September 2014

Hudson Baby Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey
46% ABV
$40 to $45 (375ml bottle)
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
HUDSON BABY BOURBON is the first bourbon whiskey to be distilled in New York. This single grain bourbon is made from 100% New York corn and aged in our special small American Oak barrels. This unique aging process produces a mildly sweet, smooth spirit with hints of vanilla and caramel. The BABY is Tuthilltown’s first whiskey and the first legal pot-distilled whiskey made in New York since prohibition. BABY BOURBON is a perfect introduction to aged whiskey spirits. It is mild and friendly, bright to the tongue and warming all the way down. Each bottle is hand waxed and numbered. It is a true American classic. The BABY is our most sought after spirit. Make sure you alert your fine spirits dealer today to ensure your supply.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The corn whiskey is heavy on the nose. There’s just a hint of vanilla but not much. No doubt from the short(3 months) time in the barrel. Oddly, there is something here that reminds me of Woodford Reserve.
Palate: Sweet cornbread drizzled with cinnamon icing.
Finish: It is a little hot on the finish but smoother than I expected.
Comments: I’m not the biggest fan of the craft whiskey movement. I find most of it over priced and underwhelming. However, this one is hiting some interesting flavor spots for me. It’s very tasty and approachable. It’s still a little hard to swallow at $40 to $50 for half bottle but very tasty.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Jaimie and Exposure America for providing us with a review sample. They were also kind enough send over a cocktails suggestion too!

Blackberry Baby Bourbon Sour
2 oz. Hudson Baby Bourbon
3-4 Fresh blackberries
0.75 oz. Simple syrup
0.75 oz. Lemon juice

Add to pint mixing glass: 3-4 fresh blackberries + 0.75 oz. simple syrup, muddle well. Add 0.75 oz. lemon juice, 2 oz. Baby Bourbon, and ice. Shake vigorously. Double strain into cocktail glass. Garnish with blackberry folded into lemon twist on pike.

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Four Roses Single Barrel (OBSV)

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection
50.0%
$35 to $40
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
The Private Barrel Program is offered to Four Roses retailers only. But as a discerning Bourbon drinker, you also get to enjoy the benefits of our Four Roses Private Barrel Program at your local participating retailer.

60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley mashbill with a yeast strain imparting delicate fruity flavor.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Burnt caramel, vanilla, and fresh berries.
Palate: A nice rye spiciness of black and red pepper. A vanilla nougat followed by toffee candies.
Finish: An oak finish of extreme length with hints of pepper, cinnamon, and mint.
Comments: This specific bottle was a nine year old store selection for Total Wine.
Rating: Stands Out

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Four Roses OESO

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength OESO Private Selection
57.0%
$55 to $70
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
The Private Barrel Program is offered to Four Roses retailers only. But as a discerning Bourbon drinker, you also get to enjoy the benefits of our Four Roses Private Barrel Program at your local participating retailer.

From time to time, a limited number of exceptionally smooth and complex barrels from any or all of our 10 Bourbon recipes present themselves to our Master Distiller. Each barrel is aged between 8 and 10 years. We then invite our retailers to a private tasting and selection of their favorite barrels. Once chosen, each selection is bottled and private labeled as a non-chill filtered Single Barrel at Barrel Strength in limited quantities of approximately 200-230 bottles.

75% Corn, 20% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley mashbill with yeast strain imparting robust fruity flavor.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy caramel, orange marmalade, crushed mint, vanilla, cinnamon, licorice and a slightly meaty back note.
Palate: Chewy cherries jubilee, Mint Juleps, vanilla greek yogurt and bit of char.
Finish: More crushed mint with a mild oakiness and slow fade of barrel char.
Comments: This specific bottle was a Georgia Bourbon Society selection.
Rating: Must Try

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Four Roses 2014 Limited Edition Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition 2014 Release
Bottle 2437 of 7122
54.6% ABV
$100
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
For the 2014 Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition release, we have once again hand-selected an uncut and non-chill filtered Barrel Strength masterpiece.
One quick nose of this vibrant, yet mellow Bourbon and you will quickly discover that it is unlike any limited edition we’ve ever released. Our Master Distiller hand selected it from our 10 distinct Bourbon recipes because of the unique clove and fruit aromas that mingle delicately with hints of sweet toffee and brown sugar. Creamy mint and bright flavors of ripe cherries, vanilla and pear entertain your palate, then give way to a long, smooth finish of candied fruit and sweetened oak. This is one of the most uncommon and extraordinary Bourbons yet in a Four Roses’ bottle. In your favorite glass, it will be even better.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Candied fruit and clove.
Palate: Creamy and fresh with vibrant flavors of ripe cherries, red currants, pear, vanilla and caramel.
Finish: Mellow-sweetened oak and sweet, candied fruit.

Recipe
OESF – 11 years

What Richard Says:
Nose: Interesting spicy nose. Not peppery but more baking spices like Thanksgiving or Christmas pies.
Palate: It pops with notes of a cherry crisp with cinnamon vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
Finish: Oak, bananas, and lots of cocoa powder.
Comments: Excellent, really excellent. This is a stellar example of the OESF Four Roses recipe. It came out a few months ago but a few can still be had if you look hard enough. By all means buy this one.
Rating: Must Buy

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Four Roses Private Selections

/ / Bourbon, Richard's Blog

If you have been in a liquor store in the last six months that moves a lot of bourbon and especially Four Roses then you may have seen a bottle of the single barrel Four Roses with a gold label that says “Private Selection”. These are barrel proof offerings that the store selects from one of the ten recipes Four Roses makes. They are interesting because the only recipe Four Roses bottles regularly as a stand alone is the OBSV that is the standard Four Roses Single Barrel release. So these are your only chances to taste many of the other recipes.

While trying to grab as many of these private selections and review them would have me pulling my hair out and emptying my bank account (these usually run about $60 per bottle) I thought it might be good to review one of each of the recipes. While each barrel differs there is an overall character to each recipe. There is truly no way to know which recipes you prefer until you try them for yourself but maybe I can help a little.

The store selections you’re seeing around are typically in the 9 to 11 year range. I’ve got a few recipe examples that I will start reviewing tomorrow and as more come to me I’ll add to the list. Tomorrow’s is a bit special because Mr. Rutledge deemed that 11 year old OESF to be worthy of the annual limited edition release. The rest I have were picked by private groups, stores, and Mr. Rutledge. I hope you enjoy the reviews and find them helpful.

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