Tastes

Light in body and soft in flavor, with a hint of honey. This almost tastes like a ready-made cocktail in some ways. Pour a few ounces in an ice filled mixing glass, toss in a dash of bitters, strain into a cocktail glass and you’re good to go. The bourbon itself is young, but has enough character that it will please a novice whiskey enthusiast. Certainly the spire itself makes for a talking point, as some others in the GSN offices asked what was in the bottle.

Remarkably spicy and rye forward. Quite dry, with a curious mellow smokiness that tastes like woodfire, as opposed to charred oak. Unusual, unique and full of flavor, the finish is quite long and begs for several sips after the first. What really impresses us is the ultra-smoothness of this release. At 105 proof, you’d expect burn, but there simply isn’t any. Really, really well done, and tasty as heck. This spirit captures the essence of southern BBQ in a way that no other bourbon has ever come close to. Highly recommended!

A dark roasted character of espresso bean, burnt demerara sugar, bitter cocoa, and aged tobacco are the first tasting notes. To balance these characteristics, there are also softer and warmer hints of salted caramel, praline, toffee and hot chocolate on the palate. The body is medium-light, holding everything in place without making it seem too thick. The finish is long with the oak figuring prominently, along with plenty of milk caramel, candied nuts and sweet tobacco. Everything finishes up on a dry and finite note. A very well made bourbon, and despite the high age, nothing is overshadowed by the extra time in the barrel. Each savory and sweet note gets a chance to shine.

Remarkable. The cask aging imparts a wonderfully nutty, and slightly spicy patina over the sweet barley distillate. A warm, round, open and welcoming expression. Notes of banana, ginger, buttered toast, sweet tobacco leaf, and light baking spices add a festiveness to the affair. Long finish, with the semi-dessert flavors percolating for several minutes. A lovely Irish in the top five we’ve ever enjoyed. Irish whiskey fans, do yourself a favor and buy a bottle or two as soon as you can. You’ll return to it again and again.

A unique whiskey that has a gentle wood-forward entry. Delicate and still self assured, the blend of agings have a cohesiveness that still allows each to shine. Most notably, the various barrels have made their mark on the final product, leaving notes of oak, light berry, young tobacco, brown bread, baking spice and tea. The mouthfeel is medium heavy with a roundness carried by the high notes. At the end of the long finish, there is a soft fade into light rye spice. A true artistic expression, we highly recommend this latetst release from Kentucky Owl.

The nose is rich with berry fruits, warm caramel and a touch of vanilla bean. The flavors burst in the mouth with a wash of grape that never overwhelms, but supports and melds with the malted barley. For such an ancient aging, there is plenty of character here. The higher proof helps by bringing out the more subtle characteristics of an elder Irish whiskey. The mouthfeel is smooth and balanced throughout the palate, and the finish lingers with just a hint of the Muscat at the end. Very tasty, very well done, and very rare indeed.

Lovely fruit driven entry, with lots of cherry, vanilla and mild char. A medium body with a full mouthfeel. Warming, and introspective. A perfect bourbon for a chill autumn's evening. The finish goes on and on, with more of the dark cherry staying until the very end. Quite approachable at only 100.58% proof, this is easily a friendly sipper that only needs a slight hint of water to open it up.