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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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Kinsey 7 Year Cask Strength Whiskey
Distiller Score 86
The first impression of this whiskey is rich and heady (as a cask strength should be). It reminds of your grandfather's bottle of Old Spice aftershave with a touch of sandalwood and leather. Once sipped, it fills your mouth with thick caramelized sugars, almost like Bananas Foster. The only hint that this spirit isn't cut down to proof is the tingle that sticks with you--a characteristic of Kinsey whiskeys.
Reviewed by Nicole Gilbert
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Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon
Distiller Score 95
This bourbon offers a surprisingly gentle and aromatic bouquet for a spirit at 55% abv. Aromas of oak, cinnamon spice, vanilla pound cake predominate, with orange peel, coconut macaroon and grain notes playing a secondary role. On the palate, this is a flavorful, multilayered whiskey, with an initial hit of alcohol burn and a strong cinnamon and oak note giving way to vanilla, almond, toasted coconut, and mint before the cinnamon and baking spice notes return. The finish is long and enjoyable, with a distinct apple pie note followed by oak, baking spices, chocolate and finally, freshly baked snickerdoodle cookies before dissipating.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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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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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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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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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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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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Barrell Whiskey Infinite Barrel Project (August 13, 2020)
Distiller Score 94
A delicate nose hits with prominent notes of creamy vanilla pudding and toffee. The palate comes on with more force, revealing dark chocolate truffles, fudge and bitter coffee grounds balanced by orchard fruits, violets, heather and hay. The finish offers cacao nibs, chocolate syrup and spicy oak, as well as a hint of cayenne pepper.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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I.W. Harper 15 Year Bourbon
Distiller Score 94
The nose on this bourbon is soft and mildly sweet, with vanilla, oak, toasted almond, freshly baked pound cake and a hint of orange blossom. On the palate, it is obvious that this is a high-corn bourbon, as an initial wave of sweetness and grain notes appears immediately, giving way to cinnamon, oak and hints of dried plum and chocolate. The mouthfeel is perfectly balanced at 86 proof, being neither too unctuous nor watery. A long satisfying finish with fresh mint, orange peel, milk chocolate and toasted almonds ends things nicely.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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Journeyman Distillery Three Oaks Single Malt Organic Whiskey
Distiller Score 90
As soon as you smell this whiskey, it's obvious this is going to be a rich, dessert-like spirit, like something out of Scotland's Speyside region. It's bursting with aromas of chocolate fudge, coffee, honey, and coconut. On the palate, it's similarly rich and sweet, with notes of caramel, tobacco, brown sugar, vanilla pudding, and slightly bitter dark-chocolate. The influence of rum and port casks is pronounced.
Reviewed by Keith Allison
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Stranahan's Sherry Cask
Distiller Score 92
The liquid pours into glass a brilliant burgundy hue. On the nose are notes of stone fruit. Cherry, apricot and plum lead the charge. These initial aromas open up to the air, allowing a slow reveal of vanilla and oak. It greets the tongue with a warming, leathery spice. By the time it meets back palate, though, it's all decadence: candied pecans, toffee, and a touch of raisin. The influence of the sherry lingers long into the finish, where an oily nuttiness persists. Denver, meet your new dessert dram.
Reviewed by Brad Japhe