Must Buy

Rock Hill Farms

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel Bourbon
50% ABV
$45 to $65
Website
rock-hill-farms-single-barrel
What the Distillery Says:
Named for the rich farmland along the Kentucky River, this 100 proof Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey honors its Bluegrass roots, defined by rich tradition and smooth bourbon.

Tasting Notes:
Seductive aromatic notes of toasted walnut, dried red fruits, spice, cocoa and marshmallow. Flavors of dark chocolate, chocolate covered almond, coffee, tobacco and dark caramel. The finish is smooth, silky, toffee sweet and honeyed.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Stepping into a rickhouse in the fall, musty oak, bits of corn and cinnamon, with a hint of licorice.
Palate: Wow . . . (my exact thought was Austin Powers “yeah baby yeah!”) Silky sweet, caramel corn balanced very nicely with spice.
Finish: Moderately lingering, pleasant.
Comments: I first tried Rock Hill Farms at a restaurant, and was quite underwhelmed – so I was expecting the same. This completely changed my opinion. Very well balanced; the bit of corn on the nose gave me pause that it might be young, but the palate was something else. Being a single barrel, there is always a risk of variability there, but I’m definitely reconsidering picking up a bottle in the future (and not only because the bottle is pretty freaking cool as well).
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Cocoa powder, hair spray, cinnamon, dried cherries, raisin’s pulled of a box of raisin bran.
Palate: Burnt caramel, more cherries, dark chocolate truffles, toffee crisps covered in white chocolate ganache.
Finish: Dry cocoa powder and bits of honeysuckle.
Comments: I realize there is only so much time to review whiskey since this isn’t a paying gig but I can’t fathom why it has taken me so long to review this. The brand is about 20 years old but as with many Sazerac brands it has been in short supply lately. I grabbed this bottle on a lark when I saw a couple tucked away at a local retailer last fall. It was $65 in Atlanta but you can get it as low as $45 if you know where to look. This is made from the #2 rye bourbon mashbill at Buffalo Trace. That’s the same one used in Elmer T Lee, Blanton’s and Hancock Reserve. This is ridiculously drinkable. I pulled it out a few days ago with the guys in the neighborhood who had never tried and we almost killed the bottle. All that was left was enough for my formal review and a sample for Gary. If I see it again I will grab another for sure. At $45 it’s a must buy but in the $60+ range it’s something you should certainly at least try.
Rating: Must Buy/Must Try

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Balblair 1990

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 1990 Vintage
46% ABV
$125
Website
1990_Black_background_whisky_detail
What the Distillery Says:
Matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks and Spanish oak ex-sherry butts Balblair Vintage 1990 2nd release is truly exceptional. Recently released to replace our award-winning 1989 Vintage, this incredible dram is sure to become a firm favourite amongst Balblair fans and whisky connoisseurs.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: The second release of Balblair 1990 is deep copper in appearance with hints of sparkling amber.
Aroma: The aroma is spicy yet sweet and is punctuated with notes of raisins, toffee and honey. Hints of vanilla, chocolate and citrus fruits are also present.
Palate: On the palate it is full bodied; sweet and spicy in character with hints of honey, raisins and zesty fruits.
Finish: The finish is smooth and long-lasting.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The sherry jumps forward on the nose with spice accented sweetness. I’m thinking a treacle tart with a sherry reduction drizzled on top.
Palate: This is a slower build than the 1999 but it’s well worth the wait. It comes in muted but then swells with notes of creamed honey, buttered cinnamon raisin toast, citrus zest, and stewed fruit with a back note like biting into a black peppercorn.
Finish: Damn these older Balblairs have a finish that last for days. Cinnamon, ginger, and cocoa powder interplay well with the wood on the finish.
Comments: To be honest for a long time I had intentionally overlooked Balblair. My earliest encounters were under whelming. The newer young-ish iterations show a fruity brightness that is very easy to enjoy. These older Balbairs are spending a year or so in sherry casks as a finish and the marriage works out tremendously well. The 1999 was a joy to drink and this 1990 is like it’s older more subtle and refined brother. Very delicious and at it’s price point for a 21+ year old single malt this one is a must buy.
Rating: Must Buy

We would like to thank Lukasz with Alembic Communications for sending over the review sample.

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William Larue Weller 2014

/ / Bourbon, Review /

William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 2014 Release
70.1% ABV
$85-90
Website
william-larue-weller-kentucky-straight-bourbon-whiskey-kentucky-usa-10485163
What the Distillery Says:
Uncut and unfiltered, this hand-bottled bourbon is barrel proof. Weller substitutes wheat for the traditional rye grain, a production method pioneered by W.L. Weller.

TASTING NOTES:
Fragrant scents of caramel corn, new leather, plums, light toffee and pipe tobacco. The palate tastes of marshmallow, salted almonds, nougat, figs and dates. This whiskey finishes smooth, composed and flavorfully sweet.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Cocoa, toffee, steamed condensed milk (thinking of Cuban coffee), vanilla, hint of clove and honey; warm, dark and rich. For the proof, there isn’t as much alcohol burn as you might expect neat, but I recommend adding some water – which brings in new aromas of a comfortable leather chair (maybe in the waiting room of my favorite bakery?) The kind of whiskey I could nose for a long time – and love every minute of it.
Palate: Warm, chewy toffee sweetness; mincemeat pie with a dusting of hot chocolate instant powder (you know you’ve tried it without any water). Burnt toast and wood are balanced nicely with the sweetness.
Finish: Quite long, with a bit more spice and a bit of a bite at the end
Comments: I’ve always been a fan of this member of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and this year is no exception. The proof is up there, so don’t be shy with the water. I like to nose it neat and take my first sip neat, adding water from there, but with proof like this you can burn your palate if you’re not careful – and I honestly find I enjoy it more with some water. The last several releases have been in the same age range, and while the proof has increased, Buffalo Trace picked the right barrels for the flavor profile. Fans of past William Larue Wellers shouldn’t be disappointed. And if they are, please let me know and I’ll try to help you dispose of the remainder of your bottle.
Rating: Must Buy

What Richard Says:
Nose: I really expected the nose on this to be rocket fuel out of the bottle but there is a lot of nice leather and caramel notes coming across even before you add water. Water opens up a big burst of cinnamon and honey drizzled over fresh baked cornbread.
Palate: Damn that’s rich! I didn’t even bother with a “before adding water sip” given the proof this is clocking in at. It’s really delicious. Dark fruit, toffee, and more cinnamon prevail.
Finish: A nice slow long woody spice with a dusting of cocoa powder. Very dry. Maybe a little too dry?
Comments: How the Pappy fanatics aren’t just as rabid about this I’ll never know. It is a standard bearer for barrel proof wheater bourbons. It’s absolutely delicious. My only complaint is that this year’s release seems a little too dry on the finish, but hey that just makes you want to drink more right? 🙂
Rating: Must Buy

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Springbank 12 Year Old (Green Thistle)

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky, The Collector's Cabinet /

Springbank Campletown Single Malt Scotch Whiskey Aged 12 Years
46% ABV
Collectible
SB12
What Richard Says:
Nose: Big, meaty, sulfuric sherry on the nose with bits of raisins and caramel covered nuts.
Palate: Oily, rich, sherry sweetness and layers of tobacco and leather showing the older malt mixed in.
Finish: Long and polished. Wood is barely evident.
Comments: I pulled this out of a back shelf at a Kroger liquor store in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen in the wild. These older Springbanks are typically referred to as “Thistle” releases because the labels of various versions of the 12 year old have different colors of thistle under the Springbank insignia. This version is the “green thistle” version. This version came in two variations: a 46% and 50% variation. What makes these unique is the extraordinary components. In the mid to late nineties when these were bottled there were a number of casks in the 30 to 36 year old range that had evaporated to below 40% ABV and thus could not be bottled by themselves. This malt was used to “water down” the existing bottles of standard Springbank. Usually this is done with distilled source water so you can begin to imagine the impact of mixing in 30 to 36 year old scotch instead. The result is a simply amazing “12 Year Old” single malt from Springbank. It tastes nothing like Springbanks on the shelf now. If you see one you almost have to buy it. At least buy it for me. 🙂
Rating: Must Buy

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Four Roses 2014 Limited Edition Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition 2014 Release
Bottle 2437 of 7122
54.6% ABV
$100
Website
2014_LimitedEdition_Front-compressor
What the Distillery Says:
For the 2014 Four Roses Single Barrel Limited Edition release, we have once again hand-selected an uncut and non-chill filtered Barrel Strength masterpiece.
One quick nose of this vibrant, yet mellow Bourbon and you will quickly discover that it is unlike any limited edition we’ve ever released. Our Master Distiller hand selected it from our 10 distinct Bourbon recipes because of the unique clove and fruit aromas that mingle delicately with hints of sweet toffee and brown sugar. Creamy mint and bright flavors of ripe cherries, vanilla and pear entertain your palate, then give way to a long, smooth finish of candied fruit and sweetened oak. This is one of the most uncommon and extraordinary Bourbons yet in a Four Roses’ bottle. In your favorite glass, it will be even better.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Candied fruit and clove.
Palate: Creamy and fresh with vibrant flavors of ripe cherries, red currants, pear, vanilla and caramel.
Finish: Mellow-sweetened oak and sweet, candied fruit.

Recipe
OESF – 11 years

What Richard Says:
Nose: Interesting spicy nose. Not peppery but more baking spices like Thanksgiving or Christmas pies.
Palate: It pops with notes of a cherry crisp with cinnamon vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
Finish: Oak, bananas, and lots of cocoa powder.
Comments: Excellent, really excellent. This is a stellar example of the OESF Four Roses recipe. It came out a few months ago but a few can still be had if you look hard enough. By all means buy this one.
Rating: Must Buy

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