Tastes

I got this from a Kroger earlier this year for $38. I recently got the 4 year rye (on the right), but thought I’d review this before cracking that one open. Setting: in glass, rested 10 minutes Nose: slight caramel, ethanol (54%), oak and spice, mint and slight dill, there’s also a sweet note that I can’t quite name, butterscotch perhaps? Palate: rye spice, slight caramel and vanillin, oak, some menthol and dill finally some grain at the end. There’s a medium finish, but oh so good. I have say, I really enjoy this rye. There are only 2 other ryes I can think of off the top of my head that I enjoyed more, but no disrespect to Willett, in my opinion this young rye is GREAT. 9/10

I got this from a generous giveaway when whiskies could be traded on Reddit. One of the stipulations was to also review the bourbon and post it on the r/Bourbon subreddit. I’ll be copying and posting over there as my first review on the subreddit. Setting: Neat in a glencairn wannabe, rested for 10 minutes, laying in bed with my wife and pups studying the Stave and Thief Society Bourbon Steward Guide. Nose: brown sugar, caramel and vanilla, ethanol and slight chocolate Palate: brown sugar and cinnamon spice, caramel and vanilla, Kentucky Hug going down, but no ethanol taste, some oak and fruit Overall: This is at least 8/10

I’m about halfway through my 1L bottle, probably time to review it! Nose: Upfront I get grain and ethanol, slight caramel and oak spice, and some Beam funk in the back Palate: Grain, Peanut, Brown Sugar and Caramel, Ethanol and slight vanillin Overall this is a great, budget bourbon for an everyday pour.

I received a couple bottles of this when I was at Beam for a contract job. Now that Chapter 2 is out and I’m on the hunt, I decided to open a bottle and review. Nose: Jim Beam Peanut Funk! Nutty Bread and Grain, Ethanol, Oak and Vanilla, Baking Spice Palate: Peanut, Fresh Bread and Grain, Ethanol (it is 60%), a nice blend of Caramel and Vanilla This is a fantastic whiskey blend, something I’ll try not to drink so fast!

I’ll admit, I got this for the hype. It’s impossible to find and I took the chance to grab it off a friend (albeit overpriced). On the nose I get caramel apples and vanilla, followed by slight oak and ethanol. On the palate I’ll be honest and say I got bitter alcohol up front, some oak and spice follow swiftly behind it, with a cinnamon finish. A short finish as well. The mouthfeel is thin, however, the more it sat in the glass, the more it opened up. It’s a sweet bourbon, lots of fruit and clove. I would liken this to Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, as I get lots of cinnamon apple with that bourbon as well. Is it worth the hype? Not at all, but I probably wouldn’t hesitate to grab another bottle if I found one for the bunker.

This has been resting in my decanter so it is slightly oxidized, but it’s a consistent quality bourbon I can always go to if nothing else. At $50+ a bottle, it might be a little over priced with no age statement, but tour guides suggest it’s at least 4 years of Distiller’s Select liquid “matured” for additional time to the right quality in a new charred oak barrel. The master distiller decides how long it takes to “mature” and become the double oaked juice by tasting periodically during the secondary aging process. On the nose, I get the usual Woodford funk, followed by vanilla and dark fruit such as plum. On the palate, I can’t ignore that signature Woodford note.. I could smell or taste blind and always be able to pick out at least Distiller’s Select and Double Oaked. Following is the usual bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla, slight ethanol and fruit. At the most, it’s an 80/100, it’s consistent, good bourbon, but doesn’t knock your socks off.