Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label
Premium Whiskey

60.5% ABV (for sample provided; varies by barrel)
$79
Website
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label
We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

An expression that highlights barrels hand-picked by our four-time Master Blender of the Year, Victoria Eady Butler, who tastes every Uncle Nearest barrel and sets aside those that stand out to her as exceptional. Now, we are ready to share these barrels with you.

As with all of our non-rye whiskeys, this new label is both premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey and premium Straight Tennessee Whiskey. However, this single barrel whiskey is different from our other releases. It has the most distinct flavor profile of any of our expressions and was bottled at barrel strength to capture every nuance of this one-of-a-kind spirit. Our distillery’s triple filtration process ensures perfection in every sip. Every drop of liquid that goes into Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label is distilled and bottled by Nearest Green Distillery, continuing the legacy of excellence of our namesake, Nearest Green.

The smooth character of our whiskey is what distinguishes it from all others. The legacy of our namesake is what makes it unrivaled.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cocoa, slightly burnt caramel, anise, oak, vanilla, worn leather, nutmeg and a hint of cloves.
Palate:  Warm and thick mouthfeel, caramel with a bit of cola, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, black cherry and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, thick and damp with vanilla cola and pepper spice trailing.
Comments:  This is a very nice pour (I’d call it a bourbon, and from their description it would qualify as such – although I am disappointed that the label on the bottle doesn’t state “straight bourbon”).  It tastes like a really nice bourbon, and is well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel. A bit of water brings out a chocolate fudge note on the nose while amping the cola notes on the palate, and lending a creaminess to the mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Broken Barrel Americana

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Broken Barrel Americana

Straight American Whiskey Finished with Broken Barrel Staves

50% ABV
$35
Website
Broken Barrel Americana Whiskey
We would like to thank Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

YOUR SLICE OF AMERICA IN A BOTTLE

We strive to create whiskey that reflects a certain style and profile. Each batch and each release is meticulously crafted to ensure it is unlike other whiskey on the shelves. There is little logic to creating more of ‘the same’.

That’s where the Americana comes in – as Bourbon prices soar and alternative American whiskeys styles like Light Whiskey and Single Malt gain popularity, we believe the appetite for new American whiskey styles is growing, and so we give you the Americana. A blend of light whiskey and bourbon, finished with three very American-favored oaks that combine beautifully – toasted, charred and Apple brandy barrel staves. The results of this Oak Bill is a sweet, soft and smooth sip-worthy whiskey that offers a lighter style than bourbon. A great alternative to Highland Scotch or Irish Whiskey, and a fun substitute in your next craft cocktail.

Mash Bill:
80% Corn
14% Rye
6% Malted Barley

​Oak Bill™
40% Toasted American Oak Barrel Staves
40% New Char #4 Oak Staves
20% American Apple Brandy Staves

Batch 001 | Launched November 2022

The blend features older 4+ year-old corn whiskey, coupled with younger robust bourbon. Together, the blend delivers a rich and complex mouthfeel, while maintaining a more impressionable blend that absorbs much more of the flavor from the ​Oak Bill™ staves.

Tasting Notes: A soft honeycomb sweetness melts away into more complex oak and marshmallow notes. The whiskey has a weightier mouthfeel, boasting toasted cashew and notes of butterscotch, with a leathery grip on the tongue. A distinctive and bracing whiskey to be drank neat or substituted for bourbon or rye in nearly any cocktail.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Oak, green apples, fresh donuts, light caramel and baking spices.
Palate:  Light caramel, apple, vanilla, oak, bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, hint of mint and maple candies.
Finish:  Short in length, drying with sour caramel apples.
Comments:  The apple brandy stave influence stands out. While this is a high corn mashbill, it isn’t corny. Easy to drink , and if you like apple brandy, this is an interesting interplay. I would avoid throwing ice or water in as it tends to thin out easily – but at 50% it is very easy to drink neat so thankfully doesn’t require any extra water.

Rating: Stands Out

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Talisker 18 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Talisker 18 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

45.8% ABV
$145-$190
Website
Talisker 18 Year Single Malt Scotch

What the Distillery Says

Produced at the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye, Talisker Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been made by the sea since 1830, with its smell and taste instantly connecting you to its rugged maritime home. Every sip is a taste of the Isle of Skye itself, one of the most remote, windswept yet beautiful landscapes in Scotland. With wonderful sweetness and warmth, intertwined with just a thread of smoke, Talisker 18 Year Old is an award-winning whisky that is rich and soft but still assertive. Named the ‘Best Single Malt Whisky in the World 2007’ at the World Whiskies Awards, Talisker 18 Year Old is a single malt masterpiece. Talisker 18 Year Old makes a perfect gift for connoisseurs looking to explore new depths of flavour amongst smoky island single malt whiskies.

Serving Suggestion: Best enjoyed neat or add a splash of water or ice to reveal rich notes of plum, orange peel, and toffee.

APPEARANCE: Amber.
BODY: Full bodied, pleasant and smooth.
NOSE: Rich and fruity Victoria plums, greengages, perhaps dried orange peel with some butterscotch or rum toffee and a thread of smoke behind.
PALATE: Sweet in front, then more assertive, with a whiff of smoke. The overall effect is warming. The development is towards smoke, coal-tar, and toffee.
FINISH: Medium length and chilli ‘catch’ in the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick, rich and smoky, dark fruits, peaches, kiwi, grassy, honey, smoked brisket, hint of balsamic and worn leather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with honey, fruit, peat smoke, savory spice notes.
Finish:  Long, damp with fruit, pepper spice and subtle peat.
Comments:  I’m a fan of Talisker, and this only reinforces that – a delightful, wonderfully balanced dram with peat, smoke, fruit and savory notes. I could nose this for hours, if it wasn’t so delicious to sip. This is a pour where giving it time in the glass is worth the wait. “They” say to give an aged whiskey 1 minute in the glass for every year on the label. I don’t have that kind of patience, but think I made it a solid 10 minutes, and it was definitely better than when freshly poured.

Rating: Must Try

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Highland Park Old Particular 1997 20 Year Old

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Highland Park Old Particular 1997 20 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

53.1% ABV
$200
Website
Highland Park Old Particular 20 Year

What the Bottle/Retailer Says

Highland Park is truly a product of its environment. The distillery lays just a few degrees outside the bounds of the Arctic Circle on an island devoid of trees and ravaged by wind, yet relatively mild in temperature swings. This unique location coupled with the extra effort of floor malting their own barley on site are some of the components that lead to an awards list a mile long. This list includes many Gold and Double Gold medals for the distillery and its various bottlings. The barley is malted with local peat from Hobbister Moor, dense in heather, and providing an unusually floral characteristic to the smoke. The gale force winds carry the salt sea air through the barrel houses giving the whisky a salty tanginess that is all together different than the iodine characteristics of Islay. Weighing in at 53.1% alcohol and well below the $550 price tag of the 25 year old distillery bottling, this 20 year old Old Particular cask really struts the salt air and delicate floral smoke. Charged from a refill hogshead.

DL 12125
One of 263 bottles
Distilled September 1997
Bottled September 2017
No Colouring | No Chill Filtration

What Gary Says

Nose:  Tobacco, leather, toffee, peat, hint of dark fruits, bit of creosote, sea air, walnuts and oak.
Palate:  Honey, toffee, caramel, chocolate, nutty with spiced raisins, nutmeg, allspice and salty peat.
Finish:  Long, damp with honey, toffee and peat.
Comments:  Lighter in color than Highland Park’s standard distillery offering, and an interesting perspective without the sherry maturation. Water brings some fruit out and thickens the mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$60
Website
Uncle Nearest Straight Rye 100 Proof Whiskey
We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

SHELBYVILLE, TENN. (November 10, 2022) — Nearest Green Distillery, makers of the most-awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020, and 2021, has announced that it will add three permanent expressions to its national portfolio before the end of 2022: Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey, Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label and Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Rye. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye, launched today, is the brand’s first new whiskey available to purchase online and at retailers across the country since the 2019 release of its 1884 Small Batch Whiskey.

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey furthers the brand’s commitment to honoring its namesake, Nearest Green, by creating the highest quality whiskeys possible. The November 10 release follows the sold-out launch of the distillery exclusive Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Rye Whiskey, which has already been met with rave reviews by critics and has received awards from top competitions including being named Best in Class at The Drinks Business & The Spirits Business Autumn Tasting. The 100-proof straight rye, hand-selected by four-time Master Blender of the Year and great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, Victoria Eady Butler, features a bold, decadent nose; a palate brimming with light vanilla cream, caramelized sugar, and the unmistakable spice of rye; complimented by a long, rich finish.

“It took us a while to release our 100-proof straight rye whiskey. If we were going to add rye to our lineup, it had to be worthy of all the accolades and awards our other whiskeys receive,” said Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. “My great-great-grandfather’s legacy of excellence requires us to take our time to do things differently. I’m confident he would have been so proud of this straight rye whiskey.”

Due to the challenges around growing rye in Tennessee, this whiskey originates in Canada – according to the exact American specifications required to be a straight rye whiskey – and is then aged in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, where it is then rested in used Uncle Nearest barrels for additional maturation. The liquid is then tasted, barrel by barrel, and blended by
Victoria.

“When I was doing my research on Nearest Green, I came across a handwritten letter from President William Taft,” said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. “The letter was dated May 16, 1911, and was addressed to his U.S. Secretary of War, Jacob M. Dickinson, thanking him for sending his favorite rye whiskey ‘of the Lincoln County variety.’ This letter led me to believe rye whiskeys were being made in this area, so after I found that letter there was no doubt in my mind a straight rye whiskey would one day be added to our portfolio of whiskeys.”

This was a lofty experiment that worked. The results of this 100-percent rye mash bill, matured in used Uncle Nearest barrels before being bottled at 100-proof, keeps with our tradition of creating some of the most awarded whiskeys in the world. This is rye whiskey, elevated, hitting every mark with its rich flavor profile, incredible balance of spices, and extraordinarily smooth finish.

NOSE: Bold and decadent with notes of praline, nutmeg and white pepper.
PALATE: Brimming with light vanilla cream, caramelized sugar and the unmistakable spice of rye.
FINISH: Long, rich and well-balanced.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick with fresh donuts with maple frosting, cedar, vanilla, bit of citrus and cinnamon.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, orange marmalade, mint and a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with caramel, orange, chocolate and a mineral spice note.
Comments:  For fans of Canadian rye, this is a classic rendition of that – with a twist. That additional ‘maturation’ (which I’d refer to as ‘finishing’ if it were me – oh, and this is!) in used Uncle Nearest bourbon casks gives it a little something different. Not that Canadian rye has a lot of bite, but it tamps the edges a bit more and brings more caramel to the party. Adding a bit of water brings notes of toffee as well as a nuttiness I really enjoyed, although it is a lovely dram neat as well. This is similar to the recently released cask strength Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye. I did a side-by-side comparison (diluting that to 50% ABV), and they are quite similar – but not identical.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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