Average

Jim Beam Soft Red Wheat

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Jim Beam Signature Craft Soft Red Wheat 11 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon
45% ABV
$50 (375ml)
Website
JB_SC_Harvest_Wheat
What the Distillery Says:
Jim Beam® Harvest Bourbon Collection™ best exemplifies the merger of tradition with unique experimentation and exploratory craftsmanship. It’s the ultimate experience for the truest of whiskey adventurers, a product 11 years old with the passion of seven generations of whiskey making.

Color: Golden honey to amber
Aroma Slightly soft with mild oak notes
Taste Sweet and softly spicy; caramel, vanilla, slight light brown sugar sweetness
Finish Light bodied and very approachable

What Gary Says:
Nose: Vanilla with a bit of cinnamon, sweet without much wood; soft anise with subtle stewed peaches.
Palate: Soft, sweet corn, with a touch of fruit (pears and apples).
Finish: Moderate in length, and wet.
Comments: The nose has a familiar “Beam” hint to it (which I apologize for failing to describe better than that!) I would not have guessed this was 11 yrs old; as it is very soft, mellow, and smooth. I didn’t get much wood at all, which isn’t a bad thing. This is a very approachable, easy to drink whiskey – although it is priced such that it is more of a novelty than something I would stock in the bar.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Richer and less hot alcohol funky than normal Beam. Honeysuckle and cinnamon candies.
Palate: Nice soft creamy mouthfeel. Toffee and corn pudding sweetness playing with a surprising spicy back that would almost make me think of of rye bourbon.
Finish: Peppery and viscous.
Comments: Beam goes wheat. A curiosity that most bourbon geeks should try. The continuity of the Beam yeast is an interesting counterpoint to the new wheated mashbill. It’s very easy to drink and enjoyable. However, at $50 for a half bottle it’s not a $100 bottle of bourbon for sure. For the casual drinker I can’t say that this should move to the top of your list.
Rating: Stands Out

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1792 Sweet Wheat

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

1792 Sweet Wheat Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45.6% ABV
$30 to $35
Website
1792_sweet_wheat-210x300
What the Distillery Says:
Crafted with sweet and delicate wheat instead of the more traditional rye, this bourbon is quite distinctive from most. The soft wheat delivers a subtle and smooth taste with gentle layers of flavor. Each sip expresses a harmony of sweetness and dryness.

TASTING NOTES
A well balanced bourbon with delicate body. Notes of vanilla and caramel are complimented by a touch of white oak tannins. This is further mingled with dried fruit to deliver a richly smooth flavor.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Enigmatic . . . a bit of young corn sweetness, but hints of some age in the subtle wood (some sources state this is about 8 yrs old)
Palate: Very, very soft mouthfeel – pleasant sweetness comes through, but very little spice.
Finish: A hint (more of a tease) of a spice note, and then dissipates.
Comments: When I first sniffed this pour, I thought “Yep – Barton”, as there is a familiar resemblance there, but more like cousins than brothers. I like 1792, and this just left me wanting a bit more spice – which isn’t surprising for a wheated bourbon. I think if someone gave me this to sip without me thinking about 1792, I would enjoy it for what it is – although at the price point, I am likely to pass.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Honey and caramel corn.
Palate: Lovely creamy vanilla and caramel sweetness. It reminds me a bit of a well spiked eggnog.
Finish: A little spicy kick at the end.
Comments: Very delicious and enjoyable. I find a bit more here than I do with a Makers, Weller, or Old Fitzgerald. It’s a nice balancing interplay of sweet and spicy. More please!
Rating: Stands Out

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Taketsuru 12 Year

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Taketsuru Pure Malt 12 Year Old Nikka Whisky
40% ABV
$60 to $70
Website
Nikka-Taketsuru-12-years-old
What the Distillery Says:
Malt whisky is distilled exclusively from barley malt, and is considered to be the forefather of all other types of whisky. In general, it is divided into single malt whisky (several malt whiskies from a single distillery vatted together) and pure malt whisky (malt whisky from several distilleries vatted together).

What Richard Says:
Nose: Green, as in vegetal with green apple peel, not young.
Palate: Light, and drinkable but somewhat bland.
Finish: Sharp black pepper spiciness with just a hint of the time spent in wood.
Comments: The first Nikka release to hit the U.S. a couple of years ago did not blow my socks off like the whiskies Suntory entered the market with. I find this Taketsuru to be bland and uninspiring. It’s not off putting but seem to be made more for mizuwari than straight enjoyment. For upwards of $70 for this blended malt I would recommend beating down your curiosity and spending less money on a better blended malt from Compass Box.
Rating: Average

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Very Special Old Fitzgerald

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Very Special Old Fitzgerald Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 12 Years Old
45% ABV
$40
Website
OldFitzgerald12yo
What the Distillery Says:
An historic brand, which dates back over 120 years, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon enjoys a nationally recognized reputation as an award winning whiskey with a tradition of extra-aging.

Made with a “whisper of wheat” instead of the more traditional rye grain, Old Fitzgerald offers a unique and well-loved taste profile. Today, Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have preserved the traditional formula and techniques, while adding the benefits of seven generations of Bourbon distilling expertise.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Anise, light cigar paper, subtle sweetness.
Palate: Light, wood smoke with some spice, but balanced nicely with a cereal honey note.
Finish: Medium, but uninspiring.
Comments: I actually like the nose on the BIB better than this, but the palate here is more complex. The age shows better there, where on the nose for me I think the wood hides some of the sweeter notes (while not being what I would call a real “oaky” nose). Overall, I think this is a small step up, but priced like it should be a giant leap forward.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: Licorice, crisp apples drizzled with wildflower honey, and vanilla custard.
Palate: This is a really odd palate. When you first sip it’s like the whiskey reaches out, grabs your tongue, and pulls you in. But quickly that aggressiveness passes and you are left with a light, almost bland bourbon reminiscent of Honeycomb cereal and old wet toothpicks.
Finish: Bland, dry, and woody.
Comments: The distribution for this has been scaled way back. Now you can only buy it in a handful of states, of which Georgia is not one. I grabbed my bottle at the visitor’s center in Bardstown. I was kind of geeky excited to find and buy it but I’ve been pretty disappointed with it. If there was ever a bourbon in the 12 and under age range that typified being over oaked this might just be it. Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon doesn’t seem to take as well to long time in the wood as Buffalo Trace. If you are interested in Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon I recommend you skip the four Old Fitz versions and go for the terribly drinkable Larceny.
Rating: Average

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Old Fitzgerald 1849

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald 1849 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45% ABV
$17
Website
1849
What the Distillery Says:
An historic brand, which dates back over 120 years, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon enjoys a nationally recognized reputation as an award winning whiskey with a tradition of extra-aging.

Made with a “whisper of wheat” instead of the more traditional rye grain, Old Fitzgerald offers a unique and well-loved taste profile. Today, Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have preserved the traditional formula and techniques, while adding the benefits of seven generations of Bourbon distilling expertise.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet corn, a bit more wood, some mint, anise is there, but more subdued.
Palate: Bit more bite up front, corn sweetness with a little pepper spice going on.
Finish: Medium in length.
Comments: Compared to Old Fitz Prime, I tend to prefer this as it has a little more spice and edge to it, although it is still a pretty mellow pour. Only a couple of bucks more, and about that much better I’d say.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Much lighter than the other versions with a nice mellow sweetness.
Palate: Sweet toffee syrup with a nips of black pepper around the edges.
Finish: Heavier on the wood coming through the finish compared to the Prime and BIB.
Comments: Another fine serviceable version of Old Fitz. This one isn’t going to knock your socks off but it’s not off putting in the least.
Rating: Average

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