2021

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

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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

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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

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Compass Box The Circle

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box The Circle
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$140-$150
Website
Compass Box The Circle

What the Blender Says

Sunshine in a glass

Rosey Mitchell is the 2018 winner of The Circle, our programme designed to inspire bartenders around the world. Rosey’s prize? To create a blend with Compass Box founder John Glaser and whiskymaker Jill Boyd. Rosey wanted to make an approachable whisky to be shared with friends, something for the daytime, a whisky with brightness. She called it “sunshine in a glass.”

The Circle is based around a parcel of fruity and creamy single malt from the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside. This is supported by malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery. A touch of peated malt whisky from an Orkney distillery and a small proportion of a French oak-finished blended malt whisky complete the recipe.

We think we’ve achieved exactly what Rosey envisaged. The whisky is bright and warm with a creamy softness. It practically radiates sunlight!

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Bright, vibrant, creamy. Bursting with apple, vanilla and malty notes with a hint of smokiness on the finish.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS: In the sunshine with good friends.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Bottled at 46% | Natural colour | Not chill filtered | A limited edition of 6,151 bottles | May 2019

LEAD WHISKYMAKERS: Rosey Mitchell and Jill Boyd

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright, green apples, vanilla cream, touch of citrus and a hint of oak.
Palate:  Soft, supple and sweet with vanilla, apples, malt, bit of allspice and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dried fruit and pepper.
Comments:  Another delightful dram from Compass Box that is maybe too easy to drink.  Very bright and fruity, and takes water quite well – with the mouthfeel shifting to creaminess.  Nothing objectionable, but not as complex a pour as I’m accustomed to from Compass Box (at least at this price point). I blame them for spoiling me!

Rating: Stands Out

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