2025

Compass Box The Peat Monster Cask Strength Origin Story

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box The Peat Monster Cask Strength Origin Story
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

56.7% ABV
$125
Website
Compass Box The Peat Monster Cask Strength Origin Story

What the Blender Says

While The Peat Monster may boast purely Scottish ancestry, this is a whisky born in the USA. To mark its 20th birthday, and to celebrate America’s influence on Scotch whisky more broadly, we have finished some of this whisky in very special seasoned virgin American white oak barrels.

FLAVOUR PROFILE
On the nose; sooty barbecue smoke, green apple and powerfully aromatic citrus oils, all underpinned by warming cinnamon. On the palate; tarry, smoked almond, with the seasoned virgin oak delivering added richness and vanilla notes alongside seaweed, cayenne pepper and saltiness.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS
Wherever you enjoy your whisky, join us in toasting two decades of The Peat Monster and the close whiskymaking ties linking Scotland with America.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Bottled at 56.7% ABV | Natural colour | Not chill-filtered
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
A limited edition of 9,126 bottles
December 2022

LEAD WHISKYMAKER
James Saxon & Alex Driver

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smokey peaty goodness! Creosote, nylon rope, sea salt, toffee, cocoa and butterscotch.
Palate:  Rich and thick, sweet with caramel, marzipan, cinnamon, chocolate, peat, coconut, brown sugar and chili oil.
Finish:  Long and syrupy yet drying with toffee, peat and pepper.
Comments:  Thick, sweet and peaty – all the things I’d hoped for! Just delicious. This opens up with some time in the glass, bringing out more sweet notes on the nose that initially are squarely ‘in your face peat’ (which I don’t mind). A bit of water thickens this dram up even more. I’ll be honest – The Peat Monster was never my favorite from the core range at Compass Box, but I always enjoyed the Cask Strength versions. I don’t have any others laying around to directly compare against, but fairly certain this would be my favorite one yet.

Rating: Must Try

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JYPSI Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

JYPSI Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon
4 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey Blend

43% ABV
$45
Website
JYPSI Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Outsiders Spirits and CHQ Media for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Whiskey JYPSI introduces Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon

A celebration of those you want to raise a glass to

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 5, 2025) – JYPSI Spirits announced the launch of its fourth whiskey today: Whiskey JYPSI Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon. Tribute is an 86-proof, straight bourbon whiskey aged a minimum of 4 years and double-barreled in new American Oak. Today’s Tribute release follows the prior introductions of the company’s industry-acclaimed and award-winning Legacy and Explorer whiskeys in 2023 and 2024.

“This is a whiskey with a price point and a flavor profile everybody can enjoy, but with the same high-quality approach we’ve taken with our other whiskeys. And that’s what we were looking for with Tribute,” says co-founder and music artist, Eric Church.

Whiskey JYPSI’s Tribute is priced at $44.99 and will be available online at shop.whiskeyjypsi.com and in select liquor stores.

Once the mash is distilled and aged at least four years in charred new American Oak barrels, Tribute then takes the extra step of proofing down its whiskey and re-barreling it for an additional 3 to 6 months – also in new American Oak. This gives Tribute its additional aromas of vanilla and caramel and a refined flavor most everyday bourbons cannot match – along with its deep, robust color. Tribute is then bottled at 86-proof for a rich, bold flavor with smooth drinkability.

What also makes the blend unique is the source of the grains. Whiskey JYPSI whiskey maker Ari Sussman said, “Instead of using commodity grains from large commercial farming operations for efficiency, the company contracted with small family farms willing to grow more flavorful, varietal-stated grains specifically intended for making whiskey. These sustainably raised grains for Tribute include a variety of the once-sacred Cherokee White Corn.”

Church added, “With Tribute, we’re also honoring and working with small communities and local farmers to make this whiskey… I’m from Appalachia, so I love the small-town and artisanal element. And it’s those points of differentiation that, to me, make a major difference with people who drink whiskey.”

“Typically, companies won’t do all this because it takes more time and costs more money,” said JYPSI Spirits co-founder and owner Raj Alva. “But if you’re committed to making a better bourbon, you not only use the best distilling and blending practices; you start with the very finest grains that make up that whiskey in the first place and go above and beyond conventional processes at every level of production. That’s what we did with Tribute.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, sponge cake with a bit of maple syrup drizzle.
Palate: Round mouthfeel, caramel, toffee, vanilla, cocoa, bit of banana nut bread.
Finish: Moderate in length, damp with cocoa.
Comments: This is a very easy to drink dram, and different from other ‘double barrel’ bourbons out there. I’ve really enjoyed most of the ‘double barrel bourbon’ offerings. This one is different in that they proof it down before going into the second barrel, although I think they may have lost something in the process. It isn’t quite as intense as some others, but they weren’t shooting to be amongst the pack. Priced where it’s accessible to try.

Rating: Stands Out

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Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Casks

56% ABV
$50
Website
Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

Lux Row Distillers makes Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish available nationwide

ST. LOUIS (Jan. 28, 2025) – Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers is expanding its Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey family with the national release of Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish. The new release is crafted from small batches of 4-year-old ryed straight Kentucky bourbon finished for six months in casks that held PX Sherry, an intensely rich and sweet wine made from overly ripened, sun-dried grapes. Offered at 112 proof (56% ABV), Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish will be available nationwide in February at a minimum suggested retail price of $49.99 per 750mL bottle.

The PX Sherry cask finish imparts an aromatic bouquet of dried figs and dates, and decadent flavors of grape syrup and candied fruit followed by hints of spice, roasted coffee, and dark chocolate. The result is a unique and balanced pour.

“We wanted to meld the intensely sweet flavors of PX Sherry with the spicy, peppery flavor notes of our ryed bourbon,” said Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe. “The outcome is a delicious combination of two opposing yet complementary flavors that results in a truly unique expression.”

Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish debuted in October 2024 at Lux Row Distillers and quickly became a favorite of distillery visitors and guests.

“PX Sherry was an immediate hit at Lux Row,” said Lux Row Brand Manager Eric Winter. “We’re looking forward to expanding its footprint and sharing this unique offering with bourbon drinkers who are looking for one-of-a-kind flavor options and taste profiles.”

Lux Row Small Batch PX Sherry Cask Finish is the latest offering to join Lux Row’s award-winning brand family. Current Lux Row products include 12-year Double Barrel and Lux Row Four Grain Double Single Barrel, which earned a Platinum medal at the Ascot Awards, a Double Gold designation at the SIP Awards and a Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: An aromatic bouquet of dried figs and dates
PALATE: Flavors of grape syrup and candied fruit
FINISH: Hints of spice, roasted coffee, and dark chocolate

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla, figs, plums, bit of orchard fruit and oak.
Palate: Creamy with caramel, chocolate, vanilla, grape soda, honey, nutmeg and a bit of cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderately long with baking spices and dark fruits.
Comments: Wow, this is just delicious! Full disclosure – I’m a fan of PX sherry maturation and finishes, so I went in expecting to really like this and was not disappointed. This nails that PX sherry finish balance without overpowering the bourbon base, and bottled at a respectable ABV – this drinks like a champ neat. A few drops of water won’t hurt it, and brings out some more orchard fruit on the nose, but I think this is a winner neat in a nosing glass.

Rating: Must Try

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Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

58.9% ABV
$320
Website
Redbreast 19 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Cask Exclusive to The Whisky Exchange

What the Retailer Says

This elegantly sherried Redbreast was aged entirely in second-fill oloroso casks, making for a complex dram that balances notes of dried fruit and nuts with the distinctive spiciness of Irish pot still whiskey. After almost two decades in the Midleton distillery warehouses in County Cork, it shows excellent maturity with fine tannins and hints of dark chocolate. Outside of the celebrated core range, there are precious few Redbreast whiskies in the wild, so we are particularly proud to offer this limited-edition bottling exclusively to customers of The Whisky Exchange.

Nose: Opens with notes of black cherry and vanilla, accompanied by light dustings of nutmeg with a sherry nuttiness softly lingering in the background. The pot still spices continue to build along with delicate dried herbs, all gently resting on a solid oak foundation.
Palate: Delicate tannins at first, with the fruits slowly building over time adding hints of stewed apples and prune. The tannins continue to evolve adding dark chocolate undertones that work in harmony with a subtle honey-derived sweetness, complimenting the pot still spices and red liquorice confectionary notes.
Finish: The fading fruits and subtle sweetness allow the oak and sherry seasoning to have the last word, with the tannins lingering until the very end.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sherried fruit with golden raisins and cherries, vanilla, nutmeg, oak, heather and soft wood spices.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, fruity with apples and pears, oak, dark chocolate, honey, baking spices, black cherries and toffee.
Finish:  Long, damp and syrupy with fruit notes.
Comments:  Just lovely and right in my wheelhouse. I’m a big fan of Redbreast, and also a fan of sherried matured/finished whisk(e)y. The use of secondary fill sherry casks rather than first fill is nice and offers more of a balance where the sherry isn’t dominant but isn’t hiding either. A bit of water opens this up, bringing the nose towards more tropical notes of candied pineapple and mango, and on the palate the toffee forward over the dark chocolate. All of that is delicious as well, but I’m drinking the remainder of this sample neat and enjoying every last step of that fruit and dark chocolate dance!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

46% ABV
$100
Website
Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition is a single pot still Irish whiskey initially matured in a combination of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. The whiskey was then finished in Tawny Port casks for a number of years, adding a new dimension to the profile used in the expression. All of the whiskeys then completed their maturation journey by marrying in freshly seasoned tawny port hogsheads for a final maturation period of 14-25 months.

Nose: Sweet and warming confectionery notes of buttered pastry accompanied by aromas of caramelized almonds with subtle undertones of praline and dried cherry. Scented floral honey with whisperings of a delicate herbal character linger in the background while the seasoned oak and pot still spices accentuate the sweet and full-bodied nature of this wonderfully balanced whiskey.

Taste: Rich and nutty at first with notes of chocolate coated hazelnut and salted caramel, quickly followed with fresh plums and dried fig. The tannins’ soft presence works in harmony with the luscious and creamy texture, evoking notes of orange marmalade with delicate hints of toasted oak.

Finish: Lingering finish which sees the pot still spices and fruits slowly fading, leaving the tawny seasoned oak to have the last word.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruity malt with blood orange, currants, figs, honey, mincemeat pie (without the cloves).
Palate:  Creamy and fruity with orange, figs, caramel apple, nutmeg, honey and a hint of clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length with dark fruits and baking spices.
Comments:  Sometimes you find whiskies where the nose and the palate are quite different; one might even say the nose was misleading. That couldn’t be further from the truth with this dram – the two are very closely aligned. I’m a fan of Redbreast (the 12 year cask strength was the first Irish whiskey I really loved). I’m also a fan of port for finishing or maturation. Maybe the two of those combined had set my expectations too high, as I couldn’t fight off this feeling of disappointment. I mean – this is a really nice and very drinkable dram; just not as special as I had hoped it might be. Although to be fair, it isn’t priced as outrageously as others, so all in all, it balances out.

Rating: Stands Out

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