Tastes

Old Forester 1920 is up for review tonight. The mashbill is 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley. This one clocks in at 115 proof. The color on this bourbon is reddish-brown color. The legs are thin but run very slow. I don’t know the age but by the color you know there are some older barrels that make this one up. The nose is ethanol, caramel, brown sugar, dark cherries, chocolate, and oak. The palate is intense caramel and vanilla with the cherry’s and chocolate kind of like chocolate covered cherries, cinnamon spice, with a little alcohol burn but not in a sharp bad way. The finish is very long and coats your mouth very well with all of the flavors lingering and making you want to take your next sip.

I was reading on the web about the Old Cabin Still bourbon that was made by the Stitzel-Weller distillery. Norton Simon messed up a huge amount of their own whiskey and ended up purchasing Stitzel-Weller in 1972 due the the decline in whiskey sales and people wanting other types of drink. They slowly dumped this bad whiskey into the bottom line brand Old Cabin Still. This was the end for Old Cabin Still. Heaven Hill purchased this brand in 1993 but they do not even list it on their website or promote it in any way. I saw a bottle of this and just had to give it a try for 10 bucks. From what I read it used to be a wheated bourbon but now is a regular bourbon at 80 proof, probably the regular Heaven Hill house mashbill. It is fully matured for thirty-six months (that is what is says on the bottle). I am surprised how decent it really is. Yeah I know it is a very bottom shelf but it actually has some good flavor.

Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey is the first new style of American whiskey since prohibition. The mashbill must consist of 51% wheat. The mashbill for Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey is 51% wheat, 37% corn, and 12% barley. From what I can find, there are only a handful of wheat whiskey’s out there. This one does have a 7 year age statement on the bottle which is a plus now days. The color is a nice amber color. The legs are thin but do not run to fast down the glass and after a while the just cling there. The nose is sweet with lots of vanilla, caramel, and honey. The taste is vanilla, caramel, some oak, and a touch of spice. The finish is fast with hints of oak with a slight residual caramel sweetness. It is very light and easy to drink whiskey. This would be a great choice into whiskey for someone new. To me this is very similar to other wheated bourbons.

T.W. Samuels Bottled In Bond bourbon is a Heaven Hill product that is only available in the Kentucky area. It is also only available in a 1.75 plastic bottle and costs about 24 bucks. Yeah I know, I don’t like plastic bottles either but don’t let that scare you off on this one. Years ago Heaven Hill also bottled it in a 750 glass bottle but discontinued it. Be careful if you see this one at your liquor store as there is an 80 proof version out there and it looks just like this one except it does not say Bottled In Bond 100 proof. The color is brown to dark red. The legs are thin and start fast but then slow down and sheets of alcohol just stick to the glass. The nose is vanilla, caramel, buttered popcorn, and oak. The taste is vanilla, brown sugar, peanuts, caramel, and oak. It has a medium finish with the vanilla and caramel really coming through. It feel very creamy on your tongue. There is also some nuttiness, sweetness and oak that linger. This one does not drink like a 100 proof whiskey.

Rebel Yell 100 is definitely a step up in the right direction. The color is slightly darker than the regular version with some good oak flavor, vanilla, and some caramel. The finish is medium to long and the flavors last. You know this is a 100 proof whiskey. I like it and will probably buy again. The price is right at 20 bucks so it is a good value in my opinion.