jsk
Calumet Farm 14 Year Single Rack Black Bourbon (March 2006)
Bourbon — Kentucky , USA
Reviewed
August 16, 2020 (edited October 27, 2020)
I've always ignored Calumet in the past, but this 14 Yr caught my eye. It's a 19 barrel blend, so a fairly small release; but there seems to be a fair amount of it around my area right now.
Nose - brown sugar, charred oak, cinnamon and baking spices, vanilla & orange peel
Palate - follows expectations from the nose: brown sugar, oak, barrel char, cocoa & baking spices. Medium finish is mostly on the mid-palate, with oak, char, and some vanilla.
Mouthfeel is both oily and thin at the same time. I can't help but wonder what it would be like at a higher proof.
Overall it's pretty good. It's definitely recognizable as Barton 1792, but with more oak and complexity. The oak comes across as more charred than tannic, which I like. I do wish it was a bit higher proof just to concentrate the flavors and mouthfeel.
As for as value goes, I'd say it's middle of the pack. I can think of some that are better for the same/less money (KC 15, ECBP), but compared to Cream of Kentucky or Woodford Batch Proof I'd say it holds its own. I don't regret buying a bottle, but won't be purchasing another.
104.0
USD
per
Bottle
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It's nice to at least have the ability to add water to find just the right sweet spot and it's also interesting to taste the different flavors as the proof changes. Definitely the case that sometimes adding water does nothing to help and it just starts tasting weaker or revealing bad flavors.
I wouldn't say I'm all about proof, although when it's coming out of the cask at 120-140 proof and you take it all the way down to 90 that means adding a lot of water, which can be detrimental. For American whiskey my sweet spot is the 100-110 range, although I certainly enjoy higher proofs if the quality is there. Below 90 often means too much added water and thin/weak flavors. It can be different for other spirits though. I'm not Scotch but I've had Armagnacs in the 40-45% ABV that were phenomenal.
Saw some of your reviews. You seem to be SUPER into proof, by your scores on the bookers so I can kinda see a bit of where you're coming from. I always proof down these CS things to make sure they're not hiding bad flavors or a lack of flavor (bookers). Different approaches.
I'd say the CoK is a little sweeter and more concentrated, while the Calumet has more oak.
@dhsilv2 I've had the CoK 13 year, which I feel is a little better than this Calumet 14 (largely due to the bump in proof), but also 30% more expensive. So I would consider the relative value on the two as similar.
Oh sorry which cream of kentucky did you have? I found the 13 year to be well worth the 130 price, I bought two. Same with the KC 15. I'd however not compare any of these as comparable to 1792, all would be far better. Woodford Batch proof is to me a hard pass...60-70 dollar bourbon at best.
Good read, I saw these and passed due largely to thinkin the 12 year was a disaster. I actually found some very good 10 year single "racks" as well as some store picks of the 10 year. Seems I wouldn't have been upset but wouldn't have been happy had I bought this one.