Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

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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Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Kentucky Owl Straight Rye Batch #1
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 11 Years

55.3% ABV
$130
Website
Kentucky Owl 11 Year Rye batch 1

What the Producer Says

Straight Rye #1
Released: September 2017
11 YEARS OLD
110.6 PROOF / 55.3% ABV
The nose on this rye has elements of sweet pine, honey, nougat, vanilla, cloves and lavender. Oaky undertones, subtle cedar saw dust or fresh split cedar.

What Gary Says

Nose: Herbal spice, anise, cloves, mint, citrus with grilled peaches and a bit of root beer.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, rye spice with cinnamon, orange zest, lime sour candies, cloves, bit of mint and root beer.
Finish: Moderately long with citrus tending towards lime, mint and fading spices.
Comments: Full disclosure – I’ve never been a fan of this brand. When they came out in 2014 as bourbon was really getting crazy (or so I thought at the time), the lack of transparency and price seemed to me to be designed to just take advantage of the craze over limited editions. I’m sharing all of that because when I saw Richard provided a sample of their rye (which I’d have never bought), I was prepared to find it ridiculously ordinary and overpriced. Can’t say it isn’t overpriced (over $10 a year), but far from ordinary. This is a really nice, strong spice rye. While they don’t disclose the mash bill, nothing ‘barely legal’ here. A bit of water brings out more root beer and cotton candy on the nose, and amps the root beer notes on the palate.

Rating: Must Try

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High West The Noble Share

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

High West The Noble Share
Blend of Straight Whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble Añejo Barrels

52% ABV
$175
Website
High West x Casa Noble The Noble Share Whiskey
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Continuing the tradition of cross-category innovation, High West Distillery is partnering with Casa Noble Tequila on the release of The Noble Share, a blend of straight rye whiskeys finished in Marques de Casa Noble extra añejo barrels. High West, the Park City-based distillery, is known for its meticulously sourced and thoughtfully blended whiskeys. Casa Noble is a fine tequila built on seven generations of mastery using innovative methods that honor modern Mexican culture. This collaboration is something that will appeal to both whiskey and tequila connoisseurs. The dichotomy of the brands and their respective regions is reflected on the label, mirroring one another yet displaying their vastly different geographies. This is an exciting collaboration for the Spirits community and High West is honored to blend its’ whiskey traditions with Casa Noble’s heritage and offer this new expression to consumers.

This unique and limited edition expression leverages 4- to 10-year-old rye whiskeys and finishes them in Marques de Casa Noble añejo tequila barrels for 6 months. A portion of the blend is finished in Amburana barrels at a char of 3 or medium toast treatments for a small period to elevate the whiskey even further. This whiskey blends the heritage of High West Whiskey with the 7-generation legacy and craftsmanship of Casa Noble to create an exceptional bottle of whiskey that tastes and feels unlike any other. It is the first-ever collaboration between Casa Noble and High West.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Ripe mango, ruby grapefruit, spiced apple cider, piloncillo sugar, anise, allspice berries, mesquite wood, sunset walk through an agave field
Palate: Baked pear, charred peaches, ginger molasses cookie, freshly fried churro, orange blossom, cinnamon bark, black licorice, oak, leather
Finish: Pink peppercorns, dark agave honey on a sopapilla

Mash Bill
High West Distillery Rye (80% rye, 20% malted rye)
MGP Rye 4-10 years old (95% rye, 5% malted barley)

What Gary Says

Nose:  Tropical fruit notes of mango and candied pineapple, agave, floral undertones, tarragon, squeeze of lime, cinnamon, hint of anise and oak spices.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with pears, apples and peaches, cinnamon pastry, agave and blood orange.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with citrus and cinnamon.
Comments:  This is a really interesting whiskey! The tequila finish shines through but isn’t overpowering and really complements the core rye base. The amburana finish is also deftly managed, bringing that cinnamon roll note to the party. This drinks deliciously neat, but adding just a few drops of water opens up that amburana cinnamon roll with vanilla icing on both the nose and palate. High West has always been innovative and not afraid to try new things (I think back to when they released Campfire, a blend of bourbon, rye and scotch, back in 2012; made it my mission to hunt one down and was glad I did!) This may not be quite as groundbreaking as Campfire was at the time, but a very nice sipping whiskey.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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