Thomas H. Handy Rye 2009

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey
2009 Release
64.5% ABV
$70 to $90
Website
thomas_h_handy
What the Distillery Says:
Named after the New Orleans bartender who first used rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail, this uncut and unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey is bottled directly from the barrel, just as it was over a century ago. Full of rich flavors, this authentic American rye whiskey is a symbol of the timeless history of New Orleans and the legacy of Thomas H. Handy.

TASTING NOTES:
Powerful, lush, and boldly spicy. Flavors of toffee, fig cake, and candied fruit, followed by mint, cinnamon and clove. The finish ultimately reveals subtle notes of allspice, coconut and nutmeg. Long and warm.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Licorice, mint, melons, and brown sugar. There is a ton going on in the nose here. It’s like a symphony that I’m having trouble pulling out the various instruments.
Palate: Rich and sweet with lots of oranges, vanilla, and caramel.
Finish: Fire water out the bottle and with the right amount of water a lovely mint finish develops.
Comments: Yes, I know you’re all super men and wonder women but this is bottled at 64.5% ABV. Please add some water or you won’t be able to taste shit after your first few sips of this. If they weren’t charging so much for a 7 year old rye I’d tell you that you had to buy it but being north of $70 is steep.
Rating:Must Try

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George Dickel Barrel Select

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey Barrel Select
43% ABV
$35 to $45
Website
524_265_George-Dickel-Barrel-Select
What the Distillery Says:
At George Dickel Whisky, we’ve always been true to our name. The same can be said of our newest whisky, George Dickel Barrel Select. Each year, at peak periods of maturation, Master Distiller John Lunn selects approximately 10 barrels of his best, most mellow whisky to produce an exceptionally fine small-batch Tennessee whisky.

Aged between 10–12 years, this 86-proof gem provides a consistently smooth taste, perfect balance, rich amber color and a hint of vanilla. Aided by charcoal mellowing and the slow aging process, these distinct characteristics create a super-premium whisky in a class of its own.

Designed to commemorate the re-opening of the distillery in September 2003, this handcrafted bottle reflects beautiful craftsmanship, from its elegant shape and cork to the unique label design. It’s outstanding quality has been honored five times since 2006 by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including one Bronze Medal, One Silver Medal and two Gold Medals for Tennessee Whisky.
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What Richard Says:
Nose: Corn and vanilla syrup.
Palate: Candy corns, heavy vanilla extract, mellow oak, and citrus.
Finish: More aggressive on the finish than anywhere else. Heavy on the oak with mint riding out the back of the finish. The age of this shows in the wood influence.
Comments: Tired of Jack Daniels? Do you want to see what else is coming out of Tennessee? Give George Dickel a try. The brand in general makes nice whiskey. The Barrel Select is easily the best of bunch.
Rating: Stands Out

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Ancient Ancient Age 10 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Ancient Ancient Age 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
43% ABV
$15 to $18
Website (this is for the 10 Star, as the 10 Year has been discontinued)
AAA_10BS
What the Distillery Says:
Aged for a decade and bottled at 86 proof, this bourbon is a cult classic. Full of subtle flavors, it is perfect for sipping and easy to enjoy by new bourbon drinkers and connoisseurs alike.

Tasting Notes:
A nose of honey, maple, mixed fruits and spice. Rye takes the lead on flavor with subtle licorice and hickory notes along with vanilla and spice. A long, spicy finish that maintains its timeless flavors.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Wildflower honey, honeycrisp apples, and peaches.
Palate: Lots of vanilla and black pepper with notes of cinnamon
Finish: Black pepper and heavy wood.
Comments: In this day and age of evaporating age statements, funky finishes, and all the latest whiz bang technology it almost seems like classic bourbon is getting harder to find. It’s not really harder to find, you just have to know what to look for. AAA 10 year old is just that, classic, good, uncomplicated bourbon. If you ever ask yourself what grandpa was drinking back in the day then pick up a bottle of AAA 10 year if you can find it (hard to find outside of Kentucky) or Old Grand Dad Bottled-In-Bond, sick back, and think back to simpler time for bourbon. A time when it wasn’t all about the % rye is so and so’s mashbill or where you can find a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. It’s not an amazing bourbon by any means but it’s good and classic.
Rating: Must Try

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Knob Creek Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek Small Batch Rye Whiskey
50% ABV
$40
Website
Knob Creek Rye
What the Distillery Says:
Made with a blend of the finest quality rye to create an extraordinarily smooth yet spicy finish.

Color: Shades of gold to light amber.
Taste: Bold rye spiciness with undertones of vanilla and oak.
Aroma: Expansive notes of herbs and rye with nuances of oak.
Finish: Warm and smooth with spice throughout.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rye spice, lightly minty, herbal notes reminding me of herb liqueurs like herbsaint, and a little cinnamon.
Palate: Creamy and bitter…an odd combination. This isn’t a minty lightly sweet right. This is spicy.
Finish: Black pepper, bitter wood, and very dry.
Comments: Beam Global really wants you to pay $40+ for one of their ryes. They first tried it with Ri(1) a few years back and no one wanted to pay that much for Jim Beam Rye in a sexy bottle (same recipe as Beam only makes one rye whiskey recipe). Now they want to leverage their successful Knob Creek brand and get you to pay that much for a NAS (no age statement) rye at 100 proof just because it has the Knob Creek name on it. Well, it’s $10 more than 9 year old Knob Creek bourbon so I’ll say no thanks. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a bad rye. It’s just nothing special and in my mind you can do a lot better for a lot less coin.
Rating: Average

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Blanton’s

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
46.5% ABV
$55
Website
blantons_sb
What the Distillery Says:
In the winter of 1881, Albert Bacon Blanton was born into one of the first families of bourbon history. At the age of sixteen, he started work in the Distillery as an office boy and fast became a leading pioneer in the development of bourbon. From the time he was made company president in 1921 until his retirement in 1952, his Distillery expanded from 44 to 144 buildings to become the largest Distillery of its day. During that period Colonel Blanton created his very special and limited supply of bourbon – his private reserve – handpicked and stored in what now is known as the famous Warehouse H. Although Colonel Blanton died in the spring of 1959, his legacy lives. The Single Barrel Bourbon is the first of its kind.

Tasting Notes:
What Richard Says:
Nose: Light and powdery on the nose. Vanilla and wintergreen stand out with a little anise. Orange and citrus notes as the nose develops.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet and reminiscent of Corn Pops. Heavy vanilla, caramel, and oak.
Finish: Dry, oaky, and slightly bitter.
Comments: Elmer T. Lee’s groundbreaking single barrel bourbon is still and damn good dram. The “single barrel” field has exploded since this was first release in 1984 but Blanton’s still sets the benchmark. An excellent mid priced bourbon. Either try it for the fact it was the first single barrel bourbon commercially release or just because it’s damn good. Either way, try it.
Rating: Must Try

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