Average

I.W. Harper 15 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review /

I.W. Harper Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 15 Years
43% ABV
$75
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Sweeter up front with grain and corn immediately apparent, I.W. HARPER 15-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey then moves into notes of oak, raisin, caramel, spice, and vanilla. The finish leaves a long and lasting mouthfeel perfect for enjoying on the rocks, or neat to truly appreciate the full flavor profile.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet/toasted caramel, subtle wood (a tad sour), corn bread (but not “young whiskey” corn), hint of cinnamon and anise
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, smooth at first then the pepper spice kicks in; nice balance between wood and sweetness (cocoa and orange marmalade).
Finish: Short to moderate.
Comments: I was very much looking forward to this release, and when I first tried it – I was disappointed. Spending more time with Rich’s sample – I’m not “as disappointed”, but am still not impressed enough to exchange my dough for a bottle. This is a perfectly decent bourbon, but not special in any particular way. And for the price, I’m expecting special.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is a nice mature bourbon nose that leads with caramel, toasted oak, corn pudding, and licorice. From the nose along I would say Heaven Hill distillate but who knows. Diageo isn’t telling.
Palate: This is a definite step up from the incredibly bland regular I.W. Harper. Rich wood flavors with a bit of spice and sweetness but generally a bit too mellow. For those who seek “easy drinking” bourbon.
Finish: Dry and woody.
Comments: First impressions? The bottle reminds me of the Ralph Lauren Safari cologne that I used to wear in high school. As for the actual liquid, the 43% ABV helps but it’s still not all I’m looking for in a $75 bottle of bourbon. It reminds me quite a bit of some of the older Orphan Barrel releases. Since they are both Diageo sourced stock that is probably more than a coincidence. I would recommend this to those who are looking for a “special” bottle for the Jack Daniels drinker in their life.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Diageo and their PR firm for sending us a sample to review.

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The Hilhaven Lodge

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

The Hilhaven Lodge – A Distinctive Blend of Straight American Whiskeys
40& ABV
$40
Website
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What the Bottler Says:
Introducing The Hilhaven Lodge™, a celebration of American Whiskey craftsmanship as aged Bourbon, Rye and Tennessee Whiskeys from three distinct decades combine for a rich and flavorful spirit—the spirit of Hilhaven Lodge.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Bright rye spice with dill and crushed mint, young with candied orange zest.
Palate: Sweet citrus, vanilla, and honey; spice is rather subdued, mellow all around.
Finish: Moderate, with the spice barely peaking up at the end
Comments: A hint of that “Tennessee whiskey” mellowness is on the nose and palate. They don’t list the ratio, or which whiskey came from which decade (others have reported that the rye was the oldest component, the TN whiskey in the middle, and the bourbon the youngest). The nose to me screams rye, but the palate doesn’t deliver. I really wish this could have been bottled at a higher proof. I was rather excited by the nose, and felt quite let down when it touched my lips. I suspect this might have been amazing at 100 proof, but alas, one can only wonder. While not a big financial gamble, I can’t recommend unless you’re a fan of really smooth whiskey.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: Clarified butter, fresh cut grass, and vanilla extract.
Palate: Sweet orange creams and a light spiciness. I would swear this saw some of the Lincoln County Process.
Finish: Dry and uninspiring with a bit of a hot spicy backing.
Comments: Not bad but not great. There are plenty of $30 bottles of whiskey out there that you might like more. I don’t think the blending gimmick is enough to justify a $40 to $50 price tag. It’s a little too smooth on taste and hot in the mouth…which is kind of odd. Given that this is Diageo, the rye is most likely MGP and the Tennessee Whiskey is probably Dickel. As for the bourbon, who knows.
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Diageo for sending us a sample to review.

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Laphroaig PX Cask

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / , ,

Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey PX Cask Triple Matured
48% ABV
$95 (liter bottle)
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
PX Cask is the first to enjoy maturation in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, widely referred to as “PX” casks. Pedro Ximenez sherry is known to be naturally sweet made from dried Pedro Ximenez grapes.

The three types of barrels used in the maturation each impart a subtly different character, from American oak to Quarter Cask to Pedro Ximenez sherry. The last maturation in the ex-PX Cask provides the rich, sweeter and full bodied notes which perfectly complement the peat-smoke tang of Laphroaig, creating an expression which needs to be appreciated over time to fully explore.

Currently only available in Travel Retail.

COLOUR: Antique Gold
NOSE: From the bottle there is a nice sherry aroma of sweet sultanas and raisins with a hint of sweet liquorice and only the slightest tang of peat. Adding a little water brings out the marzipan and almond aroma with a counterpoint of creamy nuts and lots of ripe fruits but again there’s only the slightest tang of peat smoke.
BODY: An intense and profound deepness
PALATE: Without water a massive explosion of peat fills the mouth with huge amounts of oakiness only just moderated by the sweeter heavy sherry flavour. Adding a touch of water only slightly moderates the massive peat reek which very slowly fades and just allows a little of the sweeter sherried flavours to come through although there is always that burst of peat smoke that dries the mouth.
FINISH: Concentrated peat and thick sherried oak with a deep dryness

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sherry, seaweed, peat, smoke, subtle medicinal notes, rich.
Palate: Silky mouthfeel, sherry sweet w/ trademark Laphroaig peat & sea-air saltiness, subtle spice with smoke.
Finish: Moderate, peppery and drying.
Comments: The sherry finishing really tamps down the medicinal band-aid notes typically found with Laphroaig’s standard bearer 10yr. It isn’t the beast of peat that I do enjoy, but if you are a fan of Laphroaig and also a fan of Scotch aged in sherry, I would consider this a “Must Try”. I really enjoy this intersection, and only wish it was more widely accessible.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Stewed stone fruits, Band Aids, bits of anise, and the smell of a campfire the morning after a light rain.
Palate: A nice inviting sweetness greets you before smacking you hard in the mouth with peat smoke, black pepper, and a dry woody flavor.
Finish: All peat, pepper, and wood on the finish. I’m a little surprised at the woody nature given the relative young age.
Comments: I like my Laphroaig like I like my coffee. No finishing, flavored syrups, extra foam, or funkiness. I find the 10 year old cask strength to be the epitome of the distillery. The more they “do” to that wonderful liquid the more that I move away. Quarter Cask is nice, Triple Wood is pushing it, Select is kind of nasty. This PX falls somewhere between the Quarter Cask and Triple Wood on my scale. Why would I move over there when the Cask Strength 10 year old is so damn good?
Rating: Average

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1792 Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
46.85% ABV
$30
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Sophisticated and complex. A distinctly different bourbon created with precise craftsmanship. Made from our signature “high rye” recipe and the marriage of select barrels carefully chosen by our Master Distiller. 1792 Bourbon has an expressive and elegant flavor profile. Unmistakable spice mingles with sweet caramel and vanilla to create a bourbon that is incomparably brash and bold, yet smooth and balances. Elevating whiskey to exceptional new heights, 1792 Bourbon is celebrated by connoisseurs worldwide.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sharp, woody, sour oak with light sweetness, cinnamon spice, subtle licorice.
Palate: Cinnamon sharp, oaky, bit of cloves; more spice than sweet.
Finish: Moderate and drying.
Comments: As a small batch bourbon, there is variability – and I’ll confess that my last couple of bottles of 1792 were single barrel (private selections from a local retailer). I wondered if this was also a single barrel pick (or I’ve just got accustomed to the other picks). I didn’t love this one; it felt out of balance to me, very oak/wood prominent and not enough sweetness. But if you like more oak – this could be right up your alley!
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Burnt vanilla syrup, caramel, crushed chalk, and a little citrus zest.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet and drinkable with notes of toffee crisps, cocoa powder, vanilla cream filling (like in donuts and Boston Cream Pie), and gooey butter bars that are slightly burnt.
Finish: Wet toothpicks dusted with cocoa powder.
Comments: I put off buying a bottle of “1792 Small Batch” for years because the old “1792 Ridgemont Reserve” I found to be blah many years ago when the brand first came to Georgia. If you told me these two were even remotely the same whiskey I would laugh. I only gave it another go because friends whose opinions I value kept talking up this newer iteration. I’m glad they did. This a very drinkable bourbon that can regularly be found in the $30 range. I highly recommend adding it to your home bar as a very good example of the whiskey coming out of the lesser known Barton Distillery.
Rating: Stands Out

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Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon Whiskey
46% ABV
$60
Website
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What the Distillery Says:
Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon breaks all traditional bourbon laws just like the Outlaws of the old west. Made from 100% corn our recipe produces a sweet flavor we know you will enjoy. Aged in small American oak barrels, Outlaw Bourbon is a full flavored drink with warm caramel and vanilla overtones. Not many distillers still use a traditional pot still, but we believe this helps us produce a true small batch whiskey.

COLOR: Old gold, copper.
NOSE: Intense aroma, rich caramel and vanilla with a hint of floral.
PALATE: Slightly sweet and extremely rich.
FINISH: Long, maintaining caramel and vanilla. Like a good dessert!
COMMENTS: Unique bourbon providing a great experience for both enthusiast and first timers.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Freshly baked cornbread or corn muffins.
Palate: Corny sweet, young with oak.
Finish: Short, with a bit of pepper as it fades.
Comments: If asked to identify this in a blind taste test, I’d have picked this out as corn whiskey rather than bourbon – which isn’t too surprising as the mashbill is 100% corn. The first comparable whiskey that came to mind was mellow corn (although that is a bottled-in-bond, so higher proof and at least 4 years old). I would suspect that this is probably younger than 4 yrs old by the taste, but that is pure speculation. The smaller barrels add more wood influence, for my taste – prematurely, as it isn’t as integrated as a whiskey aged in a 53 gallon cask. I don’t think they were shooting for an integrated/thinking type of whiskey, so a bit of oak brashness from a small cask is probably delivering what they’re looking for here. I’m a fan of corn whiskey – and if you are too, this might be worth trying. If you’re looking for bourbon and are not a fan of corn whiskey, this might leave you disappointed. And the price point makes it tough to take out for a test drive.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Corn liquor coming off the still mixed with smoked meats. It’s very unbourbon like but kind of sexy.
Palate: A bit of a fiery red head this one is. Corn whiskey sweet with a kick of oak and more of that oddly delightful BBQ smoked flavor.
Finish: A little hot but less than you would expect for the age.
Comments: Interesting is the word that comes to mind. When I drink this I don’t think bourbon at all. I almost worry that they do themselves a disservice calling it bourbon instead of corn whiskey. I think bourbon drinkers would not necessarily find what they are looking for in a bottle of this. However, that smokey note that sits through the nose and palate I find very compelling. Not something I would run out and buy for $60 a bottle but if you have broader whiskey interests it might be something to try at a bar. If it wasn’t so damn expensive (and yes I understand the harsh economics of starting a new distillery) this would be great for giving your BBQ sauce recipe a kick in the ass!
Rating: Average

We would like to thank Yellow Rose Distilling for sending over a bottle for review.

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