Must Try

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

61.9% ABV
$200
Website
Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Hochstadter’s Family Reserve 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey is a cask strength limited release created for the most discerning connoisseurs and collectors. The first ultra-premium offering in the Hochstadter’s portfolio, it is unfiltered, undiluted and full-flavored at 123.8 proof, delivering an intense explosion of robust rye flavor.

Made from 100 percent farm-grown rye grain and aged 16 years in newly charred American Oak Barrels, this rare and bold offering is sourced from Alberta Distillers Limited and bottled at cask strength in Philadelphia, PA. The end result is unfiltered, undiluted and full-flavored, delivering an intense explosion of robust rye flavor.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Lovely! Oak with tobacco, baking spices – clove, soft cinnamon and a bit of anise, toffee, dried mint, cherries, nutmeg, toasted orange zest, sandalwood, notes of pine, lemongrass, and walnuts.
Palate:  Warm baking spices of clove, cinnamon, citrus zip, vanilla, oak, bit of ginger, mint; some water thickens the mouthfeel and brings out more mint, vanilla, and cherries.
Finish:  Long, drying with fruit, pepper, and herbal spices.
Comments:  This is a phenomenal, well aged rye. I’ve been blessed to have enjoyed some unicorn ryes (Black Maple Hill 18yr old, Doug’s Green Ink 22yr Willet), and I’m not saying that this is exactly like those – but it definitely reminded me that sort of experience. 16 years is a long time in new oak for a whiskey. I tend to not prefer bourbon or rye that old, as it has just too much oak in many cases. This isn’t too oaky, and has a lovely balance of the sweetness with some herbal, almost savory spice notes. The $200 price tag is the only thing that keeps this from a solid ‘Must Buy’ in my book, although after tasting this sample – I absolutely am going to buy a bottle.

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys

49.3% ABV
$100
Website
High West Midwinter Nights Dram

What the Producer Says

A limited release of High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels.

Straight Rye Whiskey:
95% rye, 5% barley malt from MGP
80% rye, 20% malted rye from HWD

Barrel Type(s): Aged in new, charred, white American oak and finished in French oak port barrels
Filtration: Not chill-filtered, or carbon treated.

Sensory Notes
Nose: Cinnamon rhubarb and plum pie, Orange Jaffa cake, star anise, cedar box, toasted pecan with dates
Taste: Black cherry reduction, molasses, birch root, fig jam, and ginger bread
Finish: Spiced clove and blackberries, candied ginger, wooden spice box, orange peel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Christmas spice, orange blossom,  freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle notes of baked apples and raisins, hint of wintergreen mint, eucalyptus, and toasted oak.
Palate:  Warn and spicy, caramel fudge, rye zip, cinnamon, orange zest, nutmeg, bit of pepper spice, mint, and a hint of a sherry note.
Finish:  Moderately long with dried mint and vanilla.
Comments:  I was fortunate enough to have two samples of this from different batches (Act 4, Scene 2 & Act 7, Scene 2). I thought “Great, I can do a side-by-side comparison!” but honestly – they were incredibly similar. After three blind tastings, I opted to scrap the idea as the very subtle differences could have been simply expecting there must be a difference. And they weren’t consistent (I thought one had a slightly better finish, but then the next tasting thought it was the opposite!). I can’t say there isn’t any difference from batch to batch, but at least for these two – it was so subtle that if you liked one, I wouldn’t be worried about whether you’d like the other. All that said, this is a really nice dram! It is definitely rye whiskey, but different (for starters, I don’t get any dill or pickle juice notes which are common in many MGP ryes).  The French oak port barrel finishing is done really well, giving it a different spice and fruit characteristic.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 15 Year Fall 2019
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50% ABV
$150
Website
Old Fitzgerald 15 yr Bottled In Bond Fall 2019

What the Distillery Says

OLD FITZGERALD BOTTLED-IN-BOND
Each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950’s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to “Pappy” Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.

15-Year-Old Tasting Notes
Color: Rich mahogany
Nose: Complex, very spicy for a Wheated Bourbon
Taste: Starts with the spices that were in the nose but becomes soft and gentle with honey and cake notes. Vanilla and oak follow with a delicious caramel tail.
Finish: Warm, long, sweet

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly baked coffee cake with vanilla frosting, cinnamon, toffee, oak, caramel, mint, leather.
Palate:  Creamy sweet, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, baking spices, honey, mint, oak.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering baking spices.
Comments:  This has more of a bit than I expected, but letting it sit in the glass for 15 – 20 minutes really did wonders. I had a bit of a sample of Old Fitzgerald 11 yr Bottled in Bond that I compared this against, and while not a huge oak fan – I preferred this easily. More richness and depth of sweetness, and the oak is there but pretty gentle for its age. These are always pricey, but in the current market, not outrageous (and the decanter is really nice, if you like that sorta thing).

Rating: Must Try

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Tomatin 18 Year

/ / Highland, Review, Scottish Whisky / , ,

Tomatin 18 Year
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$90 – $100
Website
Tomatin 18 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

The Tomatin 18 Year Old is a truly world class malt. Matured in traditional oak casks and first fill Oloroso Sherry butts, honey and soft oak flavours develop into a hint of dark chocolate with a citrus bite before a sustained sweet and slightly dry finish.
Non-chill Filtered
Aroma: Orchard fruit, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup with just a hint of smoky heather.
Palate: Deliciously sweet, citrus and dark chocolate with a slightly oaky edge.
Finish: Long, sweet and slightly dry.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruit notes of apricots, figs, caramelized grilled peaches, subtle baking spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, hint of maple syrup, oak, subtle floral notes.
Palate:  Thick and creamy mouthfeel, rich , sweet with blood orange, peaches, plums, dark chocolate, toffee, a touch of cinnamon and oak.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with cocoa and fruit.
Comments:  This is delicious. Like the 12 yr, this is finished (not fully matured) in sherry which gives it a lovely balance. I appreciate the higher proof and non-chill filtration.
Age isn’t everything, but this is a great value for an 18 yr single malt (and I like as well as others that are 20-30% more expensive).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try/Great Value

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Old Forester Bonded (Dusty; DSP-KY-414 circa 1980s)

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

Old Forester Bonded
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Dusty; DSP-KY-414 circa 1980s

50% ABV
Market $ varies
Old Forester Bonded Bourbon Whiskey
Note the image above is not from the same bottle sampled, but has the same ‘dimples’ on the side.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Spicy oak, caramel, butterscotch, tapioca, bit of dark fruits, raisins, chocolate, a hint of fennel.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, sweet caramel, vanilla, nutty milk chocolate, touch of pepper; bit of water brings out the butterscotch and toffee.
Finish:  Moderate in length, wet with caramel and pepper spice.
Comments:  First, this is really dark in the glass. While ‘Bonded’ means it is at least 4 years old (along with a bunch of other requirements), coming from the 1980s this has older bourbon in the batch. I love these dusty Old Foresters – just delicious. Keep in mind this wasn’t a ‘super-premium’ pour back in the day, but also not a bottom shelfer by any stretch. I’ve seen bottles like this go for hundreds of dollars at auction, and while I really like it – I’d never pay that kinda money for it. If you have the chance to drink someone else’s though – I’d absolutely try it. In fact, when it comes to dusty whisk(e)y, I’d rarely turn down a chance to taste some history!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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