Tastes
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BH SUBTLE SMOKE NOSE: The nose starts Good and with time becomes Great. Vanilla, Butterscotch, Circus Peanuts Candy, Rye Spice, Creme Brûlée, Apple, Pink Bubblegum, and Hickory Smoke that grows in intensity the longer it sits. TWTWIRBM makes a delicious Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie that ends up all crust, canned apple and burnt brown sugar. That is what this becomes. NEAT: Mouthfeel is Light and Thin, but the flavors are there. Vanilla, Maple, Brown Sugar, Light Peanut Funk, and Cola. The Hickory Smoke is present throughout, but doesn't really assert itself until the backend and slightly drying finish. There is absolutely zero KYHug. This Old Granddad is smooth to a fault. Sweet Hickory Smoke and Mint coat and build on the palate the deeper into the pour you get. SPLASH: The Hickory Smoke is reduced, but the Palate gains a note of Caramel Covered Granny Smith Apple. VERDICT: The more time I spent with this one, the more I liked it. I love the Hickory Smoke influence, but I think that Peg Leg Porker may pull it off just a little better, but it is close. This one gets dinged a quarter point by the thin mouthfeel, but it's overall a solid, enjoyable bourbon.55.0 USD per Bottle
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Rabbit Hole Cavehill Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky , USA
Reviewed April 21, 2022 (edited September 19, 2023)On a recent trip to Indianapolis, we overnighted in the NULU section of Louisville right across from the Rabbit Hole Distillery. We were able to squeeze into a tour and tasting. This lead to a purchase of Cavehill from the gift shop, as it was my top ranked during our tasting. Review follows: APP: Love the rabbit embossed bottle's shape and labeling. In the Glencairn, great dark color with clingy slow-forming legs. NOSE: Malt and Fruit Forward. Apple, Orange Peel, Lemon Creme, Barrel Spice, Honeycomb, Hot Cereal, and Brown Sugar. NEAT: Great Heavy Coating Mouthfeel. Honey, Cocoa, Malted Grain, Orange Peel, Baking Spice, a Slight Grassy Note, and a Touch of Mint. There is an overall spiciness which is surprising given the lack of Rye. There is Cinnamon on the Finish with a Layering Coating that resembles a Barrel-Aged Milky Way (I know it's not a thing, but it should be). This is fantastic stuff. If pressed for a guess on age, I would guess at least double the 3 year age statement. The Distiller notes are spot on with "both sweet and spicy" and "lush and satisfying". Cannot state it better than that. SPLASH: A little water absolutely killed the nose and the Palate becomes all Cinnamon Spice. Neat is the way to go here. VERDICT: I cannot overstate how impressed I was with the distillery and the quality of the whiskeys they are able to put out in such a short amount of time. They also get bonus points for their transparency and their willingness to think outside the box. The use of unique malted grains and Mashbills (I can't think of anyone else using Malted Wheat or Honey Malted Barley), No Chill Filtering, Toasting as well as Charring their barrels, 110 Entry Proof, and Batch sizes of 13 Barrels all make Rabbit Hole unique. If I had a quibble it would be the $60 price point, but when you factor in all the things I just mentioned, the pricing seems a little more in line. Their facility in Downtown Louisville with the Rooftop bar is a must visit if you are passing through. The fill level on this bottle is rapidly declining and it will definitely be replaced when it's gone.60.0 USD per BottleRabbit Hole Distillery -
Oak & Eden Wheat & Spire - Fired French Oak
Bourbon — (bottled in) Texas, USA
Reviewed April 21, 2022 (edited September 28, 2023)Very seldom do I taste a whiskey that I have trouble reviewing. This is one of those. I am simply unable to discern any tasting notes other than bitter charred oak after repeated tastings. I will agree with another review that this kind of reminds me of Maker's 46 (one of my favorite everyday pours), but where 46 toes the line between just right and over-oaked and tannic, this one runs by that line like it's not even there. There is a hint of vanilla on the nose. Maybe some coffee and brown sugar? The Palate is all Bitter Drying Oak. Maybe with time I could find something else, but I really don't want to invest anymore time on this. A little water does cut the bitterness some, but it doesn't bring any other notes out. At best his tastes like mediocre craft whiskey. Why would anyone spend $40 on this when Maker's 46 (ugly new bottle and all) is probably less than 5 feet away on a nearby shelf?40.0 USD per Bottle -
SILKIE DARK PEATED IRISH WHISKY (92PROOF/NCF) NOSE: About what you would guess a Peated Irish to smell like. Peat leads off with Rubber & Last Night's Campfire. Followed by Crisp Green Apple, Leather, Mint, Salted Butter, Glazed Lemon Filled Donut, Allspice, and light Florals. I feel like some time spent with this could suss out all manner of notes. The Empty Glass noses like a Cupcake topped with a dollop of Vick's Vaporub. NEAT: Oh, this is good. Silky Smooth Oily Mouthfeel yields Powdered Sugar Dusted Lemon Squares, Vanilla, and Bubblegum accompanied by Sweet Smoke on the front of the Tongue. Leather, Cereal Grains, and Light Oak Tannins show up Mid-Palate. They mesh very well with the sweeter notes up front for a delicious melding of flavors. The Back of the Tongue gets Black Pepper and Rubbery Peat before a Medium Length Finish. Gets Dinged a tad by an Artificial Sweetener type Bitter/Sour Note that hangs around the perimeter*. Not a deal breaker, but something I get from several Irish offerings. The mouth is coated in a lovely aftertaste of Ash, New Rubber Tire, and those Neon Yellow Hunt's Lemon Pudding Cups. There's also a nice layering Black Pepper Tingle on the tongue and cheeks. I know this is one I'll taste long after the dram is done and I love that. *After some time, either the sourness dissipates, or my palate just becomes accustomed to it and it becomes a non-issue. SPLASH: A little water and Lemon Pith becomes prominent on the Nose. The Palate loses some of the rough edges and also becomes more Lemony. Good either way, but preferable Neat. VERDICT: A Peated Irish had been on my bucket list for a while and I happened to stumble on this on at my local, fittingly at the end of March. I found this VERY Good, especially given its $44 price tag. Bonus points for the higher than the normal Irish proof and NCF which allow the Oily/Silky nature of the whisky to shine. Completely different (thank you @DjangoJohnson for helping me lock down that new tire note), but equally enjoyable to the best Irish that I've had. I am definitely going to try the standard lightly peated version as well.44.0 USD per Bottle
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Michter's US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey
Other Whiskey — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 27, 2022 (edited September 15, 2023)Michter's US*1 Sour Mash Whiskey NOSE: Banana Pudding, Candied Walnut, Brown Sugar, Maple, Vanilla Frosting, Oak Spice, and the Slightest Hint of Savory Dill. The Empty Glass smells of Unlit Cigarette Tobacco. NEAT: A Medium Mouthfeel, and not as sweet as the Nose would suggest. Banana, Maple, Raw Almond, Leather, and Funky Oak Tannins,. Very Little Heat on the Drying Finish with Pencil Shavings, Light Banana, and a Hint of Bitter coating and layering on the Palate. Surprised by the lack of Rye influence, leading me to believe that there is a pretty high percentage of Malt here. SPLASH: A little water really amps up the Maple on the Nose. Palate gains a little Tingly Spice & Creme Soda while the Oak Funk gets a little more prominent. VERDICT: I was disappointed in this one after the first pour. There was a Plastic/Vinyl note (think freshly opened shower curtain) on both nose and palate that really didn't agree with me. A month or so after opening and it is completely fine. Banana/Maple heavy without being cloying and just the right amount of bitterness. If memory serves, this is possibly the best Michter's I've tried to date. I don't see this one often, but I will pick up a bottle whenever I can find one.44.0 USD per Bottle -
Mother Earth Spirits American Single Malt
American Single Malt — North Carolina , USA
Reviewed March 23, 2022 (edited June 20, 2022)MOTHER EARTH SPIRITS AMERICAN SINGLE MALT (Batch 40/Bottle 282-Aged 2 Yrs) NOSE: Leather, Cedar, Orange Peel, Tobacco, Straw, Apple, Dried Floral. Nose on the empty glass resembles inside of a Humidor. NEAT: Grilled Fruit, Smoke, Leather, and Almond up front. Slightly Building Bitterness on the sides and back of the tongue. Mild burn on the finish with Smoke, Black Pepper, and Oak Tannins coating the Palate.There are some youthful notes here, but overall well done. SPLASH: Nose gets a Bubblegum note. Palate becomes even more Fruit Forward with some added Tart Cherry while the Bitterness is reduced. VERDICT: NC has another solid Single Malt to go along with Great Wagon Road's Rúa. Mother Earth is a small Distillery in Kinston, NC started as an offshoot of the popular Mother Earth Brewing. Distillery and Stills are run completely on Solar Energy. Grains used are all locally sourced. They've been around longer than most distilleries in the state and they've obviously figured it out. This is an updated version of their former 80 Proof NAS Whiskey in freshly redesigned packaging. They've also released a 3 Year Rye to go along with their locally popular Gin (which also has fresh new packaging). Definitely worth the $40 gamble.40.0 USD per BottleMother Earth Spirits -
You can look at my previous review of this if you want tasting notes. Suffice it to say, I really like it. The bourbon inside is a solid 4.25. This new bottle/label, however is a 1. This may even be worse than Kentucky Spirit moving away from the "fantail" bottle. I'm hoping that this is a result of supply chain issues and that we will soon see the old 46 bottle return.40.0 USD per Bottle
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I.W. Harper 15 Year Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 16, 2022 (edited January 14, 2024)IWH15 NOSE: Rich and Varied. Tobacco, Leather, Glazed Donut, Oak, Streusel, and Grape Jelly. NEAT: Oak Dominated, but Little to No Bitter Tannins. Old Slightly Musty Oak, Leather, Cocoa Powder, Light Tingly Pepper Spice, Mint, Sawdust, and Straw. Smooth Drying Finish with little to no burn. Oak and Faint Cinnamon linger and coat the palate. SPLASH: Brown Sugar now dominates the nose. The Grape Jelly note from the nose moves to the palate and Fruit notes begin to mesh with the oakiness. VERDICT: This is "Library Bourbon". Designed to be sipped in an old leather chair, surrounded by antique wooden bookshelves filled with old first edition hardbacks. Perfectly Balanced. No bitterness and just the right amount of funk and good Tannins. Seems simple (but tasty) on the first pour, but subsequent samples reveal sweeter/fruitier notes underneath. I could nitpick about the lower proof, but I'm not sure that the lower proof doesn't help reduce the flaws I find in some super aged bourbons. I wish I would've taken a chance on this sooner.89.0 USD per Bottle -
Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Whiskey
Blended American Whiskey — USA
Reviewed February 26, 2022 (edited December 2, 2022)LOST MONARCH NOSE: Bright. The 95/5 MGP Rye takes center stage with Varnish, Dill, Clove, Seeded Rye, Black Pepper & Dry Barnwood. The sweeter Bourbon-y Vanilla/Brown Sugar notes hang out backstage and emerge to take a bow on occasion. NEAT: Dry & Dusty. Vanilla Sweet upfront followed by Herbal Dill, Clove, Anise, and Black Pepper, all held up by an underpinning of Dry Light Oak. The finish is Medium to Long-ish with Sweet Oak, Corn Syrup, and Pepper Spice coating and lingering. Mouthfeel is fairly clingy and stays on the palate and layers as you drink, and hangs around long after the pour is done. SPLASH: Not a lot of change other than a reduction in the Peppery Spice. VERDICT: An excellent blend. Definitely dominated by the MGP 95/5 Rye Mashbill in the middle, but accented well by the Bourbon on the front and back. It was close, but I believe I prefer this one slightly over Redwood's Pipe Dream. Again, it's nice to see some sourced whiskey, with decent age, at a fair price. I definitely will continue exploring Redwood's line.40.0 USD per Bottle -
PIPE DREAM NOSE: Starts out all Floral and Sandalwood. After a bit it settles in with Dry Corn Meal, Orange Peel, Rye Spice, Young Oak, and Peppery Spice. Eventually, heavy Vanilla Notes take the forefront. There are some hints of youth here, but they are nicely balanced by some of the older stocks. NEAT: Lots of Citrus right off the bat. Some Vanilla/Maple Sweetness that increases the deeper into the pour you get. Mouthfeel leans to the Medium/Thinnish side, but is substantial enough (it really clings to the glass though, so I was expecting a little more). The Wood notes present more as Fresh Sawdust and Pencil Shavings rather than Oak Char. Nice building heat in the chest after a Medium Length Finish. Black Pepper Spice and Vanilla coat and linger on the palate. SPLASH: Brings the Florality back to the Nose, and sweetens the Palate. Brings out a little Char & Cinnamon. VERDICT: In the margin of my notes, I scribbled "Simple-ish". That is true. Not a lot going on, but what is going on works well. It does lean a little Citrus/Orange heavy which I don't mind on occasion. Overall, a solid pour. I kept passing this one by based on my experiences lately with younger MGP, but at $40 I thought I'd take a shot. Glad I did. I also picked up the Lost Monarch. Review on that one coming soon.40.0 USD per Bottle
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