-
High West Rocky Mountain Rye 21 Year
Distiller Score 93
Imagine if you will, Little Red Riding Hood taking a wrong turn into a biker bar with her basket full of goodies. Cinnamon sugar cookies mingled with leather and tobacco might be strange to envision, but it is an accurate description of the whiskey. Vanilla and wood spices emerge, and as you sip, there's a momentary sweetness on your tongue. Dark rye grain and red apple skins linger on your palate. My, what big flavors you have! All the better to drink you up!
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye 13 Year
Distiller Score 92
A nose of honey, clove, rye, oak and the initial blast of heat. The palate is filled with spicy cinnamon and Szechuan peppercorns before fruity notes of cherry and pear appear. Maple sugar candy rounds off the taste. Finish is long and complex with cherries and pepper notes continuing through.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
-
Wild Turkey Master's Keep Revival
Distiller Score 95
Strawberry jam on warm cornbread pulls you in on the nose, with red fruits, rye spice, cocoa powder and oak. The palate kicks off with vanilla, syrupy pancakes, baking spices, and black pepper, with milk chocolate and oak coming on late. A long-lasting finish showcases brown sugar, rich vanilla sweetness, and a dose of spearmint, along with leather, and more oak and spice. Very much an amplified, fruitier Wild Turkey.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year
Distiller Score 89
Nose is full of oak, baking spices, vanilla and char. The palate is thick and viscous with more oak, spice, leather, and tobacco. Finish is long and can at certain points be unwanted. Overpowering burnt sugar, charred wood, and wood.
Reviewed by Rob Morton
-
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
-
Four Roses Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon (2013)
Distiller Score 98
Hot on the nose with hints of rye bread, maple and peppermint. Coming in at barrel proof this whiskey does well with a touch of water to open up the aromas. Touches of lemon rind, green fig and nutmeg come through once opened. On the palate, chocolate, peppermint and maple are followed by a mild and ripe stone-fruit characteristic. The finish is long with woody notes and baking spices lingering throughout.
Reviewed by Dennis Gobis
-
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon (2020)
Distiller Score 94
You'll find quite a wide array of aromas from the sweet (vanilla, milk chocolate, sweet corn,) to the fruity (lemon peel, apple & cherry fruits) to the savory (brown butter, gentle barrel spices, toast). As you taste, rye spice comes through as well as a moderate oaky flavor, but the bourbon isn't too chewy or tannic. You can still find those fruit and sweet notes too. A bit of leather shows up as well. The finish is lengthy with a tangy, bittersweet profile as well as a touch of green vegetal notes. A great bourbon that shows dimension. Would serve neat or with a splash of cool water.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel Bourbon
Distiller Score 92
The oak jumps out of the glass almost giving your nose splinters. Vanilla fudge, honey and orchard fruits, such as cherries, flood your senses. The nose on this bourbon is invigorating and swirls with complexity. The vanilla and caramel flavors are expected but charred oak plows through without overwhelming the whiskey’s delivery. It’s actually soft for an old bourbon. This slow sipper has a long finish that spikes midway with hard spices and a musty twang.
Reviewed by Blair Phillips
-
WhistlePig The Boss Hog IV: The Black Prince
Distiller Score 92
The nose reveals warming spices, with cinnamon, oak, rye bread, and spearmint. The palate starts hot and spicy, delivering the potent punch of its high proof. What follows is brown sugar and crème brûlée, with a medicinal and herbal, almost savory, background. A dash or two of water tames the beast and delivers more of its vanilla sweetness. The finish is long, with char, spicy oak, and vanilla.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Wild Turkey Master's Keep 17 Year
Distiller Score 95
A bouquet that is reminiscent of classic Wild Turkey, with big oak, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg, along with salted caramels, fresh orange peel, and just a hint of barbecue smoke. On the palate, Master's Keep is satisfying and complex. Hints of orange peel hide behind the initial wave of vanilla and caramel, before a big oak note comes through, finishing with a flavor reminiscent of an extinguished campfire with a subtle graham cracker and chocolate note emerging. The finish brings baking spice, oak, and warm caramel right at the end. A truly satisfying and enjoyable bourbon whiskey.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
-
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2022
Distiller Score 94
The aroma is rich and full with vanilla cream, baked apples and caramel covered popcorn. But there's some not-so-sweet notes in there as well like oak, leather, and char smoke. You could spend loads of time just on the nose, but what fun would that be? The richness continues on the palate, but the proof and barrel spices kick in to tame the sweet notes. It's a little drying on the tongue — feel free to add a few drops of water to smooth out those edges if you like, but it's fine to drink as is. The finish is bittersweet with more apple skins, oak and a seductive sweet char smoke ending the dram.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
George T. Stagg Bourbon (Fall 2013)
Distiller Score 97
A nose full of heat, but once subsided, we find cherries, chocolate, tobacco and brown sugar. On the palate, notes combine into chocolate covered cherries, dipped in honey. The finish is long with even more chocolate, mixed with coffee and a cherry [syrup] on top.
Reviewed by Rob Morton