Other Whisk(e)ys

Little Book Chapter 6: To The Finish

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Little Book Chapter 6: To The Finish
Blended Straight Whiskey

58.7% ABV
$125
Website
Little Book Chapter 6 To The Finish

What the Distillery Says

Little Book® Chapter 6, “To The Finish,” is the sixth chapter in the Little Book Whiskey series. “To The Finish” offers a chance for any curious whiskey drinker to expand their palate – both seasoned connoisseurs and newcomers alike. The name of this year’s chapter offers fans of American whiskey an opportunity to experience liquid that I personally had a hand in creating and showcases the innovation of Little Book chapters over the last six years.

Little Book Chapter 6 is a blend of five different liquid streams using different wood staves and barrel techniques that impart a unique liquid profile due to the secondary aging. This chapter continues to push the boundaries of blending and challenges what some might assume of lower aged whiskies. The way these liquid streams complement each other makes this liquid extremely approachable, even for those who haven’t given cask strength whiskey a try.

The inspiration for Chapter 6 came from combining two of my passions – cooking and whiskey. The way they complement each other and come together is what sparked my curiosity for “To The Finish”. Using the smoke and flavor of hardwoods, I am able to bring together timeless tools from the culinary trade into pioneering my work with American Whiskey. The result is a taste that’s bigger than its individual parts. A flavor made from generations of curing, grilling and distilling.

For the Noe family, the kitchen has always been a home away from the distillery and a way to share family traditions between generations. My granddaddy spent hours in the smokehouse practicing his craft and curing meats. My dad’s passion was reinvigorated once I was old enough to tag along. Dad enjoyed teaching me about this family tradition and working to perfect granddaddy’s sausage recipe – he always thought it needed a bit more sage. My personal passion is around family and cooking, looking into the details of what works and what doesn’t. These traditions around family meals, shared traditions, and my pursuits at the grill inspire my own work in the rackhouse and they’ve been poured into Little Book Chapter 6.

Freddie Noe, 8th Generation Master Distiller, Fred B. Noe Distillery

LITTLE BOOK “TO THE FINISH” IS COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING LIQUID STREAMS
4-year Straight Malt Whiskey Finished with Cherrywood Staves
4-year Straight Malt Whiskey in Applewood Smoked Barrels
4-year Straight Malt Whiskey Finished in Hickory Smoked Barrels
5-year Kentucky Straight Bourbon

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Deep amber with copper undertones
AROMA: Charred oak intermingled with complex mix of savory and sweetness
TASTE: Rich toasted grain notes with hints of sweet wood smoke
FINISH: Bright finish with a robust mouthfeel and welcoming sweetness

What Gary Says

Nose:  Oak, malt, cherry wood, honey with a hint of vanilla.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel, cereal grain notes, slightly sour fruit notes with black cherry and blackberries along with honey and a bit of pepper.
Finish:  Long and drying with honey, berries and a bit of smoke.
Comments:  This is an interesting dram (thanks Bruce for the sample!) Honestly when I first sat down with it, I didn’t care for it – but with each sitting it is growing on me a little more. I’m not sure I understand the point or goal of “the finish” (other than it is a longer than average finish). It is interesting to me as a whiskey geek, although it isn’t terribly well balanced or cohesive. Some water helps bring out the fruit, as well as thickening the mouthfeel. Marking this as ‘Stands Out’ as it is different – and interesting because it is different.

Rating: Stands Out

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Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey

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Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey
Blend of 3 Aged Whiskies

57.5% ABV
$200
Website
Whiskey JYPSI Legacy
We would like to thank Whiskey JYPSI and CHQ Media for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

STORY OF INNOVATION
Categorizing whiskeys by “mash bill” has become a short-hand way of indicating the style and character of the finished liquid inside the bottle. Whiskey JYPSI’s Legacy took that shorthand and replaced the weight of each grain in the recipe with the percentage of individual fine-aged spirits in our blends. A deconstructed mash bill, if you will, using some of the finest spirits available anywhere as the components of our whiskey. Regardless of geography, boundaries or borders.

Instead of blending the grains before fermentation, Whiskey JYPSI lived up to its name – sourcing individual aged whiskey components from various origins, and ultimately blending them to recreate our version of the mash bill.

We began by selecting only the highest quality, fully aged mature spirits that beautifully expressed the individual primary grains in that mash bill. Truly, each component in the blend would be an outstanding product by itself. Then we developed multiple prototypes, using combinations of these fine spirits of various ages and cooperage as our inputs. Blending three distinct spirits, each at different stages of development, created unexpectedly rich layers of aroma and flavor – and deep wood character – not generally found in spirits.

After more than two years of development, experimentation and tasting exercises with experienced whiskey tasters, reviewers and advisors, the company’s first product was born.

Introducing Legacy Batch 001, named “The Journey.” Because literally and figuratively, it has been one. And the result is a whiskey unlike any other. Smooth, complex and unconventional. A remarkably crafted blend of three fine aged whiskeys.

70% Indiana bourbon made from 99% corn and 1% malted barley. Distilled in Indiana, and aged 7 and 8 years for a smooth corn character, this bourbon component retains its rich and sweet corn character, with structure and depth from the cask.

21% Canadian rye made from 91% rye and 9% malted barley. Distilled in Alberta, Canada, and aged 20 years, this is a highly esterified and perfumed rye whiskey with pronounced butterscotch, spice and finesse that comes from spending the last two decades in barrels.

The last 9% of this remarkable blend is 100% malted barley from Indiana. Aged four years, this malt-forward American Single Malt has a beautiful balance of rich, nutty malt character – and strong vanilla, smoke and caramel notes borrowed from its new American oak casks.

And we called it Whiskey JYPSI to celebrate those who think differently, reinvent the rules, and seek greater adventure and purpose in life. Those who live life with a “JYPSI Spirit.” Like the remarkable team who’ve given birth to this remarkable liquid.

What Gary Says

Nose: Corn bread, fruity with apples and pears, caramel, baking spices, malt and soft oak.
Palate: Thick and chewy mouthfeel, caramel, peanut butter, milk chocolate, mint, but of cinnamon and pepper.
Finish: Long and syrupy with caramel, chili spice and honey.
Comments: I absolutely love the thick, viscous, chewy mouthfeel on this whiskey. The nose is nice, but the palate was an intense surprise. This is one of those drams that improves given some time in the glass. The bottle is a cool package if you are into that sorta thing, with a solid/heavy topper. A bit of water brings out some citrus notes, and doesn’t thin down the mouthfeel. If this was priced closer to half the SRP, this would be a solid Must Try and borderline Must Buy.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey

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Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey

58.5% ABV
$55-60
Website
Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey
We would like to thank RS Lipman for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Intriguing aromas of vanilla bean, banana brioche, marmalade, and sweet corn brulee with an essence of sandalwood. Graceful on the palate featuring flavors of caramel corn, toffee, and orange zest with a hint of cocoa, all gently wrapped in warm, subtle notes of oak. The extended aging lengthens the taste profile and results in an incredibly smooth, approachable barrel-proof whiskey, matured in 18-year-old ex-bourbon barrels.

A quote from Robert Lipman, owner of RS Lipman:
“We are extremely proud of the recipe and mash bill we developed with our distiller partner using whiskey that was laid down back in 2008. Our goal was a barrel proof whiskey that is nicely balanced with color coming only from the ex-bourbon barrels. Sam used his expertise to bring this vision to life by creating a 117-proof whiskey that is mellow, easy to sip and natural in color. We could not be more pleased with the results.”

Aged 10 Years*
Mash Bill: 99% Corn 1% Malted Barley
Limited Release
*The bottle is age stated at 10 years old, which indicates the youngest whiskey included in the batch. Per their website, the majority of the whiskey is 13 years old.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich vanilla custard with banana, creamed corn and toasted oak.
Palate:  Caramel corn, honey, toffee, bit of orange zest and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey, corn and pepper spice.
Comments:  If they’d had asked me, I’d have suggested NOT using 18 year old bourbon barrels. 18 years is a long time, and while used bourbon barrels go off to give life to other whiskies, I think that they’ve given up a lot of their flavor over 18 years. This is interesting, but I’m just not a fan of really old corn whiskey. I bought a bottle of Heaven Hill Select Stock: 14 Yr Corn Whiskey several years back (paying $100) and thought that was a complete waste of money and time. Granted, this is just over half that price, and honestly tastes much better. If you’re a fan of corn whiskey, and have wondered what it might be like with more age than you typically see, this won’t break the bank (and is a unique offering in that respect). Corn just doesn’t take on a lot of complexity with age in my experience, or maybe it is the use of tired barrels.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project: European Moscatel Barrique

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project Series: Single Cask European Moscatel Barrique 
Canadian Island Peated (54 ppm) Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$? (maybe $135?)
Website
Macaloney's Peat Project Washington Peat and Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Distillery smoked using Washington Peat and carefully crafted in a premium European Moscatel Barrique

This sweet white wine Euuropean oak barrique explores peat ‘terroir’ from Washington State (Canadian and Islay peat coming soon). The nose has medium peat smoke, bonfire, cigar, vanilla, white wine with apricot, lychee, melon, fresh ginger, coconut, sweet peas, roses, and honey. Juniper and pine forest yield to white chocolate, walnut, and peat smoke. The palate is velvety, with big peat, sweet burnt heather, seashort, malt extract, pineapple, sultanas, pears, figs, stewed apples, chocolate orange, and Key lime banana pie, with cloves, white pepper, liquorice, marzipan and hazelnut. The finish is dry with a hint of salt and lingering smoke.

Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, exotic fruit notes, peat smoke, floral, honey, smoked meat with a hint of spices.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with pears, apples, and tropical fruit (not quite pineapple), peat, chocolate, sea salt and cracked pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with peat smoke, salt and kiwi.
Comments:  This is really nice – and was my favorite of the 5-sample pack sent! Less of the peat and minerality than the others, and the nose on this is rather complex. With a bit of water, it thickens nicely and opens up. My only complaint is that there’s no mention of this on their website! My guess is word got out and they had limited inventory (while a ‘single cask’, I hope they didn’t just have ONE single cask, but who knows). I’m making the leap that the price would be in line with the others, which is still on the high end.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project: Portuguese Red Wine with Washington Peat

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project Series: Single Cask Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask with Washington Peat
Canadian Island Peated (54 ppm) Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$135
Website
Macaloney's Peat Project Washington Peat and Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Distillery smoked using Washington Peat and carefully crafted in a premium Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask

This single cask release comes from a select re-charred red wine barrique, with a peat ‘terroir’ from Washington State (Canadian and Islay peat coming soon).

The nose has medium peat smoke, wood ash, floral notes, fruit, heather, lemongrass, juicy malt, nutmeg & cinnamon. The palate is creamy, very smooth and pleasantly warming, with big peat and waves of peat smoke, heather brush fire, wood wash and tropical fruits. Finishes with floral nectar, a dry malt sweetness, coconut milk, hint of salt and lingering smoke.

Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Earthy peat, minerality, salty sea air, caramel, subtle fruit, nylon rope, lemongrass and cinnamon.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with peat smoke, earthy mineral note, pepper, caramel and ashy.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with red berries, peat and sale.
Comments:  The peat is turned up in this cask, and for my palate maybe too much? Or at least too much for this particular cask? Just not as well balanced as the others and a bit one dimensional for my liking.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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