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

VITALS:

- $120

- 129.0 proof

- 10 years

- No. 00185

- Kentucky/Netherlands

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: A-

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

VITALS:
- $60

- 114 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #5

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B+

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

VITALS:

- $100

- 118.2 Proof

- 10 Years

- Cask No. 7

- 2023

- Speyside

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: A+

Knob Creeck Binny's Single Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $45

- 120 Proof

- 15 yrs

- Bottled 2020

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: A

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+

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-

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

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

VITALS:
- $90

- 116.6 Proof

- 11 yrs, 2 mos

- Barrel No. 16-3 M

- Kentucky

Having been through all ten Four Roses recipes at this point, I'm not just picking up these store picks wherever and whenever I see them. The problems with that, though are (1) the price has really jumped -- $90 is a bit of a tough pill to swallow anymore; and (2) despite the increase in price, they're just not that easy to come across. 

But, I've still picked them up here and there, because, in my opinion, it's still some of the best bourbon hitting the shelves. Apparently, though, I've done so without any regard to which recipes I was getting. After my most recent purchase, I realized I was sitting on three different bottles of OESF!  It was at that point that I knew I had to open and drink at least one of them!

The nose came across as rich and spicy and sweet. I got a dark cherry right up front, followed by notes of rich toffee and dark chocolate. There was also a woodiness to it, but it wasn't an oak note. It was lighter, like more of a balsam wood note. In addition to the toffee, there was an added rich but dark sweetness like molasses.

Much like the nose, the flavor had a lot going on, but it certainly leaned towards those dark, rich and sweet notes. Right up front I got notes of anise or black licorice. Not enough to turn me off, but it was noticeable right away.  It also had a peppery spice that hit the tip of my tongue immediately with each sip.

The rich sweetness came through in the form of toffee and brown sugar. There was also the dark chocolate that I was getting from the nose. What kept this from being to 'heavy" was a tangy Amarena cherry note that seemed to come through right in the middle and seemed to perfectly complement everything else going on. 

The finish had many of the same notes--the toffee, the dark chocolate and even a bit of the cherry note. But, it also had a sort of roasty coffee note that seemingly came out of nowhere but was absolutely great! The peppery spice seemed to transform into more of a cinnamon spice that lingered as well.

I know I have two more OESF bottles waiting to be opened, and given how much I loved this one, I'm thinking it won't be long before that happens. This bottle was so rich and full of flavor and absolutely delicious, it even made me forget about the price increase on these bottles!

Grade: A

Old Scout Binny's Private Selection Straight Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $50

- 114 Proof

- 5 Years

- Barrel No. 31905

- Indiana

This is one of those whiskeys where by now I pretty much know what I'm going to get. After all, this is a single barrel, cask strength bottling of MGP rye. This has stuff has been bottled under so many different labels, of course at varying ages and proofs, but almost always the 95/5 mashbill.

This is a single barrel, though, so it should have its own unique qualities. And, it was good enough to be selected by the tasters at Binny's (though if you look at number of private barrels sitting on the shelves at Binny's lately, it doesn't exactly scream discriminating).  So, what's another cask strength, single barrel MGP rye?? At least I know going in I'm going to to enjoy it!

And yet, when I first popped the cork, poured my glass and took a big whiff, I wasn't much of a fan of the nose. I got notes of dark chocolate and cherry cola. Good so far. But, what followed that were notes of bitter oak, and a healthy amount of pine-scented household cleaner. At first I thought it was just the typical pine note and I was blowing it out of proportion, but I definitely got that Pine-Sol note off of every single pour. 

Luckily, though, that note did not carry over to the flavor. It made for a bit of a weird experience getting something so strong on the nose but not in the flavor, but that was a good thing. Rather, I got a great, strong cinnamon spice. There was a bit of a bitter note, but it came across as more of a coffee note. And this all seemed to mix with a cherry and dark chocolate note that just really worked.

There was a light pine resin note, but nothing even close to approaching that cleaner note. Rather, it was a welcome note of pine, one that came across as natural and complementary to everything else going on. And all in all, this was a rich, sweet and spicy pour. In fact, the last few pours of the bottle were even sweeter and incredibly enjoyable.

This rye also had a great oily texture, which made for an incredibly long finish full of that same, bold cinnamon spice I got up front as well as the rich dark chocolate notes. 

If I could have gotten past the nose, this would have been one of the best MGP ryes I could recall. But that nose was really off-putting, despite how good the whiskey actually tasted.

Grade: B

Blanton's Binny's Single Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Barrel #154

VITALS:

- $70

- 93 Proof

- NAS

- Barrel #154

- Kentucky

I don't know why I held onto this bottle for so long before opening it. It's possible that it was the last of any Blanton's store picks that I had, so I wanted to hold onto it. But, realistically, I think I just didn't realize how long it had been sitting on my shelf.  At some point I just reached for a new whiskey off my shelf to pour, and this is what materialized in my hand.

I didn't realize that this had a dump date of July 1, 2020, fresh off the government shut-downs. I sat on this for much longer than I realize or ever intended. But, it's been a minute since I've enjoyed a Blanton's Single Barrel, so I finally decided to pop this one open and give it a go. I had a couple before this that were somewhat disappointing, so perhaps that's also a reason for the wait. But that reason was without justification.

The nose gave of notes of graham cracker and caramel. The graham cracker also took on a pie crust note at times.  It had a sweet nutty note to it as well, like candied pecan, which really rounded out a delicious pecan pie aroma. I got a touch of light pepper to give it a bit of spice.

The flavor was front-loaded with soft, creamy caramel notes. It was like that soft caramel in the center of Dove or Ghirardelli chocolates.  Right away I knew this bourbon was in my personal wheelhouse. That was coupled with a coffee note, however, which gave it a flavor reminiscent of a sweet coffee drink, like a caramel macchiato. The coffee note wasn't strong and bitter, just sweet and flavorful. 

It had a layer of vanilla kind of underneath everything, and there was a bit of cinnamon spice to offset the sweetness just a bit. That cinnamon not was even more noticeable on the finish, where it was accompanied by a lingering spiced cherry note that was absolutely delicious and kept me wanting more.

This was one of the better Blanton's Single Barrel picks I can recall ever having! It really offered a bit of redemption in my book, as this really hit on all cylinders for me. 

Grade: A-

E.H. Taylor Binny's Single Barrel Select Barrel #008 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $70

- 100 Proof

- NAS

- Barrel #008

- Kentucky

Obviously everyone seems to go nuts over Buffalo Trace products, whether that be Weller, Blanton's or E.H. Taylor. I've certainly seen my fair share of customers at my local Binny's willing to climb over people to get their hands on a regular E.H. Taylor Single Barrel.  And I have always been quick to point out to anyone asking (nobody's asking) that there are plenty of great bourbons sitting on the shelf, often at cheaper prices, that are just as good or better, so no need for the histrionics!

That said, when I was given the chance to buy one of their store picks last year, I couldn't help but say, "Yes, please!"  Even though it's not bottled at barrel strength, it's been my experience that every private pick of EHT I've tried has been fantastic (something I can't say about the other products in the Buffalo Trace private barrel program). So, while I wasn't willing to kill my mother for one, I was nonetheless grateful for the opportunity. 

The nose on this one was delicious, the kind of bourbon I want to make a candle out of. I got notes of vanilla and cinnamon spice, all layered over a rich and sweet dark toffee note. It also had a black pepper spice to counter any sweetness and tickle the nose a bit. It really was almost the ideal aroma if you were to ask me what a bourbon should smell like.

Much like the nose, when I took my first sip I was hit right up front with a healthy dose of vanilla. Surprisingly, though, that was accompanied by a great, sweet oak note, like a bourbon with decent age, but not too much age. It also had the sweet caramel notes, though not quite as rich as the toffee note I got on the nose, along with some delicious chocolate notes. 

It had something more to it, kind of a tangy, nutty quality. It was kind of like almond extract, but not as overpowering. It also reminded me at times of candied pecans. Either way, it was delicious and seemed to mix right in with the caramel, vanilla and chocolate notes to create this rich, sweet, dessert-like flavor that I couldn't get enough of. 

The finish seemed to really tie a bow on just how good this bourbon was. In addition to everything else, I was left with a rich cherry note that seemed to bring everything together into this cherry pie note that had me wishing with each sip that I had another bottle of this in reserve.

This was one of my favorite bourbons I've had in quite a while, and I don't feel like I've been drinking bad whiskey, so that's saying something! I milked this bottle for a while before finishing it, so it's not likely to be found sitting in any stores anywhere, but if you do get a chance, drink it!

Grade: A

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-

Eagle Rare Binny's Single Barrel Select Barrel #044 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $35

- 90 Proof

- 10 Years

- Barrel #044

- Kentucky

Eagle Rare is the bourbon that got me into bourbon. It was the one that opened my eyes to a world beyond Scotch, and now bourbon absolutely dominates my whiskey shelf in my basement. So, it should then come as no surprise that Eagle Rare still holds a special place in my hear and always will.

And, for that reason, I grab every Eagle Rare store pick that I can find. Granted, this was a much more fruitful venture a few years ago.  It seems now that Eagle Rare picks are not only few and far between, but are also being treated as highly allocated whiskeys, only getting into the hands of select customers. I was lucky enough, though, to get my hands on this Binny's release back in 2020.  Given their relative scarcity, I waited a bit to finally open it, but eventually they all get opened at some point.

The nose on this one was great.  I got notes of vanilla and cinnamon, along with a great bready note. It definitely had a cinnamon roll thing going on. There was something else as well, though. I got candied pecan along with a definite cherry note, like a Maraschino cherry Everything seemed to blend together like a Danish and cinnamon roll hybrid.

As to flavor, the cherry note from the nose seemed to take center stage. It still had that Maraschino lean to it, along with a bit of a syrupy sweetness.  There was something tangy and boozy about it as well, kind of like amaretto liqueur.  The pecan note was there as well to offer a nutty quality, and even a touch of bitterness, but without the sweetness.

The tangy bite at times came across as an orange peel notes, and other times like tart cherry. At times it had that bitter bite that you sometimes get when eating walnuts.  As great and perfectly complementary all the notes on the nose were, I couldn't say the same thing for the flavor.  This seemed a bit all over the place, and the bitter notes didn't seem to balance out the sweetness, but rather competed with it.

On the nose the boozy note really seemed to come through, but it was more as a cherry liqueur than amaretto. The problem with this, though, is it seemed more like an artificial cherry note, and that's the flavor that seemed to linger on the finish, along with a lightly bitter oak note. The finish left a bit to be desired.

This was not my favorite barrel of Eagle Rare. That said, even lesser showings are still pretty good, and this bottle was not long for this world once it was finally opened.

Grade: B-

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

VITALS:

- $60

- 110 Proof

- 9 1/2 Years

- Barrel #22-0917; Warehouse B

- Kentucky

I've said it before, many times, but it's worth repeating.  When you find a Russell's Reserve pick on a shelf, grab it! They are just so consistently delicious!  Any time I'm traveling out of state and happen into a liquor store (yes, sometimes I just "happen" to go into one), I make it a point to see what store picks they might have available.  And, if I'm at a larger store where I have options, I then look for my go-to store picks, starting with Russell's Reserve single barrels.

While this wasn't one of those on-the-road finds, it was nonetheless an immediate purchase. On any given day Binny's will have dozens of available store picks to choose from. In fact, they have so many that it can at times result in paralysis by analysis, just trying to pick one to bring home. When they get them, the Russell's picks, however, are not going to be just "sitting there," at least not for long. So I was grateful to get my hands on this bottle. 

On the nose, I immediately got a rich and sweet combination of cinnamon, toffee and cherry notes. It was like some great combination of two of the better selections from an assorted chocolate tin!  The cherry took on kind of a Maraschino note which only added to the richness. I also got notes of wood, but not strong and lacking in any bitterness.

From first sip and throughout, the flavor consistently reminded me of cherry pie. It had the notes of rich, baked cherry, including that Maraschino note I got from the nose. There was certainly a baked goods quality to it as well, lending to the pie crust note that accompanied that cherry. There was even a rich, sweet syrup quality to it that seemingly rounded out that flavor. I couldn't get enough!

Behind that there was a certain cereal flavor to it as well. It mad me think of toasted Cheerios, which is a staple movie-watching snack in my household (and, therefore, may not be very relatable).  There was also a sort of dustiness, perhaps what others think of as the Wild Turkey funk. It's a funk that I've always loved, though, so to me it was welcome, even if only to counter some of the sweetness.

The finish provided some of that cinnamon spice that I was getting on the nose, but most prevalent was that baked cherry note that was consistent throughout. The pie crust note I was getting earlier took on a bit more of a graham cracker note, but it was still pretty delicious.

I have numerous bottles on my shelf that have been open for quite some time, years even. This, however, was not one of those bottles. This bottle lasted less than a week after opening it. I just couldn't help but keep going back to it.

Grade: A-

High Hawk Binny's Private Select Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $50

- 102.6 Proof

- 4 Years

- Barrel No. 489

- Wisconsin

I feel like it's been a while since I've taken an absolute flyer on a purchase of whiskey. Even when I've grabbed something new off the shelf, it's usually been from a distiller I know or I have some idea of what I'm getting into. This was not the case, however. I'd never heard of High Hawk prior to purchasing this bottle. Quite frankly, I don't know that there's much about the squat bottle and desert scene label that would have grabbed my attention. But, on that day I got a hair up my ass and decided to try a new rye that landed on the Binny's private barrel shelves.

The whiskey is distilled in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, which is northwest of Madison bordering Minnesota.  So, I was surprised I hadn't heard of LaCrosse Distilling. It also begs the question, why the desert scene on the label? Your guess is as good as mine. Either way, a four year single barrel Wisconsin rye for $50 seemed like a fun gamble to me. 

The nose on this was very soft and inviting. While this is not a super high rye, it's still a 70% rye, and I expected a bit more spice and punch. Instead, what I got was a soft and sweet caramel with a malt backbone, almost pilsner like, along with a layer of vanilla. That was all accompanied by a mild pine resin to add a bit of earthiness.

On the flavor, I still didn't get any of the typical rye spice I've come to expect. There was no cinnamon or black pepper.  Rather, much like the nose, the flavor was very caramel forward. It was a soft but sweet caramel note that reminded me of Werther's candies.  It also had that malt note from the nose, and at times I was reminded of Golden Grahams (which happens to be one of my favorite cereals). 

However, it did bring forward some more traditional rye notes as the pine was even more prominent on the palate than it was on the nose. I also got a bright mint note right up front, which seemed to flutter in and out with each sip. 

The finish was probably my favorite part of this whiskey, though, as all those sweet and malty notes seemed to coalesce at the end into a delicious butterscotch note. It was also on the finish that I got a little bit of an oak note to add a bit more character and even a bit of dryness.

All in all, I liked this whiskey. Though I may have preferred a bit more spice, I think this will appeal to a lot of whiskey drinkers. It didn't have any of the sharp young notes that are always so off putting, and the flavors all seemed to work fairly well together.  I need to make it a point to grab those unknowns off the shelf more often, even if the winners may end up in the minority. This was fun exploring this rye.

Grade: B

High West Binny's Barrel Select American Prairie Bourbon Finished in Brandy Casks

VITALS:

- $45

- 101.6 Proof

- NAS

- Finished 1 year, 1 month

- Barrel #18910

- Utah

Although they don't seem to be coming out as frequently as they once did, I still love finding new High West barrel selects on shelves. They've tried all sorts of finishes, including wine finishes, barreled cocktail finishes, and even finishes in barrels previously used to finish whiskey. And for the most part they've been really good!

The ones I've found I gravitate toward the most, however, are the brandy finishes, including Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados finishes. For whatever reason, it's a finish that High West has done well.  And while my preference tends to be their ryes, I wasn't about to pass up this bottle of American Prairie Bourbon finished in brandy casks for just over a year. 

The brandy influence is fairly heavy on this one. Right way I was hit with orchard fruits. It was a nice mix of peach and pear, along with some sweet but rich brown sugar. It was kind of like a pie, particularly with an added note of pecan pie filling. It smelled like a rich and delicious peach and pear pie (is that thing?).

Right in line with the nose, the flavor was packed full of cooked peaches and pears. I couldn't get over how fruit forward this bottle was. It was sweetened by the same brown sugar note I was getting on the nose, and it even had a little bit of cinnamon spice to kick it up a bit. 

I also got that pie crust note. It wasn't strong, and it didn't necessarily make the whole thing taste like a pie, but there was certainly a flaky, buttery crust flavor going on here. It also had a nutty note, but it leaned sweet like a candied pecan.

The finish was syrupy and sweet. Whatever minimal heat I got from the cinnamon notes didn't quite make it that far. It certainly coated my mouth but it left that feeling in my mouth like I had just eaten waffles with maple syrup.

I certainly liked the flavors going on here, but I feel like the bourbon itself got somewhat buried. This seemed to be dominated by the brandy notes.  Perhaps a rye would have held up better against the finish, and if I come across a Double Rye! finished in brandy casks, I'm sure as hell buying it. But this one didn't quite do for me what I had hoped it would.

Grade: B-

Colonel E.H. Taylor Binny's Single Barrel Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:
- $70

- 100 Proof

- NAS

- Barrel #027

- Kentucky

I've managed to pick up a handful of these E.H. Taylor single barrel store picks. And yet, for whatever reason, I never got around to opening any of them until just recently. This was one of the bottles I brought with me on my recent trip to Kentucky, and once I popped it open I realized what a folly it was to not have done so sooner.

These tend to be few and far between, even at the bigger stores. On top of that, the demand is a bit nuts. So they're just not easy to come by, and perhaps that's why I waited. That said, it won't be long at all until I open up the next one on my shelf.

The nose was very caramel forward, with a rich sweetness that reminded me of Werther's candy. There was a light oak note to it, but lacking any bitterness. It also had notes of chocolate and brown sugar, and there was something there that reminded me of blondies. I also got hints of orange peel that gave off a slight Old Fashioned note.

What I loved about this bourbon, from the first sip, is that I absolutely got that blondies note right up front. Perhaps that's not relatable, but for those not in the know, it's like a brownie, but with butterscotch and brown sugar instead of chocolate. One of my favorite desserts, and this bourbon nailed it.

I also got other backing spices, including a lightly spicy cinnamon note, and that chocolate note I got from the nose appeared as well, though not as strong. The light oak note from the nose was also present on the palate, but without any associated bitterness. It seemed to fit right in to keep this from leaning too sweet.

The finish was rich but only lightly sweet, which was a nice departure at the end. There I was left with notes of dark chocolate and fig or raisin, and just the slightest tingle of cinnamon spice. It was a great way to finish off a great sip.

I was a big fan of this bottle, and once it was opened it wasn't long for this world. I can't wait to crack into another of these, and I can only hope it's as good as this one was.

Grade: A

Maker's Mark Private Select Binny's Beverage Depot - PB Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $70

- 110.2

- NAS

- Finish: 1 Baked American Pure; 3 Seared French Cuvee; 2 Maker's 46; 3 Roasted French Mocha, 1 Toasted French Spice

- Kentucky

I feel like I've really slept on these Maker's Mark private selections. When they first came out, I was floored at how much I enjoyed them. I remember trying my first one at Haymarket in Louisville and I couldn't get over the incredibly delicious chocolate note I got from it.  I've since tried a handful of different picks, either bottles I've picked up or pours I've had at bars, and every single one has been delicious.

And yet, despite having had plenty of chances, it's been almost three years since I've purchased a Maker's Private Selection bottle. And it's silly of me given that it's moderately priced, it's cask strength, and I know I'm going to love the whiskey inside (pretty much regardless of the stave combination). Luckily, something motivated me to grab this particular bottle when it hit a while back, and I finally got around to polishing it off.

The nose was baked goods all around. I got pastry crust, sweet cinnamon and even a bit of vanilla icing. What hit me the most, though, was a distinct milk chocolate note.  I've been searching for that note in these bottles ever since that first taste at Haymarket, but to no avail. However, in this one, that chocolate note was right up front on the nose.

And to make it even better, it came right through on the palate as well. The very first thing I tasted when it hit the tip of my tongue was that milk chocolate note. However, there was almost a creaminess to it, as well as a distinct sweet vanilla. Overall, that first note reminded me very much of hot cocoa with marshmallows. I was immediately sold.

Other flavors came through as well, as I got pie crust and graham cracker, as well as something that reminded me of cashews, nutty but sweet and even oily. There was a light cinnamon note as well, and that cinnamon note seemed to carry through to the finish, along with the chocolate note, to almost provide a sort of spicy chocolate note that rested nicely at the back of my throat.

I don't know if this stave combination, if replicated, would produce a similar tasting whisky, but this was certainly one of the best Maker's Mark private selections I've had.

Grade: A