Bourbon

Barrell Bourbon Batch 035

58.75% ABV
$90
Website

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 Bourbon Batch 035 is a blend of 6, 7, 8, and 13-year-old bourbons. A multi-mashbill blend of 6 and 7-year-old spicy and earthy, high-rye, high-proof, oak forward barrels was combined with a blend of 8-year-old softer, lower-proof barrels with concentrated notes of dark cherry and butterscotch. After mingling for two months, 13-year-old barrels with dominant fruit flavors were layered in. A portion of these barrels had more tropical fruit notes and the other portion showed more dried and candied fruit notes. The resulting bourbon is peppery and intriguing on the nose, and sweet and long on the finish.

BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 6, 7, & 8 years old
Tennessee: 7 & 13 years old
Kentucky: 8 years old

• A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
• Bottled in Kentucky
• 117.5 proof cask strength bottling

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 78%
Rye: 18%
Malted Barley: 4%

FLAVOR NOTES
Banana bread on the nose is complemented by a myriad of herbaceous aromas from the rye grain. An earthiness intensifies on the palate. Bold spice settles down to rich, sweet notes of chocolate milkshake and frosted cinnamon bun. Water completely transforms the whiskey into a punch bowl of fresh and tropical fruits.

​Neat
Appearance: Luminous amber.
Nose: Jammy and cooked fruits leap out first such as lemon curd, cherry, and banana bread. That well-spiced character of the banana bread continues as woodsy notes emerge, with birch beer leading into tiramisu. The rye in the mashbills is particularly bold, bringing olive and thyme. Once the nose settles down a bit it reveals deeper aromas of cocoa butter and molasses.
Palate: Mexican hot chocolate, cinnamon and dried chili peppers make a spicy first impression. There’s a freshness to it with grapefruit peel and absinthe. There’s also an intense earthiness of pinecone and baking chocolate. As you roll the sip around your mouth it grows much richer and creamier, developing into eggnog and tahini.
Finish: Lime zest and amaretto, and some grated coconut; rye spice takes over as slate, fennel, and cola notes linger.
With a splash of spring water
Still plenty of jammy fruit but they’re tropical now, displaying dried papaya and pineapple jelly. They’re joined by some fresh gooseberries and watermelon. Even the herbs and spices brighten, becoming rose, tobacco, and crystallized ginger. The palate is completely transformed: where there was once hardly any fruit at all is now a fruit salad of peaches, Mirabelle plums, cantaloupe, and blood orange segments.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich with banana nut bread, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, caramel turtle brownie, apricots, cherry, oak, hints of coffee and savory herbs.
Palate: Spicy with cocoa, cinnamon, citrus and nutmeg.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with chili spice and citrus zip.
Comments: This has one of the most intriguing noses I’ve come across in a bourbon in some time! Lots of ‘baked goods’ vibes but also fruity and savory. The palate for me was interesting, although not as complex and nuanced. I definitely enjoy this one with some water, which really thickens up the mouthfeel and brightens up the flavor, bringing some ginger to the party while tamping the spicy edges. Given the spiciness on this one, I opted to try this in a Manhattan in place of rye whiskey, and really loved it!

Rating: Stands Out

Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Tokaji Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website

We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Steve Beam announced the 2023 release of Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This latest bourbon – featuring a blend of 7-year, 13-year and 16-year aged bourbons finished in Tokaji casks – was bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), with a limited allocation of 10,000 3-in cases offered nationwide at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750 ml bottle starting this August.
As he has done with his limited-edition Yellowstone Bourbon offerings since 2015, Beam hand selected the three aged bourbons, which were then blended and finished in Tokaji casks. Tokaji is a traditional sweet wine from the Tokaji region of Hungary made exclusively from white-wine grapes. Tokaji wines are known as much for their complex, layered flavor profiles as they are for their sweetness.
“With each year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition offering, I seek a finish that I both personally love and believe will make for a flavorful, well-balanced bourbon. This year, I found the perfect finish in the Tokaji casks sourced from northern Hungary,” said Beam. “Consumers can expect aromas of honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon; a body highlighted by dry spice, followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper; and a finish containing notes of dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak. Fans of Yellowstone Limited Edition offerings will have a new contender for their favorite!”
The 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey features custom designed bottles with embossing, a high-end natural cork and label containing the 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a 101-proof callout.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon.
Palate: Dry spice followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper.
Finish: Dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, honey, grapes, oak, cinnamon, citrus zest, vanilla and white wine.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, black cherry, tangerines, peaches, cinnamon, nutmeg, bit of cocoa and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with caramel, fruit salad, oak and tobacco.
Comments: Another really fine example of finishing with a deft hand. This is the first whiskey I’ve had where Tokaji casks are listed on the label, and I’ve never had Tokaji wine – but this isn’t a big step from straight bourbon. Appreciate that Limestone Branch includes some older bourbon casks in these limited editions which bring some complexity and mouthfeel to the party. A bit of water thickens the mouthfeel further, and tamps the pepper spice edge while bringing the fruit forward – although this drinks perfectly well neat.

Rating: Stand Out

Oak & Eden Whiskey Customizer
Whiskey Apostle Selection:
Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey (114 Proof) Finished With A Port Wine Soaked American Oak Spiral

45-57% ABV
$65-80
Website

We would like to thank Oak & Eden and Champlin PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

DALLAS, February 16, 2023 – Today, indie whiskey brand and spirits innovator, Oak & Eden, unveils a project it’s kept under wraps for nearly three years – Whiskey Customizer. Living within the brand’s Anthro Series line of whiskey collaborations with artists, musicians, actors and creators, Whiskey Customizer enables the customer to be the creator, crafting their own whiskey bottle from the comfort of their home using one of the Oak & Eden’s four finished whiskey bases and over eleven infusion options. Whiskey Customizer is exclusively offered online at OakandEden.com.

Oak & Eden’s proprietary In-Bottle Finishing technique was just the start of the founders’ vision. Rooted by the innovative spire, the brand developed Whiskey Customizer, becoming the first national spirit brand to offer single bottle customization for the masses. Whether you’re an avid whiskey fan wanting to experiment or looking for that perfect gift for a loved one, Whiskey Customizer has a little something for everyone.

“Five years ago, we embarked on a journey to revolutionize the spirits industry and bring something unique to the market. The wooden spire and patented finishing process were simply the tools that led us to Whiskey Customizer – the true innovation,” comments Oak & Eden Co-founder and CEO Joe Giildenzopf. “Today, as we celebrate its long awaited debut and our anniversary, we are paving the way for a new era of personalization and experimentation within the spirits industry.”

To kick off the experience, customers are invited to build their custom bottle by selecting a desired whiskey base out of Bourbon, Four Grain Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon or Rye. Each base has been aged a minimum of three years. All four whiskey bases are available in 90 proof ($64.00 / 750ml bottle) and 114 proof ($79.00/ 750ml bottle).

After selecting the base and proof, builders may then choose the preferred wooden spire to be infused or inserted into the base with no infusion. Wood options include an American Oak spire, lending a sweet and toasty finish, or a French Oak spire, lending a floral and peppery finish.

Builders can also select their spire to be infused with Coffee, Vanilla, Grapefruit Liqueur, Orange Liqueur, Pineapple Liqueur, Blackberry Liqueur, Cabernet, Port Wine, Rum, Honey, or Maple Syrup which is then inserted into the bottle. Oak & Eden plans to add to its infusion options, introducing seasonal and limited l-batch options quarterly, making the possibilities with Whiskey Customizer truly limitless.

As a final step, customers can make the bottle theirs by personalizing the label.

Each customized bottle is available for shipping nationwide and ready to drink following the recommended six-week In-Bottle Finishing process.

As a part of its education efforts, Oak & Eden shares popular bottle creations, describes the characteristics and notes associated with each selection and provides cocktail recipes that best accompany each bottle.

“The launch of Whiskey Customizer allows our customers to unleash their creative spirit, one bottle at a time, in a way that has never existed before,” says Oak & Eden Co-founder & CMO Brad Neathery. “As important as making the new experience seamless on our site was providing visual and educational tools on building a whiskey, an often misunderstood and intimidating spirit. We are a whiskey for the people, inviting and empowering anyone to be a creator.”

Check out oakandeden.com for more information on Whiskey Customizer as well as the brand’s full lineup of whiskies.

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, salted caramel, oak, chocolate, raisins, blackcurrant, graham cracker and slightly nutty.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, sweet with cherry, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins and figs.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with cinnamon, pepper, honey and fruit notes.
Comments:  I want to start off by stating that if you read my review of my first experience with the Whiskey Customizer (a Rye Whiskey at 114 proof finished with a Port Wine soaked American Oak spiral), I mentioned some items that I hope they had fixed. I’m happy to share that they had! For this order, I received an informing me that my custom bottle was being built, to expect an email when it was shipped, and to WAIT three weeks after I receive the bottle before enjoying. The packaging was also improved, with the bottle being safe and secure, but not so tight that it removed the stopper when unboxing it.
Bourbon and port is one of my happy places (ok – I haven’t met a whiskey I didn’t like with a little port maturation or finishing to be honest!). A bit of water brings out a bit of citrus on the nose. This is non-age-stated, which always tends to leave me skeptical that it must be young (or why not brag on the age). I don’t get some of the corny notes I’d associate with a younger bourbon. The nose is a tad hot for the proof. I did follow the instructions this time and waited actually a bit over three weeks before opening and trying, which I think did help. It was even better a month after that (I was concerned that perhaps too much time might have a negative impact, but I suspect it hits a plateau).

Rating: Stands Out

Blood Oath Pact No. 9 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Oloroso Sherry casks

49.3% ABV
$130
Website

We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Lux Row master distiller and master blender John Rempe renews his annual pact with bourbon drinkers with the release of Blood Oath Pact 9 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Oloroso Sherry casks. A limited supply of 17,000 (3-pack) cases will arrive at retail this April at a suggested price of $129.99 per 750 ml bottle. As with all of Rempe’s pacts, Blood Oath Pact 9 is offered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV).

Blood Oath Pact 9 combines some of the finest extra-aged bourbons Rempe could find, including a 16-year ryed bourbon and a 12-year ryed bourbon, as well as a 7-year ryed bourbon finished in Oloroso Sherry casks from the Sherry Triangle region in southwest Spain. These casks impart unique woody and ripe-fruit aromas and flavors to make Blood Oath Pact 9 a memorable pour.

“Blood Oath Pact 9 contains three great bourbons, and the Oloroso Sherry cask finish has resulted in a deep, dark amber liquid with long legs,” said Rempe. “The Oloroso Sherry casks also bring out tasting notes of sweet sherry with hints of ripe fruit on the nose, as well as flavor notes highlighted by ripe fruits including figs, plums and raisins, with notes of molasses, chocolate and tobacco. This bourbon also provides a long-lasting finish characterized by fruit notes and complemented by hints of spicy oak. I’m proud to share Blood Oath Pact 9 with bourbon lovers.”

Each Blood Oath pact has featured a different colored label. This year, Blood Oath Pact 9 features a label that is deep crimson in color. And like its predecessors, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact 9 comes in a commemorative fire-branded wooden display box.

The official launch of Blood Oath Pact 9 will include a total allocation of 51,00 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy Pack release. The first Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018, and the second Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, was released in September 2021 in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month. The next Blood Oath Trilogy Pack, featuring Pacts 7, 8 and 9, will be offered in 2024.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Sweet sherry with hints of ripe fruit.
PALATE: A melody of ripe fruits including figs, plums, and raisins, with notes of molasses and chocolate.
FINISH: Long lasting fruit notes complemented by hints of spicy oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, fruitcake with apricots, baked apples, brown sugar, oak, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Palate:  Sweet with caramel, fruity with apples and raisins, chocolate and a hit of cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderate in length, slightly drying with caramel, mixed fruit and wood spice.
Comments: This is another solid addition to the Blood Oath lineup. Continue to appreciate the subtly of their finishing, and maintaining the bourbon as the star of the show. This one does get better with time in the glass, and a bit of water (but not too much) brings out more cinnamon baked apples on the nose along with a hint of clove, and a note of cherry cola on the palate. Very nice, and fruity for sure although less in the ‘dark fruit’ spectrum that I associate with an oloroso sherry matured scotch. Not sure how much of that is finishing vs maturation, or the nature of the spirit itself – but I like it!

Rating: Stands Out