2024

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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Luminar Mezcal Joven

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Luminar Mezcal Joven

40% ABV
$30
Website
Luminar Mezcal Joven

What the Bottle Says

100% Agave
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 fresh but mild green pepper, only a hint of cigar smoke.
Palate:  Viscous, sweet with a vegetal note and a hint of corn and honey.
Finish:  Short and drying, sweet with roasted corn.
Comments: Picked up a 50 mL of this along with two other Luminar offerings. Some of the reviews I’ve read on this called out that it is more like a tequila than a mezcal. While not terribly familiar with either, this definitely isn’t smokey like I’ve come to expect with mezcal. Pretty uninspiring and forgettable.

Rating: Average

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El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Tequila

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Tequila

40% ABV
$130
Website
El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo tequila
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

To celebrate and honor El Mayor’s 25th anniversary, Master Distiller Rodolfo Gonzalez selected 25 barrels of the distillery’s oldest stock to create a unique, limited-edition tequila: El Mayor Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged. The ultra-premium tequila is aged for 39 months in American Oak bourbon barrels and distilled from Blue Weber agave from the valley area of Jalisco, Mexico. A limited allocation of approximately 6,000 bottles will be available at a suggested retail price of $129.99 per 750-ml. bottle. Distilled and produced at Destiladora Gonzalez Lux in Arandas, Mexico, the limited-edition tequila will be available nationwide in July 2023.

“This limited-edition Extra Añejo tequila is the culmination of 25 years of knowledge, expertise and innovation,” said Graciela Gonzalez, fourth-generation distiller and daughter of Rodolfo Gonzalez. “The result is an extraordinarily smooth, well-balanced tequila with elegant oak hints, baking spices and dried fruit on the nose and palate. It’s a gorgeous expression worthy of marking such a significant milestone.”

The El Mayor 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged bottle features a silver label and embossed detail around the neck. It is packaged in an attractive black box with silver markings that complement the label.

“The tequila category is experiencing a meteoric rise, fueled by award-winning brands like El Mayor,” said Chelsi Hofmeister, brand manager for El Mayor. “This latest 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo tequila is sure to be sought after by those who recognize and appreciate exceptional tequila.”

For recipes and more information about El Mayor and the limited-edition 25th Anniversary Extra Añejo Bourbon Barrel Aged tequila, or to find a retailer, visit elmayor.com or follow the brands @elmayortequila on Facebook and Instagram.

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Tequila (so read at your own risk!)
Nose: Vanilla, agave, vegetal note, hint of tangerine and nutmeg.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with agave nectar, apples, vanilla, touch of cinnamon and a bit earthy.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with honey, dried fruit and pepper.
Comments: Not a tequila aficionado by any stretch, but of my limited experience, I found this to be quite nice. As a bourbon fan, you definitely get that influence which I appreciate. And this made a fabulous margarita!

Rating: Stands Out

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