Must Buy

Woodford Reserve Four Grain

/ / Bourbon, Review, The Collector's Cabinet /

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Four Grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch #1
46.2% ABV
$80 then, collectible now
Woodford Reserve Four Grain
What the Distillery Says:
Kentucky bourbon distillers traditionally cook, ferment and distill a three-grain mash bill or recipe. Corn is the majority grain as required by bourbon regulation, and malted barley is necessary for natural starch-to-sugar conversion. That leaves the other grain choice to the distiller’s discretion. Rye is the preferred grain for creating a spicy, fruity bourbon character. Wheat delivers a soft, nutty profile. In the Master’s Collection Four Grain bourbon we have combined corn and malted barely with both rye and wheat. This unique combination has created a flavorful bourbon rich in fruity, baking spices and soft cocoa notes. It is a bourbon to sip and savor straight up, or with a single ice cube if you prefer it chilled.

What Richard Says:
Nose: There is no nose like a Woodford nose. It’s prevalent in all their bourbons and bourbon experiments. Buttery oak with notes of citrus and a rich nutty character.
Palate: A great creamy sweetness. Heath toffee, Rolo caramels, slight acidic citrus. Layers of hazelnuts and vanilla.
Finish: Dry and clean with a linger hint of oak.
Comments: This was the first of the Master’s Collection from back in 2005. I’m not one for “dusty hunting” or bunkering whiskey away. Anyone who regularly follows Whisk(e)y Apostle knows I’m a drink it if you got it kind of guy. That said, this one has been squirreled away in my cabinet for years. I recently opened it when we had friends over to the house for dinner. Honestly, I was surprised at myself for not opening this sooner which was the driving reason I opened it then. It wasn’t a blind buy. I had a few bottles of batch 2 when it came out and loved it. I really wish this made it into production like Seasoned Oak to Double Oaked did.
Rating: Must Buy

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Jameson Rarest Vintage 2009

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey
46% ABV
$250 to $300
Website

What the Distillery Says:
A triumph of the collaboration between the Jameson Masters, our hand crafted Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is a true masterpiece. The advanced aged whiskeys in this magnificent reserve are brought together with pot still whiskey that has been matured in hand-picked second fill bourbon casks to create a mellow sweetness in specially commissioned port pipes. The result? Gloriously rich fruit character with an unmistakable barley finish. But don’t take our word for it: this rare blend was voted the world’s best Irish Blended Whiskey at the 2009 World Whiskies Awards.

Tasting Characteristics

Nose: A real full-bodied aroma. Initially sweet with ripe fruit notes of melon, bananas and dark fleshy plums. The unmistakable pot still spicy character combines to give hints of treacle, cinnamon and liquorice.

Taste: A mouthful of flavours. Mellow sweetness and toasted wood are complemented by fruit richness characteristic of the port casks. A touch of creamy dairy fudge and dark chocolate add to the complexity.

Finish: A tantalizingly long finish which covers the spectrum from the sweetness of fruit, through the spices to the unmistakable note of barley, where it all began.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Prunes, fried bananas, pepper, and cinnamon.
Taste: Rich, oily, woody sweetness, dark chocolate, and vanilla.
Finish: The port really shows on the finish. Long, subtle, and cereal notes.
Comments: I sat down with this and the 2009 Midleton’s (yes I’m that kind of whiskey geek) and comparatively this is much more rich and luscious. Easily the best Irish blend I’ve every tasted. This is well balanced with layers of flavor opening one after the other. If this is within your budget for any occasion I would suggest it without the slightest reservation. It’s pricing but you can taste damn near every dollar.
Rating: Must Buy

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Four Roses 2012 Small Batch Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2012 Release Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottle 4015 0f 4062
55.7% ABV
$90
Website
Four Roses 2012 Small Batch Limited Edition
What the Distillery Says:
Our Master Distiller has hand selected four remarkable Bourbons from our 10 distinct Bourbon recipes to become our Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch for 2012. The four Bourbons, perfectly aged between 11 and 17 years have been artfully mingled at barrel strength to create mellow flavors of orange peel and ripe red raspberries that melt into balanced tones of dark chocolate and caramel custard. These four Bourbons are married into one of the most alluring spirits we’ve ever made. Available September 2012.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Creamy vanilla and citrus with hints of all spice, nutmeg and rich pipe tobacco.
Palate: Orange peel and ripe red raspberries, dark chocolate and caramel custard.
Finish: Mellow finish with wisps of soft cedar and vanilla.

Recipe
OBSV -17 years
OBSV – 11 years
OBSK – 12 years
OESK – 12 years

What Richard Says:
Nose: Big hits of vanilla and cinnamon with a citrus back. I’m thinking of snickerdoodles wrapped in Big Red chewing gum.
Palate: More citrus in the mouth followed by dark chocolate, caramel, and holiday spices. Rich and dangerously enjoyable. This was and is a great Christmas bourbon.
Finish: Long on oak and aged tobacco with early traces of more cinnamon and vanilla that quickly fades away.
Comments: Marvelous. This is an absolutely wonderful bourbon. It’s aggressive and patient. Complex and it comes straight at you. If someone didn’t love you enough to get you a bottle of this for Christmas then do yourself a favor and grab one straight away.
Rating: Must Buy

I’d like to thank Laura with The Baddish Group for providing me with a review bottle.

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SMWSA Cask 27.97

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, SMWSA Whiskies /

SMWSA Cask No. 27.97
Campbeltown
57.6% ABV
Distilled May 1998
$110
US Allocation: 180 bottles
Winter 2012 Outturn Release

What the SMWSA Says:
Stunning for its age? Creamy fudge, condensed milk, Golden Syrup on hot buttered toast; Caramac toffee/chocolate; ‘Dolce de Leche’ (Argentinian pastries). A very sweet taste, then mouth drying, with a thread of smoke in the finish; caramelised cashew nuts and fresh kindling wood. A drop of water musters crushed rosemary, beurre noir, ‘lemon lollies in warm sand’, sea-salt and a trace of struck matches; the taste smooth and viscous, with a light sweetness balanced by dry tannins; allspice, leather and tobacco in the finish. A classic old-fashioned example of the make from Campbeltown’s leading distillery.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Wispy smoke, compost, vanilla toffee sweetness, and hints of mint infused cocoa powder.
Palate: Rich, sweet, and mouth coating. Odd hints of grape Kool-Aid and the bouquet garni from a coq au vin recipe.
Finish: Tannic and dry. It settles into leather and cigar wrapper right out of an old New York men’s club.
Comments: I have said on several occasions that I would be hard pressed to think of Springbank I haven’t liked. They just make great whisky. This is another shining example. Grab this one if you get the chance.
Rating: Must Buy

Review sample provided courtesy of the SMWSA and is available to society members through their website or 800.990.1991.

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Parker’s Heritage Collection Second Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Parker’s Heritage Collection Aged 27 Years
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
48% ABV
$200
Parkers Heritage Collection 27 Yr Old Bourbon

What the Distillery Says:
Parker’s Heritage Collection is a tribute to sixth generation master Distiller, Parker Beam, for his 45+ years of service to the distilling industry. Hand selected by Parker himself, the barrels for this second edition have been aging since 1981 on the lower floors of one of Parker’s favorite rickhouses. There, the more constant temperature tamed the aging process, yielding a rich, 27-year-old Bourbon that defies its age.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Ripe plums, toasted oak, caramel, toffee, vanilla, and Alton Brown’s oatmeal raisin cookies (the ones with no flour and golden raisins).
Palate: More vanilla, oak, with old leather and cinnamon. There is also this weird initial note that reminds me of SweetTarts (yeah, I know). An exceptionally balanced drink.
Finish: Rich, leathery, fiery, meaty, tobacco tinged, oak laden, and supremely masculine.
Comments: I pulled this one out of the back of the whiskey cabinet to help close out this year’s National Bourbon Heritage Month. It’s extremely rare to see a 27 year old bourbon. The angels are wicked greedy with their share after 27 years. It’s even rarer still for said bourbon to be any good. Usually you would get a wet oak stave in a bottle. This is something different and truly spectacular. My hat is off to Mr. Beam for his exceptional talents.
Rating: Must Buy

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