Bourbon

Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet /

Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 10 Years Old

43% ABV
$?? (auction estimates are $150-$200)
Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary Commemorative Bottling

What the Bottle Says

(FRONT)
50th Anniversary
1919 – 1969

(SIDE)
AMERICAN
LEGION
50th
Anniversary
COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLING
by J.W. Dant
KENTUCKY
STRAIGHT BOURBON
WHISKY
TEN YEARS OLD
BOTTLED BY
THE DANT DISTILLERY CO.
LOUISVILLE, KY., FRANKFORT, KY.
ALADDIN, PA. & FRESNO, CALIF.
86 PROOF 4/5 QUART

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft caramel, grassy note with vanilla, rick house must, hint of hazelnut, mint and anise.
Palate:  Smooth caramel, light cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, light roast coffee and a bit of molasses.
Finish:  Moderate in length, thick with toffee and brown sugar.
Comments:  A note I excluded above is simply ‘dusty’ because I know that isn’t helpful to someone who has never had the privilege to experience whisk(e)y from many decades ago. It is frustrating because it is a note I detect clearly, but can’t describe as anything but ‘dusty’ (like – how would you describe the smell of ‘apple’ to someone who has never smelled an apple?) The sample for this review was from a bottle that Bourbon Joe shared with a small group of us in April 2024. My rating is based more on “If you’ve never experienced this – you really need to find the opportunity to do so!” This drinks like you’d expect an 86 proof bourbon would – fairly light and smooth, and for 10 years old – I didn’t really get ‘oak’ aside from the lovely rick house must aroma. I’m honored to have been able to share pours like these with some amazing people, who have forgotten more about whisk(e)y than I expect I’ll ever learn and whose generosity in spirit (and in sharing bottles like these that are becoming exceedingly rare) is something to behold.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond (National Distillers)

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet / ,

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
National Distillers (dusty)

50% ABV
$20
Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond Bourbon

What the Bottle Says

BONDED
Old Grand-Dad 100 Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled In Bond Under Supervision of U.S. Govt
Distilled and Bottled by The Old Grand-Dad Distillery Company
Frankfort, KY – DSP KY. 14

(on the faux tax stamp)
AGED 8 YEARS
BOTTLED FALL OF 1990
NOTE: This image isn’t of my bottle but a representative image; mine was a 375 mL I paid $10 for in 2014. The first part of the UPC is 86259, which identifies it as a product of National Distillers.

What Gary Says

Nose: Butterscotch, honey, caramel, vanilla, soft oak with hints of toffee, peanut brittle and leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, nutmeg and honey.
Finish: Moderately long with honey, toasted oak and butterscotch.
Comments:  This is an absolute butterscotch bomb! While the faux tax stamp printing states 8 years old, this may be older being bottled during the glut era. National Distillers is one of my favorite dusty bourbons, and I was fortunate to stumble across two bottles of this at a small liquor store in Miami back in 2014. This is one where if someone could bottle this – exactly like this today – I’d be stockpiling. I wish I knew what it was that gave it that unique profile (and there’s been countless hours debating such topics on Straight Bourbon, whether it was the proof coming off the still, the entry proof, where it was matured, the yeast used, etc). I know a lot of folks who have tasted a fair amount of dusty bourbon would stampede over loved ones for Stitzel Weller, but for my taste buddies I’ve always preferred the ND profile. Now this whiskey isn’t mind-blowingly complicated, but I’d still rate it as a ‘Must Try’ because it’s just freakin’ delicious, and a ‘Must Buy’ if you can find it for reasonable money.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Traverse City Whiskey Co. Old Fashioned Cocktail

/ / Bourbon, Cocktails, Review /

Traverse City Whiskey Co. Old Fashioned Cocktail
Cocktail Made w/ 6 Year Old Bourbon, Simple Syrup, Bitters and Citrus Expression

37% ABV
$30 / 375 mL (8 pours)
Website
Traverse City Whiskey Co. Old Fashioned Cocktail
We would like to thank Traverse City Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

READY-TO-SERVE
PREMIUM OLD FASHIONED
Our premium ready-to-serve Old Fashioned is crafted from our double gold winning bourbon and finishes with a tantalizing twist of Seville Orange. Serve chilled or over ice to make any occasion a memorable moment.

“An Old Fashioned is one of the original classic bourbon cocktails,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co. “Our delicious and convenient ready-to-serve Old Fashioned cocktails are hand crafted and ready to pour. They’re a welcomed addition to our portfolio of whiskey offerings.”

Known as the “Whiskey of the North,” TCWC draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800’s, sourcing all its grains (corn, rye, and malted barley) from the Midwest. Led by Chris Fredrickson, the distilling team strives to make quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by Fredrickson’s great grandfather that were approved by the US PTO during the prohibition era.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Orange zest, bitters, bourbon (like, an Old Fashioned!).
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, syrupy, solid Old Fashioned with a good bourbon base of caramel and vanilla, loads of bitters and orange zest.
Finish:  Moderate in length with bitters lingering.
Comments:  I did my first tasting of this neat and at room temperature, and then chilled. It’s much better chilled, and even over one cube if you’re going to sip on it for a bit. Everyone’s taste vary, but for me it was better over ice as the ratio of bitters is a bit more than I prefer. The orange expression is really well done, maybe the best I’ve seen in a bottled cocktail (comes across like freshly expressed orange zest). A well done Old Fashioned, and like the half-bottle size as easy to make room in the fridge!

Rating: Stands Out

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Penelope Rosé Cask Finish Batch 8

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Penelope Rosé Cask Finish Bourbon Batch 8
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

47% ABV
$50
Website
Penelope Rosé Cask Finish Bourbon
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Penelope Rosé Cask Finish is the first installment in our Cooper Series which takes our straight whiskeys on a world tour, pairing Penelope with wine casks from the finest wine making regions. Sweet and delicate, Rosé Cask Finish marries our signature straight bourbon whiskey with hand-selected French Rosé wine casks from the Southern Rhône region, bringing together a truly unique alliance of flavor.

Mash Bill: 76% Corn | 14% Wheat | 7% Rye | 3% Malted Barley
Blend of 3 bourbon mash bills comprised of four grains (Corn, Wheat, Rye, and Malted Barley) finished in French Grenache Rosé Wine Casks from the Southern Rhône region of France.
Proof: 94
Aged 4 – 5 Years
Barrel Char #4 Staves, #2 Heads
Non Chill-Filtered

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Candied fruit and cream, floral and herbal notes
FORWARD NOTES: Sweet and refreshing hints of vanilla and viscous cream
BODY: Creamy sweetness transitions from the forward notes and into the body, herbal, floral and strawberry cream
FINISH: Rich creamy vanilla with hints of strawberry. Savory finish with lingering notes

What Gary Says

Nose: Vanilla, berries, light caramel, floral with hints of oak and cedar.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with peaches, strawberries, vanilla and gentle cinnamon spice.
Finish: Short to moderate in length with vanilla and strawberries fading.
Comments: I definitely get the rosé finish for sure, not that it’s heavy handed. Sweeter and more floral with less caramel than an unfinished bourbon of similar mash bill/age. The strawberry notes are new to me in a bourbon (in fact having posted more than 660 whiskey reviews, I’ve only came across that note 3 times – all in Scotch). A bit of water brings out lighter fruit notes, but also thins it out rather quickly; and at 94 proof it doesn’t need more water. A nice summer sipper!

Rating: Stands Out

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 036

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Batch 036

57.2% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 036 Whiskey
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

A multi-mashbill blend was created by combining full-bodied barrels with black cherry notes and oak-forward barrels with a nutty flavor profile. After these mingled, younger barrels with stone fruit and peppery highlights were added to the blend. Lastly, older barrels with notes of milk chocolate, cinnamon and pecans were carefully layered in. The result is an elegant bourbon that is opulent on the finish.

BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 7.5, 8, & 10 years old
Kentucky: 9 years old
Tennessee: 8 & 15 years old

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

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 79%
Rye: 16%
Malted Barley: 5%

FLAVOR NOTES
A satisfying nose of honey, fresh citrus, cherry jam, and snickerdoodles fuse with deeper notes of Kuromitsu and cinchona bark. Notes of caramel, chocolate and pecan pie warm up the palate before citrus zest and cherry cordial coalesce with a wave of pepper, cardamom, and cinnamon.

​Neat
Appearance: Tawny.
Nose: The aroma starts with honey, lime, tangerine, and apricot, then evolves into cherry jam, Marcona almonds and buttermilk pancakes. Notes of Snickerdoodle cookies, Kuromitsu, chocolate mint, and a touch of cinchona bark emerge followed by subtle notes of fresh citrus.
Palate: The palate starts out rich with notes of caramel, cherry cola, pecan pie and chocolate torte, followed by citrus zest and cherry cordial. Hints of pepper and cardamom flicker throughout the mid and back palate followed by a dusting of cacao, Saigon cinnamon and oranges.
Finish: Cinnamon, white pepper, citrus zest, and cherry.
With a splash of spring water
The aroma expands to Hufsie spiced tea loaf, mead, brown butter cookies, and cinnamon doughnuts. The palate becomes more decadent with notes of salted caramel latte, baklava, and streusel. The finish coats your mouth with notes of cinnamon orange coffee cake and a touch of oak.

What Gary Says

Nose: Baked goods, caramel, cinnamon, mixed raw nuts, cherry, and a hint of cocoa and oak.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with honey, caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, cherries with cinnamon, and an orange zest zip.
Finish: Long and thick with cherry cola, cinnamon, and honey.
Comments: I continue to be amazed at how both major distilleries and blending houses achieve consistency over large periods with innumerable variables. That said, I’ve got mad admiration for what the folks at Barrell Craft Spirits do working with some of the same major distilleries (and smaller ones) to create unique batches. Some I like more than others, although I can’t recall any that I didn’t care for. This is in the ‘more than others’ camp. A fine bourbon to sit back and sip on neat during a summer evening, or over a cube. This opens up nicely if you’re patient and give it some time in the glass – which I know isn’t always easy. And while I enjoyed what they’ve put inside the bottle – also worth noting is a change to their label design which makes the batch number more prominent. As my eyes aren’t getting any younger, I really like that update! I also found this to make a superb Old Fashioned.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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