2020

Old Scout American Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Old Scout American Whiskey

49.5% ABV
$30-$40
Website
Old Scout American Whiskey

What the Producer Might Say

NOTE: This product has been discontinued; the below information is from multiple other sources
Old Scout American Whiskey includes a blend of 9 year old bourbon (distilled by MGP; their “high rye” mashbill with 36% rye) and a Tennessee whiskey made from a bourbon mash, which was aged for 5 years in re-charred, ex-bourbon barrels. Due to the use of non-virgin oak casks, this is not and can’t be labeled as “bourbon”.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, vanilla cream, caramel corn, soft oak, vitamin notes, a hint of butterscotch.
Palate:  Sweet with honey and cinnamon, a pepper bite with a sharp mineral note before a bit of caramel.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with caramel and vitamins.
Comments:  The Tennessee whiskey (almost certainly Dickel) is more prominent on the palate than the nose, but present everywhere. As this isn’t a bourbon due to the used cooperage, it is more muted. Not sure how much of the blend is 5 yr Dickel, but as prominent as it is – one take away for me is that you REALLY need new oak to tamp that vitamin/mineral note down.  Unless you like that sorta thing, in which case this might be right up your alley.

Rating: Average

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Balcones Texas Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Balcones Texas Rye
Pot Distilled 100% Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$40 – $50
Website
Balcones Texas Rye Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

We wanted to work with a style we love while bringing some new subtlety and perspective to our approach. Our 100% rye mashbill began with Elbon Rye from northwest Texas accompanied by some Crystal, Chocolate & roasted rye that give us a rich, sweet mid-palate.

NOSE: Soft charred oak, black tea and cracked pepper open up to fruit and chocolate covered cherries
TASTE: Creamy buttery toffee, building to peppery spice notes with hints of coffee and nuts
FINISH: Palate fades into dark chocolate and peanut butter, which builds on the moderately lengthy finish

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malted rye, young, herbal funk, milk chocolate, hints of plums, ginger, and tangerines.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, cocoa, light citrus fruit, cinnamon and pepper with a bit of ginger.
Finish:  Short, drying with oak and cocoa.
Comments:  Rye is one of the few whiskies I find tolerable around 2 yrs, so the 15 month age statement didn’t scare me off. Texas heat is going to definitely change how the spirit ages (12 months in Texas is quite different than 12 months in Kentucky), but . . . there’s just something that time does to the spirit in the cask. This comes across as young, and has this funky note that I often simply associate as ‘craft’. Not sure what size barrel this was aged in, but tastes like a small cask to me. For the price point, there are a lot of rye whiskies I’d prefer over this. I am happy that they offer this in 50 mL bottles (which is how I tried it), and I’d definitely recommend that route if you’re so inclined.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

49.3% ABV
$100
Website
High West Midwinter Nights Dram

What the Producer Says

A limited release of High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels.

Straight Rye Whiskey:
95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD

Barrel Type(s): Aged in new, charred, white American oak and finished in French oak port barrels
Filtration: Not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Cinnamon rhubarb and plum pie, Orange Jaffa cake, star anise, cedar box, toasted pecan with dates
Taste: Black cherry reduction, molasses, birch root, fig jam, and ginger bread
Finish: Spiced clove and blackberries, candied ginger, wooden spice box, orange peel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Christmas spice, orange blossom,  freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle notes of baked apples and raisins, hint of wintergreen mint, eucalyptus, and toasted oak.
Palate:  Warn and spicy, caramel fudge, rye zip, cinnamon, orange zest, nutmeg, bit of pepper spice, mint, and a hint of a sherry note.
Finish:  Moderately long with dried mint and vanilla.
Comments:  I was fortunate enough to have two samples of this from different batches (Act 4, Scene 2 & Act 7, Scene 2). I thought “Great, I can do a side-by-side comparison!” but honestly – they were incredibly similar. After three blind tastings, I opted to scrap the idea as the very subtle differences could have been simply expecting there must be a difference. And they weren’t consistent (I thought one had a slightly better finish, but then the next tasting thought it was the opposite!). I can’t say there isn’t any difference from batch to batch, but at least for these two – it was so subtle that if you liked one, I wouldn’t be worried about whether you’d like the other. All that said, this is a really nice dram! It is definitely rye whiskey, but different (for starters, I don’t get any dill or pickle juice notes which are common in many MGP ryes).  The French oak port barrel finishing is done really well, giving it a different spice and fruit characteristic.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$150
Website
Old Fitzgerald 15 yr Bottled In Bond Fall 2019

What the Distillery Says

OLD FITZGERALD BOTTLED-IN-BOND
Each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950’s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to “Pappy” Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.

15-Year-Old Tasting Notes
Color: Rich mahogany
Nose: Complex, very spicy for a Wheated Bourbon
Taste: Starts with the spices that were in the nose but becomes soft and gentle with honey and cake notes. Vanilla and oak follow with a delicious caramel tail.
Finish: Warm, long, sweet

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly baked coffee cake with vanilla frosting, cinnamon, toffee, oak, caramel, mint, leather.
Palate:  Creamy sweet, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, baking spices, honey, mint, oak.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering baking spices.
Comments:  This has more of a bit than I expected, but letting it sit in the glass for 15 – 20 minutes really did wonders. I had a bit of a sample of Old Fitzgerald 11 yr Bottled in Bond that I compared this against, and while not a huge oak fan – I preferred this easily. More richness and depth of sweetness, and the oak is there but pretty gentle for its age. These are always pricey, but in the current market, not outrageous (and the decanter is really nice, if you like that sorta thing).

Rating: Must Try

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Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52% ABV
$150
Website
Wild Turkey Masters Keep Decades

What the Distillery Says

WILD TURKEY DECADES
This hand-selected lot of precious and rare barrels, aged between 10 and 20 years, represents the very best of two decades of bourbon making. Master Distiller Eddie Russell’s harmonious mingling of liquid results in an extraordinarily enjoyable whiskey with the finesse and deep character of older bourbon, anchored by the bold, balanced, and vibrant backbone of younger bourbon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, charred oak, caramel, cinnamon, orange zest, brown sugar, grilled corn (over charcoal), allspice roasted walnuts, a hint of maple.
Palate:  Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, hefty oak, cherries, orange bitters, pepper, bitter dark chocolate.
Finish:  Long, drying with oak, spice and caramel.
Comments:  I’m not a big oak fan, so this isn’t my favorite Wild Turkey – but it is a damn nice, big and robust bourbon. A bit of water tamps the oak a bit, and amps up the chocolate and orange notes.

Rating: Stands Out

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