Must Try

Collingwood 21 Year Old

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

Collingwood 21 Year Old Rye Canadian Whisky
40% ABV
$70
Website
Collingwood Whisky releases its limited edition 21-Year-Old Rye in select United States and Canada markets. (PRNewsFoto/Collingwood)
What the Distillery Says:
Sadly, we waited so long to review this that all the distillery commentary was taken down from the Collingwood website.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Soft, oaky, minty spice with hints of leather, nutmeg and cereal; lot of subtle nuance going on.
Palate: Rounded, sweet, mellow fruitiness with toasted oak and maple-glazed pecans.
Finish: Wet, and a bit short
Comments: This was a one-time release a couple of years ago, and I passed on it as “too good to be true”. I mean, 21 yr rye whiskey for $70 (or less at some stores)?? I finally had a chance to sample it, and immediately regretted not buying it. I lucked into a bottle while traveling and immediately grabbed it. There aren’t a lot of whiskies at 80 proof that really hit me right, but this delivers a lot of flavor and nuance. I absolutely love the nose on this whiskey, and I really like the palate. This is softer – not as sharp-spicy as most US rye, but I wouldn’t let one slip by again.
Rating: Must Try/Must Buy

What Richard Says:
Nose: The “typical” rye mint note is a subtle back up. Creamy fruity notes play with more of grain saddle oil center. Yee-ha!
Palate: Rye bread topped with orange marmalade and sprinkled with cracked pepper.
Finish: Creamy and seriously mellow. You get just a bit of wood and pepper carry through.
Comments: All the way back in 1991 the 50 barrel lot that was batched together for this limited release was laid down at the Canadian Mist Distillery in Collingwood. 21 Years and some maple wood finishing later and this limited release only hit shelves in Ontario, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming only. So being in Georgia I jumped at the chance for a 21 year old rye at $70. The packaging alone is hilarious. The weird cologne shaped bottle and the speed pour spout are a humorous diversion from the over-hyped newer ryes coming out now. The liquid itself will surprise you too. It is not maple syrupy or rye spicy or over woody. Everything you would think when you hear “21 year old maple wood finished rye” is put aside on this one. Not necessarily my style of rye but it is an accomplishment.
Rating: Stands Out

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Alberta Rye Whisky Dark Batch

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

Alberta Rye Whisky Dark Batch
Canadian Blended Rye Whisky
45% ABV
$30
Website
bottle
What the Distillery Says:
There is no quaint, “Old Grandpa So-and-So”, ancient family story here.

Truth be told, you have to be unusually patient, persistent, fanatical, and the right amount of crazy to make rye whisky. Alberta Distillers embraced this challenge and not only made rye whisky, they mastered it. Today, Alberta Distillers is the number one rye producer in North America with more than 450,000 barrels aging on site.

After years of perfecting their craft, the master distillers at Alberta Distillers wanted to continue to push the rye envelope and come up with not just another rye whisky, but a better rye whisky.

And so, Alberta® Rye Dark Batch™ was born. A true expression of the skilled craftsmen who have made rye whisky their passion for nearly 70 years.

91% Rye Whisky
8% Bourbon
1% Sherry

What Gary Says:
Nose: Malted rye, cereal grain, sherry, with subtle smoke
Palate: Soft, subtle-malty-cereal thing, cherries, not sharp/crisp like American rye, more Earthy; sherry is less prominent than on the nose
Finish: Moderate, with the sherry peeking through
Comments: When I first nosed this, I thought of Lot 40 (another Canadian Rye) . . . but different. When I tasted it, that comparison disappeared. This is much more of a subtle/gentle whiskey on the palate, and reminds me a bit of a bottled cocktail. I really love how unique it is (and unique in a good way – not a “well that was odd for the sake of being odd” way). I also really appreciate that it doesn’t break the bank to take it out for a spin.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: The rye kind of gets muted by a creamy sherry nose. There is a minty sweetness there but the sherry stands out. It’s kind of like a mint julep made with sherry instead of bourbon.
Palate: Dark fruits, more sherry, peppery rye spice, with a minty back.
Finish: A little touch harsh. Not hot, like young but more industrial. It’s like licking a rubber band.
Comments: I recently had a barrel aged Manhattan that a coworker had worked on for some time. His secret ingredient was a bit of tawny port. Wow did that overwhelm the drink. I applaud the inventiveness of Alberta here but the sherry, and really all fortified wines, should be reserved for finishing/aging barrels and not as an actual additive to the whiskey. It really overpowers the nose, is the 800 pound gorilla on the palate, and oddly leaves the finish unfortunately untouched. It stands out as being different to me but not in a “you should consider that in purchasing choice” kind of way. I’m not a fan of this one. This will be my first and last bottle. [Or I may just gift the rest to Gary 😉 ]
Rating: Average

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Four Roses 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
2015 Release
54.3%ABV
$100
Website
fourroses-2015smallbatch
What the Distillery Says:
The 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon is timed with the retirement of Master Distiller Jim Rutledge and the appointment of Brent Elliot to the post.

Four Roses is the only distillery that combines two mashbills with five proprietary yeast strains to produce ten distinct Bourbon recipes, each with its own unique characteristics. The 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch features a 16-year-old Bourbon from Four Roses’ OBSK recipe, a 15-year-old OESK, a 14-year-old OESK and an 11-year-old OBSV.

“This combination of mature bourbons is something truly special,” said Rutledge. “It’s great when you can go out on a high note, and this Bourbon delivers that.”

Bottled at barrel strength with a proof of 108.5, the 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch mingles together aromas of ripe cherry, caramel custard and fresh magnolia. Spicy cinnamon and clove flavors give way to subtle tastes of orange peel, apricot and light honey. The long, velvety finish leaves lingering hints of creamy vanilla and fresh spearmint.

“This Bourbon is a great tribute to Jim Rutledge, whom I’ve had the privilege to work with closely over the past decade. His knowledge and passion, along with the strong team at our distillery, are responsible for the high-quality Bourbon we produce every day,” said Brent Elliott, who takes the post of master distiller September 1. “I couldn’t think of a better way to toast Jim’s exceptional career.”

Four Roses will produce and distribute approximately 12,600 hand-numbered bottles of the 2015 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon, which are expected to hit retail outlets in mid-September, during National Bourbon Heritage Month.

The limited edition release also highlights a year in which Four Roses announced an expansion that will increase its aging capacity and double its distillery in size and annual production by 2020.

“It’s an exciting time of growth for Four Roses, but what’s not going to change is the attention to detail that’s put into every Bourbon we handcraft,” said Elliott.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Ripe cherry, caramel custard, fresh magnolia
Palate: Spicy cinnamon, clove, orange peel, apricot, light honey
Finish: Long, velvety finish, lingering hints of creamy vanilla, fresh

What Gary Says:
Nose: Rich sweetness, spice, caramel, oak (more so than 2014), mincemeat pie.
Palate: Thick, robust dark fruit sweetness, toffee, more oak but nice balance; toasted orange zest.
Finish: Dries out after a bit, but not unpleasantly.
Comments: Different from the 2014 Small Batch Limited Edition; more oaky, and a bit more robust, but very nice. This one is thicker on the palate, but dries out more on the finish. Each year I wonder if this will be the year I’m disappointed with Four Roses’ fall limited edition offering (especially since the market is driving prices higher). This is not that year – I bought my bottle at the gift shop for $120, and have zero regrets.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Layers of sweet mints, caramel chews, vanilla custard, orange zest, and cloves.
Palate: Rich doesn’t begin to describe it. Cinnamon, cloves, citrus marmalade, oak staves, and poached stone fruits with a pinch of pepper around the edges.
Finish: Dry, spicy, minty, and slightly peppery.
Comments: The last Jim Rutledge Four Roses Limited Edition. It’s everything great about Four Roses. It’s not the absolute best Four Roses I’ve had but the sentimental value sends this through the roof. It’s a little drier and woodier than the best examples but the nose is the best I’ve ever sniffed from this distillery. For the uber whiskey geeks (like me) the recipes for this one are a 16 year OBSK, a 15 year OESK, a 14 year OESK, and an 11 year OBSV.
Rating: Must Buy

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Four Roses OBSQ

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection
Recipe OBSQ, 10 years and 11 months old
54.2% ABV
$59.99
Website

The Recipe:

OBSO is currently only available as a private selection bottling at the distillery gift shop or possibly at a local liquor store near you. Unlocking the recipe codes goes like this…

“O” starts all of Four Roses’ recipes and only means that it is made by Four Roses in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

“B” mean that this is the higher rye content of the two mashbills that Four Roses uses, specifically 60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley

“S” means that it is Straight Whiskey by U.S. Regulatory definition, again all their products carry this designation

“Q” distinguishes the yeast strain used. This specific one impacts more of a floral character onto the distillate

What Richard Says:
Nose: Grenadine, mint tea, jasmine, and clover.
Palate: This has a really nice layered richness to it. Cherry sweetness layered over jasmine and wisteria with a fresh mint note bringing up the back end.
Finish: This bottle finishes with kind of grassy note playing against the wood with a bit of black pepper teasing around the edges.
Comments: A great bottle of bourbon for sure. I don’t often get more floral notes from a bourbon but this one has it in spades. It’s also well layered and integrated. All around very enjoyable.
Rating: Must Try

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Four Roses OBSK

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Four Roses Single Barrel Private Selection
Recipe OBSK, 9 years and 5 months old
59.1% ABV
$59.99
Website

The Recipe:
OBSK is currently only available as a private selection bottling at the distillery gift shop or possibly at a local liquor store near you. Unlocking the recipe codes goes like this…

“O” starts all of Four Roses’ recipes and only means that it is made by Four Roses in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

“B” mean that this is the higher rye content of the two mashbills that Four Roses uses, specifically 60% Corn, 35% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley

“S” means that it is Straight Whiskey by U.S. Regulatory definition, again all their products carry this designation

“K” distinguishes the yeast strain used. This specific one impacts more of a slightly spicy character onto the distillate

What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla extract, cracked black pepper, cinnamon Red Hots, and wintergreen mint.
Palate: Another big hit of cinnamon Red Hots followed by vanilla creme brulee and 5th Avenue chocolate and toffee bars. Fighting it’s way to the front is a spicy mixture of cayenne, and habanero pepper notes. This one bites back!
Finish: Fresh mint and more vanilla play against another cayenne kick before it fades out to a medium oak finish.
Comments: I’m a little partial to this barrel because I helped pick it out. Even still, I step back and really appreciate the depth here. OBSK seems to be a pretty popular pick. More often than not I find store barrel selections in this recipe. I think that tells that it’s a drinkable approachable bourbon but also that you would have better luck finding an OBSK than many other recipe selections.
Rating: Must Try

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