Must Try

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
52% ABV
$59.99
Website
russell
What the Distillery Says:
On a quest to create a versatile and robust Rye that shines as well in cocktails as it does on its own, the Russells carefully selected only the best barrels primarily from the “center cut” locations (levels 3 – 5) of the rick houses for their newest creation. Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye is not chilled-filtered to capture all the flavor rye provides. Rich caramel in color, this single barrel release offers a balance of spicy pepper, vanilla and caramel on the nose and palate.

“Jimmy and I have always been passionate about Rye – it’s why our Wild Turkey and Russell’s Reserve expressions all have that spicy kick – and why we’ve also had a staple of Rye Whiskey in our portfolio for decades,” said Master Distiller Eddie Russell. “We know bartenders love to experiment with Rye, but what’s equally exciting is seeing the uptick in consumer interest. I’m having just as many conversations in the global marketplace about our Rye offerings as I am about our Bourbon offerings.”

Since the start of his career, Eddie has studied mixology’s influence on the rapidly growing Bourbon industry. After seeing a renewed interest in classic cocktails like Boulevardiers, Manhattans, Old Fashioneds, and Sazeracs, all of which call for Rye, Eddie anticipated there would be an increased demand for Bourbon’s spicy cousin. Today, the Whiskey industry teeters on the cusp of a full tilt Rye revival and Jimmy and Eddie are leading as they always have, with their new release of Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Bright (but rich) wintergreen spice with sweet oak.
Palate: Soft/rich mouthfeel, but rye snap, peppermint spice and cloves.
Finish: Moderately long, and softens near the end.
Comments: I really like Wild Turkey’s 101 Proof Rye (I’ll politely leave out my thoughts on the 81 proof rye), and this is absolutely a cut above that. I love how rich the mouthfeel on this whiskey is (thank you for not chill-filtering this one!), while still delivering that rye flavor kick. As a single barrel product, there’s always some risk of variability. I do really wish they had an age statement. If I had to guess, I’d say it is 5 to 6 yrs old. My knee-jerk reaction was that this seems priced a bit high, but as I scanned the shelves for comparable ryes that are less dough – I didn’t see much to be had. The Wild Turkey 101 Proof Rye might be $15 less (and for a 1 liter bottle; so call it $20 less?), but the lack of chill filtering on these along with a couple proof points (and probably a couple of years of age) probably justify the lift. If you like that sorta thing (and if you are generally a fan of rye whiskey, I think you likely will!)
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Heavy and dripping with minty and herbal rye goodness layered over a bed of wet pine needles. This is no near bourbon rye nose.
Palate: This one give a quick punch the mouth. It’s not as overly mellow as the original Russel’s Reserve Rye was when it was release several years ago. Minty, big doses of backing spices, and delicious caramel sweetness.
Finish: There is lingering herbal and oak note that seems to stick around for quite a while.
Comments: I’m torn. I really am. Maybe I’m just a Luddite that just can’t move past the pricing and availability of yore. Although, I’m still in my thirties so “yore” is like only 10 to 15 years ago. Still, as good as this is, and it is VERY good, for sixty bucks this may be the last bottle I buy. Solid step up for Turkey rye, no doubt. You will have to decide for yourself on the price proposition.
Rating: Must Try

Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye Read More »

Parker’s Heritage Malt

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

Parker’s Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey Aged 8 Years
54% ABV
$99.99
Website
ParkersHC_2015_bs-200x300
What the Distillery Says:
Not much really. We know that it has a mashbill of 65% malted barley and 35% corn and was distilled at the company’s Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. Then it matured for eight years on the 5th and 7th floors of Heaven Hill’s Rickhouse Y in Bardstown.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Malty (no surprise), oak, bit of smoke with a subtle cornbread sweetness.
Palate: Starts sweet caramel candies, then starts to dry into a more cereal, crisp light spice.
Finish: Moderate and dry (a bit astringent).
Comments: Quite pleasant, and to me not similar to some other US Single Malts (as this isn’t a single malt). The corn in the mashbill comes through, and makes for a unique experience with more sweetness. If you’re a whiskey-geek, I’d definitely look to give this a try. If you like bourbon but not scotch, or vice-versa; it might be a bit expensive to find out. While I would not want anyone to think it is “like bourbon”, I would consider it “more like bourbon” than I would “more like single malt”.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Corn syrup poured over a malted grain covered floor.
Palate: More syrupy sweetness over a bowl of Malt-o-Meal.
Finish: Dry and a little hot more grain forward notes at the end.
Comments: If you are thinking “Parker’s Malt” is anything like scotch it would be difficult to be more wrong. This drinks more like a corn whiskey than any “malt” I’ve ever had. It’s incredibly sweet and all the grain, malt, and cereal notes come more toward the back. It’s not unpleasant at all. It’s just a bit of a one trick pony. There is nowhere near the depth of flavors here as what you would come to expect from the Parker’s line. For $100 I would probably pass on the bottle but it’s worth a try if you see it at your local watering hole.
Rating: Stands Out

Parker’s Heritage Malt Read More »

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
55% ABV
$75
Website
2015-05-13-1431481998-6160108-michtersbarrelstrengthrye
What the Bottler Says:
Since the 1990’s, the Michter’s team has been doing pioneering work to re-establish the high quality American Rye whiskey category. The May 2015 inaugural release of Michter’s US 1 Barrel Strength Rye marks yet another milestone in that quest. For maturation, the Rye distillate is entered into the barrel at 103 proof, rather than a more industry standard higher proof. Barrel entry at a lower proof of 103 rather than a higher proof costs Michter’s more money in terms of barrels and warehousing, but we believe it yields a richer, smoother, more full-bodied whiskey after proper maturation. A single barrel product, each barrel of Michter’s US 1 Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Rye is bottled at its particular alcohol level at the time of bottling. The majority of barrels in the inaugural release range from 108 to 110.8 proof. To savor it is a unique experience for anyone who enjoys Rye whiskey.

Production: Single Barrel. Limited quantities
State of Distillation: Kentucky
Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Cooperage: Fire-charred, new American white oak barrels
Barrelling Strength: 103 Proof
Bottling Strength: Each barrel is bottled at its particular alcohol level at the time of bottling. The majority of barrels range from 108 to 110.8 proof.
Tasting Notes: Butterscotch and cinnamon with a hint of cherries on the nose; warming, rich, toasty vanilla and caramel up front with a dry oaky spice on the finish

What Gary Says:
Nose: Rich, fruity spice; a little water really opens it up – bringing brown sugar and a touch of (seriously) BBQ sauce.
Palate: Really nice thick mouthfeel with warm pepper spice, fruity (but not citrusy – more like figs, apricots); a touch of water brings out some nougat and cocoa.
Finish: Lingers nicely, and stays wet.
Comments: This is a really unique rye, it makes me think of Lot 40 Malted rye (not that you would ever mistake the two, but something about it makes me think “malted rye”). I sampled this a few times over a two week period, and it is honestly the first whiskey that – with a touch of water – brings to mind BBQ sauce (and not in a bad way!!) This does go into the barrel at a lower proof than most in the industry (103 proof, where many/most go in at 125 proof), and I think that certainly contributes to the lovely mouthfeel and uniqueness. Rye fans will appreciate what this has to offer, although be prepared to pay for the experience.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Toasted nuts, burnt churros, and a nice vanilla sweetness.
Palate: Dark chocolate, cracked pepper, and caramel come out first. Spend more time with it and you get nice dark fruit notes weaving through it.
Finish: Much more woody than spicy with a light dusting of cocoa powder.
Comments: This is a very nice high proof rye. It’s not necessarily nice enough to warrant the price tag but to be honest I have the same complaint about everything Michter’s puts out. I’m not the hardcore rye hound that Gary is but I appreciate a well made rye like this. It doesn’t bowl me over in any particular way but it’s nice. I will enjoy the bottle I bought. However, given the price I won’t buy a second.
Rating: Stands Out

Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye Read More »

William Heavenhill Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review /

William Heavenhill Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Third Edition)
50% ABV
$130
Website

What the Distillery Says:
For William Heavenhill, distilling was a family tradition. By some accounts, Heavenhill corn whiskey supplied Bardstown’s historic Talbott Tavern in the early 1800s. The limestone spring William used to make his Bourbon was the same spring that inspired our company’s original name: The Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.

Each edition of William Heavenhill is different than the previous one. A new edition is released every Fall exclusively at the Bourbon Heritage Center. This third edition of William Heavenhill is an extremely limited and unique offering. It has been aged for 132 months under the careful supervision of our Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam. Comprised of less than 12 barrels, this small batch Bottled-In-Bond product is the perfect addition to any whiskey connoisseur’s collection.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet caramel, vanilla, crème brulee with a hint of anise; subtle oak and a wisp of smoke.
Palate: Starts like candy (I’m picturing a Heath bar?) before dancing over to spicy, and finishes softly; rice pudding & peach chutney.
Finish: Medium in length, and soft.
Comments: Wow – what a great balance between the sweetness and spice! I sampled this at the gift shop just as I was coming down with a cold, so I didn’t pick one up (couldn’t really taste anything). Had no idea what I was missing out on. This is a lovely whiskey that is right in my wheelhouse. Sweet, but not cloyingly so. Spicy, but not to sharp. It takes me on a mellow rollercoaster through all of my favorite places.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Soft and rich. Candy and sweet cherry liqueur with notes of black licorice and vanilla cream.
Palate: Sweet, rich, and delicious. Toffee and cherry candy sweetness playing with a nice rye spiciness and woody back note.
Finish: Light wood and little smokey hints.
Comments: Delicious. This is a whiskey that gets better every time I taste it. The editions change year to year but if you happen to come across this you really have to try it.
Rating: Must Try

William Heavenhill Small Batch Read More »

Nikka Coffey Grain

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Nikka Coffey Grain Whisky
45% ABV
$60 to $65
Website
eng_pc_detail_btl_coffeygrain
What the Distillery Says:
This Grain Whisky is distilled in a “Coffey still”, which is a very traditional and rare patent still Nikka imported from Scotland in 1963. The Coffey still produces a complex whisky with a mellow and sweet taste originating from the grain itself. Please enjoy the uniqueness of this whisky which Nikka offers to the connoisseurs.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Creamy and floral with a sharpness that reminds me most of young bourbon all with an herbal back note.
Palate: Deliciously creamy like a lovely vanilla custard enhanced by a light caramel sweetness.
Finish: This finishes a little hotter and spicier than you would expect going through the nose and palate.
Comments: I’ve called other whiskeys “ridiculously drinkable” in the past but this sets a whole new standard. This delicious little beauty from the land of the rising sun goes down like water. A whiskey for fans of scotch, Japanese whisky, and bourbon.
Rating: Must Try

Nikka Coffey Grain Read More »