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+

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Batch No. B523

VITALS:

- $70

- 124.2

- 11 yrs, 5 mos.

- Batch No. B523

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: B+

Jim Beam Lineage Limited Batch Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $250

- 111 Proof

- 15 Years

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: A

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

Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition 130th Anniversary Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $140

- 108.4 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

This is one of my favorite bottles ever, having nothing to do with the whiskey inside. Rather, it has more to do with the circumstances around the first time I got to try it.  I'm not sure of the exact date, but it had to be late Spring or early Summer of 2019.  I know it was nice out that day. Warehouse Liquors in Chicago held a Four Roses tasting in its tasting room above the store. You had to get tickets in advance, and these tickets sold out very quickly. That's probably because this tasting was being led by one of the most well-known and well-liked ambassadors in the business, Al Young.

I don't remember the price of the ticket, but I know it wasn't cheap. I recall asking a buddy if he was in, and without hesitation he said, "Yes!" So, I grabbed two tickets the second they went on sale. We made it a point to get to the store early, and we were among the first few people in line. This allowed us to make our way straight to the very front of the tasting room, which ended up being right where Al Young spent the entirety of the evening. 

Because we were early, we got to chat up the local Four Roses ambassador, an incredibly friendly and fun guy whose name I now forget, though I have his card somewhere. And, we got to chat up Al Young for a solid 15 minutes before the tasting actually started! We got to ask him everything from what he drinks when he's not drinking Four Roses, to how he likes Chicago, to how his family was doing. Fifteen minutes of one-on-one just casual conversation with Al Young! Absolutely incredible!

The tasting itself consisted of four new private barrel picks selected by Warehouse Liquors, which were offered to event attendees first before they went on sale to the general public. We then tasted the Small Batch Select, which had just been released, and which Al was clearly touring at the time to promote.  And finally, we got to taste the 130th Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition.

Now, if you haven't noticed by now, this post is not much of a review, but rather more of a reminiscing. But, I can assure you that this was the best bourbon that my buddy and I tasted that night. Absolutely delicious!!  In fact, after the tasting was over and while Al was taking pictures and chatting with everyone there, we asked the local ambassador if we could have another pour. He told us that we could have whatever we wanted, because it just meant less for him to bring home, but he did ask us to be discreet.  So, next thing we know my buddy and I are huddled in a corner, just enjoying pour after pour of the 130th Anniversary, and practically giggling at just how absurd the situation was!!!

After the event, my buddy and I enjoyed a nice, albeit a bit tipsy, walk to the train station to head home. I remember going through my goodie bag they sent me home with and enjoying all the swag I got.  It was one hell of a night, and I didn't realize just how lucky I was until just a couple months later when the news broke that Al Young had passed away.  I don't get very sentimental over celebrity deaths. Of course, I get sad when an athlete or musician that I considered myself a fan of passes. But this hit me differently. I had met the guy once, and I felt like I lost a friend, or, at the very least, someone that I truly admired, enjoyed their company, and wished I could have spent more time with. It was an unexpected blow.

So, after that, I made it my mission to track down a bottle of the 130th Anniversary Edition. It wasn't easy to find, and I certainly paid more than the $140 retail price.  It had already come and gone by that point, so that part wasn't unexpected. But, if only for sentimental reasons, I had to have one. 

It took me a long time to eventually get around to opening it, but I ended up popping the cork when my daughter''s hockey team went to the state championship game. It was a delicious pour that myself and all the other hockey dads and moms enjoyed at around 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday as the game got started. Since then, it's been the bottle I break out when I have friends visit that I haven't seen in years, or when we have something worth celebrating.

Of course, now it's gone, but I certainly don't regret drinking it. Every time I brought out this bottle I got to tell my story of meeting Al Young.  Plus, every time I brought out this bottle I got to enjoy a fantastic bourbon.  Given that each time that I poured a glass I was busy enjoying the company I was with, I wasn't taking notes on my phone, or spending minutes sniffing my Glencairn to discern what notes I could.  I was instead enjoying the moment and the company. As pretentious as that may sound, it's the truth. And so, I don't have tasting notes for this review, and I'll just say it's a damn good bottle!!  My grade below might be a bit biased, but I nonetheless stand behind it 100%!!!

Grade: A+

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

Bomberger's Declaration Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon - 2021

VITALS:

- $90

- 108 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #21E1349

- Kentucky

I have always been a big fan of the two regular Michter's releases, Shenk's and Bomberger's.  These were always special releases that weren't overly difficult to find, somewhat reasonably priced, and always solid pours. In fact, this one was one that I just happened to see sitting on a shelf and I remember being initially caught off guard and then immediately taking one off the shelf.

I haven't picked any up recently though.  That's not due to availability but rather due to price. The price for both Shenk's and Bomberger's has doubled in the last four years, perhaps in an effort by Michter's to try to reach that ceiling of what the bourbon hunter is willing to pay for their limited releases. I've had them enough that I had no problem turning down a newer bottle at $150.  That said, I'm sure it's still solid bourbon, and I do wish it were more price-friendly, as I'd like to keep some on my shelf if I could.

The nose was rich and delicious.  Right away I got this great, spiced cherry note, with a bit of black pepper to accompany the sweetness of the cherry.  There was a light cinnamon note, as well as a distinct toffee and dark chocolate note, really hammering home that "rich" characteristic.

The flavor was actually a bit more interesting, and even a bit more punchy. Right away I got a sweet clove note, bringing together those notes of cinnamon, pepper and black cherry, but in a more in-your-face way. There was also a smooth caramel sweetness to it that seemed to ride along with the cherry note, which came through right after it first hit my tongue.

On the back end it came across a bit more dark fruit forward and a bit more nutty. The black cherry remained, but there was also a sort of fig or raisin note that came through. In a way it was like black currants but slightly less sweet. There was also a sort of almond extract note that I got, though not strong.

The finish was almost all cherry and almond, however. None of the spice that I got up front really lingered, and that would be the only thing I missed in this whiskey. A little bit of cinnamon and/or black pepper spice would have really knocked this one out of the park. But, that cherry and almond still had the desired effect of making me immediately want another sip. 

I really wish the price on these bottles hadn't jumped so much and so quickly. I do love these releases, and this 2021 release was no different.

Grade: A-

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

VITALS:

- $60

- 136.6 Proof

- 12 Years

- Batch No. A120

- Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grade: A

Buffalo Trace Binny's Single Barrel Select Batch #29 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $25

- 90 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #29

- Kentucky

Over the years as I've picked up various private picks of Buffalo Trace products, I've noticed that some are labeled "Small Batch Select" and some "Single Barrel Select."  The distinction would seem a bit obvious.  Those labeled as "Small Batch Select" are from a larger batch of multiple selected barrels.  This would theoretically mean that the store has more bottles of this to offer.  "Single Barrel Select" would seem to indicate that it is just that, a single barrel, and thus a small yield than a "batch."

This particular bottle made me question just how obvious a distinction that is. After all, this has the best of both world. While it's got the "Single Barrel Select" sticker, it's identified as "Batch #29." So, which is it?  Of course, if this were a real blog and I were a real whiskey writer, I might actually ask the hard-hitting questions and get to the bottom of it. But, rather than go through all that, I just decided to drink it and see if I like it, regardless of whether it's a single barrel or small batch (sorry for the cliff-hanger).

The nose was predominantly caramel, perhaps a slightly burnt caramel. There was also a distinct wood note to it, though not like an oak barrel that you'd associate with an older whiskey. Rather, it was more of a sawdust type note. It also had a kind of milk chocolate and raisin note to it. Over all it was sweet, but with an attempt at providing some earthy balance.

Right up front I got those traditional Buffalo Trace notes of caramel and cinnamon. However, there was a bit more there, including a great hazelnut and chocolate note. It was like a less sweet Nutella flavor mixed with some cinnamon. This all seemed to mix so well together.

But, there were some other outlying flavors as well. I got a sort of a wheat bread note. It was a sweet note, but yeast and grain forward. There was also a nutty note, again sweet, perhaps like a cashew. It also had a slight bitter note that reminded me of that white stuff you peel off an orange. I think it's called pith.  That's yet another thing I'm not going to investigate, so if I'm wrong, then just go with the white stuff on an orange.

The finish started off pretty good, with a distinct cola note, and hints of that caramel and cinnamon. However, that bitter orange note also seemed to linger a bit, and that was a bit off-putting. That sweet, nutty note seemed to ride along with that bitter orange note as well, and all of it seemed to leave a weird taste in my mouth.

I've certainly had better Buffalo Trace picks. This one wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as others I've had. At $25, though, you'd be a fool not to continue picking these up as you find them.

Grade: B-

Buffalo Trace Binny's Small Batch Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon - Batch #29

VITALS:

- $27

- 90 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #29

- Kentucky

I feel like Buffalo Trace store picks used to be more plentiful.  There were many times where I'd walk into a random store for the first time and, even though the selection may be slim, there would be a Buffalo Trace store pick available, and, of course, that's what I'd grab and bring home.

Recently, though, I don't see these anywhere. And when I do, they're treated like a limited release. They're either limited to one per person or even kept off the shelf altogether. And when they are put out on the shelves, they seem to be cleared out with relative quickness. I don't need to go on about the demand for Buffalo Trace. That's fairly well known among the bourbon company, whether justified or not. I'm more just commenting on the fact that I miss seeing Buffalo Trace store picks, typically a good value and something unique on the shelf, with a bit more regularity. 

As for this particular pick that I grabbed at Binny's a few months back, I was a big fan of the nose. I got a good amount of cinnamon and dark chocolate together, giving it a certain richness I don't typically expect from Buffalo Trace. It also had a graham cracker quality along with some toasted marshmallow notes, giving it a sort of amped up s'mores note.

The flavor, while in that same ballpark, wasn't quite the amped up s'mores I got on the nose. Right away I got chocolate, caramel and peanut. It was a bit like a Snickers in this respect, but with a significant amount of cinnamon spice. There's a brewery near me called Pollyanna, and one of their staples is a milk stout called Fun Size, which is intended to taste a bit like a Snickers. This bourbon reminded me of that beer (which I love, by the way).

The cinnamon spice seemed to push its way in throughout, and while those other dessert-like flavors were present, it was the cinnamon note that seemed to hog the spotlight. Later on I also got a sort of hazelnut note, perhaps what previously came across as peanut. I'm not a huge hazelnut fan, but I could see where others would love this.

The finish was really good, though. That hazelnut note didn't seem to stick around, but rather it was all dark chocolate and cinnamon, bringing me right back to what I first noticed on the nose. It had a rich spiciness that I had only wished lasted a bit longer, as the finish was relatively short-lived.  All in all, though, I thought this was delicious and yet another justification for grabbing Buffalo Trace picks whenever I see them, even though they appear to be becoming more scarce.

Grade: B+

Willett Family Estate 4 Year Small Batch Rye - 106.8 Proof

VITALS:
- $60

- 106.8 Proof

- 4 Years

- Kentucky

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- I love the Willett Family Estate Small Batch Rye! Any time I see it on the shelf, so long as it's not marked up as I've seen, I always grab one. Of course I try to make sure it's a new batch before I bring it home with me. I have to justify writing a review of the same product over and over again somehow, and the variety in batches allows me to do just that.

I wish I had some backstory here, but I've managed to amass a backlog of these bottlings as a result of the above-described behavior. I'm not sure where I picked this one up, but I can confidently say I got it at the expected price, which is unfortunately more than it was just a couple years ago, but that's the world we're living in.  All I know is that going in I already knew I was going to love it, because I haven't found one yet that I don't. So, take this incredibly biased review with a grain of salt, because I'm not going to have much bad to say at all.

The nose was a bit different than past bottlings. It had the pine and brown sugar that seems to be a staple of these ryes. It also had the cinnamon spice that I've come to expect, as well as more of a black pepper to kick the spice level up a bit. What set it apart, though, was a rich coffee note. I can't recall getting that aroma from previous bottles, but it was certainly there.  And as a heavy coffee drinker, I found it very much to my liking.  

As to flavor, this was certainly more on the expected side. I got a very healthy amount of sweet cinnamon, coupled with a strong brown sugar note. It was very pastry or dessert-like in this respect. It also had the pine notes from the nose, which seemed to mingle with a rich candied-cherry note. 

The finish was where the spice came through, providing not only the cinnamon spice, but also that black pepper spice I got from the nose, which seemed to linger at the back of my throat. The finish was certainly spicy and sweet all at once, with those spicy notes mixing with the cherry, reminding me of a Dr. Pepper, a flavor which stuck around long after each swallow.

I wished the coffee from the nose had made its way to the palate. That could have been incredible. That said, I was far from wanting with this one. In fact, despite being on the lower end of the proof scale for these WFE ryes, this was one of the better batches I could recall. The balance of sweet and spicy was on point, the pine was more muted than in previous bottles I've had and I loved the pastry note that really came forward.  Of course there's some recency bias there, but it was (of course) delicious!

Grade: A

Doc Swinson's Alter Ego Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Finished in Sherry & Cognac Casks

VITALS:

- $65

- 95.8 Proof

- NAS

- Release No. 21-004

- Indiana/Washington

This is another one of those brands that keeps popping up in my Facebook feed--at least it did for a while.  I'm honestly not sure exactly which bottles were garnering all the attention a short while back, but what I noticed was that while I was seeing this Doc Swinson's brand in my Facebook feed, I wasn't seeing it anywhere on my stores' shelves . . . until one day I did. Apparently I just had to be patient.

I had the choice of this Sherry and Cognac finished bourbon or a rum finished rye. Given that I have found very few rum finished whiskeys I've actually enjoyed, it really was an easy choice for me. Plus, this one sounded really good! It's MGP bourbon (though the age is unknown) that was then finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks and Cognac casks. I have no idea how long, but either way, this resulting blend of those three finishes was bound to, at the very least, pack a lot of flavor.

The nose was full of rich jammy notes of raspberry and strawberry, certainly the result of the two Sherry cask finishes. There was also something rich to it, kind of like a fig note. What I loved, though, was that the bourbon itself wasn't completely buried by the finishing, allowing a great vanilla bean note to come through, as well as a sweet butterscotch note.

As to flavor, as expected, this was a very fruit-forward bourbon. But, I got the influence from both the sherry and the Cognac barrels. Right away I got a bright and sweet raspberry note, and right along side that was a sort of plum and baked pear note, likely from the Cognac influence. All of this seemed to be blended with a rich vanilla undercurrent that all worked very well together.

Rich is really the common theme with this whiskey. On top of those fruit and vanilla notes, there was a  light woodiness to it--not tannic, but rather just the oak flavor. There were also some rich chocolate notes that met well with the raspberry and vanilla.

The finish really highlighted those chocolate notes, which were rich and not overly sweet. There was also a sort of amaretto note to it, something tangy like that to make it a bit interesting. I also noticed the wine notes really coming through, kind of like the aftertaste of an oaked Chardonnay, and this is where the tannins came in.  

I really loved everything about this whiskey, except for that finish. Even that finish had promise with the chocolate and amaretto, but the lingering wine note was a bit off-putting. It literally left a bad taste in my mouth. If it weren't for that, I'd have given this much higher marks.

Grade: B

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $22

- 90 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

It's amazing to me whenever I consider how long I've been drinking whiskey, and in particular bourbon, and the fact that I make it a point to constantly try new bottles if only for the sake of content, and to realize just how many "standards" I still haven't tried. I even keep a running list in my phone of whiskeys that I simply need to get around to trying at some point, and I'm terrible at actually checking those bottles off.

This is one of those bottles, and apparently it took not only a redesign of the bottle to finally make me pick one up, but also a sale at Jewel. With so many good options with higher proofs, stated ages, fancy finishes, etc., I just don't find myself grabbing that $20, 90 proof bourbon off the bottom shelves. And I'm very self-aware that I'm doing myself a disservice, and this bottle definitely reminded me of that.

The nose had those traditional bourbon notes that we all know and love, with caramel and vanilla taking the forefront. It also had a bit of char to it, though, giving it a bit of a burnt sugar note. It didn't go entirely sweet, though, as there was also something earthy to it, like leather. 

What I enjoyed about the flavor is what I enjoyed about the nose. This is just a good, solid, traditional bourbon. While it did have a watery texture, that didn't seem to limit the flavor. I got the rich caramel notes, along with a fairly decent amount of spice. It had a peppery and cinnamon spice that seemed to balance out the sweetness perfectly.

On top of that, there was a nutty or woody quality that I really enjoyed. It was on the slightly sweeter end, perhaps like walnut. From time to time I also got a maraschino cherry note that I absolutely loved, and I wished was a bit more consistent. The finish didn't last very long, but nonetheless carried with it that caramel and black pepper spice, and even though short-lived, it was bold and delicious and did have me going back for more.

Overall, this is a winner for a bottom shelf whiskey. If someone asked me to give them a classic example of what Kentucky bourbon is, this would be a great option. I enjoyed it neat, and it stood up fairly well in an old fashioned. 

Grade: B

Buffalo Trace Binny's Small Batch Select #28 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $25

- 90 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #28

- Kentucky

I was in Binny's just the other day, and they had gotten in a shipment of just standard Buffalo Trace. On the tag, though, was written "Limit 1 per customer." I guess that's just the way things are now, though. Regular Buffalo Trace is allocated, perhaps even "collectable." I don't know if I'll ever get my head around that, as it's just an affordable, 90 proof every day bottle, in my eyes.

If the standard Buffalo Trace is going the way of allocated bottles, I wonder what we can expect for store picks going forward? Are these something people are going to be waiting in line for?  Don't get me wrong, they're great values and I never hesitate to grab one when I see them. But it's certainly never been something to chase for me, but rather a nice, extra bottle to throw into my cart if I see one. I hope these don't go the way of allocated bottles, but if the regular stuff is limited now, perhaps that ship has sailed.

In any event, I do still like trying these store picks, even if just to see how it stacks up against regular Buffalo Trace.  On the nose I got a light woodiness that I don't typically get from Buffalo Trace. It certainly didn't come across as oaky, but I did get a bit of a wood shaving note. It also had almost a peanut butter note, particularly in the first few pours. There was also a rich and tangy cherry note, almost like a cherry cordial with vanilla cream.

As to the flavor, that cherry cordial note seemed to come through, with not only the cherry and the vanilla notes, but also a dark chocolate note and even a liqueur note to it to round out that cherry cordial flavor. It also had a spicy heat up front, like spicy cinnamon that seemed to fit right in. The vanilla note seemed to really develop and come forward over time.

On the finish the spice seemed to really linger, but it was more of a peppery spice. The vanilla note seemed to hang around for a bit, and I found myself wondering if pepper-vanilla is a thing. It seemed to work here. A bit of that liqueur note that kept reminding me of a cherry cordial stuck around as well, though the cherry and chocolate seemed to be nowhere to be found.

What I found best about this whiskey is how well it held up in an old fashioned. The cinnamon spice up front and that peppery spice on the finish both seemed to be highlighted in the cocktail, as did the vanilla undercurrent. I don't typically comment on how well a bourbon works as a mixer, but I found myself particularly liking this one.

Again, I hope these don't become so scarce or so sought after that they're not around. I love picking them up as something cheap, fun and a little bit different. This one was certainly no different.

Grade: B

Willett Family Estate 4 Year Small Batch Rye - 112.8 Proof

VITALS:

- $60

- 112.8 Proof

- 4 years

- Kentucky

It seems weird that I'm constantly reviewing the same whiskey.  This has to be the fourth or fifth Willett Family Estate 4 Year Small Batch Rye that I've reviewed. But, unlike most other products released in small batches, these aren't the same from batch to batch. They're all bottled at different proofs, so they're not being proofed down to 94 proof, for example, to maintain consistency.  Plus, I absolutely love these, so I keep buying them, and I keep finishing them, and I, therefor, keep reviewing them.

I wish I had more to say about this particular bottle, but I've now amassed a bit of a horde of WFE 4 year rye, such that I don't remember picking up one specific bottle over the other.  I do know that, while I've seen stores price gouging, I've still been able to snag these fairly regularly at $60, which to me is a no-brainer (even if they were previously priced cheaper than that).  I also know that it probably won't last, which is why I keep buying now.

As with most of the others, on the nose I got a healthy dose of pine forest up front, along rich, dark fruit notes, almost wine-like, but sweeter.  The pine on this one was a bit different, though, as it came through as almost damp or musty. In addition to that, though, I got a very forward toffee note to keep it on the sweeter end of the spectrum. It also had a bit of a creme brulee note to it that was unique and delicious.

As to flavor, that pine note was once again one of the first things that came through. However, it was a sweet pine note. Now I've never had a pine flavored dessert, like ice cream or cake. So my frame of reference here is basically nothing, but it came across as a sweet pine flavor. 

That sweet pine was complemented by all sorts of sweet and rich notes. I got a healthy amount of brown sugar which probably helped with that sweetness I was getting. I also got those dark fruit notes I got on the nose, specifically notes of dark cherry and plum.  It also had some more dessert-like notes, with salted chocolate covered caramel coming through, as well as a sweeter cinnamon.

This had a great, oily texture to it, and in that way it really stood out from others I've had in the past. Not that prior bottles were watery or anything. It's just this one seemed to be exceptionally silky and oily. That provided for a great finish that was all buttery nougat and toffee. It reminded me of the inside of a Snicker's bar. The finish was also where the spice finally showed up. 

While this didn't have that huge spicy rye kick that I've loved in previous bottles, I really didn't care at all. This was outstanding even without that, and it offered so many unique and different flavors that all seemed to go so well together.  This is certainly one of the better WFE 4 year Small Batches I've had in a long time! Can't wait to crack into the next one!

Grade: A

Buffalo Trace Binny's Small Batch Select #25 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $26

- 90 Proof

- NAS

- Batch #25

- Kentucky

As I make my way through any bottle, I keep notes as I go. Just little notes here and there that I keep in my Notes app on my phone. That way whenever I pick up on something or am actually paying attention, I can record that and revisit it later when I'm ready to sit down and write my blog post. However, with this one things didn't quite work out that way.

This bottle I bought right before the pandemic while on a lunch break. So, when I got back to work, I put the bottle in my desk, where it remained.  And thanks to the pandemic there it remains for quite a long time. My pours from this bottle were few and far between, and were, quite frankly, during those few times I actually had over the past year to sit down with colleagues and enjoy a pour. I wasn't exactly engaging in note-taking. When it came down to the last pours, though, the realization hit me that I hadn't taken a single note. So, this blog post is based on what I was getting in those last few pours, and what I recalled noticing in some of my earlier pours (and that recollection must be taken with a grain of salt). 

On the nose I got a bit of a candied orange note, with a nice blend of sweet, bitter and citrus. I got just a touch of cinnamon spice to add to the balance, as well as a bit of a yeasty pastry note. What I liked more, however, and what I remembered being a bit more prominent on earlier pours, though, was the nice vanilla and cola note. 

The flavor hit that cola note as well, and the orange note seemed to come through as well, though it didn't come across as "candied" or overly sweet at all. There's a German drink called spezi (pronounced spet·see). It's basically equal parts orange soda and cola, with a little bit of lemonade. I used to make a poor man's version as a kid whenever we were at a restaurant where you got to pour your own fountain drinks.  That's what this reminds me of (surely completely unrelatable!!).

It, of course, had those traditional notes you'll find in Buffalo Trace--toffee and cinnamon, a light amount of vanilla. This one did have a bit of a cocoa note to it as well that I thought set it apart a bit from standard Buffalo Trace.  The chocolate note worked really well with the graham cracker note that I was getting as well. It also had a lightly sweet cookie note to it, like a sugar cookie but with not so much sugar. 

I feel like this is a short and sweet review. But, the fact of the matter is that this was a very good Buffalo Trace store pick. You can never go wrong with these in the first place, and this was one of the better ones that I can recall enjoying. It made for a great desk whiskey, and it never disappointed whenever I brought it out.

Grade: B+

Four Roses Small Batch Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon

VITALS:

- $45

- 104 Proof

- NAS

- Kentucky

It's not often that a bottle will have particular sentimental value to me, but when one does, it seems to stick. It's often tied to a memory or event, good or bad, that that particular bottle is forever associated with. George T. Stagg has always been one of those bottles for me, tied to events and circumstances in my life that I'll forever remember. And every time I come across George T. Stagg, I'm brought right back there.

In this particular instance, I got to try Four Roses Small Batch Select back when it was first introduced to the market. In fact, it was even before it was available here in Illinois.  I had the luck to score tickets to a tasting with the late, great Al Young at Warehouse Liquors in Chicago. The event was, in part, to promote some new barrel picks that Warehouse had just gotten in, but it was also part of Al's tour promoting the new product. We got to taste this bourbon, as well as four different private picks and the 130th Anniversary Small Batch. Needless to say it was a hell of a night and one that I'll never forget. I had so much fun spending time with Al Young, and seeing this bottle actually makes me a little sad because it just reminds me that he passed away shortly thereafter.

However, a good friend of mine gave me this bottle (I actually never bought my own), and now I finally have the chance to give it the review it deserves.  The nose had a lot of cinnamon, providing a sweet spiciness, along with a nice layer of vanilla. It had some chocolate notes as well, and, oddly enough, I swear I got the aroma of a snack cake, like a Twinkie.  It smelled absolutely delicious.

On my first sip, the first thing I noticed was the texture. I noticed this when I had it the first time as well, and that is that this bourbon does not drink at its proof. The alcohol burn is almost non-existent, which is surprising for a 104 proof whiskey. That may appeal to some and not to others. To me, it was simply dangerous, as that proof tended to hit me harder than expected.

As to flavor, it was a bit different than what I was getting on the nose. I got a decent amount of the traditional toffee and vanilla notes. I did get the chocolate I got from the nose, but it wasn't nearly as sweet. It was more of a dark chocolate note, even with a touch of that bitterness.

It had a light cinnamon note to it, like cinnamon candy. But, what struck me more was the ginger that I got out of this. It had a distinct gingerbread note to it that, once I noticed it, I couldn't not notice. There was also a bit of oak to add to that bitter, dry quality as well.

The finish was even a bit different still. There I got a cherry note that I didn't find elsewhere. It was a sweeter cherry, and even with a touch of liqueur, kind of like a cherry cordial. It was on the finish that the cinnamon spice seemed to really come through as well.

This bourbon was unquestionably complex, and it did seem to go in a number of directions.  When I had it the first time, I was, admittedly, a bit underwhelmed. However, that my have been due to the fact that this pour was immediately preceded by the 130th Anniversary, which was incredible. This time around, while it still came across a bit more watery than expected, it also had a lot more going on from a flavor standpoint, and I certainly enjoyed it a lot more. It's certainly one I'd recommend to anyone that hasn't tried it yet. 

Grade: B+

Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey - 2020

VITALS:

- $90

- 91.2 Proof

- NAS

- Batch No. 20G1520

- Kentucky

It wasn't that long ago that I finished off and ultimately reviewed my 2019 bottle of Shenk's.  In fact, I had a decent amount still in my bottle when I got the opportunity to purchase this 2020 bottle of Shenk's. Of course, I couldn't pass up grabbing this year's as well, and, quite frankly, it's what gave me the motivation to finally finish off the previous year's bottle.

While I regret not doing a side-by-side when I had the chance, I do feel like I opened this one pretty much immediately after finishing the last one off. So the comparisons were at least a little fresh, even if not done side-by-side. Regardless of comparisons, though, this and the Bomberger's from Michter's have certainly become no-brainers as far as grabbing a bottle when the opportunity presents itself.  And this particular bottle only further supported that notion.

The nose was dominated by notes of brown sugar and cinnamon. It also had a bit of a buttery note, along with a cracker note, the combination of which reminded me of Ritz crackers. Interesting, and certainly not unwelcome.  There were also light wood notes that provided a bit of bitterness, and at times that note even leaned a little bit towards orange peel. 

That same cinnamon and brown sugar from the nose, not surprisingly, also seemed to dominate the palate, at least on the front end. The tip of my tongue was immediately hit with that cinnamon spice along with the sweetness that had kind of a pastry quality, but with a little more cinnamon heat. 

It certainly had a lot more going on. Early on in this bottle I was getting distinct amaretto notes that I absolutely loved, particularly with the brown sugar. As I made my way through the bottle, that amaretto turned a bit towards an anise note. Not a heavy anise note, the likes of which would turn me off, but rather a light note that also worked well with the brown sugar. 

Surprisingly, I got a bit of a white bread note, like a sweeter, not so yeasty bread note. That seemed to pair with soft caramel note to create almost like a caramel iced donut, but not so cloyingly sweet. It even had a bit of butterscotch to it.  The combination was a bit hard to put my thumb on, but whatever it was it was delicious!

While the flavors I was getting seemed to bounce around a bit as I made my way through this bottle, the one thing that remained consistent was that it was always delicious. In fact, I found this to be significantly better than the 2019 bottle, which is good considering it came with a significantly greater price tag!  Hopefully the price increases stop there, because I want to continue trying to find one of these as they are released.

Grade: A-

Chattanooga Whiskey Cask 111 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

VITALS:
- $45

- 111 Proof

- 2 Years

- Batch No. 20A20R

- Tennessee

I knew very little about Chattanooga Whiskey prior to getting this bottle. Quite frankly, I know very little about it now. But, I had at least heard of Chattanooga Whiskey, and I had certainly heard at least some positive feedback. So, when my assistant took a trip to Chattanooga to take her daughter to college, and she asked me what she could bring back for me, this was the first thing that came to mind. After all, at that time, it just wasn't something that I could find in Illinois (though I did see it here for the first time a couple days ago).

This bottle is young, with an age statement of "greater than 2 years."  However, they do provide a lot of information on their label. The mashbill is yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley and honey malted barley. The batch size is 6-10 barrels, and the barrels used were 53 gallon barrels, apparently both toasted and charred. And it's unfiltered. This all came from the label. It even provided the fermentation period! So, with all that transparency, with a unique mashbill, high proof and no filtration, I was excited to try this regardless of its young age.

The nose gave off that apple note that I get off of young whiskeys, but rather than an overripe apple note, it was more of a crisp, fresh apple note. I actually kind of enjoyed it. It also had some graham cracker to it, some corn notes, as well as a bit of caramel, reminding me a bit of caramel apples. I also got a sweet butterscotch pudding note as well that I thought was interesting.

As to the flavor, I didn't get that crisp apple note, but I did get other bright fruits. It was on the sweeter side, and I got distinct flavors of apricot and orange. I also got a light bitterness to go with it, like melon rind. The amount of citrus was unexpected.

I also got the sweet, dessert-like flavors that I got on the nose. There was a healthy amount of caramel and butterscotch to counter the citrus flavors and that bitter note. At times I got some red licorice notes as well, even leaning towards a cherry cordial flavor. 

The finish was more of the same, but with an added black pepper spice that I didn't get anywhere else. The caramel notes seemed to stick around for quite a while as well, lending to a nice sweet and spicy finish.

Overall, this was pretty good. While it had some of the characteristics of young whiskey, those characteristics worked and were actually interesting, as opposed to being a turn off.  I think that it's priced right for what you get here, and it's certainly worth a pick-up.

Grade: B

Willett Family Estate 10 Year Small Batch Rye

VITALS:

- $200

- 115 Proof

- 10 Years

- Indiana

This bottle really needs no introduction by me. After all, Willett has been releasing ryes under their Willett Family Estate label for some time, now, and their older single barrel ryes fetch a lot of money on the secondary market. Relatively recently Willett started releasing younger, small batch ryes under their Willett Family Estate Ryes, starting with a two year old and most recently four year old batches. I have absolutely fallen in love with their small batch ryes and I grab them any chance I get.

But, in the middle of their periodic releases of their small batch ryes, which is their own distillate, Willett released a 10-year small batch rye. This was not their own distillate, as it's clearly labeled it was distilled in Indiana. Apparently Willett was still sitting on some aged MGP rye, the same rye they frequently used in their single barrel releases, and they chose to release it as a limited and very pricey small batch. Of course, I, being a sucker for all things WFE rye, had to get my hands on a bottle, and so here we are.

On the nose I got a lot of mint and vanilla, almost like a vanilla/spearmint chewing gum type note. I also got some oak notes as well as a light note of sawdust. It had a little bit of cinnamon spice as well. At times the flavors all mixed to make a sort of mint tea note, and at other times I got more of a root beer note. Either way, it always smelled delicious.

On the palate I got a lot of the traditional rye notes, particularly MGP rye. I got pine and an herbal dill note. I also got a some of the mint that I was getting on the nose. The vanilla was present as well, which really seemed to compliment that mint note. It reminded me a bit of spearmint lifesavers (are those the ones that would spark when you ate them in the dark as a kid?).

It also had some richer and more non-traditional notes to it. I got a bit of a dark cocoa note to it to add some richness and a teaser of some sweetness. However, additional sweetness came along in the form of a maple syrup flavor that seemed to come into play after having the bottle open for a bit. A bit of a toffee note also came through.

On the finish I got a lot of that spearmint and vanilla, and it was also the toffee note that really seemed to stick around. I also got the cinnamon spice in the back of my throat after each swallow. Surprisingly, despite being 115 proof, I got almost no alcohol burn from this rye. It really seemed to drink less than its proof.  Sometimes that would be a good thing and other times a bad thing. Here it was good, because I felt like added heat would have taken away from the otherwise great mix of flavors going on here. 

This one certainly hurt the wallet a bit, but I'm nonetheless glad to have had the chance to enjoy this bottle, as I loved every sip of it.

Grade: A