Tastes

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 is distilled by the Heaven Hill Distillery and matured for at least 12 long years in a heavy charred new oak barrel. This bourbon is full bodied and intense throughout the whole experience accompanied by sweet and rich flavors and aromas. This was my first time tasting ECBP and was not disappointed; actually, it has become a new favorite. The is a must by for any serious bourbon lover. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 is bottled at 127.2 Proof/63.6% ABV. Color: Rich Mahogany The nose is incredibly sweet with intense aromas of apple pie, vanilla bean, cinnamon, fudge brownies, sweet cherries, and brown sugar. The palate is rich with the same level of intensity accompanied by continuing notes of apple pie, vanilla bean, melted caramel, cocoa, cinnamon bun, and a slight oakiness. The intensity follows through to the finish with notes of lingering cocoa, some oakiness, and some hazelnut.

The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finish has one of the most impressive bottles I have ever seen. The cool slick black bottle matches the artistic label and musical cork. Boann Distillery fills their Whistler 7-year-old Single Malt casks and fills them with the distillery’s own Boyne Brewhouse Imperial Stout Beer. The casks are then refilled with blends of their malt and grain whiskey together to impart a distinct flavor profile. The Whistler Imperial Stout Cask Finish is triple distilled, non-chill filtered, and is bottled at 43% ABV. Color: Deep Copper On the nose are notes of coffee, wet grass, vanilla, creamy, dark chocolate, malty, oak, and corn grains. On the palate are notes of toffee, malt, dark chocolate, and a thick creamy vanilla. The finish is medium in length, a little shorter than I’d like, with leather, floral, and vanilla notes.

The Whistler Double Oaked is the second of for whiskies I’ve tasted from the Boann Distillery. Overall, it was very fruity and light but lacked depth and complexity. The Double Oaked expression is a blend of 80% grain (corn) whiskey and 20% single malt (barley). It is then matured in matured in ex-bourbon barrels married with ex-sherry barrels The Double Oaked is bottled at 40% ABV. Color: Burnt Gold The nose was full of intense grassy aromas with floral sweetness aside notes of vanilla, honeysuckle, green apple, pineapple, banana, and melon. The palate was fruiting and nutty with notes of honey, cereal, banana, citrus fruits, and spice on the front but fades after a few seconds. The finish is rather short and light with lingering notes of oak, citrus fruits, and oats.

Noah’s Mill is a Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon produced by Willett Distillery. Although there is no longer an age statement on the bottle, it is believed Noah’s Mill is matured for 15 years. This bourbon is bottled at 114.3 proof/57.15% ABV and is heavily made from corn although the mashbill is undisclosed. I feel as if this is an old school style bourbon, a little harsh but full of flavor. Even the bottle is in an older style wine bottle with an antique looking bottle. Color: Light Bronze The tasting throughout was a little overpowered by the alcohol content but delicious tasting notes were strong enough to still come through. the nose smells as if I was in a spicy bakery. There is a strong presence of cinnamon, brown sugar, caramel, baking spices, candy apple and apple crisp, oak, and vanilla notes. On the palate were notes of charred oak, vanilla, maple fudge, all spice, and caramel. With water, hints of brown sugar and baking spices arise. The finish is long with some alcohol burn, lingering spice, vanilla and charred oak.

The rich golden liquid that is Yamazaki 12 year is popular Japanese malt whiskey that is full bodied and packs some complex flavors. Distilled and matured in Japan for 12 years in Mizunara casks, this whiskey was a little on the dry end but has some nice delicate fruit notes. Yamazaki 12 is chill filtered and bottled at 43% ABV. Color: Yellow Gold The tasting was rather dry; however, the notes overall are well balanced and pleasant to taste. The nose is heavily floral with notes of rich vanilla, green apple, peaches, honey, cereal (oats), green grapes, and oak. The palate is light but rather dry with continuing notes of vanilla, honey, peaches, green apple, oak and has a subtle smokiness to it. The finish is long and slightly smoky with notes of leather, oak, and vanilla.

The bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage I tasted was #1125 barreled on 08/08/2012 and bottled on 07/01/2020. Evan Williams goes out of their way to write in the age dates and barrel numbers for their single barrel bottles which isn’t common in the bourbon world. The whiskey has tons of rich and fulfilling notes which came as a surprise for the price. The mashbill consists of 78% corn, 12% rye, and 10% malted barley, usually matured for about eight years. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage is bottled at 86.6 proof/43.3% ABV. Color: Deep Copper For what this whiskey is worth, there are many aromas and flavors going on in this single barrel. On the nose are notes of corn sweetness, marshmallows, vanilla cream, sweet candy (cotton candy), and red fruit/watermelon. On the palate are notes of honey, charred oak, dried fruit, raisins, tangerine, and hazelnuts. The finish is medium in length, very oaky, and has added hazelnut notes with fading sweetness.

This particular Glendronach expression was matured for 21 long years in the Northern climate of Scotland, in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. This method is keeping with tradition of intense fruit notes from nose to finish. The 21-year-old is named “Parliament” after the rooks that have been in the trees which overlook the distillery for about 200 years. Glendronach 21 is non-chill filtered and bottled at 48% ABV. Color: Deep Amber The tasting was full of complex flavors and aromas from start to finish. The nose is richly fruity and floral with notes of raisins, toffee, oak, sherry, pipe tobacco, and orange marmalade. On the palate are intense sherry notes with hints of dried red fruits, dark chocolate, almonds, and oakiness. The finish is long with continuing robust notes of oak, tobacco, sherry, and leather that lingers in the mouth. Absolutely stunning!

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is comprised of a mashbill consisting of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. The Toasted Barrel expression is distilled and matured the same way as the Small Batch then matured in another oak barrel with a toast adding additional flavors and aromas. This leads to a more sugar sweetness to the flavors. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is bottled at 94 proof/47% ABV. Color: Burnt Gold The tasting definitely exceeded my expectations for this whiskey. The nose is light with notes of toasted marshmallow, French toast, maple syrup, oak, and apple crisp. On the palate are notes of toasted marshmallow, charred oak, vanilla, chocolate, and caramel. The finish is rather short-to-medium in length with notes of honey, cereal, and oats. It reminds me of a s’more with light on the chocolate, heavy on the marshmallow with a light maple syrup drizzle on it.

Springbank 10 is the definition of a classic Campbeltown whisky. It is made of 100% malted barley matured in a mixture of bourbon and sherry casks. The distillery makes their 10-year using older proven methods and does not add any artificial coloring. Springbank 10 is bottled at 46% ABV. Color: Deep Gold The tasting was incredibly delightful. The color, texture, and tasting notes were very consistent. The nose is very floral with notes of honey, pears, potato, lemon, birchwood, and a gentle smokiness to it. The palate is more floral with honey suckle, honey, leather, oakiness, apricots, fig, and slight smoke. The finish is long with continuous notes of leather, tobacco, and oak, while maintaining a slight smokiness.

Smooth Ambler Contradiction is a non-chill filtered blend between two bourbons. 78% is the first bourbon which is nine years old consisting of a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. 22% is of the second blend which is two years old and has a mashbill of 60% corn, 20% wheat, and 20% malted barley. Smooth Ambler Contradiction is bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV. Color: Auburn I found the tasting notes rather lacking is quantity but made up for it with the delightful notes it does have. On the nose are notes are French vanilla, toasted oak, butterscotch, and peanuts. The palate is rather nutty with notes of leather, red fruit, and honey. The finish is long with almost no finishing spice, oak, and leather.