January 2021

Barrell Bourbon Batch 026

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Barrell Bourbon Batch 026

56.32% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 026
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Barrell Bourbon Batch 026 was created by combining 9, 10, 11, 13 and 15-year-old barrels in several blending steps. The first was a fusion of 9-year-old high rye barrels peppery and pointed on the palate, 10-year-old oak forward barrels, and sweet, toasty 11-year-old barrels for mouthfeel and classic baking spice notes. The second balanced citrus forward 10, 12 and 15-year-old barrels with spicy, floral 9-year-old high rye barrels. These two blends were gradually co-mingled resulting in an intriguing bourbon that dances between fruit and spice long into its finish.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana
  • Selection of 9, 10, 11, 13, and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 112.64 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
Like a well-aged Sauternes, a complex array of fresh, dried, and cooked fruits dominates the aroma, supported by pungent florals and a delicate layer of barrel-spice. The palate is concentrated and extractive, having pulled quite a lot of sugar and peppery spice from the cask. Water tames it, bringing forth a panoply of tropical fruits on the nose and creamy desserts on the palate.

Neat
Appearance: Pumpkin pie.
Nose: Immediately bright and fruity, smelling of white peach, creamy coconut, and prickly rhubarb, followed by dried or cooked fruits, among them golden raisin, candied grapefruit peel, and roasted red pepper. Pungent florals are intermixed, notably rosehip and meadowsweet. As one’s nose adjusts, richer, sweeter notes of beeswax, toasted almond, and tiramisu arrive. They sit atop a dusting of allspice, spearmint, ginger ale and charcoal.
Palate: A bit brash, but well balanced and with only modest tannin. Initially the flavor is dark and complex, on molasses, black cherry soda, and root beer barrel candy. The palate is rounded out by slate, salt, green apple and a little horseradish.
Finish: Advances the cooked-fruit theme put forth by the nose, cycling through candied grapefruit peel, grape jam, cardamom and allspice. It fades with a mineral tingle of iron and wood smoke.

With a few drops of spring water
Tropical fruit aromas become the focus, particularly starfruit, pineapple, and limoncello. Geranium and vanilla lend to the exotic feeling. The palate grows richer and silkier, with toasted pumpernickel, quince paste, mocha and horchata.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, vanilla, graham cracker, hot cocoa with marshmallows, raisins, oak, hint of cedar, touch of honey with mint, allspice and nutmeg.
Palate:  Thick and spicy with citrus zip, caramel, honey, bit of maple syrup with apples and tropical fruit notes.
Finish:  Moderately long, thickly sweet with chocolate and coconut.
Comments: Quite a complex pour – one that I really enjoy simply nosing and pondering.  Another shining example of the blending skills of the fine folks at Barrell Craft Spirits.  I’ve yet to try a batch I didn’t think was damn fine (with some being more in my wheelhouse than others).  And I remain equally impressed with whomever does their tasting notes (reading them after making my own, I often find notes I didn’t nail but think “Oh yeah – THAT was there!”).  I tasted this along side Bourbon Batches 018 & 027, and of those three – this was my favorite (although I wouldn’t turn away any of the others!)

Rating: Must Try

Barrell Bourbon Batch 026 Read More »

Barrell Bourbon Batch 018

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Barrell Bourbon Batch 018

55.78% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 018

What the Blender Says

Barrell Bourbon Batch 018 is a cinnamon bomb of a bourbon. We began with a juicy and tropical 11-year-old blend and layered in more structured and spice-driven 14 and 15-year-old barrels to give this batch a serious amount of character and bite.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee and Kentucky
  • Selection of 11, 14 and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 111.56 proof cask strength bottling
  • Mash bill: corn, rye and malted barley

FLAVOR NOTES
A blend of straight bourbons with all the comfort of your favorite Old Fashioned — sweet and rich with notes of honey, orange and cherry. Coffee and tropical fruit on the palate lead into an earthy finish that invites thoughtful contemplation as the whiskey continues to evolve.

Neat
Appearance: Wildflower honey with brassy highlights.
Nose: Opens rich and fruity, on orange liqueur and maraschino syrup, with underpinnings of cardamom, juniper, and incense. With air, a note of sweet vermouth arrives then evolves into concord grape jam and mint shisha. Slowly, exotic notes of papaya, finger lime, and gooseberry lift above the milieu.
Palate: The flavor of wildflower honey joins the orange liqueur and sweet vermouth from the nose but these sweet flavors are balanced by tangy pomegranate and strawberry. Subtle notes of dark chocolate and kahlua lend it depth.
Finish: Unexpectedly earthy, with cardamom re-appearing alongside almond, cappuccino, and sumac.

With a few drops of spring water
The fruit grows brighter, introducing notes of tangerine zest, mango, passionfruit and coconut, while mineral notes of limestone and tonic water add even more lift.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, blood orange, vanilla glazed donut, sandalwood, pecans, cherries, oak, bit of dried mint and vitamins.
Palate:  Fruity with cherries, orange, grilled peaches, honey, bit of chocolate, caramel, mineral note with a hint of sweet vermouth.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with pepper spice, oak and an earthy mineral note.
Comments: A pretty solid blend. The presence of Dickel is a bit more prominent in this one compared to some others, so if you don’t care for that vitamin/minerality often found there, this might not be your favorite blend.  With some water the mouthfeel thickens nicely, and I got more floral notes on the nose as well.  I reviewed this side-by-side with two more recent batches (026 and 027), and this was my least favorite, and was still pretty good.

Rating: Stands Out

Barrell Bourbon Batch 018 Read More »

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye

49% ABV
$80
Website
O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye
We would like to thank Brown Water Spirits LLC for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

The release of O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye follows the highly successful launch in October of the first in the River Aged Series, O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey. After a strong launch in Middle Tennessee, O.H. Ingram quickly moved into East Tennessee, including, but not limited to, the Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities markets.

“The response to O.H. Ingram River Aged so far has been beyond what I could’ve possibly imagined,“ said proprietor Hank Ingram. “Since our Straight Whiskey hit shelves in October, whiskey lovers have been able to experience the taste created by our unique aging process, and our Straight Rye will only deepen their connection to the Ingram River Aged Series.”

“Bourbon first became popular in America because it came down the river to New Orleans where it gained popularity and distribution. The goal of our process was to put the river back into American whiskey and see what effect it would have on the whiskey,” Ingram continued. “Even in the midst of the pandemic, we’ve found that people are always ready for a good story and a good drink. With O.H. Ingram River Aged, we offer both.”

The O.H. Ingram River Aged Series is the only whiskey aged inside a first-of-its-kind floating rickhouse moored on the riverbank in Ballard County, KY. Here, it’s exposed to the climate of the Mighty Mississippi River and its rise and fall. These factors combine to provoke a unique interaction between wood and spirit that isn’t possible inside a traditional rickhouse. The constant motion of the river ensures that the whiskey never stops working, creating an extraordinary spirit with a taste mature beyond its years.

O.H. Ingram River Aged is the result of blending entrepreneurship and innovation with traditional aging processes. While all whiskies are products of the environment, only O.H. Ingram River Aged is ‘Mellowed on the Mississippi.’

Hank is the latest in his family to take a great idea to the water. More than 150 years ago, his family began its American success story with two things — oak trees and a rushing river. Now, Hank is adding his chapter to this story by bringing together whiskey and the magic of the river to create O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey.

Ingram River Aged is currently available in Middle and East Tennessee with additional markets coming as inventories are available.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep burnished copper
On the Nose: Floral, subtle notes of caramel
Mouthfeel: Soft, butter, presence of rye spice
Palate: Vanilla, graham cracker, cinnamon, hints of hay and nutmeg
Finish: Butterscotch, bubblegum, raspberry preserves, hints of tobacco

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral and soft with herbal spices, notes of dried mint, cinnamon, lemongrass, touch of vanilla, oak and a faint hint of clove.
Palate:  Vanilla with a spicy bite of cracked pepper and cinnamon, sour oak, nutmeg and caramel sauce.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with a citrus (tangerines?) spice.
Comments:  The history of American whiskey maturing on the river isn’t a marketing ploy.  In fact, the time and interaction with the charred barrels during the trip from Kentucky to New Orleans certainly contributed to the rise in popularity of what came to be known as ‘bourbon whiskey’.  Michael Veach has written on this topic and others (if you’re a fan of history and bourbon and aren’t reading him already, I’d highly recommend it as a trusted source). Now back then, the whiskey wasn’t spending years on the water, so this isn’t an attempt to recreate that – but to create something unique with a nod towards history.  The whiskey itself is nice.  Three year minimum age stated on the bottle, distilled by the fine folks at MGP with a mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley.  I can’t say that I’d have pegged this for a three year old if tasting blind.  The nose is fairly subtle for a rye, but the palate has that sharper bite rye whiskies are known for.  I get more oak on the palate than you’d expect for the age, although this isn’t surprising given the increased interaction of river aging.  While an interesting whiskey, the price point is disappointing

Rating: Average/Stands Out

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey Read More »

Compass Box Phenomenology

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Phenomenology
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$170-$180
Website
Compass Box Phenomenology

What the Blender Says

‘Phenomenology’ – Noun. An approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience.

Phenomenology and whisky. What, you may wonder, is the connection?

We’d long been working on a blend of single malts that combines seemingly dissonant flavour profiles, but together creates something compelling.

We landed on a recipe that elicited a surprising range of reactions and descriptions, each person taking away something different from the whisky.

Bottled at 46% | Not chill-filtered | Natural colour | Lead Whiskymaker: John Glaser

Rather than referring to our tasting notes and description of the aromas and flavours of this whisky, we invite you to first experience it for yourself without preconception. Describe the ‘phenomena’ of this whisky yourself, in your own words and ideas. Your experience is your own, personal, subjective experience. Relish it.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: Aromas and flavours reminiscent of berry fruits, baked apples and hints of banana, with a delicate peaty smokiness that follows and resonates in the long finish.

AVAILABILITY: Limited Edition release of 7,908 bottles worldwide. Bottled September 2017.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is an ideal whisky for sipping and contemplating on its own, or with a splash of water or an ice cube, which will reveal the subtle complexity of the whisky as the whisky very slowly dilutes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and bright, floral, grapefruit, peaches, green apples, nectarines, apricots, subtle peat brine.
Palate:  Waxy citrus sweetness, apples, slight pepper bite gives way to bananas and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with wine notes and fading spices.
Comments:  Quite a nice dram! Fruity without being lopsided with sweetness. Has a bit of a dry quality that reminds me a little of a Riesling.  Improves a lot with some water, thickening the mouthfeel and bringing the fruit notes out more on the palate.  Another really solid offering from the folks at Compass Box.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Compass Box Phenomenology Read More »

Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky

Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

49.2% ABV
$300
Website
Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe

What the Blender Says

‘How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?’ – Satchel Paige

Composed of less than 1% three year-old malt whisky produced near the village of Brora, 90% malt whisky of an unstated age from the same distillery and around 9% peaty malt whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye, regulations only permit us only to share details of the age of youngest component! No matter. For it is this three year-old that is most important to us. Aged from new-make spirit in our own first-fill American oak casks, it imparts a lively vivacity and represents a milestone in our development as whisky makers.

Bottled at 49.2% | Not Chill-Filtered | Natural Colour

The rich vanilla notes, waxy mouthfeel and decadent baked orchard fruit notes from the larger parcel of Highland malt whisky provide a beautiful platform on top of which the brooding qualities of the peaty malt whisky and the clean, bright character of the three year-old parcel are able to shine.

Availability: Limited Edition release of 3,282 bottles worldwide.  Bottled August 2016.

Flavour Descriptors: The rich vanilla notes, waxiness and decadent baked orchard fruit notes from the larger parcel of Highland malt whisky provide a beautiful platform on top of which the brooding qualities of the peaty malt whisky and the clean, bright character of the three year-old parcel are able to shine.

Recommendations: This is a rather unusual three year old Scotch whisky that we recommend enjoying on equally unusual occasions. Share it with friends and family on special occasions, perhaps with cheese at the end of a satisfying lunch. However you drink it, whoever you share it with, above all share and enjoy.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral, malty, honey, bright baked apples, apricots, hint of nectarines, subtle spices.
Palate:  Waxy, sweet to start with honey and apples, sharpens with nectarines, vanilla and almonds.
Finish:  Moderately long with vanilla and apples.
Comments: One of those  drams where the nose lines up almost exactly with the palate.  A lovely dram, where the Clynelish is prominent (which makes sense given this is just over 90% of 24 yr old Clynelish, along with that small 0.4% 3 yr old parcel as well).  Delicious, although would be tough for me to pull the trigger at this price point.

Rating: Stands Out

Compass Box Three Year Old Deluxe Read More »