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Hirsch Selection 28 Year Bourbon
Distiller Score 97
The nose is soft at first and but as you dive deeper you become bathed in the peppered, rich toffee and dried apricot notes. Vanilla, walnut and nutmeg enrich the complex woody whiskey. There’s a lingering finish of soft caramel and toffee with well-defined clove and earth. All of these flavors work in concert making this dangerously easy to drink. Please DO NOT mix this with Cola.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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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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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
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Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2023 Edition)
Distiller Score 93
Tart lingonberries show up prominently on the nose, followed by brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. The palate showcases salted caramel, spearmint, candied orange peel, barrel char, and prunes. The finish is sweet, with raspberry syrup, grape juice, and dark chocolate, and closing notes of almonds, oak, and leather.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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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
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Wyoming Whiskey Barrel Strength Bourbon (Barrel #3242)
Distiller Score 94
A deep mahogany color beckons from the glass, with big baking spices leading on the nose, followed by vanilla and dry oak. The palate starts with rich sweetness, think hot caramel on a chocolate dessert, with sugar-dusted berries, cedar, cinnamon, red wine, and candy cane. The finish is long and sweet, with juicy fruits and mint chocolate chip ice cream balanced by peppery oak, leather, and a Red Hots combination of spice and cinnamon.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2021 Edition)
Distiller Score 92
The whiskey is a beautiful red-hued dark brown in the glass. Juicy plums and red berries lead on the nose, along with peanuts, vanilla, cinnamon, and a spicy oak influence. The palate is rather approachable in spite of the high proof, and offers blackberries, red wine, spearmint, and toffee. A warming finish offers rich chocolate syrup, barrel char, sawdust, and peanut brittle.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2020 Edition)
Distiller Score 94
There's a lot going on with the aroma including toasted peanuts, caramel, barrel spices, toasted grains, and fruit which all together is reminiscent of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If you add just a splash of water the sweet corn comes through as does a fruit mélange. However, this is still a high proof bourbon so those fruit notes are just the accent. More spices and char smoke come through on the palate and the bourbon feels rich and slick. Overall a solid and fun dram. Enjoy as a nightcap; you deserve it.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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The Last Drop Signature Blend
Distiller Score 96
The nose offers leather, furniture polish and tannic oak in front of cinnamon-dusted baked apples, brandied cherries, orange peel, and gooey caramel. The palate is big and rich, with a great depth of flavor. On the one hand, there's cedar, spearmint and rye spice, and on the other, sugar-dusted dried fruits such as apricots and cranberries, along with toffee, cloves, and black pepper. A lengthy finish offers barrel char and maple syrup, juicy plums, vanilla bean, and peanut brittle. A memorable, long-lasting and rewarding dram.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Bardstown Bourbon Co. Copper & Kings Muscat Mistelle Finish
Distiller Score 90
The nose is vibrant and bright, with grapes in the form of brandy and jelly, a floral bouquet punctuated by violets, as well as walnuts, and herbaceous notes of rosemary and thyme. The palate is jammy, showcasing raspberry dark chocolate truffles and lemon zest. The finish offers spiced mulled wine, as well as mint, cacao nibs and leather.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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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
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Westland Garryana 2021 Edition 6
Distiller Score 91
The nose kicks off with warm cherry pie in a buttery crust, followed by graham crackers, kola, and vanilla taffy. The palate begins rich and sweet, with gooey dark chocolate brownies, and is backed up by a savory side showcasing meat roasted with an herbal bouquet. A lengthy finish offers pumpernickel hard pretzels, oak, white pepper, and salted caramel, along with closing notes of honey and dried fruits.
Reviewed by Jake Emen