New Expert Spirit Reviews - September 20, 2023

This bottling from Barrell Craft Spirits is one of two releases in the brand's new Cask Finish Series featuring blends of straight bourbons with unique finishes. Here, BCS blends Indiana straight bourbons (aged 5, 6, 7, and 10 years) with Kentucky straight bourbon aged 5 years. The blend was finished in Amburana wood casks before then being blended with a vatting of bourbon casks which were not finished in Amburana wood. (The overall mash bill equivalent 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley). It was bottled at cask strength. Available fall 2023. (SRP $89.99)

The first limited edition expression of Legent begins as Kentucky bourbon aged for 8 years in Kentucky. Then it traveled to Japan where it was blended and finished at The House of Suntory's flagship Yamazaki Distillery. Chief Blender of Suntory Whisky Shinji Fukuyo took three parcels of the 8 year-old Kentucky bourbon and matured them in three different casks: Spanish oak sherry casks, French oak wine casks, and Spanish oak sherry casks that were used to age Yamazaki Japanese single malt whisky. Then he blended in more 8 year-old Kentucky bourbon. Bottled at 57% ABV, Legent Yamazaki Cask Finish Blend is available for a limited time at select locations in the US, Canada, Germany, and Global Travel Retail. (SRP $199.99)

Arran Single Malt Whiskies are made at Lochranza Distillery located on the north side of the island of Arran. This 25 year-old whisky is the brand's oldest expression in its core range to date and it's aged in ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks. Just 3,000 bottles are produced annually and the US is getting its first allocation of 240 bottles beginning June 2023. (SRP $789.99)

This release is the 17th edition of the Parker's Heritage Collection. It's a Kentucky straight rye whiskey that was aged for 10 years in five different rickhouses and floors. The mash bill is comprised of Heaven Hill’s traditional rye mash: 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley, and is bottled at cask strength. Available mid to late September 2023. (SRP $185)

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an annual, vintage-dated, one-of-a-kind bourbon. It comes together from barrels selected from one specific day of production and released to celebrate the birthday of Old Forester founder George Garvin Brown on September 2. For the 2023 release, the brand is holding an online lottery on its website from August 24-30th for the opportunity to purchase a bottle. Winners will have to pick up the bottle at the Louisville distillery. (SRP $149.99)