Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Chicken Cock 10-Year-Old Double Barrel Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Chicken Cock 10-Year-Old Double Barrel Bourbon
Batch #3 of 6
52% ABV
$250
Website

What the Producer Says
Charleston, SC (October 2018) Grain & Barrel Spirits (“G&B”), an innovation-driven craft spirits company, brought Chicken Cock Whiskey back to its rightful place as a heritage-driven American Whiskey in 2012, when CEO Matti Anttila discovered the “Famous Old Brand.” Since that time, G&B has fully returned the brand to its ancestral home in Kentucky and continues its quest to resurrect the historic pre-prohibition favorite with the introduction of a limited-edition release of 10-Year-Old Double Barrel Bourbon.

Originally established in 1856, in Paris, Kentucky, (ten years before Jack Daniels), Chicken Cock rose to fame as the house whiskey at the Cotton Club, one of the most legendary speakeasies, during Prohibition. Known as “The Famous Old Brand” and “The Whiskey in a Tin Can,” Chicken Cock was smuggled in sealed tin cans and ceremoniously opened tableside. After prohibition ended, the brand enjoyed a resurgent couple of decades before a distillery fire put it out of business for more than 40 years.

The brand’s latest limited-edition release arrives just in time for the holiday season. Chicken Cock 10-Year-Old Double Barrel Bourbon is the brand’s most unique and special limited release yet. Master Distiller and 40+ year veteran Gregg Snyder selected twelve barrels of 10-year-old bourbon, marrying two barrels at a time to create a perfectly balanced, extremely smooth, small batch bourbon (only 1,980 bottles were produced). Through countless samplings, he determined the “perfect proof” at 104-proof, with a slight amount of pure water to open up the flavors, and non-chill filtered to retain the rich amber colors and exquisite taste profile. Featuring the Pre-prohibition Era Style Bottle with sipping glass cap and a Mash Bill of 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley, the coveted expression was distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, and aged and bottled in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Chicken Cock Whiskey is now being produced at the Bardstown Bourbon Company (BBCo) in the bourbon capital of the world. Through BBCo’s collaborative distilling program, G&B’s Gregg Snyder will collaborate with Bourbon Hall of Fame Master Distiller Steve Nally and BBCo’s first-class distilling team, to produce its high-quality, small-batch whiskey, bourbon, and rye for many years to come. BBCo and G&B concluded their first distillation of 616 barrels at the end of August.

“From the day I discovered Chicken Cock Whiskey, my goal was to eventually return the brand to its ancestral home,” said Matti Anttila, CEO of Grain & Barrel Spirits. ”The historic brand is now officially 100% back home in Kentucky, a mere 80 miles from Paris, where its story began 162 years ago. The legend of Chicken Cock never died. In fact, we believe that the brand’s best years are still ahead of it.”

Only 330 cases of the 10-Year-Old Double Barrel Bourbon limited-edition release will be available beginning this month in select markets including CO, GA, FL, KY, NY, SC and TN, and online at https://chickencock.passionspirits.com/chicken-cock.html. The suggested retail price for a 750ml bottle is $250, which may vary by market.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Beautiful, Warm Rich Amber Color
Aroma: Robust Sweetness, with distinctive Caramel and Vanilla aromas, nicely complimented with the perfect amount of Oak Lactones.
Taste: Simply stated: “AWESOME”, full bodied bourbon at the Perfect 104 Proof that highlights a beautiful balance of Sweet Caramel, Vanilla and Toasted Oak, with a hint of Dark Chocolate.
Finish: Wonderful, long Rich and Flavorful Finish with a lingering of Sweetness

What Gary Says
Nose:  Sharp, vanilla crème brûlée with oak, fall leaves and a hint of cocoa.
Palate:  Biting salted caramel with vanilla, toasted honey, cinnamon, cracked pepper with subtle bitter chocolate.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with a pepper bite.
Comments:  On the nose this felt higher proof than 104, so this definitely has some bite to it. A fair amount of oak, more than I get in most other 10 yr bourbons. If you’re a fan of sharp/spicy bourbon with a good deal of oak, this might be right in your wheelhouse. The packaging looks well done, and if you’re a fan of collecting for the bottles, or the rarity of a limited release – more power to you. I think this is priced mainly for that market. If you’re just looking for a bourbon to sip and enjoy, and couldn’t care less about the packaging or bottle count, I think you’re likely to find it cost prohibitive.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Grain & Barrel Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

Chicken Cock 10-Year-Old Double Barrel Bourbon Read More »

Chivas Regal Extra

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Chivas Regal Extra
40% ABV
$50
Website

What the Blender Says
EXTRA RICH
SHERRY CASK
EXTRA COMPANY REQUIRED
If you know Chivas Regal Extra, you’ll know this most exceptional of luxury whiskies has been the result of painstaking craft. From the finest, first-fill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks that give our scotch whisky its deep amber colour, to the Scottish brawn that locks in its rich, sweet and spicy flavour. You can’t help but know you’re in for an extra special dram that’s made to be shared generously. Because success is a blend, in life and in scotch.

Chivas Regal Extra is selectively matured in Oloroso sherry casks. The result is a whisky that’s both deep in aroma, rich in fruitiness and generous in sweetness.

Tasting Notes
COLOR: Dark in shade with a warm amber glow.
NOSE: Fruity sweet with notes of ripe pears and melon, creamy toffee, milk chocolate, cinnamon and a hint of ginger.
TASTE: Sweet ripe pears in syrup, vanilla caramel, cinnamon sweets and almonds in the background.
FINISH: Incredibly rich, smooth with a long and fulfilling finish.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Rich sweetness, sultanas, honey on toast, toffee, some subtle earthy notes.
Palate:  Soft sweetness with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, raisins and pears, a hint of toffee with a subtle oaky/earthy note.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, steady without any spice uptick at the end.
Comments:  Compared to the Chivas Brothers’ Blend, the nose is clearly a step up – richer with more depth. The palate for me was a bit disappointing. Similar in that the nose represents the flavor well, but too muted and subtle. While a step up, the palate was a much shorter step than the nose – although nothing off putting with either.
Rating: Average

Chivas Regal Extra Read More »

Chivas Regal – The Chivas Brothers’ Blend

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Chivas Regal – The Chivas Brothers’ Blend

40% ABV
$55-$60 (travel retail exclusive)
Website
Chivas Brothers Blend

What the Blender Says

An ultra smooth and easy drinking whisky, perfect for sharing with friends. This 12-year old blend includes higher proportions of Strathisla and Longmorn Single Malts and was created as a fitting tribute to the famously smooth blending style of John and James Chivas.

Tasting Notes
COLOR: Rich amber.
NOSE: Bursting with ripe, soft fruit flavours, including peach and pear, and accented with runny honey, marmalade and soft candy.
TASTE: Rich taste of fresh soft fruit flavours, echoing the nose, giving way to a fantastic sweet, creamy texture.
FINISH: Creamy, round and smooth.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft, honeysuckle, vanilla, pears, slightly floral with a hint of oak.
Palate:  Soft but bright sweetness with canned pears, honey, vanilla, and a subtle peppery malt note at the end.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, sweet and wet with a slight white pepper note.
Comments:  A subtle and soft dram all around, where the nose lines up with what the palate delivers. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing special for my tastes either; a think just a bit too soft/subtle for my liking.

Rating: Average

Chivas Regal – The Chivas Brothers’ Blend Read More »

Laphroaig 28 Year Old

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Laphroaig 28 Year Old
44.4% ABV
$799
Website

What the Distiller Says
Over a quarter century in the making. Laphroaig 28 Year Old is a limited luxury meant to savor.

Laphroaig 28 Year Old is an exceptional expression that has been matured for 28 years in a suite of artfully selected casks. First matured in different sizes from quarter casks to butts, the liquid is married in sherry casks to age for its final 12 months.

COLOR: Coppery gold.
NOSE: Rich and peaty with aroma of grilled dates, Manuka honey, and a hint of licorice, complemented by notes of Islay heather, dry thyme and rosemary.
BODY: Full bodied.
PALATE: Sweet with baked pears and vanilla notes complemented by salted toffee, burnt wood, marinated grilled meat, and ground black pepper.
FINISH: Sweet and peppery with dried spices, cedar and complex lingering peaty flavor.

What Gary Says
Nose: Thick, peaty sea air w/ notes of honey, sultanas, iodine, leather, and a hint of tangy, smokey barbecue.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, intense sweetness, pears, honey, rice pudding with a hint of balsamic vinegar; subdued peat.
Finish: Long, lingering with sweet notes and savory but subtle spices.
Comments: If you’ve read my other reviews, you know my history with Laphroaig. This is just an exquisite dram; the oldest Laphroaig I’ve had the pleasure of tasting, and it has indeed been a pleasure. The peat and medicinal notes that fans of Laphroaig have grown to love are still present, but they are tamed in this presentation, with more complex sweet notes on the nose and palate. The final 12 months of maturation in sherry is a lovely touch – adding depth and richness to the sweet notes, balancing out the peat and sea air – but not changing the foundation of that classic Laphroaig profile. On my second tasting, I poured some Laphroaig 18 yr for a comparison, and that really highlighted the difference of that sherry finishing (although the other casks used throughout the maturation undoubtedly played a significant role). Much more gentle and refined, with less peppery edge than the 18 yr. Very well crafted, and delicious representation!
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

We would like to thank Laphroaig and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

Laphroaig 28 Year Old Read More »

Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey
54.45% ABV
$100-$125
Website

What the Distiller Says
A FULL-BODIED TASTE THAT CANNOT BE IMITATED

Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey is a well balanced Rye, bolstered by sweet tones of maple, brown sugar and light citrus sweetness. Finish with a hint of oak & no burn on the throat. Due to our carefully unique distilling process, Peerless offers a smooth taste that differs from many other ryes. Peerless Rye is a palatable sipping Rye to be savored with friends and family.

Every Drop Honestly Crafted
Non-Chill Filtered
Strictly Sweet Mash
Barrel Proof
No Water Added

What Gary Says
Nose:  Rye spice, dill, burnt toast, oak, citrus zip, milk chocolate, caramel with hints of anise and clove.
Palate:  Sweet molasses with bitter orange chocolate, caramel apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, almonds with some pepper spice at the back.
Finish:  Short to moderately long, wet with a dill spice note.
Comments:  If tasting this blind, I absolutely would have pegged this as older than the 24 months that it is; probably guessing closer to 4 to 6 years old. It actually reminds me a bit of Willett 5 yr Straight Rye single barrels (which were MGP distilled at the time, and bottled at 110 proof) – which isn’t a bad thing as I really loved those. Don’t get me wrong – this is unique from that.  The best thing I can say about it is that it tastes way better than any other 2 yr rye I’ve had (can’t think of a 2 yr whiskey I’ve liked better actually). But the price is crazy absurd. I know whiskey pricing today isn’t what it was 5 years ago (when those Willett 5 yr ryes were $35-$40).  But I’m sorry – I’m never going to pay $100+ for a 2 yr rye (or 2 yr whiskey – period). Never. Is there anything wrong with the whiskey itself? No – it is well balanced, and I’ll agree with the general consensus that it punches well above its weight. But the price point would have to be cut well below half before I’d be a buyer.  Yes, it is tasty – but there is a LOT of tasty whiskey I enjoy as much for a whole lot less cash.
Rating: Stands Out

I would like to thank my dad for bringing me a sample to review.

Peerless Straight Rye Whiskey Read More »