Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye Whiskey

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

Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye Whiskey
Aged 20 Years

50% ABV
$500
Website
Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye
We would like to thank Grain & Barrel Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (Dec 6, 2021) – Grain & Barrel Spirits’ (“G&B”) has released a limited-edition Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye Whiskey, which was aged for 20 years and bottled in a Prohibition-era Chicken Cock replica apothecary-style bottle at 100 proof (50% ABV). The mash bill contains 90% rye and 10% malted barley.

Originally established in Paris, Kentucky in 1856, Chicken Cock – known as “The Famous Old Brand” – was forced to move production up to Canada during Prohibition. The Canadian Rye whiskey produced during that period was then smuggled back into the U.S. in tin cans, earning the brand the nickname, “the whiskey in a tin can.” It was around this time that Chicken Cock rose to fame as the featured house whiskey at The Cotton Club (located in Harlem at 142nd St. and Lenox Avenue), one of Prohibition’s most legendary speakeasies. Here the brand was ceremoniously opened table-side where Duke Ellington and his orchestra regularly performed on the Cotton Club’s stage. In an excerpt from ‘Music is my Mistress,’ Ellington said, “during the prohibition period, you could always buy good whiskey from somebody in the Cotton Club. They used to have what they called Chicken Cock. It was a bottle in a can, and the can was sealed. It cost something like ten to fourteen dollars a pint.” ($140+ today).

“This luxury spirit and commemorative tin honor Chicken Cock’s Prohibition-era history and a period where the brand ventured north to carry on its tradition of bringing high quality whiskey to patrons across the country,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “This rare straight rye whiskey signals a return to pre-prohibition times when the classic spirit was more prevalent, while also honoring the brand’s history and heritage. We even maintained the spelling of ‘whiskey’ versus ‘whisky’ on the original tin from Prohibition.”

Tasting Notes:

  • Appearance: aged 20 years in a used bourbon barrel, the whiskey glistens with a soft, yellowish-brown hue
  • Aroma: sweet candy combined with slight grassy rye, earthy notes, hints of citrus/orange peel, spice and white pepper
  • Flavor: a wonderful combination of vanilla, spice and sweet molasses, nicely complimented with mild overtones of pepper, citrus and toasted oak
  • Finish: a long finish with a wonderful balance of pepper, spice and sweetness, that lingers with a buttery mouthfeel

After Prohibition, Chicken Cock enjoyed a resurgent couple of decades before a distillery fire just after World War II put it out of business. In 2012, Anttila rediscovered the brand and set out to resurrect it to its Prohibition-era glory alongside Master Distiller Gregg Snyder whose résumé includes distilling, cooperage, and executive positions with Brown-Forman, Austin Nichols, as well as board positions with the Associated Cooperage Industries of America, Kentucky Distillers’ Association, and others. Since that time, the team has introduced a flagship KY Straight Bourbon and KY Straight Rye Whiskey, made in partnership with Bardstown Bourbon Company as part of its collaborative distilling program.

Chicken Cock Cotton Club Canadian Rye Whiskey (1,595 6-pack cases) is available for the suggested retail price of $499.99 per 750ml bottle online via Passion Spirits, Flaviar, Caskers, and Cask Cartel and soon nationally via special allocation.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, cotton candy, grassy with mint, herbs, lemongrass, subtle orange zest with a hint of pine.
Palate:  Vanilla with oak, herbal rye spice, cinnamon and pepper with a notes of citrus and brown sugar.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with oak and fading vanilla.
Comments:  For a 50% ABV whiskey, the nose on this is a tad sharp right from the bottle; some time in the glass helps and is definitely recommended (and worth the wait!) The rye mash bill shines through. Coming after another aged Canadian whiskey, it was an interesting comparison – although without mash bill details on the other it isn’t really an ‘apples to apples’ comparison. This one is a bit sharp, as you might expect with a 90% rye whiskey. Nothing off putting, but priced more for collection than for drinking.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Whiskey 2nd Release

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

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Whiskey
2nd Release, 24 Yrs

Canadian Whiskey Finished in
Oloroso Sherry and XO Armagnac Casks

60.82% ABV
$250
Website
Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Whiskey 2021
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

  • Matured for 24 years
  • Distilled in Canada
  • Aged in the US and Canada
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 121.64 proof cask strength bottling

BCS Gray Label Whiskey began with two selections of 24-year Canadian whiskey barrels: one set was fruit-forward and tropical, and one was woody, with a light floral aroma. A portion of the fruit-forward blend was transferred into Oloroso Sherry barrels and a portion of the floral and earthy blend was transferred into Armagnac casks. The remaining whiskey from the two groups was then combined to mingle. When the timing and flavor from the finishing casks peaked, the three components were carefully blended together.
The mature, spicy whiskey is front and center, reminiscent of wheat fields edged with wildflowers. There is a rare and noteworthy concentration of aroma, enriched with a candy sweetness and leafy earthiness from the finishing casks, that calls to mind a toasty Belgian waffle.
Appearance: Pale straw with steaks of dark amber.
Nose: Meticulously layered, with aromas from every stage of production, from field to distillation, to aging, to finishing. The whiskey’s floral character manifests elderflower, with maple and lavender tucked in as well. Notes of rosehip jelly and candied plum, indicative of Armagnac barrels, blend seamlessly with those of fresh, tropical fruit. The grassiness of the whiskey transitions to the nutty character of the oloroso cask. Notes of ginger, wintergreen, and pine pitch are present though the whiskey is not especially woody.
Palate: More oaky than the nose, as suggested by butterscotch, coconut milk, and root beer, nearly obscuring the Canadian whiskey’s trademark green apple brightness. There is a concentration of honeydew melon, gooseberry, and old English cider apples. Meanwhile the earthiness expands to include olive oil, sunflower seed, and licorice root.
Finish: The spirit’s herbaceous side takes center stage, starting with tarragon, shiso, and spearmint. Spicier notes follow, among them caraway, cardamom, and fennel-seeds. A marine-like minerality lingers, mostly salt with hints of weathered herbs.
With a splash of spring water: The fruit notes on the nose shift from fresh to cooked, with grilled peach and pineapple joined by apple pie and dried orange peel. The floral notes, get richer, displaying saffron, propolis, and orange blossom honey. The palate gets tangier, with yogurt and malt vinegar lending a welcome brightness to the earthy sesame and maple syrup flavors.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick with maple candies, dried tropical fruit, cedar sawdust, wisps of pine with a light, floral perfume note.
Palate:  Thick with butterscotch, apples, sarsaparilla, maple syrup, raw honey, dark berries with anise.
Finish:  Long with a building rye spice, mint and root beer.
Comments:  I am a fan of older Canadian whiskey. Compared to domestic bourbon or rye, the lower temperatures allow the spirit to mature differently, taking on the lovely nuance you get with age without a lot of oak. This is really tasty, with that subtlety and balance.  A bit of water brings out buttercream frosting and more floral notes.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Craft Spirits Bourbon Gold Label 2021

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Bourbon
2021 Release, 16 & 17 Yrs

56.77% ABV
$500
Website
Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Bourbon 2021
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Barrell Craft Spirits Gold Label Bourbon is a blend of 16- and 17-year-old straight bourbons. Barrels for this release were selected from four different collections: cherry bomb barrels with a rich mouthfeel, nutty oak-forward barrels, high proof and high complexity barrels, and barrels with pronounced milk chocolate notes. The last group underwent a secondary maturation in toasted virgin American oak casks before being added to this intricate and seductive blend.

  • Aged for 16 years
  • Distilled in IN, KY and TN
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 113.54 proof cask strength bottling

A classically fruity bourbon, as sixteen years of maturation have produced an array of stewed and dried fruits of kaleidoscopic complexity. The overlay of toasted oak has rounded off all the sharp edges, leaving a soft and gentle profile that belies its high proof.

Appearance: Burnt marmalade..
Nose: The fresh and gentle notes from toasted oak are most obvious, as they add an unexpected dimension with vivid sugar cane, pipe tobacco, and toasted cinnamon. This freshness is contrasted by the earthiness of slate, tar, and cedar smoke. Fruits soon emerge, presenting rhubarb, Rainier cherry and tamarind, before shifting to dried apricot and papaya.
Palate: Candied ginger, marmalade, and northwestern hoppy beer notes speak to a foundational bittersweet profile. These are tempered by an unctuous creaminess, incorporating pina colada, key lime pie, and banana custard. Peach nectar, and cherry jam all contribute to a juicy quality whiskey at its best.
Finish: A bright pop of hibiscus and za’atar quickly yields to the cavalcade of dried and stewed fruits. As that fades some oak spices appear – sassafras, cocoa powder, smoked cinnamon, and incense.
With a splash of spring water: A bouquet of floral notes erupts from the glass: meadowsweet, elderflower and chamomile in the lead. The palate, on the other hand, develops instead along toasted coconut and curry.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, cocoa with cinnamon, dried apricots, baked apples, rickhouse must, vanilla, caramel cremes, worn leather, subtle smoke, baking spices with a hint of minerality.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with honey, pecan pralines, chocolate, hazelnut, caramel, pepper spice with cinnamon and a citrus twang that gives way to brown sugar.
Finish:  Long and drying with cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg, black tea and oak.
Comments:  Another really nice bourbon. This has got a wonderfully complex nose – I really liked the nose on the BCS Gray Bourbon 4th Release, but I like this one better. A bit of water thickens this up nicely and tamps the edges. It also definitely brings out floral notes with coconut. Despite this being older than the BCS Gray Bourbon 4th Release, the oak is less prominent. The price is tough for me here – while I did enjoy this one more than the BCS Gray Bourbon 4th Release – it’s twice the price (and that one was priced up there). The most I’ve spent on a bottle of whisk(e)y as of this review is $300, but the market has definitely moved past where I’m at.  If money isn’t important, this is a really delicious, well crafted bourbon.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 4th Release

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon
4th Release, 15 Yrs

50.2% ABV
$250
Website
Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Bourbon 2021
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

  • Matured for 15 years
  • Distilled and aged in IN, KY and TN
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 100.4 proof cask strength bottling

    • A bourbon characterized by evolution – where some whiskeys display their complexity all at once, here the flavors remain focused yet ephemeral. A gentle minerality yields to candied scents and then savory earthy ones, fruity aromas, and finally herbs and spices. The palate, meanwhile, is bright and sweet and tastes of cola.

    Appearance: Bronze.
    Nose: Starts with a puff of chalk dust and wood smoke. Underneath are notes of toasted marshmallow, warm honeycomb, and chocolate babka straight from the oven. Soon nubuck leather and sunflower seed jostle to the fore. Fruits emerge next, from Ginger Gold apples through roasted banana to strawberry jam, ending with chamomile and eucalyptus.
    Palate: A syrupy and sweet arrival is kept in check by moderate heat and some light but gritty tannin. A vivid cola note dominates at first, then allspice, fennel seed, and peppermint lead the wave of oak spice. A little fruity spirit peeks through with pops of green grape, strawberry meringue, and jasmine.
    Finish: The sugar washes away quickly, leaving a surprisingly dry, oily, palate with more noticeable tannin. The character correspondingly shifts to drier notes of pipe tobacco, walnut and iced coffee. As they fade a little more fruit emerges, around rhubarb jam and sumac.
    With a splash of spring water: The nose becomes incredibly fruity, showing crabapple, lychee, and blackberry tart. The palate grows fruitier as well, here on watermelon and earl grey tea. But it also develops an earthy spiciness, along gingerbread, radish, and nasturtium.

    What Gary Says

    Nose:  Rich with fudge and salted caramel, cigar paper, graham cracker, mincemeat pie, oak, berries, faint mineral note and hints of black tea.
    Palate:  Toffee, cross between coffee cake and fruitcake, cocoa, cola, nutmeg, allspice, oak, sherry and a hint of anise.
    Finish:  Moderately long and drying with dark chocolate and allspice.
    Comments:  This has a really lovely and complex nose! The palate is a bit dry and tannic (not what I’d call overly oaky, just not squarely in my wheelhouse), but still well balanced. A bit of water brings out fruit notes of green apple and melon. For cask strength to be barely 100 proof is also pretty rare, and provides more intensity than I usually find in a bourbon at this proof. I continue to be impressed with their blending of bourbons (and spirits) from different distilleries. If that aspect is interesting, but this price point is out of reach – I’d recommend finding Stellum Bourbon. I think that was the only bourbon I bought more than 1 bottle of in 2021!

    Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Unnamed Orkney 2006 14 Year

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Unnamed Orkney 2006 14 Year
Signatory Vintage The Un-chillfiltered Collection
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$100
Website
Unnamed Orkney 14 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Bottle Says

AGED: 14 years
DISTILLED ON: February 14, 2006
BOTTLE ON: September 25, 2020
MATURED IN: a Refill Butt
VATTING CASK NO: DRU 17/A65 #7
BOTTLE NO: 643
Un-chillfiltered | Natural Colour

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sherried dark fruit, raw honey, toffee, grilled peaches, smoky, spent matchsticks and sea mist.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, savory sherry notes, allspice, honey, raisins, subtle peat and a bit of pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with dark fruits and trailing pepper spice.
Comments:  If I had to guess (which is all I can do), I’d peg this as Highland Park – which seems like a safe bet since there’s only two distilleries on Orkney (the other being Scapa, which I’m not familiar with). But it definitely reminds me of Highland Park, although a refill butt so less sherry intensity. This is also lighter in color than Highland Park 12 yr. I really like how this dram clouds up with some water, which also tamps down the sherry notes on the palate and brings out more island notes.

Rating: Stands Out

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