Bourbon

Smooth Ambler Founders’ Cask Strength Series
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bourbon Mashbill 2
2022 Batch 4
6 Years old

61.4% ABV
$55
Website

We would like to thank Smooth Ambler and Cork + Knife for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

We love sharing our homemade liquid because we get to let y’all taste what makes our part of the world so perfect for making whiskey. With this Bourbon recipe, we add a modest amount of rye to play well with our casks in the Appalachian climate. It’s a surprising meddling of flavors and geographical super powers that just work effortlessly.

Didn’t know we made a rye-backed Bourbon? Yeah… we didn’t but now we do. You’re welcome. So please enjoy this newly minted convergence of flavors from our home to yours.

SUBTLE SPICE? IT’S NICE
UNIQUE BATCHES? YOU BET
LOW RYE BOURBON? COOL HUH!
CASK STRENGTH? ALWAYS

Graham Cracker, Dark Chocolate, Cherry, Allspice

DISTILLED IN WEST VIRGINIA

71% CORN
21% RYE
8% MALTED BARLEY

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla, charred oak, fall leaves, dark chocolate, smoke, orange zest, cherries and a hint of root beer.
Palate:  Chewy mouthfeel, caramel, dark chocolate, walnuts, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, orange bitters, cola, graham crackers and a bit of molasses.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with nutty caramel and pepper spice.
Comments:  I’ve been a fan of Smooth Ambler since the ‘old days’ (in fact, I still have some of their sourced barrel proof rye stashed), but didn’t love Contradiction (which blends sourced whiskey with their own make). So I was excited for the opportunity to try something that is all their own whiskey. This is a really nice, solid, straight down the middle of the plate bourbon. Well balanced, just a bit of spice and not too much oak. In my opinion, 6 years is a really solid age for bourbon (not that I don’t love a four-year old bottled-in-bond, but I find 6-8 years old to be right in my wheelhouse). Also appreciate the price point given the age and proof. While a smaller distillery (have heard some refer to them as one of the ‘original craft distilleries’), this is doesn’t come across like a small distillery “figuring things out”. This takes water well, bringing out notes of fresh tobacco on the nose and rice putting on the palate.

Rating: Stands Out

Booker’s “Pinkie’s Batch” 2022-04
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

6 Years, 10 Months, 10 Days
61.2% ABV
$90
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

This batch is named in honor of Booker Noe’s dad, the original Frederick Booker Noe, better known as Pinkie to his family and friends. Although no one is quite sure where Pinkie’s nickname came from, he is remembered as someone who always followed his passions.

Most people thought Pinkie was in the bourbon business, which was a good assumption to make about someone in the Noe family, but he actually worked as the vice president of the local bank. That’s not to say he didn’t enjoy drinking bourbon – he actually was a big fan – but being a part of the bourbon business wasn’t his thing. When he wasn’t running the bank, Pinkie loved to golf and tried to play as often as possible. He was also an outdoorsman with a passion for hunting that he passed down to Booker.

Although some of Pinkie and Booker’s interests were different, the two would often bond over hunting quail and watching football, which brought them together at the end of the day. While enjoying “Pinkie’s Batch,” be sure to raise a glass to the original Frederick Booker Noe.

TASTING NOTES
Like all batches of Booker’s Bourbon, Booker’s “Pinkie’s Batch” was selected by Seventh Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe to ensure it upholds the qualities and standards that his dad set for Booker’s Bourbon more than 30 years ago. Uncut and unfiltered, this batch has the following characteristics:
PROOF: 122.4
AGE: 6 years, 10 months and 10 days
BATCH NOTES: Booker’s “Pinkie’s Batch” has a golden amber color and a balanced aroma of brown spice and vanilla notes. It has the rich vanilla taste Booker’s is often known for, with a lingering well-rounded finish.
SIPPING SUGGESTIONS: Booker’s “Pinkie’s Batch” is best enjoyed neat.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, vanilla, oak, cocoa, peanut brittle with brown sugar, and a hint of graham cracker.
Palate: Caramel, cark chocolate, vanilla, peanut butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with cocoa, oak and a bit of pepper.
Comments:  I do admire the consistency of Booker’s, as well as getting that something a bit different from time to time. The note of graham cracker on the nose was unexpected, and I do enjoy that in bourbon. This takes water well, which won’t be a surprise to fans of Booker’s either.

Rating: Stands Out

Stellum Black Hunter’s Moon
Cask Strength Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies

57.76% ABV
$100
Website

We would like to thank Stellum Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

This warm, oak driven bourbon is made in preparation for winter, inspired by the Hunter’s Moon of October. It is marked by a high rye spice and a robust woodiness meant for the time of year when days get shorter and the nights get longer.

TASTING NOTES
Color: Golden Caramel.
Nose: Very warm, rounded vanilla and butterscotch aromas initially, giving way to honeysuckle and ripened mango.
Palate: Bright cinnamon at first, leading into flamed orange peel, then savory, earthy notes of black plum and petrichor.
Finish: Sweet and upbeat medium finish that tapers off gracefully.

WITH A SPLASH OF WATER: The layer of fruity, floral aromas is activated with a splash of water. The nose gives ripe mango, coconut, and tangerine, the palate is toasted salted cashew and lemon balm, and the finish is longer and leaner, like a walk down a long dock at the beach.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, salted caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, honey, brown sugar, nutmeg and a bit of cherries.
Palate:  Thich mouthfeel, citrus forward with toasted orange zest, caramel, milk chocolate, cinnamon, honey, and pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with caramel, grapefruit, cinnamon and pepper.
Comments:  Very nice and spicy bourbon – almost reminds me of a rye whiskey with that citrus edge on the palate. Takes a bit of water well, adding a toffee note on the nose and bringing the chocolate out more on the palate.

Rating: Stands Out