Review

Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strength (Batch 4, Oct 2019)

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strength
Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Batch 4 – October 2019

57.1% ABV
$100
Website
Kilkerran 8 Year Cask Strength

What the Distillery Says

The name Kilkerran is derived from the Gaelic, “Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain” which is the name of the original settlement where Saint Kieran had his religious cell and Campbeltown now stands. Glengyle now produces a range of Kilkerran Single Malt whiskies, all natural in colour and non-chill filtered. All our whisky characterises typical Campbeltown drams; rich, complex and perfectly balanced.

This batch was matured in 100% Re-charred Oloroso Sherry Casks.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smokey with peat, smoked barbecue brisket, salty sea breeze, raisins, dates, black tea, grilled peaches, slightly medicinal with a mineral note.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, sweet entry with fruity notes of raisins, figs and cherries; gives way to savory notes of broiled meat and sea salt.
Finish:  Moderately long and salty with dark fruits and peat.
Comments:  This whisky is special for a number of reasons – first and foremost that it is the first whisky in more than a decade that my wife told me to buy (and I can count on one hand how many others there have been!) The nose is delightfully complex for 8 years old, and a bit of water brings out notes of caramel. Thick mouthfeel that stands up to water, bringing more fruit notes of cherries and orange. Note that there is variation from batch to batch. The one prior to this used ex-bourbon casks, and the one after was first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks. The bottle didn’t disclose these details, so you may have to do some research when shopping.

Rating: Must Try

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Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52.5% ABV
$55
Website
Buzzard's Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon
We would like to thank Buzzard’s Roost for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

OUR PROCESS
We start by sourcing the best aged whiskey we can find, but the real magic is in our barrels. We use only brand new, 53-gallon white oak barrels that are carefully toasted and very lightly charred. Each one is designed from the ground up to deliver a specific flavor profile.

We work closely with our cooperage to tweak every parameter of the barrel – from the seasoning to the charring to the development of our custom toast profiles. All of our barrels are unique and proprietary to our company, giving Buzzard’s Roost a truly one-of-a kind flavor. After resting only a few weeks in our new barrels, the whiskey is purposefully transformed and ready for bottling.

Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 4 Years | Proof: 105
Mash Bill: 59% corn • 36% rye • 5% malted barley

About: Buzzard’s Roost is excited to announce the launch of its third bourbon in celebration of three years of making exceptional whiskeys. Created from 4-year-old whiskey, then aged in our proprietary barrels, this bourbon is created from a mash bill of of 59% corn, 36% rye, and 5% malted barley.

The color is a rich bronze, and this bourbon is sure to stand out in your favorite whiskey cocktail or enjoyed straight on its own.

Char #1 Bourbon offers tantalizing aromas of brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla. The palate is a perfect blend of flavor and structure, with woody notes that are matched with cherry and dark fruit notes. The finish is long with just the right intensity. The fruit and vanilla hints are accompanied by a pinch of spice.

• Nose: The nose is full of brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla.
• Palate: Once on the palate, flavors of sweet vanilla and brown sugar lend themselves to a sweet and rich mouthfeel.
• Finish: A harmonious and subtle fade to cherry and blackberry.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cooked corn mash with brown sugar, vanilla, touch of honey, oak and cinnamon.
Palate:  Vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, pepper spice with oak and cinnamon.
Finish:  Short with oak, pepper and vanilla.
Comments:  The nose definitely comes across as young (which at 4 years it is). I do appreciate the higher ABV, and this is one of those rare whiskies < 55% ABV where I actually prefer it with a bit of water – which amps the brown sugar on the nose to almost molasses, and tamps the edges on the palate with even more brown sugar.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Buzzard’s Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon

52.5% ABV
$75
Website
Buzzard's Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon
We would like to thank Buzzard’s Roost for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

OUR PROCESS
We start by sourcing the best aged whiskey we can find, but the real magic is in our barrels. We use only brand new, 53-gallon white oak barrels that are carefully toasted and very lightly charred. Each one is designed from the ground up to deliver a specific flavor profile.

We work closely with our cooperage to tweak every parameter of the barrel – from the seasoning to the charring to the development of our custom toast profiles. All of our barrels are unique and proprietary to our company, giving Buzzard’s Roost a truly one-of-a kind flavor. After resting only a few weeks in our new barrels, the whiskey is purposefully transformed and ready for bottling.

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon
Age: 4 & 5 Years | Proof: 105
BLEND OF TWO MASH BILLS:
74% corn • 21% rye • 5% malted barley
59% corn • 36% rye • 5% malted barley

About: Buzzard’s Roost is excited to announce the latest addition to their bourbon collection. Created from a blend of 4- and 5-year-old double-barreled bourbons, Toasted American Oak Bourbon is made from a blend of two mash bills.

The color is a vibrant mixture of bronze and apricot. With elegant and enticing tasting notes, this bourbon is best enjoyed on its own or in a classic whiskey cocktail.

To the nose, Toasted American Oak Bourbon lends itself to caramel, coconut, and vanilla notes met with delicate candy aromas. The palate moves from the sweet notes from the toasted oak barrel finish, and notes of confectionary and baking spice flavors shine through along with hints of candied goodness found on the nose. The finish carries notes of butterscotch, toasted oak, vanilla wafer, and coconut.

• Nose: Aromas of caramel, coconut, and intense vanilla dominate, and a re coupled with sweet candy and floral notes.
• Palate: The palate moves from the sweet notes created by the toasted oak barrel finish toward baking spice flavors, accompanied by the pleasant candy notes found on the nose.
• Finish: The finish is a delight, with notes of butterscotch, toasted oak, vanilla wafer, and coconut.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, toasted oak, crème brûlée and dried coconut.
Palate:  Dark caramel, cinnamon, honey, pepper, oak and a hint of butterscotch.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with oak, vanilla and pepper.
Comments:  A very nice bourbon that takes water well. This is the first Buzzard’s Roost whiskey I’ve tried, but I’m encouraged by the quality and use of 53 gallon barrels. That said, the price point doesn’t seem reasonable when compared to a lower price point on a competitive (and while not age stated, certainly older) product. Age isn’t everything, but when aged properly it does increase the complexity on both the nose and palate, and while this is an enjoyable dram – it comes across as under 6 years old.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Limavady Single Malt Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Limavady Single Malt Whiskey
Single Barrel Irish Whiskey

46% ABV
$50
Website
Limavady Single Malt Whiskey
We would like to thank Limavady and R\West for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

SINGLE BARREL, meet Irish Whiskey.

WITH A NOD TO THE PAST and a great vision for the future.
Darryl is fulfilling his lifelong dream to craft his own exceptional whiskey, by combining the precision of a whiskey Master and the spirit of Limavady’s namesake.

Limavady will satisfy serious whiskey lovers but fits the bill for everyday enjoyment with whomever you choose to bring to the table.

THE DETAILS
100% Irish Barley
Small Batch Triple Distilled Copper Pot Stills
Aged in Bourbon Barrels & Finished in PX Sherry Casks
846 Bottles Per Barrel

TASTING NOTES
The sherry casks deliver warm, inviting dried fruit and spice notes, adding richness to a toasted vanilla base; smooth at first with a satisfying warmth on the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malty grain, honey, porridge, vanilla, dried fruit, hint of caramel, grassy and a bit vegetive.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with vanilla, fruit notes, grainy barley malt, honey, dash of pepper, touch of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, honey with malted grain.
Comments:  Nice mouthfeel, and quite easy to drink. It tastes young on the young side to me, with the PX sherry influence being there, but mild. Single barrel product brands have a challenge of wanting to deliver consistency (while acknowledging that single barrel carries with it some uniqueness; arguably that’s the point!) I asked if Limavady would share any details on the age (are they targeting a particular flavor profile, and keeping the age to a narrow range, etc). Appreciate their providing the following details in response:

“Limavady sources all barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky and focuses on getting first fill bourbon casks exclusively. Darryl only uses them once for each barrel – because he really loves the spicy/vanilla flavor profile that is imparted from that initial aging. He is constantly tasting and going back to the liquid, but on average for 4 – 4.5 years minimum for every barrel. From there, its then finished in PX Sherry Buttes for roughly 3-6 months leaving us with a rich burst of fruitiness and sweetness.”

Contrasted with some other Irish whiskies which might mature rather than finish in Sherry, this has a more subtle fruitiness. The bottle is hefty and interesting, although I found the glass topper to be so tight that it was difficult to remove. This takes water well, and retains the nice mouthfeel. While not overly complex (and you wouldn’t expect it to be given the age details provided), it is a really nice sipper.

Rating: Stands Out

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Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Marsala Superiore Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone 2022 LE
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 Stephen Beam announced the upcoming release of 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Featuring a delicately balanced blend of 7-year, 15-year and 16-year aged bourbons hand-selected by Beam and aged in Marsala Superiore casks, the latest expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition will begin to be available in September with a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750ml bottle.

Since 2015, Beam has produced a unique, limited-edition bourbon annually under the Yellowstone brand, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022, along with its namesake national park. For this year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition, Beam selected Marsala Superiore casks to finish select barrels of 7-year-old-bourbon to provide unique tasting notes to complement the extra-aged bourbons comprising this year’s Limited Edition.

Marsala Superiore is a dry, sweet wine produced near the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily and aged at least two years. A fortified wine similar to Sherry, Marsala imparts tangy flavors of dried fruit and citrus and is often used in cooking or served as a dessert wine.
“I’ve been experimenting with different finishes for the Yellowstone Limited Edition bourbons, and I really fell in love with the impact the Marsala Superiore cask finish has on the overall taste profile of the bourbon,” said Beam. “Consumers can expect an aroma of dried apricots and honey with hints of tobacco; a body that contains dark-brown sugar notes, mixed with dried fruit, walnut and dates, with a hint of vanilla; followed by a lingering finish with hints of palm sugar and tamarind. It’s certain to become a new fan favorite.”

The 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition Is 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 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem. Beginning in September, the full allocation of 10,000 cases (3 bottles per case) will be available at retail locations nationwide.

“We’ve had a lot to celebrate in 2022, including the launch of Yellowstone Family Recipe and the 150th anniversary of the Yellowstone brand,” said Caitlin Palmieri Jackson, brand manager for Limestone Branch Distillery. “Our 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition expression is the latest achievement to celebrate this year as the brand family continues to grow, both in terms of overall popularity and varietals offered.”

Tasting Notes
Nose: Dried apricots, manuka honey and complemented by hints of tobacco
Palate: Dark brown sugar notes mixed with dried fruit, walnut and dates followed by hints of vanilla
Finish: Lingering with Palm Sugar and Tamarind

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, honey, leather, meaty marsala and oak.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar , marsala wine notes with apricots, dates, nutmeg, touch of oak and pepper.
Finish:  Long, damp with fading pepper and marsala.
Comments:  I’m a big fan of marsala finished whisk(e)y, and this doesn’t change that one bit. It’s sweet but tangy, and another example that the folks at Limestone Branch know how to hit the mark when it comes to finishing (which I suppose shouldn’t stand out to me, since the last several Yellowstone Limited Editions also reflected this). This is just a fabulous bourbon where the finish adds depth and flavor without stealing the spotlight from the bourbon. Well balanced, and with some water brings out the fruit notes more with apricot jam on the nose.

Rating: Must Try

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