Bourbon

Bib & Tucker Gold Roast Bourbon
Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey Infused With Coffee Beans

46% ABV
$50
Website

We would like to thank Bib & Tucker and CREATE ENTERTAINMENT for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

At the crossroads of heritage and innovation comes a new signature expression from Bib & Tucker Small Batch Bourbon: Gold Roast Bourbon, a 6-Year Tennessee Bourbon artfully finished with whole roasted Arabica coffee beans using a refined cold extraction method.

Gold Roast Bourbon is a celebration of two time-honored American traditions. Inspired by the turn of the century, when bourbon and coffee were rituals of connection, comfort, and craft, this release reimagines those traditions for the modern drinker.

Crafted using coffee beans from Muletown Coffee Roasters, a Tennessee-based purveyor of fine coffee, Gold Roast Bourbon begins with Bib & Tucker’s award-winning 6-Year bourbon. Aged in new American oak barrels and passed through the Lincoln County Process for added smoothness, the bourbon is infused in its final stage with cold-steeped, custom-roasted Arabica coffee beans sourced from the Agalta region of Honduras. The result: a distinctively smooth and complex spirit with layered notes of roasted coffee, vanilla, milk chocolate and oak.

“With Gold Roast Bourbon, we set out to honor the timeless relationship between coffee and bourbon, two American rituals that have gone hand in hand since the turn of the century,” said Alan Kennedy, Master Blender at Bib & Tucker. “Starting with our signature mash bill of corn, rye, and barley, we carefully crafted a spirit that could carry the richness of a proprietary Arabica coffee roast without overpowering the delicate character of our 6-Year Tennessee Bourbon. The result is a finish that delivers the perfect balance of smoothness and roasted coffee complexity. It’s refined, nuanced, and unmistakably Bib & Tucker,” he adds.

Every element of the Gold Roast process was meticulously designed to create a harmonious blend of whiskey tradition and coffee sophistication:

The bourbon is first filtered through sugar maple charcoal in the traditional Lincoln County Process for added smoothness.
It is then aged for a minimum of six years in new American oak barrels.
Muletown’s Arabica coffee beans are then roasted to Master Blender Alan Kennedy’s specifications and introduced during the final stage of maturation.
Using a cold extraction method, we steep this proprietary blend in our cask-strength whiskey, infusing the spirit with deep aromatics and roasted complexity.
Finally, the finished bourbon is expertly blended into the full batch for a smooth, balanced expression worthy of the Bib & Tucker name.
“Partnering with our neighbors Muletown Coffee was a natural choice for us,” adds Kennedy. “Like our team, they’re deeply committed to a small-batch, artisan approach. They work with farmers to source direct trade coffee, valuing quality over quantity. Locally owned and rooted in Tennessee, Muletown’s attention to craft and origin mirrors our own, making them the ideal partner to bring this bourbon-coffee expression to life.”

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Deep inviting aromas of freshly brewed coffee and rich molasses complemented by subtle notes of sweet corn and spice
Palate: A layered profile of vanilla and young oak, blend with milk chocolate
Finish: Medium-long and balanced, with lingering notes of oak and vanilla, accented by a hint of dark roast coffee and brown spice
Color: Deep amber with a hue reminiscent of walnut or brown sherry

What Gary Says

Nose:  Corn flakes with caramel, brown sugar, medium roast coffee with an underlying mineral note.
Palate:  Milk chocolate with caramel, toffee, vanilla, bit of cinnamon with a hint of citrus zest.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with chocolate and spice notes of cinnamon and pepper.
Comments:  I’ve tried infusing bourbon with coffee before; threw a few beans into a bottle and let it sit for a bit. The result was overpowering and bitter. Thankfully, this is NONE of those things! This is really well done, giving just a hint of coffee on the nose and palate. A few drops of water brought the coffee forward on the nose, along with a lovely note of graham cracker. It also tamped the pepper spice on the palate and gave a nice thickness to the mouthfeel. While only 46% ABV, I found I actually preferred this with a bit of water (although it is quite nice neat as well. I also found that this makes a really nice Old Fashioned, giving it just a little something different!
Now before the whiskey purists start screaming – this is labeled very clearly (and doesn’t contain ‘straight’ in the label). If this isn’t your thing – so be it, but if you enjoy coffee and bourbon as much as I do, I’d look to give it a try before passing judgement.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Yellowstone Small Batch 107
6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53.5% ABV
$45
Website

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

What the Producer Says

Lebanon, Kentucky-based Yellowstone Bourbon announced the release of Small Batch 107, a new permanent addition to the Yellowstone family. The elevated expression pays homage to the brand’s history while featuring several firsts for the family lineup. Small Batch is aged six years and the only variety in the Yellowstone portfolio to feature an age statement on packaging.

Bottled at 107 proof, the expression is one of the highest proof everyday offerings from Yellowstone. Due to the high proof, Small Batch is non-chill filtered, which allows the depth of flavors to stand out in this bold new bourbon. Yellowstone Small Batch 107 is available nationwide starting this month at a minimum suggested retail price of $44.99 per 750mL bottle.

Yellowstone Bourbon is one of the few bourbon brands available with a strong history of tradition and 150 years of continuous sales. To honor Yellowstone’s heritage and values, seventh-generation Founder and Master Distiller Stephen Beam crafted Small Batch 107 with expert care. As one of the most experienced experts in the industry, Beam made deliberate choices from the six-year age statement to the 107 proof point and more to create a new release that achieves the ideal balance of flavor and depth.

“Yellowstone was the top selling whiskey in Kentucky in the 1960s, and at the time, it was bottled at six years old,” said Beam. “I wanted to bring back that tradition and offer a product with a clear age statement, and the perfect entry level proof point at 107. This is a long time coming. We’ve had great success with special finishes but never had an age-stated product before Small Batch.”

Together, Small Batch’s six-year age statement, 107 proof point and non-chill-filtering process result in a bold flavor experience that’s great neat or over ice, and stands up well in a cocktail. With notes of caramel and vanilla with hints of chocolate and oak on the nose, Small Batch features intensified flavors of caramel, oak, honey and Yellowstone’s signature rich cherry notes.

“The higher proof brings out more flavors, and by non-chill filtering Small Batch we created a much more full-bodied product than a lower-proof chill filtered bourbon,” said Beam. “It’s the perfect addition to our family of offerings. Small Batch delivers on our heritage and tradition, bringing back memories of Yellowstone’s history, while also representing a natural progression in elevating the portfolio.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, chocolate, vanilla, raw walnuts and oak.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, caramel, milk chocolate, honey, cinnamon, black cherry, pepper and a bit of cloves.
Finish: Moderately long and syrupy with chocolate covered cherries.
Comments: If there’s a ‘perfect proof point’ (short of barrel strength), 107 might be it. This is delicious, and the non-chill filtration really shines through in both the mouthfeel and the finish. While delicious neat, this opens up nicely with just a few drops of water bringing out more cherry and a slight citrus note on the nose, and bringing the chocolate forward, bending towards toffee (and a touch of baked apples). Honestly not sure which I prefer! A well balanced pour that I look forward to enjoying all spring (if it lasts that long!)

Rating: Stand Out/Must Try