November 2019

Heaven Hill Select Stock Bourbon SB.com Pick 1

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Heaven Hill Select Stock Bourbon
StraightBourbon.com First Barrel Pick

63.8% ABV
$75
Website
Heaven Hill Select Stock

What the Bottle Says

(Why the bottle? Well, this isn’t mentioned on Heaven Hill’s web-site. The “Select Stock” label is something they’ve used for some one-off barrels (like these) or for limited gift shop releases. In fact this may have been the first release under the label, but I’m not positive. It is definitely one of the first!)
Barrel Serial No: 00004826
Lot ID: 03I24A
Rickhouse/Floor: J-6 | Rack/Tier: 0-0
Special Characteristics: 8 year old Wheated Bourbon Finished in Cognac barrels for 19 months
Bottle 249 of 366
Distillation Date: 9/24/2003
Bottled Date: 9/19/2013

Hand Selected for StraightBourbon.com to raise funds for the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund and fight against ALS.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich vanilla bean, salted caramel, summer rickhouse oak with nutmeg, cinnamon, dark cherries, chocolate, a hint of clove and a faint hint of black tea.
Palate:  Warm, thick sweet caramel/vanilla fudge, black cherry ice cream with cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg, a bit of freshly cracked pepper.
Finish:  Long, slightly drying with floral vanilla and cinnamon notes.
Comments:  On the nose this is a tad sharp, but at 63.8% that’s understandable. When this was offered to a select number of active community members on Straightbourbon.com, I was honored to be included – but also a bit nervous. At that time, $75 was a LOT of money for me to spend on a bottle of whiskey. I had tried the Parker’s Heritage Collection 5th edition, which was a rye-mashbill bourbon finished in cognac barrels, and I wasn’t overwhelmed. But, the proceeds were going to a good cause, so I definitely wanted to participate, and I only asked to purchase two of these. DOH! I wish I had gotten more. The cognac finish is subtle, giving it a little bit of black cherry notes, but not overpowering the bourbon. Unfortunately with only 366 bottles (and all going to members of that community, who each pledged NOT to sell them – although a couple have been), your odds of ever seeing this are close to nill. But if you ever happen upon an open bottle at some gathering, I’d make sure I got a taste!  As I prepare for Thanksgiving tomorrow, giving thanks for having had the opportunity to be part of the amazing Straightbourbon.com community.

Rating: Must Buy

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Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

46% ABV
$45 (375mL)
Website
Hudson Manhattan Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Pot-Distilled From Rye Grain
Stored in New Oak Less Than Four Years
Hand Crafted and Bottled By:
Tuthilltown Spirits, Gardiner, New York

Our rye whiskey is known for its spiciness; its rich and shifting flavor and aroma. The spirit’s peppery start transitions to a honey-cinnamon depth. Note the butteriness that lingers after each sip. Needless to say, this spirit makes an incredible Manhattan.

What Gary Says

Nose: Young malted rye, oak, hints of a Manhattan cocktail with a bit of cinnamon and orange zest.
Palate:  Young rye, subtle cinnamon with hints of cocoa.
Finish:  Short and drying with a malted rye note.
Comments:  At first when I tasted this (which was from Drinks by the Dram, who listed this as “Hudson Manhattan Rye Spirit” – didn’t include the word ‘whiskey’ on their label), I thought it wasn’t just whiskey and might contain some vermouth – as it does come across very ‘Manhattan-like’. That said, I wouldn’t use this in a Manhattan as I think it would get lost, and it doesn’t bring that strong rye-character to the party. This tastes like young rye, and malted rye (reminds me more of young American single malt I’ve tried than young rye whiskey).  It also does have that ‘small barrel aged’ taste – but to a lesser degree (am guessing that some is aged in smaller barrels, but probably not all).  Normally I’d say that there isn’t anything objectionable, but I find the price to be just that – and hence my rating of ‘Probably Pass’ versus just ‘Average’. If I was going to walk into a store and spend $45 on a bottle of rye – this wouldn’t be it. Also, one of my pet peeves are poorly maintained web-sites. Theirs mentions to try the ‘Hudson Manhattan’ recipe listed in the recipes section on their website. Two issues here: first, there isn’t a ‘recipes’ section (but most will figure out the ‘Cocktails’ section is what they meant); second – there is no ‘Hudson Manhattan recipe! You can filter by this whiskey, and there are three cocktails – two of which are Manhattans (The Jazz Manhattan & The Perfect Manhattan).

Rating: Probably Pass

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Germain-Robin Heirloom Apple Brandy

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Germain-Robin Heirloom Apple Brandy

40% ABV
$50-$70
Website
Germain-Robin Heirloom Apple Brandy

What the Distillery Says

In 1982, Ansley Coale and Hubert Germain-Robin brought a 13HL antique potstill to Mendocino County, rescuing it from an abandoned distillery in Cognac. Since 1983, Germain-Robin has
used craft methods to distill premium varietal wine grapes, grapes superior to those distilled in Cognac. Their brandies are the pure, focused concentration of the varietal characteristics of some of California’s best wine grapes – and now appples. Cellared in French Limousin Oak, brought to bottling proof with filtered rainwater, these brandies have been frequently reviewed as among the finest distilled spirits in the world.

We’ve been distilling apples since 1991. About 9 years ago, we learned that long-time apple plantings in nearby Anderson Valley were semi-abandoned: their heirloom cultivars had little commercial value. By paying a premium, we were able to preserve the orchards and to obtain wonderful distilling material. The climate is perfect: warm sunny days for ripe flavor, cool coastal nights for crisp acidity. This brandy is exceptionally smooth, long, and complex.

Apple brandy is in limited production, some 250-300 cases each year. We distill and cellar each apple cultivar (ever heard of Black Twig, Ribston Pippin, or Wickson?) separately if possible, blending the brandies when they have had time to fully develop their individual qualities. The blend includes distillates ranging in age from 6 to 15 years, some of it coming, solera style, from a reserved portion of the previous year’s release. Descent to bottling proof is with filtered rainwater.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly cut apples with subtle cider spices, a hint of anise and clove with a winey note.
Palate:  Sweet, apple cider with a nutty pepper note on the back, a tad thin.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with slightly sour apples.
Comments:  This is the first apple brandy I’ve ever had, so making zero claims to how this stands up to others. Honestly, brandy isn’t a spirit I’ve spent a lot of time with (anyone is welcome to have at “Brandy Apostle”). For me, this was like a super-refined apple cider. There are some nice spice notes (subtle by comparison to a cider, but more than you might get in an apple wine), but quite heavy on the apple. Not objectionable, and a nice break for a fall afternoon, but just not in my wheelhouse.

Rating: Average

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Talisker 57° North

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Talisker 57° North Single Malt

57.8% ABV
$75
Website
Talisker 57 North
We would like to thank Paul (who shares reviews on Distiller.com, as well as reviews and general musings on his YouTube channel Dapper Drams) for the sample to review!

What the Distillery Says

Talisker 57° North takes its name from this remote, rugged and windswept distillery’s latitude. And rightly so, because this is an untamed, natural expression of the Talisker’s full power: a volcanic, intensely appealing flavour that most drinkers will have only experienced in a cask strength bottling.

Appearance: Full gold.
Nose: Clean and intense, with the light smoke of a struck match. Creamy toffee balanced by fruit. Hints of seaweed, heather blossom and vanilla.
Body: Explosive, intense and smoky.
Palate: Sweet, with smoke and tar exploding around the middle – evoking the raw volcanic power which formed Skye’s famous Black Cuillin mountains.
Finish: Oily, tingling with the signature pepperiness. Smoother with water.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Big sea-mist, iodine, oysters, sea-brine, acrid smoke, vanilla with hints of chocolate.
Palate:  Sweet with apricots, pears and caramel to start, than a pepper pop midway through with sulfur, smoke and peat.
Finish:  Long, drying with pepper and sea salt.
Comments:  This is Talisker with the volume turned up past 11. A non-age stated bottling, but nothing in my experience would lead me to believe it is young. While the proof will up the umph, taking a 5 yr malt at near cask strength wouldn’t be that similar of a profile when diluted.  After making my notes, I decided to take 10 mL and bring it down to about 92 proof, and it reminded me of Talisker 10 yr – so my guess is that it isn’t far off in terms of age.  Regardless of age, this is just delicious.  If you are a fan of Talisker or peaty malts in general, I’d highly recommend trying it.  I think you’d enjoy it.

Rating: Must Try

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Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

45% ABV
$70-$75
Website
Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

What the Distillery Says

The Coffey Still is the world’s first patented continuous still invented by Mr. Aeneas Coffey in 1830. Masataka Taketsuru valued the feature of this type of still, which retains the flavors of ingredients and also creates a distinctive texture.

Coffey Grain and Coffey Malt are Nikka’s signature grain whiskies which show the beauty of our Coffey Stills.

Coffey Malt is made from 100% malted barley. However it is not categorized as “malt whisky” but as “grain whisky” since it is not distilled in a pot still. This unique production method results in extraordinary flavors and texture.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet malt with butterscotch, vanilla flan, over-ripe pears, subtle oak and spice
Palate:  Lovely fruit notes of peaches, pears, plums, cherries, a bit of coconut, with a viscous mouthfeel.
Finish:  Moderately long with notes of fruit salad.
Comments:  This is a very nice malt. On the sweet side to be sure, but not sickeningly sweet. I get a nice range of fruit flavors, but clearly a malt whisk(e)y. Really shows that a column or Coffey still can make some lovely whisk(e)y, which fans of bourbon have known for years.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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