April 2024

Penelope Rio 2024 Release

Penelope Rio 2024 Release
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey and Amburana Barrels Double Cask Finish

49% ABV
$90
Website
Penelope Rio Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Honey and Amburana Barrels Double Cask Finish
We would like to thank Penelope Bourbon and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Rio is our latest installment in our Cooper Series which takes our straight whiskeys on a world tour, pairing Penelope with unique casks from around the world. Inspired by the joy of Brazil, Rio delights the senses with a double cask finish of American honey and Brazilian oak. The two make perfect dance partners, rich and sweet, with surprising depth. It’s a carnival in a bottle.

TASTING NOTES
Aroma: Sweet honey with a fun Cinnamon roll note
Forward Notes: Sweet spice
Body Notes: Gingerbread, honey nectar & sweet baking spice
Finish: Long and savory finish with subtle hints of sweet honey & spice

BOURBON FACTS
Type & Proof: Four Grain | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 98 Proof | Non Chill-Filtered
Process: Blend of 3 bourbon mash bills comprised of four grains finished first in honey barrels and then new Amburana barrels from Brazil. Finishing period was ~2 years in total.
Age: 4-6 years
Mash Bill: 74% Corn | 14% Wheat | 9% Rye | 3% Malted Barley

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cinnamon rolls with honey, vanilla frosting, graham cracker crumbles with a bit of caramel and nutmeg.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with honey, cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, nutmeg and a bit of pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, syrupy with cinnamon rolls and honey.
Comments:  On the nose this doesn’t strike me as a “finished bourbon”. One of my pet peeves is when a finish overpowers the core whiskey, and that is the case here but . . . I really love it! As much as I want to critique the heavy handed finish, this is a delicious guilty pleasure. Sure, there’s some bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla tucked in there if you work at finding them, but the honey and cinnamon are center stage – and rocking it. If you want your bourbon to taste like bourbon, this could be disappointing. If you’re open to drinking what reminds me of honey slathered on freshly made cinnamon french toast (or a certain cinnamon roll drizzled in honey, you get the picture) – this is a really tasty treat!

Rating: Stands Out

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Whiskey JYPSI Explorer 1st Release

Whiskey JYPSI Explorer 1st Release
6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with French and Appalachian Oak Staves

51.5% ABV
$70
Website
Whiskey JYPSI Explorer
We would like to thank Outsiders Spirits and CHQ Media for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Our all-new Explorer Series is based on the harmony of unparalleled six-year aged whiskeys and unique finishing woods from around the globe. Perfectly paired to showcase the impact of the woods on the whiskey — from premium versions of common woods to the exotic — and beautifully marries our passion for whiskey with our spirit of exploration.

The inaugural Explorer release starts with a blend of two six-year-old bourbons — a low rye distilled in Kentucky and selected for its sweetness and an Indiana high rye chosen for its spice. The combined mash bill of 66% corn, 30% rye and 4% malted barley is then slowly reduced to 103 proof and finished using two oak varietals — French Oak from France’s famed Forest of Tronçais and American Oak from the Appalachian Mountains. Each of these woods was chosen for its ability to accentuate the sweetness and spice of the blend.

FINISHED IN FRENCH OAK from the Forest of Tronçais
The French Oak staves used in the inaugural Explorer release come from the Forest of Tronçais and were selected because of their accentuated notes of spice and leather. The oak trees from this forest have been used to make barrels for centuries and have housed some of the finest Bordeaux wines ever made. The Forest of Tronçais was originally overseen by the Duke of Bourbon and was later planted with oak trees by Louis XIV to supply timber for the French navy. The Tronçais region was also home to early European troubadours whose musical traditions of merging melodies and poetry ultimately migrated to the Appalachian Mountains – which became the heart of America’s singer-songwriter tradition.

FINISHED IN AMERICAN OAK from the Appalachian Mountains
The American Oak staves used in the first Explorer release come from the same Appalachian Mountains that were home to the roots of country music, where cooler conditions lead to slower growth and a tighter grain. This results in a specific mix of sweetness, richness, depth, and viscosity that pair perfectly with the spice of the French Oak as a key finishing component. Explorer’s Appalachian Oak was also harvested near where Whiskey JYPSI’s co-founder Eric Church grew up in North Carolina.

What Gary Says

Nose: Interesting wood spices, sandalwood, vanilla, honey and leather.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with vanilla, caramel, chocolate covered raisins, bit of cola and white pepper.
Finish: Long with pepper spice, vanilla cola and honey.
Comments: This is an entirely different whiskey than their first Whiskey JYPSI Legacy, but it similarly has just a really thick and chewy mouthfeel that I am all about. And on top of this, this is a really interesting whiskey! Same bottle as their other offering (which if I had my preference, would have a synthetic cork instead of the real one), filled with spicy but sweet bourbon. Really nicely balanced with the different oak casks contributing some spicy nuance.

Rating: Stands Out

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Glenturret 25 Year Old

Glenturret 25 Year Old
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$???
Glenturret 25 year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Website

What the Distillery Says

Nothing . . . at least about this one. Let me explain.

Glenturret began releasing a 25 Year Old at different ABVs, beginning in 2020.
Researching their website from 10 years back, they list a 26 year old product. But at some point prior to (or in) 2015, they offered THIS version of the 25 year old, which is bottled at 40% ABV. Richard bought a bottle for Matt for a special occasion, as Matt is a big fan of Glenturret. Despite my best efforts, I could turn up no additional information – sorry!

What Gary Says

Nose: Bright and fruity, nectarines, grapes, cherries with floral notes.
Palate: Round mouthfeel, sweet and fruity, citrusy with nectarines, tangelos, apples and pears with a bit of vanilla and honey.
Finish: Moderate in length, damp with pears and peaches.
Comments: This is very light in color, and while not objectionable – not very special. I’ve only had one Glenturrent before (a 28 yr old from K&L) that was just marvelous. At $100, it was extraordinary. This didn’t remind me of that in any way/shape/form, which was a disappointment. This actually reminded me more of a cognac with the floral notes on the nose. Not sure what the cask type was (likely bourbon casks) but was not a fan. Sorry Matt. Hope you enjoyed it more than I did!

Rating: Average

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Yellowstone Bourbon Launches Once-in-a-Lifetime Getaway Contest

Yellowstone Bourbon Launches Once-in-a-Lifetime Getaway Contest

Iconic bourbon brand shares its connection to America’s first national park with consumers through new adventure experience opportunity

Yellowstone Bourbon Launches Once-in-a-Lifetime Getaway Contest
ST. LOUIS (April 8, 2024) – Yellowstone Bourbon announced a contest for consumers to win an all-inclusive trip to Yellowstone National Park in 2024. Consumers can enter the Yellowstone National Park Getaway Contest now through July 15 by submitting a photo and a writeup about their love for the great outdoors – a hiking story, poem or another kind of written expression.

The three lucky winners and their plus-one will experience the ultimate national park adventure September 5-8, 2024, including hiking, horseback riding, sightseeing, curated meals, private accommodations and round-trip airfare. In addition, four social media influencers will join the winners for this trip of a lifetime:
• Dean Unglert, reality TV star and outdoor explorer
• Adam Glick, celebrity chef and adventurer
• Holly Johnson, travel and outdoor content creator
• Patrick Duke, adventure photographer and filmmaker

“For more than 150 years, Yellowstone Bourbon has shared a bond with the majestic Yellowstone National Park,” said Kelly Panzitta, Yellowstone Bourbon brand manager. “This contest gives people the opportunity to experience that connection firsthand and win a one-of-a-kind adventure. It’s part of our commitment to always keep the park within reach.”

Since 2018, Yellowstone Bourbon has donated nearly $500,000 to National Parks Conservation Association to preserve national parks. In 2023, Yellowstone became one of NPCA’s largest annual corporate donors at the $250,000 level.

Yellowstone Bourbon partnered with World Playground to plan the contest itinerary and Under Canvas for the winners’ and influencers’ private accommodations in West Yellowstone. For more information about the contest including official rules, please visit Yellowstone National Park Getaway Contest or YellowstoneBourbon.com. For updates about the contest, follow Yellowstone Bourbon on Facebook and Instagram.

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Rebel 100 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Rebel 100 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$60
Website
Rebel 100 6 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

ST. LOUIS (March 7, 2024) – Lux Row Distillers announced the introduction of Rebel 100 6-Year Bourbon, handcrafted according to the original, time-honored wheated recipe since 1849. The new addition will be available nationwide later this month at a suggested retail price of $59.99 per 750 ml bottle.

Rebel 100 6-Year Bourbon champions authenticity while defying uniformity. Bottled at six years and 100 proof (50% ABV), the golden amber bourbon features an aroma containing rich scents of vanilla and honey; a palate of dark fruits followed by citrus and oak; and a velvety smooth finish with just a hint of
spice.

“Rebel 100 6-Year demonstrates that age is never a bad thing,” said Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller John Rempe. “The combination of spotlighting our original recipe and aging it for six years resulted in a rich and rebellious, full flavor bourbon that I think will resonate with consumers. Six years is a long time to wait, but the wait was worth it.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, freshly hewn oak, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Palate: Vanilla, caramel, sour oak, bit of cinnamon, orange zest and cloves.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with oak, citrus spice and honey.
Comments: I’m not sure if it’s the particular mash bill, but for whatever reason the wheated Rebel bourbons just haven’t hit right in my wheelhouse. This one is ok, although not special – and while prices aren’t what they were 10 years ago, at this price point I’d be disappointed. There’s a bit of a sour oak note which I don’t mind, but some might not be a fan of. I’ll admit that while I appreciate wheated bourbon, I probably lean more towards a rye mash bill more often than not.

Rating: Average

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