Celebrating Modern Day Whiskey. Honoring The History. It’s been 100 years or so since the Jack Daniel Distillery released a whiskey of 10 years of age or greater. Evolving Jack Daniel’s past aged-stated whiskey process, these Tennessee Whiskey barrels have been aging in the Buzzard’s Roost of our barrelhouse, and methodically relocated to the lower floors of different barrel houses to extend the aging process for the last 10 summers. The extreme weather variation at different locations in the barrel houses along with longevity in our handmade oak barrels creates an intense, unique character of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.
Discover Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey for yourself. We think you’ll agree, it’s well worth the wait.
Aged 10 Years Notes of warm butterscotch and soft fruit Incredibly long finish with sweet tobacco and spice
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, crème brûlée, banana nut bread and cinnamon. Palate: Rich and thick, bread pudding, caramel, honey, chocolate and nutty. Finish: Moderate in length, syrupy with caramel, chocolate and fading baking spices. Comments: This is just a delightful dram! Rich with robust flavor. Those baking spices with bananas and nuts are just a lovely combination. My only wish would be to have this at cask strength (or I’d settle for 107 proof).
Mashbill: 51% Malt, 49% Corn Rickhouse: MM Special Characteristics: Our Master Distiller selected this limited offering of 9 year-old Small Batch Malt Whiskey to have a unique mashbill with 51% Malt resulting in a smoky, sweet flavor with a long, lingering finish.
What Gary Says
Nose: Malty, dark fruit notes of raisins and blackcurrants, smokey, hint of cedar and honeysuckle. Palate: Rich mouthfeel, sweet and fruity with plums, berries, peaches, anise, cloves and cinnamon. Finish: Moderate to long, drying, fruity with baking spices. Comments: Very different whiskey. If you’re a fan of scotch – this isn’t that (but some similarities). If you’re a fan of bourbon – this isn’t that (but again, some similarities). The whiskey is really dark in the glass, and with a bit of water the nose opens up with orchard fruits like peaches and pears, and the palate thickens more and also brings out some peaches and apples. My dad and I took the opportunity to partake in the Heaven Hill offering of “You Do Bourbon” during our Bardstown trip in April 2024. For $40 a person (plus taxes & service fees, all told it was about $46 and change per) you get to hear a bit about Heaven Hill’s history and mashbills – and get to taste Elijah Craig barrel proof, Larceny barrel proof, Bernheim Wheat whiskey barrel proof, and a ‘special selection’ which varies. If you like what you tried, you have the opportunity to bottle your own bottle (1 bottle per person). It isn’t a ‘single barrel’, but rather an ‘exclusive batch’ that you can only get there. And if you buy the ‘special offering’ – you can only buy one – period! Even if you were to buy another tour ticket for the next day – they restrict that mainly to deter ‘flippers’. Anyways – my dad and I both were really impressed with this 9 year malt whiskey, and he bought a bottle and was nice enough to let me bring a sample home. I wound up buying the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof as that stood out as a really nice pour – better than I recalled many of the retail batches (although I really wanted one of these too). Crossing my fingers he won’t drink it all before I get up to visit at the holidays!
The 14th edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection features Heaven Hill’s traditional rye Bourbon mashbill, aged in specialty barrels that were charred for a full minute and a half, as opposed to our traditional 40 seconds. These “Level 5” barrels were aged for a full 10 years, where the heavier char allowed the Bourbon to penetrate further into the barrel, bringing forth caramel and maple sweetness. These 102 barrels were aged on the sixth floor of rickhouse Y, and developed a pleasant smokiness after 40 Kentucky seasons of maturation. It is bottled without chill filtration at 120 proof. TASTING NOTES Color: Deep copper Nose: Balanced and fruit forward. Taste: Smooth, rich marmalade. Sweet but not cloying. Finish: Very long & warm. Cloves & cinnamon linger.
What Gary Says
Nose: Dark chocolate, graham cracker, roasted marshmallow, caramel, walnuts and oak. Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, turtle brownies with chocolate, walnuts and caramel, nutmeg and brown sugar. Finish: Long, syrupy fudge with subtle oak. Comments: Damn this is just a lovely bourbon! The Parker’s Heritage Collection rarely (can’t say never) disappoints, and this is no exception. This is just a delicious, intense, well balanced pour. I do miss the days when I could find these behind the counter of my local liquor store, but am always thankful for having the opportunity to try someone else’s (thanks Dad!) This was the 2020 release, although my tasting notes are from the summer of 2024. If you see this laying around – I can’t imagine not grabbing it (aside from outrageous overpricing).
Distilled February 2019, Bottled March 2023 Barrel 17082 57.7% ABV $50 Website
What the Distillery Says
BARREL PROOF WITHOUT CHILL FILTRATION AGED AT LEAST 4 YEARS HIGH RYE MASH BILL – 30 % RYE
New Riff Distilling’s core Bourbon expression is a genuinely high-rye, full bodied whiskey offering savory, spicy character, bottled at Barrel Proof without Chill Filtration. Featuring a mash bill of non-GMO grains at 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley, it represents a new riff on Kentucky’s most hallowed whiskey traditions. Aged four years in 53-gallon toasted and charred new oak barrels, there are no shortcuts taken in our production. All New Riff whiskeys are made with the full sour mash Kentucky Regimen; all carry an age statement, and are always bottled without chill filtration.
At New Riff, single barrel expressions are a way of life. As former Kentucky liquor retailers, we are intimately familiar with some of Kentucky’s most famed private barrel Bourbon selections ever, and we bring that experience to New Riff. A New Riff Private Barrel selection, whether for trade or private clients, offers an unparalleled experience, replete with tasting notes and an immersive process in our warehouse. Each New Riff single barrel has been tasted and approved by our production panel. Our retail and on-premise partners then select each of their private barrels themselves. In the end, you can taste a New Riff Single Barrel knowing it was fully vetted and thoroughly tasted and approved.
TASTING NOTES While each Single Barrel owns its specific flavor profile, New Riff Bourbon generally shows big and spicy flavors. This is not a light, delicate, simple whiskey—we have crafted for robust and fulsome flavor from start to finish. Our unfiltered bottling regimen allows all the character of the barrel to shine through in the glass.
Aroma: Polished, dark brown sugar, char, cherries Palate: Dark cocoa, dark fruit, fruity, cherries
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, charred oak, vanilla, molasses, cherries, dark chocolate, raw walnuts. Palate: Bitter dark chocolate, pepper spice (almost chili oil), caramel, cinnamon and walnuts. Finish: Moderate in length, drying with pepper spice, chocolate and cinnamon. Comments: There’s a lot of variation in single barrel bourbon, so I don’t necessarily review every one I try. This one was unique in that the first/last New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon I had reviewed was bottled in 2019, and this one was distilled in 2019. Also, a friend brought it to a whiskey tasting where a couple other folks who tried it claimed it “wrecked their palates” (which in my experience is a claim usually associated with a super peaty/smoky scotch). Now this is odd – with a strong pepper bite tending towards chili oil. That can be off putting but it didn’t wreck my palate; and I found that a bit of water tamped it down completely, bringing out notes of leather on the nose and leaving the dark chocolate notes on the palate less bitter. Kevin allowed me to take what was left in the bottle to review and share, although having been sold a year and a half earlier – unlikely you’ll run across it on a shelf.
56.05% ABV $85 Website We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Blender Says
New Year. New beginnings. New traditions. The new year is a time of renewal and fresh starts, a chance to reflect on past accomplishments and look to what lies ahead. Barrell New Year Bourbon 2025 celebrates the possibilities and optimism that every new year brings.
BLEND COMPONENTS: Kentucky Bourbon: 5, 6, & 9 years old Indiana Bourbon: 5, 6, 7, 11, & 12 years old Tennessee Bourbon: 8, 9, & 15 years old Wyoming Bourbon: 9 & 12 years old New York Bourbon: 5 years old Texas Bourbon: 5 years old Ohio Bourbon: 5 years old Maryland Bourbon: 6 & 7 years old
FLAVOR NOTES A gentle cask influence underlies the palate while it builds on the diversity of fruit and herbs. An initial note of candied pineapple hints at a tropical depth revealed only with a splash of water.
Neat Appearance: Radiant copper. Nose: Undertones of chamomile tea and a squeeze of lemon, followed by chardonnay and pear. Dried pineapple nods toward a hidden tropical depth. A richness is revealed by notes of beeswax, wheat cracker and white chocolate. There’s a vibrant piquancy that conjures ginger ale as well as just a hint of minerality. Palate: A whole host of herbs typical of alpine liqueurs, notably thyme, lemon balm, and peppermint. Juicy notes of Meyer lemon and key lime pie recall the citrusy aroma. The fruit then diverges, adding lychee and grape soda. While initially subdued, the oak gains steam over time, carrying with it allspice and vanilla. Finish: A brief flash of wasabi jolts all the senses awake. Oils coat the palate, notably tea tree and grapefruit, but also a note of fried plantain. Maraschino liqueur, rosehip and coconut water linger. With a splash of spring water It blooms with the tropical papaya, passionfruit and orange marmalade. The fruits keep coming: tart cherry, applesauce, cantaloup and more. The lower proof renders the palate richer, creamier, and spicier.
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla, tropical fruit notes, pear, lemon zest, toasted oak, honey, hint of tea and a subtle mineral note. Palate: Cross between lemon meringue and key lime pie with orange marmalade on top, honey, vanilla, caramel and herbal spices. Finish: Moderate in length, drying with tropical fruit notes, lemon-lime and a bit of pepper spice. Comments: This is very nice bourbon, and very unique! I can’t recall another bourbon that has included a blend from a minimum of 8 different distilleries (8 different states, and with different ages – it could be more distilleries than that!) Nice citrus-forward dram, that surprised me with the derived mashbill. I would have guessed 35%+ rye, but this showcases how blending different bourbons from different distilleries can really lead to something quite. I remain blown away by whomever does their tasting notes (I avoid reading them until I have done my own review, but often find they call out things I couldn’t put my finger on but definitely experienced). A versatile whiskey that I enjoy neat or with a few drops of water, but the citrus bend would lend this to working well in a rye or bourbon-based cocktail!
