Average

Blue Note Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Blue Note Rye Whiskey
Straight Rye Whiskey

46.5% ABV
$35
Website
Blue Note Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

We age our barrels along the winding bluffs of the Mississippi River in Memphis, Tennessee. The Delta heat and humidity provided by the long, hot summers cook our barrels low and slow like proper Memphis BBQ. This forces the whiskey deep into the oak, creating an unmistakably rich flavor.

Technical Details
Aged: A minimum of three years
Product Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Mash Bill: 95% rye and 5% malted barley
Proof & Filtration: 93 proof, unfiltered

Sensory Notes
Nose: Vanilla and Spice
Body: Crisp
Taste: Crisp Apple, Cinnamon, Vanilla, and Oak
Finish: Inherently smooth with lingering hints of vanilla,
apple, and spice

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, dried mint and a hint of lemon zest.
Palate:  Vanilla, cinnamon, slightly sour apple and a touch of mint.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with mint and vanilla.
Comments:  Rye is the one class of whiskey that I do find to be drinkable at three years old. This definitely tastes young, and I was surprised at the mashbill based on how soft this is. The apple note isn’t something I get on a lot of rye, which usually tends to have a more citrus bend. With a 95% rye mashbill, I expect more of that rye-spice bite which I didn’t get. Similar to Blue Note Juke Joint, nothing objectionable but also not special for the price point.

Rating: Average

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Blue Note Juke Joint

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Blue Note Juke Joint
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

46.5% ABV
$35
Website
Blue Note Juke Joint Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Crafted in Memphis, Juke Joint is Blue Note’s flagship Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Bottled at 93 proof, Juke Joint drinks just as smooth neat as it does in your favorite cocktail.

Nose: Sweet corn, allspice, and oak
Body: Viscous
Taste: Vanilla, allspice, apricot, and pear
Finish: Allspice fades into lingering notes of oak, pear, and vanilla

Technical Details
Aged: Minimum of three years
Product Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill: 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley
Proof & Filtration: 93 proof, unfiltered
Availability: Nationwide, Crafted in Memphis

What Gary Says

Nose:  Corn, soft oak, allspice and a bit of honey.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, sweet with vanilla, hint of caramel, pears, cinnamon and pepper spice.
Finish:  Short with oak, wood spices and vanilla.
Comments:  This tastes like what you would expect a young, three year old bourbon to taste like. Corn forward on the nose and smooth. The lack of filtration is a plus, and comes across in the mouthfeel. Nothing objectionable, but also nothing inspiring or special – and while $35 isn’t a “premium” price point, there’s a long list of bourbons I’d prefer for the same or less money.

Rating: Average

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Bardstown Bourbon Company Plantation Rum Finish

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Bardstown Bourbon Company Plantation Rum Finish
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Plantation Rum Barrels

55% ABV
$160
Website
Bardstown Bourbon Company Plantation Rum Finish

What the Producer Says

Savor the latest addition to this innovative series with our plantation rum release — 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon finished for 22 months in Plantation Rum barrels.

Tasting Notes: Orange peel, allspice, and cinnamon highlight layers of banana bread with rich caramel. On the palate, apple crisp and molasses lead to a balanced finish of fruit and spice, rounding out this luxurious, summer sipper.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, molasses, vanilla, grassy, oak, hint of chocolate with cinnamon.
Palate: Sweet with caramel, sharp bite of molasses, chili spice, cinnamon and vanilla.
Finish: Long and drying with pepper spice, cinnamon and rum.
Comments: This was a bit sharper than I expected, but a bit of water softens it up and I definitely preferred it that way. It smoothed that pepper bit and allowed the molasses notes to shine through. 22 months is a long time for a finish, and a bit heavy-handed for my liking; it really dominates the core spirit for me. But if you like rum more than bourbon this might be right up your alley.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Traverse City Whiskey Co. Cherry Old Fashioned Cocktail

/ / Cocktails, Other Spirits, Review /

Traverse City Whiskey Co. Cherry Old Fashioned Cocktail
Cocktail Made w/ Bourbon, Bitters, Cherries, Simple Syrup and Citrus Expression

27% ABV
$20 / 375 mL (8 pours)
Website
Traverse City Whiskey Co. Cherry Old Fashioned Cocktail
We would like to thank Traverse City Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

READY-TO-SERVE
CHERRY OLD FASHIONED
It starts with our best-selling cherry whiskey, which is perfectly balanced by homemade bitters and a twist of Seville Orange. Whether you serve it chilled or over ice, it makes the perfect cherry on top of your next celebration.

“An Old Fashioned is one of the original classic bourbon cocktails,” said Chris Fredrickson, Co-founder, Traverse City Whiskey Co. “Our delicious and convenient ready-to-serve Old Fashioned cocktails are hand crafted and ready to pour. They’re a welcomed addition to our portfolio of whiskey offerings.”

Known as the “Whiskey of the North,” TCWC draws upon its early family roots in the distilled spirits industry dating back to the late 1800’s, sourcing all its grains (corn, rye, and malted barley) from the Midwest. Led by Chris Fredrickson, the distilling team strives to make quality products, inspired by patented distilling techniques invented by Fredrickson’s great grandfather that were approved by the US PTO during the prohibition era.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cherry cough lozenges, hint of floral notes.
Palate: Cherry forward, with bitters, bit of orange; like an Old Fashioned w/ a splash of cherry juice.
Finish:  Moderate in length with cherries.
Comments: Poured in the glass, this is a bit cloudy and less brown than the TCWC Old Fashioned; looks almost like a Rose wine. This is definitely cherry through and through. Full disclosure – I’m not a fan of TCWC’s American Cherry. They sent us a sample back in 2017, and I mainly got cherry cough syrup. This is made using that base spirit, although I like this better than that. If you’ve had and enjoyed their American Cherry, than this might be right in your wheelhouse. I love the bottle, both size and color (easy to fit in the fridge, and the white just looks kinda cool). Like the other, I tried this first neat and then chilled and over ice – but unlike the Old Fashioned Cocktail, I preferred this just chilled without ice. For my palate, I found that ice on the lower ABV just thinned it out too quickly.

Rating: Average

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Glenturret 25 Year Old

/ / Highland, Review /

Glenturret 25 Year Old
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$???
Glenturret 25 year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Website

What the Distillery Says

Nothing . . . at least about this one. Let me explain.

Glenturret began releasing a 25 Year Old at different ABVs, beginning in 2020.
Researching their website from 10 years back, they list a 26 year old product. But at some point prior to (or in) 2015, they offered THIS version of the 25 year old, which is bottled at 40% ABV. Richard bought a bottle for Matt for a special occasion, as Matt is a big fan of Glenturret. Despite my best efforts, I could turn up no additional information – sorry!

What Gary Says

Nose: Bright and fruity, nectarines, grapes, cherries with floral notes.
Palate: Round mouthfeel, sweet and fruity, citrusy with nectarines, tangelos, apples and pears with a bit of vanilla and honey.
Finish: Moderate in length, damp with pears and peaches.
Comments: This is very light in color, and while not objectionable – not very special. I’ve only had one Glenturrent before (a 28 yr old from K&L) that was just marvelous. At $100, it was extraordinary. This didn’t remind me of that in any way/shape/form, which was a disappointment. This actually reminded me more of a cognac with the floral notes on the nose. Not sure what the cask type was (likely bourbon casks) but was not a fan. Sorry Matt. Hope you enjoyed it more than I did!

Rating: Average

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