Russell’s Reserve 10 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Russell’s Reserve Small Batch 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45% ABV
$31.99
Website
Russell's Reserve Small Batch 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
What the Distillery Says:
In 1954, Wild Turkey’s Master Distiller Jimmy Russell began his career at the bottom of the totem pole, learning the bourbon making process from his two mentors, former Master Distiller Bill Hughes and Ernest W. Ripy, Jr. Fast forward to 1981 and his son, Distiller Eddie Russell, joined the distillery to learn straight from the “Buddha of Bourbon” himself. For more than 30 years, the Russells have worked side-by-side, accumulating more than 94 years of experience between them to preserve the craft and heritage of the brand.

When Jimmy was getting ready to celebrate his 45th anniversary with Wild Turkey, everyone thought he would retire. So, his son Eddie set out to create a special Bourbon in honor of his father and to also prove to his dad that the student had become the master and was capable of creating a great Bourbon on his own.

After searching the warehouses for the perfect 8- to 12-year aged Bourbon barrels that had just the right flavor, color and smooth finish, Eddie started giving Jimmy tastes of different Bourbons without telling him what they were for. In the end, it was a 10-year-old Bourbon that had Jimmy smacking his lips and wondering just what his son was up to.

After that, the rest was history. Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon is deep amber in color with a nose that is rich in vanilla, oak, toffee and a touch of old leather and a spicy palate with notes of chili peppers, tamarind, almonds and cumin. It hits all the right notes to be worthy of the man who is known as the “Master Distiller’s Master Distiller” among industry peers.

It turns out, Jimmy wasn’t ready to retire in 1999, and at 80-years-old is still at the distillery, side by side with Eddie making Russell’s Reserve. In September, he will celebrate an incredible 60 years with the company.

Created by a son for his father, Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon (MSRP $31.99) is the perfect gift for Father’s Day this year.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy, buttery toffee lies behind that initial burst of alcohol followed by vanilla pot de creme.
Palate: More toffee on the palate put it takes a little bit to open in the mouth. Initially it is a little sharp. More creamy vanilla and honey but also a spicy pepper and dry tobacco flavor.
Finish: Leather, raw wood, and more hints of tobacco.
Comments: This one is like a good looking girl that you have to keep after for her to notice you and give you her number. It comes out of the bottle a little hot, sharp and alcoholic but if you spend time with it you see a bourbon that opens up additional layers. This is definitely a give it time bourbon.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Andrea at Edible for sending over a bottle to review.

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Macallan 15 Year Fine Oak

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Fine Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 15 Years Old
43% ABV
$90-$100
Website
the-macallan-fine-oak-15-year-old-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
Distilled at The Macallan distillery, in Speyside, Scotland, this legendary single malt is triple cask matured in a unique, complex combination of exceptional oak casks; European oak casks seasoned with sherry, American oak casks seasoned with sherry, and American oak casks seasoned with bourbon. This triple cask combination delivers an extraordinarily smooth, delicate yet complex single malt, matured at The Macallan distillery for a minimum of fifteen years.

Nose: Sublime and full with a hint of rose and cinnamon
Palate: Intense rich chocolate with a hint of orange and raisin
Finish: Lingering with a hint of chocolate, orange and dried fruits

What Richard Says:
Nose: A much lighter expression of middle aged Macallan for sure. There noticeable sherry there but it’s more a supporting player. It’s more floral that traditional Macallan with notes of orange zest and cantaloupe.
Palate: Sweet citrus richness again playing with a sherry supporter and a dose of nutty toffee.
Finish: Dry and mellow with a lingering bit of high (75%+) cacao chocolate.
Comments: When the Fine Oak range launched it was panned by a lot of Macallan purists. Being the kind of whiskey drinker that will try anything once I hit a tasting right after the launch that went through the whole range. The 15 year old was the standout. Years later my opinions still hold. I find the Fine Oaks different but not really better in any noticeable way compared to their sherried brethren. The 10, 12, 18, 25, and 30 are all better in their sherry forms. However, the 15 year old expression to me is where the Fine Oak really shines. It’s been a favorite and frequent gifting bottle for years.
Rating: Must Try

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Macallan Select Oak

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

The Macallan Select Oak Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$60/Liter
Website
Macallan Select Oak
What the Distillery Says:
Select Oak is crafted from an exceptionally wide and unique combination of five cask types, delivering extraordinary smoothness, remarkable sweetness and depth.

Nose: Vanilla, butterscotch and a hint of damson
Palate: An effortless balance of vanilla and sweet spice
Finish: Medium sweet and luxuriously long

What Richard Says:
Nose: Rich sherry with a bit of vanilla cream and treacle sweetness.
Palate: Creamy with a cinnamon vanilla sweetness.
Finish: The sherry is heavier on the finish than either the palate or nose. There’s lingering wood and that Big Red type of cinnamon spiciness.
Comments: This expression is the entry level bottling for Macallan’s Travel Retail exclusive 1824 Collection. I enjoy it much more than the Whisky Maker’s Edition. It’s very easy to drink and pleasant. It doesn’t require deep contemplation but rather is a great setting/mood multitasker.
Rating: Stands Out

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Laphroaig 18 Year

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 18 Years
48%
$100
Website
Laphroaig 18
What the Distillery Says:
This 18 Year Old expression of Laphroaig is made in limited quantities each year and savoured by a fortunate few. A soft, sweet and spicy Islay peat smoke greets you when you first open the bottle. The immediate taste is an oak sweetness, from 18 years in the barrel. A faint hint of the sea can be detected, testimony to its time maturing on the remote island of Islay.

It is bottled at 48% ABV and is non-chill filtered for a depth of taste and texture.

COLOUR: Bright gold
NOSE: At bottling strength, a soft toffee sweet but faintly spicy flavour counterbalances the trace of delicate phenols and fruit. An all encompassing smoothness brings these together. A touch of water allows the seaweed and salt to come through but not enough to overpower the vanilla and honey sweetness with just a trace of new mown hay and peat at the finish.
BODY: An intense depth that is exceptionally balanced and warming.
PALATE: An instant warming tang of smoke fades into smooth floral scents, which blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and leaves a lasting sweetness on the taste. With a touch of water, the peaty warmth fills the mouth but does not overshadow the sweet chocolate smoothness. This is balanced by the rich toffee taste and slowly fades into a delicate hint of heather and peat smoke.
FINISH: Full bodied, long with a luxurious oily smoothness.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Light on the peat, hints of sherry, more fruity, and hints of crushed peppercorns around back of the nose. Cucumber salad comes to mind. I have no idea why.
Palate: Creamy, with a nice initial smokiness. The floral sweetness takes time to develop.
Finish: Long and spicy.
Comments: When this replaced the 15 I was sad. I really liked the 15. Plus, soon after the replacement the price started creeping up too. That said, I’ve grown fond of the 18 over the years. The 15 was more subtle and showed a more mellow and integrated side to Laphroaig. However, the 18 is a much richer dram. Really, you can’t go wrong with either one. This is not a dram for the Islay peat-freaks out there. It’s more distinguished, less brash. Maybe that’s your thing or maybe it’s not. Personally, I’m digging it lately but it took me time to warm up to how different this is from the younger siblings.
Rating: Must Try

I would like to thank Ben and the team over at DBC Public Relations for providing us with bottles for review.

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Laphroaig 15 Year

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 15 Years
43%
$65+
Discontinued
laphroaig-15-year-main_image-250
What the Distillery Says:
Mildly smokey with sweet, warm undertones – and just a hint of the sea – Laphroaig Fifteen year old is robust and succulent. Fulfilling and utterly unforgettable. Made in tiny quantities, it is esteemed and savoured around the world by a fortunate few. Enjoy it neat or with a splash of soft water.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Much lighter brine and smoke notes compared to the younger siblings. It’s interspersed with a nice floral sweet back note.
Palate: Unseasoned seaweed chips with just a mild hint of sweetness. There’s also a minty cherry thing going on in the background.
Finish: Long and dry. And old wood burning stove that’s been unused for years.
Comments: This is a long gone bottling replaced by the 18 Year Old back in 2010. When the switch first occurred I swore up and down that I preferred the old 15 to the new 18. However, as time and tastes have mellowed I can’t say one is really better than the other. The three years, higher proof, and non-chill filtration make the 18 stand out. Maybe it was just the nostalgia and sadness I felt whenever a good dram was discontinued. I like the 10 Year Cask Strength much better but for those who want a piece of history grab this one if you see it.
Rating: Stands Out

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