Tastes
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Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 25, 2021 (edited November 27, 2021)This was our second tasting after the distillery tour. The nose was mostly in the vanilla, caramel zone but the alcohol from youngish bib was a tad much for me. The palate was mostly barrel notes of toffee and vanilla but a touch of green apple crept in there from the high rye mash bill. There was just a touch of bitter ethanol but not off-putting. The finish was a nice dry oak. -
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 25, 2021 (edited January 11, 2022)This was one of the tastings on a recent trip to the distillery. Unfortunately, it reminded me of why I am not a fan of Old Forester. The samples were set out about the time the tour started so they had a half hour to open. I just can't get past the banana on the nose. That's unfair as in all other respects I liked the bourbon. The palate is first rate with vanilla, caramel and dark fruit. The 1910 as another story. No banana. I bought a bottle and wrote a separate review earlier. -
Crittenden's 100 Proof BIB 4 year
Bourbon — Kiln, MS, USA
Reviewed November 24, 2021 (edited January 10, 2024)Passed through Missippi a few days ago and visited a liquor store in Natchez. The cordial staff lamented how they were unable to get any Buffalo Trace products. Their top sellers come from Old Forester and Beam. A local patron entered the conversation and we all recommended different bottles to one another. I asked about local bourbon offerings and they all recommended Cut Above bib. "But don't expect too much" The first sniff is of pecan pie. I love pecan pie but never got the whole pie in my bourbon, maybe it's wishful thinking leading in tomorrow. The color is even reminiscent of the pie. Ethanol is tame at this point. The pecans are lost on the palate and the standard caramel toffee come through and carry through on the finish. The mouth feel is a bit thin It's mid length and a touch of oak and ethanol creep in on the tip of the tongue. Not particularly complex but quite enjoyable. I consider this one of the better craft products I've had. The pecan on the nose is so pleasing and sets it apart. Pricing is reasonable40.0 USD per Bottle -
A few years ago, I took a bottle of Amador Sherry cask finished bourbon on a trip to Florida to share with friends. It took all of an hour to half empty the Bottle. When I saw this with the Spanish sherry stave finishing, I got a bottle to take to Florida again. Same thing happened again. In the strictest sense this is not bourbon as some sherry has become a flavoring. Funny thing though, you barely notice it. One year old bourbon has gone through a compression finishing process and creates a very drinkable product. The nose is rich with vanilla and caramel especially if you ice it. Taste is true with a hint of sherry but it could as easily be fruity traits of a high rye mash bill. This is a satisfying easy drinker with zero complexity. I like it and would guess it to be 4-5 year old high rye bourbon if tasted blind Cleveland bourbon uses a similar process but their stuff is sub par and the youth overwhelms, consequently I have shied away from rushed process bourbons. This one passes muster. The bourbon snob in me didn't want to like this one based on the process, but I did like it. The single dimension of flavor and palate puts it square on the average rating.30.0 USD per Bottle
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Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 16, 2021 (edited November 17, 2021)Went to the distillery for a tour today and this was my pick of the tastings. The venue is basically a fully functional model distillery operation. My favorite part was the cooperage where they fashion their own barrels but it would have been nice to see the worker bees as opposed to the idle machinery. 10% of Brown Foreman's production goes through this model distillery. Michter's and Evan Williams are just up the street and they both operate model distilleries. Angels Envy and Peerless are within a mile. They are about the same size but I think all of their production occur at those sites. I enjoyed the tour and it was informative but I prefer operational distilleries more than the model ones. Now the bourbon. The back story on this is a distillery fire in 1910. Seems several barrels got lost and rediscovered years later. They put the bourbon in new barrels with a very high char for a few months. The results were pleasing so this is to emulate that process. The resulting bourbon is a dark Mahogany color. I have never cared much for Old Forester products because of the banana fragrance from their yeast. Our samples were poured at least a half hour before we tasted and the 1910 had no banana on the nose. Instead, I was greeted with rich brown sugar caramel and a touch of dark fruit. I really enjoyed the nose. The palate is true with well developed barrel flavors (this is old fine whisky) and just enough ethanol to let you know it's there. This is a high rye mashbill but I got very little in the way of baking spice . Complex it's not, satisfying it is. It has a pleasant oakey finish that stays around long enough. I like this bourbon. This sells for $59 in the gift shop and supply seems ample. I've not seen it in local liquor stores and would expect it to go for less. As for value, I think Rare Breed or Four Roses SB offer an equal or better experience for less -
Rabbit Hole Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 12, 2021 (edited January 25, 2023)I have been wanting to try this one but I have been burned by too many young craft whiskeys. Tonight, it was a reasonable price for a pour at a restaurant so I got one. Light honey in color with a sweet powerful nose albeit simple. I notice cotton candy or bubble gum, not much else. For a young bourbon the alcohol is faint. Palate again is sweet but more like apples and honey. There is no finish. Glad I didn't buy a bottle but I will certainly drink it when offered.12.0 USD per Pour -
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #3
Bourbon — USA
Reviewed November 11, 2021 (edited August 26, 2022)My brother-in-law and I took our wives to Bardstown earlier this year, toured the distillery and had lunch. Made a day of it. My brother-in-law bought a bottle of Discovery 3. I opted for a bottle of Rebel 10 year across town. His bottle has been open a couple weeks and we tasted and critiqued last night. First thing I notice is a rich buttery nose. It reminds me of hot buttered waffles with a generous amount of maple syrup. It's 110 proof but the alcohol is nicely in the background. The palate is mostly true but a nutty element comes in along with some dark fruits. This is a most enjoyable bourbon although the finish is a bit short. If this was under $50 a bottle I would love it and that's my problem with the Bardstown Bourbon Company. Their stuff is good but the pricing borders on ridiculous. On the other hand, their restaurant is fabulous and the pricing most reasonable.130.0 USD per Bottle -
Boone County 7 Year Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 7, 2021 (edited November 15, 2022)This is a re-taste from a bottle open nine months ago. It's from barrel BCW34 and clocks in at 121.7 proof. Last taste was hot with ethanol, this time not so much but it's there. Complex nose built around butterscotch but there's a mango or peach element and some baking spices in the background as well. The two play off each other very well and I gotta say I like nosing this one. On the palate, I'm getting buttered caramel corn and a touch of tropical fruit with a little nutmeg. The burn from months past is gone. It really fills the mouth with flavor in a chewy kinda way. Love the texture. Gives you that Kentucky hug with a long burnt marshmallow finish that really lasts. I have but two pours left. Maybe I'll take a trip up north.90.0 USD per Bottle -
Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed November 6, 2021 (edited November 17, 2021)Right off the bat I'm gonna say this is one of my go to's. It's been reviewed to death and I agree with the composite score. For me, this one is is comfort bourbon if that is a thing. Elijah Craig is in the same category. Take a nap in the afternoon and sip on a bourbon, light a fire and watch some college football. Navy vs Notre Dame and now Ky vs TN, a couple of great bourbon states. The nose and palate says "Yeah, this is really good bourbon"27.0 USD per Bottle
Results 51-60 of 144 Reviews