Bourbon

Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$100
Website
Remus Repeal Reserve VII 2023 Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

Ross & Squibb Distillery Master Distiller Ian Stirsman announced the upcoming release of Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII Straight Bourbon Whiskey in September 2023. The limited-edition bourbon is the seventh-annual offering of the distillery’s award-winning Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon collection. Bottled at 100 proof/50% ABV, Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII retails for a suggested $99.99 per 750-ml bottle and will be available in limited quantities starting in September 2023 in honor of National Bourbon Heritage Month.

Created by Stirsman and the distillery’s team of master distillers and master blenders, Series VII is comprised of barrels aged between 9-16 years from its 175-year-old Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery. Made in Ross & Squibb’s signature high-rye style, Remus Repeal Reserve features a new medley of bourbons each year, allowing Stirsman and his team to experiment with their various mash bills and aged reserves.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII is comprised of:

  • 6% 2007 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 26% 2013 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 26% 2013 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 21% 2014 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 21% 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye)

Series VII leads with aromas of caramelized pecans, candied cherry and maple syrup. The taste begins with rich caramel, maple and candied raisin, leading to a candied cherry, barrel char and rich cinnamon body. The finish delivers intense cinnamon and peppermint spice, with lingering notes of vanilla, caramel and oak.

“We believe we have some of the best whiskey in the world aging here at the Ross & Squibb Distillery. The Remus Repeal Reserve series allows our team the opportunity to showcase these great spirits, as well as showcase our expertise at blending our best barrels to create a special medley each year,” said Stirsman. “As the latest in this award-winning collection, Series VII is certain to be a highly sought-after and much-enjoyed member of the Remus Repeal Reserve family.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, maple syrup, raw walnuts, vanilla with subtle oak.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, caramel, chocolate, raw honey, cinnamon, maple candies, cherries, pears and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long with vanilla, mint, pepper and cinnamon.
Comments: The Remus Repeat Reserve Series continues to impress me. This is a rock solid, complex, well balanced and spicy bourbon. In an age when other ‘limited edition’ offerings are going for twice the suggested retail price, I think this is on the same level making it a no-brainer for me. I enjoyed last year’s Remus Repeal Reserve Series VI just a tad less than the Series V, and while I don’t have any of the Series V left to compare it to – I like this more than last years.

Rating: Must Try

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Baker’s 13 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

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Baker’s 13 Year Old
Unfiltered Single Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53.5% ABV
$130
Website
Bakers 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Baker’s® Bourbon is excited to announce the return of Baker’s® 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-time offering highlighting the influence that extra-aging, warehouse and barrel storage location, and environment has on each and every unique bourbon barrel.

Originally released in 2019 when the brand reemerged as a single barrel product, Baker’s 13 Year Old is aged at least six additional years than the brand’s classic offering. While the single barrel bourbon showcases distinct nuances between each individual barrel, fans can expect to experience more robust vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak flavors in this special, extra aged expression.

“Baker’s Bourbon celebrates the individual characteristics in each and every barrel, and this 13 Year Old expression takes that experience even further as the distinct flavors from the barrel develop over time,” said Fred Noe, Seventh Generation Master Distiller. “We received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback the first time we released this 13-year-old edition, and I’m proud to bring it back for whiskey fans who appreciate something special from Baker’s as a true gem within our Small Batch portfolio.”

While the notes of every barrel of Baker’s 13 Year Old offer a unique tasting journey, you can expect a few defining characteristics:

● Proof: 107
● Age: Minimum of 13 Years
● Nose: Fruit, vanilla and caramel
● Palate: Medium-bodied with flavors of oak and toasted nuts, with vanilla and fruity notes
● Finish: Robust, medium long, warmly rounded
● Sipping Suggestion: A neat pour or on the rocks to taste the distinct nuances from each barrel’s individual aging experience

Fans can also learn more about what shapes the distinct tasting notes of their bottle by heading to the Single Barrel Journey page on the Baker’s website. After entering the serial number found on the bottle’s neck tag, Baker’s fans can follow along to see how weather, length of aging and warehouse location affected the barrel and liquid of their personal bottle.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Warm, vanilla, toasted crème brûlée, caramel drizzle, oak, hint of peanut brittle with some subtle fruit notes.
Palate:  Cream mouthfeel with caramel, vanilla, mixed nuts (some lightly salted, some cinnamon glazed), oak, bit of apple and raisins along with brown sugar.
Finish:  Moderately long and thick with caramel, oak and spice notes.
Comments: I’ve always been a Baker’s fan, and thought it was one of the most under-rated of the Beam small batch collection. I think part of that is the proof point of 107, which for my money – if you’re not going cask strength – this is a damn fine place to be. This is a really nice bourbon, and fans of Baker’s won’t be disappointed. As a single barrel, there is apt to be some variation but I can’t see the fine folks at Beam selecting barrels for this that would stray too far. The house style of Beam (that peanut/nutty note) comes through, and is balanced really nicely with oak and spice, while not approaching anywhere close to over-oaked. Another really nice addition to the Baker’s saga!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Four Roses 135th Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition 2023

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses 135th Anniversary Small Batch Limited Edition 2023
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

54% ABV
$200
Website
Four Roses 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch 2023
We would like to thank Four Roses and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Four Roses Bourbon, the award-winning Kentucky-based bourbon brand, announced it will launch its 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch on September 15, 2023. The release will be the 16th in its series of annual limited-quantity special bottlings, showcasing the brand’s unyielding commitment to craftsmanship and quality bourbon.

Bottled at 108 proof, the 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch features four hand-selected bourbon recipes: A 12-year-old and a 16-year-old OESV recipe, which features notes of delicate fruit and caramel; a 14- year-old OESK recipe, with notes of baking spice; and a 25-year-old OBSV recipe that boasts delicate fruit and rye flavors. A key differentiator for the distillery, Four Roses combines two mash bills with five proprietary yeast strains to create 10 distinct bourbon recipes, allowing for Master Distiller Brent Elliott to not only create consistency across the brand’s core product line, but to innovate and achieve an endless range of flavor profiles.

“This release celebrates 135 years of meticulously crafted, high quality bourbon, and I’m excited to hear what our devoted consumers have to say about it,” said Brent Elliott. “In crafting this blend, I wanted to create an elegant bourbon worthy of the brand’s heritage. Each of the 12-, 14-, and 16-year-old batches possess individual characteristics that complement each other perfectly. Once the ideal balance of these three batches was achieved, I looked at several other batches of various ages and recipes to add an extra layer of nuance to the blend. Ultimately I selected the 25-year-old OBSV, which melds perfectly with the other batches and adds additional complexity and depth.”

The 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon offers delicate aromas of allspice, vanilla and elegant oak, mingled with a hint of cinnamon and clove. The palate boasts rich layers of honey and rye spice, balanced out by the taste of ripe berries and pear that lead to a long mellow finish. The result is an exceptionally smooth bourbon made for sipping, and sharing with friends and family.

The release comes on the heels of the Four Roses’ recent brand refresh. Fans will see the new packaging details on the limited edition bottle, including the brand’s updated logo and an engraved rose cluster on the cork of the bottle.

Four Roses will distribute approximately 15,060 hand-numbered bottles of 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch at a suggested retail price of $199.99.

Recipes:
12-year-old OESV
14-year-old OESK
16-year-old OESV
25-year-old OBSV

What Gary Says

Nose: Oak, salted caramel, cherries, allspice, vanilla, mint, cinnamon, clove with a hint of worn leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, oak, honey, berries, bit of pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of dark chocolate.
Finish: Moderately long, slightly syrupy with oak, honey, berries and pepper.
Comments: Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition has always had a special place in my heart, as it was one of the first limited edition bourbons I purchased retail. The 125th anniversary was actually one of the last ones I was able to buy (and I still have that empty bottle, with Jim Rutledge’s signature, on a shelf). I have never tasted a Four Roses Small Batch LE that I didn’t think was pretty damned tasty, and this doesn’t break that streak. A very nice older bourbon, balanced well given its age between the oak and spice. A bit of water brings out some more fruit on the nose (grapes, pears and a subtle citrus vibe) while cutting the pepper back on the palate. While my sweet spot for bourbon is a bit younger than this, the single-story rickhouses that Four Roses uses allows for some older barrels that don’t get over-oaked. Every year what is selected for the Small Batch Limited Edition varies, but they have been consistently high quality, well balanced, nuanced, and delicious.

Rating: Must Try

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 035

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Barrell Bourbon Batch 035

58.75% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 035
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 035 is a blend of 6, 7, 8, and 13-year-old bourbons. A multi-mashbill blend of 6 and 7-year-old spicy and earthy, high-rye, high-proof, oak forward barrels was combined with a blend of 8-year-old softer, lower-proof barrels with concentrated notes of dark cherry and butterscotch. After mingling for two months, 13-year-old barrels with dominant fruit flavors were layered in. A portion of these barrels had more tropical fruit notes and the other portion showed more dried and candied fruit notes. The resulting bourbon is peppery and intriguing on the nose, and sweet and long on the finish.

BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 6, 7, & 8 years old
Tennessee: 7 & 13 years old
Kentucky: 8 years old

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 117.5 proof cask strength bottling

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 78%
Rye: 18%
Malted Barley: 4%

FLAVOR NOTES
Banana bread on the nose is complemented by a myriad of herbaceous aromas from the rye grain. An earthiness intensifies on the palate. Bold spice settles down to rich, sweet notes of chocolate milkshake and frosted cinnamon bun. Water completely transforms the whiskey into a punch bowl of fresh and tropical fruits.

​Neat
Appearance: Luminous amber.
Nose: Jammy and cooked fruits leap out first such as lemon curd, cherry, and banana bread. That well-spiced character of the banana bread continues as woodsy notes emerge, with birch beer leading into tiramisu. The rye in the mashbills is particularly bold, bringing olive and thyme. Once the nose settles down a bit it reveals deeper aromas of cocoa butter and molasses.
Palate: Mexican hot chocolate, cinnamon and dried chili peppers make a spicy first impression. There’s a freshness to it with grapefruit peel and absinthe. There’s also an intense earthiness of pinecone and baking chocolate. As you roll the sip around your mouth it grows much richer and creamier, developing into eggnog and tahini.
Finish: Lime zest and amaretto, and some grated coconut; rye spice takes over as slate, fennel, and cola notes linger.
With a splash of spring water
Still plenty of jammy fruit but they’re tropical now, displaying dried papaya and pineapple jelly. They’re joined by some fresh gooseberries and watermelon. Even the herbs and spices brighten, becoming rose, tobacco, and crystallized ginger. The palate is completely transformed: where there was once hardly any fruit at all is now a fruit salad of peaches, Mirabelle plums, cantaloupe, and blood orange segments.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich with banana nut bread, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, caramel turtle brownie, apricots, cherry, oak, hints of coffee and savory herbs.
Palate: Spicy with cocoa, cinnamon, citrus and nutmeg.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with chili spice and citrus zip.
Comments: This has one of the most intriguing noses I’ve come across in a bourbon in some time! Lots of ‘baked goods’ vibes but also fruity and savory. The palate for me was interesting, although not as complex and nuanced. I definitely enjoy this one with some water, which really thickens up the mouthfeel and brightens up the flavor, bringing some ginger to the party while tamping the spicy edges. Given the spiciness on this one, I opted to try this in a Manhattan in place of rye whiskey, and really loved it!

Rating: Stands Out

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Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Tokaji Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2023 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Steve Beam announced the 2023 release of Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This latest bourbon – featuring a blend of 7-year, 13-year and 16-year aged bourbons finished in Tokaji casks – was bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), with a limited allocation of 10,000 3-in cases offered nationwide at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750 ml bottle starting this August.
As he has done with his limited-edition Yellowstone Bourbon offerings since 2015, Beam hand selected the three aged bourbons, which were then blended and finished in Tokaji casks. Tokaji is a traditional sweet wine from the Tokaji region of Hungary made exclusively from white-wine grapes. Tokaji wines are known as much for their complex, layered flavor profiles as they are for their sweetness.
“With each year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition offering, I seek a finish that I both personally love and believe will make for a flavorful, well-balanced bourbon. This year, I found the perfect finish in the Tokaji casks sourced from northern Hungary,” said Beam. “Consumers can expect aromas of honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon; a body highlighted by dry spice, followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper; and a finish containing notes of dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak. Fans of Yellowstone Limited Edition offerings will have a new contender for their favorite!”
The 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey features custom designed bottles with embossing, a high-end natural cork and label containing the 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a 101-proof callout.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon.
Palate: Dry spice followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper.
Finish: Dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, honey, grapes, oak, cinnamon, citrus zest, vanilla and white wine.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, black cherry, tangerines, peaches, cinnamon, nutmeg, bit of cocoa and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with caramel, fruit salad, oak and tobacco.
Comments: Another really fine example of finishing with a deft hand. This is the first whiskey I’ve had where Tokaji casks are listed on the label, and I’ve never had Tokaji wine – but this isn’t a big step from straight bourbon. Appreciate that Limestone Branch includes some older bourbon casks in these limited editions which bring some complexity and mouthfeel to the party. A bit of water thickens the mouthfeel further, and tamps the pepper spice edge while bringing the fruit forward – although this drinks perfectly well neat.

Rating: Stand Out

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