla note and a hint of that initial mint note. The finish was fleeting, however, and didn't leave even those sweet vanilla notes to hang around very long.

All in all, I thought this was a very tasty, albeit sweeter rye. While I wish it were a bit more robust, I really enjoyed the flavor, and I feel like the age allowed those flavors to meld and work together more than they otherwise would have at a younger age.

Grade: B

A. Overholt Monongahela Mash Straight Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $40

- 95 Proof

- 4 Years

- Kentucky

I love finding new products on the shelf. I have a tendency to visit my local liquor store with considerable relativity, to the point that when something knew makes it on the shelf, I notice mostly due to the fact that something has changed, there's a new face in the crowd so to speak.

Even more exciting is finding something from one of the big boy distilleries that I wasn't even aware was coming out. Such was the case with this A. Overholt rye. Jim Beam's Overholt line has been around for quite some time now, and though it's made in Kentucky, does not state on its front label as such, as it seeks to re-create the traditional Pennsylvania rye. Such is the case here, which uses a Monongahela Mash of 80% rye and 20% soft malted barley. So, it's really an introduction of a new mashbill.  But still, it was something new and the price was reasonable enough.

On the nose I got notes of cherry cola along with a light black pepper. It's an interesting combination, but in a weird way it worked and I kind of liked it. There was a sweetness, but one that was tempered, kind of like a burnt sugar note. And behind that was a cedar note, like the cedar chests my grandparents used to have. It kind of swung both ways from me really liking it to me not being much of a fan, sometimes all in one sniff.

The 20% malt really showed up in the flavor. This had a malty backbone to it that provided a kind of breadiness, with notes of yeast and wheat bread. It certain made this a softer rye, what I would call a more approachable rye.

But, it had those rye notes as well.  Notably, I got a sort of fennel note that, while not a dominant note, was certainly a prominent note, one that you couldn't help but notice each sip. I also got notes of ginger and, while similar to fennel, different enough that I picked out a slight anise note.  This all provided a certain "bite" which contrasted with, and didn't necessarily complement, the strong barley tones.

The finish, however, was oddly quite enjoyable. There I was left with notes of cooked pear, providing almost a cinnamon cognac flavor on the finish. It came off sweeter on the finish than anywhere else, and those fennel and ginger notes seemed to just fade away. 

If the whole experience had been what I got on the finish, I would have loved this. But, The nose was a bit odd, and I didn't feel like the balance between the barley and rye notes was there. You could certainly pick out the notes from each, but it lacked a bit of cohesion.

Grade: B-

Old Dominick Bottled in Bond Straight Tennessee Whiskey

VITALS:

- $45

- 100 Proof

- 4 Years

- Batch No. 4

- Tennessee

It's kind of funny how I came into this bottle.  I don't know if I'd have ever gotten around to getting a bottle of Old Dominick myself. I've certainly seen it on shelves, but I knew very little about it, and so I frequently passed it over without a second thought.

But, for my birthday last year, my youngest wanted to get me a bottle of whiskey (of course with my money). So, I brought him to the liquor store and directed him to the bourbon aisle, where he proceeded to pick up bottles off the shelf at random and ask, "Have you had this one?"  After going through that process a few times, with my answer being "yes" each time, much to his dismay, he landed on Old Dominick. "As a matter of fact, no, I have not had that one!" And so it went in our basket, and he couldn't be out of that store fast enough. The lack of thought or consideration going into the pick aside, I was excited to try something new, something I might have never otherwise tried.

The nose gave off this great aroma of burnt sugar. It had a nice toasty note, along with a sweet, vanilla note, almost like a toasted marshmallow.  It also had a peanut note to it, that along with the burnt sugar created a sort of peanut brittle note that was absolutely delicious smelling. It did smell sweet, however, which made me a bit cautious.

As to flavor, however, it was not at all as sweet as the nose made it seem like it would be. I did get a sugary note, but it was more of a traditional, somewhat subdued brown sugar note. And, rather than the peanut brittle note, behind that was a lightly sweet cracker note, kind of like a graham cracker. 

On the back end I got that peanut note. It seemed to come out of nowhere, but that is the note that I really noticed on the finish, sticking around after everything else faded away. I also got some spice on the back end, like a light black pepper spice.

All in all, while the nose had me fearing that this would have a very sweet profile, that fear was unfounded. Unfortunately, though, it ended up that a bit of sweetness was what this was lacking. I didn't need all the sugar, but some of those marshmallow notes or peanut brittle notes might have really helped, as on its own this whiskey fell a bit flat.

Ultimately, I did find myself going back to this bottle when I made Old Fashioned's.  Not only is the proof right, but the flavor really lent well to the cocktail. That is not a knock on that that it'd be "good in cocktails," but rather praise that it does make for an enjoyable Old Fashioned.

Grade: B

Old Forester 1924 10-Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $140

- 100 Proof

- 10 Years

- Kentucky

I was very excited to hear about the new release coming from Old Forester. Not only was this new release going to carry an age statement, and a decent one at that at 10 years, but it was also going to feature a new mashbill from a distillery that I love. Add in that it's 100 proof, and it had pretty much everything I'd look for in a new release . . .

Except for the price.  This bottle carries a fairly steep price tag of $140, which in my mine is significantly more than it should be. I realize that limited releases and age stated bottles are carrying a premium these days, and I can certainly find comps in the same price range. But, at the same time, there are also comps that are significantly less (Weller 12 year and Henry McKenna, for example).  So this price tag was a hard pill to swallow, particularly since it features a new mashbill and carries with it a certain level of the unknown. 

The nose came off immediately as sweet. I got sweet caramel, like caramel apple caramel, along with a red hots type of cinnamon note.  There was an undercurrent of vanilla bean as well as a slight woody note, though not necessarily oak. It was lighter, perhaps more like a cedar, or even just a sawdust note.

The flavor follows the nose, at least in its sweetness.  This is definitely on the sweet side of the sweet vs. spicy spectrum. The caramel came across as less sugary, however, and more like that soft, buttery caramel that I love. 

It also came across at a bit fruiter than expected. There was something bright and berry-like to it, kind of like a raspberry, but yet not quite. Perhaps a mix of raspberry and currant. That was all complemented by a significant brown sugar note that seemed to develop more and more with each pour. There was also that undercurrent of vanilla bean that I got on the nose, which really worked well with the brown sugar and berry notes. 

That brown sugar that seemed to keep developing over time also seemed to dominate the finish. The fruity notes were nowhere to be found, and what little spice was here was gone almost as quickly as it came. I was instead left with a sweet, sugary finish that, quite frankly, needed something more.

Overall, this is a good bourbon, but I don't believe it's worth the price tag. I realize that some of the other options mentioned above are harder to find these days, but this isn't exactly a readily available bottle either. So, it'd probably be worth it just to keep hunting out those other, lower priced "comps."

Grade: B 

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $300

- 118.2 Proof

- 17 Years

- Kentucky

I'm not really sure where to start with this post. This is a "big" bottle. This is one of those bottles that's big in proof, big in age, pretty much guaranteed to be big in flavor, and certainly big in price. In fact, I was offered a chance to buy this bottle, and that price tag really had me on the fence, despite how much I knew I wanted this bottle. In the end, my heart overruled my wallet.

But, I have no regrets.  This is a fun bottle.  It was fun to drink, and, more importantly, it was fun to share. This was one of those bottles that people immediately gravitated to at tastings, and everyone wanted to try. I've got some pretty good memories associated with this bottle and enjoying some really good times with good friends, even down to the last two pours which I saved to make sure I shared with good company.

The nose seemed to lead with an oaky note, that had me worried at first that the age had gotten the best of this bourbon. But, that was quickly followed by a delicious smelling milk chocolate note as well as some cinnamon. It combined to create this sort of chocolate hazelnut note, not unlike Nutella. Rich caramel and vanilla seemed to be floating around in the background, and just from the nose you could tell this was going to be something delicious.

My first impression from my first sip was that this was kind of like a barrel strength Elijah Craig 18, which happens to be one of my favorite pours. So, this was right up my alley from the start. Similar to the nose, the oak notes hit right up front. But they quickly gave way to all the other flavors happening within this bottle.

I got a distinct dark cherry note, like Amarena cherries, along with a rich, dark caramel note. Together it was rich, sweet and decadent.  The cinnamon note was there as well, to give it just a bit of spice and, along with the oak notes, keep it from ever getting too sweet.

It had heat to it, but the flavor was so good I didn't seem to be bothered by it one bit. That rich caramel seemed to coat my mouth, only to give way to a delicious and equally rich vanilla bean note. I did get a chocolate note as well, but it wasn't the milk chocolate from the nose, but more of a dark chocolate flavor but without the dark chocolate bitterness. 

The great, viscous texture provided for a crazy long finish that was all toffee and dark cherry. It had me smacking my tongue to the roof of my mouth to the point that it drove my wife crazy. But I couldn't help but just sit there enjoying it. 

The price on this bottle is excessive, certainly. But this was an absolutely phenomenal bourbon, one I was not only happy I got to try, but one which I'm happy I got to share. 

Grade: A+