Wild Turkey 70th Anniversary Release 8 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $75

- 101 Proof

- 8 Years

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B

Kirkland Signature Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $28

- 92 Proof

- NAS

- Lowlands

I'm a sucker for a good deal, and so far it's been my experience that some of the best deals out there are the Kirkland bottlings at Costco. They released a line of 1792 bourbons that have all been excellent. They keep releasing well-age stated Scotches that have all been fantastic. And they've released a sort of non-age-stated series that appears to highlight different regions, including an Islay release that's quite impressive.

So, finding this Lowland single malt finished in Sherry casks was a pleasant surprise. While it doesn't come with an age statement, it certainly comes with a great price tag of less than $30!!  And, I honestly don't get a whole lot of Lowlands Scotches, so it seemed a great opportunity to add one to my shelf.

The nose gave off great aromas of orchard fruits. Specifically, I got a great mix of fresh pear and fresh green apple (as opposed to that over-ripe apple note I tend to get in underaged whiskies).  There was a slight malty backbone, but those fruity notes really took center stage. On later pours the sherry seemed to come through, providing a bit of a raspberry note, but it seemed that pear apple combination continued to dominate.

And that pear note continued right through the palate. That fresh pear note was the first flavor that hit my tongue when I took a sip. That was immediately followed, though, by a sweet crackery note and a honey note, kind of like a graham cracker but lighter, if that makes sense.  Maybe a bit like Honeycombs cereal?

Interestingly, it developed a slight spiciness, but not like a pepper or cinnamon spice. Rather, it was more of a ginger spice. I'm not sure where that came from, but it did work really well with the pear and honey notes, making for a pretty cohesive and interesting pour.

On the finish, I did get a bit of a black pepper spice that lingered in the back of my throat. Those pear and honey notes seemed to evaporate a bit as well, leaving me with a crackery, malty note as well. This was where this whisky did fall flat a bit. While it was tasty and interesting up front, it left a bit to be desired on the finish. 

Nonetheless, this was, without a doubt, a great value, as it was a delicious whisky at an even more delicious price!

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

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

VITALS:

- $120

- 86 Proof

- 15 Years

- Batch No. 4/509

- Islay

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B

Whistlepig PiggyBack Alfa Romeo F1 Team G-Force Finished Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $45

- 96.77 Proof

- NAS

- Vermont & Canada

Okay, so this is kind of a weird one.  And, while clearly gimmicky, it went so weird that I just had to try it. Luckily the price made it easy to do a bit of experimenting. And, apparently, experimenting is what this bottle is all about. 

First, this is one of the more unique finishes I've seen, as it was finished in lychee and tea barrels.  I'm not going to lie, I had to Google "lychee."  I had zero frame of reference here, and I've never had what is apparently a sweet and floral tropical fruit. And it's still unclear to me whether there are two separate finishes here (lychee and tea) that were then blended together, or whether the barrel previously held lychee and tea together. Either way, it was a unique finish, and on top of that, while finishing, the barrels were subjected to G-forces.  I'm not sure exactly how, but I just imagine the barrels being strapped to the back of an F1 car on a loop track for days on end. Probably not what happened here, but the bottle doesn't give me much more to work with. 

I popped the cork and I was immediately hit with a bubble gum note. This was like those Double Bubbles that used to disappoint me when I went trick or treating as a kid. Or, like the artificial bubble gum flavoring of bubble gum soda (as opposed to organic bubble gum, I guess???).  Remember Hubba Bubba Bubblegum Soda?  Well, I do, and this smelled like that!  I tried to find other notes, but really this just smelled like bubblegum. Already one of the weirdest whiskey experiences I've had, and I hadn't even tasted it yet.

But, not surprisingly, it tasted like . . . bubblegum.  At least there were other flavors to go along with, however, including bright strawberry and raspberry notes.  This was incredibly fruit forward, and it was all bright, sweet berry notes.

On the back end the tea notes came through, more prominently than expected, actually. They provided a bit of an earthy note that gave an interesting contrast. I did get some traditional rye notes, including a light minty flavor, as well as a bit of a cinnamon spice on the finish. Those notes, however, were easily overpowered by the strong, fruity bubblegum note that dominated throughout.

This was a weird whiskey, no doubt about it. As weird as it was, though, the consensus from everyone who tried it was that it was "not bad" to "good."  Good for what it was, anyway. Interestingly, I did find myself from time to time in the mood for this bubblegum whiskey, and when in that mood I found I really enjoyed it, weirdness and all.

Grade: B

Bulleit 12 Year 95 Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $50

- 92 Proof

- 12 Years

- Indiana

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B

Old Dominick Bottled in Bond Straight Tennessee Whiskey

VITALS:

- $45

- 100 Proof

- 4 Years

- Batch No. 4

- Tennessee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B

Old Forester 1924 10-Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $140

- 100 Proof

- 10 Years

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B 

Ezra Brooks 99 Proof Cask Finished Series Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Casks

VITALS:
- $25

- 99 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

One of my favorite past times is being sent by my wife on a wine run and then spending more time than it should take while casually perusing the whiskey shelves looking for something new.  I love finding new brands or products on the shelves, especially when I had no knowledge of the release beforehand.

That was the case with this Ezra Brooks Port Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon. I had no idea that Lux Row had plans of releasing a port finished bourbon. The label says that it's part of a "Cask Finished Series," so I can only hope that there will be others. But, what really got me excited about this release was the price tag!!  If I were to run for president, my platform would be "MBAA" - Make Bourbon Affordable Again! And this particular bottle could be my mascot! At $25, I didn't think twice about throwing it in my cart.

The nose had just a bit of the port influence, but it wasn't nearly as influential here as I had expected. There were notes of raisin and fig, and even the slightest hint of raspberry. But, those notes weren't strong, and I primarily got those more traditional notes of vanilla and caramel, and even a bit of cinnamon spice.

Similarly, I took my first sip expecting a much more fruity experience. But again, it was the bourbon notes that dominated, with toffee and vanilla taking center stage. The port notes followed soon thereafter, as that fig and raspberry came through in a way that complemented shoe traditional bourbon notes. So often they provide a sharp contrast, but here it all seemed to work together. 

On the finish all of these flavors seemed to blend together to create this figgy caramel note that was sweet, but not too sweet, rich and flavorful.  The finish didn't last as long as I would have wanted it to, and the on ething missing here was a bit of spice that would have really rounded things out.

What this finished bourbon does best is kind of what Angel's Envy does well, which is provide a very approachable, flavorful bourbon for a more casual bourbon consumer. Except this one is half the price!  For that reason alone it's worth picking up!

Grade: B

Laphroaig Cairdeas White Port and Madeira Casks Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

VITALS:

- $100

- 104.6 Proof

- NAS

- Islay

Laphroaig's annual Cairdeas release has certainly become something I look forward to each year, and even more so when I find out the release is going to be some sort of wine finish. In the past I've found such releases to be absolutely phenomenal!  Yet, this one wasn't really on my radar.  In fact, the first I had seen it was when I was out of town checking out a random liquor store, and there it was on the shelf, making me wonder how I had missed information on this release.

While the bottle didn't come home with me on that trip, I was sure to secure a bottle soon thereafter, and I was fairly quick to open this one.  I kind of knew what I was going to get from the Madeira cask, but I really wasn't sure what to expect from the white port cask. I only assumed it would have a different profile from other peated port matured Scotches I've had in the past.

The nose was not as prominent with the wine notes as I had expected.  I've gotten so used to getting an aroma full of dark fruits and smoked meats from similar bottlings, but that was not to be found here. The peat was certainly present, but the wine influence was a bit light. There was perhaps a hint of raspberry, but otherwise, it was primarily notes of campfire and bready notes.

Luckily, the flavor brought more to the table than the nose did. There I got that great combination of sweet and peat that I love. The flavor came across as more of a raspberry jam note, along with a nice blackberry note. While sweet, it also had that bite of bitterness to it to keep it from being too sweet. It did not come across as a port or Madeira "bomb" by any stretch, but the influence, even if a bit more subtle, was delicious.

Of course I got a great smokey note, which at first was like the campfire note I was getting on the nose. But as I made my way through this bottle, it developed more of that smoked barbecue note that I love in a good wine-finished Islay Scotch. It was like a nice plate of sweet and savory barbecue ribs. 

But, there was another note that weirdly enough seemed to go right along with everything else -- pancakes.  I'm not sure if I've ever gotten pancakes as a tasting note, I'd have to check, but it was certainly there in this bottle, lurking in the background, and particularly noticeable on the finish.

While I wouldn't put this as my favorite Cairdeas release, it was, not surprisingly, still absolutely delicious. This was a bottle that went much faster than I intended, which is always a good measure.

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

Charleston Distilling Co. Vesey's Liquor 'n' Wine Single Barrel Select Straight Bourbon Whiskey

VITALS:

- $50

- 94 Proof

- 4 Years

- Barrel No. 52

- South Carolina

This is one of those bottles where I had never even heard of Charleston Distilling Co., let alone considered trying their products, prior to seeing it on the shelf. Even on the shelf it wasn't something that stuck out to me, and if it weren't for the clerk behind the counter handing me a sample as I perused the shelves, I probably would have never given it a thought.

But, as I stood in that bourbon aisle, I tried that sample he gave me, and it was pretty good. It wasn't great, and it didn't knock my socks off or anything. But, here was this single barrel bourbon, aged at least four years, distilled by the same company bottling it, and it was a private pick. So, for the $50 price tag, I figured this was worth giving a chance.

The aroma carried many of those traditional bourbon notes, including caramel and brown sugar. There was a rich dark fruit note, kind of like a cherry but without the tartness. It also had a nutty note, like walnuts. Altogether, it all made for a surprisingly great nose!

Right up front I got that traditional caramel note, but this was immediately followed by a note that caught me off-guard a bit. At first I thought it was something vegetal, and then it hit me that what I was getting was a coffee note. It wasn't bitter, but it definitely had that flavor.  I was also getting notes of walnut and baked apple, and a whole lot of corn, kind of like corn bread.

On later pours, the apple note took on more of a Granny Smith apple note. It did develop not only some tartness, but also some brightness in the flavor. The caramel persisted, though, which was a nice complement to that Granny Smith note.  It was different, but it was a good different.  With young whiskeys I often get an over-ripe apple note, and that's not what this was. Rather, it was just a good, tart Granny Smith with some caramel.

I didn't get any apple notes on the nose. Rather, the focus there was sweet caramel on the finish, and something that reminded me of sandalwood.  Not that I've spent any time in a workshop cutting sandalwood, but if I did, I'd imagine that the taste of the air is the flavor I was getting here. The cornbread note also stuck around a bit, making for a kind of an odd, disjointed finish.

Overall, I left this bottle thinking I'd like to try more of what Charleston Distilling has to offer. While it seemed to stray from traditional bourbon notes, it was still quite tasty, and I found myself enjoying pour after pour.

Grade: B

WhistlePig Piggy Back Legends Series Brothers Osborne 6 Year Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $55

- 96.56 Proof

- 6 Years

- Canada

It wasn't too long ago I got invited to a buddy's house to do a whiskey tasting.  Little did I know when I accepted the invite that the tasting would include 9 different WhistlePig single barrels! The other eight were all single barrel picks of regular WhistlePig, but this particular barrel of Piggy Back was also in the mix, and I enjoyed it so much I found myself picking up a bottle the next day.

Admittedly, I had no clue at the time who Brothers Osborne was. I had to look it up, and when I learned they were country music artists, it made all the more sense why I had no idea who they were. That said, they got their name associated with a single barrel of WhistlePig Piggy Back, along with the tag of "Legends Series." Good on them!

The nose was great! I got a lot of those notes I typically associate with a rye, including cinnamon and pine as well as a touch of spearmint. I also got some sweet vanilla bean notes that provided a great, softer note. It also gave it a sweetness to help offset some of the spice I was getting. 

When I took my first sip, right up front I got a bunch of brown sugar. It also had a bit of cinnamon spice right on the tip of my tongue, but it came across as almost boozy or syrupy. It almost reminded me of a cinnamon liqueur.  That combination of sweet and spice right up front had me hooked.

Behind that I got a rich and sweet amaretto note. Perhaps it was a bit of a carry-over from that liqueur note I got right up front, but it was unexpected and deliciously welcome. It also had a bit of a coffee note, but a sweetened coffee.  It reminded me of an Irish cream coffee, with good coffee flavor but any bitterness removed.

This whiskey finished with cinnamon spice as well as those sweet brown sugar notes. The light mint I got on the nose finally made its appearance on the finish as well. Interestingly, I got a distinct rosemary note on the finish (a first for me). This was particularly noticeable when I exhaled. It was certainly different, but I enjoyed it.

Overall, this was a really good whiskey at a really good price. I probably wouldn't have grabbed it off the shelf if I hadn't tried it first, but I'm sure that can be said about a lot of whiskeys. Whether you're a fan of Brothers Osborne or not, certainly give this single barrel a try if you come across it. It was really a pleasant surprise.

Grade: B

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

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon - 2021

VITALS:

- $160

- 104 Proof

- 12 Years

- Kentucky

I've been lucky enough to try Birthday Bourbon pretty much every year for the past seven years or so, mostly because I've had friends that have been lucky enough to snag a bottle, and I was, in turn, lucky enough to have them share with me. A couple years I managed to try a pour at a bar. But, I've never actually purchased a bottle for myself.

I've had opportunities, but I've passed and let friends get one instead.  And I've found that some releases have been way better than others, so I never really felt like taking the chance. But, for 2021's release, it was offered to me and I finally bit the bullet, despite the relatively steep price. I certainly made this bottle last a while, but the other night I was itching for something from the top shelf, and, despite having nothing to really celebrate, I finally finished it off. 

I popped the cork and was immediately impressed by the nose on this bourbon. Right up front I got loads of cinnamon spice, along with rich and sweet chocolate and cherry. There was also a very distinct oaky note, but without any bitterness to detract from all the other great, mouth-watering aromas I was getting.

Much like the nose, the flavor was also very cinnamon forward. That seemed to be the predominant note, along with a healthy amount of dark chocolate, bringing with it a little bit of bitterness.  The oak note that I got off the nose was also present, but it, too, brought with it some tannic notes contributing to the bitterness.

The cinnamon note seemed to turn, at some point, into more of a cloves note.  It developed a cherry note as well that complemented the cloves well. That cherry note seemed to land somewhere between an artificial cherry note and a fresh cherry note. There was also a distinct cereal note as well, kind of like plain Cheerios. 

The viscosity was off the charts, and this had a very oily texture, which provided a nice, long finish. There I got even more of that Cheerios note, coupled with the cloves and cherry notes. That combination of flavors seemed to linger in my mouth and at the back of my throat forever between pours.

All in all, this was a good bourbon, but it just had those sharp tannic notes which, while not overpowering, nonetheless detracted from everything else going on. I also wasn't super high on the cherry note. Given the price point, I think I'll be a try-before-I-buy guy going forward on Birthday Bourbons.

Grade: B

Benriach The Smoky Twelve 12 Year Speyside Single Malt Scotch

VITALS:

- $70

- 92 Proof

- 12 Years

- Speyside

There aren't too many Speyside malts that feature peat.  Benromach does regularly, and other distilleries seem to do so only in special or limited releases, for the most part.  I'm sure there are others out there and I'm just not aware of them, but the fact of the matter is that Speyside is not exactly known for its smoke bombs.

And, I'm not that familiar with Benriach. I don't believe I've ever even sampled Benriach prior to enjoying this bottle. But, when I saw it on the shelf, I was intrigued not only by the fact that it was a peated Speyside single malt, but that it had been matured in three casks, including sherry and Marsala casks. That wonderful mix of peat and sweet is right up my alley, and with a cool name like "The Smoky Twelve," I knew I had to give it a try at some point.

On the nose the smoke wasn't nearly as big as in some Islay scotches. It was on the lighter side, giving room for other notes of honey and caramel.  There was also a nice butterscotch malt note as well and some bright orange citrus. The sherry and Marsala cask influence came through as well, but in the form of an artificial raspberry note, like raspberry flavored hard candy.

The flavor matched, in a way, but also diverged quite a bit. Notably, one of the first flavors that hit the front of my tongue was an unexpected almond liqueur note, with a tangy richness that was nowhere to be found on the nose.

This also had a malty backbone with a light black pepper spice that lingered through the finish. That bright orange note from the nose was also there, kind of like a fresh orange peel.  Luckily the wine cask influence didn't lean towards that fake raspberry note, but rather provided a very welcome fresh strawberry note, and all of these flavors seemed to work quite well with one another.

I do wish the peat were dialed up a bit, but that is certainly a personal preference. I did get those iodine notes and a bit of salinity in my glass, and that salinity also seemed to linger along with the black pepper and a hint of the strawberry. But the peat smoke seemed to fade a bit.

I know there are older expressions of this, and I just may need to give them a go at some point. But, I'm glad I satisfied my curiosity with this one. I did want a bit more, but it was still a tasty dram!

Grade: B

Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

VITALS:

- $50

- 95 Proof

- 3 Years

- Kentucky

I really do love free whiskey! Such was the case with this bottle, a gift from a friend who had borrowed my car to go to Louisville for Bourbon and Beyond. As a thank you, he brought me back a bottle of Rabbit Hole Boxergrail rye. 

I've never had anything from Rabbit Hole.  I've been to their distillery, or at least next to it. I've even peaked in the windows. But, I've never tasted anything they've made. I don't have any reason for it other than I just never got around to trying it. Luckily, thanks to this gift, I finally got a chance to give their three-year rye a chance.

On the nose it came across as soft and sweet.  I got a sweeter cinnamon note, missing some of the expected spice. I also got a bit of mint. That seemed to pair with a sweet, soft vanilla that provided a sort of foundation for the other notes. It smelled great, but certainly wasn't pungent.

As for flavor, that sweet vanilla and mint was immediately noticeable up front. Unlike on the nose, however, these flavors were much more pronounced. They provided the backbone for everything else going on in my glass.  

In addition to the vanilla, I got occasional notes of black pepper and maybe even root beer. That vanilla with the various spice notes I got form the rye created a flavor that was kind of a cream soda mixed with ginger beer. It was sweet and spicy, but not the typical spice I'm used to out of rye. I really liked that unique flavor.

On the finish the cinnamon notes really seemed to take hold. Once again, though, it wasn't a spicy cinnamon but rather a sweet cinnamon. It had a sort of cinnamon toast note to it.

I was ultimately very pleasantly impressed by this bottle. I find that ryes tend to fall into either the spicy or sweet category, and this is in that sweet category. I tend to enjoy both for different reasons, and albeit on the sweet end of the spectrum, I did enjoy this one as well.

Grade: B/B+

Yellowstone Flights Tap Room and Cask n Cellar Private Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $60

- 109 Proof

- 5 years

- Barrel No. 7544564

- Kentucky

There's a chain of liquor stores in Northwest Indiana called Cask n Cellar.  Occasionally I find myself going to Hammond or Schererville for work, and I almost always make it a point to stop in the one I pass on my way home. I do so solely to see what private picks they have in.

I've had a couple from them in the past, and they've all been very good. What I love most, though, is that they have an entire section of their store devoted to displaying their private picks, of which they always have many. And, it's right inside the door as I go in, allowing for quick perusal and selection while I'm trying to get home as quickly as I can.  This particular bottle intrigued me as it's a collaboration with a local taproom, Flights Tap Room and Whiskey Lounge. I've never been, but it's a place I feel I need to find and check out!

The nose was sweet and rich, but also balanced by earthy, more savory notes. I got a healthy amount of toffee up front, but that was balanced out immediately by a dark chocolate note. I also got notes of leather and even some sweet tobacco leaf. It was sweet, but that sweetness was certainly tempered on the nose.

The flavor followed that same trend to some extent.  I definitely got the toffee up front, but it was accompanied by more of a milk chocolate note, leaving behind the bitterness and even adding some sweetness. I got a light coffee note, however, that still brought a bit of bitterness to keep it from ever going too sweet.

Towards the middle I got a tangy amaretto note, sweet and savory all at once.  There was also a certain spice to it, which made its appearance on the back end and lingered long through the finish. It initially was kind of a black pepper spice, but seemed to evolve into more of a chili pepper spice. That seemed to pair with a candied cherry note, which had me absolutely loving the finish. 

This bourbon seemed to work really hard at giving balance among the sweet, savory, spicy and even bitter notes. At times it seemed to simply be all over the place rather than providing a cohesive flavor. However, it all seemed to come together on the finish, which is what had me going back for that next sip.

Grade: B

Copper & Cask The Wry Canadian 15 Year Cognac Cask-Finished Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

VITALS:

- $80

- 118 Proof

- 15 Years

- Canada

This release was certainly an intriguing one to me. I've enjoyed the couple of Copper & Cask single barrel ryes that I've tried so far. However, this release was something much different. The Wry Canadian is a 15 year Canadian whiskey that was aged in a second-use Cognac barrel that had previously been used to age rye. So, it's a well-aged Canadian whisky that is going to have additional influence not only from the Cognac cask, but also from the rye that had previously been aged in the same barrel. 

With all that going on, including the fact that it's a single barrel product bottled at cask strength, the $80 price tag certainly seemed reasonable enough. I don't exactly have my thumb on the Canadian whisky market, but compared to well-aged American whiskey, this would be a steal.

On the nose I got a significant amount of brown sugar. That note completely dominated anything else I was getting.  I did get some other behind-the-scene notes, including a bit of black licorice and even a little bit of cinnamon, but otherwise I might as well have shoved my nose into a cannister of brown sugar.

As to flavor, that brown sugar sweetness was, not unexpectedly, prominent right up front. It hit me as a sweeter whisky right away.  However, at least as to the palate, that brown sugar was accompanied by other notes, one of which was a distinct maple syrup note.  It also had a certain bready quality to it, kind of like a sweet bread along the lines of a King's Hawaiian roll.

On the finish, a great spicy kick seemed to come out of nowhere. It was a great combination of cinnamon and cayenne pepper, providing some heat and a nice tingle on my tongue and the back of my throat. Of course the sweet brown sugar notes remained, but that sweet and spicy balance was really delicious!

In the end, this is still a Canadian whisky, and that brown sugar note is a common theme I tend to find in most Canadian whiskies. I wish the Cognac played more of a role here, but at least the Rye cask had a decent influence, throwing in some nice spice at the end. I don't know that I'd say this was great, but it was worth the price of admission in my mind, as I did really enjoy it.

Grade: B

1792 Binny's Single Barrel Select Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Barrel #7147

VITALS:

- $45

- 100 Proof

- 4 Years

- Barrel #7147

- Kentucky

With so many different store picks available these days, particularly at stores like Binny's where they are getting 6-10 barrels at a time for some products, I find myself passing on store picks far more than I used to. In fact, under normal circumstances, there's a good chance I would have passed on this particular bottle. That's not due to the fact that it doesn't interest me, just more to the fact that there are so many other bottles out there that interest me more.

However, one of the guys that went on the trip to pick this barrel, among others, suggested that this was one of the better barrels he tasted during the trip, and that if I could find one I should definitely grab it. And so, taking his sage-like advice, when I did come across one, I made sure to bring it home with me.

On the nose I got a lemon grass note right away, which was unexpected. That paired with a bit of an orange peel note as well, providing some vibrancy as well as a touch of bitterness. Those bright notes seemed to be immediately followed by a rich, sweet caramel, as well as a sweet pastry note. The smell on this was great, even if a bit different. 

The flavor profile on this one was interesting in that it seemed to completely change part way through. At first I wasn't the biggest fan. It came across as very herbal forward, almost grassy in flavor (but not the bright lemongrass note I got on the nose). There was also a musty, dusty quality to it. Behind all that was a sort of peanut note as well, and the combination of all of these notes just had a sort of herbal, stale peanut thing going.

However, at some point part way through the bottle the profile seemed to change, and significantly so. That herbal note seemed to almost go away entirely, and even that dusty note became more subdued. Instead, I got soft and sweet notes, with vanilla and maple, and even sweet pastry notes. It reminded me of the maple glaze you would get on a donut.

On the finish, that maple sweetness really seemed to stick around. However, on earlier pours it seemed to compete with that pervasive herbal note. Luckily, that herbal note disappeared on the finish on later pours as well.  There was also a light medicinal cherry note on the finish that seemed to stick in the back of my throat. It was interesting, but I'm not sure I was fond of it. 

This Jekyl and Hyde bottle was certainly better in later pours than earlier pours. At first I wasn't so sure I liked it, but at the end I found myself reaching for it over and over until it was gone. It was really kind of a weird bottle in that way.

Grade: B