Must Try

Yellowstone 2018 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Yellowstone 2018 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in No 3 Char Wine Cask

50.5% ABV
$100
Website

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery introduces the 2018 variety of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the third and final barrel finishing experiment by Limestone Branch Distillery, set to hit the market in October. This year’s final limited edition combines hand-selected, Kentucky Straight bourbons, ranging from four to 12 years in aging and finished in No. 3 char wine casks. Same as with the 2017 edition, this year’s special edition also includes Limestone Branch Distillery’s own distillate, carefully made with their signature heirloom white corn.

“The Yellowstone Limited Edition variants have been an incredible outlet for my creativity and flair for experimenting,” says Steve Beam, president and distiller of Limestone Branch Distillery. “We started the process in 2016 and I am proud of the three limited editions we created – and how they are linked to each other.”

Beam tells the story of the evolution of these three variants. “In 2016, we finished our Limited Edition bourbon in specially selected new wine barrels, which lent their special flavor to that year’s celebrated bourbon, but their journey had barely begun. Later that year, after the bourbon was dumped and bottled, the same 28 barrels were lightly charred and we filled them with our 2017 Limited Edition bourbon. This year, we took the very same barrels – now rich with complexity – and deeply charred them before filling them with our 2018 Limited Edition.”

The barrel journey, and the hand-selected bourbon used in these products, created a rich flavor profile. Beam notes that the heavy char over bourbon-wet oak produced a rich palate of burnt sugar, deep caramel and a lingering essence of crème brulée.

Bottled at 101 proof and available in 750ml bottles signed by Steve Beam and nestled in commemorative tubes, the 2018 Yellowstone Limited Edition marks the final piece of this award-winning trilogy.

Approximately 12,000 bottles of this bourbon are being produced this fall at Limestone Branch Distillery, and the suggested retail price is $99.99.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Vanilla, caramel, allspice, sour oak with hints of cigar paper, hazelnuts, milk chocolate with a subtle wine twang.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, honey, salted caramel with hazelnuts that sharpens with spicy wine notes and dried apricots.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with some pepper spice at the end.
Comments:  A lot of folks are experimenting with different finishes, and bourbon has such an intense flavor – some folks I think wind up going over the top.  This is not one of those cases.  The wine cask finish is done very well, hot heavy handed in the least, but not so light that you don’t recognize it is there.  In my opinion, this is where “finishing” is meant to be.  I imagine that this would be a delicious bourbon even without that extra bit, but I’m delighted that they’ve taken care in the balance.  I hadn’t tried the previous Yellowstone limited editions so unfortunately can’t compare, but on its own this is a very well crafted whiskey.  If you are a fan of finished bourbons in particular, I’d push this up to a ‘Must Try’.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

We would like to thank Limestone Branch and Common Ground PR for sending us samples to review.

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Little Book Chapter 2: Noe Simple Task

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

Little Book Chapter 2: Noe Simple Task
59.4% ABV
$90 – $100
Website

What the Blender Says

FREDDIE’S NOTE
As the name implies, this round of Little Book was a long journey that really tested my skills as a blender. Maybe I jinxed myself naming my first batch “the Easy.” Superstitions aside, I spent a lot of time in the lab on this one. I tried almost forty different recipes. But in the end, all that hard work paid off and we landed on a one-of-a-kind whiskey I’m really proud of.

The road to Noe Simple Task started when I visited our Canadian distilleries in early 2017. I enjoy travelling to different places in the world to see how they distill their spirits. There, I was able to taste some great Canadian whisky straight out of the barrel. I was really drawn to the fruit and floral notes they achieve. I wanted to know more.

Later in the year I went back for a deeper dive to learn all about their process. And taste some more great whisky. This was a step outside my comfort zone. The rules and laws for making whiskey in Kentucky that I grew up with don’t apply up there. But I came back inspired and began blending.

Now, while the flavors of the Canadian whisky had piqued my interest, my heart still lies in Kentucky. So I was excited about the idea of bringing the best of both worlds together. Knowing I wanted to blend with Kentucky Straight Rye, I started experimenting with different Canadian whiskies, trying to pull in those fruity and floral notes. They use a lot of different barrels to age up there, so I was able to play around with a lot of different flavors. I was looking for something that would round out the blend and really showcase the nuances of both the American and Canadian whiskies. In the end, I found the 40-year-old whisky and 13-year-old rye helped me achieve exactly what I wanted—a truly balanced and refined whiskey with a nice, lingering finish that’s full of flavor.

Blend Overview:

    • 13-year-old, uncut and unfiltered1 Canadian rye whisky at 111.9 proof
    • 8-year-old, uncut and unfiltered1 Kentucky straight rye whiskey at 119.8 proof
    • 40-year-old, uncut and unfiltered1 Canadian whisky at 137.8 proof
    • Proof: 118.8

Tasting Notes: Little Book “Noe Simple Task” features floral and fruity notes that balance out the spice from the rye whiskies in the final blend. The finish is long, lingering and spicy with notes of caramel.
Sipping Suggestions: Neat, over ice, or with a few drops of water

1While we get every last ounce of charred oak flavor from our barrels, we make sure any actual pieces of barrel wood are left behind at the distillery.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Evergreen/pine with mint, maple syrup, cloves, nutmeg and subtle dried fruit.
Palate:  Warm and sweet, vanilla, caramel, mincemeat pie with raisins and apples.
Finish:  Moderately long, thick with a cinnamon note.
Comments:  I’m a fan of Canadian rye, and the nose screams that to me – more so than the Kentucky rye which is more aggressive. There are some typical notes found in both (for me, mint and some of the baking spices), but I find evergreen notes often in the Canadian rye whiskies. On the palate, it is far more balanced – sweet with those baking spices. Sipping neat, this drinks easier than 118.8 proof. I wasn’t a big fan of the first Little Book release, but this is damn tasty whiskey; one I could just sip and enjoy or take my time pondering. Fairly complex, balanced, and just delicious.  Would I love to see this at a lower price point?  Sure, but hard to argue that there are other similar pours out there to be had for less (for starters, hard to find something similar!)  If you know you like Canadian rye whiskey, I’d call this a ‘Must Try’.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

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Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire and Centenaire Sidecar

/ / Cocktails, Other Spirits, Review / ,

Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire
40% ABV
$150-$199
Website

What the Blender Says
Introduced in 1927, Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire
commemorates the 100th anniversary of the House of Marnier
Lapostolle. Cuvée du Centenaire is an exceptional blend of refined
XO Cognacs combined with exotic bitter orange liqueur. It is 82% XO Cognac.

It is a superb, fine and complex liqueur, with flavors and aromas
from the old Cognacs, including mild tobacco and balsamic.
Cuvée du Centenaire has earned multiple awards, including
Double Gold at the 2017 San Francisco Spirits Competition, as
well as an “Extraordinary” designation and the Chairman’s Trophy
at the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Beautiful medium amber color.
AROMA: Superb, rich finesse and complexity of candied orange notes, hints of tobacco and balsamic originating from the cognac.
TASTE: Round and velvety notes from the characteristics of older cognac blends with lingering flavors of dried fruit, almonds and honey.
FINISH: Lovely lingering finish with nuances of orange essence, dried fruit with powerful notes of cognac.

It is best served neat or on the rocks or enjoyed in a special
cocktail like the Centenaire Sidecar.

What Gary Says
Nose:  Cognac more dominant compared with the Cordon Rouge, with sweet exotic orange spice, floral notes, hints of tea and sandalwood.
Palate:  Rich, creamy mouthfeel with complex fruit (tangelo, grapes, sultanas), honey, tea, and just a hint of cinnamon.
Finish:  Long, sweet and satisfying.
Comments:  That orange sweetness is still there for sure, but in a more subdued fashion.  Much better balanced with the sophisticated, older cognac – and a lot of flavor for 40% ABV.  If you’re a fan of sipping Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge and looking for something fancy, more complex, and nuanced – I would call this a ‘Must Try’.  The higher percentage of cognac (Grand Marnier Cordon Rouge is 51% or more cognac) and upgraded quality of cognac definitely stand out, and make for a much more refined sipper.  I did try adding a bit of water to it, and found that it tamped down the cognac’s complexity and subtly far more than the sweetness of the orange liqueur, throwing it out of balance for my liking.  I’d recommend enjoying this neat, and if I wanted it chilled – throw a glass in the freezer.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

I followed their recommendation rather than working this into a whiskey-based cocktail.

Grand Sidecar (or Centenaire Sidecar)

1 oz Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire
½ oz VSOP cognac (I used Remy Martin)
½ oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
Garish with orange twist

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Shake and strain into a coupe glass.

Note – they recommend the “Centenaire Sidecar” but don’t list that on their site, so making the assumption it is a simple swap within the recipe posted for the Grand Sidecar.

With a fine spirit like the Cuvée du Centenaire, I followed their recipe exactly (other than the glassware). I also didn’t try to contrast it with a typical sidecar, but did make a Grand Sidecar to better understand how it changes the cocktail.

What Gary Thought:  To start, I hadn’t ever had a Sidecar before (or not that I remember), and wasn’t sure what to expect.  Based on the ingredients, I expected it would be sour, and boy was it.  I found both the Grand Sidecar and Centenaire Sidecar to be incredibly sour – so much so that I couldn’t really tell one from the other (which in my opinion was a crying shame, knowing how lovely the Cuvée du Centenaire is on its own!)  It reminds me of a whiskey sour where the “sour” is really the star of the show.

Maybe the lemon I had was a real zinger (I measured pretty precisely to the recipe).  I did check some other Sidecar recipes and found several had the same ratio of lemon juice to the other components (1 in 4 parts wasn’t uncommon, although several were 1 in 5, or 1 in 7).

Since I’d only taken a small sip, I decided to improvise and go back to my mixing glass and add another 1oz Cuvée du Centenaire and ½ oz VSOP cognac – effectively cutting the ratio of lemon juice in half.  Shook that with some ice and added to the original.  Much improved for my liking, although still fairly sour.  The complexity of the Cuvée du Centenaire is there, although it is fighting through the lemon juice.

If you’re a fan of the Sidecar, this might be just absolutely delicious – although I cannot in good faith recommend using this lovely spirit in that cocktail.  To my palate, the difference in using Grand Marnier Cordon Rogue vs this is so incredibly minor, it is borderline criminal.  I’d guess that the vast majority of folks wouldn’t find a difference if given both blind – or if they found a difference, could tell which one was “better”.  Don’t get me wrong – I love a good whiskey sour from time to time, but I don’t use my top shelf bourbon in that for the same reason.  Then again – I also don’t tell people what to do with their whiskey, or spirits.  If you pick up a bottle of the Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire, however you enjoy it is up to you.  Personally, I’d sip and savor every last drop neat, or if I pour a larger pour maybe with an ice cube.

Cheers!
Gary

We would like to thank HL Group for sending us a sample to review and play with!

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Wild Turkey 101 – 8 Years Old (Dusty, 1984 Decanter)

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

Wild Turkey 101 – 8 Years Old (Dusty, 1984 Decanter)
50.5% ABV
$80
NOTE: This was a decanter I purchased in 2014 in Georgia with an exceptional fill level and decanted.


What Gary Says
Nose:  Rich salted caramel, oak, allspice, brown sugar, dark chocolate, vanilla, a hint of cinnamon and smokey fall leaves.
Palate:  Sweet but sharp, deep caramel bomb with honey, vanilla, some bitter chocolate notes, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of clove and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with cracked pepper spice.
Comments:  I love older Wild Turkey, and this decanter was not an exception. Buying a sealed decanter is a gamble – it is difficult to tell how full it is, or if the contents will be drinkable. I’ve seen a few that were fairly full but clearly contaminated (looking dark like coffee and smelling “off”). I was very fortunate; this had less than 5% loss in the 30 years it spent in the decanter, and its color was a lovely dark copper. The risk of a low fill or contaminated contents is the only reason I wouldn’t rate this a ‘Must Buy’, since there is absolutely some risk you have to accept. But when you get lucky – it is well worth it!
Rating: Must Try

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Slane Irish Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review / ,

Slane Irish Whiskey
40% ABV
$25 – $30
Website

What the Blender Says
Three Unique Casks for a Uniquely Complex Spirit
Slane Irish Whiskey takes many of its complex and smooth qualities from our signature Triple Casked process. Whiskey is aged in three varieties of casks: Virgin and Seasoned casks raised by hand at the venerated Brown-Forman Cooperages – and Oloroso sherry casks by way of Jerez in Spain. Once the liquid has been aged to perfection, it is masterfully blended to create an exceptional Irish whiskey.

Tasting Notes
Smooth, complex and robust. Slane Irish Whiskey marries toasted grain and malt whiskeys with the distinctive flavours of each cask.
NOSE: Complex fruit with drizzles of caramel, butterscotch and vanilla; brown spice and toasted oak
TASTE: Spicy at first but quickly sweetened with rich caramel, vanilla and butterscotch atop a deep layer of dried fruit
FINISH: Lingering hints of dry fruit and caramelised wood sugar

What Gary Says
Nose:  Fruity (reminds me a bit of young rye); notes of caramel, butterscotch, toasted oak with hints of allspice and worn leather (like an old baseball glove).
Palate:  Sweet and soft; pears, peaches, plums with honey, subtle oak, nutmeg, and notes of malt.
Finish:  Medium length, slightly drying with a slight spice note.
Comments:  For 40% ABV (and $35 for a 1 liter!), this has a lot more character than I would have anticipated. I tried this in a pub in Ireland as it was a bottle I’d never heard of (not available in Georgia) and was fairly inexpensive. I thought it was delicious (although sometimes an idyllic setting can make something taste better). I decided I’d try to pick up a bottle to spend more quality time with, and was not disappointed in the least. The triple-cask maturation definitely makes it stand out as unique, and it punches well above it’s weight. Sometimes we enthusiasts can be purists, and turn our noses up when a bottle isn’t age stated, or doesn’t explicitly state no coloring was added. No, this isn’t a terribly complex dram, but if you’re a fan of just drinking Irish whiskey – I think you’ve got to at least try this.
Rating: Must Try; Great Value

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