2025

Penelope Estate Collection Private Select

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Penelope Estate Collection Private Select
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50.6% ABV
$80
Website
Penelope Estate Collection Private Select
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Penelope Private Select annual release explores new and unique expressions of our straight bourbon whiskey blends using the finest of our aged barrel stocks.

From hand selecting the barrels to creating each blend, Private Select strives to showcase the best in all of us.

Mash Bill: 74% Corn | 20% Rye | 1% Wheat | 5% Malted Barley
Blend of Straight Whiskies
9 Years Old
#4 Staves, #2 Heads
Four Grain
101.2 Proof
Un-cut, Non Chill-Filtered

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Rich caramel, vanilla custard, and cherry fruit
FORWARD NOTES: Smooth caramel syrup, brown sugar, subtle barrel char, and hints of butterscotch and crème brûlée
BODY: Marshmallow, caramel, sweet cherry and black pepper
FINISH: Vanilla crème brûlée, allspice, and light smoke

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, toffee, vanilla, brown sugar, dried cherries and charred oak.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with vanilla, caramel, black cherry, bit of orange zest and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderate in length with vanilla, classic oak spice and a bit of pepper.
Comments: A very nice, solid bourbon. Tasting this next to the Estate Collection Single Barrel, this is similar but with a thicker, richer mouthfeel. Both are non-chill filtered but it really stands out here, which I appreciate (as well as the orange zest notes). Also appreciate this being slightly less expensive for a dram I appreciate more!

Rating: Stands Out

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Penelope Estate Collection Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Penelope Estate Collection Single Barrel
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

49% ABV
$90
Website
Penelope Estate Collection Single Barrel
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Penelope Single Barrel uncovers the character that lies within our finest aged stocks. Each barrel, unique in profile, is hand selected from various warehouses and floors after a decade of aging.

Some barrels are just too exceptional to blend.

Mash Bill: 75% Corn | 21% Rye | 4% Malted Barley
Three Grain
Single Barrel Whiskey
98 Proof
Non Chill-Filtered

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Vanilla, caramel, dried fruit, sweet cherry
FORWARD NOTES: Smooth caramel syrup, brown sugar, subtle barrel char, and hints of butterscotch and crème brûlée
BODY: Caramel, buttercream frosting, maraschino cherry, and light rye spice
FINISH: Dried cherry, marshmallow with lingering spice

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, vanilla, oak, cherry, hint of blackberry and chocolate.
Palate: Vanilla, crème brûlée, cherry, caramel, hint of maple candies, nutmeg and blackberry.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with sour oak, vanilla and cinnamon.
Comments: A nice bourbon, and stands out as unique as I don’t often get blackberry as a note in bourbon (or whiskey in general). Not sure where that’s coming from either, although should note that with any single barrel products there’s built in variability. I wouldn’t add any water to this one – on the nose it does bring out more fruit notes with apples, but thins out the palate. Neat this one drinks nicely, although at MSRP seems a bit pricey.

Rating: Stands Out

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Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Casks

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Casks

45% ABV
$45
Website
Woodinville Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Casks
We would like to thank Woodinville Whiskey for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Our award-winning flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey, further aged in port barrels.

We source our casks from Portugal’s Douro Valley to finish our Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This 2017 Special Release was such a distillery favorite that we made it the third full-time member of the Woodinville portfolio.

Six months in, the emptied casks introduce a rich texture and notes of sticky baked plums and chocolate-covered cherries, creating a complex and delectable bourbon you can really chew on.

This dark amber beauty is available in our tasting room and at select retailers in states where Woodinville is carried.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, dried plums, cherries, currants, milk chocolate and toasted oak.
Palate: Round mouthfeel with caramel, chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, hint of anise and clove.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with dried fruit and fading baking spices.
Comments: Quite nice dram! Very dark in the glass, but the port finish is balanced well; not heavy handed. This is something I look for in finished whiskies – not overpowering the base whiskey with too much finishing (which can be too much time in the cask, or where/how they age it). A very easy to drink bourbon that gives you those lovely fruit notes you’d expect from a port finish. While I enjoy it, I’d love to see this offered at a higher proof (maybe a limited edition cask strength port finish?)

Rating: Stands Out

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George Dickel X Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

George Dickel X Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

50% ABV
$100-$120
Website
George Dickel X Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Three Chamber Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

What the Producer Says

George Dickel has teamed up with the Leopold Bros to produce an innovative rye whisky offering. The release blends George Dickel’s column still rye produced at Cascade Hollow Distillery with Leopold Bros’ Three Chamber Rye to recreate a historic style. This union between column distilled rye and Three Chamber distilled rye turns back the hands of time, returning to an era that saw heavy-bodied rye whisky served at bars and saloons throughout America.

Tasting Notes: Rosewater, blackberries, caramel, lavender, fig and citrus are present followed by a finish combining earl gray, honey and cocoa.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Pinched fresh mint leaves, bright, lemon zest and tarragon.
Palate:  Viscous and creamy mouthfeel, lemon, honey, light caramel, mint, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of clove.
Finish:  Moderately long with mint, citrus, cinnamon and white chocolate.
Comments:  I get notes of mint frequently with rye, but this takes it to a whole other level on the nose. The mint it intense while not overpowering it. A really well balanced, intriguing, and perhaps most importantly – delightful dram. Adding a bit of water tamps the mint note a bit on the nose, and tilts the citrus vibe from lemon to orange, while also bringing out a bit more orange on the palate. I really enjoyed sipping neat as well as with a few drops of water.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Duncan Taylor 30 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Duncan Taylor 30 Year
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$250
Website
Duncan Taylor 30 Year Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Retailer* Says

Scotland – A rare blend of whiskies aged at least 30 years from Scotland’s most iconic distilleries. Soft aromas of oak and citrus are found on the nose, while the mouthfeel is viscous. This well balanced whisky consists of complex flavor notes like cereal, caramel and fresh fruit.

* Could find no reliable source of information from the blender/producer; above is from the retailer’s description.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla spongecake, floral, orange creamsicle, heather and honey.
Palate:  Sweet and malty with honey, vanilla, hint of citrus and apples with cinnamon near the back.
Finish:  Moderate in length with citrus and pepper spice.
Comments:  With 30 years maturity, I’m looking (nay – expecting) layers and complexity. This disappointed on both fronts, and was more a showcase of subtly. Having said that, there weren’t any notes I found off-putting, and this left me wanting more – like teasing at what a great whisky it might have been, if only . . . (higher ABV? less grain in the blend?) But when you get to this price point, the absence of off notes isn’t the bar.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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