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W.H. Harrison Governor's Reserve Bourbon
Distiller Score 84
This spirituous whiskey is slightly vegetal on the nose with dill in particular standing out. The first sip took me instantly to my grandmother’s house and her German apfelstrudel. It is fruity and sharp with a touch of grilled peaches on the finish. There isn’t much of woody character, and though its high-proof is a bit mouth-numbing, overall it is a well-made whiskey.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Good Deeds American Malt Whiskey
Distiller Score 90
Chocolate-covered berries and soft cherrywood smoke lead on the nose, along with orchard fruits and toffee. The palate is rich, with Baker's chocolate and butterscotch backed up by oak and cedar wood, as well as cinnamon, allspice, and white pepper. The finish is warming and lengthy, with salted caramel, smoky phenols, black pepper, coffee beans, spearmint, and barrel char.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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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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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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Hancock's President's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Distiller Score 88
A light, sweet nose with caramel, tobacco, tropical fruit, and apple greets you on the nose. For a high-rye bourbon, the rye spice certainly doesn't exert itself, leaving the palate to lush, rich caramel, mocha, mango, toasted oak, and orange. The rye spice sneaks in at the end but doesn't draw much attention. The finish delivers dried apricots, oak, and caramel.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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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
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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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Jefferson's Rye Cognac Cask Finish
Distiller Score 93
The cognac is prominent on the nose with violets and dandelions atop oak, molasses, licorice, and mint. Those influences switch on a rich palate that's whiskey-forward upfront, offering rye spice, salted caramel, and brown sugar leading into grapes and blackcurrants. A lengthy, pleasing finish offers dark chocolate and vanilla, followed by a touch of heat wiped away with luscious raspberry syrup, leaving a close of tingling tannins and barrel char.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Jack Daniel's Rested Tennessee Rye
Distiller Score 82
After two years in the barrel, the character of the rye is starting to show. The raw smell is pretty much gone and the beginning of the nose and front palate has started to resemble Demerara simple syrup with an extreme vanilla aroma. It retains the grainy texture midway through and finishes slightly smoky and rustic. I wouldn’t compare it to Overholt quite yet as the two whiskies aren’t comparable in any sense. I would put it up against others such as Journeyman’s Ravenswood Rye, with less of a kick at the end. It has a dominating spice of smooth black pepper from the mid-palate on back. I like it as a sipping whiskey, especially for someone looking to expand knowledge of how whiskey changes in a barrel as it ages.
Reviewed by Brock Schulte
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Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Series Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Distiller Score 92
The nose is rich and enticing, with butterscotch, caramel, and peanut brittle. That nuttiness continues onto the palate, which also offers a surprising of red fruits, including apples, orchard fruits, plums, and grapes. The finish is lengthy, and showcases chocolate syrup, Tootsie Rolls, tannic oak, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Barrell Bourbon Batch 004
Distiller Score 85
The nose boasts a lot of smoke and char layered on top of biscuits, nuttiness, and tropical fruit. This carries through to the taste, which is big and aggressive and also adds toffee, salted caramel, cigars, and lemony citrus. The finish brings brown sugar, slightly bitter orange marmalade, and a campfire warmth. A few drops of water helps tame the burn that comes from the higher proof, allowing one to appreciate the flavors.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Stagg Jr Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch 1
Distiller Score 90
The nose fills with brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon--easy like Sunday morning. The palate finds heat, cherry syrup, more brown sugar and new hints of citrus. The finish is very long with smoke and sugar taking control.
Reviewed by Rob Morton