Tastes

Larceny Barrel Proof is a wheated bourbon limited to three releases per year (A-January, B-May, and C-September) by Heaven Hill Distillery. It is a non-chill filtered bourbon botted at full barrel proof. In the case of B520 it was 122.2 proof/61.1% ABV. The tasting was hot throughout but the sweetness from the wheat mashbill evens it out. Its not the greatest wheated boubon, but a good alternative to the hard-to-find Weller series. Color: Dark sepia On the nose, the alcohol aromas are clearly present from the beginning but after some time nosing notes of maple, honey, butterscotch, caramel, and brown butter arise. The palate is very spicy but with nice notes of caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, and charred oak. The finish is long and heated with some fading sweetness and toasted oakiness.

Abraham Bowman Sweet XVI is the 17th limited release. I tasted Bottle 588 which was amazing from nosing through the finish. This rare wheated bourbon is at the top of the list of bourbons I have ever tried. It was distilled on 04/26/2002 and bottled on 04/26/2018. It was matured for 16 long years in charred white oak casks and is bottled at 116 proof/58% ABV. This is a must try for bourbon lovers. Absolutely stunning, I cannot wait to get my hands on their next release. Color: Deep Bronze The nose was incredibly sweet with notes of corn, red candy, butterscotch, oak, red fruit, and vanilla. The palate was spicier giving a fantastic balance to the sweetness with notes of charred oak, red fruits, and creamy vanilla. The finish was gently long with a lot of warmth with lingering sweetness, vanilla and oak notes.

John J. Bowman is the single barrel line from the A Smith Bowman Distillery. Rumor has it that it is made from the same mashbill that Buffalo Trace uses for Buffalo Trace bourbon or Blanton’s Single Barrel. John J Bowman is triple distilled and lightly chill filtered. It is barreled in lever 4 charred oak casks for about 10 years and bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV. I tasted this next to Blanton’s and they were remarkably similar. Only the proof made a difference between them. Color: Auburn The nose is full of caramel, coconut, leather, charred oak, apple, and vanilla notes. The palate is similar with notes of toasted caramel, vanilla, charred oak, leather, and rye spice. The finish is long full of spice and oak.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is matured in charred new American white oak casks and finished in a second oak barrel in Versailles, KY. During the tasting, I noticed the heavy oak presence from the nosing through the finish. The whiskey is bottled at 90.4 proof/45.2% ABV. Color: Rich Mahogany On the nose are rich vanilla notes, brown sugar, plums, crème brulee, and brown butter. The palate has notes of burnt sugar, oak, vanilla, crème brulee, and is rather creamy and spicy. The finish is medium in length with notes of oak, spice, and nuts.

Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey is crafted much like a bourbon. However, this distillate is matured in whiskey-soaked barrels (American white oak) to achieve a rich and unique flavor. “Unblended” is used to annotate that there is no neutral grain spirits used in the production. Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey is chill filtered using a Michter’s own process and is bottled at 83.4 proof/41.7% ABV. Color: Deep Amber Throughout the tasting the whiskey was very similar to a bourbon having some of the same notes. Starting on the nose are notes of rich caramel, dried peaches, butterscotch, and a slight woodiness to it. The palate was slightly dry with notes of vanilla, banana, caramel, pepper, and oak tannins. The finish is medium to long in length with more vanilla notes and has an oakiness to it.

George Dickel Bottled in Bond is a Tennessee whiskey distilled in the 2005 fall season. Just like any Tennessee whiskey, it is charcoal filtered and it sure tastes like it. The whiskey is matured for at least 4 years (13 years total) in a federal warehouse under government supervision to ensure its authenticity and bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV. This was whiskey advocates whiskey of the year in 2019, and I am not sure how. Color: Rough Bronze It opens on the nose with notes of all spice, charcoal, oats, and graham crackers. The palate is rather similar with added notes of charred oak, baking spices, and cloves. The finish is short with a toasted oak note.

Rittenhouse Rye Bottled in Bond is comprised of a mashbill consisting of 51% rye, 37% corn, 12% malted barley much like a bourbon. This rye whiskey represents the traditional Pennsylvania rye whiskeys. It is bottled in bond which means it was distilled in one season and matured for 4 years in a federally own warehouse under U.S. government supervision at 100 proof. Thus, it is bottled at 50% ABV. Although lacking oni the nose, the palate and finish are amazing. This is a solid rye whiskey for the price. Color: Strong Bronze I have to admit, there is a lack of nose when it comes to Rittenhouse Rye BiB, albeit almost nothing except for some rye spice, dried dark red fruit, and has a maltiness to it. However, the palate was astonishing with notes of cocoa, cherry, leather, oak, rye, and almonds. The finish is medium to long in length with a mellow leatheriness, oak, and rye spice.

Maker’s 46 is a step up from the original Maker’s Mark bourbon. Bottled at 94 proof/47% ABV it is a little hotter on the palate and brings out more bold vanilla notes. Although there is a no age statement, it is matured for somewhere around 6 years in newly charred American white oak casks and finished with seared French oak staves. The mashbill consists of 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley. Color: Warm Bronze The nose has a burst of vanilla along with notes of toasted oak, caramel, orange peel, and some peach. The palate is incredibly oaky and dry with notes of all spice, and more vanilla. The finish is not as long as I had desired, very spicy and oaky with a hint of leather.

Knob Creek 15 is comprised of a mashbill of 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley keeping with the 12 year. It is matured for 15 long years in charred new American White Oak Casks in Clermont, KY. I tasted release# KC001/DSP KY-230 which was bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV. The aromas and flavors are similar to the 12 year with a strong oakiness added to it. Unfortunaly, it may be a little too much oak. Although, the extra three years adds bold oak notes, this is still a top shelf bourbon that leaves us with a question. Is it really better than the 12 year for the $40 USD more? Color: Dark Amber What a wonderful pour with long skinny legs sliding down the glass. Upon nosing I was hit with a burst of oakiness. Although dominated by the oak, once passed, hints of maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon spice, dark red fruits, caramel, and peanuts arise. On the palate are hints of vanilla, charred oak, rye spice, leather, baking spices, and toffee. The finish is long, gentle and warming with continuing hints of leather, oak, vanilla, baking spices, and a hint of citrus.

Glenfarclas 25 is a true Speyside Whisky in the heart of Scotland. It represents the Scottish whisky heritage by taking the time to mature the spirit into a uniquely complex and superb whisky. The spirit is 100% malted barley matured for 25 long years in first fill ex-Oloroso Sherry casks. Glenfarclas 25 is bottled at 43% ABV which adds to its depth and allows it's richness to excel. Color: Deep Gold Upon pouring the Glenfarclas 25 into my Copita Nosing Glass, I was hit with wonderful aromas of sherry and oak which told me this was going to be heavily sherried. While inspecting the spirit, I noticed the deep golden colors that masked my glass and its elegant legs dripping down the sides. The nose is very floral but sophisticated with complex but gentle notes of sherry, dark chocolate, oak, orange marmalade, and some hints of nuts. The palate is slightly smoky accompanied by coffee notes that arise with continuing hints of nuts, dark chocolate, oak, sherry, and leather. The finish is long and intense but still warm and welcoming with notes of cherry, cocoa, leather and oak. Glenfarclas 25 is a well-rounded, complex, and full-bodied whisky that is top shelf worthy.