Tastes

The Joseph Magnus story is interesting if you like history. I’ve always enjoyed Joseph Magnus casually so thought I should finally give it a proper review. Pour was neat in glencairn, fresh cracked bottle, let glass sit for a long while before diving into it. Nose - is fantastic and a lot of complexity. It has dark dried fruit probably most closely associate to raisin, caramel, vanilla frosting, oak, pepper, little bit of nuttiness like maybe a toasted walnut or almond, hint of cherry, little bit of sweet tobacco. It definitely evolved as it sat and was swirled. When did a heavy swirl the drier notes were more prominent then if just let it sit. Palate - again a lot of complexity but the palate may come across a little more reserved than the nose would suggest. Some caramel and raisin sweetness very quick on the front, chocolate and maybe a little bit of that vanilla frosting as well. Mid palate and back palate is interesting. The mid palate goes dry; I would assume that the oloroso sherry barrels used for one of the finishing barrels were using a dry grape because get a lot of dry wine sherry quality, dry dark fruit, some nuttiness and a lot of oak. Back palate brings the pepper, oak hangs on, just a hint of dark chocolate, and leather. Has a really nice viscosity, little bit of an oily quality and coats the mouth well. Finish - short to moderate finish, those dry notes are the most prominent flavors, oak, dried fruit, pepper, get just a little teaser of sweetness trying to jump back in the mix. Finish overall is subtle. This is one honestly that you’re just gonna have to try, depending on your palate and the finishing in three different barrels there’s just so many flavors that could jump out at you. This pour was different than other glasses I’ve had of Joseph Magnus. In other pours I’ve gotten a sweeter palate that lasts longer. This went dry pretty quick but will be curious to see how this opens up as this was a fresh cracked bottle. If you don’t like a dry wine or sherry flavor then maybe steer clear as these do tend to run $80-$110 a bottle retail, and if that’s not a flavor you’re familiar with this may come across bitter in the mid palate. This has a lot of complexity though and some really great flavors. It’s not an everyday sipper, something that I’d bring out for special occasion or to sharpen the taste buds every now and then, or if someone was a tried and true bourbon or dry wine fan probably pull this out to see what they think. This is something I’ll always have stocked at my house, big fan of Joseph Magnus.

Well this was a take a chance pick up. This is one of these celebrity backed brands, most notably Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick among others. It’s a blend of 4, 6, and 16 year bourbon from undisclosed Tennessee distilleries. What does that mean? Most likely Dickel distillate for at least some of it if not all, but chance others could be involved. The hold your horses moment is the price, which I’ve seen range anywhere from $157-$199. I was able to get this around $120 on sale. The sole reason for taking the plunge, not because of Manning and co., but because of their master blender Marianne Eaves. If you don’t know who that is give it a google, but simply put she knows her stuff. Now for that price, the potential distillate, and that age range of blends that’s still a tough pill to swallow. With that being said let’s see how she did. This was a fresh cracked pour in glencairn and let sit for about 30 minutes before starting. Traditionally I feel that a bottle gets better after at least a week or more after opening, not always, but most of the time if I can open it and it’s good then would expect it to get better. Nose - subtle, there’s no superstar, but there is some complexity hidden within it. I get a plum jam or dark fruit characteristic, caramel, honey, a brown or melted butter or maybe even a hint of buttered popcorn, there is some earthiness to it, grass, and does have the mineral note typically synonymous with Dickel, so I’d be shocked if this wasn’t Dickel or at least some of it. Now when I nose the bottle it was a caramel bomb so will be interesting to see how this opens up over time. Palate - wooo she’s a sweet and spicy gal, the nose matches the palate, has the plum jam/dark fruit, caramel, honey, grass, butter or buttered popcorn, little bit of butterscotch, and peanut brittle. That mid palate turns up the heat big time, allspice, pepper, cinnamon, little bit of oak. The minerality is there and it often gets associated with flinstones vitamins for Dickel products. I don’t know if mask is the right word or maybe to be nice, the blend is complementing that flavor and it’s melding within some of the other flavors as it doesn’t really come across as vitamin. Overall has a really nice viscosity, coats the mouth well and hits all over. Finish - moderate and pretty pleasant, honey comes back, little bit of oak, leather, pepper, and caramel. The caramel stood out more than anything and reminded me of those Brachs caramel chews back in the day. Maybe a slightly drying effect but minimal and hardly noticeable. I admittedly went into this taste with a lot of skepticism especially for the price being asked. Is it good? Yes it is. Do I like the price tag? Eh, not so much. At the sale price I got it at it makes it a little more attractive. With Barrell and Bardstown Bourbon Co. being the big blend names, this for me sits somewhere in the middle if not closer to the Bardstown Discovery series. In my area Barrell products are usually $80-$100, and Bardstown Discovery Series is usually $110-$140. I’d rather see this in the $90-$120 range. It’s got complexity, it’s got good flavors, and a good finish; nose didn’t wow me but it was decent. I could see this be a moving target for people for notes and flavors though. It’s a blend of straight bourbons but almost tastes like it’s been finished in another barrel. I almost think the younger bourbon could be Chattanooga whiskey as there was some sweetness and honey notes that reminded me of their 111 whiskey. Would definitely recommend try before you buy. If you’re feeling adventurous and have the money to throw down then yea this would be a high price tester. I think the $157-$199 is heavy handed and playing the marketing game based upon who all is involved. If you are super sensitive to Dickel then may take a pass as it does have a little bit of the mineral note but felt it was much more muted than prior products. All in all it does taste good, maybe even great. If you’re thinking about buying this would be a roll of the dice splurge pick. It hasn’t built a reputation like Barrell or Bardstown, but it could be knocking on that door step with Eaves at the helm. The big knock though is price I think it needs to come down at least $30.

Would normally do a full review, nose, palate, and finish, but this was a first in that I couldn’t even finish the glass. I’m not sure if this was a bad batch, but this was just downright offensive. Taste was astringent, had a lot of barrel funk, overly musty dare even say moldy. As an Indiana native was hoping this would make a Hoosier proud, but sadly the opposite, and am reluctant to try the other offerings from French Lick as a result.

Taste was neat in a glencairn glass. The bottle has been open for about 5 weeks. Had to let this sit for about 15 minutes for this to open up, got almost all ethanol on the initial pour. Nose - it’s a decent nose but, subtle. The most prominent things that jump out are a sweet vanilla like a vanilla frosting and fresh apple peel. There’s some caramel undertones but not as prominent as the stave profile would suggest. Rounds out with a little bit of cinnamon, toasted oat, and slight oak presence. Palate- palate is unique, vanilla, but got more caramel than the nose was suggesting, really pick up on the apple, and then the spice takes over. Mid to back palate is a spice bomb, lot of pepper, cinnamon, the apple hangs in there as well. Little bit of oak. Finish - medium, pleasant and not drying, apple continues to be the standout, hints of caramel, vanilla, oak and leather. The SE4 x PR5 didn’t blow me away but it’s good, definitely hits above average. There’s some good flavor there, but you might have to work to identify it. The caramel and vanilla dance around a little bit, the apple was always consistent. If you like a spicy bourbon then this is a good option, it’s not a burn it’s a legitimate spicy flavor. This would be a good bourbon on a crisp fall evening. Definitely recommend.

Been hearing a lot of good things about Chattanooga Whiskey so had to see if the buzz was worth it. Tried this one neat in glencarin from a fresh cracked bottle. Nose - Really good nose, was like opening a bottle of Fall. Strong note of honey and toffee, followed by vanilla and brown sugar, little bit of oak. Has a very sweet profile. Palate - really well balanced, still pick up the honey, toffee, caramel, little bit of maple on front end, moves quick to cinnamon, ginger, and pepper, pleasant amount of spiciness. Finish - that spiciness hangs there for a minute, dries out a little bit, pick up some leather, just a hint of mint, little bit of the honey brown sugar comes back. Has a medium finish. For 2 years old this is firing on all cylinders. Has a really nice richness to it, and the flavor profile is delicious. This doesn’t drink like a 2 year old bourbon. The buzz is worth it. Chattanooga is on to something, if they release older age statements gotta believe those will be flying off the shelves. I would highly recommend as a bourbon to constantly have on the shelf.

Full proof I have is a store pick and taste was a neck pour, neat, in rocks glass. Let sit for about ten minutes heavy swirl. Nose - vanilla icing, maybe a little bit of butterscotch and caramel, hint of oak and cinnamon. Palate - ton of flavor, vanilla, buttercream, caramel on the front, mid palate goes to an allspice, oak, and what reminded of just a hint of mesquite and smokiness. Coated the mouth well, velvety oily consistency. Finish - much of the flavors on the palate, vanilla and oak the most, with black pepper and smokiness. Not drying or bitter at all. Finish extremely pleasant and moderate in length. I’ve only had the Weller Special Reserve and the Antique, but this just moved to my favorite Weller product thus far and is just an absolutely delicious bourbon. Doesn’t drink like a 114 proof. Retail should be $50 and if you found it at that then no doubt about it you buy that all day. Now with where I live you see the stupid secondary prices where stuff like this goes for $200-$300+ and that’s absurd. I’d be willing to go up to $100 just because it is rare and hard to find, but mainly because it tastes fantastic and think it’s a good value still for how it tastes. Cheers!

Taste is neat, neck pour, let it rest for about 15 minutes and gave this a pretty heavy swirl. Nose - bubble gum, banana nut, light oak, hint of cherry, little bit of sweet tobacco. Comes across sugary sweet like a banana nut bread and sugar cookie mixed. Palate - she’s going to tease you, sweet candy shop goodness on the front end, still get the banana nut and bubble gum, little bit of dark chocolate, cherry, then she hits you with the spice, cinnamon, black pepper, clove, oak, some smokiness. She’s spicy but smooth. Finish - moderate with oak, banana, little bit of leather, cinnamon. It finishes dry, but a back end of sweetness, still pleasant and well balanced. You’ll get some bourbons that go really dry or bitter, this doesn’t have that at all. You really can’t go wrong with 1920. Great flavor, should be readily available and a great price for the proof and complexity. On average should be at $60, around the holidays I’ve seen some insanely good deals and recently picked one up for $40. If you don’t have it, then go out and get it, should absolutely be part of your collection. A top 5 everyday drinker, and a great mid level pick.

Taste was a neck pour neat in glencairn. Gave this a long swirl and let sit for about 10-15 minutes. Nose - pleasant, get a very quintessential Brown-Forman product scent with banana, almost like a banana nut bread, vanilla, some apple and honey, little bit of cinnamon, has a subtle woodsy note, but not oak think it is probably coming from the beech and birch charcoal mellowing. Palate - up front banana, apple, and honey, mid palate goes mildly spicy with cinnamon and black pepper, has a little bit of smokiness to it and a slightly drying effect as it finishes. Drinks very smooth, light mouth feel, doesn’t burn at all, but gives you a legitimate spiced flavor. Finish - short to medium finish, it goes dry with pepper and wood, but again think it’s gotta be more of the beech and birch mellowing then it is oak, doesn’t remind me of a regular white oak barrel, has a little more flavor and spice, with a hint of apple and banana mixed in. Sometimes these low price low proof pours really surprise you. It isn’t overly complex, but it’s pretty well balanced across the board and for around $25 it’s got more going on than you might think. Has really good flavors. I’d have no problem buying this again for an everyday drinker or mixer.

Heard a lot of buzz surrounding Smoke Wagon so had to see what the craze was about. It’s another MGP sourced bourbon, which the amount of just stellar MGP that’s being put out is impressive to say the least. Tried this one neat in glencairn glass, let it rest for about 10-15 minutes. Nose - marshmallow, extremely sweet, reminds me of bubbleicious or bazooka bubble gum, orange, hint of mint. Palate - does not taste near as sweet as the nose would suggest. Fruit on the front with orange and a candied apple, maybe even a hint of blueberry, caramel and some marshmallow, rye kicks in mid palate with the spice; cinnamon and pepper. Has a very slight astringency as it goes from sweet to spicy, but it fades quick, didn’t think this drank super hot or spicy for a high rye bourbon, was extremely smooth. Finish - medium to long finish with oak and apple, does have a drying effect in the mouth. The buzz surrounding Smoke Wagon in my opinion is legit. This is maybe one of the more unique MGPs I’ve had with the fruit flavors. This is a very balanced mix of sweet and spicy and some complex flavors jumping out. Highly recommend, would absolutely buy again.

OESQ - 9yrs 9mos - 120.8 proof. The notes from Four Roses state the Q is floral, banana, refreshing, and medium body. Tried this one neat in glencairn and also a 2nd with splash of water. Nose - caramel, floral, a sweet red fruit aroma, and a little bit of tobacco. For 120.8 proof does not come across as harsh as I would expect. Overall very sweet fragrant. Palate - neat is was mostly caramel on the front end, there was a sugary sweetness, but couldn’t really place it for what kind of fruit, mid palate definitely picked up the floral notes as well as the banana. Did have a nice mouth coating. With the water added it kicked up the sweetness, a strong strawberry jam flavor, the mid spiciness picked up as well. Cinnamon, clove, and pepper. Finish - got a banana nut flavor initially, it fades pretty quick and gives way to little bit of oak, leather, and rose. Is a moderate finish that did dry out the longer it went. It does have a refreshing quality to it, but where I would normally associate refreshing/cooling to mint this didn’t come across as mint to me. It was almost like you had an ice cube sitting in your mouth and then when you spit it out you had that cold mouth sensation. As this is a single barrel and basically a store pick these are going to vary and especially with the different recipes Four Roses has. This pick and the OESQ was one of the more unique bourbons I’ve had recently, and was absolutely spectacular in my opinion. The description from Four Roses is spot on, all of those notes are there, but I thought there was so much more going on. This was a store pick from Crown Liquors in Indianapolis and this was maybe the best store pick I’ve had. For the neat taste this was smooth for 120.8, a lot of flavors, the splash of water also stepped this one up, unique finish with the cooling. If I ever saw an OESQ I would buy it no question. Cheers!