Review

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

49.3% ABV
$100
Website
High West Midwinter Nights Dram

What the Producer Says

A limited release of High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels.

Straight Rye Whiskey:
95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD

Barrel Type(s): Aged in new, charred, white American oak and finished in French oak port barrels
Filtration: Not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Cinnamon rhubarb and plum pie, Orange Jaffa cake, star anise, cedar box, toasted pecan with dates
Taste: Black cherry reduction, molasses, birch root, fig jam, and ginger bread
Finish: Spiced clove and blackberries, candied ginger, wooden spice box, orange peel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Christmas spice, orange blossom,  freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle notes of baked apples and raisins, hint of wintergreen mint, eucalyptus, and toasted oak.
Palate:  Warn and spicy, caramel fudge, rye zip, cinnamon, orange zest, nutmeg, bit of pepper spice, mint, and a hint of a sherry note.
Finish:  Moderately long with dried mint and vanilla.
Comments:  I was fortunate enough to have two samples of this from different batches (Act 4, Scene 2 & Act 7, Scene 2). I thought “Great, I can do a side-by-side comparison!” but honestly – they were incredibly similar. After three blind tastings, I opted to scrap the idea as the very subtle differences could have been simply expecting there must be a difference. And they weren’t consistent (I thought one had a slightly better finish, but then the next tasting thought it was the opposite!). I can’t say there isn’t any difference from batch to batch, but at least for these two – it was so subtle that if you liked one, I wouldn’t be worried about whether you’d like the other. All that said, this is a really nice dram! It is definitely rye whiskey, but different (for starters, I don’t get any dill or pickle juice notes which are common in many MGP ryes).  The French oak port barrel finishing is done really well, giving it a different spice and fruit characteristic.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$150
Website
Old Fitzgerald 15 yr Bottled In Bond Fall 2019

What the Distillery Says

OLD FITZGERALD BOTTLED-IN-BOND
Each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950’s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to “Pappy” Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.

15-Year-Old Tasting Notes
Color: Rich mahogany
Nose: Complex, very spicy for a Wheated Bourbon
Taste: Starts with the spices that were in the nose but becomes soft and gentle with honey and cake notes. Vanilla and oak follow with a delicious caramel tail.
Finish: Warm, long, sweet

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly baked coffee cake with vanilla frosting, cinnamon, toffee, oak, caramel, mint, leather.
Palate:  Creamy sweet, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, baking spices, honey, mint, oak.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering baking spices.
Comments:  This has more of a bit than I expected, but letting it sit in the glass for 15 – 20 minutes really did wonders. I had a bit of a sample of Old Fitzgerald 11 yr Bottled in Bond that I compared this against, and while not a huge oak fan – I preferred this easily. More richness and depth of sweetness, and the oak is there but pretty gentle for its age. These are always pricey, but in the current market, not outrageous (and the decanter is really nice, if you like that sorta thing).

Rating: Must Try

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Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Decades
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52% ABV
$150
Website
Wild Turkey Masters Keep Decades

What the Distillery Says

WILD TURKEY DECADES
This hand-selected lot of precious and rare barrels, aged between 10 and 20 years, represents the very best of two decades of bourbon making. Master Distiller Eddie Russell’s harmonious mingling of liquid results in an extraordinarily enjoyable whiskey with the finesse and deep character of older bourbon, anchored by the bold, balanced, and vibrant backbone of younger bourbon.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, charred oak, caramel, cinnamon, orange zest, brown sugar, grilled corn (over charcoal), allspice roasted walnuts, a hint of maple.
Palate:  Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, hefty oak, cherries, orange bitters, pepper, bitter dark chocolate.
Finish:  Long, drying with oak, spice and caramel.
Comments:  I’m not a big oak fan, so this isn’t my favorite Wild Turkey – but it is a damn nice, big and robust bourbon. A bit of water tamps the oak a bit, and amps up the chocolate and orange notes.

Rating: Stands Out

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Fighting Cock 6 Yr Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Fighting Cock 6 Year
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

51.5% ABV
$17
Website
Fighting Cock Bourbon 6 years 103 proof

What the Distillery Says

The bad boy of Bourbon is bottled at a robust 103 proof, but its 6 years of aging smooth out the feathers real well. Through award-winning packaging and point-of-sale, and a unique and irreverent marketing campaign, Fighting Cock appeals to both male Gen X-ers and serious Bourbon lovers alike.

The “kickin’ chicken” has been a favorite throughout the South for years.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, vanilla, oak, brown sugar, nutty spice, subtle mint with a faint hint of overripe banana.
Palate:  Warm with vanilla, caramel, pepper bite, cinnamon, toffee and mint.
Finish:  Short and drying with oak, pepper and mint.
Comments:  For a sub-$20 bourbon, this is solid and definitely a great value. With an unapologetic rye bite, this has the edge you’d expect with the proof but also isn’t particularly harsh. While the web-site in September 2020 is still mentioning “6 years”, I want to be clear that current distribution of Fighting Cock Bourbon no longer carries the 6 year age statement regrettably (that was dropped in early 2015). This review however is from a bottle which did carry that age statement. I haven’t done a side by side (yet!) with the current version, but have that on my growing to do list.

Rating: Stands Out; Great Value

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Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Select Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Select
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$46
Website
Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse Select

What the Distillery Says

Extra-Aged Non-Chill Filtered For Richer, Full-Bodied Taste
Only available at the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse located in Louisville, Kentucky

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, hint of maple, musty oak, a note of peanut brittle.
Palate:  Vanilla, caramel, oak, an odd herbal note, cinnamon and pepper.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with oak.
Comments:  I bought this during a visit to the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse in Louisville, KY. Unfortunately it was the last stop on a pretty busy afternoon so we didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to spend – but I did want to pick up on of these bottles as it can only be bought there on-site. I was disappointed. For the price, this is highly ordinary. Thought the non-chill filtration would give it some improved mouthfeel, but that didn’t come across. A bit of water improves it a bit, but for $46 there are a LOT of other bourbons I’d prefer (like Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut at roughly half the price, is a much better pour). If you visit the Urban Stillhouse, I’d highly recommend trying it on-site before buying a bottle (maybe the bottle I got was just a dud, as others I’ve spoken to enjoyed theirs). I approached this several times over the course of a year just in case I was having an off day or three, but no dice. Nothing exactly ‘bad’ about it, but again – highly ordinary for the price.

Rating: Average

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