Tastes

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch No C917 Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Proof: 131 (65.5%) Age: 12 Years Mashbill: 75% Corn, 14% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY Price: $55 - $80 Color: Dark Amber/Light Mahogany Nose: Vanilla, caramel, sweet, hint of buttercream, alcohol but not off-putting Palate: Sweet, oak, warm, heavy caramel, rich, full bodied, hints of sweet fruitiness such as apples or peaches Finish: Medium-long finish, spicy, pleasant heat, persistent oak, cinnamon Personal Rating: 8.75/10 Notes: Wow, what a great pour! It seems like I have always missed when local liquor stores have had ECBP in stock and now I know why. This is truly a great bourbon. The 12 Years in the Barrel has given this such an incredible oak flavor that is perfectly balanced as some bourbons can be a bit too oak-forward with age. Vein barrel proof, the 65.5% alcohol content is in the higher end, but you wouldn’t know it as the sweet creaminess keeps the heat in check. If you see this bottle on the shelf, absolutely pick it up and enjoy neat, some drops of water would be fine but I wouldn’t even suggest rocks with this one. Sipping at room temperature seems perfect for these flavors

Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye Barrel No 15C285 Classification: Kentucky Straight Rye Proof: 109.2 (54.6%) Age: NAS Mashbill: Undisclosed Distillery: Sourced Bottled: Michter’s Distillery, Louisville, KY Price: $65 - $75 Color: Light Copper Nose: Alcohol present but not overpowering, vanilla, butter cream, citrus, toast Palate: Honey, rye spicy, warm, full but not thick, apple, black cherry, touch of oak Finish: Long, warm in the mouth and chest, lingering heat, cinnamon toast, nutmeg, smallest touch of acetone Personal Rating: 7/10 Notes: Overall, I enjoyed this pour. To be Barrel strength, it still has a proof a little in the lower end, so it is fairly easy to drink. I love how this almost makes me think of like a combination of breakfast and dessert with notes of honey and toast, as well as fruit and vanilla. Altogether the aroma and palate were very pleasant. The finish isn’t too bad but with this bottle I did get the tiniest little bit of an acetone note at the end, it didn’t ruin the drink for me, but I would have to put it in the negative category. Additionally, I feel like the bottle is a little high on the price for what it is. $65 - $75 seems a little much when there are other ryes out there similarly priced that I enjoy more. Lastly, while the prof isn’t super high, I definitely recommend a little water to open up some of the more subtle aromas that are behind the warmth of the alcohol and bold spice flavors of the rye. Let the glass sit out a little as well as I feel it gets better the longer you sip

Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bottled in Bond Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Proof: 100 (50%) Age: NAS (at Least 4 Years) Mashbill: Undisclosed Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, KY Price: $45 - $55 Color: Medium-Dark Amber Nose: Alcohol, vanilla, sweet corn, tobacco, hints of cherry Palate: Sweet, warm, rich, vanilla, corn, baking spices, oak, creamy, bitter chocolate, hints of herbal notes Finish: Medium finish, warm in mouth, vanilla, just ever so slightly astringent, Hint of leather Personal Rating: 8/10 Notes: Absolutely love the packaging, and the what is inside as well. A pretty traditional flavor profile for a bourbon yet it is memorable enough to make me want more. I could sit and sip on this all nite. It has a nice spicy kick, but the sweetness and creaminess balances it out. There is a bit of heat, but nothing major, interestingly enough I only felt the warm in my mouth and not so much in the chest, so this feels appropriate for warmer weather. The longer it sits in the glass, and the more I sip, the more the flavors and aromas open up. I reckon a tiny bit of water would do well here too to cut the creamy sweetness to bring out some more of the subtle herbal notes. Lastly, the price is very reasonable, so if you come across the BiB at your local store, grab the bottle. Great bourbon!

Yellowstone Select Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Proof: 93 (46.5%) Age: NAS Mashbill: Undisclosed Distillery: Limestone Branch Distillery, Lebanon, KY Price: $35 - $50 Color: Dark Amber Nose: Vanilla, touch of leather, caramel, smallest hint of smoke, hint of corn after being in the glass for a while Palate: Sweet, caramel, rye spicy, rich & oily, touch of oak, subtle dark fruit Finish: Medium-Long, brown sugar, oak, baking spices, black cherry, lingering heat in mouth Personal Rating: 6.5/10 Notes: Not a bad pour really, but doesn’t stand out as immediately memorable. I didn’t pick up on the cherry notes immediately, but after sitting in the glass for a bit they started to come out. I’ve heard that some folks are paying $50 for this bottle, but I paid $35 at Binny’s here in the Chicago burbs. I’m not mad about it, I think that $35 is a good price for what I have here: a standard, decent, easy to drink bourbon. The packaging is neat and makes it seem like it is more exclusive and high-end than it really is, but I won’t fault them for that. Basically, enjoy this bad boy anyway you like: neat, rocks, cocktail, etc. With the sweetness and hints of cherry, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea to use it in the kitchen either

Angel’s Envy Batch No 43b, Bottle No 654 Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels Proof: 86.6 (43.3%) Age: NAS (6 - 7 Years) Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley Distillery: Sourced Bottled: Louisville Spirits Group, Louisville, KY Price: $50 - $65 Color: Light - Medium Amber Nose: Vanilla, sweet, black pepper, touch of wood Palate: Pleasantly sweet, rich, astringent quality you feel in your sinuses, butter, hint of dried dark fruit, smallest hint of toffee/peanut brittle Finish: Medium, Pleasantly warm in the chest, Smooth, slight hint of cinnamon & nutmeg, underlying note of raisin bread Personal Rating: 7/10 Notes: I was actually pleasantly surprised with this pour. Honestly, the bottle seemed kind of gimmicky, plus the additional maturation, I really expected an overly sweet “Barbie Bourbon.” While the additional maturation in used cooperage may call the legal definition of bourbon into question here, this is still a quality product. There is a pleasantly balanced complexity in the smooth buttery feel and flavors with the sweetness of dark fruit. They go together really well. I don’t mind the astringent quality but I feel like some may not enjoy it so much. But ultimately, if this is ever offered to me, I will happily accept. I honestly can’t think of any reason not to grab a bottle to add to your collection, ESPECIALLY if you find it on sale as some may find the price a tiny bit steep. I think this would be a great pour to enjoy in the summer time...perhaps with a side of your favorite ice cream

Barrel No 1635, Bottle No 73, Date 2017 Classification: Straight Bourbon Proof: 91 (45.5%) Age: 10 Years Mashbill: Undisclosed Distillery: Sourced by Undisclosed Distiller in KY Bottled: Widow Jane Distillery, Brooklyn, NY Price: $60 - $75 Color: Medium Copper Nose: Brown sugar, apple, vanilla, smallest hint of smoke Palate: Sweet, Smooth, vanilla, brown sugar, pepper, slightly reminiscent of creamed corn Finish: Short-Medium, heat dissipates quickly into sinuses, little rye spice, pepper, hint of black tea, subtle vegetative note similar to cabbage Personal Rating: 6.5/10 Notes: When the whole thing between Chick Schumer and Mitch McConnell happened, I was curious to see if Brooklyn really did make some of the best bourbon in the world. My conclusion: Meh. It isn’t bad by any means, but doesn’t blow me away. At first it feels like a regular traditional bourbon. But the finish is quick and you really have to focus to identify specific notes in there. It is also very surprising that a 10 year bourbon isn’t oak forward in the slightest, honestly I didn’t pick up any. Maybe the weather in NY doesn’t allow more much in the way of additive from the barrel during aging? Whatever the cause, I was hoping for a little more “maturity” out of it. However, the nose and initial sip are pretty good. Drink it how you like it, no need to add water with the low proof but not so remarkable that making a cocktail with it would be over the line. It seems a little pricey for what it is, so if it is on sale, why not grab a bottle. Otherwise, just order one up at your local watering hole if you want to give it a try

Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey Proof: 110.4 (55.2%) Age: 3 Years Mashbill: Blend Willett Low Rye and High Rye: 51% Rye, 34% Corn, 15% Malted Barley & 74% Rye, 11% Corn, 15% Malted Barley Distillery: Willett Distillery, Bardstown, KY Price: $40 - $50 Color: Medium Amber Nose: Subtle Alcohol, Rye spice, Hint of cork, reminiscent of white dog Palate: Sweet at first sip, slightly floral, spicy, hint of banana, smallest hint of dried fruit Finish: Medium-Long finish, warm, rye spicy, oak, hint of dried bananas, a little bit dry Personal Rating: 7/10 Notes: I really enjoyed Willett 3 Year Rye. Still new to “tasting” ryes, but I would definitely go back to this bottle. I love the hints of banana that I picked up, it made for a very pleasurable pour that balanced out the spice from the rye. Adding a few drops of water could likely open up the flavor some more and bring forth some of the subtle dried dark fruit flavors in there. It isn’t the easiest to find here in the Chicago burbs (Binny’s had one bottle in the back storeroom), but the price is extremely reasonable for the quality you get from this bottle. If you see it in a shelf, go ahead and pick it up

Batch No. 2017-02 “Blue Knights Batch” Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Proof: 127.4 (63.7%) Age: 6 Years 3 Months 6 Days Mashbill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont, KY Price: $75 - $90 Color: Medium-Dark Amber Nose: Smooth Alcohol, Toffee, Cocoa, Cereal Oats, Hint of Herbal/Mossy/Grassy Notes Palate: Full, Warm, Brown Sugar Sweetness, Touch of Spice, Oak, Black Cherry, Subtle Peanuts, Hint of Leather Finish: Long, Warm Yet Smooth, Oak, Leather, Spicy, Herbal, Peanuts Personal Rating: 8.25/10 Notes: As usual, I LOVE Booker’s! It consistently delivers a delicious pour regardless of the batch. Some I like more than others, but all too notch nonetheless. As for the Blue Knight Batch I have here, for me it seems to have replaced the familiar leathery flavor for notes of peanut and moss. Which is surprisingly pleasant. The more I drink, the more the peanut comes forward. It is pretty warm, so I could recommend adding some water or an ice cube...but I won’t because I enjoy it just as it is. As with any batch of Booker’s, do yourself a favor and grab a bottle

Classification: Straight Rye Proof: 110 (45%) Age: 6+ Years Mashbill: 39% Corn, 51% Rye, 10% Malted Barley) Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY Price: $45 - $55 Color: Medium-Dark Copper Nose: Sweet, Spicy, Cinnamon, Cherry Cola, Palate: Sweet, warm, rich & creamy, spiced cherry cola, vanilla Finish: Long, Persistent Heat, Spicy, Oak Personal Rating: 7/10 Notes: This is my first time reviewing a rye whiskey. I’ve historically been pretty stuck in just bourbons, but have been enjoying ryes more as of late. There is two things I can say about tasting Pikesville 6 Year: I pick up quite a bit of Mr. Pibb flavor in here, from the nose into the finish there are notes of spiced cherry cola throughout; I’m definitely not mad about that. Secondly, this pour is not only spicy, it is hot. The heat persists from the first sip all the way the finish. Because of this, a few drops of water would do you good if the heat is a little much for you. Once the heat dissipates...say a minute or two after you drink, I start to taste come candy sweetness back in my cheeks. Ultimately, the flavor is solid, the color is gorgeous, and it comes in a handsome bottle, a nice addition to any collection

Batch No. 2 Bottle No. 8691 Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Proof: 95 (47.5%) Age: NAS (2 Years) Mashbill: 70% Corn, 10% Malted Wheat, 10% Honey Malted Barley, 10% Malted Barley Distillery: Contracted, Northern KY Bottled: Rabbit Hole Distilling, Louisville, KY Price: $45 - $59 Color: Light-Medium Amber Nose: Subtle, Sweet, Grain, Slightest Hint of Candy Corn/Cotton Candy Palate: Warm Alcohol Initially, Honey, Cinnamon Candy, Grain, Corn, Nutty Finish: Medium-Long, Sweet, Warm, Cinnamon, Lingering Heat, Hint of Apple Cider, Very Subtle Hint of Root Vegetables Personal Rating: 6.75/10 Notes: I have really been looking forward to trying Rabbit Hole Bourbon, and when it was requested that I review, I jumped at the opportunity. First let’s start with the packaging: very attractive and modern. It does look good the collection for sure. This bourbon is pretty young, so I wasn’t anticipating a complex pour, but I will also say that I wasn’t disappointed with a boring drink. The four grain mashbill gives a lot of great flavor that I am certain will only get better as time goes by. Since there is a lot of heat and alcohol flavor preset, I couldn’t blame you for enjoying with some water or ice. The price isn’t terrible and it is available at most major liquor stores I have been to here in IL. Go ahead and grab a bottle for your collection sometime. Overall, I think that Rabbit Hole is a company to keep your eye on, they are going to be putting out some very choice batches in the years to come