Must Try

Laws Whiskey House San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey Bonded 6 Years

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Laws Whiskey House Bonded 6 Years
San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$75
Website
LAWS Whiskey House Straight Rye Whiskey Bonded 6 yr
We would like to thank Laws Whiskey House and RadCraft for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Laws Whiskey House is a grain-to-glass distillery in Denver, Colorado that applies a “there are no shortcuts” philosophy to each batch of whiskey produced. Each batch is milled, cooked, fermented, distilled, and aged on-site, utilizing heirloom grains from family-owned Colorado farms. The practice of open air, on-grain fermentation captures the essence of Colorado’s terroir while the copper pot-column still produces a robust, grain-forward style of whiskey.

This expression hails from the San Luis Valley rye grain of a single season, shaped by us as the single distiller, then aged in our federally-bonded rack house for over six years.  Starting in April 2020, Bonded SLV Rye will be available in 15 states throughout 2020.

Tasting Notes: Sweet grass with honey and brine on the nose, cooling notes of wild mint and fennel, followed by deeper accents of sea salt, orange tee, and brown sugar on the palate. Finishes with a rich and buttery mouth feel accompanied by tobacco notes.

Mash Bill: 95% heirloom rye; 5% heirloom malted barley (all grown in Colorado)

Aged over six years in new, 53 gal, charred oak barrels

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick with lemongrass, mint, heather, bit of sea air, raw honey, touch of oak, hint of brown sugar and green tea ice cream.
Palate:  Rich and viscous (borderline syrupy) mouthfeel, orange marmalade on rye toast, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, pepper spice, touch of mint, barley malt, and a hint of clove.
Finish:  Fairly long, wet, and thickly lingering with malty spice notes.
Comments:  This has one of the best mouthfeels on a rye that I can recall – really thick and rich; just coats the tongue. Not as sharp on the palate for a high rye mashbill as you might expect, and the barley seems to have more of an influence than I’d expect.  I get a lot more malty notes.  In fact, if tasting blind, I might have thought this was an interesting blend of straight rye whiskey with a single malt scotch.  All that aside, this is just a delicious whiskey – and a very nice bottle too; quite hefty.

Rating: Must Try

Laws Whiskey House San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey Bonded 6 Years Read More »

Barrell Rye Batch 003

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Barrell Rye Batch 003

58.35% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Rye batch 003
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Rye Batch 003 is a blend of rye whiskeys from Indiana, Poland, Tennessee and Canada, all with distinct personalities and varying ages. We started with Tennessee Rye barrels with caramel and dried fruit notes and added the Polish Rye for its nuttiness and mouthfeel. We then carefully layered in 13-year Canadian Rye to bring out earthy notes of grass, spearmint and apple. The Indiana Rye was the finishing touch to highlight the candied fruit and spiciness you expect from a rye.

  • A blend of straight Rye Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Indiana, Tennessee, Poland, and Canada
  • Selection of 4 to 14-year-old barrels
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 116.7 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
Cinnamon donuts lead into earthy notes of walnut, leather, and fallen leaves. Subtly fruity, with hints of white currant and honeydew melon peeking out over the classic rye spice of angelica, catnip and black licorice.

Neat
Appearance: A clear auburn with fiery orange highlights.
Nose: Sweet and earthy, like Indian pudding, halva, and shortbread. That theme is carried forward by corn sprouts, clay pots, honey, almonds, brown sugar and graphite weaving in and out. This is buoyed by bright and acidic kiwi, gooseberry, lemon curd and black cherry clafouti.
Palate: The high proof is tempered by rich peanut butter and a moderate sweetness that carries forward notes of molasses, coconut milk, and sweetened green tea. The relatively modest amount of tannin belies the oaky-driven flavors of pine resin, juniper berry, ginger and leather.
Finish: Holds the earthy theme, beginning with gentian, chewed cigar and mesquite smoke. As it grows gentler, some sweet cream and coconut take over and leave a lingering salty note.

With a splash of spring water
Aromatic spices are unleashed, showing cinnamon churros, mace, and cumin. A deep umami character slowly evolves, resembling red beans and button mushroom. As the alcohol is pushed back on the palate, dessert notes of carrot cake and hefeweizen rush forward before fading out to be replaced by black pepper on the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Notes of pine with wintergreen mint, bit of caramel, orange and lemon with cinnamon, ginger, a hint of clove and freshly cracked pepper.
Palate:  Rich and warm with a creamy mouthfeel, fruit cake with bits of toffee and a cinnamon icing, citrus zest, subtle chocolate, clove, ginger, and a bit of pine.
Finish:  Long and drying, with an earthy and a tad savory chocolate orange note.
Comments:  This is a really delicious whiskey, with some unique notes I don’t see a lot of. Again, props to whomever does their tasting notes – I didn’t get all of that, but they really hit home on several notes (like molasses & sweetened green tea). I asked about how they approach purchasing barrels (this one in particular was intriguing to me, as I’d never had Polish rye that I can recall), and they explained that when purchasing barrels they look for barrels that have uniqueness and complexity, that can be used in a single barrel or a component to a product like this. They also do buy barrels with the intent to age further (so not just buying what is there and blending upon receipt). Another example of blending done really well.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Barrell Rye Batch 003 Read More »

Barrell Bourbon Batch 023

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Batch 023

53.89% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon batch 023
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Barrell Bourbon Batch 023 is a blend of 10, 12 and 15-year-old barrels. We focused on a balance of richness and depth from the older barrels. The blend mingled for a couple of months to heighten the lushness and complexity. Finally, we methodically layered in 15-year-old barrels to bring out notes of tropical fruit and angelica spice. The result is an evolving bourbon with layers of flavor.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana
  • Selection of 10, 12, and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 107.78 proof cask strength bottling
  • Mash bill: corn, rye and malted barley

FLAVOR NOTES
Cinnamon donuts lead into earthy notes of walnut, leather, and fallen leaves. Subtly fruity, with hints of white currant and honeydew melon peeking out over the classic rye spice of angelica, catnip and black licorice.

Neat
Appearance: A core of zincite ore fades to pale yellow.
Nose: Opens sweetly, on buttered pancakes with maple syrup and cinnamon donuts. Gradually the aroma shifts to exotic, earthy notes of forest floor, cracked walnut, leather, red miso, and incense. Fruits feel ancillary, but kiwi, white currant, mulled cider and raspberry pastille all make an appearance. The rye spice is pronounced, lending bay leaf, angelica and chocolate mint.
Palate: Gently sweet with chewy tannin, the evolution on the palate mirrors the nose. Honey, coffee cake and a touch of brownie taking the lead. Dry rose follows, on walnut shell, fallen leaves and portobello mushroom; reminiscent of an old Oloroso sherry. There’s a juicy brightness that makes notes of honeydew melon, grenadine and orange zest come alive.
Finish: Cinnamon donut accompanied by nocino, black licorice and tar. As it fades, it softens to leather, orange peel and apple blossom.

With a few drops of spring water
Fresh, with a bright sea salt note rounded out by oregano and catnip. The palate grows creamier, tasting of cereal milk.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, vanilla, oaky brown sugar, maple candies, burnt brownie corners, bit of barbecue sauce, cinnamon, walnuts, hints of dark fruits with worn leather.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, chocolate covered cherries dipped in caramel, vanilla, honey with nutty notes of dark fruits and oak.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with cocoa and oak.
Comments:  This is a damn nice bourbon. Really rich and chewy with intense flavor; sweet but with just enough of a savory slant to keep it well balanced. Takes water quite well. I try not to read the provided tasting notes until after I’ve made my assessment to avoid bias, and not afraid to admit when their notes are better than mine (although we all get different things from a dram). Their notes of coffee cake, sherry and donut are right on.
The word ‘blend’ can mean different things in the world of whiskey. Here in the US, a ‘blended whiskey’ allows for the inclusion of ‘grain neutral spirits’ (or GNS). To be clear, that isn’t what these folks do. This is a blend of straight bourbon whiskies. Blending is an art, and when done well, creates a unique product that can be more interesting (and delicious) than any of the individual components. While I haven’t tried the individual components used here, I can attest that this is done really well.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Barrell Bourbon Batch 023 Read More »

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV
Blended Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$105-$115
Website
Compass Box Delilahs XXV

What the Blender Says

Happy 25th Anniversary, Delilah’s!
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the legendary Chicago punk rock whisky bar, Delilah’s, we have once again created a limited edition Scotch whisky in collaboration with owner and whisky enthusiast, Mike Miller.

The recipe for our second Compass Box homage to Delilah’s was built around a small parcel of the original Compass Box Delilah’s blend released in 2013 – a luscious, American oak-aged whisky that we aged in cask for a further five years. With this as a base, Mike suggested adding malt whisky aged in Spanish Sherry casks, also made of American oak.

The result is a delicious Scotch whisky with notes of vanilla and spice, and rich Sherry character. It’s another incarnation of the shared vision Mike and I have for whiskies that everyone can appreciate and enjoy!

AVAILABILITY: Limited Edition release of 8,520 bottles worldwide. Bottled April 2018

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: An effusive aroma of dried fruits, baking spices and light Sherry wine character. On the palate it’s soft and rich, with a complex sweetness in the form of vanilla and spice, and a finish of fresh green fruits and cream.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with pears, figs, tangerines, hints of darker fruits, cereal notes, biscuits with honey, musty oak, a whiff of spent matches, nutty, baking spices and heather.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel to start, fruit salad that slowly sharpens a tad with a spicy, oaky bite before settling in with vanilla, malty cereal notes, honey and cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with honey and oak.
Comments: Just a delicious blend, which Compass Box is known for. Chockfull of fruit notes, but not overly sweet – balanced nicely with oak, spice and a bit of smoke. And as always, appreciate that they bottle without chill-filtration or additional colorant.

Rating: Must Try

Compass Box Delilah’s XXV Read More »

Redbreast Lustau Edition

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Redbreast Lustau Edition
Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

46% ABV
$70
Website
Redbreast Lustau Irish Whiskey
What the Distillery Says
A unique collaboration between the Bodegas Lustau and the Midleton Distillery, Redbreast Lustau Edition is made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills. Having spent its final maturation journey in casks seasoned with the finest Oloroso Sherry in the Bodegas Lustau, the result is the ultimate sherried style of Redbreast.

Nose: Rich infusion of dark fruits, prunes, dates and figs with liquorice, marzipan, toasted oak and aromatic spices.
Taste: Silky smooth Pot Still; assertive spices balanced with richness of the sherry finish and contribution of fresh Spanish Oak.
Finish: Endless. Sweetness and assorted spices endure while Oloroso Sherry and Spanish Oak have the last word.

THE BEST WAY TO ENJOY A GLASS OF REDBREAST IS WITH SOMEONE ELSE. #PassItOn

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich with raisins, cherries, plus, dates, baked goods, a hint of anise, toasted oak, freshly grated nutmeg.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, smooth entry with raisins, luxardo cherries, ripe peaches with a dusting of cinnamon.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering fruit sweetness and spices.
Comments:  Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength was the first Irish whiskey I really loved (and still one of my favorites). I first tried Redbreast 12 Year in 2004 or 2005. I liked sweet (Crown Royal neat was my drink of choice at the time), and a server recommended it. I did enjoy it, but not enough to seek it out at the time. I enjoy this quite a bit – nice mouthfeel and fruit notes. Another shining example of what a higher ABV and non-chill filtering brings to the table. This takes water well, but doesn’t need it. If you’re a fan of Redbreast, I’d consider this a Must Try.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

Redbreast Lustau Edition Read More »