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Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Distiller Score 89
Daviess County Straight Bourbon presents a charmingly distinguished character on all fronts. The nose is gentle but expressive, with maple syrup, buttered biscuit, and sweet corn all evenly intertwined with a tempered barrel char. Flavors of caramel apple, baking spice, and vanilla coast across the palate. The body of the whiskey is smooth and lively. Great for sipping, but also bottled at a strong mixing proof.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Journeyman Distillery Last Feather Organic Rye
Distiller Score 82
The nose is spicy but has clear notes of raw grain mash and prairie grass, (as you will find in most younger rye whiskeys) similar to grass cut in late September and October before the first freeze. There is a lot of vanilla and as such is quite sweet on the palate, surely from the new and smaller barrels which lends more to a bourbon-drinker. Finishes with light baking spices and fresh honey. Certain notes of citrus zest and peach aroma make this a perfect rye for cocktails such as a the Ward Eight.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon French Oak Finish
Distiller Score 91
A well-balanced use of French oak, which can be tricky with a spirit as muscular as bourbon. Right out of the glass is a rush of floral and pastry (think pound cake) notes that are held tightly together by sturdy rye and spice aromas. The palate is lush with nut and pear flavors that closes with a lingering tobacco note. Elegant and fun.
Reviewed by Colin Howard
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Journeyman Distillery Featherbone Organic Bourbon
Distiller Score 82
Very sweet in the start, uncommon in young 90 proof whiskeys. Its high level of sweetness lends to its body, which is highly oily in a syrupy way. The mouth-coating lends slightly towards the novice bourbon drinker. Slightly gingery in the mid-palate this whiskey finishes quickly in both the mouth and the glass.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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George Dickel Barrel Select
Distiller Score 91
A nose full of oak and cocoa, with a nice whiff of banana lurking in the shadows. Taste is sweet but not overpowering, nicely balanced by a warm rye spice. There's also oak and char, cherry, and vanilla. Dry with a nice, warm finish characterized by caramel and juicy tropical fruit. For the price, the very definition of an exceptional "go-to" whisky.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Clayton James Tennessee Whiskey
Distiller Score 87
A surprising bouquet of apples and pears greets the nose, along with caramel, apricot, and most surprisingly agave. The taste is rich, with maple syrup, vanilla, spice, and that curious mezcal-esque agave again. Water brings out the whiskey's floral notes as well as accentuating caramel, smoke, charcoal, and even rosewater. A truly unique and surprising Tennessee offering unlike anything else being done in the state.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Dear Johnny Smoked Apple Whiskey
Distiller Score 77
At first the nose is almost like an apple cider vinegar. Once it settles, the smoke comes through and you get lovely dry pork-rub aroma. Notes of tobacco, BBQ, and candied apples come through as if you were at a county fair. The taste is right on track with the aroma: applewood chips, molasses, caramel, and--believe it or not--churros. This whiskey is weird, but worth a try.
Reviewed by Nicole Gilbert
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Glen Moray 12 Year
Distiller Score 85
This is a sweet one. The nose is big on vanilla and honey and cereal grains--Honey Smacks, actually. The scent of fresh cut grass lingers somewhere beneath all the sweetness. On the palate, it's lighter than the nose suggests. Crisp and fruity with white chocolate, toffee. Softly malty with some floral character. Finish is short and fruity. It's a solid baseline Speyside, not overly complex, and with an ABV that is well-suited for enjoying the whisky neat. Perfectly suited for casual sipping.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Kinnickinnic Whiskey
Distiller Score 82
Bottled at 86 proof, the nose is very malt forward and sweet with a bit of dewy buffalo grass. On the forefront of the palate there is a bit of charcoal that turns quickly to spiced caramel. The finish is slightly creamy and tingling in nature and soothes to a chewy malt cereal grain. The whiskey seems best suited for cocktails making the name “mixed” an even more suitable one. Try it in a Blood and Sand or a Black Manhattan.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack
Distiller Score 91
The nose, palate and finish can be summed up in one southern dessert: your grandmother's banana pudding. It's got it all, from the homemade vanilla pudding, to the Nilla Wafers and sliced bananas. There's even toasted meringue on the top coupled with a warm finish from the alcohol.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
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Knappogue Castle 12 Year Bourbon Cask Matured
Distiller Score 91
Golden honey emanates from the glass with notes of menthol and grassy herbs. The palate is rich with nougat and malt with moments of wood spices and mint.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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1792 Aged Twelve Years
Distiller Score 88
The 1792 12-year has many of the same flavor traits of it younger siblings, while expressing its maturity through a host of more subtle and precise characteristics. The familiar sweetness comes through in a rich and layered maple syrup note that is countered by drier, rye-influenced Turkish apricot aromas. This bourbon rolls across the palate with a round and creamy structure that, while not overly complex, is immensely enjoyable and well balanced.
Reviewed by Colin Howard