Must Try

Four Roses Small Batch Select

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Four Roses Small Batch Select

52% ABV
$55-$60
Website
Four Roses Small Batch Select

What the Distillery Says

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
SMALL BATCH SELECT
NON-CHILL FILTERED
104 PROOF
Small Batch Select launching in Kentucky, New York, California, Texas and Georgia.  It will launch to additional locations in the future.

Crafted from six Unique Bourbon Recipes:
OBSV, OESV, OBSK, OESK, OBSF & OESF

This entirely new Bourbon marks the biggest addition to Four Roses’ storied history since Brent Elliott became Master Distiller, so we sat down with him to get a bit more information about this new product. Here’s what Brent had to say:

“We wanted to add something to our lineup that brings that pure experience you get with a non-chill filtered Bourbon, while also showcasing some of our recipes and flavors that aren’t as forward facing in our other existing bottles. While Small Batch Select can certainly be one of your special occasion Bourbons, we want it to be more accessible so you don’t hesitate to open up that bottle and enjoy it any time.”
-Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller

On the nose, Four Roses Small Batch Select offers raspberries, clove and nutmeg. As it hits the palate, it opens into flavors of apricot, ripe berries, vanilla and light oak. The finish lingers with notes of spearmint and a touch of cinnamon.

Each of the Bourbons selected for Small Batch Select have been aged for six and seven years.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, caramel apples, baking spices, vanilla bean, blood orange, floral notes with subtle oak and a hint of mint.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel that starts sweet before the spice kicks in; fruit salad with toasted caramel, mandarin oranges, nutmeg, allspice, hint of cinnamon.
Finish: Moderately long, damp with oak and trailing spices.
Comments:  Props to Four Roses for offering what whiskey geeks want: non-chill filtered, high proof whiskey. It takes water well, and is nicely balanced. If this was $40 or $45, it would be a no-brainer “Must Try”. Don’t get me wrong – it is very good whiskey, and I doubt fans of Four Roses would be disappointed. Although if you’re on a tight budget, might want to try this at a bar first.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Compass Box Juveniles

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Juveniles

46% ABV
$120-140
Website

What the Blender Says

For over 30 years, Juveniles Bistrot à Vins in the 1st Arrondissement of Paris has been a crossroads for winemakers, spirits producers, writers and various sorts of affable hedonists from all over the world. Tim Johnston opened the restaurant in 1987. And in 2014, his daughter Margaux and her husband Romain joined him.

Compass Box and Juveniles share a similar approach to great food and drink, seeking out integrity and not taking things too seriously. Both our businesses are obsessed with quality and provenance. Both like to do things in their own way.

These common traits have made Compass Box and Juveniles good friends since the very first meeting between Tim and myself years ago. We have collaborated with Tim on Juveniles whiskies several times.

For this limited edition, Tim asked us to create something “…bright, smooth, not smoky…an assemblage perhaps between 12 and 15 years old…”. We’ve tried to give him all that and much more. This assemblage (we love Tim’s use of this wine word to describe whisky blending) is comprised of single malt whiskies from four distilleries, each bringing a distinctiveness to the whole.

However you choose to enjoy it, Tim and I say… Slàinte!
JOHN GLASER — Founder & Whiskymaker

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS
You’ll find notes of barley sugar, pear drop and vanilla, complemented by an ethereal underlying herbal character.

AVAILABILITY
Release of 14,894 bottles worldwide. Bottled September 2018.

RECOMMENDATIONS
This is a whisky that would be a delight served with ice or slightly chilled before a meal, with a cheese course, or on its own after dinner.

BOTTLING DETAILS
Bottled at 46%. Not chill-filtered. Natural colour.

LEAD BLENDER
John Glaser

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, floral honey over perfumed malt, hay, almond essence and over-ripe pears.
Palate:  Sweet creamy mouthfeel with vanilla and honey; sharpens with a hint of ginger and tart peaches over pepper spice.
Finish:  Long and delicately drifting with a subtle spice note trailing.
Comments:  Another really great whisky by the fine folks at Compass Box. Lovely, sweet, rich yet delicate, and dangerously drinkable.

Rating: Must Try

NOTE:  Their web-site has downloads with the breakdown (image below), as well as a link to request more information.  Per their request, I won’t publish the additional details here, but they are happy to provide them if you inquire.  We here at Whisk(e)y Apostle are BIG fans of their transparency (oh – and their whisky is pretty great too 🙂 )

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The Arran Malt Single Cask Sherry 2014 Spring Release

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky /

The Arran Malt Single Cask Sherry Cask
2014 Spring Release

53.2% ABV
$100 – $120
Website

What the Bottle Says

This was a single-cask bottling that Richard picked up in Tennessee in April 2015, and Gary is now kicking himself for not picking up.
Cask #217
Bottle 183/562
Bottled 2/5/2014
Distilled 2/17/1997

What Gary Says

Nose: Damn this nose is thick! Full of BBQ sauce, molasses, smokey oak, tangy dark fruit with hints of balsamic.
Palate: Promised & delivered – lovely thick, chewy mouthfeel, rich with sherry sweetness, bitter chocolate, and nutty spice.
Finish:  Long, with the dark fruit memory slowly fading while dropping pepper spice along the way.
Comments:  Wow this is a fabulous bottle! I remember when Richard picked it up, and now tasting it REALLY wish I’d have grabbed a bottle. I don’t get BBQ sauce that often, but on three different tastings I noted (and underlined) it here. Unfortunately as a single cask, likely no chance of finding this bottle – but if I stumble upon some bottling of aged Arran in sherry, I’ll definitely give it serious consideration.

Rating: Must Try

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Old Forester Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / , ,

Old Forester Rye

50% ABV
$23 – $26
Website

What the Distillery Says

In 1870, our founder George Garvin Brown revolutionized the industry by sealing Bourbon in a glass bottle for the first time. Five generations and nearly 150 years later, we are proud to introduce the first Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky from The First Bottled Bourbon™.

A historic recipe, acquired in 1940 by Owsley Brown I, Old Forester Rye features a mash bill of 65% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, and 15% Corn. Such a high proportion of barley allows for a fully natural fermentation process, forgoing the need for artificial enzymes commonly found in high rye mash bills. Additionally, a generous percentage of malt yields a unique floral character, balancing the sharp, brisk spice of the rye grain. Continuing our legacy of quality and consistency, Old Forester uses its own proprietary yeast strain, produces every barrel, and distills every drop.

At 100 proof, Old Forester Rye plays beautifully in a cocktail but also stands up boldly on its own.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Rich brown sugar and magnolia blossom, with hints of soft sassafras and candied lemon.
TASTE: Spice awakens immediately leading with sharp black pepper and cinnamon stick, rounding out with notes of dried dill and baked apple.
FINISH: Allspice and peppercorn introduce a loyal and dry finish which ignites with pine, anise, and bright lemon zest.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, thick nose, chock full of rye spice; mint, dill, and evergreen forest.
Palate:  Soft and round at the start, then sharpens as the journey continues with some herbal dill and mint notes, cinnamon and pepper kicking up over rye toast later.
Finish:  Not very long, with a drying herbal note.
Comments:  I really like this; just a straight up, unapologetically rye whiskey. With the growth in popularity the last few yeas, there has been more rye introduced – some of it solid, and some pretty disappointing.
I don’t get much/any citrus fruit like with some ryes – this plays in the herbal corner of the garden for sure, but it does so beautifully. My benchmark for any rye under $30 (frankly, under $40 even) is how it compares to Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond – and this held its own (in fact, the day of – I preferred this!) And can we take a moment to celebrate a screw-top?
Don’t get me wrong – this isn’t as complex as an 8 year cask strength rye (no age statement, so assuming this is in the ballpark of 4 yrs old).  But if you are a fan of rye whiskey, at this price point – I can’t imagine you being disappointed in a blind purchase.  If you’re not a solid rye fan (like some, not others), I’d urge you to try .

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy; Great Value

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Crown Royal Noble Collection 13 year old Blenders’ Mash

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

Crown Royal Noble Collection 13 year old Blenders’ Mash

45% ABV
$50 – $60
Website

What the Distillery Says

Crown Royal 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash, the third expression in the Noble Collection, is a rare stock of our Canadian Whisky made with a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% barley malt. It is one of the five unique whiskies that comprise our signature blends. Carefully aged in new, charred American white oak barrels for no less than 13 years. The complexity of the liquid intensifies with the aging process, bringing out richer and deeper notes of caramel and fruit. This remarkably smooth and layered whisky is hand selected from our reserve stock, revealing its noble roots with every sip.

The Crown Royal Noble Collection is a series of limited annual releases that celebrates the skilled craftsmanship of our distillers and blenders – and their dedication to the art of creating extraordinary whiskies.

APPEARANCE: Amber
NOSE: Crown Royal 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash begins with a nose of orchid fruits, butterscotch with a hint of toasted oak.
TASTE: Crown Royal 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash encompasses the taste of rich caramel, vanilla and toffee notes.

Note: The above content was provided after requesting information directly from Crown Royal; not sure why they aren’t bragging about this on their own web-site but do appreciate them providing these details!

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft oak with rich vanilla, cocoa powder, bits of nutmeg amongst other baking spices, hints of dark fruit in maple syrup.
Palate:  Sweet caramel cremes with vanilla ice cream; a dusting of cinnamon and nutmeg with maple candies.
Finish:  Moderately long, with notes of maple as it fades.
Comments:  If nosing/tasting blind, I absolutely would peg this as a bourbon. It has all of the hallmarks (vanilla, caramel sweetness with some oak) but is unique to be sure. The northern climate this was aged in makes a big difference – as there isn’t nearly as much oak as you’d get in a bourbon aged for 13 years. There also isn’t much of a spice edge. If you like a sweeter bourbon, this is probably right up your alley. If you’re more into an edgy, spicier dram – this wouldn’t be that. For what it is, I think it is delicious, and probably my favorite pour from north of the border in a while.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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