Spirit Works Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Spirit Works Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey

45% ABV
$50
Website
Spirit Works Four Grain Straight Bourbon
We would like to thank Spirit Works Distillery and Verdant PR & Marketing for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Meticulously pot distilled, each batch of our Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the proprietary master blend of our two Bourbon formulas. Featuring 60% corn with wheat, rye, and barley in the mash bills, our grains are all organic and the corn and wheat are California grown. Mashed, fermented, distilled and aged on-site by female distilling team this Bourbon features impressive palate complexity from each of the four grains. Smooth and welcoming in any cocktail our Bourbon is also especially delicious sipped neat.

45% ABV or 90 Proof
Aged a minimum of four years
53-Gallon, New American Charred Oak Barrels
Color of Amber Honey

Nose: Honeysuckle, toasted sugar, and stone fruit
Palate: Chicory, brown butter, and treacle
Finish: Roasted savory cooking spices

What Gary Says

Nose:  Light vanilla, cherry blossoms, honey, chamomile tea, toasted oak and a hint of berries.
Palate:  Creamy and rounded mouthfeel, vanilla wafers atop black cherry ice cream, almonds, subtle pepper with cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, wet with a nutty spice note.
Comments:  The pot still influence comes across in the mouthfeel, which I appreciate. Also glad that they matured this at least four years in full size barrels, although it still tastes fairly young. Many four year old bourbons from the larger distilleries in Kentucky will come from the higher tiers of the rickhouse, where they’re getting significantly more ‘action’ from the barrel during that time (and where they really can’t go a LONG time without it becoming a oaky, tannin-laden mess). I point this out because if you’re sitting down to compare this to one of those, they’ll be quite different – which isn’t a bad thing. I’d love to try this with more age on it (and maybe a higher proof), as I expect the climate in California with less extremes would allow the spirit to mature for a long time before becoming overly oaked. I didn’t find anything objectionable about this whiskey.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Blood Oath Pact No. 6

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Blood Oath Pact No. 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Cognac Barrels

49.3% ABV
$100
Website
Blood Oath Pact 6
We would like to thank Luxco and Common Ground PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

In its sixth year, the Blood Oath ultra-premium bourbon series continues to see unique expressions – Blood Oath Pact No. 6 launches this spring. The series – a creation of Lux Row Distillers’ Head Distiller and Master Blender John Rempe – combines three selected bourbons, expertly blended for a distinctive whiskey.

For Pact No. 6, Rempe chose a 14-year ryed bourbon with notes of oak and leather, melded with an 8-year warm toasty ryed bourbon and complemented them with a 7-year ryed bourbon rested in cognac casks. The memorable combination brings caramel notes and hints of spice, along extra flavor from the cognac barrels.

“This particular pact is special in that the cognac barrels added some sweetness and a slight fruity, brandy flavor to the bourbon, creating an amazing taste profile,” says Rempe. “When selecting these bourbons, I wanted to see how these flavors meshed together and I have to say the result was spectacular.”

As with all the other expressions, Pact No. 6 is a limited edition, never to be made again, with only 17,000 cases being produced and sold globally. This expression continues with the tradition of a 98.6 proof and packaged in an intricate wooden display box, with the 750ml bottle being topped with a natural cork and emblazoned with John Rempe’s signature. The suggested retail price is $99.99.

“The Blood Oath series launched in 2015 and it’s hard to believe we have already created more than half a decade of Pacts,” adds Rempe. “I’m honored to see consumers searching for the new release every year and get as excited as I am when a new Pact hits the shelves,” adds Rempe.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Deep dark amber with long legs.
AROMA: Caramel, butterscotch, brandy and vanilla.
PALATE: Caramel, butterscotch, brandy and vanilla.
FINISH: Lingering spice and nutty.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich coffee cake with vanilla butter-cream frosting, plums, dates, burnt caramel, charred oak, nutmeg with a hint of cinnamon.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, caramel, butterscotch, toffee, fruity with berries and oranges, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of clove with dark chocolate.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with pecans, cocoa, and baking spices.
Comments:  This is another really lovely, rich and luscious whiskey. The cognac finishing is well done – giving it a layered influence and not overbearing. A bit of water brings out more notes of chocolate .

Rating: Stands Out

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Compass Box No Name Vol 2

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box No Name Vol 2
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

48.9% ABV
$150
Website
Compass Box No Name Vol 2

What the Blender Says

A serious, uncompromising smoky experience.
For this, the second Limited Edition of the No Name series, we’re again allowing the whisky to speak for itself. Still very smoky indeed, there is a new depth and delicacy. To borrow a musical analogy, No Name was peat as power chord; No Name, No. 2 has brought some harmonics to the party.

Built around an elegantly smoky Islay malt matured in refill Sherry butts, the second peated whisky we have used comes from the Isle of Skye. To these we added some old and ethereal single malt whisky from the Northern Highland village of Brora and just a dash of malt whisky finished in new French oak to add an underlying richness.

Bottled at 48.9% Not Chill-Filtered, Light 5 Micron Filtration, Natural Colour, Lead Whiskymaker: Jill Boyd
No Name, No. 2 will transport you straight to the peat bogs and malt kilns of Scotland’s West Coast. Weighty on the palate, hugely complex and concentrated, No Name, No. 2 also introduces a degree of delicacy. Our second whisky in the series offers an elegant mix of dried fruit notes, reminiscent of red cherries, and even a floral quality.

Those who snapped up No Name, and who are familiar with The Peat Monster, will love this latest exploration of the smoky whisky spectrum. No Name, No. 2 proves that peat is far from one-dimensional.

DISTILLERY SOURCING
Smoky single malt whiskies from the Caol Ila Distillery on Islay, and from the Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye.  Fruity malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery in the Northern Highlands. A proprietary blend of Highland malts, aged in French oak, typically from the distilleries of Clynelish, Teaninich and Dailuaine.

AVAILABILITY: Release of 8,802 bottles worldwide.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: Highly complex peatiness and smokiness, accented by delicate cherry fruit notes. Full and concentrated on the palate, an interplay of peaty flavours develops throughout the long, satisfying finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey glazed chicken barbecued and smoked over a peat fire, grilled peaches, pears, pineapples, cherries, ashy campfire with hints of seaweed.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with sweet honey with cherries, peaches and baked apples that sharpens with fresh cracked pepper and smokey spice notes.
Finish:  Long, waxy with honey, lingering fruit notes and peat.
Comments:  Compared to No Name Vol 1, this has more fruit and nuance. Both are delicious pours, but if given the choice between the two I’d have to go with this one. A bit of water smooths the edges a bit without diminishing the fruit and mouthfeel. Really lovely blend and balance for lovers of Islay peat and smoke.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Compass Box No Name Vol 1

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box No Name Vol 1
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

48.9% ABV
$130 – $150
Website
Compass Box No Name Vol 1

What the Blender Says

For this, our peatiest whisky yet, we have decided on No Name.
The idea for this limited edition was sparked by the discovery of a parcel of casks of mature, heavy-peated single malt whisky from a well-known distillery located along Pier Road, in the Southeast of the island of Islay.

This whisky was given NO NAME to let the whisky speak for itself. It is massive in terms of the intensity and complexity peatiness, but tempered with hints of fruit character and an underlying sweetness.

The recipe is primarily sourced from the Pier Road distillery. The tempering single malt is from the Islay distillery in Port Askaig, with its more elegant, restrained peaty malt whisky.

To add dimension, fruit character and an ethereal element, we have added a small portion of malt whisky from a much-loved distillery in the Northern Highlands village of Brora. We finished things off with just a touch of malt whisky finished in French oak, providing a lovely underlying sweetness and richness.

AVAILABILITY: Limited Edition release of 15,000 bottles worldwide. Bottled September 2017.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: A bonfire-like smokiness on the nose with a peatiness that is by turns tarry and medicinal with hints of autumn leaves. A powerful smokiness and peatiness follow, accented by hints of ripe cherries, plums and spice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat fire on the coast with sea salt, smoked meat and dried seaweed, bit of tar, hints of vanilla and honey just under the smoke.
Palate:  Sweet with peat and medicinal notes, pepper spice bite that fades into tropical fruit, bit of crème brûlée with nutmeg dusting.
Finish:  Moderately long with smoke and subtle fruit notes.
Comments:  On the nose this is clearly Ardbeg, and made me think more of an independent bottling of Ardbeg than a blend of any sort.  With some time in the glass it opens up a bit more and unveils the complexity within. The palate is a bit of a roller coaster – starting sweet, then a bit of a harsh bite that then fads into more gentle spice notes. My first sip I wasn’t terribly impressed with – thought it was too much Ardbeg (which I enjoy), but letting it sit helped it more than most.  A few drops of water also really open it up.

Rating: Must Try

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Pinhook Rye’d On

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Pinhook Rye’d On
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

48.5% ABV
$40
Website
Pinhook Rye'd On

What the Producer Says

Each year, Pinhook releases a new vintage of bourbons and ryes. Every expression is the best representation of our barrels at that moment in time, and dedicated to a promising young thoroughbred. Through a combination of careful barrel selection, blending in small batches, and meticulous proofing, each Pinhook vintage has a personality as unique as the horse on the label.

The 2020 flagship rye release is the inaugural expression of Pinhook using our proprietary mashbill. Developed, distilled and aged over 2 years at Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, KY, our latest rye was blended and proofed by Sean Josephs, our Master Taster.

Corn: 20
Rye: 60
Malted Barley: 20

This Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey brims with aromas of peach, spearmint, and cinnamon, which lead to a palate of cherry, toffee, and clove.

Non-Chill Filtered. Distilled and bottled by Castle & Key Distillery, Frankfort, KY. Aged more than 2 years.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel corn with cinnamon, fresh mint, tangerines, notes of fennel; bit of water brings out a note of peach cobbler.
Palate:  Cherry cough drops with mint and orange, honey, cinnamon-pepper spice, hint of clove; bit of water dampens the cherry some along with the spice edge.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with fading cinnamon.
Comments:  Having had the wonderful opportunity to tour Castle & Key distillery back in April 2017 (and again in April 2019 – what a difference two years made!), I was anxious to get my first taste of whiskey coming out of there. I happened to be in Tennessee in early March 2020 (as luck would have it, the day the WHO announced that COVID-19 was officially a pandemic) where this had just been released, and I immediately bought one. Not since Willett released their first 2 year rye whiskey was I that excited to buy a 2 year whiskey. I should have let that experience temper my expectations.
So – it’s not bad. In fact, there isn’t anything off-putting about it. But it’s a 2 year old spirit – and that shows.  It isn’t as minty as other ryes, and the cherry cough drop note is definitely unique.  But it also isn’t a $40 whiskey I’d buy again.  In fact I’ll likely set portions of this aside in sample bottles to revisit in the years to come against maturing stocks of the same mashbill – because that’s what whiskey-geeks do.

Rating: Average

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