2026

Little Book Chapter 10: All The Wiser
Blended Straight Whiskey

61.3% ABV
$160
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and SAVONA COMMUNICATIONS for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Ten whole chapters of Little Book, and through every one of them, I’ve learned something new. Back in the beginning, I looked at blends differently, focusing on percentages and “perfection”. The whiskey sure tasted good, but I had a feeling I was missing out on something bigger. So, I set out on a journey to see what the whiskey could teach me. Each release a milestone along the way.
From one blend to the next, my know-how grew. But I found something else to be just as important: an instinct to listen to the whiskey. Because no matter how sure I am of the profile I want to get to – the whiskey has its own plans. So now, I don’t push it towards one specific outcome. I guide it, and I let it guide me. With every Chapter, I’ve gotten more at ease with the push and pull.
Chapter 10 is only possible because of what I gleaned from the chapters before it. Made up of aged expressions from our celebrated Small Batch collection to our iconic Jim Beam finished in sherry and toasted bourbon casks, this blend could have gone in any direction. But with expertise, intuition, and plenty of flexibility, we got it exactly where it needed to be.

Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller, Fred B. Noe Distillery

Blend Components:
14-yr Basil Hayden Straight Bourbon Whiskey
11-yr Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey
10-yr Booker’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey
9-yr Knob Creek Straight Bourbon Whiskey
9-yr Baker’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey
4-yr Jim Beam Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Finished in Sherry and Toasted Bourbon Casks

Tasting Notes
Color: Deep Auburn
Aroma: Layers of fig, raisin and molasses
Taste: Full bodied with velvety caramel, cinnamon, and oak
Finish: A long finish with seasoned oak and raisin

What Gary Says

Nose: Orange zest, fig, oak, brown sugar, raisins, honey, vanilla, peanut brittle & hint of cedar.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, caramel, cinnamon, sour oak, tart cherries, pepper spice and a nuttiness.
Finish: Medium length, drying with vanilla, baking spices, cocoa and oak.
Comments: This is a well-balanced dram, with nice depth. A bit of water brings out notes of dark chocolate on both the nose and the palate, as well as bringing some peanut butter to the palate. Wish they had listed the estimated mix of each component, but this is a nuanced pour for sitting and pondering over.

Rating: Stands Out

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch A117

63.5% ABV
$60 (original retail)
Website

What the Distillery Says

To sip Barrel Proof is to experience Bourbon in its purest form: uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand labeled with its unique proof and batch number; but the nose, taste, and finish are pure Elijah Craig.

UNDERSTANDING THE LABEL
Each batch of Barrel Proof is bottled with a unique age statement, including the month and year of the youngest barrel from the batch. The proof also varies with each release.

The batch number on the label provides specific information about each batch. The first letter indicates the order of the release for that year, starting with “A.” The first number represents the month of the release. The third and fourth digits indicate the year.

TASTING NOTES (not batch specific)
Color: Deep amber
Aroma: Caramel with toasted oak, fruit notes of apple and orange
Taste: Rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper & cinnamon at the back of the palate
Finish: Nicely layered showcasing all flavors, fades slowly then lingers as it cools

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, cocoa, charred oak, vanilla, brown sugar, citrus zest with oak spices.
Palate: Caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, cracked pepper, oak, black cherries, a hint of sassafras and cloves.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with pepper spice, caramel and tobacco.
Comments: I’ve long been a fan of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof since before it’s original retail release in 2013 (if you’re wondering how that’s possible, chat up a member of the Georgia Bourbon Society about their ‘amnesia barrel’, which was a 15 year old single barrel at 64% ABV – picked prior to the first retail release). While there have absolutely been some batches that appealed to my tastes more than others, I don’t recall ever having purchased one that I thought wasn’t at least good. This is a fine representation of the label. A splash of water brought out more chocolate on the nose along with graham cracker, and on the palate more of a chocolate donut with maple cream frosting. Back in the day, for 12 year age stated barrel proof bourbon, it was hard to beat!

Rating: Stands Out

Oaklore Story Series: Old Fashioned Cask Finished Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey

49% ABV
$90
Website

We would like to thank Oaklore Distilling Co. for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Our Story Series continues with a four-grain bourbon of wheat, rye, corn, and barley, aged at least 6+ years from our North Carolina and Kentucky sister distilleries. The bourbon is then finished for 12 to 18 months in Oaklore’s Old Fashioned barrels — barrels previously used to age our Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer — picking up layers of orange bitters, spice, and baked sweetness. Bottled once it reaches its fullness of character.

NOSE: Orange Bitters, Salted Pecans
PALATE: Snickerdoodle, Vanilla, Spiced Honeysuckle
FINISH: Cinnamon Butter, Spice Cake

What Gary Says

Nose: Wow – old fashioned! Orange bitters with pecans, honey and vanilla.
Palate: Caramel with orange bitters, pepper, cinnamon roll and honey.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with orange bitters and cracked pepper.
Comments: Pretty sure this is the first old fashioned bourbon (or any) whiskey I’ve tried. Impossible to mistake this for anything other than old fashioned – which I love (probably my favorite cocktail). That said – this is still heavy handed as far as finishing goes; the old fashioned aspect is really strong. But on the plus side, having this over a couple of rocks is nearly a cocktail by itself (although the proof will sneak up on you if you’re not careful).

Rating: Stands Out