Bourbon

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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Yellowstone 2021 Limited Edition

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Yellowstone 2021 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Amarone Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone 2021 Limited Edition
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery is releasing 2021 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Featuring the most mature and flavorful 7-year-old and 15-year-old bourbons hand-selected by Limestone Branch Master Distiller Stephen Beam – including select 7-year-old barrels finished in Amarone casks – the latest expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition will be available at retail starting in July 2021 at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per bottle.

Each year since 2015, Beam has produced a unique, limited-edition bourbon under the Yellowstone brand, which was established in 1872 by Beam’s great-great-grandfather and early bourbon pioneer, J.W. Dant. For this year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition, Beam selected Amarone casks to finish select barrels of 7-year-old-bourbon to complement the tasting notes of the extra-aged bourbons that make up this year’s Limited Edition.

“Amarone is a rich, red wine that – much like bourbon – takes time and patience to craft and requires at least two years in oak casks to age. Finishing select barrels in these Amarone casks brings notes of fresh cracked pepper and tobacco, as well as hints of black cherry, fig and dark chocolate to the classic bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla and hints of citrus,” explained Beam. “With a finish of oxidized fruit, cherry and black currant, this bourbon is reminiscent of pre-Prohibition whiskeys.”

2021 Limited Edition will be bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV) and sold in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a high-end natural cork and a label featuring the 2021 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem. Beginning in July, 7,500 cases (3 bottles per case) will be available at retail locations nationwide – a 50% increase in production over 2020.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Caramel and vanilla complimented by dried fruit and chocolate
Palate: Vanilla and caramel with hints of citrus followed by black cherry, dark chocolate, and fig
Finish: Reminiscent of pre-prohibition bourbons, with a sweet cherry and black currant finish

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, honey, vanilla, oak tannins, rickhouse mustiness, hints of red wine and dried fruit with dark chocolate.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, subtle orange bitters with black cherry, cinnamon, black pepper and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderate in length, wet with vanilla and cherry cola.
Comments:  I really appreciate the restraint and balance that the folks at Limestone Branch employ with these Yellowstone Limited Editions that are cask finished. It has been consistently well done in my opinion, in that the finishing is subtle – adding without distracting from the core bourbon. In fact, had I not known this was finished, not sure that would have jumped out – as the bourbon is the star. A bit of water brings out more cherry notes while tamping the spice edginess, although it drinks nicely neat.

Rating: Stands Out

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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

47% ABV
$50
Website
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

Twice barreled for added complexity, Toasted Barrel takes our award-winning Small Batch Bourbon to new heights. After it’s fully matured, we finish this Bourbon in a second, custom toasted new oak barrel, where it’s left to develop even more sweet oak flavor.

CHARRED TO START. TOASTED TO FINISH.
Toasted Barrel relies on a custom finishing process that adds an extra layer of sweet oak complexity to our Bourbon. Learn more about how these second barrels are treated by watching the video on our website.

TASTING NOTES
Aromas and flavors of pekoe tea, new leather, cinnamon, cedar, and jasmine. Warm and comforting notes of peach preserves and brown sugar erupt with a chipotle spice. Deeply layered and profound.

COLOR: Roasted pecans
AROMA: Lots of toasted oak with rich caramel
TASTE: Big, rich, and complex. Delightful spice and pepper notes fade to milk chocolate with just a hint of smoke
FINISH: Complexity continues. Nicely warming, with lingering chocolate and baking spices

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, toasted marshmallow, oak, cedar, bit of leather, crème brûlée, black currents, hint of mint.
Palate:  Caramel and vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, musty oak, nutmeg and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with oak, chocolate, pepper and mint.
Comments:  A nice addition to the Elijah Craig family – I rather enjoy it! Brings a nice uniqueness, and with a bit of water – brings out more mint than I get in the standard bearer. Fans of the Elijah Craig lineup may appreciate the subtle difference, but I must admit I’m not as much a fan at the price point (almost twice the price of Elijah Craig Small Batch).

Rating: Stands Out

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Elijah Craig Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Elijah Craig Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

47% ABV
$25-$30
Website
Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

What the Distillery Says

The award-winning Bourbon that started it all. Our signature Small Batch owes its distinctive warm spice & subtle smoke flavor to Level 3 charred oak barrels. Handcrafted by our Master Distillers, it’s a favorite of Bourbon connoisseurs and casual whiskey fans alike.

HOW IT’S MADE
Elijah Craig was the first to char oak barrels, which earned him the name, “The Father of Bourbon.” Today, all Elijah Craig Bourbons are aged in Level 3 charred new oak barrels. This level of char releases flavor compounds & aromas such as caramelized sugars, vanillin, wood smoke & spice. Our Master Distillers then hand-select each barrel to create our signature, award-winning Small Batch Bourbon.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Burnished copper
AROMA: Delightfully complex with notes of vanilla bean, sweet fruit, and fresh mint
TASTE: Smooth and warm; pleasantly woody with accents of spice, smoke, and nutmeg
FINISH: Long, sweet, and slightly toasty

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel corn, vanilla wafers, musty oak, subtle spice notes of mint and cinnamon.
Palate:  Vanilla, honey, caramel, nutmeg, brown sugar, hint of clove, cinnamon, oak and pepper.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with vanilla, nutmeg, oak and mint.
Comments:  I wish I had a retail bottling (still) of the 12 yr age stated version for a blind side-by-side comparison, but there’s more than one saying about wishing. This definitely strikes me as similar to what I recall, maybe a touch less oak which I don’t mind. The caramel corn note isn’t meant to imply it is young, as ‘corn’ is one of those notes that you get with younger bourbon – just the type of caramel (what can I say – when I nosed it, first thing that came to mind was caramel corn!) I know folks hate the loss of the age statement – and I’m in that club as well (hell, if they had to come out with a new version and just said it was a 9 or 10 yr, I’d rather see that than the complete removal). But for the money, this is still a pretty solid bourbon.

Rating: Stands Out

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