Bourbon

Bourbon de Luxe (National Distillers)

Bourbon de Luxe
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
National Distillers (dusty)

40% ABV
$8.49
Bourbon de Luxe Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

What the Bottle Says

Bottled under United States Government Supervision by The Bourbon de Luxe Distillery Co. Frankfort, KY. Aged 4 Years

NOTE: The bottle has a tax stamp from the State of Georgia, as well as a ‘faux tax seal’ over the enclosure. The stamp on the bottle indicates it was made in 1987. There is no government warning on the label (which was mandated beginning in November 1989). The first part of the UPC is 86259, which identifies it as a product of National Distillers.

What Gary Says

Nose: Butterscotch over vanilla ice cream with a bit of caramel and nutmeg.
Palate: Creamy, caramel, vanilla cream, hint of butterscotch with a bit of toffee and cinnamon.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with caramel and faint spice.
Comments:  As far as dusty, glut-era National Distiller’s bourbon goes, this isn’t close to the top end. Wouldn’t go so far as to call it ‘bottom shelf’ since it is straight bourbon with a four year age statement, but more middle of the road. Given the late 80s, this bottle very likely has some whiskey that is older than four years old. If you’ve never had dusty ND bourbon, this is a treat! It holds a special place for me as being one of the first dusty whiskey finds I made in the wild in April 2013 (along with a tax stamped Old Charter that I had to pour out; was just horrible). This has that butterscotchy note that ND is well known for, and has a nicer mouthfeel than most 4 yr, 80 proof bourbon would. While not very old, it does benefit from some time in the glass, and I find myself appreciating the nose more than the palate. This isn’t a complex pour by any means. The whiskey itself I’d rate as ‘Stands Out’, but throwing a ‘Must Try’ in there if you’ve never had it (and if you can come across it for reasonable money).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Bourbon de Luxe (National Distillers) Read More »

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53% ABV
$160-75
Website
Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Calumet Farm 16 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey is the newest offering from our stables of the Single Rack Black premium bourbon line. Its bold tastes and flavors are matched perfectly well with a balanced finish. As a tribute to one of the greatest thoroughbreds in racing history, this bourbon represents the dedication and patience it takes to create a champion. This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is our most aged and highest proof to date. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Batch Size: 19 Barrels (ea.)
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep mahogany with dark red shadows and golden highlights
Nose Upon Uncorking: Beginning notes of woody-char and smoke subside to reveal softer scents of toasted almonds and fresh-cut summer hay
Nose After Breathing: As the spirit opens up, lighter notes of citrus and orange mix with darker floral and cherry scents to complete the experience
Taste: Notes of saturated-oak and warm rye spice open the palate, allowing flavors of cherries, dark fruits, and baking spice to present fully – Fresh baked bread, toasted toffee, and a light corn meal dryness round out the rich flavors
Finish: Imparting a lighter than expected finish, this spirit’s bold flavors give way to a subtle warmth, notes of toasted grains, and a smokiness that proceed the mellowing of wood sugars and oak

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, raw honey, dark chocolate, oak, bit of raisins, cinnamon, leather and hint of smoke.
Palate:  Thick and chewy mouthfeel, caramel, black cherry, dark chocolate, honey, cinnamon and a bit of root beer.
Finish:  Long, thick with oak, cocoa and honey.
Comments:  This was absolutely my favorite of the three Calumet bourbons I sampled. The mouthfeel on this one is thicker, and the complexity is turned up a notch which you might expect with more age. Again, this one was less oaky/tannic than the 14 yr (and similar to the 15). A really lovely bourbon to sip before the fire on a winter night, which is how I’ll enjoy the remainder of this sample!

Rating: Must Try

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 16 Year Old Bourbon Read More »

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52.5% ABV
$120-140
Website
Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey is the pinnacle of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family. It represents the premium quality our brand is known for, as well as the hard-earned badge of patience. Allowing our bourbon to age slowly in Kentucky-only rick houses is a testament to doing things the right way – the way bourbon should be done. All barrels used to craft these rare batches are aged in a single, center cut rack. This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is our most aged and highest proof to date. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Batch Size: 19 Barrels (ea.)
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep amber throughout with shimmering highlights of copper and sun-yellow
Nose Upon Uncorking: Notes of oak and wood char are notable
Nose After Breathing: Complex scents of dark fruit and sweet corn
Taste: Bold flavors of oak, aged spice and toasted grains are present while toffee and a subtle smoky-sweetness roll across the palate
Finish: A lingering finish mellows, leaving sweet tobacco and rye flavors with a slightly dry mouth feel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel creams, oak, maple candies, chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg and cherries.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, cherries and clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with oak, baking spices and honey.
Comments:  Compared to the 14 year, the addition proof helps give this a bit more oomph with more cherries, and darker chocolate notes. The oak actually is less tannic than the 14 year which is a nice surprise (again, small batches can lead to more variation). This definitely has a thicker mouthfeel as well, and depending where you shop – is very similarly priced to the 14 year.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 15 Year Old Bourbon Read More »

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

48.1% ABV
$120
Website
Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey represents both the prestigious nature and hard-earned quality of a premium Kentucky straight bourbon. It is painstakingly crafted from extremely small batches of 19 barrels. All barrels used are aged in a single, center cut rack from the ideal maturation location and conditions inside the rick house. This expression of the Calumet Farm Bourbon family is a true convergence of craftsmanship and flavor. It is Non-Chill Filtered for added depth of character and color.

Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Batch Size: 19 Barrels (ea.)
Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash Bill: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Bottled By: Three Springs Bottling Company, Bowling Green, KY

TASTING NOTES
Color: Deep amber throughout with shimmering highlights of copper and sun-yellow
Nose: Heavy notes of oak and molasses are rolled back as light scents of fresh corn, wood sugars and hay present
Taste: Smooth flavors of oak and char subside to reveal complex sensations of toasted grains, toffee and vanilla
Finish: The long finish leaves the palate with a subtle dryness followed by lasting flavors of rye and dark fruit

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, oak, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, hint of clove and anise.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, chocolate, oak, coffee cake, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.
Finish:  Moderate in length, slightly drying with oak, baking spices and vanilla.
Comments:  This is a nice, solid bourbon. Slightly tannic, which being the first (and youngest) of three Calumet bourbons I was sitting down with made me a bit worried, although as these are all truly small batches (only 19 barrels) this may not be like last years (or next years) offering.

Rating: Stands Out

Calumet Farm Single Rack Black 14 Year Old Bourbon Read More »

Yellowstone Bourbon Finished in Toasted Staves

Yellowstone Toasted
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves

50% ABV
$50
Website
Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves
We would like to thank Limestone Branch Distillery and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 9, 2023) – Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves – the first release within the brand’s Special Finishes Collection and the latest inspiration from Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam – is set to hit retail shelves in October. Aged four years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), Yellowstone Toasted will be available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $49.99 per 750-ml bottle.

Yellowstone Toasted starts with the brand’s traditional bourbon mash bill, which is then stave finished. Beam, a seventh-generation master distiller, hand-selected a combination of five different staves – high toast, American oak double-toast, vanilla, rick house and spice rack – to get the desired flavor profile.

The resulting bourbon features a nose of toasted caramel and vanilla with hints of fall spices and cinnamon; a medium body with notes of walnut, toffee, black tea and white pepper; and a crisp finish highlighted by cocoa, tobacco and oak.

“The Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection is a great way to honor more than 150 years of bourbon heritage while still keeping things fresh and exciting,” said Beam. “I began experimenting with toasted barrels in 2016, 2017, and 2018 with Yellowstone Limited Edition releases and again more recently with distillery-exclusive Yellowstone Toasted Single Barrel. My experience helped in crafting what stave flavors to use and at what percentage to get the right flavor profile for Yellowstone Toasted. I can’t wait for consumers to try this latest full-time member of the Yellowstone Bourbon family.”

Yellowstone Toasted packaging features the brand’s iconic bottle and Roosevelt Arch artwork, as well as a more prominent version of the Yellowstone brand name and a Special Finishes Collection call-out. The bottle’s brown top-wrap helps to differentiate Yellowstone Toasted Bourbon from other Yellowstone variants.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, toasted oak, baked apple crisp, anise, nutmeg, cinnamon and citrus zest.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, chocolate, walnuts, brown sugar, oak, pepper and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with honey, caramel and spices
Comments:  This is a really nice, spicy bourbon! Lots of spice notes with an edge but not too sharp. Drinks nicely neat, although a few drops of water bring out some nice nutty chocolate notes. The spice on this also lends it to fit in nicely in a variety of cocktails that call for bourbon or rye.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Yellowstone Bourbon Finished in Toasted Staves Read More »