Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select Rye Whiskey
Total Wine Selection

52.5% ABV
$65-80
Website
Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select Rye Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Barrel Select Rye Whiskey
The Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select program is a unique Maryland-style blend of 7-year-old straight rye whiskies. Each barrel of high-rye is expertly blended with a low-rye mash bill by our distilling team. No two expressions taste the same, and you are guaranteed to enjoy a one-of-a-kind product. The Sagamore Spirit Barrel Select program showcases the uniqueness of our distillers’ favorite barrels in each bottle.

Tasting Notes
Palate: Classic tasting notes include hints of caramel and vanilla with cinnamon and clove.
Age: 7 Years

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye spice with fennel, dill, tarragon, mint, toasted oak, bright citrus with notes of lemon and lime.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, vanilla then sharpens to grapefruit, lemon, a bit of orange, toffee, cinnamon and honey.
Finish:  Moderately long with grapefruit, cinnamon and vanilla.
Comments:  Just delightful! Honestly I am normally not a fan of grapefruit notes in my whiskey, but this has a lot going on beyond that. From what I see the price points on these vary quite a bit, with some folks snagging for $65 but $80 seems to be the SRP.

Rating: Must Try

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Blackened – Straight Whiskeys Finished in Brandy Casks

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

BLACKENED
A Blend of Straight Whiskeys Finished in Brandy Casks

45% ABV
$30
Website
Blackened American Whiskey

What the Producer Says

This award-winning whiskey is a marriage of the finest North American straight bourbon & rye whiskeys and uniquely finished and sonically-enhanced in brandy casks, using the BLACK NOISE™ process to extract more flavor from the wood. The sweetness of the bourbon is perfectly balanced with the savory spice offered by the rye. The whiskey is further enhanced with the brandy cask finish adding notes of apricot, which plays perfectly alongside the honey and caramel notes of the blend.

TASTING NOTES
Nose: Burnt caramel, oak & honey
Palate: Honey, cinnamon, allspice, dark fruit, clove & mint
Finish: Long and smooth, slightly creamy with hints of butterscotch taffy, maple & honey

What Gary Says

Nose: Charred oak, caramel, vanilla and honey.
Palate: Honey, cinnamon candy, orange zest, grapefruit, bit of anise and mint.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with pepper spice and caramel apples.
Comments: For starters, I’m a huge fan of Metallica and the late great Dave Pickerell. The whole blasting music are barrels I thought was probably gimmicky, although we know in very mellow climates where the liquid doesn’t interact as much with the barrel the flavors are more muted. All that to say – I wanted to like this; I really did. It isn’t ‘horrible, dump it down the drain’, but I thought it was average at best. You do get some of the nuance from the brandy casks for sure, but it just never left me wanting to raise my glass again.

Rating: Average

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Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey

Whiskey Finished in Jamaican, Barbados & St. Lucian Rum Casks

71.12% ABV
$200
Website
Barrell Triple Rum Cask Finish Whiskey
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

The BCS team created this unique blend by selecting a diverse set of whiskeys sourced from both the United States and Canada, with some barrels aged for as long as 25 years. Each of these whiskeys was then meticulously finished in a distinct rum cask originating from one of three Caribbean nations—Jamaica, Barbados, or St. Lucia—imparting unique tropical and molasses-driven characteristics to the spirit. After the individual finishing processes were complete, the team skillfully blended the various components, harmonizing the bold spice of the whiskey with the rich, exotic sweetness of the rum casks to create a complex and layered final expression.

  • Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
  • Finished in Jamaican, Barbados and St. Lucian Rum Casks
  • 142.24 proof

FLAVOR NOTES
A multitude of rummy esters swirl about this whiskey. A first whiff may yield geranium, but the second will be all orange zest and the next whiff full of kiwi and strawberry. The palate follows suit but with this whiskey’s corn-rich texture evoking creme anglaise and tahini. Each splash of water added volatilizes more aromas and reveals another fruit, be it banana, pineapple, or pomegranate.

​Neat
Appearance: Pale gold.
Nose: The esters inherited from the Jamaican rum are dense and prickly. At first the aroma is all orange flower water, buttercup and vanilla. There’s a strong waxy side and even a whiff of petrichor. In time, the citrus follows the flowers, and in its place comes pineapple, passionfruit, and strawberry.
Palate: Matcha, rosehip, and clove echo the floral opening of the nose. The flavors of fresh sugarcane and molasses highlight the rum. Hints of slightly burnt popcorn and roasted peanut reveal the spirit’s cereal origin. It grows more tropical the longer it’s held on the tongue, tasting of lychee, kiwi, and honeydew melon.
Finish: Rich pina colada is deftly balanced by limestone, salt, and a splash of mezcal. Contemplation is rewarded with honeysuckle, lime zest, and a bit of lingering peanut butter.
With a few drops of spring water
Cucumber and green banana burst forth with youthful exuberance. The nose is extremely sweet, displaying saltwater taffy, pandan chiffon cake, and maraschino liqueur. There’s also quite a vivid note of butter and some rootbeer adding a welcome herbal complexity before coffee ice cream takes over the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rummy w/ notes of molasses, orange blossom, vanilla, tropical fruit notes of pineapple and kiwi.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, warm with honey, cinnamon, cloves, rosewater, molasses, nutty with a hint of caramel.
Finish: Moderate in length with coconut, pineapple and a bit of molasses.
Comments: The nose on this one is not as hot as you’d expect for a hazmat bottling. The palate is sharp and warm, and improves with some time in the glass. I prefer this dram with a bit of water, which thickens up the mouthfeel nicely and brings out some lovely notes of butterscotch and turtle brownies. The rum influence here is unmistakable, and risks masing the underlying spirit. Water helps bring out more of those whiskey notes of caramel. If you are fan of rum AND whiskey, this is a pretty unique offering and might be right in your wheelhouse, where if you’re a whiskey fan but not crazy about rum – well, this is triple rum cask finished so what you might expect.

Rating: Stands Out

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High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13 (2025)

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Port Barrels
Act 13 (2025 release)

49.3% ABV
$150
Website
High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 13
We would like to thank High West Whiskey and lippe taylor for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Dram is our beloved flagship whiskey, “Rendezvous” (a blend of straight rye whiskeys ranging in 4 to 10 years of age), finished in Ruby and Tawny Port barrels.

Nose: Crushed blackberries, mandarin zest, almond shortbread, fig jam, dulce de membrillo, allspice, old vine zinfandel, plum syrup spilled on a mahogany table
Palate: Marionberry preserves, chocolate-dipped cherries, marble rye bread, mochaccino, cinnamon bark, oolong tea, winter pine, smoldering Havana cigar
Finish: Velvety and spiced–chai cold foam, clove-studded orange flesh, soft ginger chew

How to drink: We recommend that you enjoy this special spirit neat, due to its many layers of complexity, next to a warm fire as the snow piles up on the window sill.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit, plums, blackberries, figs, heavy port, allspice and orange zest.
Palate: Blood orange, plum, cinnamon, bitter chocolate, nutmeg, cloves and sour oak.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with citrus spice and cloves fading.
Comments:  I reviewed this back in September of 2020, and while I had two samples from different batches (Act 4 and Act 7), they were so similar I decided not to distinguish.  I no longer have anything left from those samples (or samples of other acts I’ve received), so I can’t provide a true ‘side-by-side’ comparison; but either my tastes have changed (entirely possible) or the whiskey has (also entirely possible).  This was one of my favorites from High West when it was first released – “Christmas in a Bottle” is who I would describe it. This year’s release seems to be more heavy handed on the Port finish, losing some of the spice notes from the rye.  I don’t know if the type of port casks have changed, or the duration of finishing – but while this was good it wasn’t as squarely in my wheelhouse as previous releases.  Coupled with the price increasing makes this a bit disappointing.  I certainly hope that this is just an off year (or an off batch).

Rating: Stands Out

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Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel

/ / Gary's Blog, Review / ,

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel

$85
Website
Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon Provisions Parcel
We would like to thank Bib & Tucker and CREATE ENTERTAINMENT for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

At the crossroads of heritage and innovation comes a new signature expression from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon: Gold Roast, a 6-Year Tennessee Whiskey artfully finished with whole roasted Arabica coffee beans using a refined cold extraction method. Gold Roast Bourbon is a celebration of two time-honored American traditions. Inspired by the turn of the century, when bourbon and coffee were rituals of connection, comfort, and craft, this release reimagines those traditions for the modern drinker.

Kit includes:

  • Bottle of Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon
  • Custom Gold Roast Blend Coffee from Muletown Coffee Roasters
  • Bib & Tucker Leather Coasters
  • Premium Glassware

What Gary Says

I reviewed Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon just a few months back, and really enjoyed it.  Many producers start putting together gift box sets just in time for the holidays – and I receive offers to try them and share reviews. The vast majority of the time I pass – not because I think they’re not good products, but often the boxes are simply the whiskey – and some branded glassware; maybe a gimmick or two. They sell the idea of generosity without delivering much real value.

Not this one.

The Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel surprised me—in the best way.

What’s Inside the Box
  • A bottle of Gold Roast Bourbon – six-year Tennessee small-batch, finished with cold-extracted Arabica coffee beans
  • A bag of the same roasted coffee used to finish the bourbon (THIS was my main curiosity!)
  • Two heavy crystal tumblers (my parcel had Nachtmann Noblesse glasses, 13.6 oz—solid in the hand)
  • Leather coasters to support those hefty tumblers
  • Nicely presented gift box with honeycomb flex paper wrapping the bottle (great protection, and a nice visual touch)

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Provisions Parcel

Why This Is Worth It
  • The bourbon: This isn’t a gimmick-finish. The coffee integration is real. Check out my review on it, but it’s solid (and in fact the more I sipped it, the more I liked it).
  • The coffee: This was a huge component for me. Imagine a tasting experience where a whiskey is finished in some cask (sherry, wine, etc), and you could get a gift box with a small taste of THAT product!  I would be all over that! This adds a layer of storytelling to the whole experience, and invites you to brew, sit down, sip, compare, and most of all – enjoy.  And how is it?  Really nice, and can see why it was selected – medium roast with notes of vanilla and cocoa; complements the bourbon quite well (which I knew from the whiskey itself)!

Custom Gold Roast Blend Coffee from Muletown Coffee Roasters

  • The packaging: Strong. The bottle’s honeycomb wrap adds texture and substance—way more thoughtful than the usual molded foam, bubble wrap, or heaven forbid packing peanuts.

The Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon Provisions Parcel

  • The barware: Let’s talk about that glass. Whether neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail, I love the way this tumbler feels in my hand. There’s real presence here. You know when you’re holding it, and it looks distinguished.

Nachtmann Noblesse Whisky Tumblers

  • The extras: Leather coasters are a classy touch.

I made the Gold Roast Old Fashioned from Bib & Tucker’s recipe here and it worked beautifully. That coffee edge plays well with bitters and a twist. Stirred it up, dropped in a couple of rocks, and let that glass do its thing. Heavy in the hand, light on the lip. Everything I want in an end-of-day pour (and yes, if it looks like the fill line is high – I made a double; don’t judge me).

Gold Roast Old Fashioned

Final Word

In a crowded field of bourbon gift sets, this one doesn’t just pass muster—it stands out. The whiskey is legit. The coffee is just plain fun to experience that connection. The packaging is intentional – including being stylish and functional. The accessories are high quality. It doesn’t scream for attention; it just shows up ready to impress – and it did that!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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