Review

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Seagrass 1st Release

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Seagrass
1st Release, 16 Yrs

Rye Whiskey Finished in Martinique Rum,
Madeira & Apricot Brandy Barrels

65.41% ABV
$250
Website
Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Whiskey 2021
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

  • Matured for 16 years
  • Distilled in Canada
  • Rye whiskey finished in Martinique rhum, Madeira, and apricot brandy casks
  • Aged in the US and Canada
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 130.82 proof cask strength bottling

The foundation of BCS Gray Label Seagrass began with two groups of 16-year-old 100% Canadian Rye barrels – one with bright citrus and crisp green apple notes and the other with earthy spearmint notes. A portion of the first group was finished in Apricot Brandy casks, a portion of the second group was finished in Martinique rhum barrels, and a blend of the first and second groups was finished in Malmsey Madeira barrels. When each set of secondary maturation flavors peaked, those casks were pulled and slowly married into the final blend.
This deeply mature and rye whiskey has a classic, grassy aroma reinforced by the equally iconic, fresh notes of aged Rhum Agricole. On the palate, the oily rye is complemented by the oxidative, nutty madeira character that also balances that richness with exuberant acidity. Apricot brandy casks splash bright, sometimes tropical fruit over the finish before it fades to reveal the maritime minerality that lends this whiskey its name.
Appearance: Rich, golden straw.
Nose: The savory side of rye is showcased by an array of exotic spices and seeds–caraway, fenugreek, dill, and mustard. Rye toast, grilled cornbread, and roasted taro root give it a bready depth. The Rhum Agricole barrels bolster the spirit’s innate grassy notes of cucumber peel, black olive, and bark mulch. Beyond the cask’s prior contents, the oak itself is expressed by cigar tobacco, coffee, and cinnamon.
Palate: Extremely oily, displaying notes of peanut-, coconut-, and tea tree–oils. As it’s held in the mouth it grows creamier with soy milk and cocoa butter. A bright lemonade note buoys nutty sunflower seed in a nod toward the madeira barrels. That madeira influence expands into notes of grapefruit peel, verjus, and gravel.
Finish: The apricot brandy casks pick up where the madeira left off, bursting forth with passionfruit, mirabelle plum, and banana peel. Now the collective minerality of the rye and its respective finishes wash over the palate with notes of chalk dust, flint, paraffin, and cedar smoke.
With a splash of spring water: The maritime scent of fresh costal breeze is dialed up. Maraschino liqueur, cloudberry, and green apple herald a fresh fruitiness. Meanwhile marmalade, burnt marshmallows, and roasted chestnut sweeten the palate considerably. It gets a bit woodsier too, with balsam, wild mint, and raspberry leaf.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye toast with caraway seeds, caramel, oak, dill, heather, cinnamon, tobacco, dried mint and lemongrass.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with citrus notes, oranges and kiwi that sharpen to a sour grapefruit note, pepper, cinnamon and dried mint with notes of apricots.
Finish:  Long and drying with apricot, citrus zest and pepper.
Comments:  The nose on this is really complex – more so than the palate for me, which is on the sharp side. This definitely is more on the savory side of things, which I do enjoy. A bit of water brings out more mint on the nose, and maybe a note of mango on the palate along with more grapefruit. This is one where personally I prefer the standard Seagrass over this, but mainly because I am not a fan of grapefruit (and I wouldn’t say it is overbearing, but definitely prominent). If you are a fan of grapefruit, this might be fantastic – as that isn’t a note I get often in whisk(e)y, so this is definitely unique.

Rating: Stands Out

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Seagrass 1st Release Read More »

Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Knob Creek 15 Year Old
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$100
Website
Knob Creek 15 Year Bourbon
We would like to thank Beam Suntory & Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Knob Creek® Bourbon is excited to announce the return of its award-winning limited edition Knob Creek 15 Year Old. Originally released in 2020, this liquid further elevates Booker Noe’s vision to recreate the fullest flavors characteristic of pre-prohibition style bourbon. Knob Creek has boldly expanded with this extra aged Knob Creek® 15 Year Old Bourbon, their most mature age statement to-date.

To deliver such an extraordinary product that is bottled at 100 proof, barrels were pulled from prime locations within Knob Creek’s Kentucky warehouses that cater to advanced aging, which is essential to the decade and a half maturation process.

This extended journey over fifteen years allows for the bourbon to mature in such a way that truly highlights the flavors of smooth caramel and toffee, perfectly paired with toasted oak and light leather, all while maintaining the unmistakable full flavor of Knob Creek. Its flavor is rich and hearty, reflecting the true maturity of the liquid, that can only come with age.

TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek 15 Year Old is a full-bodied bourbon that is perfect sipped straight, cooled slightly with an ice cube or used in your favorite food or cocktail recipe.
COLOR: Rich gold and bronze
AROMA: Strong caramelized oak followed by hints of sweet vanilla, ripened fruit and baking spices
TASTE: Smooth caramel and toffee paired with toasted oak and light leather
FINISH: Warming spices with a touch of floral and cherry

What Gary Says

Nose:  Oak with worn leather, roasted caramel, subtle baking spices, boiled peanuts, cherries, hint of citrus zest with rickhouse must.
Palate:  Oaky with dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, cinnamon, peanut brittle and honey.
Finish:  Moderate in length, dry with oak, vanilla and pepper.
Comments:  This is one where time in the glass really helps it out a lot – when I first poured, it came across a tad hot but stepping away for 10+ minutes really opened it up. To be honest, 15 years is usually past my sweet spot when it comes to bourbon, as the nature of the spirit just has more oak than I particularly like. Some water tames that a bit, but only a bit. I didn’t have any of the Knob Creek 12 year to sample next to, but I’m certain I prefer that one over this (and honestly, not sure if I don’t personally prefer the 9 yr over this). Now if you prefer more oak in your bourbon, and like Knob Creek – than this might be right in your wheelhouse (it isn’t what I’d call over-oaked given its age).

Rating: Stands Out

Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon Read More »

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review /

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52.5% ABV
$70
Website
O.H. Ingram Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Brown Water Spirits LLC and The Strategy Group for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

“At 105 proof, our wheated mashbill truly shines in this bourbon. The result is a sweet, bold profile with a lingering yet smooth finish.”
– Founder Hank Ingram

O.H. Ingram River Aged is the only whiskey in the world aged inside a proprietary floating rickhouse. Moored on the Mississippi River in Ballard County, Kentucky, Ingram River Aged is matured in a way that no landlocked rickhouse can accomplish. The dramatic rise and fall of the Mighty Mississippi, along with intense temperature and humidity swings, provoke an intense interaction between barrel and spirit and a whiskey like no other. The rickhouse is moored at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers where the rushing water ensures this whiskey never stops working, creating a mature taste well beyond its years. You can see full details about the process here.

The first expression in the Ingram River Aged Series, Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey, formally launched in October of 2020, followed by Ingram River Aged Straight Rye in December 2020 and Ingram River Aged Flagship Bourbon in August 2021. Now, Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey joins the fleet.
Tasting Notes:
On the Nose: Apples, cherries, oak, floral, honey
Mouthfeel: Viscous, warm
Palate: Citrus, almond, cinnamon spice, oak
Finish: A medium finish with vanilla, caramelized sugar and hints of leather

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla wafers, graham cracker, toasted oak, black cherry and toffee.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with rich caramel, vanilla, milk chocolate, toffee, raw almonds, nutmeg, orange and cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderately long with vanilla, honey, cinnamon and pepper.
Comments:  A really delicious bourbon! Nice mouthfeel, and the bottling proof is spot on (while I am a fan of ‘bottled in bond’, in my experience those bottled a couple points above that really seem to hit the mark). Some water thickens this up nicely and brings out more chocolate and tapioca pudding notes. This is only the 2nd whiskey I’ve tried from O.H.Ingram, but far and away my favorite!

Rating: Stands Out

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon Whiskey Read More »

Barrell Bourbon Batch 031

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Batch 031

55.6% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 031
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 031 is a blend of 6, 7, 10, 15 and 16-year-old barrels. The blend was built around the sweetness in a group of 99% corn bourbon barrels and a group of wheated bourbon barrels. To bridge these two groupings, we layered in 15 and 16-year-old barrels for their gentle nuttiness and oak. Finally, a selection of 10-year-old barrels was added to bring notes of milk chocolate and tropical fruit.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana
  • Selection of 6, 7, 10, 15, and 16-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 111.2 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
A perfect autumn release, this batch’s notes of shortbread cookie, pumpkin pie, peppermint latte, and pine needles match the mood of sweater weather.

​Neat
Appearance: Deep Gold.
Nose: A rush of dry, notable oak, incorporating wormwood, tobacco, and pine needles. Curious and sweet with browned butter, candied walnut, and spiced apple pie. Other notes balance between woodsy and floral, such as thistle, milkweed, and poppyseed. As we emerge beyond the scope of oak, we find some fruity and sweet cream notes, the latter represented by peppermint latte and vanilla creme anglaise.
Palate: Moderate sweetness and juicy citrus make for quite an easy pour. The fruit sings loudest here — pomegranate juice and strawberry rhubarb pie. Extractive elements of spice and tannin bring quince and ginger beer into the equation. The baking spice nods toward a Manhattan, garnished with an orange twist. Finally, some marshmallow root and pumpernickel take it in an earthier, cardoon-like direction.
Finish: A quick burst of heat announces smoked paprika, black peppercorn, and spearmint. As it subsides, demerara rum and black cherry soda emerge. Finally, it fades to leave only a little chalk and slate.
With a few drops of spring water
As is often the case, the oak gets pushed way back to reveal abundant tropical fruit, especially lime and passion fruit. The woodsy/floral balance also pitches over into the bouquet, displaying apple blossom, dogwood and rose. Creamed honey and grilled peach take over the plate, leaving behind fresh young ginger in the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, oak, leather, tobacco, freshly baked shortbread cookies, honey, mixed nuts, hint of pumpkin pie.
Palate:  Rich and thick mouthfeel, fruity with peach cobbler, pecan praline, baked pears, dates, dark chocolate, caramel syrup, cinnamon, allspice and toasted marshmallow.
Finish:  Long and damp with pepper, caramel, mint and honey.
Comments:  Another really lovely bourbon! Thick right out of the bottle, and thickens up even more with a bit of water. Complex, sweet, spicy, bit of oak but overall – really nicely balanced. A bit of water give it this ‘dusty bourbon’ vibe (if you’ve had 80’s glut bourbon, it reminds me of that). This might be my favorite Barrell Bourbon release yet!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

Barrell Bourbon Batch 031 Read More »

Stellum Black Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Stellum Black Rye
Cask Strength Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

57.13% ABV
$100
Website
Stellum Black Rye
We would like to thank Stellum Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Louisville, KY (December 7, 2021) – Earlier this year, Stellum™ Spirits launched its flagship Stellum™ Bourbon and Stellum™ Rye whiskeys to celebrate the modern-day whiskey drinker. Today, the brand proudly introduces Stellum™ Black: a limited-release premium expression of the inaugural offerings, designed to carry the same classic, cask strength flavor profiles into a more refined, elegant, and complex blend.

Produced by Barrell Craft Spirits®, Stellum™ Spirits is the result of years of industry-leading innovation in American whiskey. The brand strives to improve the flavor, process and ideals of traditional American whiskeys, while underscoring the importance of nuance and polish in a paired down and minimalist setting.

Stellum™ Black reveals a natural evolution of the inaugural cask strength bourbon and rye whiskey blends, using a meticulous blending approach to layer older reserve barrels into the original blends. The result is something both entirely new and deeply familiar.

“For Stellum Black, we maintained the soul of Stellum while creating a new dimension of flavor by adding reserve barrels from our stocks,” said Joe Beatrice, Barrell Craft Spirits Founder. “We’ve refined this layering technique over time which produces whiskeys focused on both immediate flavor and a long-developed complexity. The result is an entirely new set of whiskeys that has its roots firmly planted in the inaugural whiskeys.”

Stellum Black Bourbon™ and Stellum Black Rye™ were distilled and aged in IN, KY and TN, and bottled at 109.22 proof (54.61% ABV) and 114.26 proof (57.13% ABV), respectively.
Stellum™ Black will be allocated nationwide and online via the Stellum™ website at www.stellum.com for the suggested retail price of $99 per 750ml bottle.

Stellum Black Rye is an evolution of the Stellum Rye flavor profile. Think of it as Stellum Rye in high-def. We used a meticulous blending approach to layer older reserve barrels into the original Stellum Rye blend. The result is a surprisingly mellow cask-strength rye whiskey combining iconic rye spice with a deep complexity that reveals new facets with every sip.

TASTING NOTES
Appearance: Marigold and Honey.
Nose: Bright notes of Ripe Blueberry and Green Jolly Rancher, balanced with warm aromas of dark brown sugar, and toasted almonds, and rounded out with something familiar like newspaper clippings.
Palate: Buttery and rich on the palate with flavors of chocolate mint, star anise, and sesame that leaves a finish of fresh dill and cracked black peppercorns.
Finish: Slow and warming; a full, well rounded experience.

With Water: The same bright nose with some fresh hay that balances with hot river rocks. A little green, a little salty, a little earthy. This is met with a taste that showcases the dry spices and toasted nuttiness of the first taste.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with green apples, peaches, pears, kiwi, mint, dill, tarragon, toasted orange zest and honeysuckle.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with a sharp pop of rye spice, mint, cinnamon, allspice, anise, pepper, vanilla, caramel, orange and honey.
Finish:  Long with cracked pepper, mint and citrus spice.
Comments:  A really delicious, spicy rye! I liked Stellum Bourbon over Stellum Rye, but I think I like this just as well as Stellum Black Bourbon. A bit of water thickens this pour up nicely, and brings out even more fruit with some mango coming through, along with peppermint. The water also tamps that sharp crack of spice (which I don’t mind), and does so in a way that it doesn’t lose the complexity.  When I imagine rye whiskey – this is it.

Rating: Must Try

Stellum Black Rye Read More »