Bourbon

Watershed Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Watershed Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002
Finished in Apple Brandy Casks

60.4% ABV
$90
Website
Watershed Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002
We would like to thank Watershed Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Watershed Distillery announces its most mature spirit to date—a highly limited barrel strength bourbon—will be released on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at the distillery with limited allocation in Ohio retail agencies and select markets across the U.S. to follow. The highly anticipated 2021 Watershed Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002 follows the release of Batch 001 in September 2020 for the distillery’s 10-year anniversary, which sold out in under three hours.

Created from some of the last remaining barrels of Watershed Distillery’s original five grain mash bill of corn, wheat, rye, barley, and spelt—an ancient grain grown primarily in Ohio and
nod to the distillery’s craft roots—Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002 was created from copper pot-distilled bourbon aged four years in virgin char #4 White Oak barrels and finished for 34-45
months in Watershed’s own Ohio apple brandy casks. Bottled without chill filtration at 120.8 proof, this rare and complex spirit was created from barrels 100% distilled, aged, and bottled
on-site, and represents the oldest bourbon ever released by Watershed Distillery.

“When selecting the barrels for this batch of our Barrel Strength Bourbon, our Barrel Master Anne Dimmick and I set out to highlight the true depth and complexity of the bourbon we make
at Watershed Distillery,” shares Head Distiller Aaron Harris. “We are always looking for that ‘magic’ in a barrel—a rich and bold bourbon with balanced sweetness that truly stands apart from the rest, and we think Batch 002 captures that perfectly.”

Watershed is releasing just 3,060 bottles of this highly anticipated limited offering to seven markets—Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, New York and Michigan. Suggested retail
price is $89.99. Tasting notes for Barrel Strength Bourbon Batch 002 are as follows:

Appearance: Deep Amber
Aroma: Dark brown sugar caramel, roasted oak and rich vanilla
Flavor: The palate brings with it a full-bodied rich viscosity, with complex notes of fig, peripheral spice, and a touch of black cherry and toasted nuttiness
Finish: Robust and balanced with lingering complexity
Age: 6-8 years

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel covered apples, vanilla, oak, bit of molasses, note of cedar and fall leaves.
Palate:  Spicy with vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, pepper, black cherries, oak and pecan.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with pepper spice and cherry notes.
Comments:  This is the first whiskey from Watershed Distillery that I’ve had the pleasure to try. I love that they’re releasing this at barrel strength and non-chill filtered (AND with some age on it!) This was a bit hot and sharp (120 proof isn’t anything to sneeze at), but took water well which softened the edges and brought out some notes of apple pie. The apple brandy cask finish is fairly subtle, which given the finishing time I was surprised by (although appreciated, since I don’t care for heavy-handed finishes).  It does really shine with some water, without distracting from the core 5 grain bourbon.

Rating: Stands Out

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Daviess County Double Barrel Bourbon Limited Edition

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Daviess County Double Barrel Bourbon Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Missouri White Oak Barrels

48% ABV
$50
Website
Daviess County Double Barrel
We would like to thank Lux Row Distillers and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

This limited-edition, small-batch bourbon whiskey is finished in fresh Missouri White Oak barrels with a #2 char and toasted heads. The car and toast combination adds rich dark chocolate and caramel notes to the finished product. It was developed in partnership with Ducks Unlimited and, like all Daviess County variants, it is a mix of ryed and wheated bourbons and is 96 proof.

“The double-barrel finishing process that goes into Daviess County Double Barrel Bourbon is a perfect nod to our Ducks Unlimited partnership, and it brings a unique flavor profile to our latest Daviess County offering,” said Lux Row Master Distiller and long-time DU member, John Rempe. “Expect a nose that includes crisp, toasted-oak notes, caramel and vanilla; sweet caramel, honey and toasted-marshmallow flavors on the palate, and a finish of caramelized sugar and lingering dark chocolate compliments of the toasted head finish.”

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Crisp toasted oak notes, caramel and vanilla
PALATE: Sweet caramel and honey with toasted marshmallow
FINISH: Caramelized sugar and lingering dark chocolate

What Gary Says

Nose:  Toasted oak, salted caramel, vanilla, dusty cocoa and a hint of roasted corn.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, caramel, vanilla, honey, bit of dark chocolate, oak, nutmeg; a turtle brownie edge piece.
Finish:  Moderately long with brown sugar, oak and cocoa.
Comments:  This latest offering in the Daviess County lineup is thus far my favorite. I enjoyed the other finishes, but the double barrel finish just turns up the ‘bourbon’ notes that I love (caramel, vanilla) while adding some chocolate. Left me thinking of a turtle brownie edge piece (that’s slightly burnt). Previously, the Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon French Oak Cask Finish was my favorite, but I did a blind sbs to check myself and found that while both are quite nice – I liked this one better. I’ve had some double barrel aged bourbons where they went too long in the second barrel and came out an oaky mess, so kudos to the team at Lux Row Distillers for getting this one right (not that I’m surprised!) This one isn’t available everywhere, so if you can get your hands on it, I’d recommend trying it out.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Larceny Barrel Proof

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Larceny Barrel Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Batch A120

61.6% ABV
$50
Website
Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Larceny Barrel Proof offers a new opportunity to experience our acclaimed wheated Bourbon mashbill in its purest form: non-chill filtered and bottled at full barrel proof. Released three times per year in January, May, and September, each offering is a bold yet balanced special Small Batch Bourbon rich with depth and distinction. Much like Larceny Small Batch and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Larceny Barrel Proof is a welcome reminder of just how good wheated Bourbons can be.
Proof: Varies by Release
Age: 6-8 Years Old
Mashbill: 68% Corn | 20% Wheat | 12% Malted Barley

Wheated Bourbon In Its Purest Form
Larceny Barrel Proof offers Bourbon fans an exciting opportunity to experience Heaven Hill’s Wheated Bourbon mashbill in much the same way as our Master Distiller and expert tasting team sample it in the rickhouse. Bottled at full barrel strength, it showcases a truly bold character, richness, and depth of flavor from the years of interaction with the barrel’s charred and caramelized oak sugars.

Wheated Bourbons have gained popularity among connoisseurs in recent years. Heaven Hill’s proprietary mashbill has twice as much wheat as other distilleries, producing even more of those soft
and round flavors beloved in the style. The higher percentage of wheat is apparent in Whisky Advocate’s “Whisky of the Year” review, which notes “it begins with a flurry of sweet bakery aromas: honey bun, angel food cake, and apple pie à la mode.”

Tasting Notes
Color: Dark sepia
Aroma: Toasted bread, with maple and cinnamon
Taste: Rich molasses coats the tongue, with notes of fig and hazelnut
Finish: Nuanced flavor fades into lingering warmth

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, caramel sauce, brown sugar, cinnamon, toffee, hint of butterscotch and oak.
Palate:  Rich and thick mouthfeel, warm chocolate, vanilla, walnuts, toffee, oak and pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long, thick but drying with oak, cinnamon, caramel and pepper.
Comments:  This was the inaugural batch of Larceny Barrel Proof, and the only one I’ve tried – but wow, really nice! I’ll admit – Larceny underwhelmed me (nothing wrong with it, just wasn’t right in my wheelhouse). I found this to be really intense and rich, and a bit of water brings more toffee and butterscotch out while tamping the pepper edge a bit. A really nice high proof wheater (which shouldn’t have surprised me since Heaven Hill does whiskey really well). And there aren’t a lot of these out there (although certainly hope that changes!)

Rating: Must Try

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Maker’s Mark 101 Proof

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Maker’s Mark 101 Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

50.5% ABV
$50 (1 liter)
Website
Maker's Mark 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

What the Distillery* Says

Maker’s Mark® 101 is a bolder interpretation of our classic wheated whisky, bottled at 50.5% abv. This unfiltered expression exhibits a rich and creamy mouthfeel, with a mellow, lingering midpalate finish that combines the smoothness of classic Maker’s Mark, with enhanced natural notes of caramel and spicy fruit. Maker’s Mark 101 will launch nationally this holiday season for a limited time.

Maker’s says, “It’s fully matured Maker’s Mark bottled at 101 proof, which is the way Bill Samuels, Sr. would serve his personal guests at the distillery, showing off his signature bourbon in a bit bolder presentation than the 90 proof of regular Maker’s Mark. Fans will notice a sweet spicy nose and a palate of spicy fruit and caramel, complimented by Maker’s Mark 101’s rich and creamy mouthfeel, and its mellow, lingering midpalate finish.”

* The above is from various press releases and other public statements from Beam-Suntory; this expression was originally released as a travel retail exclusive in 2018. There is no mention of the product on their website.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla bean, canned fruit salad, subtle oak, light caramel, grassy with a hint of anise.
Palate:  Caramel with vanilla, nutmeg, soft cinnamon, a bit of pepper over fruit, shortbread cookies and toffee.
Finish:  Moderately wet with caramel, fruit and cinnamon.
Comments:  This is a pretty nice proof for Maker’s Mark – although if you can find Maker’s Mark Cask Strength for $40 for a 750 mL, you can bring that down to 50.5% ABV for slightly less (or – don’t). That said, fans of Maker’s Mark I’m sure will find this to be a delicious bottle, and the extra 250 mL over the standard might at least delay a trip to the store a bit. No idea how it fares with water, as I didn’t add any – really nice right from the bottle.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 030

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 030

58.66% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Batch 030
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 030 began with a group of tropical fruit forward 5-year-old Indiana barrels, a group of stone fruit forward 10-year-old high-rye Tennessee barrels, and a group of nutty 6, 9, 11, and 15-year-old barrels. After mingling separately for a month, they were carefully blended together. Finally, wheated bourbon from Kentucky and Wyoming was added to enhance the complexity of the blend.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Wyoming
  • Selection of 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 117.32 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
An old-school bourbon that deftly balances the individuality of its many sources, incorporating notes of bright French cider with an array of subtle herbs, florals, and the richness of pumpkin pie. The oak is restrained, suggesting coconut and baking spices without overshadowing the spirit’s innate complexity.

​Neat
Appearance: Rich and golden with a bright hue and a striking viscosity.
Nose: Bright and perfumed notes of French cider, inflected with quince and a touch of apple cider vinegar. As your nose adjusts, peach cobbler, pumpkin and fig take over. There’s an earthy side, displaying radishes and butter, tahini, and damp wool. The oak brings coconut macaroon, coriander, and peppermint, without smelling woodsy.
Palate: A sweet and tightly focused entry, tasting of coffee ice cream in an oatmeal raisin cookie sandwich. Basil, fennel seed, and a whole mug of chai round out the herb & spice register. Fruits are subtle but delightfully tropical, around orange curacao, pawpaw, and toasted coconut.
Finish: A burst of caramel and milk chocolate overwhelms the palate. As it fades, the tongue is left with rich, almost fatty notes of orgeat, chestnut honey, and beeswax. An exhale through the nose carries quite opulent aromas of molasses and fig..

With a few drops of spring water
While water usually subdues the oak, here it dials up, introducing crushed walnut, new leather, and a wisp of bonfire smoke. The palate, too, hews darker, with milk chocolate dominating the profile through the finish until only a lingering note of candied rose petal remains.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel apples, fall leaves, toffee, oak, pumpkin spice with a hint of tarragon.
Palate:  Rich with chocolate, caramel, hazelnuts, cinnamon, bit of clove, coffee cake, hints of orange zest and anise.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with oak, caramel and chocolate.
Comments:  This batch absolutely has a ‘fall vibe’ going on. No, this isn’t “Pumpkin Spiced Bourbon” – it’s subtle (I mean, the main spices in a typical ‘Pumpkin Pie Spice’ blend are cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and allspice; ginger doesn’t pop up as often as the rest, but hopefully you get the point). It goes even further with some water bringing out notes of cranberries (as well as leather and toasted walnuts). As I love fall, I’m really digging this blend – and continue to be impressed with their tasting notes (the best, most consistently reliable that I’ve seen).  .

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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