46.5% ABV $35 Website We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.
What the Producer Says
Crafted in Memphis, Juke Joint is Blue Note’s flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Bottled at 93 proof, Juke Joint drinks just as smooth neat as it does in your favorite cocktail.
Nose: Sweet corn, allspice, and oak Body: Viscous Taste: Vanilla, allspice, apricot, and pear Finish: Allspice fades into lingering notes of oak, pear, and vanilla
Technical Details Aged: Minimum of three years Product Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley Proof & Filtration: 93 proof, unfiltered Availability: Nationwide, Crafted in Memphis
What Gary Says
Nose: Corn, soft oak, allspice and a bit of honey. Palate: Round mouthfeel, sweet with vanilla, hint of caramel, pears, cinnamon and pepper spice. Finish: Short with oak, wood spices and vanilla. Comments: This tastes like what you would expect a young, three year old bourbon to taste like. Corn forward on the nose and smooth. The lack of filtration is a plus, and comes across in the mouthfeel. Nothing objectionable, but also nothing inspiring or special – and while $35 isn’t a “premium” price point, there’s a long list of bourbons I’d prefer for the same or less money.
Vinho is fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that have been toasted and recharred in a way that brings out fruity vanilla notes from the wood into the whisky overlaid on a delicate background of complex fruitiness. It has a complex and multi-dimensional background of pepper, spice, dates and other fruits, such as ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of bursting citrus fruits. ABV: 50-59.9% Colour: Deep autumn gold Flavour: A rich fusion of vanilla and caramelized sugars with dark chocolate on top. Ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of citrus fruits burst. Pepper is also present in the background waiting to be noticed. Palate: The taste ends with clean and complex flavours embodying all that is best in the finest malt whiskies enjoying a long aftertaste. Tasting: We suggest drinking Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask neat.
What Gary Says
Nose: Raisins, berries, leather, toffee, charred oak, smoked brisket with brown sugar glaze, subtle baking spices, balsamic drizzled over mango. Palate: Rich and thick mouthfeel, fruity with cherries, strawberries and raspberries, fudge toffee, plums, dates, honey and vanilla. Finish: Long and syrupy with dark fruit, honey and allspice. Comments: Wow – this is just a lovely dram! Apologies that I don’t know the exact ABV of this sample, but damn – I need more of this in my life. Incredibly intense and complex – the kind of dram I could just sit and nose for hours (except it’s so damn tasty on the palate!) I don’t often get strawberries and raspberries in whisky, and really enjoyed those peeking in. A bit of water brings more citrus to the party, but despite the cask strength I enjoyed it immensely neat. I haven’t had much Kavalan before, but this is definitely going on my watch list.
Savor the latest addition to this innovative series with our plantation rum release — 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon finished for 22 months in Plantation Rum barrels.
Tasting Notes: Orange peel, allspice, and cinnamon highlight layers of banana bread with rich caramel. On the palate, apple crisp and molasses lead to a balanced finish of fruit and spice, rounding out this luxurious, summer sipper.
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel, molasses, vanilla, grassy, oak, hint of chocolate with cinnamon. Palate: Sweet with caramel, sharp bite of molasses, chili spice, cinnamon and vanilla. Finish: Long and drying with pepper spice, cinnamon and rum. Comments: This was a bit sharper than I expected, but a bit of water softens it up and I definitely preferred it that way. It smoothed that pepper bit and allowed the molasses notes to shine through. 22 months is a long time for a finish, and a bit heavy-handed for my liking; it really dominates the core spirit for me. But if you like rum more than bourbon this might be right up your alley.
Knob Creek® is excited to announce its first-ever, limited edition bourbon and rye blend to its award-winning* portfolio, Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey. Carefully crafted and seasoned by time, Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye brings together two of Knob Creek’s® premium whiskeys, Knob Creek® 9 Year Old Bourbon and Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye, offering fans an unforgettable experience unlike anything existing within the portfolio or many other offerings on the market. Highlighting the perfect balance of Knob Creek® 9 Year Old Bourbon’s sweet notes complimented by Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye’s bold spice, this robust and complex whiskey brings bourbon and rye enthusiasts the best of both whiskey worlds. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks to unveil its sweet, fruity and spicy notes. TASTING NOTES Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye is a masterful blend that brings together the richness of brown sweets and a hint of fruitiness and black pepper, with a sweet lingering spice finish that will leave you wanting more. This high-quality, flavorful whiskey is a testament to our dedication to deliver exceptional whiskey to enthusiasts and newcomers alike. PROOF: 113 COLOR: Golden brown with copper hues, reminiscent of autumn leaves and evening sunlight. AROMA: Enticing sweetness of maple syrup and vanilla, joined by hints of nuttiness and baking spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg. TASTE: Rich and comforting sweetness of brown sweets, like caramel and toffee, complemented by a delicate hint of fruitness for added complexity. FINISH: Gentle heat of black pepper, adding a touch of lingering spice.
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, oak, fruity with cherries, plums and tangerines, mint, hint of maple syrup with polished leather and baking spices. Palate: Caramel, peanut butter, chocolate, cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, citrus with a bit of cloves. Finish: Moderately long with caramel, fruit, pepper spice and mixed nuts. Comments: There isn’t a lot of bourbon rye blends on the market, and I’ve honestly never understood why that is. Many whiskey enthusiasts that I’ve known over the years have created their own blends, including blending from different distilleries. This is a delicious offering! Priced reasonably and at a solid 113 proof, this brings the best of both Knob Creek bourbon and rye into a single pour. Well balanced, I enjoyed this quite well neat, although a few drops of water thickens the mouthfeel nicely and brings the fruit notes forward.
50.5% ABV $100 Website We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Producer Says
Limestone Branch Distillery announces the annual release of Yellowstone Bourbon Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Created by Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam, the 2024 expression is extra aged, featuring 7-year and 17-year aged bourbons and Beam’s first double finish in French brandy and cognac casks. Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), an allocation of 10,000 cases (3-in) of Yellowstone Limited Edition will arrive on shelf in September 2024 at a minimum suggested price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle. Limestone Branch Distillery has released its annual Yellowstone Limited Edition since 2015. In the 2024 release, Beam sought out spirits to complement the natural flavors in the extra-aged bourbon. Finishing the blended bourbon in brandy and cognac casks from France introduces nuances from different spectrums of distilled grapes within the same style of spirit. The result is a soft and approachable bourbon, perfect for Yellowstone Bourbon loyalists. The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition is a rich amber color and features the bright aroma of pear, panela sugar, ripe apple and leather. With a thick, soft texture, the body includes flavors of American basswood honey, ripe stone fruits and citrus with traditional notes of caramel and vanilla. The bourbon’s warm and inviting finish delivers honey, Bosc pear, butterscotch and leather. “The 2024 expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition represents my natural progression of experimenting with special finishes over the years,” said Beam. “Now, finished bourbons have become sought after by fans who want to push the flavor profile. I love experimenting and exploring new opportunities, and using a double finish with brandy and cognac casks created a more complex and nuanced bourbon, opening a whole new experience for consumers to enjoy.” The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is presented in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a label with the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a high-end natural cork. Tasting Notes AROMA: Bright with notes of pear, panela, ripe apple, and leather. BODY: Basswood honey, ripe stone fruit, citrus, a thick soft texture with traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla. FINISH: Warm and inviting ending with honey, bosc pear, butterscotch, and leather.
What Gary Says
Nose: Fruity with orchard fruits, apples, pears, vanilla, oak and a bit of leather. Palate: Caramel, honey, canned fruit salad of apples and pears, vanilla and cinnamon. Finish: Moderate in length with honey and pears. Comments: This is another nicely done limited edition. I appreciate that the finishing isn’t overdone, even with the double finish. Quite well balanced and a delightful late summer sipper. Takes a bit of water well, and the mouth feel thickens up nicely. Cognac is one of those delicate spirits (like a refined French cousin of sorts) that really lends itself well as a finish for bourbon or rye.
