Must Try

Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 15 Years Old
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

49.05% ABV
$200
Website

We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 19, 2023) – Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the return of the most-limited
member of the Remus Bourbon family: Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 Edition. Released to celebrate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary novel, “The Great Gatsby”, a century ago – from the events in 1922 that inspired the novel to its publication in 1925 – Remus Gatsby Reserve is bottled at 98.1 proof (49.05% ABV) and offered in ultra-limited quantities at a minimum suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750-ml bottle.

Crafted by Master Distiller Ian Stirsman and the team at Ross & Squibb Distillery, Remus Gatsby Reserve contains some of the 175-year-old Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery’s finest 15-year-old reserves of straight bourbon whiskey. This year, Remus Gatsby Reserve features two bourbon mash bills (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt; and 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley malt) and is offered at cask strength. Hitting shelves this October, Remus Gatsby Reserve leads with aromas of caramel, candied dark fruit and saddle leather, with slight brown sugar and very sweet candied notes. The taste profile is characterized by flavors of caramel, oak, dark fruit syrup, candied raisins, char and brown sugar, while the finish lingers with notes of saddle leather, cherry and oak.

“We have produced great bourbon whiskey over the years at Ross & Squibb, and the Remus Bourbon brand has provided our team an opportunity to showcase some of our best,” said Stirsman. “Remus Gatsby reserve provides a special opportunity to showcase the best of the best – including two different mash bills of some of the finest 15-year-old bourbons in our reserves. Remus Gatsby Reserve made quite an impact when it was launched last year, and the 2023 Edition is likely to follow suit as a highly sought-after member of the Remus Bourbon family.”

The inaugural 2022 expression of Remus Gatsby Reserve achieved some of the highest recognition in the bourbon category, earning Gold in the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits competition, the 2023 Bartenders Spirits Awards competition and the 2023 SIP Awards. Additionally, the 2022 Edition of Remus Gatsby Reserve earned Platinum status at the 2023 ASCOT Awards and was named “Bourbon of the Year” by Robb Report, as well as one of “The Best Rare Bourbons That are Actually Worth the Cost” by Inside Hook magazine.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, toffee, oak, vanilla sponge cake, honey, worn leather, brown sugar, cherry, baking spices and a hint of blackberry.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with caramel, oak, dark fruit notes (raising and blackberries), cinnamon, raw honey, chocolate and a bit of molasses.
Finish: Long and drying with oak, leather and black cherry.
Comments: The nose on this is lovely with depth and complexity. The palate is almost too oaky for my taste, but some lovely notes as well. The inaugural release of Remus Gatsby Reserve 15 Years Old last year was really nice, and also low proof for a cask strength bourbon, and while I don’t have any left to compare side by side, this is a bit different. Like last years, it doesn’t want for water, but a bit changes things up, bringing the fruit notes on the nose forward including a tropical slant towards pineapple and coconut. Another really solid limited edition offering!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Pure Kentucky XO
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53.5% ABV
$45
Website

What the Distillery Says

tasting notes
Aptly named, because when you think of Kentucky, you think Bourbon. The nose is toffee, fruit, eucalyptus and oak. The palate is cinnamon, toffee, caramel, pepper, oak, and spices.
tasting notes courtesy of:
Bill Thomas, Jack Rose Dining Saloon

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, fudge, vanilla wafers, charred oak, grilled corn, brown sugar and mixed nuts.
Palate:  Chewy mouthfeel, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate brownie with a hint of peanut brittle.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with oak, chocolate, and pepper.
Comments:  Just a rock solid bourbon right here. This makes an excellent Old Fashioned too. I loved the earlier version of this label, which I’m certain included older stocks than it does now (while not age stated, Willett has only been actively distilling the last 10 or so years, and I think the older renditions of this included stocks of 12+ years old). Either way, this has a very similar profile to what I remember and is quite nice. I do get some corn notes which show its youth, and the peanut brittle note is nice (although subtle; this isn’t as strong as on some Beam products). This proof point is my sweet spot for bourbon which helps, but the blending of barrels from different ages and I’m sure different warehouse locations all go into hitting that profile.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” 2023-03
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

7 Years, 1 Month, 10 Days
63.3% ABV
$90
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

This batch is named in honor of the signature phrase Sixth Generation Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe would use to compliment anything he approved of – from his namesake bourbon to his country ham.

“Mighty fine” was Booker’s go-to phrase. He would often get together with others in the whiskey industry to taste samples of Booker’s Bourbon, and everyone knew he was happy with his selection when he sipped it and said it was “mighty fine,” followed by, “that’s a damn good batch!”

Shortly before Booker passed away in 2004, his son, Seventh Generation Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe, was in charge of selecting the barrels for a Booker’s Bourbon batch. Fred was a little nervous at first – he had big shoes to fill – but after Booker tasted the sample, he looked at Fred and said, “Mighty fine job, son.” A lot of people thought it was one of the best batches, but receiving Booker’s vote of confidence made it that much more special for Fred – a moment he will never forget.

TASTING NOTES
Like all batches of Booker’s Bourbon, Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” was selected by Seventh Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe to ensure it upholds the qualities and standards that his dad set for Booker’s Bourbon more than 30 years ago. Uncut and unfiltered, this batch has the following characteristics:
PROOF: 126.6
AGE: 7 years, 1 month and 8 days
BATCH NOTES: Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” has a rich color with a pleasant aroma of vanilla and sweet brown sugar. The flavor is full bodied and further opens up with a small touch of water that gives a “Kentucky Hug” finish.
SIPPING SUGGESTIONS: Booker’s “Mighty Fine Batch” is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, chocolate toffee (almost butterscotch), vanilla, peanut butter, charred oak and brown sugar.
Palate: Rich and thick mouthfeel, chocolate fudge with roasted peanuts, caramel, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with cocoa and oak.
Comments: Unmistakably Booker’s through and through. This batch is a bit richer on the palate than some recent batches, and the tilt towards butterscotch on the nose is lovely! Appreciate the consistency across Booker’s while also enjoying the batches that have that little something that stands out from the others.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Daviess County Medium Toasted Bourbon Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Medium Toasted American Oak Barrels

48% ABV
$50
Website

We would like to thank Lux Row Distillers and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

This limited edition Daviess County variant is finished in medium toasted American oak barrels, providing a smooth mouthfeel with notes of caramel, cocoa, and hints of oak. Like all Daviess County variants, it features a signature combination of ryed and wheated mashbills, aged for over four years and is 96 proof.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Roasted nuts, cocoa, and hints of oak
PALATE: Caramel with notes of honey, roasted coffee, and coconut
FINISH: Warm, sweet finish with a touch of oak

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, cocoa, vanilla, honey, hint of anise, toasted oak and roasted marshmallow.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, honey, oak, coconut macaroons, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cherry, peaches and a bit of orange bitters.
Finish:  Medium in length, wet with oak, vanilla and a hint of mulling spices.
Comments:  I like this one quite a bit. I’m not sure if I like this more than Daviess County Double Barrel Bourbon (since I liked that one so much – it’s all gone!) but at least as much. This is a lovely fall bourbon with those spice notes getting me ready for the holidays, and is a solid drinker neat – no dilution required.  Well balanced, and with the four grain blend has a little (or maybe a lot) for everyone!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try