Tastes

I found this on sale during a recent business trip for about $28 after taxes and it is a solid bourbon at that price. I have seen this several times and never picked it up but on sale, I took a chance. On the nose, it has classic bourbon notes with spice added to it. The vanilla, rye, and oak were there at the start. In the glass, it was a medium straw color to light amber, and it coated the glass nicely. The taste was like David Nicholson Reserve in that it is a sharper tasting bourbon due to the rye content. The body never got overwhelmed by either the sharpness of the rye nor the woodiness of the oak it was well balanced. The notes of spice and vanilla were there throughout the tasting. With an Old Fashioned, it was very solid with the spice and the 93 proof but the Manhattan is where this stuff shined. Yellowstone handled the sweetest vermouth I had which was Dolin’s and it handled Cocchi Vermouth Di Torino like a champ. For a 93 proofer, this stuff can hold its own with these two drinks. Overall, I like Yellowstone it is a solid high rye bourbon and I got it at a reasonable price. Enjoy.

It has been a while since I last posted a review. That does not mean I had stopped drinking it just meant that I was not writing about it. I am back now, and I took notes on all the different spirits I have tried. I picked up Wyoming whiskey months ago and had some friends and family over to try it to see how they liked it. Overall, it was a hit being smooth enough to sip but strong enough to let you know you are drinking a bourbon. On the nose I caught hints of vanilla, fruit, and oak with a little bit of ethanol which worried me. I lost all my Glencairn glasses during the move and have not replaced them. On a side note, if anyone knows some good ones, I am open to suggestions. In a rocks glass is coats the sides nicely and has a medium amber hue. The taste was a surprise with the fruity notes like washed apricots or prunes with vanilla. The body was an easy mix of fruit and vanilla or caramel with the oak showing up and lasting through the finish. The end was a bit quick with oak and some ethanol, but it was nice. I was worried when I smelled the ethanol at the beginning of it, but it was never the focus of the drink. This makes a very drinkable Old Fashioned and a solid Manhattan just be picky about your vermouth as this gets lost easily. I forgot what I paid for this, but it is worth between $30 and $40 to me but no more. Enjoy.

I bought this a while back because I liked the bottle and I found it on sale for about $25 so I gave it a try. First off the bottle is cool with a snake coiling around a shotgun shell. The bourbon inside is not bad to above average depending on your tastes. in the glass it is a light tan color with vanilla and cream notes and it looks thin. The body is nice and smooth with more cream coming out with a little bit of oak and something else I can't put my finger on. It has a medium length in how long it lingers but it is pleasant the entire time. The finish is nice with no bitterness. This stuff makes a good Old Fashioned with the flavors holding their own in the drink. In a Manhattan, I had to be careful of the vermouth so it would not wash out the bourbon. Overall, this is a solid to above-average bourbon in a gimmicky bottle I could definitely see getting this for someone as a gift especially if they did not like bold bourbons or whiskeys. Enjoy.

I finally found a bottle of this outstanding rye whiskey. The times I have seen it I did not need another rye and when I did look for it I could not find it. I picked this up for $18 on sale and what a wonderful deal it is. In the glass, it is a light amber almost like scotch and it coats the sides nicely. On the nose, I get some ethonal but also baking spices and something else like dark fruit or spiced fruit. The body is bold but not harsh with the baking spice and vanilla/oak coming out. The finish is wonderfully long and only a bit hot. For the price, this is one of the best rye whiskeys on the market. I still like 13th Colony rye but it is twice the price. In Old Fashioneds and Manhattans this is amazing especially in Manhattans with really good vermouth like Cocchi Torino or Byrrh this humble spirit becomes a home run hitter and is head and shoulders above its 80 something proof little cousin. In the near future, I am going to do a rye tasting and this is going to be a part of it. This I will make room in my bar for it. Enjoy.

This is the 4th 13th colony product I have reviewed and it is my favorite of the bunch. 13th Colony Southern Rye Whiskey is in-your-face bold rye that is great to drink neat and makes an amazing Old Fashioned and Manhattan. In the glass, it has a medium amber hue to it and it coats the sides of the glass nicely. On the nose, I get baking spices like nutmeg and clove and no ethanol. The body is wonderful and long with the spice lingering on my tongue with a little burn to let you know you are drinking something for grown-ups. The finish is long with some woody notes showing up and a long finish. As far as mixed drinks I stated earlier that this makes an amazing Old Fashioned and it does. The Manhattan is where this shines with cheap vermouth it is great and with Cocchi Vermouth di Torino it is a thing of beauty. The full flavor of the rye goes very well with the vermouth. I really like this rye. I picked it up for around $33 but I have seen it for as much as $42. If you are a fan of rye whiskey and like bold flavors, this is an easy yes. Enjoy.