Must Try

Remus Repeal Reserve Series VI Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Remus Repeal Reserve Series VI
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$100
Website
Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series VI 2022
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

George Remus Bourbon is proud to introduce the highly-anticipated Remus Repeal Reserve Series VI Bourbon, the latest edition of the award-winning series. Crafted with a medley of five rare bourbon reserves from 2008-2014 at the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, Series VI continues our high-quality tradition with aromas of nutmeg and saddle leather, followed by notes of candied fruit, fig jam, oak and barrel char, mint and slight caramel, nutmeg, toffee and honey. The finish features sweet candied fruit, leather and a lingering sweetness and rye spice. It hits shelves in September 2022 for National Bourbon Heritage Month, and judging by the anticipation for Series VI, it won’t last long.

Named after the legendary “King of the Bootleggers,” Remus Repeal Reserve is an annual series from George Remus® Bourbon, crafted by the expert distillers at MGP’s 174-year-old distillery in Lawrenceburg, IN. Made in a signature high-rye style, the medley changes each year, allowing the team to experiment with their various mash bills and aged reserves. Remus Repeal Reserve Series V is comprised of:

  • 2% 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 27% 2012 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 29% 2014 Bourbon (21% Rye)
  • 17% 2012 Bourbon (36% Rye)
  • 25% 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye)

Created by master distiller Ian Stirsman and his team of master distillers and master blenders, Series VI comprises five bourbons, aged between 8-14 years, from its 175-year-old Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery. Made in a signature high-rye style, the medley changes each year, allowing Stirsman and his team to experiment with their various mash bills and aged reserves. Remus Repeal Reserve Series VI is comprised of 2% 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye), 17% 2012 Bourbon (36% Rye), 27% 2012 Bourbon (21% Rye), 29% 2014 Bourbon (21% Rye) and 25% 2014 Bourbon (36% Rye). Series VI leads with aromas of rich candied fruit with a hint of nutmeg and saddle leather. The initial taste includes candied fruit and fig jam, followed by oak and barrel char, mint and slight caramel, nutmeg, toffee and honey. The finish offers a balance of sweet candied fruit and leather, with lingering sweetness and rye spice.

“The Remus Repeal Reserve series provides our team the opportunity to showcase the incredible array of aged reserves available to work with, as well as our expertise at blending these bourbons to create a special medley each year,” said Stirsman. “Series VI is the latest in this award-winning collection that is certain to be yet another excellent example of what our Remus Repeal collection represents: what great bourbon can be.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel crème candies, dark fruit notes, oak, nutmeg, toffee and worn leather.
Palate: Fruity, almost mincemeat pie (without the cloves) with raisins, baked pears, caramel throughout, oak, baking spices of nutmeg, cinnamon, honey and pepper.
Finish: Moderately long with savory fruit (tart cherries), oak, mint and a bit of dark chocolate.
Comments: Another really lovely offering – quite complex and well balanced. Last year’s Remus Repeal Reserve Series V contained bourbons from 2005-2008, where this year the range is 2008 to 2014. While the majority of this mix is 8 years old (compared to 13-16 years old), this is still really tasty. This highlights that with blending the right barrels, you don’t have to have barrels that are 13+ years old to get a nice, complex bourbon. I still had some of the Series V, and in a blind tasting I did prefer that, but it was close.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Vantage

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Barrell Vantage

Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Finished in Mizunara, French, and Toasted American Oak

57.22% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Vantage
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Vantage is a blend of straight bourbons finished in three distinct expressions of virgin oak: Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks. The result is a warm, elegant bourbon that highlights the many dimensions of oak.

The BCS team has drawn on years of experience with three-part barrel finishing, used previously in Armida, Dovetail, and Seagrass. With Vantage, those same techniques were applied to the oak itself, using different char levels, toast levels, and oak origins to create a multidimensional blend.

Each component whiskey in Vantage is finished separately, then systematically combined according to a blending process fueled in equal parts by a scientific approach, experience, creativity, and experimentation. This process focuses on the wood characteristics and the specific flavor contributions that each cask contributes to the blend. The result is a masterfully blended, perfectly balanced representation of the harmonious synergy between bourbon and barrel.

FLAVOR NOTES
Selected Mizunara, French, and toasted American oak casks create multifaceted dimensions to this unique blend. The unique aspects of each wood and treatment are layered atop one another, precluding the singular taste of oak. The nose is creamy, spicy, and resinous, and the palate is richly textured and oily, soaked with barrel influence.

​Neat
Appearance: Burnt sienna.
Nose: Creme brûlée, coconut oil, and chocolate pudding invoke the creamy richness of toasted American oak. Tarragon, nutmeg, and warm cola are among the dry, extractive spices highlighting the French oak. Mizunara’s incense and grilled pineapple notes, meanwhile, take the profile in a totally different direction.
Palate: Sweet and oily with a pronounced espresso note. It’s pleasantly rich on the tongue, which obscures much of the tannin – surprising given how much wood is present. The French oak’s robust spice notes inflect a maple syrup sweetness.
Finish: Green grapes and red plums burst above the barrel notes for the first time. It’s spicy, too, with za’atar, crystallized ginger and Szechuan peppercorns.
With a few drops of spring water
The nose grows earthier, exhibiting graham cracker and dark chocolate. The spirit’s rye grain emerges, not just with pumpernickel but also celery and chive blossom. The palate grows sweeter, tasting of maraschino liqueur and pavlova. It finishes on grapefruit zest and kola nut.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla flan with light caramel sauce, cocoa, tarragon, oak, nutmeg and hints of tropical fruit.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, caramel packed with spices; cloves, nutmeg, ginger, anise (almost pumpkin spice); sharpens slightly with pepper and oak before a creamy coffee cake note.
Finish:  Long and syrupy with maple syrup and apricot jam.
Comments:  Really nice showcase of how different types of oak can influence a solid blend of bourbons, and with a deft enough hand that the beauty of the bourbon isn’t lost. This is one where I do prefer the palate over the nose (although the nose is really interesting). A bit of water brings more chocolate and marshmallow on the nose, and some cherry cola to the palate, while softening the pepper and still thickening the mouthfeel even more. Just a fantastic, spice packed bourbon!

Rating: Must Try

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Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strength (Batch 4, Oct 2019)

/ / Campbeltown, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strength
Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Batch 4 – October 2019

57.1% ABV
$100
Website
Kilkerran 8 Year Cask Strength

What the Distillery Says

The name Kilkerran is derived from the Gaelic, “Ceann Loch Cille Chiarain” which is the name of the original settlement where Saint Kieran had his religious cell and Campbeltown now stands. Glengyle now produces a range of Kilkerran Single Malt whiskies, all natural in colour and non-chill filtered. All our whisky characterises typical Campbeltown drams; rich, complex and perfectly balanced.

This batch was matured in 100% Re-charred Oloroso Sherry Casks.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smokey with peat, smoked barbecue brisket, salty sea breeze, raisins, dates, black tea, grilled peaches, slightly medicinal with a mineral note.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, sweet entry with fruity notes of raisins, figs and cherries; gives way to savory notes of broiled meat and sea salt.
Finish:  Moderately long and salty with dark fruits and peat.
Comments:  This whisky is special for a number of reasons – first and foremost that it is the first whisky in more than a decade that my wife told me to buy (and I can count on one hand how many others there have been!) The nose is delightfully complex for 8 years old, and a bit of water brings out notes of caramel. Thick mouthfeel that stands up to water, bringing more fruit notes of cherries and orange. Note that there is variation from batch to batch. The one prior to this used ex-bourbon casks, and the one after was first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks. The bottle didn’t disclose these details, so you may have to do some research when shopping.

Rating: Must Try

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Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2022 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Marsala Superiore Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone 2022 LE
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam announced the upcoming release of 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Featuring a delicately balanced blend of 7-year, 15-year and 16-year aged bourbons hand-selected by Beam and aged in Marsala Superiore casks, the latest expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition will begin to be available in September with a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750ml bottle.

Since 2015, Beam has produced a unique, limited-edition bourbon annually under the Yellowstone brand, which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2022, along with its namesake national park. For this year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition, Beam selected Marsala Superiore casks to finish select barrels of 7-year-old-bourbon to provide unique tasting notes to complement the extra-aged bourbons comprising this year’s Limited Edition.

Marsala Superiore is a dry, sweet wine produced near the Italian city of Marsala in Sicily and aged at least two years. A fortified wine similar to Sherry, Marsala imparts tangy flavors of dried fruit and citrus and is often used in cooking or served as a dessert wine.
“I’ve been experimenting with different finishes for the Yellowstone Limited Edition bourbons, and I really fell in love with the impact the Marsala Superiore cask finish has on the overall taste profile of the bourbon,” said Beam. “Consumers can expect an aroma of dried apricots and honey with hints of tobacco; a body that contains dark-brown sugar notes, mixed with dried fruit, walnut and dates, with a hint of vanilla; followed by a lingering finish with hints of palm sugar and tamarind. It’s certain to become a new fan favorite.”

The 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition Is bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV) and sold in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a high-end natural cork and a label featuring the 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem. Beginning in September, the full allocation of 10,000 cases (3 bottles per case) will be available at retail locations nationwide.

“We’ve had a lot to celebrate in 2022, including the launch of Yellowstone Family Recipe and the 150th anniversary of the Yellowstone brand,” said Caitlin Palmieri Jackson, brand manager for Limestone Branch Distillery. “Our 2022 Yellowstone Limited Edition expression is the latest achievement to celebrate this year as the brand family continues to grow, both in terms of overall popularity and varietals offered.”

Tasting Notes
Nose: Dried apricots, manuka honey and complemented by hints of tobacco
Palate: Dark brown sugar notes mixed with dried fruit, walnut and dates followed by hints of vanilla
Finish: Lingering with Palm Sugar and Tamarind

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, honey, leather, meaty marsala and oak.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar , marsala wine notes with apricots, dates, nutmeg, touch of oak and pepper.
Finish:  Long, damp with fading pepper and marsala.
Comments:  I’m a big fan of marsala finished whisk(e)y, and this doesn’t change that one bit. It’s sweet but tangy, and another example that the folks at Limestone Branch know how to hit the mark when it comes to finishing (which I suppose shouldn’t stand out to me, since the last several Yellowstone Limited Editions also reflected this). This is just a fabulous bourbon where the finish adds depth and flavor without stealing the spotlight from the bourbon. Well balanced, and with some water brings out the fruit notes more with apricot jam on the nose.

Rating: Must Try

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Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail 1st Release

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail
1st Release, 2022

65.77% ABV
$250
Website
Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail 2022
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Over the past several years, Barrell Dovetail has become a highly regarded expression within our portfolio of products and the American Whiskey world. Recently, we became intrigued with applying the concept of “Dovetail” to some of our older stocks. The result is BCS Gray Label Dovetail, which still boasts our award-winning blend of Whiskey finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards cabernet barrels and uses the same finishing and blending method. The difference, as with all our Gray Label offerings, is that we used older and more rare barrels in Gray Label Dovetail. The result harmoniously unites a dark and fruity California cabernet finish, a jammy and pleasurable port finish,
and a sweet and funky rum finish to create a well-balanced, iconic whiskey. The component whiskeys are aged up to 20 years, making the final blend significantly more elegant.

This is an ester-forward bourbon with the brooding depth of cabernet and port casks. The varied distillates and casks come together into a complex palate that showcases the cola notes of whiskey that’s spent many years in oak.

  • Whiskey finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards cabernet barrels
  • Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
  • Aged in the US and Canada
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 131.54 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
​Neat
Appearance: Warm Amber.
Nose: Green grape, tart apple, and pollen lead into one very vivid note of just-pressed cider. The notes of gooseberry jam, cranberry sauce, and dried apricot are pronounced and defined. Maple walnut ice cream, tahini, and leather provide a subtle, savory undertone.
Palate: Robust and impeccably balanced, with flavors ranging from strawberry rhubarb pie to fennel pollen. Flan and coconut oil provide a rich and creamy texture that balances some light sandy tannin and modest astringency. Depth seems to come mostly from the oldest Canadian whiskeys, in the form of fennel, poppy seed and peppercorn. Allspice, ginger, and cola notes from the French and American oak round it out.
Finish: A burst of licorice candy and molasses gives way to Earl Grey Tea with honey. The palate is left with a range of dusty mineral notes, among them necco wafers, oyster shell, and squid ink.
With a few drops of spring water
Classical notes of crème brulée and funnel cake take the lead. The complexity here is more savory, with shiso, tomato, and tajin. An unexpected burst of lychee on the finish yields to charcoal and paraffin.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, butterscotch brownies, green apples, sandalwood, mango, apricot, worn leather, flan with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Palate:  Viscous mouthfeel, rich fruits with apricot jam, honey, molasses, bit of pepper spice followed by coconut, cola, and a hint of grapefruit.
Finish:  Long and drying with anise, cola, honey and grapefruit.
Comments:  Wow – a really delicious and well balanced dram with so much going on, I felt with each sip I was discovering something new! Water brings out more sweetness without knocking it out of balance, and retaining that lovely mouthfeel. I reviewed this side by side with Barrell Dovetail, which I enjoyed although this is definitely on another level. Several shades darker as it sits in the glass, and I’d give it as many minutes as you can wait to allow it to open up more. I wish I knew what ‘whiskey’ was included (reportedly this includes bourbon and rye from multiple sources), but whatever it is – it just works. If the mission is to not blend in with anything else you might pick up on the shelf – this nails it.

Rating: Must Try

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