Average

Elvis Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Elvis Whiskey
Straight Tennessee Whiskey

45% ABV
$50
Website
Elvis Whiskey
We would like to thank Grain & Barrel Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Grain & Barrel Spirits announced on September 13, 2021 a long-term licensing agreement with Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE) to launch a duo of Elvis Presley-themed whiskeys. Both expressions – rye and whiskey – were sourced and blended by an expert team of whiskey experts and bottled in Tennessee, where Elvis began his career and called home.

“Given our expertise within premium whiskey, the Elvis expressions are a natural fit for Grain & Barrel Spirits,” said Matti Anttila, founder of Grain & Barrel Spirits. “Elvis was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century and continues to inspire his fans today. We look forward to launching the brand, which is sure to be a highly sought after collector’s item.”

Both expressions feature an iconic photo of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” in his prime and pay homage to two of the legendary singer’s most popular nicknames: The King (rye), and Tiger Man (whiskey). The labels, which were created by Alyson Design, LLC, also feature notable references to Presley, including his signature and the letters “TCB” printed on the neck of the bottle, referring to “Taking Care of Business,” a phrase which was the mantra for Elvis and his Memphis Mafia.

Mash Bill
80% Corn | 10% Rye | 10% Malted Barley

Tasting Notes
Aroma: Toasted oak notes, sweet corn forward, hint of citrus and apple
Flavor: Sweet-toasted Maple, roasted Crème Brûlée, with subtle notes of a Granny Apple and Caramel
Finish: A balanced, long, soft, sweet and genuine, great finish

What Gary Says

Nose:  Subtle vanilla, raw honey, oak and buttered popcorn.
Palate:  Corn sweetness, honey, vanilla, light caramel sauce with a malty note and a bit of pepper.
Finish:  Short in length with vanilla, creamed corn and cracked pepper.
Comments:  This reminds me a bit of a young malt whiskey (10% malted barely isn’t unusually high, so could just be me). Quite light in color, although you expect that with a 2 year old whiskey. A bit of water brings out a note of cedar. Nothing off-putting (which IS more than I can say for many 2 year old whiskies!), although for the price – I think this is more for the Elvis fan to collect than to drink.

Rating: Average

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Chattanooga Whiskey Tawny Port Cask Finish

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Chattanooga Whiskey Tawny Port Cask Finish
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Tawny Port Casks

47.5% ABV
$45
Website
Chattanooga Whiskey Port Finished

What the Distillery Says

Barrel Finishing Series
Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)
Mash Bill: B001, B005, SB055, R18025, R18106 & R17113
Cooperage: 53 gal, toasted & charred oak barrels
Filtration: Non-chill
Finish: Tawny Port Barrels
Finishing Time: Greater than 6 months
Age: Greater than 3 years
Batch Size: 6-7 barrels
Tasting Notes: Fig jam, blackberries, chocolate syrup, toasted oak, raisin. Full-bodied, with a layered, sweet wine finish.

Our limited edition finishing series celebrates the union of Tennessee High Malt into a variety of classic finishing casks. Crafted from a combination of unique bourbon mash bills, each containing over 25% specialty malt, each batch is made to complement the flavor characteristics of the finishing barrel.

For our first finish, our distillers sought out one of the most famous fortified wines of Portugal, Tawny Port. Our finishing casks come from the eastern most edge of the famous Douro valley bordering Spain, known as Duoro Superior. This region yields some of the highest quality Tawny Ports of the region, noted for their rich, caramel-sweet, fruit-forward characteristics.

To highlight and enhance the qualities of these finishing barrels, our distillers brought together a custom blend of 6 Tennessee High Malt mash bills, selected together for their fruity wine-line flavors and aromas. Aged for over 3 years, including 6 months in the Tawny Port casks, the result is a celebration of one of the world’s most iconic wine styles alongside our very own Tennessee High Malt.

Featured Mash Bills:
B001 – Dried Fruit, Spice
B005 – Butterscotch, Pastry
SB055 – Chocolate, Brown Sugar
R18025 – Caramel, Honey, Citrus
R18016 – Toasted Oak, Red Fruit
R17113 – Dried Fruit, Jam

What Gary Says

Nose:  Port wine with fruit notes, raisins, caramel, oak.
Palate:  Sweet, port forward with caramel, vanilla, subtle mineral note with pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with port, oak and pepper.
Comments:  I do like port finished whiskey, but this felt a bit heavy handed for me. I tried this next to Isaac Bowman Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels, which I enjoyed. I found that to be better balanced with the port influence being clearly present, but not overdone. That said, if you like a heavier finish influence, this might be right up your alley, although if I had $50 and was looking for a port finished bourbon – I’d go with the Bowman. I did enjoy the Chattanooga Whiskey 1816 Cask Unfiltered Barrel Proof Bourbon, so I’ll try more of their stuff and look forward to future releases.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Casks

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside / ,

Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Casks
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$70-$80
Website
Tomatin 14 Year Old Port Casks Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Cask Type: Matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port casks

The Tomatin 14 Year Old is soft, smooth and sweet, benefiting from its time spent in Tawny Port casks which previously held port for around 50 years. Rich but balanced aromas of red berries, sweet honey and rich toffee develop into aspects of light fruits and nuts on the palate and an abiding finish of smooth fruit salad.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with banana nut bread, berries, toffee, honeysuckle, heather and port.
Palate:  Loads of fruit with berries, apricots, cherries, freshly cracked white pepper, oak, touch of peat with a mineral note.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with pepper and nectarines.
Comments:  Fruity but with a bit of a sharp edge. I really dig the nose, but the palate wasn’t quite as complex. Nothing off-putting, but nothing particularly special either..

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Courvoisier V.S. Cognac

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

Courvoisier V.S. Cognac

40% ABV
$26
Website
Courvoisier VS Cognac

What the Producer Says

THE BLEND
A youthful and lively blend of cognac, delivering a spectrum of sensations.
Courvoisier® VS Cognac is a blend of several crus aged between three and seven years (four to eight for Russia), composed principally of Fins Bois with a balancing hand of Petite Champagne.

TASTING NOTES:  The fusion of younger and older cognacs gives Courvoisier® VS a fruity, delicate taste and a bouquet filled with ripe fruit and spring flowers.

Ripe Fruits | The chalky soil in Fins Bois delivers a hint of ripened fruits that is its signature aroma.

Spring Flowers | Inhale deeply for the bouquet of spring flowers, which is a hallmark of grapes harvested at their peak from the Fins Bois crus.

Fresh Oakiness | The rich, fresh oak bouquet is controlled throughout the aging process to make sure it doesn’t dominate the young cognac.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral, grapey, honey suckle, fruity with apples and pears.
Palate:  Sweet, floral and fruity with apples and pears, hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and white wine.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with apple.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Cognac (so read at your own risk!)
Comments:  A crisp and fruity dram. Nothing offensive or off-putting, although not especially interesting either (at least to me). This was the first of three Cognacs I sampled side by side, and spoiler alert – was my least favorite.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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R6 Distillery Single Malt Whiskey

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

R6 Distillery Single Malt Whiskey

43% ABV
$65
Website
R6 Distillery Single Malt Whiskey
We would like to thank R6 Distillery and Power Digital Marketing for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

100% malted grain from a single distillery, this whisky incorporates a European style grain bill with an R6 twist: peated malt, distiller’s malt, chocolate malt, and coffee malt.

Never Chill Filtered

Nose: Smoked Coffee and Chocolate
Palate: Smoky and Slightly Sweet with Subtle Undertones
Finish: Warm, Dark Coffee

What Gary Says

Nose:  Young honeyed malt, light roast coffee, toffee, cedar and bit of milk chocolate.
Palate:  Milk chocolate and toffee with pepper spice, smoke and a slightly sour oak note.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with cocoa and oak.
Comments:  So while there isn’t anything objectionable, this tastes like young whiskey aged in smaller casks. If you’re a fan of craft whiskey done in this way, this may be right up your alley. It does have some interesting chocolate notes, and I appreciate the non-chill filtration. With age (and moving to full-sized casks), the grain bill has potential to be really interesting and different. The price point is steep if you’re looking to buy just to drink rather than buy to support a small business.

Rating: Average

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