Average

Old Tub Bottled-in-Bond Unfiltered
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$23
Website

What the Distillery Says

The James B. Beam Distilling Co. announced the re-release of Old Tub®, an unfiltered, 100-proof bonded bourbon inspired by the oldest brand from the Beam family. This limited-edition throwback offering celebrates bourbon’s true, rustic character, will be widely available in late June.

Old Tub is distilled without chill filtration to showcase its unique qualities reminiscent of the world’s oldest bourbons. Just like the original Old Tub recipe, the liquid skips the chill filtration process, which forces the liquid through a dense filter to remove fatty acids during distillation, resulting in a bonded bourbon with a full-bodied authentic flavor.

The limited-edition offering is a nostalgic nod to where it all began for the Beam family over 140 years ago in Bardstown, KY, which is otherwise known as the Bourbon Capital of the World. This unique bourbon has tasting notes that include oak, complemented along with grain and a warm caramel. It has a lingering color of golden citrine gemstone with shades of honey and an aroma that carries initial waves of oak followed by vanilla and grain.

“We’re taking bourbon lovers back in time and making a delicious bourbon true to the way my ancestors intended over 140 years ago, when Old Tub was first crafted,” said Fred Noe, seventh generation master distiller. “I’m excited to share this one-of-a-kind liquid with our fans and provide a bit of authenticity and nostalgia as we head towards another 225 years in the bourbon industry.”

Old Tub is best enjoyed neat or in classic cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a Brown Derby, which includes bourbon, grapefruit juice and honey syrup. It will be available for a limited time at select retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $22.99 for 750mL.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cast iron skillet cornbread, vanilla, caramel, peanut brittle, oak, a bit of nutmeg.
Palate:  Caramel, buttered corn, vanilla, cinnamon, roasted walnuts, oak.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, nutty with corn notes.
Comments:  I’m a fan of non-chill filtered and even unfiltered whisk(e)y (bit of barrel char in the bottom of a bottle don’t bother me), so I had higher hopes for this one. Namely I had hoped for a thicker mouthfeel than I found, although with a bit of water it does improve there. The peanut brittle notes on the nose leave this squarely in the Beam family, and it isn’t a complex dram for sure. Nothing objectionable about it, but it comes across as four year old bourbon. Age isn’t everything, but I can get bourbon I just enjoy drinking neat for less – although I’m hedging as the non-chill filtering if you add a bit of water pushes it over what I would otherwise consider pretty average.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

Redemption High Rye Bourbon

46% ABV
$30
Website

We would like to thank Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and R\West for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

When we say “High Rye” we mean it. Redemption High Rye Bourbon has 36% rye content, significantly higher than comparable bourbons. The result is a unique combination of flavors led by the subtle sweetness of classic bourbon and punctuated by robust notes of rye spice. Light hits of vanilla and caramel round out its ‘rye-forward’ flavor and help make it ideal for sipping or creating a classic cocktail. If you’re looking for a bold bourbon, you’ve found it.

Nose: Light vanilla, red berry fruitiness and a light hint of oak.
Palate: Spicy, woody, and minty notes. Fennel-like notes of light licorice and black pepper from the Rye.
Finish: Long and smooth with a nice spice from the high Rye content.

TECH DATA
Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley
Min age of 2 years old (average age of 2.5 years)

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, roasted corn, herbal spices of fennel and mint, toasted oak.
Palate:  Cherries with cinnamon and nutmeg, light caramel and vanilla, a bit of anise and pepper.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with caramel, cherry and a spice kick.
Comments:  I’m a fan of rye whiskey, and high-rye mash bills.  They’re right that 36% is significantly higher rye than most bourbons (Beam’s high rye is allegedly less than 30%; the high rye mash at Four Roses is 35%), and I appreciate the transparency on the recipe. For my tastes, this was a step up from Redemption Bourbon, albeit a small step.  I do appreciate the higher ABV, and while the corn isn’t as prominent – this came across as young.  I think with more age on it, this has some nice potential.  I don’t have a bottle of the previous versions of Redemption High-Rye Bourbon (which Richard reviewed back in 2013) to compare against. The mash bill is slightly different, and the packaging is more so.  I do like the new packaging for reasons I can’t really articulate (just looks more like ‘classic bourbon’ to me, where the former bottle looked like it was designed for vodka).

Rating: Average/Stands Out