May 2023

Port Dundas 28 Yr Single Grain Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Single Grain /

Port Dundas 28 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Whisky
Sovereign K&L Exclusive Single Cask

51.3% ABV
$80
Website
Port Dundas 28 Year Single Grain Scotch Whisky

What the Reseller Says

Built in 1811, Port Dundas grew throughout the 19th and early 20th century by absorbing neighboring producers. It quickly became Scotland’s largest distillery. During its long history on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow, this grain whisky powerhouse provided much of the juice for the Johnnie Walker and White Horse blended whiskies. With Diageo’s expansion and modernization of Cameronbridge in the early 2000s, production at Port Dundas ceased, and in 2011 the landmark site was completely demolished. That closure makes this 28 year old single grain whisky a veritable piece of history. And at the same time, one of the most affordable ghost distilleries available on the market. Nearly every time we have the opportunity to purchase old grain from Port Dundas at this kind of price, we have to take it. The whisky is too enjoyable to pass up. Just as it’s been a workhorse for blenders for 200 years, it’s a workhorse in nearly every K&L staff member’s whisky collection.

From the bottle:
From the bottle:
Distilled February 1990, Bottled July 2018
1 of 239 Bottles
Cask Ref: HL15272
Aged in a Refill Hogshead, Bottled at Cask Strength
Non Chill-Filtered, Natural Colour
An almost tropical nose with coconut and pineapple both in attendance, along with the expected vanilla and a touch of honeydew melon. Apricot, raspberry and a touch of menthol on the palate leading to a finish of orange, maple syrup and more coconut notes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Heather, vanilla sponge cake, grilled peaches, pears with subtle tropical fruit notes of kiwi and coconut.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with vanilla, honey, coconut, malt, buttered biscuits with peaches and cream.
Finish:  Long and damp with vanilla, honey and fading fruit salad.
Comments:  Long time readers of the blog (all 4 of you) know that grain whisky isn’t my favorite category. I bought my first bottle back in 2016 while in the U.K. because for a 25 year old it was a bargain – and ironically enough it too was a Port Dundas, distilled in February 1990 (but bottled in May 2015). This definitely reminds me of that, being very subtle and gentle, and needing some time in the glass to open up. I appreciate the mouthfeel, and in terms of value (only $80 freaking dollars?) it would be hard to beat.

Rating: Stands Out

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Strathisla 1998 17 Year Old Distillery Reserve Collection

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Strathisla 1998 17 Year Old Distillery Reserve Collection
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

57.9% ABV
$220
Website
Strathisla 1998 17 Year Old Distillery Reserve Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Bottle Says

The Distillery Reserve Collection is a limited release of rare and exceptional whiskies from Chivas Brothers single malt whisky distilleries. Each release is bottled at cask strength.

Aged 17 Years
Distilled: 12th January 1998
Bottled: 30th July 2015
Cask Nos: 4330-31, 4336-37
1 of 1632 bottles
50cL

What Gary Says

Nose:  Subtle vanilla, barley malt, buttered popcorn, pears, hint of cinnamon and a subtle mineral note.
Palate:  Warm and viscous, fruity but tart with unripe pears and a hint of banana.
Finish:  Long, slightly drying with honey, a note of stout and pepper.
Comments:  Subdued and very muted overall. If handed for a blind tasting, I think I would have guessed this to be a single grain whisky. There isn’t anything off putting or negative, just not very exciting. A bit of water brings out more citrus on the nose, as well as heather, and tamps down the tartness on the palate.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Barrell Rye Private Release 1A11

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Barrell Rye Private Release 1A11
Rye Whiskey Finished in Armagnac Cask

60.05% ABV
$110
Website
Barrell Rye Private Release Whiskey

What the Blender Says

Private Release rye whiskeys are painstakingly assembled from Barrell’s deep stocks of rye whiskeys. After creating precise custom blends, we finish each assemblage in single casks, many previously used for other spirits or wines. Each single barrel release explores the huge range of spicy, herbaceous, and earthy flavors within rye itself, as well as its interactions with a kaleidoscope of different finishing casks.

For this special series, BCS selected Rye whiskeys from Indiana and Canada and then blended them into unique recipes with variations on a theme. Beginning with 10 initial selections, each release will feature a blend of Rye whiskey designed for its unique finishing cask.

  • Rye Whiskey finished in an Armagnac Cask
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Bourbon Whiskey Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in an XO Cognac Cask
  • Rye Whiskey finished in an Oloroso Sherry Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Madeira Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Ruby Port Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Barbados Rum Cask
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Sauternes Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Tokaji Barrel
  • Rye Whiskey finished in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye toast, cedar, fig jam, subtle citrus notes and a hint of nylon rope.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, a citrus-heavy fruit salad with bitters, black cherries, cinnamon, thyme, clove and pepper.
Finish:  Long and drying with honey, orange zest and pepper.
Comments:  The nose is deceptively soft for a rye whiskey, although that softness along with the cedar are familiar for Canadian rye. This dram benefits from some air time in the glass (some whiskey drinkers use the rule of one minute in the glass for every year in the cask; I don’t typically have that much patience but you’ll be rewarded if you give it just a few minutes!) Very citrus-forward palate, with a lovely herbal spiciness. If the nose lured you into expecting a sweet, soft taste – the palate is going to remind you “I’m all rye baby!” A bit of water really brightens up the citrus and brings forward some floral notes, as well as tamps down the spicy edges (without drowning them out all together).

Rating: Stands Out

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Booker’s 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch”

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” 2023-01
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

7 Years, 1 Month, 8 Days
63.3% ABV
$90
Website
Booker's 2023-01 Charlie's Batch
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

This batch is named in honor of Charlie Hutchens, the craftsman behind the signature wooden boxes that each bottle of Booker’s Bourbon comes in. He is also a longtime family friend and former employee of Booker Noe.

Charlie started his career working at the Booker Noe Distillery. During his time there, he was quite the storyteller and would entertain others throughout the workday. He would also pay close attention to the details and would do something over and over again until it was perfect – just like Booker did with his whiskey.

After several years, Charlie left the business to open his own cabinet shop with his brother. Charlie handcrafted the very first Booker’s Bourbon wooden boxes in his garage and has created the boxes for the brand since. He and his brother have expanded their business to create other fine wood products for different brands and projects in the Beam family, such as supplying custom furniture to the new Fred B. Noe Distillery – where Booker’s Bourbon is now distilled.

Charlie still lives near the Booker Noe Distillery and spends his free time fishing and vacationing with his family in South Carolina. Charlie was one of the first people to help make Booker’s Bourbon a recognizable brand, and Booker would be so excited to honor him with his very own batch.

TASTING NOTES
Like all batches of Booker’s Bourbon, Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” was selected by Seventh Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe to ensure it upholds the qualities and standards that his dad set for Booker’s Bourbon more than 30 years ago. Uncut and unfiltered1, this batch has the following characteristics:
PROOF: 126.6
AGE: 7 years, 1 month and 8 days
BATCH NOTES: Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” has a well-aged amber color and a balanced aroma of oak, toasted nuts and vanilla notes without too much wood. It has a slightly warm taste with a pleasant finish.
SIPPING SUGGESTIONS: Booker’s “Charlie’s Batch” is best enjoyed neat.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, heavy dose of charred oak, peanut brittle, nutmeg and baked brownies.
Palate: Fudge brownies with caramel, peanuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, cracked pepper and a hint of anise.
Finish:  Moderately long with oak, caramel and trailing pepper spice.
Comments:  Great start to 2023; this batch reflects a solid, classic Booker’s experience.  Without having many previous batches for direct comparison, this seems to have a touch more oak – and more so on the nose than on the palate. Even with that, not what I’d call over-oaked by any means.  Just a rich, intense bourbon with all of those hallmark flavors you (or at least I) look forward to. I appreciate the story behind each batch (I’ve often wondered about the wooden boxes, thanks Charlie!)

Rating: Stands Out

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Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek 7 Year Old
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$37
Website
Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

Knob Creek® is excited to announce the addition of an age statement to its flagship straight rye whiskey, Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. This update is a testament to the care and innovation behind the super-premium whiskey inside and reinforces Knob Creek’s commitment to continue to produce the world-class whiskies its fans know and love. Made pre-Prohibition style, Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye is carefully crafted and patiently aged for seven years in deeply charred barrels, producing a full-flavored rye whiskey with notes of American Rye spice, sweet vanilla and oak, in line with what fans have come to expect from Knob Creek.

Knob Creek has set the standard for American Whiskey for more than 30 years and has lived up to such standards with the addition of an age statement to its rye whiskey. Enjoyed as the base in an Old Fashioned cocktail or over ice, it doesn’t matter how you drink it, it’s all about how you enjoy it.

TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey brings the deliciously rich and savory notes of rye to life in a way that only Knob Creek can – creating a versatile, full-flavored straight rye whiskey that offers smooth spice in every sip.
PROOF: 100
COLOR: Amber brown
AROMA: Sweet caramel and vanilla mixed with deep round rye spice accompanied by apple and floral notes with a hint of leather
TASTE: Full body with balanced black pepper, sweet vanilla, and caramel finished with lingering oak and rich spice
FINISH: Warm and smooth with spice throughout

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, oak, toasted orange zest, fall leaves, hint of peanuts with rye spices.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, caramel, chocolate orange, vanilla, mint and honey.
Finish:  Moderately long with caramel, cola and orange.
Comments:  This is a really nice rye whiskey – well balanced, not too sharp/spicy and also not too subtle/sweet. It had been a while since I’d had the non-age stated Knob Creek Rye, and I wasn’t a big fan at the time. Then in 2018 when Beam released the Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye, I loved that – so knew that Beam had solid rye whiskey. Not sure what they’ve done beyond the age statement, but appreciate the end result. If you’ve tried the previous version and weren’t impressed, I’d definitely give this one a shot.

Rating: Stands Out

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