Bourbon

Murray Hill Club Blended Bourbon Whiskey

51.5% ABV
$90-$140
Website

What the Producer Says

Toasty, buttery notes of vanilla and char, with layers of spiced, dried fruits through the finish

A true bourbon blend crafted using the same techniques Joseph Magnus used to create this original pre-Prohibition spirit more than 100 years ago. Artfully marries 18 and 11-year-old bourbon with 9-year-old light whiskey to deliver notes of butterscotch, honey, toffee, autumnal baking spices, vanilla, and char, with a hint of black pepper that lingers through a softly spiced and toasted finish.

An adventure in whiskey made in the fashion of an era gone by
The drinkers of Murray Hill Club Whiskey were, in accordance with Joseph’s vision, people of discriminating taste and mature judgment. Magnus actively introduced his whiskey into the leading bars, hotels, cafes, and groceries of his day. Local newspapers were peppered with advertisements for this new whiskey, which quickly earned great acclaim. He encouraged readers to sample just a taste, for “give this whiskey a trial once, and you’ll take no other brand.”

What Gary Says

Nose:  Pecan pie with a salted caramel drizzle, rickhouse oak, cigar smoke, dark chocolate and leather.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, caramel, vanilla, maple glazed donut, honey, nutmeg, bit of cinnamon, oak and chocolate.
Finish:  Moderately long with caramel, chocolate and mixed nuts.
Comments:  When I tasted this, I didn’t know anything about it (I usually do avoid reading a producer/distiller’s tasting notes first to avoid ‘confirmation bias’) so I was surprised to learn that this was a blend of bourbon and light whiskey (NOT a straight whiskey). That said, it’s pretty damned good. First thought I had was that this is a bourbon made to enjoy with a cigar (if that’s your thing). Robust, sweet, oaky but well balanced. This drinks lovely neat, although a bit of water brings out some molasses and ginger-snap cookie on the nose.

Rating: Must Try

Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Bourbon
Batch 141c

57.58% ABV
$75-$85
Website

What the Producer Says

No water added because none is needed.

We took the same vintage blending philosophy that we used to create Small Batch, except this time the goal was to create high proof bourbon that tasted its best neat. Uncut is so rich and sweet with an unbelievably thick mouth feel, the heat and rye spice finish are a welcome addition. It’s like milk with cookies!

Blending vintages of our high rye mash bill to achieve this flavor profile at 115-116 plus proof was a very rewarding challenge for us. There is a delicate balance between creamy mouthfeel, tannins and sugars that comes into play that makes the end result magical. Older vintages have more evaporation which means a higher concentration of fats and sugars per ounce which gives them a nice creamy mouthfeel as well as caramel and honey goodness. They also have more tannins because alcohol has been in contact with the wood for longer. A lot of what some perceive as alcohol burn is actually a harshness due to tannins. This can counterbalance the benefit gained by the high concentration of lipid esters insulating your pallet from alcohol heat. There needs to be enough of the older bourbon for the oak flavors and mouthfeel, but also some younger ones to cut back on the tannins and bring in some delicate fruit and caramel flavors.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, vanilla, dark chocolate, cherries, hint of black currants.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, vanilla wafers, caramel sauce, dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg, fudge, honey, oak and a hint of ginger snaps.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with caramel, ginger and pepper.
Comments:  Very nice cask strength bourbon. The non-chill filtration stands out with the mouthfeel, which is almost chewy, and also adds to the depth of flavor. I wasn’t impressed with the Smoke Wagon Small Batch bourbon – not finding it bad but just overpriced for what I thought it was. Honestly, I didn’t want to like this one mainly because of all of the hype (not that I don’t like Indiana distilled bourbon), so I went into this one with a skeptical eye (or nose?). But I really liked it every time I tried it. Takes water really well, keeping that viscous mouthfeel.

Rating: Must Try

Barrell Bourbon Batch 034

57.31% 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 034 is a blend of 6, 8, 10, and 15-year-old barrels. 8-year-old barrels driven by strong hazelnut and dark cherry notes lay a foundation enhanced by high-corn barrels showing browned butter and apricot. We mingled this first step for months before adding high-rye barrels carrying cinnamon and allspice. Finally, a vatting of 10 and 15-year-old barrels was added for earthiness and light tannin. The result is a robust and sophisticated bourbon.

• A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
• Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana
• Selection of 6, 8, 10, and 15-year-old barrels
• Aged in American white oak barrels
• Bottled in Kentucky
• 114.62 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
The nose is deftly balanced between the exuberant fresh fruit of youth and the oxidized, dried fruit of maturity. This dynamic tension carries over to the palate where rich port notes are supported by bright Seville orange and cola

​Neat
Appearance: Copper with rose gold highlights.
Nose: Eggnog and madeleines set the stage. Dry, hard cider integrates a range of florals such as elderflower and violet. Over time, the fruit transitions to a more cooked character, displaying dried apricot, candied orange peel, and mulled cider.
Palate: Blackcurrant jam and grape soda start the palate off with focus and depth. More classic notes of cinnamon donut, warm cola, and pecan pie emerge. Fresh notes of green grape and Seville orange are followed by umami, and salt.
Finish: A modest amount of sandy tannin sustains notes of shiso, licorice root, and fudgy peanut butter cup through a lengthy finish. There is an additional pop of iron and slate.
With a splash of spring water
Grows initially quite perfumed as volatiles blow off, smelling of petrichor, jasmine tea, and apple cider vinegar. When it settles, a deep rancio character comes out – leafy and nutty.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, baked apples with cinnamon, oak (both freshly hewn and aged), nutmeg, orange zest, leather, floral with hints of mulling spices, toffee and roasted nuts.
Palate: Bread pudding, cinnamon, caramel, nutmeg, cola, honey, dark chocolate, toffee and a bit of pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with fudge, anise and cinnamon.
Comments: Another really lovely dram!  Thick and chewy like a freshly baked adult cookie. While I’ve yet to try a Barrell Bourbon batch that I didn’t like, some definitely stand-out more than others, and this is one of those. Really well balanced, with sweet, fudgy notes and just enough oak and spice.

Rating: Must Try