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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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Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon (2014)
Distiller Score 98
Baking spices smacks the olfactory receptors as you waft this over-proof spirit. Next, ripe red and stone fruits follow with cacao and mild tobacco notes coming next. The palate is full of chocolate and caramel with a rich oily mouthfeel. The finish is less spicy than anticipated, with a medium-long length. The bottling tasted was from warehouse HW, the Barrel No. was 47-2J.
Reviewed by Dennis Gobis
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Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select
Distiller Score 90
Honey, applejack and ripe peaches on the nose, but it's on the palate that the Sinatra barrel makes itself known. The distillery says that the grooves in the barrel double the surface area, which is evident from the get-go. On-the-stove caramel, vanilla and peppery smoke prevail. The extra sweetness is balanced nicely by the higher proof. This is a smokier, bigger and bolder Jack; I can see why Sinatra wanted to be buried with it.
Reviewed by Michael J. Neff
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St. George Single Malt Lot 20
Distiller Score 94
The nose is big and enticing, with butterscotch, cocoa powder, milk chocolate, and creamy vanilla pudding. The palate is full and rich, with toffee and fudge, as well as barrel char, candied fruit chews, and towards the back, waxy notes alongside touches of bitter coffee grounds and peanut shells. The finish lingers with Christmas spice, tannic oak, orchard fruits and Black Forest Cake.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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High West A Midwinter Night's Dram
Distiller Score 92
The robust spicy rye notes are still present in the glass, but as it sits, red fruit tempers that just a bit. As you taste, the spicy rye comes again to the forefront along with vanilla and more red fruit. The finish is warm and spice filled with hints of chocolate and fresh whipped cream with a dash of white pepper.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Brandy Cask Finish
Distiller Score 91
This long awaited whiskey starts off with a very breakfasty aroma: maple-covered granola with dried fruits, nuts, and a bit of milk chocolate. It has a certain rich smoothness that is almost silky along with more toasted nuts, caramel, and lovely baking spices. An all around solid whiskey to enjoy neat so you don't miss the raisin notes brought about by two years in brandy casks.
Reviewed by Nicole Gilbert
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Barrell Bourbon New Year 2022
Distiller Score 90
Toffee and vanilla pudding are most prominent on the nose, along with notes of lingonberries and lemon peel. A big palate showcases vanilla bean, burnt caramel, and Baker's chocolate, along with a bright burst of citrus with ruby red grapefruit and candied orange gummies. The finish is lengthy and warming, with menthol, allspice and cloves, brownies, tannic oak, barrel char, and pineapple.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Four Roses Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Small Batch Bourbon (2017)
Distiller Score 94
The nose offers baking spices, oak, a range of vanillins, and overripe apples. The palate then starts lighter and sweeter than expected, with a ton more vanilla but also a tart side; think vanilla taffy. There's also butterscotch, orchard fruits, and berries. It gets a bit hot on the finish, but that's soon smoothed over by the underlying vanilla sweetness, with vanilla pudding, biscuit and oak, as well as cinnamon and cloves.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Belle Meade Bourbon Madeira Cask Finish
Distiller Score 94
Nose offers a combination of vanilla and baking spices, dry oak and a red wine influence, along with light mint and herbal notes. The palate is rich, with more vanilla, dark red fruits and wine tannins, oak, clover honey, and rye spice. A moderate length finish continues on the sweet and rich sweet side, with vanilla, char, chocolate, brown sugar, and just a touch of black pepper. Delicious, and an excellent job interweaving the Madeira influence with the bourbon itself.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Heaven's Door Redbreast Master Blenders' Edition
Distiller Score 92
The nose offers a combination of vanilla beans and toffee, with prunes, walnuts, and honey roasted peanuts atop an oaky undertone. The palate is full and rich, with salted caramel and pumpernickel bread, as well as fresh plums and berries alongside sugary dried fruits. A big finish offers brown sugar and cinnamon, along with candied ginger, leather, and dark chocolate.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Westland Garryana 2017 Edition 21
Distiller Score 92
Black cherry vanilla ice cream leads on the nose, followed by cocoa powder and stewed meats. The meaty side then leads on the palate, shifting to fruit jam, then dry oak, all interlaced with berries, burnt caramel, and a tart tinge. A resoundingly smooth finish showcases maple syrup atop chocolate-chip pancakes, a quick note of black pepper, and tannic-woodiness, with the sweetness most prominent and lingering.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Jack Daniel's 12 Year (Batch 2)
Distiller Score 91
Flambeed bananas and salted caramel are prominent on the nose, along with barrel char, and powdered sugar-dusted beignets. The palate is rich and offers poached pears, sticky sweet toffee, candied apples, raspberry syrup, and orange zest. The finish showcases tannic oak, leather, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.
Reviewed by Jake Emen