Wild Turkey American Honey 35.5% ABV/71 Proof $18 to $20 Widely available across the U.S.
What the Distillery Says: Wild Turkey American Honey is an exceptionally smooth liqueur blended with pure honey and real Wild Turkey Bourbon Whiskey, perfect served chilled straight from the freezer, over rocks, it is the sweeter, smoother side of Wild Turkey.
What Richard Says: Nose: Surprisingly alcoholic on the nose. Much more than other similar liqueurs. The honey is very delicate and comes across more like honeysuckle. Palate: Very viscous and sweet. The sweetness is more cane sugar than honey. There may be a little Wild Turkey at the back but it is the sugar that I taste. Finish: One of the shorter finishes of the whiskey liqueurs I’ve tried. Even though it goes down like oil and coats like tar the finish is relatively quick and leaves more of the honey sweetness than the palate. Comments: If you’re a fan of this type of drink then this one hangs with the best of them. It’s just not my bag. Rating: Average
45% ABV $25 Website What the Producer Says: In the 1830s, as a tavern keeper in Louisville, Kentucky, Augustus Bulleit set himself on a mission: to create a bourbon unique in flavor. Just as bourbon lovers today may sample many brands before finding their favorite, Augustus decided to experiment too — by creating bourbons of many different types and tastes. After countless small-batch trials, he came upon a bourbon with the character he had been seeking.
While transporting barrels of his bourbon from Kentucky to New Orleans, Augustus Bulleit vanished. What happened to him is still unknown, and his creation could have passed into history as well. But after more than a century, in 1987, his great-great -grandson Tom Bulleit stepped in. A lawyer by profession, Tom’s lifelong dream had been to revive the family’s bourbon legacy, started more than 150 years ago.
Bulleit Bourbon is still distilled and aged in small batches. Kentucky limestone-filtered water provides the foundation for the bourbon’s character, while charred American oak barrels lend a smoky backbone. Bulleit’s distillers age the bourbon simply until it is ready. The result is placed into a bottle whose design has won awards of its own.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Maple syrup, citrus, and sweet vanilla. The nose is very shy on this one. It doesn’t open up much without water. Palate: Very rich with honey and vanilla notes. Citrus and banana open up with a little water. Finish: Woody, smoky, and something that kind of reminds me of saltpeter. A little rough around the edges. Comments: I love the labeling of U.S. whiskeys. Bulleit’s bottles say “Distilled by The Bulleit Distilling Co. Lawrenceburg, KY.” Well, if by that they mean distilled by Four Roses in Lawrenceburg under contract for Bulleit, a division of Diageo then I guess it’s sort of true. I could be remembering incorrectly but I believe Bulleit was one of the first bottlers (as opposed to distillers) to do a nationwide mass market bourbon push in recent memory. They seemed to kick off a storm of other bottlers trying to do the same thing. Sure, other brands predated them but they weren’t marketed and distributed to the extent Bulleit is. I’m not really knocking or praising Bulleit. I’m just telling it like it is. It’s a well marketed, slightly above average bourbon that can be had for under $25 a bottle.
Rating: Average
What Gary Says
Nose: Vanilla, caramel, charred oak, hints of cast iron baked corn bread, anise seed. Palate: Vanilla and caramel, cinnamon, bit of pepper with a hint of cherries and honey. Finish: Short to moderate in length with pepper and oak. Comments: A fairly standard bourbon. Bit of corn on the nose, but not the palate. Nothing off putting, but also doesn’t especially stand out. Now at barrel proof, that’s another story! Does does perfectly well as a straight-forward sipper, or a cocktail bourbon. In fact, tried this Bulleit Bourbon Cranberry Old Fashioned and thought that was fantastic!.
Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 45% ABV/90 Proof $25 Widely Available What the Distillery Say: As bourbon ages, a portion of the liquid is lost from the barrel due to evaporation—that’s the “Angel’s Share.” After aging, when the bourbon is dumped out of the barrel, a certain amount of whiskey is left trapped within the wood of every barrel. We call that the “devil’s cut.”
To create Jim Beam® Devil’s Cut™, an extraordinary new bourbon experience, we developed a proprietary process that actually pulls the rich whiskey trapped inside the barrels’ wood after they’re emptied. We hold this barrel-treated extract until it develops the proper balance of bourbon notes, then blend it with 6 year old bourbon and bottle at 90 proof. The result: a robust, premium bourbon with deep color, aroma and character.
What Richard Says: Nose: Initially it’s very sharp, tannic, and alcoholic. Water opens it to be more citrus and botanical. Palate: The cherry sweetness of Jim Beam is in the back lurking in the shadows but it’s well behind the smoke and oak. Water does nothing good for the palate. It brings forth a little fruitiness but kills the rest of the flavor. Finish: It’s all smoke and wood on the finish. It’s a medium length finish and a little dry. Comments: Fred Noe and the folks at Jim Beam don’t want to get too specific about the “proprietary process that actually pulls the rich whiskey trapped inside the barrels’ wood after they’re emptied” but it sounds a hell of a lot like sweating barrels which is something folks in Kentucky have been doing for years. Most likely the “Devil’s Cut” that’s being mixed with 6 year old Jim Beam is either some residual left after dumping or alcohol sweated out with water and heat. Either way it’s an interesting idea. It’s not nearly as harsh as 4 year old Jim Beam White Label and not as sweet as JB 7 Year. I like it. It’s not a stand out bourbon but it’s interesting. One odd side note; with this filling in the 6 year old spot Beam now has products at every year from 4 through 9. That seems a little extreme to me but they’re selling it so who am I to argue. Rating: Average
Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 16 Years 40% ABV/80 Proof $100 Collectible (Previously Travel Retail Exclusive)
What the Distillery Says: This variant of Highland Park was created exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in October 2005, it was withdrawn in April 2010. Highland Park 16 Year Old is gloriously smooth, sweet single malt with an island-infused flavour and a rich smokey finish.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:Natural colour, clear and bright Nose:Sherried smoke peat, spicy Palate:Rich, full flavour, smokey heather honey Finish:Rich, long medium sweet then medium dry
Highland Park 16 Year Old has an emphatic honeyed sweetness on the nose with notes of citrus fruits and sea spray. On the palate this whisky tingles the front of the tongue then immediately makes the mouth water, leaving a rich smokey sensation.
What Richard Says: Nose: Much more earthy and sherried than the 1994. Citrus and vanilla. Palate: Not nearly as sweet as the 1994. Smokey and herbal/vegetal come to mind. A little bitter. Finish: Dry. Again very little in common with the 1994. Comments: This fella was discontinued in 2010 and replaced by the 1994 vintage as part of the duty free/travel retail range. I personally think it’s a very big improvement. There’s nothing about this that makes me want to drop the $100+ to scrounge up a bottle. Rating: Average
Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintage 1998 40% ABV/80 Proof $55 to $65 per liter Travel Retail Exclusive
What the Distillery Says: This variant of Highland Park is exclusively for global travel retail and duty free markets and was first released in April 2010, having been distilled in the year of Highland Park’s bicentenary.
1998 was the year in which New Labour swept to power in the UK whilst the USA was rocked by the Monica Lewinsky affair. In a pioneering move, California banned smoking in bars and restaurants and the first Euro coins were minted. France defeated Brazil in the FIFA World Cup final and Titanic swept the board with 11 Oscars. The world said farewell to the talents of Frank Sinatra, Roy Rogers and, tragically, Florence Griffith-Joyner.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Rich, golden, clear and bright. Nose: Opaque honey, dried grass with ginger spicy notes. Dried apricot emerges late. Palate: The vanilla and honey sweetness developed from a dozen years in American oak is perfectly balanced with the emergence of the aromatic heather peat smoke. Sweet notes of cinnamon and cashew nuts emerge. Finish: Sweet with medium lingering spice and smoke
What Richard Says: Nose: Herbaceous and a little sweet. Palate: Smoky, nutty, and vanilla sweetness. Finish: Smoky and a little spicy hot. Comments: This is an odd one. I’ve given it to a few folks and they all say the same thing. “This doesn’t taste like Highland Park.” I kind of agree. All the Highland Park DNA is there with the honey sweetness, heather, peat, smoke, etc. but it just doesn’t feel like Highland Park. I am usually on the lookout for travel retail exclusives whenever I travel because I like to try new things. This one I find very average. It’s more costly (size adjusted) than the standard 12 year old and doesn’t taste as good. Unless you’re a “must have everything Highland Park” drinker then I’d probably skip this one. Rating: Average
