January 2024

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53% ABV
$160-75
Website
Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Calumet Farm 16 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey is the newest offering from our stables of the Single Rack Black premium bourbon line. Its bold tastes and flavors are matched perfectly well with a balanced finish. As a tribute to one of the greatest thoroughbreds in racing history, this bourbon represents the dedication and patience it takes to create a champion. This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is our most aged and highest proof to date. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Batch Size: 19 Barrels (ea.)
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep mahogany with dark red shadows and golden highlights
Nose Upon Uncorking: Beginning notes of woody-char and smoke subside to reveal softer scents of toasted almonds and fresh-cut summer hay
Nose After Breathing: As the spirit opens up, lighter notes of citrus and orange mix with darker floral and cherry scents to complete the experience
Taste: Notes of saturated-oak and warm rye spice open the palate, allowing flavors of cherries, dark fruits, and baking spice to present fully – Fresh baked bread, toasted toffee, and a light corn meal dryness round out the rich flavors
Finish: Imparting a lighter than expected finish, this spirit’s bold flavors give way to a subtle warmth, notes of toasted grains, and a smokiness that proceed the mellowing of wood sugars and oak

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, raw honey, dark chocolate, oak, bit of raisins, cinnamon, leather and hint of smoke.
Palate:  Thick and chewy mouthfeel, caramel, black cherry, dark chocolate, honey, cinnamon and a bit of root beer.
Finish:  Long, thick with oak, cocoa and honey.
Comments:  This was absolutely my favorite of the three Calumet bourbons I sampled. The mouthfeel on this one is thicker, and the complexity is turned up a notch which you might expect with more age. Again, this one was less oaky/tannic than the 14 yr (and similar to the 15). A really lovely bourbon to sip before the fire on a winter night, which is how I’ll enjoy the remainder of this sample!

Rating: Must Try

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Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon

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Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52.5% ABV
$120-140
Website
Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey is the pinnacle of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family. It represents the premium quality our brand is known for, as well as the hard-earned badge of patience. Allowing our bourbon to age slowly in Kentucky-only rick houses is a testament to doing things the right way – the way bourbon should be done. All barrels used to craft these rare batches are aged in a single, center cut rack. This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is our most aged and highest proof to date. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Batch Size: 19 Barrels (ea.)
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep amber throughout with shimmering highlights of copper and sun-yellow
Nose Upon Uncorking: Notes of oak and wood char are notable
Nose After Breathing: Complex scents of dark fruit and sweet corn
Taste: Bold flavors of oak, aged spice and toasted grains are present while toffee and a subtle smoky-sweetness roll across the palate
Finish: A lingering finish mellows, leaving sweet tobacco and rye flavors with a slightly dry mouth feel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel creams, oak, maple candies, chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg and cherries.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherries and clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with oak, baking spices and honey.
Comments:  Compared to the 14 year, the addition proof helps give this a bit more oomph with more cherries, and darker chocolate notes. The oak actually is less tannic than the 14 year which is a nice surprise (again, small batches can lead to more variation). This definitely has a thicker mouthfeel as well, and depending where you shop – is very similarly priced to the 14 year.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

48.1% ABV
$120
Website
Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey represents both the prestigious nature and hard-earned quality of a premium Kentucky straight bourbon. It is painstakingly crafted from extremely small batches of 19 barrels. All barrels used are aged in a single, center cut rack from the ideal maturation location and conditions inside the rick house. This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is a true convergence of craftsmanship and flavor. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Batch Size: 19 Barrels (ea.)
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep amber throughout with shimmering highlights of copper and sun-yellow
Nose: Heavy notes of oak and molasses are rolled back as light scents of fresh corn, wood sugars and hay present
Taste: Smooth flavors of oak and char subside to reveal complex sensations of toasted grains, toffee and vanilla
Finish: The long finish leaves the palate with a subtle dryness followed by lasting flavors of rye and dark fruit

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, hint of clove and anise.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, chocolate, oak, coffee cake, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length, slightly drying with oak, baking spices and vanilla.
Comments:  This is a nice, solid bourbon. Slightly tannic, which being the first (and youngest) of three Calumet bourbons I was sitting down with made me a bit worried, although as these are all truly small batches (only 19 barrels) this may not be like last years (or next years) offering.

Rating: Stands Out

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Luminar Mezcal Añejo

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Luminar Mezcal Añejo

40% ABV
$45
Website
Luminar Mezcal Anejo

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave | Aged In Oak For One Year
PROTECTED APPELLATION OF ORIGIN
MADE IN MEXICO

Origin: Zacatecas. Agave tequilana

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Sweet, subtle with vanilla, honey and oak.
Palate:  Sweet with vanilla and honey, just a hint of oak.
Finish:  Short and drying with vanilla and a bit of pepper.
Comments: This is similar to the Luminar Mezcal Reposado, except the additional months in oak seem to rob it of its character, leaving it mellow but flat. I expected to like this the most, but in fact this was my least favorite of the three. This could have been a mashbill of almost anything, which was disappointing.

Rating: Average

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Luminar Mezcal Reposado

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Luminar Mezcal Reposado

40% ABV
$33
Website
Luminar Mezcal Reposado

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave | Aged In Oak For Three Months
PROTECTED APPELLATION OF ORIGIN
MADE IN MEXICO

Origin: Zacatecas. Agave tequilana

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Sweet, vegetal with green pepper, touch of vanilla and honey, only a hint of cigar smoke and a bit of detergent.
Palate:  Viscous, sweet with vanilla, a touch of corn and honey.
Finish:  Short and drying, sweet with honey, vanilla and roasted corn.
Comments: Very similar to the Luminar Mezcal Joven, except with bits of vanilla and honey. In color, this has just a subtle, golden hue. Also similar is the noticeable absence of smoke. While I liked this better than the Joven, that’s not a ringing endorsement.

Rating: Average

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