High West Son of Bourye Blended Whiskey

VITALS:
- $40
- 92 Proof
- Min. 5 Years

One thing I love about the hobby of enjoying whiskey is sharing and enjoying different whiskies with my whiskey-drinking friends. It also has it's fringe benefits as well. For instance, when a friend goes on a ski trip to Park City, UT, he comes back with a bottle of Son of Bourye from the High West Distillery!!

This whiskey is a blend of bourbon and rye (hence the jackelopes on the label), each aged for a minimum of five years. It weights in at 46% ABV.

On the nose, I immediately notice a strong vanilla and brown sugar smell. It reminded me of chocolate chip cookie dough (without the chocolate chips). It was a very enjoyable smell.

On my initial pour, I didn't think the whiskey was very strongly flavored. It went down smoothly and was very drinkable, but it was not very bold in any particular flavor.

It's minty up front, and overall very nutty. It was not very sweet, staying more on the savory side (which I found interesting as the flavor did not match the nose in this respect), and it had a slight smokiness to it. To me, this basically tasted like a young, high-rye bourbon.

However, after being open for about a week or so, I felt that it turned into a more traditional rye, though one on the sweeter end of the spectrum. While the spice came through more, the whiskey really sweetened up a lot. The flavor eventually matched the nose, almost to a tee! The whiskey took on a bold brown sugar and butter flavor that, although it still retained its young character, I simply could not get enough of.

Initially I was unimpressed, but eventually this bottle took on characteristics that made for an incredibly enjoyable pour that had me wanting more and more.

Grade: B

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Balvenie DoubleWood is a 12 year old Scotch coming in at 43% abv.  It derives its name from being matured in two different types of oak barrels.  The second part of the maturation is done in sherry casks.

 

Accordingly, this Scotch is not the sherry bomb that other sherry-aged Scotches are, but it certainly doesn't go unnoticed.  In fact, the Sherry is obvious on the nose, along with the distinct aroma of pipe tobacco.

 

On the palate, the sherry flavor dominates, but not exceedingly so.  It is definitely a lighter, fruitier Scotch, with an undertone of oak and walnut to it.  It has a nice citrus balance on the finish that I found to be the most enjoyable part, but dissipated quickly.

 

Interestingly, the sherry notes got stronger the longer this bottle was open. Granted, I very much enjoyed these pours, so the bottle wasn't exactly sitting open on my counter for months.  But, even after a week this whisky blossomed to offer an even greater explosion of flavor up front.

 

While not as complex as other Scotches from The Balvenie, this is a strong 12 year old Scotch.  It's very drinkable and has a lot to offer.  Granted it is a bit pricier than other 12 year olds, but in this case the higher price point is justified.  Quite frankly, I've come to expect no less from The Balvenie.

 

Grade: B

O. Z. Tyler Small Batch Reserve Honey Flavored Bourbon

 

Whenever my stocks of whiskey run low at home, my wife is always willing to pick something out for me.  In fact, she enjoys doing it, trying to find a gem among those that I haven't previously tried.

 

In this instance, though, when she came across O.Z. Tyler honey whiskey at the grocery store, she had other motivation.  Our firstborn son is named Tyler.  Our third child, our other son, is named Owen, and, accordingly, has the initials "O.Z."  So, when she saw the name "O.Z. Tyler" staring at her from the shelf, she felt she had to purchase it, even though she knew I have little interest in flavored whiskeys.

 

Nonetheless, I was willing to give it a try.  First, however, I was intrigued by the distillery, as I had never heard of it, and there was not a lot of information readily available.  After a bit of digging, though, I learned that O.Z. Tyler is a chemist who, through his company, Terresentia, has patented the TerrePURE technology--a means of chemically aging and filtering spirits.

 

Based on what I've read, the company primarily offers this service to other distillers and bottlers.  Apparently they will age your spirits for you.  This whiskey, however, Mr. Tyler apparently put his name to, and it was bottled by TerrePURE Spirits out of South Carolina.

 

So, going in, I already was biased against the whiskey for being flavored, but, after reading up on the company, I was also skeptical that a chemical process can manufacture and replicate the aging process.

 

On first sip, my lips pursed and face grimaced at just how incredibly sweet this whiskey is.  In that respect alone, this was very difficult to put away.  I felt like I needed to brush my teeth after each sip.  The honey flavor is overpowering and tastes cheap and artificial. 

 

More importantly, though, is that this did not taste anything like whiskey from a barrel.  It tasted almost metallic.  Perhaps my prejudice got in the way, and all I could picture was a whiskey made in a lab, and so I got that sterilized lab smell stuck in my head.  But, I couldn't shake it.

 

This bottle took me quite a while to make my way to the bottom.  I found the only way I could drink it and not hate it was with a whole bunch of ice.  Accordingly, I would pour a glass generally only after already having had a few drinks. 

 

The only reason I didn't give this a failing grade is that I was, at least, able to finish it, unlike some whiskeys I've tried, but this was incredibly close.  Sure, it has an awesome name (at least from my perspective), but as is always the case, it's what's in the bottle that counts.

 

Grade: D-

Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Straight Bourbon

 

West Virginia may not be known for its bourbon (perhaps better known for its moonshine), but Smooth Ambler has nonetheless made a name for itself among American Whiskeys as a consistently good producer. 

 

Having passed it over many a time to go the more traditional route of the Kentucky bourbon, I finally decided to give this bottle a try.

 

The first thing I noticed is the vivid reddish bronze color of the whiskey.  Certainly bourbons are a darker whiskey, but this had an auburn quality about it that had me intrigued.

 

The nose was notably fruity, with pronounced apples and almonds in the aroma.  I liken it to a fruitier almond liqueur smell.

 

On the tongue, though, the high rye content of the mashbill stood out.  It also had an up-front flavor of cooked cherries.  The finish had hints of mint with a spiciness at the back end to complement its mild sweetness on the front end. 

 

There was nothing eye-popping about this whiskey.  Nonetheless, I found myself really enjoying it, particularly the father down I got in the bottle.  The first pour came across as ordinary.  However, with each subsequent pour, the whiskey smoothed out considerably and took on a buttery flavor that was unexpected (and the nose smelled unmistakably like my wife's Shea butter lotion, as odd as that may be).

 

It's a very warming pour that I could really enjoy during the winter months, and I look forward to trying other products in the Smooth Ambler line.

 

Grade: B

Old Grand-Dad 114 Straight Kentucky Bourbon

It seems that Old Grand-Dad 114, distilled and bottled by Beam, has developed a bit of a cult following, at least among those bourbon drinkers that also peruse message boards.  I have frequently seen OGD114 lauded for being a good to great sipper at a very good price. 

 

After the holiday spending, an affordable sipper was just what was in store, so I finally grabbed one to see what all the fuss was about.  One such message boarder recommended that I open it and let it sit for a few days before trying.  I'm not one for such patience, though, so I cracked and poured.

 

My first drink was enjoyable, but not unlike most other lower-priced bourbons.  At a proof of 114 (as the name would imply), it had considerable burn, along with strong rye and oak flavors.  It was sweet up front, which made the burn easy to deal with, and made this an enjoyable drink.

 

I did let it sit for a couple days after that, however, just to see how things would change.  I was very pleasantly surprised at the transformation of the flavor in just a couple days.  While the oak and rye were still prominent and heavy on the tongue, they were complemented by a distinct cocoa butter taste that coated my mouth.  It remained very sweet, and in fact probably got a bit sweeter, adding a maple syrup flavor to the mix as well.

 

The flavors did not necessarily blend together.  Rather, each flavor seemed to stand out on its own, in contrast with one another while at the same time going together perfectly.  It seems like a very ambiguous description, I know.  But so often when I drink bourbon I taste the common elements like the corn or the rye, along with hints of other flavors that are almost fleeting.  Here, I tasted oak, followed by what was certainly rye spices, all while distinctly noting the butteriness that lingered.

 

This is an excellent whiskey for what it is.  It's affordable because it's not overly complex or aged for many years.  But, as far as "affordable" whiskeys go, I'd put it right at the top.

 

Grade: B

Maker's Mark Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The Maker's Mark Cask Strength release has been drawing my attention at the stores for a while now, but I just couldn't convince myself to purchase such a small bottle for $35.  Maker's Mark produced this limited release bourbon in 375ml bottles, and it always seemed there was a full sized bottle of something else that I'd rather have.  Eventually, though, I found myself heading to the store for the specific purpose of grabbing a bottle.

I'm a fan of Maker's Mark to begin with.  When I'm out and the selection is limited, it is usually my go-to bourbon.  Accordingly, it should follow that I would enjoy the higher proof version.

At 113.3 proof, the burn is significantly stronger than the standard Maker's Mark.  That being said, it's one of the smoother higher proof bourbons I've had.

This is a sweet bourbon, with grain/cereal flavor in the background, while flavors of vanilla and caramel take center stage.  There is also a nuttiness to it, blending perfectly with all the other flavors.  It absolutely has the flavor profile of Maker's Mark, but with much more complexity and robustness to it. 

The alcohol burn lingered slightly on the finish, along with a mild spiciness that complemented the up-front sweetness very well.  This is also a thicker feeling bourbon than regular Maker's Mark, causing its flavors to linger much longer, providing that much more enjoyment.

My only critique is that I only wish I could buy it in larger bottles (I'd buy it by the gallon!).  That being said, there may be something to the notion that it allows the distiller to make a limited release more available to consumers.  This bottle went way to quickly, though, which was a bummer because I really didn't want the bottle to end.  Despite the small bottle and high price, I found this one to be worth every penny--an absolutely great bourbon!

Grade: A

Booker's Kentucky Straight Bourbon 7 Year

I can't tell you how many times I've passed this bourbon on the shelves, in its fancy box, thinking I need to give it a try.  For whatever reason, though, I've always found something else to try, perhaps not wanting to be victim to some gimmick packaging serving no purpose other than marketing.

Eventually, though, I had to give it a try.  After all, it has consistently received good reviews, is produced the Jim Beam distillery, and is bottled at barrel strength.  It was really only a matter of time.

After opening the box (which I now have no idea what to do with--perhaps my son can find some use for it), I grabbed the bottle out and immediately notice the dark color, usually a good sign for me.

After peeling off the wax, I was immediately hit with the alcohol smell, though the traditional vanilla and spice notes of bourbon were just as prevalent.

This particular batch (No. 2014-06) was aged for 7 years, 2 months and 14 days and was bottled at 127.7 proof, and just as with any high proof bourbon, it was very much a sipper with a lot of burn.  That being said, this bourbon is full of flavor, and once the alcohol dissipates a bit, the flavors hit the pallate hard!

It has a high rye flavor up front, which is followed by black pepper and mint (a flavor I've found I suprisingly really enjoy in whiskey).  This bourbon is a great blend of sweetness, spice and burn.

Interestingly, I couldn't help but notice what I can only describe as a distinct flavor of yellow cake of pound cake that tended to linger in the back of my throat.  It perhaps lingered a bit because this is a thicker bourbon, with a certain "chewiness" to it.

While I usually find that bourbons tend to come into their flavor after being opened for a bit, I found the flavor profile on this one did not change at all, tasting very much the same from the first pour to the last.  Overall, this is an excellent bourbon, certainly worth going back to the well for.

Grade: B+/A-