Richard’s Blog

It’s been another month and we have another batch of whiskey goodies to tempt you with. The October list hits across a number of major whiskey regions in the world. Bourbon, rye, Scotch, Irish, Japanese, and even Tennessee all make an appearance on this month’s list. Check it out.

Abraham Bowman 18 Year Old
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 69.3%
Price: TBD
This gem comes to us from Truman Cox. He’s the new Master Distiller at A. Smith Bowman in Virginia. This bourbon was distilled at Buffalo Trace but aged in Virginia. No word yet on the price point or release but early next year at between $75 and $100 would be my guess. We’ll have to wait and see.

Glendronach 21 Year Old Parliament
Timeframe: Late 2011/early 2012
ABV: 48%
Price: $115
This new addition to the Glendronach range is supposed to fill in an prior age gap. It’s matured in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry cask.

Hakushu 12 Year Old
Timeframe: Late 2011
ABV: 43%
Price: $60
I first teased about this one a few months ago but at the time we didn’t have many details on which Hakushu expressions were coming, when, price, etc. Well now we know. I’ll definitely be checking out this lightly peaty side of Suntory.

Isle of Arran 12 Year Old Cask Strength
Timeframe: Late 2011/early 2012
ABV: 54.1%
Price: $60 to $75
Arran just keeps going. This is their newest offering.

Jack Daniels Limited Edition 100 Proof
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: 50%
Price: $40
Not much detail on this one. Shoppers Vineyard already has a pre-sale posted but I have no idea if this is just regular JD at 100 proof or maybe even a domestic release of the duty free exclusive Silver Select (which is quite good).

Jameson Select Reserve Black Barrel
Timeframe: 2012
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
Not much info yet but based on recent “Reserve” releases from Jameson this promises to be tasty. Stay tuned.

Knob Creek Rye
Timeframe: 2012
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
Could we possibly have less information than we do about the Jameson? Yes. Beam mentioned to Chuck Cowdery that they are going to do a rye under the Knob Creek name sometime next year. Well thanks for all that information guys. 

Old Scout
Timeframe: TBD
ABV: TBD
Price: TBD
This is a bottling of sourced bourbon from Smooth Ambler in West Virginia. While they actually make a young whiskey themselves this will be sourced and referred to as “curated”. Cute.

I also received more information on this year’s Woodford Reserve Master Distiller’s release. Here’s the press release:

Woodford Reserve Releases Limited Edition Rare Rye Selection Bourbon
Dual Rye Bourbons Offer Unique Tasting Experience, Available Early November

November 1, 2011, Louisville, Ky. – Woodford Reserve announces the latest extension of its acclaimed Master’s Collection which will be released in early November. This sixth release, called ‘Rare Rye Selection’ is part of the limited edition bottlings that push the limit of what Kentucky Whiskey offers by crafting rare and innovative products.

This year’s release, the ‘Rare Rye Selection’ includes dual 375ml bottles – one that has been matured in a new charred cask and one matured in an aged cask to create whiskey distilled from rye mash. Both bottles are from a 100% rye recipe but the difference in the final product is the manner of maturation.
“Globally whiskey is presented in a wide range of flavor profiles. There are two distinct types or families of Whiskey flavor – Old World and New World,” said Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris. “The Rare Rye Selection affords you the opportunity for a side-by-side comparison. Both bottles feature a 100% rye spirit that was uniquely triple distilled in Woodford Reserve’s copper pot stills; the only difference is their maturation. We like to say that one is ‘grain forward’ and the other more ‘barrel forward’.”

Ever year, one of the five sources of flavor is changed for the Master’s Collection expressions. These five sources – grain, water, fermentation, distillation, and maturation – are unique to bourbon whiskey, and altering just one of them creates a totally new flavor profile.

In the mid-1800’s Oscar Pepper and James Crow’s Woodford County distillery was the setting for landmark discoveries and innovative practices that would have a lasting impact on the American Whiskey industry. Today, Woodford Reserve Distillery’s Masters Collection honors the pioneering work of Pepper and Crow, applying their handcrafted methods to create a range of unique whiskeys including maturing whiskey in new, charred oak casks. Their work defined bourbon and subsequently rye whiskey as we know them today.

“In general the Old World family has a grain-centered flavor profile, while those of the New World showcase the impact of new-oak cask maturation. Prior to Pepper and Crow’s work there were no rules governing the type of wood used to craft casks, no rules on the use or re-use of casks and no rules on the charring of casks,” said Morris. “Their partnership brought together the best of two whiskey traditions – frontier Kentucky and Scotland – and created a new style of whiskey – always fully matured in new, charred oak casks.”

The Rare Rye Selection is the sixth in the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection series following the Four Grain, Sonoma-Cutrer Finish, Sweet Mash, Seasoned Oak and Maple Wood Finish offerings. Released periodically at the master distiller’s discretion, the Master’s Collection whiskeys are extremely limited in quantity and bottled only once, in a proprietary package inspired by the copper pot stills of The Woodford Reserve Distillery.

Woodford Reserve Rare Rye Selection will be sold in 47 U.S. markets, and a limited quantity will be available in Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. Each bottle is individually numbered and presented at 92.4 proof. Available in major metro markets, limited cases are available with a suggested retail price of $99.99 for two 375ml bottles.

Tasting Notes for Woodford Reserve New Cask Rye

Color : Golden brown.

Aroma : Cinnamon and delicate mint spice sweetened with a balance of oak aromatics, tobacco leaf, honey vanilla, caramel and ripe apple fruit.

Taste : A creamy balance of new cask sweetness with spiced apple and rich berry fruitiness.

Finish : Smooth with rich fruit and warming spice hints.

Tasting Notes for Woodford Reserve Aged Cask Rye

Color : Light straw.

Aroma : Grassy rye grain with hints or citrus, vanilla and spice.

Taste : Distinct soft fresh rye and malt grain dusted with vanilla and sweet oak character.

Finish : Fresh and clean with caramelized green apple crispiness and a hint of rye.

That’s October. I can’t wait to see what November holds!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

I’ve gone lame. I haven’t started drinking Pappy Van Winkle with Dr. Pepper or using Highland Park 18 in whiskey sours. I’ve got a bad ankle on my right foot. It’s a reoccurring ligament injury that goes back at least as far as college. There’s even some argument that it goes all the way back to elementary school. This last go around I finally tore it in half (the ligament, not my ankle). So surgery is the only course of action at this point. Friday is the day.

Why am I telling you all this? I’ll be out of commission for a couple weeks while the pain subsides and the ankle starts to heal. While I’m on the DL I’ll be on heavy medication. Apparently, you’re not supposed to drink with said medication. I’ll also be pretty loopy too. I try not to blog under the influence of heavy narcotics. I know it’s hard to believe coming from a whiskey blogger but I like to be lucid when I write this stuff.

I’ve got several reviews queued up for the rest of the month and if I can kick this damn head cold I’ll get in a couple of bourbon reviews and my review of The Mackinlay before I go under the knife. I may not be too responsive for the next couple of weeks but hopefully I’ll be extra responsive after that. It’s my right ankle so I can’t drive or really go anywhere for the next couple of months. That should leave me with a lot of time for whiskey reviews, blogging, email, etc.

Hey, at least I’m not a thoroughbred. If I was I might be off to the glue factory!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

I don’t know about you folks but October always makes me think of Halloween. Candy, candy, candy! I’m a sugar addict of the highest degree. That said neither Matt nor I spend too much time with liqueurs. I don’t often mix sugar with my whiskey. I don’t even really prefer sweeter whiskeys. Well, in the spirit of Halloween I thought we’d give some whiskey liqueurs a little attention this month. On tap for October are Red Stag, Evan Williams Cherry Reserve, Wild Turkey American Honey, and that old standby…Southern Comfort. If any other liqueurs pop across my desk I’ll take a stab at those too. Oh, and I’ve got a Parker’s Heritage 2010 and George T. Stagg review coming that are holdovers from September. Stay tuned!