Tastes

MMCS 20-02/110.4 Proof- (On sale in NC this Sept for $40) NOSE: A little heat at first. Takes a while to open up to notes of Vanilla, Cinnamon, Buttered Wheat Toast, Hay and Old Barn Wood, and Cherry Cobbler. NEAT: Mouthfeel is a little thin but surprisingly clingy and coats very nicely with a Peppery Tingle. Enters with Cherry Coke, and Cinnamon Discs. You get Spicy Oak Mid-Palate. Black Coffee on the Finish. Nice growing KY Hug. An aftertaste of Slightly Bitter Oak, Medicinal Cherry and Cinnamon coat and layer the palate. SPLASH: A little water replaced the Cherry Coke with Brown Sugar. Tannins are a little more pronounced and the finish is a little spicier. Seems like it would do well with a large cube. Verdict: I don't turn to this one often due to its $50 price tag, but it is on sale for $40 this month at NC ABC's. I really disliked the new bottle when it was first introduced (and I still think it's a downgrade from the squat, fat embossed version it replaced) but it was starting to grow on me after seeing it in person. Alas, I pull the string under the wax to open it and find a *gasp* screw cap. Sigh. Oh, well. The contents (which is really all I should care about) of the bottle are very good. I like cask strength offerings that stay in the 110'ish range and allow you to enjoy them without much dilution. It's not a super complex offering, but the black coffee note was a new one for me from Maker's. At $40, I may buy a couple this month to keep in the bunker.

AAA 10 STAR: I'd been reluctant to try this one since I compared the standard issue Ancient Age with the 36 Month Age Statement to the watered down bourbon at the end of a pour on the rocks. I was perusing the shelves and with nothing new that really moved the needle, I picked this one up from the bottom shelf. I love BT Mashbill #2, so I thought a little older (or so I thought, more on that later) and 10 proof points higher, it's worth a $17 flyer. How was it?... NOSE: Rye Spice, Corn Dust, Leather, Honeycomb, Dry Brown Sugar, Cigar Box. Very nice and complex for a $17 bottle. NEAT: You can definitely pick up on the BT Mashbill #2/Blanton's Lineage. Cherry Coke, Charred Oak, Vanilla, Leather, Cedar, Rye Spice. Warming Finish with building KY Hug. Black Pepper Tingle and Sweet Oak coat the palate. Again, very impressive for a $17 bottle. SPLASH: A little water really turns up the Vanilla and Charred Oak. VERDICT: This is labeled as KSB and that means minimum 2 years or minimum 4 with no age statement. I scoured the label for an age statement and found none so the reports I've seen of 6 years seemed plausible, but I figured at least 4. I did some reading once I got it home and kept seeing it referred to as 36 months. I thought they had to be confusing it with the standard issue AA so I scoured the bottle again. Still no age statement, and then as I was sitting it back on the counter, there it was. Oh, you sneaky Buffalo Trace Bastards. On the back of the neck label, sideways, underneath the Return for Deposit States, in the same font, "Aged 36 Months". So, in theory, this is the same Ancient Age that I gave a 2 rating (and was being generous at that) simply 10 proof points higher. How can it be more Ancient than regular Ancient if it's the same age? At first I was miffed (and still am a little) by the placement of the Age Statement. I mean, I know they are "technically" following the rules, but it seems they are doing it in the most dishonest way possible. Then I put that aside. As I was tasting this, the voice of Lloyd Benson (you young folks can google him) popped in my head and said, "I have had 3 year old Bourbon, and you Sir, are no 3 year old Bourbon". There may be some 3 year old booze in this mix, but I don't think there is much. What I found was a $17 Bourbon that left the first few $17 bourbons that I could think of in the dust. If memory serves (and I think it does) this is better than Beam White, Evan Williams (BIB, Black, and 1783), 4 Roses Yellow Label, Very Old Barton 86, and WT81. If indeed this is mostly 36 month old whiskey, I'm doubly impressed. For $17, this will be my new "well" bourbon. So close to a 4 based on a combination of taste and VFM, but being slightly miffed at the placement of the Age Statement, I'll round down.

MM Wood Finishing Series 2020 NOSE: Nice. Standard Maker's with added Cinnamon Discs Candy and Oak. Buttered Wheat Toast. Sweet Iced Tea. Buttercream White Icing. Corn Pops Cereal. After a bit the smell of a freshly opened bag of Brown Sugar starts to dominate. The empty glass is Peach Cobbler. NEAT: Very Sweet upfront. Soft Buttery Mouthfeel. Vanilla, Brown Sugar, and Honey Butter. Mid-Palate is Drying Slightly Musty Oak. There is a hit of Tannins on the finish with a building KY Hug thanks to the 112 Proof. Sweet Oak and Brown Sugar layer and coat the palate with each sip. SPLASH: A little water accentuates the Cinnamon Discs on the nose. The palate gains some Butterscotch and loses some of the Tannic Bite. TWTWIRBM makes an apple cobbler in an iron skillet and that is what this reminds me of. The finish becomes very reminiscent of MM46. VERDICT: Solid. Much better than the only Private Select I've had. Last year's RC6 came and went in NC so fast that I missed it. When I saw this year's I didn't hesitate to pick it up. If you can find it for the MSRP of $60 like I did, grab it.

Southern Star Double Rye* *Blend of two Straight Rye Whiskies that are finished in Bourbon Barrels NOSE: Pours into my Glencairn the color of a new, uncirculated penny. Dry, Herbaceous Rye Spice, but slightly tempered by sweetness. Savory notes of Dill, Thyme, Coriander, Mustard Seed, Black Pepper, and Cinnamon Stick. Just hints of Vanilla and Varnished Oak. NEAT: Perhaps due to the Bourbon Barrel Finish, it enters surprisingly sweet with a slightly oily mouthfeel. Vanilla at first, but it is quickly overtaken by Dill and Black Pepper. Bitter Grapefruit Peel, similar to the bite of an overhoppped IPA. No licorice yet, which would complete the trifecta of "Things I hate in real life, but love in a Rye Whiskey". A hint of the Varnished Oak arrives just before the Tingly, Peppery Finish. It seems slightly hotter than its 88 proof. The Bitter IPA aftertaste clings to the palate along with Black Pepper and a touch of Sweetness. SPLASH: Gives the nose a brief blast of sticky Butterscotch. That sweetness transfers to the palate as well. Reduces, but doesn't completely eliminate the Bitter IPA notes, but the aftertaste is now much sweeter. VERDICT: Not bad at all. This company was founded in 2013 and immediately began distilling their own product as well as contract distilling for other companies. I think they are shooting to become MGP South. Their first aged releases were sourced from MGP and are quite good. This bottle mentions nothing about Indiana, so unless they've engaged in some tricky word play (it states Distilled and Produced by Southern Distilling Company) this is quite possibly the first aged product released under their own label. If this is true, KUDOS on a very good whiskey. I think this will be exceptional with a large chunk of ice and will cocktail very well. Bonus points for the Old Style labeling, faux tax strip, and Pikesville style cork. I'm toying around with a 4 here, but for now it is a solid 3.75.

Lonerider Deadwood Stout Cask Edition *NOSE: A good bit of heat at first. Dry, Dry, Dry. Cocoa Powder, Corn Dust, Dry Oak. There is an odd Savory Umami characteristic. There is a good bit of youth here. *NEAT: The Stout influence is prominent. Malted Grains. Cocoa. Coffee. Bitterness...Not a tannic bitterness, but a Stout Ale Bitterness. Sawdust. Their website lists "waffle cone" as a tasting note, and I'll be damned if that isn't spot on. The more traditional Bourbon Vanilla notes make themselves known on the stinging finish. A decent KY Hug here. A "Beer-y" Sweetness coats the palate along with the Waffle Cone. The Stout Barrels take care of the youthfulness of the MGP they are sourcing much better than the Sherry Casks did. *SPLASH: Sweetens it up a good bit. Gets rid of the peppery sting on the finish. Makes the lingering aftertaste a little less Stout-like. It's *VERDICT: I liked this MUCH more than the Sherry Cask finish. The Deadwood Barrels that they use really impart a huge amount of flavor to what I expect is very young MGP. I love Lonerider Beers. In fact, I'm quite fond of the Deadwood that gives this one it's second barrel finish. I was disappointed by their first release (Sherry Cask), but this is actually quite good. I would go with a 4 if it were priced the same as the Sherry Cask, but it's $10 more (I picked up a 50ml sample bottle). They have also released a Tequila Cask Finished that I am now looking forward to trying. Lonerider...Good job outta' you! **Side Note: This release is classified as SBW. The Sherry Cask is missing the Straight designation. This may be part of the reason I like this one more.

Old Tub BIB NOSE: Give this one some time. At first it is all Stinging Heat that rises from your glencairn. After that you get Raw Peanuts, Brown Sugar, a Citrus that starts out as Orange but transitions to Lemony, and a lot of Dry Dusty Corn. With time the Raw Peanut becomes more akin to Peanut Brittle. NEAT: Thin Mouthfeel. Peanut Heavy and Spicy Heat. There is a Dry Sweetness here with Vanilla, Honey and Oak. Spicy Finish with Cinnamon & Honey Roasted Peanuts coating the palate. Medium length KY Hug. The coating layering aftertaste is the best part of the experience for me. It's simple but quite pleasing. While I was expecting the lack of filtering to impact the mouthfeel, maybe this coating aftertaste is where it has an effect? SPLASH: Really Amps up the citrus on the nose. Palate loses some heat and gains a Vanilla Coke note. Combined with the Beam Peanut it becomes reminiscent of a "Chaingang Coke" where you dump your pack of peanuts directly into the glass bottle. You also start to get a little hint of chocolate on the finish. VERDICT: While this did have some positives, chief among them the wonderful building/coating aftertaste and the mid-$20's pricetag, it fell flat for me on a couple fronts. #1) This feels like an afterthought. It's like they were sitting around and someone said "Hey! Why don't we skip the filtering on a couple batches of Beam Bonded, throw it in those leftover OGD BIB bottles and call it Old Tub?" They could've given this a bottle with a more antique feel similar to the version sold at the distillery. Maybe played with entry proof or something. It just seems rushed and doesn't "honor" the history of the name IMHO. #2) I was a little disappointed in the lack of mouthfeel. I was hoping a non-filtered would have a little more character. Overall, though I did ding it a quarter point for the reasons mentioned, this is a solid but not spectacular bourbon that left a little on the table. I do think that I liked it better than the standard Beam BIB and it would be an interesting Side by Side to experience the difference the Chill Filtering makes.

Daviess County French Oak Finish NOSE: Light and Dry. Floral. Dry Oak Spice. Leather. A Dried Musty Orange Peel note I previously have only gotten from Johnny Drum Private Stock. It's like when you find that one orange in the bag that has started to go bad and has started to mold. It's not a smell I like in real life, but it kind of works in Bourbon. There is Light Vanilla and Dried Spices as well. NEAT: That Dry Dusty Character is the first thing that washes over the tongue. There is a little more Sweetness here than the nose would lead you to believe. Subsequent sips reveal Oak Spice, and that dried Orange Peel. There is a Medium Length Finish followed by a Light KY Hug. The Orange, Oak Spice and a Peppery Tingle coats the palate. After a bit, an aftertaste of Dark Chocolate and Cinnamon emerge. SPLASH: Sweetens the Palate a little more. Makes it a little more Traditional. A hint of Pencil Shavings on both nose and palate. VERDICT: A surprisingly good pour. The French Oak is evident in the finish and almost hints at Maker's 46 in profile, but doesn't quite get there. This is very good, but I am going to ding it a quarter point for its $45 price tag. $35-$40 is where this one should be IMHO. Looking forward to trying the other two expressions.

GlenDronach 12 *NOSE: Fist off, props for no artificial coloring and no chill filtering. The lovely color on this is all natural. Right off the Sherry influence is obvious. You also get Vanilla, Powdered Sugar, Crisp Apple & Pear, Unpeeled Peach, Wood Spice, Black Pepper, and Ginger. The longer it sits a Floral Note creeps in. There is a great Syrupy Peach note on the empty glass. *NEAT: Velvety Mouthfeel. Starts off with a surprising amount of Oak. Vanilla, Ginger, Orchard Fruits, Warm Malted Cereal, Burnt Cashews, and Sherry Sweetness. There is a mid-palate jolt of Tingly Heat followed by a Longish Building Finish with a Rising Heat in the chest. Notes of Spicy Oak, Black Pepper, and Sherry coat and linger on the palate. For a while after finishing my pour, there is a flavor like an over chewed toothpick that lingers. *SPLASH: Better? Brighter? A few drops of water (and I mean just a few) makes the nose Stewed Apples and Cinnamon. The palate becomes sweeter with Baked Apples and Raisins like Mom use to make. Moves that mid-palate jolt of heat from the mid-palate to the finish. There is an overall mouth-numbing quality. Similar to the after effects of eating a slice of jalapeño. Very good. *VERDICT: What an interesting whisky. Oddly, the splash made it less complex but overall more cohesive and slightly better. The nose on the empty glass is quite good, even hours later. Fairly priced at $60, I'm not sure this will ever be a staple for me, but I will definitely enjoy this bottle.

LARCENY BP B520 *NOSE: Pours into the Glencairn a nice dark mahogany color. Maple. Caramel Praline Peanuts. Dusty Oak. Dry Toast. Hay. Just a Hint of Orange Peel. A little bit of Stinging Heat. *NEAT: I find that standard Larceny drinks hotter than its proof. I wouldn't go so far as to say this drinks hotter than its proof, but it drinks every point of its 122.2. Thick and Clingy Mouthfeel. I get that "Larceny Vegetal Sweet Potato Note" I always get. Brown Sugar. Cinnamon. Dry Roast Peanuts. Much too Astringent Oak. A rather long finish with a nice KY Hug. An Iced Tea Sweetness coats the palate along with some Bitter Tannins. *SPLASH: Brings the Vegetal Note to the nose and amps up the Peanut on the palate. I do think this will do well with a large cube of ice or paired with some Angustoras for an Old Fashioned. *VERDICT: This has some faults (overly hot/overly tannic) but is overall a decent Bourbon. My issue here is that I don't care for it any more or any less than the standard offering, whereas I find Maker's Mark Cask Strength, WT Rare Breed, ECBP, Booker's, etc. to all be significant upgrades to their proofed down siblings. For a Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon, I'll take the MMCS for the same $50 over this one every time.

GWR Drumlish Poitín Realized I had rated this some time back, but had never properly reviewed it. Time to rectify the oversight. *NOSE: Sweet Buttercream Icing. Dry Wheat/Whole Grain Toast. Fruity Pebbles Cereal. Powdred Sugar Coated Lemon Bars. Slightly Vegetal. *NEAT: The nose transfers surprisingly well to the palate. Fruity Pebbles. Malt Grain. Dry Wheat/Whole Grain Toast. Agave. Black Pepper. Drying Finish with a Sweet and Peppery Coating. *VERDICT: Unique Mashbill with Malted Barley and Wheat, served up at 100proof. Surprisingly sweet. Great from the freezer or over ice. Subs well as a riff on recipes calling for Silver Tequila, Rum or Vodka. Pairs well with Tonic or just a splash of Club Soda. I actually have this rated higher than it's aged version, Quinn's (though I think if the Quinn's were aged a little longer it would be equally enjoyable to this one).