Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Elijah Craig Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Elijah Craig Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

47% ABV
$25-$30
Website
Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

The award-winning Bourbon that started it all. Our signature Small Batch owes its distinctive warm spice & subtle smoke flavor to Level 3 charred oak barrels. Handcrafted by our Master Distillers, it’s a favorite of Bourbon connoisseurs and casual whiskey fans alike.

HOW IT’S MADE
Elijah Craig was the first to char oak barrels, which earned him the name, “The Father of Bourbon.” Today, all Elijah Craig Bourbons are aged in Level 3 charred new oak barrels. This level of char releases flavor compounds & aromas such as caramelized sugars, vanillin, wood smoke & spice. Our Master Distillers then hand-select each barrel to create our signature, award-winning Small Batch Bourbon.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Burnished copper
AROMA: Delightfully complex with notes of vanilla bean, sweet fruit, and fresh mint
TASTE: Smooth and warm; pleasantly woody with accents of spice, smoke, and nutmeg
FINISH: Long, sweet, and slightly toasty

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel corn, vanilla wafers, musty oak, subtle spice notes of mint and cinnamon.
Palate:  Vanilla, honey, caramel, nutmeg, brown sugar, hint of clove, cinnamon, oak and pepper.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with vanilla, nutmeg, oak and mint.
Comments:  I wish I had a retail bottling (still) of the 12 yr age stated version for a blind side-by-side comparison, but there’s more than one saying about wishing. This definitely strikes me as similar to what I recall, maybe a touch less oak which I don’t mind. The caramel corn note isn’t meant to imply it is young, as ‘corn’ is one of those notes that you get with younger bourbon – just the type of caramel (what can I say – when I nosed it, first thing that came to mind was caramel corn!) I know folks hate the loss of the age statement – and I’m in that club as well (hell, if they had to come out with a new version and just said it was a 9 or 10 yr, I’d rather see that than the complete removal). But for the money, this is still a pretty solid bourbon.

Rating: Stands Out

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Duncan Taylor ‘Dimensions’ Highland Park 20 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Duncan Taylor ‘Dimensions’ Highland Park 20 Year
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

53% ABV
$150-$180
Website
Duncan Taylor Dimensions Highland Park 20 Yr

What the Bottler Says

Bottled at cask strength of 53% ABV and without chill-filtration or artificial colouring, this single malt has matured beautifully as a result of 20 years in an ex-sherry butt. The traditionally lightly-peated notes of Highland Park are still present, however they have softened over time and have been complimented with a hint of salt and notes of mixed fruit, baked apples and honey from the sherry cask.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat fire with salted sea mist, fruity with cherries, peaches, raisins, vanilla, chocolate with cedar-smoked pork roast.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with honey, apples, cherries, pepper, chocolate, toffee, walnuts and peat.
Finish:  Long and damp with fruity peat notes.
Comments:  A rather nice Highland Park bottling. Before researching the bottle details, I would not have pegged this as being fully matured in sherry (first the color isn’t what you’d expect for that age in sherry), so guessing it is a second or maybe third fill sherry (as they have a lot of sherry casks around Highland Park). Which isn’t a bad thing by any stretch – since the retail Highland Park gives you that big sherry take on their distillate. A nice balance that lets the distillery’s character shine through while giving you some of those luscious fruit notes from the sherry.

Rating: Stands Out

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Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$90
Website
Remus Repeal Reserve Series V
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Luxco will debut Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon Whiskey in September 2021. A limited annual release, Series V is the fifth edition of the award-winning Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon collection. Produced to commemorate the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, Series V showcases a medley of five bourbons ranging from 2005 to 2008, offering a rare taste of the finest cask bourbon selections available from one of the oldest distilleries in the country.

“Remus Repeal Reserve has been such an amazing journey for our distillery team, and we wanted to do something extraordinary for our fifth-year anniversary,” said Master Blender David Whitmer. “Series V exemplifies what our Remus Repeal collection stands for: to showcase the incredible range of medleys and aged reserves we work with in Lawrenceburg. Whether this is your first taste of our Remus Repeal collection or your fifth, Series V represents a particularly special opportunity for us to show you what great bourbon can be.”

Named after the legendary “King of the Bootleggers,” Remus Repeal Reserve is an annual series from George Remus® Bourbon, crafted by the expert distillers at MGP’s 174-year-old distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN. Made in a signature high-rye style, the medley changes each year, allowing the team to experiment with their various mash bills and aged reserves. Remus Repeal Reserve Series V is comprised of:

  • 9% 2005 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 5% 2005 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 19% 2006 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 13% 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 54% 2008 Bourbon (36% Rye)

Made from outstanding reserves ranging from 2005 to 2008, Series V leads with dried fruit, rich caramel, maple syrup, roasted nuts and leather. The beginning includes rich toffee and vanilla, followed by chocolate, glazed nuts and oak. The finish offers candied fruit, caramel, baking spice and a lingering oaky rye spice.

Highly anticipated, previous releases of Remus Repeal Reserve have achieved some of the highest recognition in the bourbon category, including a Gold-Best in Class in the 2020 World of Whiskies Competition and 98 points from Tasting Panel Magazine for Remus Repeal Reserve Series IV.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V retails for a suggested $89.99 per 750-ml bottle and will be available in limited quantities in September 2021 to coincide with National Bourbon Heritage Month. Series V is bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, brown sugar candied bacon, maple syrup, oak, honey, baking spices with herbal hints of oregano.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate covered cherries, oak, cinnamon, pepper, orange zest with a bit of nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with chocolate, nutmeg, vanilla and dried mint.
Comments:  This is my first experience with the Remus Repeal Reserve lineup, so can’t compare it to previous releases – but this won’t be the last. This is delicious! With older stock (granted, non-age stated so the parcels may have been tanked at some earlier date, but hard to imagine them sitting on tanked stock for any extended period), this has a nice balance of sweetness, spice, and oak. My palate typically prefers bourbon 12 yrs or younger (with a few exceptions). I just don’t care for ‘oak bombs’, so if you’re looking for heavy oak – this might not fit the bill. Appreciate the transparency of the parcels and mashbills, as well as the 50% ABV. With some water I get more orange notes on the nose and palate, without it losing the balance. A really solid blend of well-made straight bourbons, and in today’s market – priced reasonably.

Rating: Must Try

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Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$50 (375 mL)
Website

Dewar's Double-Double 21-Year-Old Whisky

What the Blender Says

Our unique Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks.

Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old is finished in Oloroso sherry casks, this blend delivers subtle notes of cinnamon and ripe vine fruits with a silky smooth finish.

4 STAGE AGEING PROCESS FOR ULTIMATE SMOOTHNESS

Innovation comes in many forms, and in 2019 our Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, released a new range of Blended Scotch Whiskies with a Four Stage Ageing Process for Ultimate Smoothness. This may sound like an indulgence but the series has been picking up gold medal awards the world over since being released.

We believe that in order to do things right and get the best results you should put in double the effort. So we asked ourselves how we could put in double the effort to our range that was already Double Aged for Extra Smoothness…and it was obvious..double it!

Our Double Double Series has been aged, blended together, aged again, then finished in sherry casks for the Ultimate Smoothness.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dark fruit, bit of toffee, earthiness with smoked brisket, leather, sherry and a subtle vegetal note.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with plums, pepper spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, bit of an earthy/mineral note, dark chocolate, toffee, almonds and black cherries.
Finish:  Moderately long with dark fruits, pepper spice and a touch of peat.
Comments:  This is a really interesting dram – a tad sharp on the palate at first but a bit of water really smoothes it out nicely. Quite well balanced, with a complexity that introduced me to something new with each sitting. I like this being offered in a 375 mL too because that puts it in reach of many consumers who might otherwise not have access to it, and there aren’t a lot of well aged blended whiskies like this available to them at that price point. AND I appreciate the ABV, as some other offerings from Dewar’s I haven’t enjoyed as much – but suspect would have at something closer to this ABV than 40%. In fact, I can comfortably say this is my favorite Dewar’s to date.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye
Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters

43% ABV
$50
Website
Hercules Mulligan Rum and Rye

What the Producer Says

Named for the little known tailor, spy, and hero of the American Revolution, who changed history and secured freedom for all, Hercules Mulligan is based on a unique recipe from the period. It’s what Mulligan, the man, stood for, and it’s what this Rum & Rye blend embodies. A spirit of independence.

Simple in its nature – Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters – yet utterly complex and delightful, this unique composition tickles the nose and loosens the lips.

WHAT MAKES A HERO?
The Balance
A unique recipe from the era of revolution and self-determination, custom-tailored for the modern independent thinker. Perfectly balanced Caribbean Aged Rum & American Rye Whiskey create an equilibrium of duality – a secret to be (re)discovered.

The Unique Character
The Rum & Rye blend is combined with macerated, fresh organic ginger – not artificial flavors. And it’s the essence of this magical root, that gives the blend a kick and builds its distinctive character.

The Audacity Favored by Fortune
The potion is finished with a dash of bespoke bitters that add that extra flavor. No fakery, only honest-to-God ingredients that capture the essence of a bittersweet life.

SPECS
CATEGORY: Rum & Rye
ORIGIN: The US & the Caribbean
NO. OF SPIRITS IN BLEND: 6
HERO INGREDIENTS: Rum, American Rye Whiskeys, tailor-made bitters, fresh ginger

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly cut ginger, menthol shaving lather, bitters.
Palate:  Syrupy mouthfeel with candied ginger, rum and bitters.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with ginger, pepper and honey.
Comments:  So I got this from Flaviar when my quarterly benefit included a ‘free premium bottle’ but the selection offered didn’t have any whisk(e)y I wanted. I like Rock & Rye, like ginger, so what the hell. Glad it was a throw in. The nose on this reminds me of lathering for a wet shave, then slicing fresh ginger into a glass of Bacardi with bitters. I don’t get any rye (maybe the mint from the rye is that menthol note?) Definitely not the sort of thing I’d sip neat. Been trying to find a cocktail that it works in, as it seems like it would be suited for that – but alas, a mixologist I am not.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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