Gary

Managing apostle and whiskey enthusiast

Grangestone Sherry Cask Finish

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Grangestone Sherry Cask Finish
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$30
Website
Grangestone Sherry Cask

What the Producer Says

The Grangestone Single Malt Scotch Whisky range offers a selection of some of the finest Single Malts available from the Highlands of Scotland. Each spirit is chosen by our Malt Master for its quality and character to be symbolic of whiskies of this region.

Grangestone truly is a perfect example of a whisky from the Highland region of Scotland.

This Grangestone Single Malt has been matured in traditional American oak casks until it has achieved the perfect balance of flavours, green leafy notes play in harmony with its sweet delicate oak flavour.
The whisky is then transferred into casks that have previously held Sherry to allow for further development.

Aroma: A rich malty aroma with subtle notes of dried fruits and cinnamon sticks. The sherry cask influence has introduced a sherbet spice and oaky character.
Taste: Rich and spicy with layers of sweet oak, raisins, apricots and fresh oak. Addition of a little water releases the characteristic flavours of sherry cask.
Finish: Mellow and enduring.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity, almost brandy-like, grapes, green apples, hint of an earthy note.
Palate:  Thin, sour apple candy notes, grapes, bit of pepper at the back.
Finish:  Short and drying with grapes and pepper.
Comments:  Another non-age stated whisky that I again approached with low expectations – and like the Rum Cask Finish fell short of that low bar. I love sherry matured and finished spirits, but this doesn’t remind me of any of them. Again, thankful it is offered in 50mL and if you’re just dying to try this – would highly recommend buying that size before a full bottle.

Rating: Probably Pass

Grangestone Sherry Cask Finish Read More »

Grangestone Rum Cask Finish

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Grangestone Rum Cask Finish
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$30
Website
Grangestone Rum Cask

What the Producer Says

The Grangestone Single Malt Scotch Whisky range offers a selection of some of the finest Single Malts available from the Highlands of Scotland. Each spirit is chosen by our Malt Master for its quality and character to be symbolic of whiskies of this region.

Grangestone truly is a perfect example of a whisky from the Highland region of Scotland.

Character
This Grangestone Single Malt has been matured in traditional American oak casks until it has achieved the perfect balance of flavours, green leafy notes play in harmony with its sweet delicate oak flavour.

The whisky is then transferred into casks that have previously held premium Rum to allow for further development.

Aroma: A rich malty aroma with a biscuity sweetness and fresh fruit notes. A delicate leafy character is balanced with vanilla sweetness.
Taste: Sweet and rounded with a vanilla oakiness. The malty character carries through into the taste with subtle notes of caramelised fruits.
Finish: Mellow and long lasting.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malty, grainy, heather, rum, sugar cane, hint of an earthy note.
Palate:  Thin, light and sweet with rum, a slightly sour oak note, peppery at the back.
Finish:  Short and drying with pepper and a fading mineral note.
Comments:  As a non-age stated whisky, I approached this with low expectations – and it managed to still fall short. On the nose and palate this comes across as quite young. When I think of Highland single malt scotch, this doesn’t reflect or echo any that come to mind. The most positive thing I can say about this is I’m glad that they offer this in a 50mL bottle (which is what I bought).

Rating: Probably Pass

Grangestone Rum Cask Finish Read More »

Virgin Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Virgin Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$15
Virgin Bourbon

What the Bottle Says

This is distilled by Heaven Hill, but isn’t mentioned on their web-site – so here’s what the bottle says (beyond the name).

Rare 101 Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Charcoal Filtered
Bottled in Kentucky by Meadowland Distilling Co. Bardstown, Kentucky
An Old-Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon Distilled in the foothills of Kentucky. Charcoal Filtered to give every drop that Olde Mellow flavor.
This rare whiskey has been bottled at a full 101 Proof. Rich . . . Robust and Hearty . . . it is American’s finest bourbon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich caramel, vanilla, honey, oak and smoke, cut hay, dried cherries, cinnamon with a hint of anise and clove.
Palate:  Sweet with caramel and vanilla, oak, a bit of brown sugar, cinnamon, clove and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with spices and oak.
Comments:  This is a pretty limited distribution product (mainly in North Carolina), and until 2019 was age stated at 7 years. For an under $20 bottle, this is a damn solid bourbon. And I really like the bottle & label! It has a nice texture with some of the lettering embossed/raised, that just has that classic bottling feel. I was gifted a sample in either late 2019 or early 2020, but picked up a non-age stated bottle while in Ashville just to be certain (and if the sample was of the age stated version, at least this batch hasn’t changed significantly). I decided to do a blind side-by-side with some Wild Turkey 101 (also non-age stated) which I am a fan of, and this was a bit sweeter by comparison and actually had a bit of a longer finish. If you’re even going through North Carolina (or live there but have avoided this as a ‘bottom shelfer’), I’d definitely give it a try.

Rating: Stands Out; Great Value

Virgin Bourbon Read More »

Wheel Horse Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wheel Horse Bourbon Batch 1
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$28-32
Website
Wheel Horse Bourbon
We would like to thank Wheel Horse Whiskey and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

This sour mash, small batch whiskey is made from 70% corn, 21% rye and 9% malted barley. It’s distilled in copper stills then matured in hand-selected, 53-gallon, charred American oak barrels for between two and four years. We use a #4 char. Like all of our small batch whiskeys, Wheel Horse Bourbon is bottled at 101 proof and without chill filtration.

Wheel Horse is distilled and matured at Owensboro Distilling (formerly O.Z. Tyler) in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Tasting Notes: A rich and spicy Bourbon with notes of maple syrup, cherry, pecan and toasted oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, caramel, corn flakes, charred oak, hint of maple candies.
Palate:  Rich sweetness, caramel, cherries, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper spice bite with notes of maple syrup.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, damp with caramel and pepper spice.
Comments:  This is a dark bourbon for a mix of 2-4 year old whiskey. Fairly oaky for a young whiskey, so I’d guess this was aged pretty high in the rick house. A tad sharp, although takes water well which brings out a bit of chocolate and more cherry. Appreciate the non-chill filtration, which does give it a nice rich mouthfeel. Makes a solid Old Fashioned if you enjoy that sorta thing.

Rating: Stands Out

Wheel Horse Bourbon Read More »

Yellowstone 2020 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Yellowstone 2020 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Armagnac Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone 2020 Limited Edition
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and Common Ground PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

The 2020 edition of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon will be on shelves in September, just in time for National Bourbon Heritage Month. This year’s edition features a seven-year-old straight bourbon finished in French Armagnac barrels. The new release brings a soft leather aroma with hints of honeydew melon, vanilla notes on the palate with hints of burnt orange and dried plum. The finish is toasted coconut with lingering oak making for a well-rounded, deeply satisfying bourbon.

“When I began working on this limited edition, I knew I wanted to finish our bourbon in a cask and I was looking for one that would add complexity and a dimension that expands the flavor profile,” says Steve Beam, master distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery. “Armagnac is a rustic, full-bodied spirit that contributes dark fruit notes, complementing the vanilla notes in the bourbon. Just like a chef adds spices to enhance flavors, I believe cask-finishing should be similar, where it simply enhances the natural flavors in the bourbon.”

Beam also notes that the French brandy, which uses several different grape varietals each with their own flavors and characteristics, creates a rich flavor and packs a bit more punch than cognacs.

The 2020 Yellowstone Limited Edition also boasts a stunning new bottle, which feels timeless and vintage, similar to Yellowstone Bourbon, which has been around since 1872. The new premium bottle, designed by David Cole, also highlights the year more prominently for collectors.

Approximately 5,000 cases of this bourbon are being produced at Limestone Branch Distillery, bottled at 101 proof in 750ml bottles. The suggested retail price is $99.99.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, leather, oak, fudge, subtle notes of cinnamon baked apples, floral with a hint of brandy.
Palate:  Vanilla, honey, orange zest, slight pepper bite, nutmeg and apricot.
Finish:  Moderately long with oak, cinnamon and vanilla fudge trailing.
Comments:  The Armagnac finish is subtle on the nose, a bit more pronounced on the palate, but balanced nicely throughout. It definitely adds a nice fruity layer of complexity. The packaging change is also a nice touch for this limited edition. A bit of water tamps the edge on the palate and brings out the fruit notes more. I’ve had the privilege to try samples for the past three Yellowstone Limited Editions, and this might be my favorite (don’t have any left to compare against – I also really liked the 2018). The more of these finishes that are done well (which in my opinion means they’re not too aggressive, and don’t overwhelm the base bourbon), the more I like what they bring to the bourbon party.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Yellowstone 2020 Limited Edition Read More »