Richard

Founding Apostle

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Elijag Craig 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
47% ABV/94 Proof
$20 to $25
Widely available

What the Distillery Says:
In 1789, Rev. Elijah Craig, the “Father of Bourbon,” became the first to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels. Our Master Distillers, inspired by his innovative spirit, have been perfecting the “small batch” process before it even had a name. They select a limited number of barrels of 12-year-old Bourbon that have matured to their exact specifications, then mingle them in limited quantities as Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon.

What Richard Says:
Nose:Buttery sweet toffee and orange pith.
Palate: Caramel and toffee sweetness that bowls over wildflower notes on the way to rich oak, black peppercorns, and vanilla. Water sweetens the palate and tones down the oak.
Finish: The finish is hot but quickly mellows.
Comments: It seems a little elementary to say that this tastes like bourbon. Are there better noses, palates, and finishes in the bourbon world? Yes, but E.C. 12 sits right dead center. It’s fine neat, on the rocks, or mixed. Like the 18 Year Old, it is a solid value for a bourbon of it’s age.
Rating: Stands Out, Great Value

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Read More »

Pocket Shot

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Pocket Shot Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Aged 4 Years
40% ABV/80 Proof
$
Available in select US markets

What the Company Says:
Pocket Shot is full bodied Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced the way Kentucky Bourbon used to be made, aged to perfection in charred Oak Barrels.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Real wood charcoal, antiseptic, and Pinaud Clubman
Palate: There’s really not a lot of flavor here. It’s like bourbon’s answer to vodka. Rather smooth but very bland.
Finish: Equally bland with with palate. I’m left with wood chips and chalk.
Comments: Yeah, so no one is really expecting great whiskey out of a plastic pouch. I’m assuming the idea is to have something that’s easy to carry, shoot back, or dump in Coke. It’s probably more about the packaging than what’s in it. When Matt brought this back from Colorado I thought he had to be kidding. It’s been sitting on my shelf languishing for quite a while. I wouldn’t buy this myself. For those interested, they also make a version with vodka (big surprise), rum, spiced rum, tequila, gin, and brandy so that you can pick your poison.
Rating: Probably Pass

Pocket Shot Read More »

Wild Turkey American Spirit

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet /

Wild Turkey American Spirit 15 Year Old Bourbon, Bottled in Bond
50% ABV/100 Proof
Originally – $100
Collectible

What the Distillery Says:
Created by legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell and his son, associate distiller Eddie Russell, American Spirit is bottled at bond proof, in a super premium package, and limited to just 24,000 bottles globally. Bourbon is a true American innovation and the US Senate passed a resolution officially declaring September 2007 National Bourbon Heritage Month. Our American Spirit was released to coincide with this momentous occasion.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is very rich and smooth with lots of cinnamon and vanilla. Water opens up the oak on nose.
Palate: I get a lot of molasses cookies and mint sprigs with vanilla. A little water really makes this one sing. The palate turns very creamy.
Finish: The finish is amazingly smooth given the BIB proof.
Comments: This is sadly the last of my bottle. It was almost gone and so Matt and I had to hurry up and review it. No more to be found around me. I challenge anyone who says they don’t like Wild Turkey to try this if they can. Plus, it’s bottle in bond! You just don’t see enough of those anymore.
Rating: Must Try

Wild Turkey American Spirit Read More »

Cutty Sark Blended Malt

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Cutty Sark Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV/ 80 Proof
$20
Available across the U.S. and select international markets

What the Distillery Says:
I’ve got nothing here and Cutty Sark’s website is damn near impossible to navigate.

What Richard Says
Nose: Apple juice, cotton fields, and old furniture.
Palate: It’s harsh and tart. Definitely not my favorite blended malt.
Finish: The finish is quick and smooth at first but then it leaves you with a very medicinal and woody taste.
Comments: I pulled the trigger on a bottle of this because it was on sale for a ridiculously low price at my local liquor store. Please don’t judge everything Cutty Sark does by this bottling. I tried it a few times and then quickly relegated it to the “whiskey sour” cabinet. I only pulled it out again so that Matt and I could review it before it was all gone.
Rating: Probably Pass

Cutty Sark Blended Malt Read More »

Often Unmentioned Component of Whiskey Enjoyment

/ / Richard's Blog

We (and by “we” I mean the whiskey community at large) spend a lot of time talking about the how’s and why’s of enjoying the water of life. Glassware, nose, palate, temperature, water, peat, barrels, food pairings, cigar pairings…I could go on and on. What we often don’t spend much time talking about is the one thing I consider to be the most important part of enjoying good whiskey in all its forms…friendship.

When I think of the great drinks I’ve had in my life they are almost universally shared with a good friend. What I remember most about my one experience trying the phenomenal 70 year old cognac from Pierre Ferrand was not the amazing complexity of the drink but rather the look on Matt’s face at the moment he realized he was ruined on cognac forever after tasting something that good. My best memories of George T. Stagg are the first bottle I ever had which was shared with Matt and my wife in the company of Matt’s wife Becky. I fell in love with peaty scotch on the screened in porch of my old apartment sipping Lagavulin and enjoying cigars with my old roommates.

Why am I bringing this up now? I was reminded of this on Saturday night. My wife and I spent a great night in the company of my friend Sam and his wife at their house. What made it great? It wasn’t Sam’s amazing short ribs, the great California Syrah we had with dinner or even the Redbreast 15 Year Old and Lagavulin we paired with Arturo Fuentes out on the back patio. It was the sharing of those experiences. My favorite thing about whiskey is introducing it to someone who’s never had it before or just enjoying it with good people. Those shared experiences are what stick with me long after I’ve forgotten my tasting notes on the Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or.

The biggest tragedy of whiskey for me isn’t the closing of Rosebank or some small release that doesn’t make it to Atlanta. It’s that Matt and I live so far apart now. I don’t often get the opportunity to share a dram with him anymore. That to me is truly tragic. With that in mind I think everyone should focus more on who they will share their next dram with this week instead of what that dram will actually be. Just some food for thought.

Oh, by the way, the Redbreast 15 is freakin’ amazing! As soon as I can get my hands on a bottle we’ll get a review out to the masses. My thanks also go out to Sam and Sandra for a great night on Saturday. But for the babysitter we could’ve stayed all night. 🙂

Drink wisely with friends,

Richard

Often Unmentioned Component of Whiskey Enjoyment Read More »