Must Try

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 3

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Batch 3
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

46.2% ABV
$300 – $370
Website
Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Batch 3 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Distillery Says

From the Ardbeg Distillery to Port Ellen and beyond, follow the rocky coast and you will discover the heavenly vista of Traigh Bhan (pronounced tri-van), the beautiful beach known locally as the Singing Sands…
For this captivating place has white soft sands that sing beneath your feet, a hum that ebbs and flows with the winds and the tides. But beguiling as this place is, do not drop your guard. Bathing is ill advised in the seemingly tame crystal waters where jagged, volcanic rocks pierce the sands along the shore.
CURLS AND WISPS
Scented wood smoke billows, mingling with sea spray carried on the air. Wisps of pine resin, aniseed toffee and sweet lilies follow on the breeze. A flood of fresh citrus zest with a touch of cayenne pepper piques the senses, while a splash of water chases in a flow of waxy notes and charcoal, with droplets of classic Sherry and linseed oil.
TIDES OF CHANGE
A rush of rich, sappy texture is followed moments later by classic, sweet, smokiness, with tarry rope and treacle toffee bobbing on the palate. A second wave brings a ripple of soot and aniseed twists. Smoke is distant now but present, while smoked brown sugar, sugar coated walnuts and gentle spices float gently then dissolve. A long, unhurried finish carries bitter almonds, linseed oil, clove, pepper and soot in its wake, slowly drifting away.
Batch No. TB/03-10.10.01/21/BL

What Gary Says

Nose: Peat smoke, salty sea air, coastal camp fire, creosote, tar, smoked pork, hints of grapefruit, tangerines, nylon rope and wet bandages.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, vanilla, peaches, pears, peat and cracked pepper.
Finish: Moderately long and wet with fruit, peat smoke and tobacco.
Comments: I’m a fan of Ardbeg, and to me this is a lovely, complex, nuanced dram. The meaty, smokey, brininess on the nose just transports me to what I imagine it must be like to have an open-pit fire on an Islay beach. A bit of water brings out caramel crème and honey on the palate. While I enjoy it, at this price point I’m not a buyer.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Mizunara

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Mizunara

57.76% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series Mizunara
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Casks made from rare Mizunara hardwood are a true work of art. The wood is meticulously cut, and the barrels carefully raised due to the wood’s characteristics. Mizunara finishing imparts subtle notes of sandalwood, herbal spice, and coconut to bourbon, and precision is required to craft a harmonious blend. This cask finished bourbon was expertly blended using bourbons distilled from multiple mash bills and finished in Mizunara casks for one and a half years.

BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 6, 7, & 9 years old
Kentucky: 8 years old
Tennessee: 8 & 14 years old

  • A blend of straight bourbon Whiskeys
  • Further matured in Mizunara barrels
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 115.52 proof cask strength bottling

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 76%
Rye: 20%
Malted Barley: 4%

FLAVOR NOTES
An Invigorating nose of fresh strawberry and white peach interweaves with sugar cookies and toasted corn. Vibrant notes of lemongrass and peppermint hit the palate first, then transform to a deep sweetness of Medjool dates followed by an enthralling citrus and woodsy earthiness.

​Neat
Appearance: Amber honey.
Nose: Starts with a burst of strawberry, golden raisin, amontillado sherry, and a touch of sawdust. Then sweeter notes of honey, vanilla, sugar cookie, and white peach appear, followed by cocoa, cherry, oiled leather, toasted corn, and palo santo.​
Palate: The palate is viscous with herbaceous notes of lemongrass, star anise, and peppermint striking first. Honey, sweet cornbread, and dates appear followed by galangal and a woodsy note.
Finish: Spearmint, palo santo, lime zest, and ginger.
With a splash of spring water
An eruption of sandalwood, palo santo, vanilla, and cherry on the nose. The palate brightens with notes of lemon curd, fresh honey, sweet peppermint, and vanilla ice cream and finishes with ginger and lime zest.

What Gary Says

Nose: Sandalwood, berries, raisins, black cherry, ginger snaps, leather, undertones of caramel and vanilla with a hint of minerality.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, honey, caramel, bright citrus notes leaning from orange or lemon, peppermint, clove and cinnamon.
Finish: Long, warm and slightly drying with peppermint, citrus spice and honey.
Comments: This is a really nice addition to the Cask Finish Series! Love the spiciness on this one, which drinks closer to a rye to me despite the high corn content. The Mizunara wood brings a lovely earth spiciness to the party, and as has been my experience more often than not – the BCS blending team does a superb job of balancing the finishing to not overshadow the main spirit. A bit of water amps up the sandalwood, brings out notes of cherry cola on the nose.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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High n’ Wicked No. 7 Foursquare 2007 Single Grain Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

High n’ Wicked No. 7 Foursquare 2007 Single Grain Irish Whiskey

50% ABV
$80
Website
High n’ Wicked No. 7 Foursquare 2007 Single Grain
We would like to thank Altamar Brands, LLC and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

High n’ Wicked, the importer and specialty bottler of exceptional whiskeys, today launched its latest singular limited release: a collaboration with Foursquare Rum Distillery. The new expression, a Single Grain Irish Whiskey, originally distilled in County Cork, Ireland, features a mash bill of 95% French maize (corn) and 5% malted barley. The whiskey was first matured in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished for six months in casks which previously held the award-winning “Mark X 2007” Barbados Rum from Foursquare Rum Distillery in Barbados.

This rare and distinctive expression was created by merging the skills of two of the most respected and admired producers of spirits in the world: Richard Seale of the legendary Foursquare Rum Distillery, and Noel Sweeney, former Master Distiller/Master Blender of Cooley who selected, finished, and blended this special whiskey.

“We got the Dream Team for this one,” said Lyons Brown, Founder and CEO of High n’ Wicked. “Foursquare has risen to the pinnacle of the rum world and is quickly becoming a global icon in spirits. We expect to work with Richard on additional releases in the future.”

Bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), the new expression is available for purchase in select U.S. markets and online via highnwicked.com for the suggested retail price of $79.99 per 750ml bottle. It offers aromas of coconut, treacle, lemon peel, almond, nougat, fig, and vanilla, which give way to subtle tropical notes of clove and cinnamon followed by rich caramel and candied hazelnuts. The liquid lingers gently and finishes soft with a hint of custard.

“Foursquare’s ‘Mark X 2007’ was a highly expressive and complex Barbados rum and these casks married beautifully with the nuanced and subtle characters of this exquisite Single Grain Irish Whiskey,” said Richard Seale, Master Distiller/Master Blender, Foursquare Rums. “Seeing this collaboration come together from such a long-standing partner in our Exceptional Cask Selections importer, Altamar Brands, and through High n’ Wicked, has been a genuine pleasure.”

High n’ Wicked launches singular limited releases several times per year which are specialty bottlings of some of the finest domestic and global whiskeys. These “treasures” feature single barrels and expert double wood finishes that add layers of complexity to already superb distillates. To date, the brand has issued eight distinct American and Irish whiskey releases which include American Bourbon, Single Malt Irish whiskey, and Single Grain Irish Whiskey. High n’ Wicked also produces an award-winning flagship straight bourbon whiskey and straight rye whiskey which are regularly available.

Aroma: Coconut, Treacle, Lemon Peel, Almond, Nougat, Fig and Vanilla – giving way to subtle tropical fruit notes of mango and candied pineapple.
Palate: Rich and sweet on the open, highlighting baking spice notes of clove and cinnamon, immediately followed by rich caramel and candied hazelnuts. It lingers gently and finishes soft with a hint of custard

What Gary Says

Nose: Lemon curd, cornmeal, coconut, hints of pineapple and molasses.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, sweet with caramel, honey, lemon spongecake, subtle baking spices including nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon with vanilla.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with lemon pudding and caramel.
Comments: Single grain whiskey tends to be very light and delicate, and this is absolutely all of that – but the corn sweetness shines through and is complemented really well by the tropical notes. I really like the mouthfeel on this, which drinks lovely neat but also holds up with a bit of water without losing that viscous feel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Blood Oath Pact No. 10

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Blood Oath Pact No. 10 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Cabernet Franc & Merlot casks

49.3% ABV
$130
Website
Blood Oath Pact 10
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

Lux Row Master Distiller and Master Blender John Rempe marks a decade of distinction – and secrecy – as he renews his annual pact with bourbon drinkers by releasing Blood Oath Pact 10 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey double finished in Cabernet Franc and Merlot casks. A limited supply of 17,000 (3-in) cases will arrive at retail this month at a suggested price of $129.99 per 750 ml bottle. As with all of Rempe’s pacts, Blood Oath Pact 10 is offered at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV).

Blood Oath Pact 10 combines some of the finest rare bourbons Rempe could find, including two well-bred ryed bourbons and one finished bourbon each complementing the others. In honor of Blood Oath’s double-digit age milestone, Rempe achieved a double finish for this year’s special, secret blend. The first finish was perfected in Cabernet Franc barrels, imbuing rich flavors of tart raspberries and black pepper. The second finish was refined in Merlot barrels, instilling the tastes of red stone fruits with undertones of vanilla, cocoa and anise. The result is a delicious and distinctive pour.

For a decade Rempe has sought out famous and forgotten rare bourbons and bottled them in combinations for his limited-release Blood Oath Pacts. Not to cater to anyone’s loyalties, he has sworn to never reveal where he finds his bourbon, but only promises to choose and make the best he knows.

“We wanted to create something truly distinctive and unique to mark our 10th edition of Blood Oath and we did just that,” said Rempe. “For this offering I sourced three extraordinary bourbons that could be elevated even further through a double finish in Cabernet Franc and Merlot casks, and would ultimately deliver the kind of rich, fruit-forward notes and smooth drinking experience I wanted to achieve. It’s a superb blend and I’m excited to share it.”

Lux Row only releases one new Blood Oath Pact annually, and each limited edition features a distinct and thoughtfully designed label. This year, a black label with striking silver highlights adorns the Blood Oath Pact 10 bottle. And like its predecessors, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact 10 comes in a commemorative fire-branded wooden display box.

The official launch of Blood Oath Pact 10 will include a total allocation of 51,000 bottles, 1,400 of which will be held for a future Trilogy release. The first Trilogy featuring Pacts 1, 2 and 3, was released in 2018, and the second Trilogy featuring Pacts 4, 5 and 6, was released in September 2021 in conjunction with National Bourbon Heritage Month. The next Blood Oath Trilogy, featuring Pacts 7, 8 and 9, will be offered later this year.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Sweet fruit with hints of oak.
PALATE: Rich caramel with flavors of tart raspberries and black pepper.
FINISH: Distinct notes of red stone fruits with undertones of vanilla and cocoa.

What Gary Says

Nose: Fruity with berries, nectarines, caramel, nutty note, cigar paper, oak and dark chocolate.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel, load of fruit including raspberries, plums, apricots and black cherry, honey, vanilla, dark chocolate, nutmeg, anise and a hint of root beer.
Finish: Long and syrupy with raspberry, honey and oak.
Comments: This is my favorite Blood Oath to date; complex, layered, nuanced, balanced, and all-around delicious! The finishes bring a ton of fruit to the party, but don’t overpower the bourbon spirit. This drinks lovely neat, but adding a few drops of water brightens the fruit notes on the nose, leaning more into a citrus vibe. I love the versatility of this bourbon – it is one that I could sit and ponder, nosing for hours over a long quiet evening. Or just sip while enjoying good company, and great whiskey!

Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

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Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

49.5% ABV
$35
Website
Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distiller Says

ST. LOUIS (April 9, 2024) – Lux Row Distillers announced the latest addition to the Ezra Brooks brand family: Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish. Finished in port casks from Portugal for six months, Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish delivers the great spicy ryed bourbon taste and smooth finish Ezra Brooks is known for in its already bold 99 proof bourbon, with additional flavor notes. The new variant will start shipping to retailers later this month at a suggested retail price of $34.99 per 750 ml bottle.

With a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malt, Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish is distilled using the highest quality ingredients, aged the old-fashioned way and bottled at 99 proof (49.5% ABV). Distinctive packaging features prominent callouts and a special label color highlighting the port cask finish.

“We created Ezra Brooks 99 Port Wine Cask Finish for bourbon fans looking for an elevated taste profile and unique flavor option,” said Eric Winter, Ezra Brooks brand manager. “Lux Row Master Distiller John Rempe was intrigued by the juxtaposition of ryed bourbon’s spicy flavor profile and the sweeter, dark fruit notes often found in port wines.”

“This special finish brings notes of vanilla, tobacco and leather together on the nose, and sweet fruitiness and dark chocolate on the palate,” said Rempe. “We’re excited to share this special new variety with consumers as the first in a planned series of annual finishes for the Ezra Brooks 99 family.”

What Gary Says

Nose: Charred oak, port wine notes of berries, raisins, caramel, vanilla, pipe tobacco and leather.
Palate: Round mouthfeel with caramel, dark chocolate, raspberry jam, honey, apricots and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderate in length, syrupy with spicy fruit notes and chocolate.
Comments: Nice edition to the Ezra Brooks family! The bourbon isn’t lost and overpowered by the finish, which I appreciate (frequent readers know a heavy-handed finish is one of my pet peeves). This is nicely balanced, highlighting the lovely fruit notes from the port cask finish while retaining the spicy sweetness of the bourbon. Drinks really well neat, as well as in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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