Tastes

Color: Medium Copper/Amber Nose: Sweet with vanilla, and what I thought at first was maple. But it soon hit me that what I was actually getting was walnuts. Yum! (Kinda made sense. You know — maple-walnut...?). I love walnut, so I get very excited when it makes an appearance in any way. Also, there is zero ethenol on the nose. Impressive for 126 proof(!). Before my first sip, I was really hoping that the palate would live up to such a superb nose... and, boy did it! Cinnamon apples came through on my nose just before the first sip.... Palate: Sweet cinnamon apples right out of the gate. Lots of spiciness with a nice dose of heat in the chest. More cinnamon mid-way through. As the ice cube begins to disperse, the walnuts from the nose reappear. Yes! Some nice subtle oak and spice (Cloves? Allspice?) appear on the back end. Finish: Medium length with a lot of the sweet and nutty palate remaining as it fades. I paid more than what I was expecting to pay for this bottle. I was anticipating closer to the $90.00 SRP — especially since I picked it up at my grocery store, where I usually avoid paying more for hard-to-find bottles. However, I will say that this is so good — so complex and flavorful — that the "sticker shock" was softened. This is damn good bourbon. Superlative, I will say. If I can, I am going to procure another bottle — but only if I can get it for under $100.

Pavilions/Vons/Albertsons barrel pick. Barrel 8191. Color: medium/light copper Nose: Oak, caramel, sweet Palate: Medium/slightly creamy mouth feel. Spicy and sweet, slight chest hug. More woodiness/oak tannins. Bitter cherry on the back end. Finish is medium with a buttery quality. This is very good. Since it's a store pick, I'm thinking I should grab another bottle before it's gone, because it's definitely worth a second purchase. I'll be interested in what I get from future pours. I have a feeling this is a bottle that will evolve over time. Solid 3.75. I hesitate to give it a 4 at this time, because I reserve 4 and above for bottles that knock me out from the get-go. But I won't be surprised if I decide to give this a bump before I finish this bottle. Added 6/30/23: Second visit with this bottle... got a good dose of vanilla and maybe a hint o' molasses, as well, on the nose this time 'round. Same spicy-sweet-oaky palate as in my first pour/review. My score holds at 3.75. Solid bourbon for the price. 1792 has yet to disappoint me. Added 7/14/23: Bottle-kill pour. Nice peanutty flavor that I did not get from the first and subsequent pours. Score stands at 3.75 stars, but JUST misses 4. I noticed this week that my grocery store sold out of this barrel pick. So it's officially in the books.

Color: Light golden amber Nose: cloves, oak, and maybe a hint of cocoa(?). Palate: Drank with a small ice cube. Nice! Rye spice followed close behind by a good dose of sweetness. Orange peel, or a general citrus flavor, made a surprise appearance several sips in. This is a very complex and ever-changing Rye. I got a huge dose of "sweet grains" (whatever the hell that means) on my very last sip. Finish: Not sure how to characterize the finish. I guess it's short, but with lots of character. I had the Rare Breed Bourbon last year, and I loved it. So I knew I'd love this — I just didn't know I'd love it as much as I do now. They really know what they're doing over at Wild Turkey. I've not been disappointed yet by any of their offerings.

Color: medium amber. Nose: Oak, leather and apples. Palate: First sip I took neat. Initial alcohol assault on the sinuses, along with a nice warm hug. Dropped in a large ice ball to tone it down and allow the flavors to come forward. First sip with ice revealed a very spicy profile along with the inevitable sweetness I'd expect from Maker's. However, I'm having trouble identifying specifics on this very first pour.* Finish: Drying and spicy/tingly. *I plan on adding more details in the very near future — including results from a blind I am planning to conduct between this BEP and the two 2023 BRT releases. Stay tuned...

Color: Medium Amber/Copper Nose: Familiar leathery nose, molasses (?), baked apples along with a slight alcoholic whiff. ** Drank with a large ball of ice. Sometimes, higher proofs don't drink like it. Well with this one, the 116 proof makes itself known. First few sips leave a nice long chest hug. Palate: Spicy, slightly sweet, and some buttery qualities after a few sips. **For me, I pick up more on the nose the more I drink. The second pour gave me a big dose of "strawberry/banana " on the nose. Nice! Some slight bitterness appears on the back end. As the ice slightly dilutes it, a nice brown sugar quality comes out. The finish is spicy and tingly — like pretty much every bourbon I've had. I want to say that I had the "standard" Pipe Dream Bourbon earlier this year/late last year. I had me a pour at a bar, and I liked it so much that I bought a bottle the next day. I like to support my home state's distilleries whenever possible, so I had to try this Pipe Dream Cask Strength when I spied it sitting in the office of my local grocery store (where I score most of my hard-to-find bottles at SRP). I have to say, though... for the money, I would buy the regular offering before I bought this Cask Strength again. Better value for the money. This is similar to the regular Pipe Dream, but stronger. There is definitely more going on with this pricier bottle. But I think I was able to appreciate the flavors of the standard Pipe Dream just fine without the higher proof. The $50 difference also makes the "base model" that much more appealing. If you can find this bottle, I say go for it. But you'll be just as happy with — and that much less poorer — with the standard Pipe Dream.

Barrel No. 1216, Barrelled 3/5/18 Color: Medium Amber Nose: Burnt caramel, cinnamon, molasses, oak. Palate: Initial full frontal spice assault, followed by a nice warm hug. Some sweetness but the spiciness really steals the show. A little heat. Nice tongue coating, but nothing too "oily" or thick. The above was written upon my first pour. The second pour revealed more sweetness than the first. Still spicy as all get out, but more evenly distributed between "spicy" and "sweet". Since I bought this bottle at Total Wine and More in Connecticut, and I live in California, I won't be able to revisit this particular batch. I think there are some bottles remaining at the BevMo here in town. I am curious to try it. Stay tuned.... Added 6/30/23: This is definitely one of those bottles that evolves over time. The original all-out spice assault was nowhere be found this time 'round. Still a very good pour. Not a stand-out, but very good everyday sipper nonetheless. Bottle kill pour 7/3/23: The warm chest hug is still making its presence known. I will say that this drinks a tiny bit hotter than its 107 proof. Sweetness and spiciness remains consistent with all previous pours. Oak tannins for miles.

My fifth and final review from my visit to the Litchfield Distillery last weekend. I had to save the best for last, and the Double Barrelled Bourbon was indeed my favorite of the five I tasted... and thus it won the honor of being the one 750 mil bottle purchase I made that day. Color: Medium amber-copper Nose: Oak, tart/bitter cherry Palate: Mild sweetness and spiciness with just a little heat. The tart cherry from the nose makes a reappearance towards the back end. What I often do is check the nose again, after a few sips, to see if I pick up anything further... and sho'nuff, I got some "tart candy" (think "Smarties" or "Pezz"). Interesting. Finish: Medium with some orange peel and more spice. Solid 3.75 stars for my first (at home) tasting. I'd not be surprised if I end up raising it to a 4, upon further pours.

On a flight. They used to offer Woodford Reserve, but for some reason took it off their beverage list. So I figured I'd try the only whiskey they had onboard. The last time I ever drank JD was waaaaaay back in my college days — and at that time, I'd drink it mixed with Coke. Never sipped it on its own.... This stuff is gross! Tastes like rotten wood that was soaked in turpentine. Don't think I'll ever drink this again in any way, shape, or form. I want to give it "0" stars, but I'll give it 1 star — out of respect for the Jack Daniel's name.

I know Rittenhouse has a good reputation as a reliable relatively low-cost Rye. It's "good". I found it to be spicy, of course, with many characteristics I've come to know from most of the half-dozen or so Rye I've tried, but lacking in some depth I've gootten from others. In all fairness, I drank with food that may have tainted my palate a bit. As it stands, Sazerac and Rabbit Hole are still my faves. Solid 3 stars. I'd drink again, but not sure if i will buy it as I had been intending to.

My fourth review from my visit to the Litchfield Distillery yesterday afternoon. Tasted their Straight Rye at the distillery, and also brought back a small bottle to have in the comfort of my (parents') home. "Aged Not Less Than 2 Years"... Color: Light golden color. Nose: Cucumber (Wow! That's new and different!), Wheat Thins crackers. I am assuming what I am picking up is the rye, as well (It comprises 70% of the mash bill). Palate: Sweet and spicy like most ryes I've tried. I'm getting things but can't pinpoint what they are. Drives me crazy when I can't articulate. But it is very good and flavorful. Finish: medium with almost a buttery quality. It's not fair to pit a rye against a bourbon. But of the five Litchfield Distillery whiskeys I tried, this Rye scores high.