Must Try

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength
Single Malt Whisky

50-59.9%
$220 – $300
Website
Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Cask Strength Whisky

What the Distillery Says

Vinho is fully matured in used American oak wine barrels that have been toasted and recharred in a way that brings out fruity vanilla notes from the wood into the whisky overlaid on a delicate background of complex fruitiness.
It has a complex and multi-dimensional background of pepper, spice, dates and other fruits, such as ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of bursting citrus fruits.
ABV: 50-59.9%
Colour: Deep autumn gold
Flavour: A rich fusion of vanilla and caramelized sugars with dark chocolate on top. Ripe melon and mango together with kiwi and a delicate blend of citrus fruits burst. Pepper is also present in the background waiting to be noticed.
Palate: The taste ends with clean and complex flavours embodying all that is best in the finest malt whiskies enjoying a long aftertaste.
Tasting: We suggest drinking Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask neat.

What Gary Says

Nose: Raisins, berries, leather, toffee, charred oak, smoked brisket with brown sugar glaze, subtle baking spices, balsamic drizzled over mango.
Palate: Rich and thick mouthfeel, fruity with cherries, strawberries and raspberries, fudge toffee, plums, dates, honey and vanilla.
Finish: Long and syrupy with dark fruit, honey and allspice.
Comments: Wow – this is just a lovely dram! Apologies that I don’t know the exact ABV of this sample, but damn – I need more of this in my life. Incredibly intense and complex – the kind of dram I could just sit and nose for hours (except it’s so damn tasty on the palate!) I don’t often get strawberries and raspberries in whisky, and really enjoyed those peeking in. A bit of water brings more citrus to the party, but despite the cask strength I enjoyed it immensely neat. I haven’t had much Kavalan before, but this is definitely going on my watch list.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Other Whisk(e)ys, Review, Rye Whiskey /

Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye
Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey

56.5% ABV
$45
Website
Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey

What the Distillery Says:

Knob Creek® is excited to announce its first-ever, limited edition bourbon and rye blend to its award-winning* portfolio, Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey. Carefully crafted and seasoned by time, Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye brings together two of Knob Creek’s® premium whiskeys, Knob Creek® 9 Year Old Bourbon and Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye, offering fans an unforgettable experience unlike anything existing within the portfolio or many other offerings on the market.
Highlighting the perfect balance of Knob Creek® 9 Year Old Bourbon’s sweet notes complimented by Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye’s bold spice, this robust and complex whiskey brings bourbon and rye enthusiasts the best of both whiskey worlds. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks to unveil its sweet, fruity and spicy notes.
TASTING NOTES
Knob Creek® Bourbon x Rye is a masterful blend that brings together the richness of brown sweets and a hint of fruitiness and black pepper, with a sweet lingering spice finish that will leave you wanting more. This high-quality, flavorful whiskey is a testament to our dedication to deliver exceptional whiskey to enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
PROOF: 113
COLOR: Golden brown with copper hues, reminiscent of autumn leaves and evening sunlight.
AROMA: Enticing sweetness of maple syrup and vanilla, joined by hints of nuttiness and baking spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg.
TASTE: Rich and comforting sweetness of brown sweets, like caramel and toffee, complemented by a delicate hint of fruitness for added complexity.
FINISH: Gentle heat of black pepper, adding a touch of lingering spice.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, oak, fruity with cherries, plums and tangerines, mint, hint of maple syrup with polished leather and baking spices.
Palate: Caramel, peanut butter, chocolate, cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint, citrus with a bit of cloves.
Finish: Moderately long with caramel, fruit, pepper spice and mixed nuts.
Comments: There isn’t a lot of bourbon rye blends on the market, and I’ve honestly never understood why that is. Many whiskey enthusiasts that I’ve known over the years have created their own blends, including blending from different distilleries. This is a delicious offering! Priced reasonably and at a solid 113 proof, this brings the best of both Knob Creek bourbon and rye into a single pour. Well balanced, I enjoyed this quite well neat, although a few drops of water thickens the mouthfeel nicely and brings the fruit notes forward.

Rating: Must Try

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Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Cognac and Brandy Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2024 Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery announces the annual release of Yellowstone Bourbon Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Created by Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam, the 2024 expression is extra aged, featuring 7-year and 17-year aged bourbons and Beam’s first double finish in French brandy and cognac casks. Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), an allocation of 10,000 cases (3-in) of Yellowstone Limited Edition will arrive on shelf in September 2024 at a minimum suggested price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle.
Limestone Branch Distillery has released its annual Yellowstone Limited Edition since 2015. In the 2024 release, Beam sought out spirits to complement the natural flavors in the extra-aged bourbon. Finishing the blended bourbon in brandy and cognac casks from France introduces nuances from different spectrums of distilled grapes within the same style of spirit. The result is a soft and approachable bourbon, perfect for Yellowstone Bourbon loyalists.
The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition is a rich amber color and features the bright aroma of pear, panela sugar, ripe apple and leather. With a thick, soft texture, the body includes flavors of American basswood honey, ripe stone fruits and citrus with traditional notes of caramel and vanilla. The bourbon’s warm and inviting finish delivers honey, Bosc pear, butterscotch and leather.
“The 2024 expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition represents my natural progression of experimenting with special finishes over the years,” said Beam. “Now, finished bourbons have become sought after by fans who want to push the flavor profile. I love experimenting and exploring new opportunities, and using a double finish with brandy and cognac casks created a more complex and nuanced bourbon, opening a whole new experience for consumers to enjoy.”
The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is presented in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a label with the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a high-end natural cork.
Tasting Notes
AROMA: Bright with notes of pear, panela, ripe apple, and leather.
BODY: Basswood honey, ripe stone fruit, citrus, a thick soft texture with traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla.
FINISH: Warm and inviting ending with honey, bosc pear, butterscotch, and leather.

What Gary Says

Nose: Fruity with orchard fruits, apples, pears, vanilla, oak and a bit of leather.
Palate: Caramel, honey, canned fruit salad of apples and pears, vanilla and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderate in length with honey and pears.
Comments: This is another nicely done limited edition. I appreciate that the finishing isn’t overdone, even with the double finish. Quite well balanced and a delightful late summer sipper. Takes a bit of water well, and the mouth feel thickens up nicely. Cognac is one of those delicate spirits (like a refined French cousin of sorts) that really lends itself well as a finish for bourbon or rye.

Rating: Stand Out/Must Try

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Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary

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

Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 10 Years Old

43% ABV
$?? (auction estimates are $150-$200)
Dant American Legion 50th Anniversary Commemorative Bottling

What the Bottle Says

(FRONT)
50th Anniversary
1919 – 1969

(SIDE)
AMERICAN
LEGION
50th
Anniversary
COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLING
by J.W. Dant
KENTUCKY
STRAIGHT BOURBON
WHISKY
TEN YEARS OLD
BOTTLED BY
THE DANT DISTILLERY CO.
LOUISVILLE, KY., FRANKFORT, KY.
ALADDIN, PA. & FRESNO, CALIF.
86 PROOF 4/5 QUART

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft caramel, grassy note with vanilla, rick house must, hint of hazelnut, mint and anise.
Palate:  Smooth caramel, light cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, light roast coffee and a bit of molasses.
Finish:  Moderate in length, thick with toffee and brown sugar.
Comments:  A note I excluded above is simply ‘dusty’ because I know that isn’t helpful to someone who has never had the privilege to experience whisk(e)y from many decades ago. It is frustrating because it is a note I detect clearly, but can’t describe as anything but ‘dusty’ (like – how would you describe the smell of ‘apple’ to someone who has never smelled an apple?) The sample for this review was from a bottle that Bourbon Joe shared with a small group of us in April 2024. My rating is based more on “If you’ve never experienced this – you really need to find the opportunity to do so!” This drinks like you’d expect an 86 proof bourbon would – fairly light and smooth, and for 10 years old – I didn’t really get ‘oak’ aside from the lovely rick house must aroma. I’m honored to have been able to share pours like these with some amazing people, who have forgotten more about whisk(e)y than I expect I’ll ever learn and whose generosity in spirit (and in sharing bottles like these that are becoming exceedingly rare) is something to behold.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond (National Distillers)

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

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
National Distillers (dusty)

50% ABV
$20
Old Grand-Dad Bottled in Bond Bourbon

What the Bottle Says

BONDED
Old Grand-Dad 100 Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled In Bond Under Supervision of U.S. Govt
Distilled and Bottled by The Old Grand-Dad Distillery Company
Frankfort, KY – DSP KY. 14

(on the faux tax stamp)
AGED 8 YEARS
BOTTLED FALL OF 1990
NOTE: This image isn’t of my bottle but a representative image; mine was a 375 mL I paid $10 for in 2014. The first part of the UPC is 86259, which identifies it as a product of National Distillers.

What Gary Says

Nose: Butterscotch, honey, caramel, vanilla, soft oak with hints of toffee, peanut brittle and leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, nutmeg and honey.
Finish: Moderately long with honey, toasted oak and butterscotch.
Comments:  This is an absolute butterscotch bomb! While the faux tax stamp printing states 8 years old, this may be older being bottled during the glut era. National Distillers is one of my favorite dusty bourbons, and I was fortunate to stumble across two bottles of this at a small liquor store in Miami back in 2014. This is one where if someone could bottle this – exactly like this today – I’d be stockpiling. I wish I knew what it was that gave it that unique profile (and there’s been countless hours debating such topics on Straight Bourbon, whether it was the proof coming off the still, the entry proof, where it was matured, the yeast used, etc). I know a lot of folks who have tasted a fair amount of dusty bourbon would stampede over loved ones for Stitzel Weller, but for my taste buddies I’ve always preferred the ND profile. Now this whiskey isn’t mind-blowingly complicated, but I’d still rate it as a ‘Must Try’ because it’s just freakin’ delicious, and a ‘Must Buy’ if you can find it for reasonable money.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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