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Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Four Wood Bourbon
Distiller Score 96
The nose on this bourbon couldn't be more complex. Vanilla, caramel, red wine, freshly chopped firewood, candied citrus, the list goes on. The first sip is like taking a drag off a slightly harsh cigar, and then instantly mellows. The palate then explodes and coats the mouth with sweet citrus, well integrated wood, cool smoke, and a non-cloying sweet, lingering finish. Gorgeous, meticulously complex, yet still approachable.
Reviewed by Paul Belbusti
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William Larue Weller Bourbon (Fall 2013)
Distiller Score 96
A nose full of caramel, molasses and maple sugar candy gives way to the palate of seeded fruit on toast with butter and cinnamon sugar. The finish is long and complex, with light tobacco, leather and more cinnamon sugar.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
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Eagle Rare 17 Year Bourbon (Fall 2013)
Distiller Score 95
Complex doesn't cut it for the nose, with English breakfast tea, cherries, nutmeg, and cinnamon. A palate of tobacco, leather, almond, clove, and pepper finds its way to a truly lengthy finish of citrus, additional almond and a return visit from the cherries.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
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Booker's 25th Anniversary Bourbon
Distiller Score 96
Nose is boozy, but moves onto deep dark fruit and brown sugar. Tastes like burnt apple pie. Lot's of molasses and hints of smoke. Concentrated sweetness lingers and coats your entire mouth. Deep and rich, the oak and char of the barrel really comes through. An exceptional bourbon.
Reviewed by Phil Olson
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Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (Fall 2020)
Distiller Score 93
Brown sugar and baking spices lead on the nose, with vanilla and mint. The palate starts hot and bold, with cinnamon and licorice, along with candied orange peels, sour cherries, cola, and gingersnaps. A powerful, lengthy finish shows rye spice, tannic oak and leather, along with sugar-dusted fresh mint as if you're leaning into a Mint Julep.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Parker's Heritage Wheat Whiskey 13 Year
Distiller Score 94
Heaven Hill seems to have turned their Bernheim Wheat Whiskey up to 11 with this special release. Almost twice the age, this is the bigger and bolder older sibling with caramel, vanilla, and milk chocolate notes dominating without venturing into carnival candy land. The barrel spices are well integrated with just a slight cinnamon prickle towards the finish. Adding water expands these flavors, but isn't absolutely necessary.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Ransom The Emerald 1865 Straight American Whiskey
Distiller Score 92
The whiskey is sweet with dark maple aromas and smoky in an almost medicinal manner. The complexity continues with fresh cotton, cinnamon, mulled wine, and menthol. On the palate, there is only a mild sweetness and though smooth, it isn't creamy. Lots of barrel spices appear as well. This may not be your everyday dram, but it is worth seeking out as this is as close as you'll likely get to tasting 19th century style Irish whiskey.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Sonoma-Cutrer Pinot Noir Finish
Distiller Score 84
The nose bursts with sweet notes of lavender and cinnamon which underlie the tones of baked cherry pie in this garnet colored whiskey. Clove studded orange peel and nutmeg lead to a rich, full bodied mouthfeel and flavor. The pinot noir barrel is easily recognized by the rich spiced-berry notes in the finish.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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High West A Midwinter Night's Dram Act 10 (All Scenes)
Distiller Score 91
A pleasantly musty aroma that brings to mind a batch of grape jelly simmering on a stove near stacks of old books with leather bindings describes the nose. The palate brings serious rye realness, with warming flavors of toasted, seeded rye bread, oregano and thyme along with dried figs and dates, cloves, and a hint of marzipan adding to the long, dry-yet-fruity and spicy (and slightly leathery) finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend (2021 Release)
Distiller Score 97
The nose is complex with a mix of sweet and savory notes such as green herbs, sweet tobacco, smoked vanilla, and baked apple. As you move on to the palate, you'll find a spicy and dry whiskey (but not too dry). More apples are found coupled with cherries as you exhale as well as a bit of milk chocolate. Tastes more savory than sweet; it's a whiskey which keeps revealing itself as you drink. Make sure to spend some time with it, particularly on the nose. A must buy for any American whiskey fan.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Rhetoric 20 Year Bourbon
Distiller Score 89
Though brown sugar is prominent on the nose, the whiskey has a masculine profile overall with leather and barrels spices shining through. The sweet and spice aspects balance nicely and that see-saw action between the two flavors as you drink is a pleasurable experience. The finish is on the bitter side, but still has a bit of mouthwatering acidity that doesn't leave the whiskey flat and encourages you to take another sip.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2019)
Distiller Score 93
There is room here for each mash bill and yeast strain to express itself with equal stage time. The nose is brooding with tanned leather, rye bread and accents of mint. The palate is coating but not heavy with creamy flavors of maple and caramel apple down the middle and cinnamon and nutmeg along the sides. A late appearance of dry tannins reveals the influence of the oldest casks in the lot.
Reviewed by Colin Howard