Tastes

Color: Medium amber Nose: Rye spice, menthol Palate: (Drank with a small ice cube) Wow! Got a lot from the very first sip — but damned if I can separate and identify each individual element. Slight sweetness; more rye spice, for sure — that's most likely what I'm getting primarily. A few sips in, and I'm definitely picking up on some "citrus" notes. "Mint", as well — yes, definitely mint. Finish: long with lingering cooling mint and menthol. Crazy! This is really good! It's funny how, for the longest time, I didn't think I liked Rye. But I've had several now, and I've enjoyed them all. I'm not sure — I'd have to do side by side with all the other ryes I've had (WR, WT Rare Breed, Rabbit Hole, Ezra Brooks, Sazerac...) — but I think this could very well be the best rye I've had. I've wanted to try Pikesville for a while now, but you know how it is... You get distracted by a new release, or you get enticed by an impulse buy instead of something you've been meaning to try, etc. etc. Glad I finally followed through.

I'm on a mission to find really good, relatively low proof bourbons to add to my regular lineup. I love those higher proof yearly releases, but I can't drink them as regularly, and as much, as I want. So... First up is Old Forester 86. I've had my eye on it for a while, but you know how it is.... Color: Medium Copper-Amber Nose: Generally classic sweet Bourbon nose with caramel and hints of cola(!). Palate (drank with one ice cube): The mouthfeel is kinda light, but not wimpy, mind you. The cola from the nose returns — but as cherry cola!. I'll go even further snd say, Black Forest cake. It's not too sweet, not too spicy. As it's going down, you get a slight chest hug that fades quickly. This is not "complex" by the farthest stretch. But it's damn good, and I place it on par with other similarly -priced bottles like Old Granddad BiB, and Wild Turkey 101. Finish: Short with mild sugary leather. Out of the Old Forester stable, I've had the 1897, 1910, 1920... and now this. I don't think you can compare those "Whiskey Row" expressions with what is considered their "entry level" bottle. But for the price and overall flavor, it has won a spot on my bottom shelf. I will buy again.

My inlaws were visiting each other in NJ earlier this year, and while on a road trip to PA, my father in-law grabbed a bottle of this for me, knowing well of my Bourbon "hobby"... Although I really love that he thought of me and wanted to include this with my Christmas haul, I gotta say, this is not a favorite. It appears to be fairly young (under 4 years), and you can see it AND taste it. It's a light golden color for starters, but the main things is that the flavor has that, "I really needed to sit in my barrel for a couple years longer" quality. I tried making an Old Fashioned with it, but even that didn't cut it. It's simply too young-tasting. Tastes more like a cheap Irish Whiskey or Scotch to me than Bourbon. 2 stars because of the sentiment with which I acquired this bottle.

I bought a bottle of Bulleit (orange label) a while back — as in, back when I first started on my bourbon journey. Along with Michter's, Four Roses SB, and a couple others, it was one of the first I'd ever had. As such, I had no real comparisons to make, nor enough experience to really weigh in on it. About a year later, I ordered a pour one night while out with friends, and I did not like it at all. So I have avoided Bulleit since. But I recently read some good things here about this 10 Year, and it sounded like maybe I should not base my opinions of Bulleit soley on their lower AS offering. Well, I'm glad I took the leap of faith, because this 10 Year is a whole 'nother story. I like it very much... Color: Medium Amber. Nose: Alcohol, oak. Palate: Initially spicy (no surprise considering the % of rye in the mash bill). Buttery mouth feel. Slight sweetness. Oak. Very little burn going down. As the ice dissolved and opened things up, I got hit with a nice dose of black licorice. Nice! One of the things that swayed me to pull the trigger on this bottle was the "smoky" profile it's been given in the expert and user reviews. Unfortunately, I did not get the smokiness. Maybe on subsequent pours? Finish: Very buttery with a "pound cake" quality. More oak. I'm just finishing my first pour, and am going back for more! Good stuff.

Had some of this tonight at a party with an open bar. I don't have a lot of specifics on it... but all I can say is that it was quite good. Never heard of it before tonight. I might buy it if I should come across it.

Color: Medium Copper-Amber Nose: Slight alcohol whiff. Sweet/molasses. A familiar high-proof nose. Palate: (Drank with large ice ball) Initial spicy-burn on the maiden sip. Waaaarm chest — and throat — hug follows! Drinks hot, for sure. But the ice tames it and tamps it down over time. Eventually , the sweetness from the nose translates to the palate. As it envelops the throat and the back end of the palate (the finish?), crisp apples sitting in wooden buckets come to the fore. Nice. This is not a complex bourbon by any stretch. But you shouldn't really expect that from a $30 bottle. However, this is a very enjoyable pour for the price point — and would be a very welcome bottle to bring out while seated around a campfire, or an outdoor gathering on a chilly night.

Had this Breckenridge with dinner this afternoon. Drank with a large ice cube... Not much to say about this one. Apparently, it's on the "young" side. Aged "about 3 years", it says. The light copper color is the first indication. Very light nose, and very light and smooth on the palate. Slightly sweet and spicy. Short finish. I could see as a mixer, or perhaps an entry level pour for folks just getting into bourbon and whiskey.

Color: Deep copper-amber. Nose: Wow! Sweet, burnt vanilla, leather, molasses, stewed cinnamon apples(?). Palate: (Drank with a large ice ball) The apples return on the first contact with the tongue. The 133 proof hits you — but not too harshly... and the inevitable chest hug follows. Something akin to "spice" makes an appearance on the 2nd or 3rd sip, but of the "baking" variety. I expected caramel to be part of the profile, and it did finally come through as the ice slowly melted into the juice and opened it up. I'm getting a lot more from this juice that I just can't pinpoint (Leather? Wood?). Suffice to say, there's a lot going on. I'd heard very good things about this C923, and I'm glad to report that it was all legit. The finish is long with lingering spice, sweetness and oak. This is damned good bourbon. I seldom give 5 stars, but this one comes close! Added 1/13/24: There's the vanilla! And it appeared in spades, no less.

Color: Light golden-copper Nose: Cherries(!?), leather, Palate: Nutty and sweet. Just a little bit spicy. Slightly bitter, but nothing off putting. Finish is medium with some lingering nuttiness and perhaps some vanilla. Apparently, this offering from Hirsch is a blend of a 3-year, 9 month old bourbon along with some older 8-year bourbon thrown in. The result is a somewhat "youthful" profile (the relatively light color is also an indicator). Nonetheless, it is still very good. Truth be told, I had some at a restaurant a few weeks ago, and liked it enough to track-down a bottle. I also want to mention that I had Hirsch's "Horizon" last year (or maybe in 2021), and if memory serves, I think I prefer this.

Color: Deep bronze/amber. Nose: Strong nose... familiar to other high proof offerings I have had. Molasses, sweet burnt oak. Palate: (Drank with large ice ball) This is a hot one, folks!.... Initial sweet crisp apples, followed by a hefty chest hug and tongue tingle. Yup... apples! Apples soaked in, well... booze! LOL. The ice slowly mellows things down a bit, but this stuff will definitely warm you up on a cold Winters night. I'm enjoying this maiden voyage very much. The expert review here listed, "maple" as a primary flavor. I'm not getting that, unfortunately. Maybe in future pours...? Finish is long with what I will attribute to oak and the char. I managed to find this bottle at my trusty grocery store... the very last one they had — and they didn't even know they had it until I asked them to look. I'd buy again if I can find it again. Added 12/8/23: Having this tonight. Got blasted with both vanilla and caramel on this pour! As such, I am bumping up my original rating from 3.75 to 4.