Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 46.5% ABV $55 Website What the Distillery Says: In the winter of 1881, Albert Bacon Blanton was born into one of the first families of bourbon history. At the age of sixteen, he started work in the Distillery as an office boy and fast became a leading pioneer in the development of bourbon. From the time he was made company president in 1921 until his retirement in 1952, his Distillery expanded from 44 to 144 buildings to become the largest Distillery of its day. During that period Colonel Blanton created his very special and limited supply of bourbon – his private reserve – handpicked and stored in what now is known as the famous Warehouse H. Although Colonel Blanton died in the spring of 1959, his legacy lives. The Single Barrel Bourbon is the first of its kind.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond 50% ABV $40-$50 Website What the Distillery Says: As founding father of the bourbon industry, Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. left an indelible legacy. His dedication to distilling began at the close of the Civil War when he purchased O.F C. Distillery. There, he developed innovative techniques that are still in use today. Made by hand, this Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey has been aged inside century old warehouses constructed by E.H. Taylor, Jr. Barrels are evaluated and selected to create a perfect blend of distinctive character that is like no other. This bourbon is a true sipping bourbon that honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.
TASTING NOTES: Tastes of caramel corn sweetness, mingled with butterscotch and licorice. The aftertaste is a soft mouth-feel that turns into subtle spices of pepper and tobacco.
What Richard Says: Nose: Hot, with notes of maple syrup and mint. Palate: Caramel, hot peppers (jalapeno like heat, not peppercorns), Finish: Oak mellowing into rich black tea. Comments: In the spectrum of of the E. H. Taylor range I would put this second only to the Warehouse C Tornado bottling. It’s a good, well constructed, and moderately aggressive bottled-in-bond bourbon. Fortunately, it happens to be the cheapest in the E. H. Taylor range. Rating: Stands Out
Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 50.5% ABV $20-$25 Website What the Distillery Says: Wild Turkey 101 is a 101 proof (50.5% alcohol) bourbon that is a marriage of primarily 6-, 7-, and 8-year-old bourbons. Jimmy Russell notes that unlike some of its competitors, “Wild Turkey 101 has an exceptionally gentle and rich aroma for a high-proof bourbon, thanks to quality at all stages of its production.”
At first taste, 101 is rich with vanilla and caramel, with notes of honey, brown sugar, and a hint of tobacco. Its high proof contributes to its bolder flavor. Wild Turkey 101 is the benchmark in bourbon, best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. It’s also excellent in more sophisticated cocktails.
What Richard Says: Nose: From the bottle to the glass this is surprisingly coy. Leave it in the glass a few minutes and sweet caramel, vanilla extract, and honeysuckles begin to come out. Water makes it more orange-like and overpowers the other elements. Palate: Nothing coy here. Straight forward bourbon goodness. Vanilla, oak, and pepper dominate. Water makes this on a little sweeter but doesn’t really change the profile. Finish: Heavy on the wood and an interesting blend of pepper spices. Comments: Wild Turkey 101 is one of those everyday standard bearer bourbons. Some surprise you (Buffalo Trace), some disappoint you (Jim Beam White Label), and some give you exactly what you’re expecting. Wild Turkey 101 falls into the last category. It’s not the hottest girl at the party but you don’t ever regret taking her home. Rating: Average
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 54.1% ABV $40 Website What the Distillery Says: Rare Breed is a “barrel-proof bourbon” (108.2 proof, 54.1% alcohol), meaning it has no added water to lower the proof or dilute the flavor after it’s been distilled. This bourbon is a unique marriage of Wild Turkey 6-, 8-, and 12-year-old stocks, giving it a remarkably smooth flavor considering its high alcohol content. It has hints of light oranges, mint, and tones of sweet tobacco. Jimmy Russell keeps his Rare Breed in the freezer so he doesn’t have to add ice, which would dilute the flavor.
What Richard Says: Nose: Whoa, that starts creeping toward you as soon as it hits the glass. From afar it smells just like walking into the distillery: mash, yeast, and aging whiskey. Pull it a little closer and out rolls fresh yeast bread dough, cinnamon, orange blossoms, black pepper and mint (with water). Palate: More pepper, roasted nuts, tobacco, and creme brulee. Finish: Dark chocolate, cocoa powder, heavy cigar tobacco, transitioning pepper notes from black to white and a big smack of wood. Comments: This is the ultimate “it’ll put hair on your chest” bourbon. Rare Breed doesn’t mince words. It gets in there and kicks ass. The Harry Callahan of bourbons. It’s not the newest and trendiest thing off the new release calendar but is damn good and always worth a go. Rating: Must Try
Russell’s Reserve Small Batch Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 55% ABV $49.99 Website What the Distillery Says: When it comes to whiskey making in the United States, Jimmy Russell and his son Eddie are America’s bourbon aristocracy. After an incredible 90 years combined experience distilling award-winning whiskey, the two are rolling out one of their richest and most flavorful bourbons to date: Russell’s Reserve® Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. This much anticipated bottling at a take-no-prisoners 110 proof is nonchill filtered, resulting in an unparalleled burst of flavor in every sip. As the crowning glory of America’s famed Wild Turkey bourbon family, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel promises to not only be the choice for bourbon connoisseurs, but it will also be what Jimmy and Eddie reach for time and time again. As they say in Lawrenceburg, “Our experience guarantees yours.”
What makes Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel unique is not only its high proof, but the fact that the whiskey bypasses the chill-filtration process. Chill-filtration is a common process whereby the whiskey is chilled at temperatures below freezing and is passed through an absorption filter thus removing fatty acids and other flavor contributors such as esters and proteins. By avoiding the chill-filtration process, the whiskey is bottled with more flavor compounds and a deeper color which is denoted by an impressive haze when ice or chilled water is added.
Every expression of Russell’s Reserve – both the Bourbon and rye Whiskey – is matured in only the deepest number 4 or “alligator” charred American white oak barrels to ensure the richest flavor and color. Jimmy and Eddie insist on this char level and are among only a handful of whiskey distillers who use it. The best aged whiskey barrels are hand selected by this legendary pair themselves and only from the center cut of the rick house – since that’s where the optimal maturation occurs. Adamant about quality, the Russell’s will only use the natural, weather-driven process for maturation – never air conditioned or heated “because it’s the right thing to do.”
“This is Bourbon at its best,” declares Jimmy Russell, Master Distiller. “What is incredibly special about the Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel is that each barrel has its own personality, but still captures the rich, creamy toffee vanilla style of Russell’s Reserve. This bottling celebrates what we love about Russell’s Reserve, but takes it to another level.”
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel delivers a burst of intense vanilla and hints of burnt orange, along with tastes licorice and anise seed, on the palate, culminating with a rich and long finish.
What Richard Says: Nose: Honeysuckle and butter cookies. Palate: Lots of cinnamon, vanilla, and buttery sweet without being cloying. Finish: A little wood and black pepper heat on the finish. Comments: Nice and solid. I had to chuckle a little bit at being “small batch” and “single barrel” though. Isn’t single barrel the ultimate small batch? Classic Wild Turkey flavors in a well structured middle of the road bourbon. Rating: Stands Out
I like to thank Mr. Rotondi at exposureusa for sending me a sample to review.
