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+

James E. Pepper Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $70

- 107.8 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 0034

- Kentucky

I have to admit, I haven't tried a whole lot from James E. Pepper, and what I have had has consisted strictly of their ryes.  I didn't have any significant recollection of what specifically I've had before, and I had to look up previous reviews to even recall that I had had them, which included the 1776 Straight Rye and an Old Pepper Rye Binny's Selection.  I was apparently a big fan of that Binny's pick, but it was an MGP rye. 

Why I decided to give this one a go, I'm not really certain.  Probably three things: (1) I'm a sucker for barrel proof bourbon; (2) I hadn't had much from this distillery (bonus points for being a Kentucky distillery); and (3) while it shouldn't influence my decision, I am a fan of the bottle design.  So, for $70, I decided to give this a go.

The nose was full of those traditional notes of vanilla and caramel, along with some cinnamon spice. But, what stood out most was how much cherry I also got on the nose. The cinnamon was also more forward than than the sweet components, and that mix of cherry and cinnamon was great.  It also had (fittingly) a bit of a Dr. Pepper note to it. While there is no way that was intentional, it made me really appreciate the coincidence.

Not unexpectedly, the palate was very cinnamon forward. This was definitely on the spicier end of the bourbon spectrum, as opposed to the sweeter end.  The decent amount of oak I got, in addition to showing a little bit of age, made sure that this stayed away from that sweet side.

Don't get me wrong, there was some sweetness.  Some of those cherry and cola notes from the nose came through.  I even got a touch of rich toffee and some semi-sweet chocolate. But it was never enough to consider this a "sweet" bourbon, as opposed to a "spicy" bourbon. Rather, these sweet notes were there more to complement the spice.

Unfortunately, I found myself wishing there were a bit more sweetness on the finish. Instead, this finished dry and slightly bitter.  I got a lot more oak on the finish, as well as a walnut note that added even more of a bitter component. All the sweet notes seemed to die away entirely, and even those cinnamon and cherry notes faded quite a bit.  

This started out as a fantastic bourbon, particularly for someone such as myself who prefers them on the more spicy side.  That was up until the finish, at which point it then really fell flat, leaving a significant dry and bitter note for me to reflect on.

Grade: B

Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch 17 - 128.7 Proof

VITALS:

- $60

- 128.7 Proof

- NAS

- Batch 17 - Winter, 2021

- Kentucky

It's been no secret that I do love Stagg Jr. (and now just Stagg).  In fact, it got to the point that between the regular releases and store picks I came across, I had enough of a backlog that I actually started turning down bottles.  So, I've made it a bit of a point lately to start working my way through some of them, with this one being the most recent bottle killed.

I do believe I'll have to start grabbing these once again, however. Their price remains reasonable. They have just enough rarity to them to keep my FOMO going, but not enough that they're impossible to find. And most importantly, they're consistently delicious!  After this I only have four more bottles on my shelf, three of which are store picks.

As to this particular batch, it was, naturally, quite delicious! On the nose I got a healthy amount of caramel balanced by a bit of black pepper. It had a light oakiness to it, betraying at least a little bit of age, as well as a dark chocolate note to keep it from leaning too sweet. There was also a distinct anise note that I was getting to keep it interesting.  

Surprisingly, despite its proof and my experience with other batches, the heat on this one didn't hit my tongue right away.  Rather, I got a rich and sweet toffee, along with a rich but tangy amaretto note and a good amount of dark chocolate. The dark chocolate was much more prominent on the palate than it was on the nose, and it absolutely made every pour delicious.

This was very drinkable neat, but it still provided that great, warm Kentucky hug I knew would eventually be coming. In addition to those rich notes of toffee and dark chocolate, there was a bright orange peel or orange zest note along with a spiced cherry note that just seemed to complement everything else going on.

That spiced cherry note really carried through on the finish, and it reminded me a bit of mulled wine, especially with the cinnamon and pepper and other spices lingering seemingly forever.

This is one of the better bottles of Stagg Jr./Stagg that I can recall having, and it just may have rekindled my love for the line!

Grade: A

High West Binny's Barrel Select Double Rye! Blended Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac Barrels

VITALS:

- $70

- 105.4 Proof

- Finished 15 mos.

- Barrel #25202

- Utah

There once was a time that I was snatching up every single High West Barrel Select that I could find. It seemed as though they were producing winner after winner of finished rye in all sorts of creative casks. Of course some were amazing and some were decent, but they all were good. 

It had been a while since I had seen any of the Double Rye! barrel selects, so when this Cognac finish hit Binny's, I made it a point to grab one. It's a combination that has worked so many times in the past that I figured I couldn't really go wrong. Unfortunately, for the first time out of the probably dozens of High West Barrel Selects I've tried, this one fell flat.  

The nose came off as vibrant and fruity. I got notes of melon and honeydew. There was also kind of a fresh pear note.  It also had a significant sweetness to it, kind of like a honey note. What I didn't get, though, and what I expected, were some of the traditional rye notes.  I got no spice, no mint, no pine. Quite frankly, from the nose it seemed as though the finish really took over.

The flavor likewise came off as sweet, and, perhaps given those fruit notes from the nose, a bit "young."  I always find what I call an overripe apple note in young craft whiskeys, and that's what I was getting here.  It's always been a bit of an off-putting note to me. 

The sweetness was that same honey note I got from the nose, and the pear note really took over as well. it was kind of like a fruit cocktail, but made with fruits like honeydew, melon and pear, rather than your usual oranges, pineapples and cherries. While that sounds good as a fruit cocktail, I wasn't a fan of it as a whiskey.

What was interesting is that those rye notes that I was missing on the nose finally made their appearance, but really only on the finish. It was there that I got a bit of spice, kind of like a hot pepper spice rather than the usual cinnamon notes. There was also a sweet minty note that balanced out that spice. The finish was actually quite enjoyable, and I just wish what I was getting there had been present throughout.

I don't know if the finish was too long or what, but this is the first time I can recall one of these single barrels falling flat. It just didn't really do it for me, and I hope this isn't a sign of some downward trend.

Grade: C

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-

Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Batch 10 (2021)

VITALS:

- $90

- 127.3 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 10

- Kentucky

I know the secondary market for anything E.H. Taylor is a bit nuts, with bottles selling on Facebook for far more than their retail price. But it's crazy to me that people don't just want to drink the stuff! For the most part, while they're hard to get ahold of, the price on the E.H. Taylor limited releases has remained more than fair. And, more importantly, the quality has always been there.

I think I've loved every single E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof that I've tried. I know I've had three others that I've reviewed here on this blog, as well as others I've had the pleasure of trying at bars or friends houses. So when I can pick it up at retail, I'm for certain going to be drinking it and enjoying it. There aren't any guarantees when it comes to buying a bottle of bourbon, but these are pretty close.

The nose was rich and sweet, with toffee and milk chocolate taking center stage. It reminded me a bit of a Heath Bar. It also had a bit of a graham cracker note to it, and even some oaky notes.  At times I also got a sort of a burnt sugar note that I really liked, as weird as that may sound. 

Not surprisingly, given how forward it was on the nose, the palate led with that toffee note.  It was a rich and sweet caramel and that milk chocolate came along for the ride as well. It never went too sweet, though, as the slight bitter notes from the oak and burnt sugar kept that in check, while also adding a different dimension. 

Towards later pours additional flavors seemed to develop -- or at least I wasn't finding them at first. I started to get a cherry and dark chocolate note, kind of like a cordial, that was absolutely delicious and seemed to work perfectly with everything else going on. In fact, it was that dark chocolate and cherry note that I found lingered long on the finish.

Once again, a great bottle!!! I think I may go ahead and open the next one tonight!

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-

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+

Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch No. 14

VITALS:

- $60

- 130.2 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 14

- Kentucky

Stagg Jr. (and now just Stagg) seems to take up a lot of shelf space in my collection. It's just one of those bottles that remains reasonably priced, particularly given the proof, quality and consistency. And it's one of those bottles that is semi-allocated and I've had the fortune of being able to get my hands on them as they've come out, for the most part.

Among recent batches, though, there hasn't seemed to be a whole lot of variation. I've tried them side-by-side, and I've found it difficult to differentiate between the batches. In fact, the last one I finished I didn't even bother to write up because it just felt like I could simply refer to the last review I wrote. But, that felt lazy, so with this one I'm making it a point to write up my review, even if for my own sense of completeness.

The nose was fairly traditional to good, well-made bourbon, with healthy amounts of brown sugar and cinnamon. There was a light oak note that indicated a bit of age on the whiskey, and an undertone of vanilla as well. It also had a sweet, almost candy-like cherry note to it that smelled great.

As to flavor, right up front it had a tanginess to it that reminded me of amaretto liqueur.  That was accompanied by big hits of brown sugar and caramel, giving it a rich sweetness. If it weren't for the heat coming from the pour, I'd have classified it as a "dessert whiskey."

Those dessert notes seemed to really carry through, as I then got a strong cherry note, as well as notes of chocolate and cherry, making for a rich and sweet combination that was met with a counter-balancing oak note that seemed to temper that rich sweetness. 

The finish provided an additional cinnamon spice that I think was missing before. The oak and cherry notes came forward more on the finish as well, and that seemed to really round out the flavor into something very well-balanced and delicious.

I wish what I got from the finish I got throughout, but it was still delicious front to back. It just seemed to be a bit more balanced on the finish. But, I guess that's a good thing, considering that's what kept me going back for my next sip.

Grade: B+

Bernheim Original Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey - Batch A223

VITALS:

- $70

- 118.8 Proof

- 7-9 Years

- Batch A223

- Kentucky

I supposed it was only a matter of time until this became a think. After all, Heaven Hill started releasing Elijah Craig Barrel Proof tri-annually.  It then started releasing Larceny Barrel Proof, which has seen its own share of success. So it only makes sense that they'd release Bernheim Original, one the few and certainly the most popular wheat whiskey out there.

Here, though, I don't know that people were beating their drums demanding a barrel proof version of Bernheim Wheat Whiskey. I just don't believe it's that popular of a product or has that much of a following. That said, the initial feedback I was getting from others upon its release was that it was very good. So, despite not having some deep yearning for it, I decided to give this bottle a go.

On the nose, right away I found it to be very cinnamon forward, which I wasn't necessarily expecting. There was also a distinct pastry note to it, kind of like a cinnamon roll, but not nearly as sweet.  There was a slight spiciness to it, perhaps a black pepper spice. Later on I noticed a vanilla bean note that I really enjoyed.

The flavor wasn't quite in line with the aroma. Right up front I got a distinct bread note, like a sweet wheat bread. More than that, it reminded me of toast. It had that toasted bread flavor, which made the immediately following cinnamon and brown sugar notes all that more welcome. It was like a breakfast snack.

Admittedly, at first I wasn't a huge fan of this. I didn't want to drink bread, even if it did remind me a bit of cinnamon toast.  But, this bottle really grew on me. I think one reason that it is is that it developed a spiciness that I really loved. It was a mix of sweet and hot cinnamon, black pepper and even a bit of that sharp cayenne spice. It added a level that seemed to make this whiskey so much more interesting.

That spice and the sweetness both lingered for quite a while on the finish as well, providing that nice counterbalance. A bit of the brown sugar note stuck around as well, while the grainy bread note seemed to fade away, which was alright with me.

Like I said, at first I was unimpressed, but by about half-way through the bottle I found myself actively wanting a pour whenever I'd go to make my choice of drink for the evening. Whether or not I buy future batches remains to be seen, but I'll certainly give it a thought.

Grade: B

Coppercraft Distillery Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

VITALS:

- $70

- 113.58 Proof

- NAS

- Indiana

I've said it before, repeatedly. But, it's worth saying yet again.  I love free whiskey!!  This bottle was a gift from a very good friend of mine who traveled to my place from California via Michigan for the 4th of July. On his way through that mitten-shaped state, he stopped by Coppercraft distillery and picked this bottle up for me, one I had never had before. 

In fact, I don't know that I have had anything from Coppercraft prior to this bottle. But, it's cask strength MGP bourbon, and I was told it was 6 years old (though that remains unverified). In any event, I figured it had to, at the very least, be decent whiskey, and was in all likelihood very good.

On the nose I got a lot of those characteristics I've come to expect from MGP. It had a more spice-forward profile, rather than being sweet.  I got cinnamon and toffee, as well as a bit of vanilla undertone. Despite its youth, I also got a bit of oak, but no bitterness to accompany it. Rather, just a bit of an earthy, woody aroma. It also had a bit of an orange peel note to it, adding just a slight twist to things.

The flavor was pretty on point with the nose. The toffee note seemed to be more up front, however. I expected the cinnamon note to carry the day, but it leaned toward the sweeter end of the spectrum right up front. The vanilla seemed to come forward more than on the nose as well.

However, it didn't take long for that cinnamon spice to come through. As those sweet caramel and vanilla notes subsided, the spicy cinnamon shone through. There was also a rich, dark fruit note, kind of like a mix between cherry and blackberry. But it didn't have any sort of jammy fruit notes to it. Rather, it was just the richness and flavor of the hybrid berry that I was getting.

On the finish the toffee and cinnamon prevailed. None of those rich fruit notes really seemed to linger. Quite frankly, the sweet and spicy notes didn't linger as long as I'd have liked either, as it was a relatively short-lived finish, despite the higher proof.

I think I need to give more Coppercraft products a try. I realize this is sourced, but there's something to be said about a good, sourced whiskey, and this fits the bill.  

Grade: B+

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Batch No. C922

VITALS:

- $65

- 124.8 Proof

- 12 Years

- Batch No. C922

- Kentucky

I have been lucky enough to get my hands on most releases of a couple of the more popular barrel strength releases -- Stagg (formerly Stagg, Jr.) and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.  What's amazing about these two whiskies is that for the most part they've remained fairly reasonable in pricing. They are also both semi-annual releases, so if I don't get a particular one, I know another one will be coming out shortly.

However, I've managed to get a sort of backlog on both.  So, I've been making it a point to start working my way through my sub-collection of ECBP bottles.  It's kind of funny. I just haven't felt compelled to open them sooner, because I already know they're going to be good. It's a bit axiomatic, I guess.  I know it's good, so I drink other stuff instead. But, I'm making it a point to open them and try the different batches, and this one only confirmed what I already knew.

The nose on this was full of sweet cinnamon and oak. It had a nice balance of sweet, dessert-like notes, an earthy and slightly bitter oak note and a cinnamon spice. In fact, it kind of had a barbecue rub type of aroma to it, but one that is heavy on the brown sugar. It even had a little bit of a chili powder note to it. It smelled great, even if a bit unlike most Elijah Craig's I've had.

The flavor really carried that barbecue note forward. I certainly got some cinnamon and oak, though neither were super strong or overwhelming. What really came forward, though, was the brown sugar. It wasn't that brown sugar note that I get off of some Canadian whiskies, though. Instead it was more of a brown butter note. It was sweet and lightly smokey and had a bit of unctuousness to it (I've clearly been watching too much Food Network).

Even the finish had that barbecue feeling to it. The oily texture of the bourbon coated my mouth with that light smokiness and brown butter. But, it also had a bit of a paprika note to really round out that barbecue flavor. I also got cooked cherries on the finish, with a lingering rich sweetness that seemed to perfectly balance out everything else and bring this from a spicy bourbon to a very well-balanced one.

My final thought? Guess what . . . it's good! No surprise there! Perhaps I've had others that have been better (some have been absolutely great), but this one was absolutely delicious, and I kind of appreciated that it was a bit off-profile.

Grade: B+

High West Binny's Barrel Select Double Rye! Finished in Tawny Port Casks

VITALS:

- $70

- 98 Proof

- Finished 9 mos.

- Barrel No. 28124

- Utah

I feel like it's been a while since I've last seen Double Rye! private barrels on the shelves.  I've seen plenty of American Prairie single barrels, most of which were finishes that I wasn't really interested in, such as rum cask or vermouth. And, to be honest, the American Prairie Bourbon barrel selects simply haven't done a whole lot for me overall.

But, I have had some amazing Double Rye! single barrels, with all sorts of finishes from Muscat to Armagnac and even a great tequila finish.  So I knew I had to give this Tawny Port finished Double Rye! a try (and I also grabbed a Cognac finished Double Rye! at the same time).  For me, High West has always done really well with their wine finishing, so I felt pretty good that I'd be getting something delicious here. 

On the nose, the most prominent aroma was raisin. In fact, the nose kind of reminded me of oatmeal raisin cookies, but made with about three times the usual number of raisins. In fact, the raisin or even fig note almost came across as jammy.  But, there was also that baked goods or cookie-like note to go with it, and all in all, it simply smelled great!

While the nose was somewhat straightforward, the flavor was actually a bit more complex.  I definitely got rich, jammy notes, but it wasn't singularly raisins or figs. Instead I actually got heavy notes of cherry and raspberry--very consistent with my experience with anything port-finished. It wasn't overly sweet, though, which I absolutely loved, rather relying on the richness of the dark fruits.

The rye gave it a great cinnamon backbone, and there was also a distinct chocolate note that came through, probably due to the combination of the port and the rye. Interestingly, I also got a certain amount of saltiness.  Certainly nothing that made my mouth pucker, but there was a "lightly salted" tone to everything.

On the finished the baked goods notes really came out, providing not only that oatmeal or Fig Newton flavor, but also highlighting some of those baking spices.  The cherry and raspberry notes fell away just enough to allow me to appreciate everything else going on as I contemplated my next sip.

I once again found myself really enjoying Double Rye! with a wine finish. This bottle certainly reinforced what I already knew--that I'll continue grabbing these when and where I can.

Grade: B+

Four Roses Single Barrel Binny's Private Selection Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OESO

VITALS:

- $90

- 117 Proof

- 11 Years

- Barrel No. 25-3T

- Kentucky

I just can't say no.  At least not to Four Roses single barrel picks. As I've said in the past, they're always really good, and so often great.  Sure, the price has gone up a bit in recent years.  But, even at $90, to get a barrel strength 11 year bourbon from one of the big guys for that price is still a pretty good deal, particularly when you consider similar premium releases that are quickly leaving the shelves at twice the price.

I've had all ten recipes, so at this point I'm just re-visiting them. It's been six years, though, since I last had a bottle of OESO.  So, this isn't much of a re-visiting but more of a trying out OESO once again, pretty much without any frame of reference.  Of course I have this blog, but beyond what I wrote six years ago, I have no independent recollection of this particular recipe from way back then. 

Right up front I got rich, fruity and sweet notes, but it also had a certain boozy liqueur quality to it. It struck me as a cherry cordial type of note right away. On top of that, though, was an oaky note that I can't say I've gotten very often from these Four Roses single barrels, though I really enjoyed it. It also had some of the traditional caramel and vanilla notes to round it out.

The flavor was very much in line with the nose, but ramped up a bit. That cherry cordial note was the first and last thing that I tasted, leaving little room in between. It was the same note I got on the nose, but punched up quite a bit, particularly on the cherry note.

It also came across as more boozy. Not hot, like an alcohol burn. But boozy in flavor, if that makes sense. Kind of like the difference between a regular chocolate truffle and one made with any sort of liqueur. It has that distinct boozy tang to it, and it really complemented the charry note here.

The finished took a bit of a turn, letting that cherry cordial note subside and giving more of a grain and spice-forward experience. It reminded me a bit of cinnamon cereal, kind of like cinnamon toast crunch.  It also took on some sweet oak notes as well as a distinct chocolate flavor. The nice oily texture made for a good, long finish, and it was that chocolate note that seemed to stick around the longest.

This bottle was consistent from beginning to end, and it took on the characteristics of a cherry cordial so well that I found myself getting cravings for this specific bottle some evenings. I can't say that about a lot of whiskeys, and that's what made this one great!

Grade: A

Starlight Distillery Huber's Old Rickhouse Binny's Private Select Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks

VITALS:

- $70

- 111.8 Proof

- 4 1/2 Years

- Barrel No. 22-2043

- Indiana

If you've been in a Binny's recently, I'm sure you've noticed rows of their shelves filled with Starlight Distillery picks. They certainly have an influx at the moment of all sorts of picks, from single barrel bourbons and ryes to whiskeys finished in everything from Bourdeaux to cherry liqueur barrels. In fact, they have so many Starlight picks right now, it's almost paralysis by analysis. There are so many options its hard to pick just one.

But, not being one to miss out, I figured I'd go with my mainstays as far as finished whiskey goes. I tend to enjoy the Cognac and Armagnac finishes, particularly on rye barrels. So, seeing this Cognac finished rye among all the other finishes, I played it safe. I could have gone with something different, but again, I wouldn't know where to start.

The nose really showed off that Cognac influence, hitting me right away with scents of orchard fruits like apple and pear. There was also a certain malty backbone, giving it a sort of bread-like aroma. It also had a light caramel sweetness as well as a light note of rich vanilla. I didn't get much of the rye spice I was expecting, but everything else smelled great!

Right up front the pear note came through on the palate, but it was more of a cooked pear. Here the spice came through, with cinnamon and black pepper notes. It also had that caramelization you get with cooked pears, adding a rich sweetness to the fruity note.

I definitely got that malted note as well. It was somewhat bread-like, but sweet and grainy all at once. There was also a distinct white grape note, which became more and more prominent as I made my way through the bottle. As it became more prominent it took on more of a white wine note, a note which seemed to stick out a bit and didn't seem to play well with everything else going on.

The finish proved to be interesting, with a mix of black pepper, orange peel, honey and walnut. It was spicy, earthy, sweet and citrusy all at once. But, it didn't all seem to go well together. It was almost as if each note was there, sitting in its own respective corner, uninterested in playing with those other flavors.

this Cognac finished rye came across as sweeter than I would have wanted, particularly on later pours, and while the flavors were enjoyable, it just didn't come across as a finished, cohesive whiskey. Rather, it was kind of all over, particularly on the finish.

Grade: B-

Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Batch No. 16

VITALS:
- $60

- 130.9 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 16

- Kentucky

Over the past few years I've managed to accumulate a pretty nice lineup of Stagg Jr. and what is now just Stagg.  Between the regular releases and store picks, I ended up with seven different bottles without even realizing it. I guess it's the burden of a bourbon collector, but certainly a good burden to have.

So, realizing this backlog of Stagg on my shelf, it was certainly time to start opening and drinking them. They are doing me no good just sitting there on the shelf. The question then became, do I try them one at a time, or open a bunch and compare? Perhaps after this one I'll go the latter route, but for now I just opened up this Batch 16 bottle and enjoyed it pour after pour. 

The nose gave off everything I've come to love about Stagg, a certain consistency with all of their releases. Right up front I got rich, dark chocolate along with a dark cherry note. But, it wasn't that artificial cherry that I get in some other bourbons. It was just rich and spicy dark cherry, like the kind baked into a pie. I also got sweet notes of toffee as well as a cloves spice that really had my mouth watering.

I did find this release to be more cherry-forward in flavor than other releases.  I guess that should have come as no surprise given how prominent that note was on the nose. There was a dark chocolate note that accompanied it, along with a vanilla note. All together it gave of a cherry cordial note that was sweet and rich and decadent.

To further that cherry cordial note, there as a bit of an amaretto note as well, to add just a touch of booziness as well as a light tanginess to it.  Unfortunately, though, I didn't get that great cloves note I was getting on the nose. Stagg has always had a certain spiciness to it that has always put it right in my wheelhouse, and from the nose I thought this going to give me that. But, that is the only area where this one fell flat.

Even on the nose there wasn't that lingering cinnamon or cloves spice I was hoping for. Rather, as the cherry notes faded, I was left with a chocolate and amaretto flavor coating my mouth. Don't get me wrong, it was absolutely delicious, but I really did want that spice, particularly on the back end.

Now that this bottle is done, I can only wonder what the hell I was waiting for on these. I think tonight I've got myself an easy choice for my first pour.

Grade: B+

Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Batch A120

VITALS:

- $60

- 136.6 Proof

- 12 Years

- Batch No. A120

- Kentucky

I've said it before, and, quite frankly, it doesn't need to be said, but Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is consistently some of the best whiskey out there. And, given that it's a tri-annual release, while it is an allocated product, it is far from impossible to find. Plus, the price hasn't jumped (yet) like we've seen with so many other products.

In fact, I've managed to collect a bit of a backlog of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bottles between the normal releases and store picks. And the other day, I questioned why I wouldn't have at least one of them open at any given moment. So, rather than ponder the question, I decided to just go ahead and open one, starting with the oldest one on my shelf, this Batch A120 from January 2020.

As soon as I popped that cork I was hit with aromas of oak and cinnamon, along with a rich, dark sweetness that was like a molasses note. In addition to the cinnamon spice, there was also a black pepper spice to add some kick, along with some sweet vanilla notes. This was a great combination!

When I took my first sip, right away I was hit with a healthy dose of sweet, dark caramel, calling back to that molasses note from the nose. It also had a bit of that black pepper bite immediately on the tip of my tongue. There was a layer of richness as well, kind of like a dark chocolate note, keeping it somewhat sweet but nowhere near a dessert whiskey.

There was also something earthy or nutty, kind of like a mix between peanut and walnut.  There was also a bit of a tea leaf note that was interesting and added a bit of tanginess to the profile. These flavors all worked great with the caramel, black pepper and dark chocolate that persisted throughout.

The finish reminded me very much of tiramisu.  The tea note kind of took on more of a coffee liqueur note, and was accompanied by notes of vanilla and dark chocolate. That black pepper spice also found its way into the finish, adding some spice and giving me a reason to quickly go back for that next sip!

This certainly reminded me of just how well these releases are done, and, quite frankly, I think as soon as I'm done writing this I'll go pop open the next one!

Grade: A

Jack Daniel's Coy Hill High Proof Single Barrel Special Release Tennessee Whiskey

VITALS:

- $75

- 138.1 Proof

- NAS

- Tennessee

While Jack Daniel's doesn't have anywhere near the hype or excitement over releases as some of the big Kentucky distilleries do, they've managed to put together a few consecutive limited releases that, even if they haven't garnered the hype, have at least garnered significant praise and positive reviews.

The Coy Hill 2021 release, however, seemed to garner a significant portion of hype as well. That was due in large part to the fact that some of the barrels they bottled were being bottled as "hazmat" bottles, as the kids say on social media. In other words, there were bottles of Coy Hill that exceeded 140 proof!  And thus the hype-train took off. I was able to get a Coy Hill, though not a hazmat bottling, which was alright with me. What am I going to do with all that proof anyway? That said, 138.1 proof was hardly anything to sneeze at, and I doubt anyone is going to miss that extra 1.9 proof.

On the nose this smelled distinctly Jack.  I got cinnamon raisin bread right up front. A touch of spice, a sweet bready note as well as a dark, rich fruit note. There was also a sweet, light chocolate note on the nose that was delicious. It also had a bit of a crackery note, as well as a nutty aroma, kind of like cashews.

The palate was all sweet and, naturally, heat.  I definitely got a sweet raisin bread note. It certainly had that sweet, doughy pastry note to it. While the cinnamon came through, it wasn't spicy by any means, but more like the cinnamon part of a cinnamon roll.  And, of course, those rich, dark raisin notes were immediately noticeable as well. 

There was a sort of buttery note to this as well, and that, along with the sweet notes gave it sort of a butterscotch flavor. There was also just a touch of bitterness, and that seemed to translate into a sweet coffee note, kind of like tiramisu or coffee with a healthy amount of Irish sweet cream.

This was a heater for sure, and that was very noticeable on the finish. That heat was certainly there up front, but on the finish the alcohol vapors seemed to just consume every inch of space in my mouth and throat. That heat, though, still paired with the sweet, and it was those tiramisu and butterscotch flavors that seemed to linger, making this, in my mind, a sweeter whiskey than most, despite the high proof.

I only got to try the one single barrel, but others I know who had different barrels were likewise impressed. This was yet another success in the Jack Daniel's relatively new line of limited releases.

Grade: A-

Four Roses Single Barrel Liquor Barn Private Selection Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon - OBSO

VITALS:

- $90

- 106.2 Proof

- 10 Yrs., 7 Mos.

- Barrel No. 4-1R

- Kentucky

Whenever I go to Kentucky, I almost always make it a point to stop by multiple liquor stores, including Liquor Barn, just to see what they might have in stock that I can't get here in Illinois.  I'm not deluded into believing I'm going to find something rare, but each time I've been able to find something different, whether that's simply a store pick of something decent or something that just doesn't make its way to Illinois shelves.

On my last trip I went to the Liquor Barn I'm familiar with hoping to find at the very least a decent store pick, perhaps a Russell's Reserve or a Four Roses pick. But, after perusing the aisles, each and every end cap and even the "rare and limited" cabinet, I was uninspired and resigned myself to the fact that I was leaving empty-handed.  I grabbed some whiskey glasses as a gift, and when I was checking out, I happened to look up and there, sitting on the top shelf behind the register, were the last two bottles of one of their Four Roses picks. My trip was salvaged, and I cracked it open that night!

The nose was absolutely delicious, full of chocolate and peanut butter. In fact the peanut butter note was fairly strong, and it reminded me of nutty buddies (which just happens to be one of my favorite sweet snacks).  I also got a tart cherry note, kind of like a fresh cherry off the tree. 

On my first sip, I immediately noticed that nutty buddy note. I got peanut butter along with a sweet milk chocolate that immediately told me I was going to really enjoy this bottle. In addition to those notes, though, I also got some orange peel and brown sugar. It was kind of like and old fashion with a peanut butter cup shoved in the glass.

I definitely got a bit of cherry but it lacked that tartness that I was getting off the nose. Rather, it was a welcome addition to the peanut butter cup old fashioned flavor I was getting. There was also a bit of an oak note on this, which added some bitterness that kind of replaced the tartness from the cherry. The oak and the chocolate notes seemed to persist the most on what was a long finish, and at the very back end some black pepper spice came through as well, providing just a bit of kick.

The conclusion I reached here is that I need to get more Liquor Barn picks. Whoever picked this barrel has (subjectively) great taste, as this was a delicious Four Roses pick.

Grade: A-

Carl T. Huber's Malloy's Finest Wine & Spirits Private Select Cigar Batch Bourbon Finished in Brazilian Amburana Barrels

VITALS:
- $80

- 110.2

- 4 Years

- Barrel No. 22-2124-2

- Indiana

I've only had one of these Cigar Batches from Starlight before.  I had picked up a Binny's pick a while back when saw it on the shelf for the first time.  At first blush it seemed gimmicky -- just throw some bourbon into some other type of barrel and call it "Cigar Batch" so it sells.  After all, other brands had released "Cigar Batch" bourbons, and with some decent success.

However, the more I looked into it, the more intrigued I was as to what the Amburana barrels might add, and I was glad I did because I absolutely loved that bottle. So, when I got a chance to get another, one picked by a different store and a different palate, I jumped at the chance. While I don't necessarily have a specific recollection of previous bourbons I've tried, I certainly recalled that this was unique and interesting, and, of course, delicious!

The nose on this one immediately told me this would be no different. Right away I got rich notes of chocolate and hazelnut. There was a very distinct nutty quality to it, almost like a dry roasted peanut note. It had a spice to the nose as well, almost like a cardamom. It also had this sweet pipe tobacco note, which gives justice to naming this "Cigar Batch."

The flavor absolutely followed suit. It had significant pastry-like qualities, with a bready note as well as notes of vanilla, cinnamon and even a rich raisin note. The chocolate and hazelnut notes came through shortly after it hit my tongue as well and gave an almost creamy, rich and sweet quality to this.

Behind those rich, pastry and dessert-like notes were some welcome flavors that reminded me of an old fashioned. I certainly got a bit of orange peel, just enough bitterness to help temper all the sweet notes. There was a bit of a cooked cherry note as well, and underneath all of that was a healthy layer of brown sugar.

Aside from the tobacco note I got on the nose, I'm not sure what exactly makes this a "Cigar Batch." That said, I'm not a cigar smoker, and it's quite possible that this would pair excellently with a great cigar. What I do know, though, is that I once again found this to be unique, interesting, and absolutely delicious!

Grade: A