Tastes

According to the Internet, Evan Williams is the billionaire co-founder and former director of Twitter. Apparently, having taken leave of Silicon Valley, Williams has established himself as a world-class distiller and namesake to the Evan Williams line of bourbons. Some will tell you that this brand is named for a Welsh immigrant and distiller who is believed to have opened Kentucky's first commercial distillery in 1783, but there really is no way to know for sure. Whoever this Evan Williams guy is, his Single Barrel Vintage is regarded as one of the best quality to value ratios in all of bourbon, and as such, a necessary bottle to add to my collection. This particular iteration of the popular label was put into barrel 833 on July 20, 2011, and bottled on June 1, 2019, just shy of its eighth birthday. As usual, my taste was poured neat. The nose is exceedingly pleasant with strong vanilla and caramel aromas dominating and a hint of cloves and light tropical fruit supporting. The sip is smooth, light, and fruity. Sweet notes of brown sugar and candied cherries on the front and spicy cinnamon towards the back make for a delightfully balanced sip. The finish is gentle and warm lasting a good while with warmth through the chest and charred oak on the tongue. It's easy to see why this label is so popular and it is sure to be the next big thing. Get it while it's abundant and inexpensive because it won't be so forever. I'll be picking up another bottle the next time I see one.

Being a bourbon man, I have not had much experience with rye whiskey and I have not yet purchased a bottle of rye for home. Thanks to the good folks over at Flaviar, I was provided with a bottle of WhistlePig 10 Year Straight Rye for purchasing a membership (side note: Don't bother joining Flaviar, it is a scam masquerading as a rip off). I knew WhistlePig is a respected a sought after brand and that 10 years makes a good whiskey, but outside those two bits of information, I knew nothing of what I was in for. I poured it neat into a Glencairn glass and braced myself. I don't know what the typical notes of rye should be, but I noticed a sweet mint smell, caramel, perhaps faint banana, and an earthy undertone (Is that the rye? Is rye earthy? I'm out of my depth here, someone help me). The mouthfeel was silky smooth and I knew immediately that if I had enough money I would fill up a bathtub with this stuff and luxuriate in it all night. The palate has brown sugar, pecan, and vanilla upfront with plenty of baking spices and orange in the back. Made with 100% rye, there is certainly a kick on the way down that is stronger than the bourbon I am used to, but it is nice. The finish is long and warm with tobacco and leather and a nice spice lingering in my gums (if this is unusual, please let me know so I can contact a dental professional as soon as possible). I don't know if staring with a 100% rye mash bill was the best introduction to rye that I could have chosen, but I did like this one and it has certainly opened the door to further exploration of the category. I can't compare it to other ryes or what a rye "should" be, so my rating is simply based on my experience with the label. A good experience, indeed.

I.W. Harper is not a label I knew much about. I had seen the 15 year in its beautiful bottle and thought, "There must be something wonderful in there," but the brand had not appeared in reviews, discussions, or top lists that I had seen. The fact is, other than the 15 year, I wasn't sure what else, if anything, was even in the I.W. Harper line. This has a lot to do with the fact that the brand was pulled from the U.S. market in the mid-90s and sold primarily in Europe and Asia, only returning stateside in the last few years. I strolled into a neighborhood liquor store the other day and was delighted to see that they had I.W. Harper Straight Bourbon Whiskey. While the bottle itself didn't look quite so nice as the 15 year, the label and color scheme definitely put out an air of sophistication. At only $32, I thought it worth purchasing as the first bourbon I would own with no prior knowledge of its reputation or attributes. The Harper has a nice dark golden brown color and comes in at a sure to be smooth 82 proof. The nose is gentle with vanilla and oak, maybe some corn, and not much else. There is no age statement, other than it being a straight bourbon, but it smells like a young bourbon. The mouthfeel is smooth and not quite dry, but almost. The palate has a citrusy sweet profile with orange, vanilla, light brown sugar, and a nice cinnamon bite on the back of the tongue. The finish is moderate with oak and leather standing out along with a lingering sweetness. This is a good bourbon that I can sip neat or use in a cocktail. A higher proof or more time in the barrel, or both, would bring this bourbon to the next level, but as it stands this is just a pretty good bourbon and a pretty good price. I would say that while this label is not a must-have, it is worth trying and certainly makes me think the 15 year is probably outstanding.

Heaven Hill Quality House Old Style Bourbon, also known as the Heaven Hill white label, is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey aged for 3 years, and at around $10 it is one of the most budgety of the budget bourbons. Why even bother reviewing a bourbon so inexpensive? Because I'm a man of the people, that's why, and every bourbon drinker, no matter what size wallet he or she has, deserves a quality review. As usual, I took my tipple poured neat into a Glencairn glass. At only 80 proof, the white label had much more of an alcohol blast than I expected, even after letting it breathe for a few minutes. Making it past the ethanol wasn't easy, but underneath were notes of corn, vanilla, and raisin. The nose was nothing special, but it wasn't bad for a $10 bottle. The mouthfeel is thin and dry and the palate brings corn and brief brown sugar sweetness. There is almost no finish to speak of and an aftertaste of tobacco and oak. Is this the best bourbon made by Heaven Hill? No, of course it's not. But is it the best budget bourbon you can find? Also no. But for the price point, is this a bourbon worth having on the shelf to use as a mixer? Yeah, I guess. Grab yourself some store-brand cola and get shitfaced for less than $12, if that's your style.

Having not yet found it in the wild and having $15 in credits to my favorite online liquor retailer, I could not pass up the chance to pick up Colonel E.H. Taylor's Small Batch Bottled In Bond Bourbon. It arrived today via FedEx and after quickly unwrapping it, I cradled it in my arms and looked upon it like a newborn baby. It was precious. I poured it neat into my Glencairn glass and inhaled the heavenly aromas therein. My first thought was that it smelled wonderful and my second thought was that it smelled different than the other bourbons I had experienced so far. At 100 proof, there is certainly an alcohol punch, but it is brief and carries faint floral notes. There is a warm, bready aroma, vanilla, cherry and other stone fruits, chocolate, caramel, and butterscotch. The nose is sweet, complex, and luxurious. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth and the palate is spicy and sweet with the stone fruits, caramel, and vanilla stepping out upfront and cinnamon in the back. The finish is warm and long-lasting with vanilla, oak, and leather and the tingle of black pepper to keep you on your toes. I'm not here to tell you how to enjoy your bourbon, so drink it how you like, but for me, this is a smooth sipping whiskey, plain and simple.

Maker's Mark is often described as a good introductory bourbon owing to the sweet and smooth profile provided by the wheat in the mash bill, as opposed to rye. I've somehow managed to make it pretty far into my bourbon experience without trying this label, but fashionably late has always been my style. The nose is nice with vanilla, caramel, and slight brown sugar, but that is all buried under a pretty solid layer of ethanol. I let it breathe for a few more minutes after my first few whiffs to see how the aroma would change as some of the alcohol dissipated. The second run had less alcohol with the other flavors heightened and the addition of oak underneath it all. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, thanks to the wheat. A sweet sip with the vanilla and caramel continuing, the charred oak becomes bolder and is accompanied by corn sweetness and butterscotch. The finish has a slight peppery heat and ends fairly quick. What does linger is leather and brown sugar, but neither is there for very long. Maker's Mark is good enough that it has certainly earned its reputation and definitely belongs on the list of good introductory bourbons. For the price, I prefer Larceny as my wheated everyday sipper, but Maker's tastes good enough and has the versatility to remain on my shelf permanently.

Angel's Envy is a popular bourbon for both newbies and seasoned collectors alike. Finished in port casks, Angel's Envy brings a little something different to the conversation, and apparently people like what they hear. As such, I had not come across any bottles in the wild and had relegated this dram to my wishlist. On the way home from work the other night, I decided to stop at a fairly new liquor store that advertised state minimum pricing on all liquor with the intention of checking out their selection but not making a purchase. Lo and behold! a bottle of Angel's Envy gleaming like a golden beacon from the shelf behind the counter. And what's this? It's the only one left in stock? Shopkeep! Bring it to me without hesitation! I got it home and poured it neat into a Glencairn glass hoping it lived up to the hype and had not been an impulsive waste of money. The nose on Angel's Envy brings the fully expected and absolutely delightful scent of port wine over a base of dark stone fruits and vanilla. The familiar bourbon aroma of charred white oak is bolstered by the French oak of the port casks for a layered and earthy wood aroma. The palate starts sweet with a minty coolness and finishes with warm, peppery spice. Oily without being too rich, the sip begins with notes of citrus, vanilla, raisins, and roasted, spiced nuts. Baking spices and black pepper towards the back give bite without bitterness. The moderate finish is warm and has a lingering sweetness with chocolate, leather, and oak. I have tried other port finished bourbon that is dominated by the port, but Angel's Envy got the balance just right. I enjoyed it neat, but imagine I will enjoy it on the rocks and in a variety of cocktails. I certainly understand the love of this label and plan to keep it in my collection as long as I can find it.

Fresh off a series of impressive wins at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond bourbon has exploded in popularity and is becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to find. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across a handful of bottles at $39.99. I grabbed one without hesitation, making it the first bottled-in-bond and first single barrel in my collection and only the second with an age statement. My particular selection was bottled on March 24, 2009, from barrel 6571. As usual, I poured it neat into a Glencairn glass and got down to the business of bourbon. The nose is simply classic with notes of vanilla and caramel on top of oak and faint mint. At 100 proof, the smell of alcohol is bold, but not overwhelming. Overall, the nose is pleasant, but not especially unique or noteworthy. The initial taste is sweet with vanilla continuing and being bolstered by bright citrus and honey. The mouthfeel is perfect. An ideal coating that has just enough oil and density to savor. The finish brings cinnamon and pepper and is long and smooth. Waiting to take the next sip, I get leather, bubble gum, and oak with the vanilla and honey coming back around again. Personally, I love the nose on a bourbon and this one was meeker than I had hoped, but what the McKenna lacks in the nose it more than makes up for in palate and finish. This bourbon deserves the accolades and you deserve to get it while you can.

Having not yet dipped my toe into the Campari bourbon family, I picked up Wild Turkey's 101 as my entry point. Aged in deeply charred barrels and bottled at 101 proof, this often recommended and repeatedly rewarded bourbon comes with the promise of irresistible aromas and bold flavors. Poured neat into a Glencairn glass, I let it breathe for a while before diving in. The nose on the 101 is exceedingly pleasant with layers of vanilla, honey, cream, and autumn spices that create such a nice palette of scents that the alcohol vapors almost sneak by undetected. The sip coats the mouth just enough, carrying over the vanilla from the nose and adding caramel and cinnamon. The finish is moderate with the deep char and oakiness coming through and playing off the caramel layers and a biting spice that lingers long enough to savor. I was surprised to like this as much as I did being the highest proof bourbon I have purchased to date and think this was the perfect label to bridge the gap between the lower and barrel proof bourbons. I can see why Wild Turkey is a staple for so many, and it will be for me as well.

Earlier just this spring is when I had my first, shall we say, academic experience with bourbon. I enjoyed a tour and tasting at Woodford Reserve and our wonderful guide explained the bourbon flavor wheel. As we downed our first taste, the guide explained that it was the rye that gave the bourbon that signature spice. It was at this moment that I first thought "Well, since I'm not a real man, I shall henceforth avoid all high rye bourbons and rye whiskey." If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the whiskey. I am here today to confess my sins and admit that I am, in fact, a total boob. I had a conversation with Basil Hayden and he showed me the error of my ways. Thanks to the lower proof, the nose is light with barely any scent of alcohol, but barely any scent of much else either. There is evidence of woody oak, tea, and faint hints of chocolate. The mouthfeel is light and thin but oily enough to not feel dry. There is a taste of sweet honey and light vanilla with sweet fruit of undetermined origin on the front of the tongue. In the back of the mouth before the swallow is a pleasant spice to remind you of the higher rye content. The finish is short, crisp, and warm with continued pepper, oak, and if you look closely, leather. A higher proof may have provided more complex flavor, but if an approachable, introductory high rye bourbon is what you seek, Basil Hayden's is the answer.