Tastes

Tasting- 2oz. Neat in glen cairn, and then with 6-7 drops of water. Appearence is a deep reddish amber, legs are fat and slow running. Nose- caramel bull's eye cream candies and dark red fruits are dominating. The nose also showcases plenty of oak. A bit hot to start, but the aromas are rich and decadent. A bit of water brings out the best this bourbon has to offer. Palate- cherries jubilee with a side of baked Alaska all covered in caramel. Neat it has some strong bite back at you. This batch is not playing! Then it gives way to some spiciness. A bit of nutmeg and perhaps allspice? Just a dusting of that as the fruit and caramel are forward. I can't get over the richness here. Water really helps tone down some of the ethanol and releases some nice cherry pie crust, but this is still a beast! This is bourbon from the barrel much like an older Booker's- unabashadely genuine. Finish- looooooong finish! That cherry pie and crust all coated in gooey caramel is definately for me! Overall- hands down the best thing I have ever had from Old Forester. I have had every Birthday Bourbon offering in the last 5 years, and have sampled President's choice 2019 (once) so you can judge my comparisons with your own OF inventory. This is what bourbon should be- sweet, oaky, a bit thick, rustic, and screaming "look at me!" This bottle reminds me of one of my favorites of all time- Booker's Center Cut.... but without the signature JB peanutiness. If you can get one- get one!

Tasting- 1 oz. Neat in a copita glass. Color is a medium gold. Lighter than one might expect for a 12 yr offering. Nose- mellow oak and sweet honey come front and center. Vanilla and creme brulee then dominate the scene. There is a sweet richness about the nose that rides above from start to finish-- perhaps apricot jam? It is a really a nice aroma. Palate- this is definately sweeter than 2020 Birthday Bourbon, which was more floral and tea-like. I get rich vanilla custard, darker fruits like cherry, and over-ripe italian plum similar to what 2019 Birthday brought to the game. Those, along with the apricot jam I experienced on the nose, are what helps to carry this one. Traditional caramel and cornflakes linger on the way out. What it does lack though is spice. Of the last 4 Birthday offerings, this is perhaps the sweetest but it may also be the best balanced in what it shoots for. It is excellent in capturing those fuller, fruitier, bursting flavors. Finish- the finish is long and lasting with a sweet and sour sauce tanginess on the aftertaste. Oak plays in the background. You can taste it, but it doesn't make it too drying or chewy. The juicy, fruitier flavors are still retained throughout. This stays on the tongue ling after the sip is done Overall- I am really enjoying this bottle. Every year for the last 5 years I have been blessed to either get an entire bottle, or a generous sample from someone. Of the last 5 years, this one impresses me most. The sweet characteristics definately puts this in the dessert category. Some may find it too much of that, but I don't. I embrace that. Like most Old Forester products, it seems that the same mashbill yields either very sweet, very herbal, or very spicy offerings. This definately showcases the best of the best of the sweeter side. Looking past the sweetness though, it is all in there and nicely put together- vanilla, caramel, cornflakes, oak. If there is one flaw, however slight, it may be a lack of spice for some.

This is an interesting one. It is a barely legal (51%) rye, done in the Maryland style so that means plenty of corn and a barley backbone. The end result..... a real nice, softer and fruitier expression with nice nutmeg, hints of mint spices but with a fresh and playful peach skin note to it. Think how a fresh picked basket of peaches smells! Intoxicatingly good. I really liked this one. I like what Driftless Glenn is trying to do all the way around in their operation. They are not sourcing and bottling someone else's whiskey, they are making their own with an impressive column still, and even have a pot set-up for other runs. Their aging bourbon and rye stocks are now coming to a good mark, hitting that 5+ year and beyond mark ....and they will only get better from there. As an added mention their restaurant and cocktail program are top notch! They source their rye and wheat grains predominantly from Illinois and then some rye from Canada. The grain is all non- GMO, they use a sweet mash instead of a sour mash, and the end result is a quality product. This distillery to me is an up and comer. The owners did not cheap out when they set out to make whiskey. Selecting Dave Pickerel as a consultant in their start up days proves that they wanted to do things right, didn't spare expense.... and it shows. Great operation on a beautiful piece of historic property in downtown Baraboo. Their distillery and restaurant experience just enhances what is in the glass. This 51% rye is worth the buy. Keep this midwest, to the north distillery on your radar because I spy good things to come. Definately worth your attention.

Nice one for the price here.  Different rye that really challenged me a bit.  Usually the dill, vanilla, candied oranges, snickerdoodle cookies, and jellied mint leaves are the players in rye but not in this one so much. Nose-  Fresh cut flowers, especially distinct lilac, fresh "green" pepper corns, a bit of oriental tea just like that pot at a Chinese Restaurant.  This in a hot toddy might BE the cure for the common cold! Palate-  Black Pepper and coriander are front an center.  I really get some floral notes- especially hibiscus.  It is followed up by some oak, and goes out on just a hint of that black old timey licorice in the paper bag. Finish-  longer than I expected and likely the spicier pepper notes stay with me a bit too long but then fade into candied ginger at the end.  There is what I can best describe as a tanginess that is very pleasing. This one outkicks its coverage and is very nicely done.  At 39.99 it is a steal that proves just what you can do with rye whiskey if you push the experimentation beyond just barrel finishing.  I really want to try this in an Old Fashioned Cocktail because I think with some Angostura Bitters this would be a hit.  It kind of renewed my faith in local Illinois distillers and is tempting me to stop up the next time I am in Evanston.  I find FEW's bourbon a bit on the young "cornflakes and watery milk" side, but this is where their bread and butter may well be. I dug this one.

Nose- oak forward with lots of vanilla bean. There is a hint of creme brulee with a mint sprig. Palate- vanilla custard and oak dominate. Less of those fruit flavors than III and IV had. A tad tannic. Finish- warm andw satisfying. I get some barrel spice on the follow through. Cardamom perhaps? Overall- A bit oakier for my taste. It is good but not III and IV good. This one doesnt have that vibrance and complexity I loved in III or IV. A bit too oaky and dry for me. That said, if oak is your thing this picks up where IV left off. Quality bottle that is a great study for the series. The older whiskey really comes through.

Nose- citrusy nose. I get lemongrass, almost like a bit of orange slice candy, and sweet tart. Very interesting nose for a rye. Palate- Lemon tart, floral bouquet- perhaps carnations? Powdered sugar and a slight bit of mint. Finish- quicker finish and if anything a sweet tart and perhaps green tea on the end. Overall- very interesting rye here. Not what you would expect. Usually younger ryes are spicy and have a good amount of dill and/or mint. This lends itself more toward citrus, almost like a pleasant lemongrass on the nose and continues with those floral notes. The finish is a bit ho- hum, but this grabbed my interest gaining points for being really unique.

Nose- very oaky and a bit of acetone, finger nail polish. Once you get past that you are hit by some nice vanilla Palate- It is without water a bit too hot on entry. A few drops tempers that though. This is also a spice chest with plenty of clove and dominant all-spice.....perhaps too much spice? The rye forwardness is showcased in what has to be a high rye mashbill as I also detect a hint of dill. Vanilla is the prevalent tasting note though after all of the spice is through overwhelming your taste buds. Finish: long and lingering. It is warming but a bit dry. I get a woody bitterness toward the end of the sip followed by some medicinal cherry cough drop that to be honest, I might have enjoyed more of earlier on. Overall- I so wanted to fall in love with this one. My expectations were high. The thought of a 12 yr old, high rye, limited release that was perhaps kin to Old Ezra 7 Barrel Proof had me squirming in my seat to try. Alas, to my disappointment- Too much oak, too much spice, too much ethanol. The balance was just off. Where OE7 balances the spiciness with some sweeter brown sugar and caramel notes, this moves toward being bitter, slightly woody, overwhelming spicy with dashes of vanilla thrown in. I think it crosses the line into being overoaked. Glad I got a sample from a friend because to me, this one is not a bottle buy at the premium price.

Nose- Vanilla cherry-cola and oak hits you in the face. The cherry on top really stands out Palate- Oaky and rich. It is a bit hot but hell, this bourbon is for big boys! A few drops tempers it down. I get that deep cherry followed by vanilla, and brown sugar. Reminds me of a few BTAC offerings and even better. Finish- love the vanilla and the up-down warming. Finish is long. If there is any flaw here it maybe a bit drying/tannic. Those who love the oak will have no problem though. Overall- Stagg Jr. has gotten so much better over time. This one continues on that path. It attempts to hide nothing. Straight up, in your face, and a beast! Nicely done!

Nose- cereal bar, some cocoa nibs, and a vibrant yet citrusy peach. Kind of like that found in white peaches Palate- there is a slightly chemical off taste to it, like I get in Roundstone Rye. It is sweetened though by the finishing barrel. I was expecting more richness and perhaps a deeper, juicer flavor. I get some of that, but would have liked more of that fruit peach flavor and less of the skin. A bit citrusy and less fruitforward. Finish- short and a tad uneventful. Overall- A good attempt for a craft distillery, their flagship rye, and an interesting choice for finishing barrel. I was hoping for a more juicier, fruitier peach, but this was more like rye whiskey in which peach skins were soaked and then strained out. It is also a bit thin. On the upside it is a very interesting riff! Something not many other distilleries are doing as they fear going off the more trusted wine barrel and rum barrel finishes.