Tastes
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Blue Note Juke Joint Straight Bourbon (93 Proof)
Bourbon — Tennessee, USA
Reviewed April 19, 2024 (edited April 20, 2024)I was traveling recently... and when I am out of state, I like to see what the shops outside of California have on their shelves. I'd always been intrigued by Blue Note Juke Joint, but it's nowhere to be found here. So when I saw it on the shelf in a Connecticut Spirit Shop, I grabbed that thing! Color: Medium golden amber Nose: Familiar Bourbon nose of oak, slight nasal passage alcohol burn (but nothing crazy). Hard to pin-point but, as I said, it's a familiar nose, not unlike many bottles I've had in the past. Palate: (Drank with an ice cube) Initially spicy-sweet. Again, this is a very familiar profile to me. The palate follows the nose to a "T". Going down, there's a bit more of a hug than I'd expect from a 93 proofer. But it fades quickly with subsequent sips. As the ice melts a bit, some bitter (tart?) cherry comes through. There's a nondescript sweetness gmto this juice. I got a huge corn hit as I reached the bottom of the second pour — like a "Fritos corn chips" corn. Interesting... Finish: I guess you'd consider it short. The spiciness is probably the most predominant characteristic. Oaky, spicy, corn. Slightly drying. My review may not sound all that glowing. But it's not for lack of enjoyment. It's a decent pour for the price point. One of those, "I'd definitely drink it again, but probably would not buy again" bottles. It's simply too basic to vie for a spot on my shelf when there are so many other "good" bottles out there that are easier for me to find, and perhaps even cheaper. "Good" at best; "Unremarkable" at worst.37.0 USD per BottleTollgate Wines & Spirits -
My friend's brother recently hosted a night of bourbon tastings, while I was in town visiting my family on the east coast. We tried a bunch of bottles — all of which I either loved or liked. He had this Barrell Armida on-hand and, although it was not part of the tasting, he wanted to get our thoughts on it. Well... We all agreed that it was not very good. It's got a weird off-putting taste that none of us could explain or get past. He was hoping I would like it so he could pawn it off to me. LOL! I have always avoided Barrell. It's typically priced too high, and always seemsd to be too focused on "experimentation. As such, I just could never trust my money with it. Perhaps there are better expressions by Barrell, but I'm not taking my chances. Not after this.
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Jim Beam Single Barrel Bourbon 108 Proof
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed April 5, 2024 (edited April 9, 2024)Barrel # JB000763932 Color: Medium Copper-Amber (First pour in a Glencarin, neat) Nose: Spicy, slight alcohol whiff that tickles my nasal passages. Definitely getting some Barrel char and oak, followed by doughiness — like Play-Doh (Weird, I know). Since this is Beam, I'm supposed to be getting "nutty". Not sure about that — at least not on this initial neat pour. Maybe on the next one....? Palate: The palate follows the nose's lead, almost to a "T". "Spicy" is the first thing to make it's presence known, followed by some heat — but nothing overwhelming. Chest hug comes in at you sloooowly. Moderately creamy mouthfeel that coats the tongue nicely. As I was saying, since this is a Beam, I was expecting the roasted nut profile. I'm not sure if that's what I'm getting. But it's a "roasted something". Smoky, roasted something! I grew up in the North East, not far from New York City, and spent quite a bit of time there, visiting museums, Rockefeller Center, etc. In the Winter time, the street vendors' carts emitted all kinds of smells — one being roasted chestnuts. That aroma is fairly etched in my brain, and I am pretty sure that's what I'm getting — what I am recalling mentally... if a smell can be "tasted". I think that's one of the most abstract things I've ever said here since joining Distiller. LOL! Finish: Ever-so-slightly bitter finish with lots of oak and spice, and more of that roasted something. Funny, I've not once mentioned "sweet". It hasn't been a prominent feature. But I can say there's some "sweetness" on the finish. Just a bit around the sides of the tongue. Final thoughts: This is good. Not exactly, "Oh my God"-good... but good. Solid sipper that doesn't really drink per its proof. This Beam SiB was fairly hard to track down. No stores around here ever have it in-stock, which seems odd to me. I'd think a Beam bottle would be more widely available. But I had to buy this online from a liquor app — which I never have done until now (shipping is ridiculous, and makes affordable bottles unaffordable). But I had a free shipping promo, and so it was now or never. So, what am I getting at?: Would I buy this again? Maybe. If I could find it in a store for around the same price or less, sure. But I won't go out of my way again for it. Just as I was finishing up this review, I took a sip and BAM! There's the Beam "nuttiness" at the back of my tongue.45.0 USD per Bottle -
Color: Nice deep Copper-Amber Nose: Great nose! Maple, leather and, if you can believe it, sweet tarts candies(!). A bit "musty" (in a good way); apple, and finally... although it's over-used, caramel. Palate: (First pour drank neat) Syrupy mouthfeel, which took me slightly by surprise, with some nice cherry — and not the "cough syrup" kind that I've gotten from other bottles (not that I disliked that). Nice balance of spicy and sweet. Mild chest hug that lingers a while. Pretty darn smooth. (Second pour drank with a large ice ball) I've heard that Old Forester/Brown Forman is known for a "banana" profile. I'm not sure I've ever gotten that from the other OFs I've had (1897, 1910, 1920, 86 Proof), but I just got it on the first sip with ice. Getting some other things that I just can't pinpoint. Finish: Hmmm! Something akin to "campfire smoke" develops at the back of the throat on the finish. Nice! I love smokiness of any sort, at any point in the tasting Final Thoughts: There has been a lot of hype surrounding this OF release. As such, it's been one of those bottles that has proven elusive at SRP, with the scalpers snatching them up and charging double if not triple. I finally had the opportunity to grab a bottle today at SRP. Now, the SRP on this bottle is more than I typically like to spend. But I knew that I wouldn't find it for cheaper anywhere else, and that if I wanted it, I would have to pony up. I can't tell you that it's worth what I paid for it monetarily speaking. Only you can determine that. However, I CAN say that it was worth it to get to try it. Would I buy it again? Maybe... maybe not. Don't get me wrong. This is very good. But there are just a lot of very good bourbons out there for $30-$50 less.125.0 USD per BottleTotal Wine & More
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I was out with friends yesterday afternoon, and had the opportunity to try this one. I don't have a lot to say about it — other than, it's VERY good, and I'm now on the hunt for a bottle! A side note: I also tried Weller SiB side-by-side, and Elmer T. Lee was the hands-down winner. Once I Iocate a bottle, I'll sumbit a proper review.35.0 USD per PourThe Saloon Ventura
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Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 15
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 16, 2024 (edited March 17, 2024)Color: Deep cherry amber. Nose: Hot! I don't typically give the nose a, "hot" classification, but this one deserves it. At 131 proof, it's no surprise... Plus, what I'm going to designate as "charred oak". Palate: First pour (drank with large ice ball)... Viscous mouthfeel; spicy(!). Comes in hot, but in a somewhat controlled manner, if that at all makes any sense. The chest hug is there, but not overpoweringly so. Burnt cherries and more oak. As the large ice ball begins to dilute it a bit, the sweeter notes start to come through. Second pour (also drank with large ice ball)... Definitely cherries plus vanilla — which I did not get on the first pour. Think "cherry vanilla ice cream". Nice! Finish: Long spicy finish with lots of the palate carrying over. Something like Werther's butterscotch candies make a surprise appearance in this juice's most diluted state... and, as with most Bourbon I've had, I get some "holiday baking spices" on the absolute tail-end of the glass. I've not been able to locate any Stagg bottles of any sort over the past few years. I assumed Stagg would prove one of those bottles I would never see. So when I quite unexpectedly found this bottle — which turned out to be Batch 15 from late 2020 — at SRP(!)? Well, I felt pretty lucky, indeed. This is superlative Bourbon. It's always tricky for me, giving star ratings... what, exactly, deserves more than 4.5 stars? What is the benchmark? Well... after over three years, and over 150 different bottles/expressions, I know what I like. I know what I look for in a Bourbon. This pretty much is the definition of, "Bourbon" to me. And so... I'm bestowing upon Stagg Jr. Batch 15, one of my highest ratings yet. I'm going to try to grab another bottle before it's gone, because I don't know when I will be met with such good fortune again.66.0 USD per BottlePavilions -
Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 9, 2024 (edited March 14, 2024)Color: Deep Copper-Amber Nose: Sweet! Very little ethanol; Oak; Slightly fruity. Palate: (First pour neat) Syrupy(!). Well-balanced sweetness and spiciness with a slight warming chest hug right off the bat. The hug vanishes rather quickly. More spicy oak emerges upon further sips. The sweetness becomes more smokey, as well. This makes me happy, as I love "smokey" profiles. Lots going on. As always, I hesitate to over-use descriptors like, "caramel" and "vanilla". But I'm going to have to say I'm getting those things — but in a more "burnt" form. That's a good thing. (Second pour with a large ice ball) Interesting! I got "butterscotch" on the nose, just as I was going in for the first sip with ice. Wow! Burnt caramel on the second sip.. some leather, as well. This is smooth stuff, I might add. Finish: The finish is what I'd consider, medium with some unexpected "floral" notes. Spice, of course (I don't think I have ever had any Bourbon that didn't have a spicy finish). I've only had E.H. Taylor Small Batch prior to... and I have wanted to try their others. They've proven elusive over the years, but I got lucky today and was able to score the last available bottle of this SiB at one of my go-to shops. The wait was worth it. This is quintessential Bourbon to me, with a sweetspot proof of 100.69.99 USD per BottleTotal Wine & More -
Knob Creek 9 Year Single Barrel Reserve
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed March 2, 2024 (edited March 8, 2024)Color: Deep amber. Nose: When I first opened the bottle, I got punched in the face with molasses. But it's odd how that seemed to dissipate with time. This nose is reminiscent of some Booker's batches that I have had. Leather is also present on the nostrils. Palate: Again... very Booker's-esque. Oaky, spicy, slightly sweet. Does not drink per its proof — pretty smooth for 120. As I continue to sip, I'm getting some "graham cracker". But "Spice" is the predominant profile on this one. Spicy, woody, smokey with a nice dose of sweetness to balance things out. Finish: Long with much of the palate carrying over. I seldom give ratings over 4.25. But this for me, personally, is quintessential Bourbon. It checks all the boxes. So I am giving this one a well- deserved 4.5! Excellent pour. Will definitely buy again.59.99 USD per BottleMission Wine & Spirits -
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Nevada, USA
Reviewed February 23, 2024 (edited February 24, 2024)When I first tried this at a bar nearly two years ago (March 26, 2022), I didn't think I liked it much. Since then, I have found that I really need to hunker down with at least two glasses, void of any distractions, in order to really focus on what I am getting. Now that I've finally had that opportunity, I say this is a solid pour. Color: Medium Copper-Amber Nose: Familiar bourbon nose of oak and what I am going to say is "grain". There are four grains going on in this stuff, after all. Leather, as well. Palate: (Drank with a large ice ball) Tart cherry, mint, oak tannins, an even balance of sweet and spicy. Getting a nice dose of "grain" from the final, slightly diluted, sips of the first pour. Second pour... there's the caramel! Nice. Finish: I guess you'd call it a "medium" finish. Spiciness seems to be the predominant element in the finish of most bourbon I have had. This is no exception. Originally, I gave this 3 stars. I'm bumping it up to 3.5 stars.45.0 USD per BottlePavilions
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