Must Try

High West Rendezvous Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

High West Whiskey Rendezvous Rye
Batch 1349, Bottle 109
46% ABV
$45 to $55
Website
Rendezvous Rye
What the Distillery Says:
Rendezvous Rye is a blend of two exotic straight rye whiskies; one old, and one young. It marries the rich aromatic qualities of a 16-year-old rye with the bold spicy properties of 6-year-old rye to create a full flavored, very complex whiskey. The 6-year-old boasts an uncommonly high 95% rye mash bill. Almost every other straight rye whiskey you can buy today is barely legal, with 51-53% rye in the mash bill. Not Rendezvous Rye. It honors the way rye whiskey used to be made, with a high rye content and full, uncompromised flavor. With Rendezvous Rye, you get a taste of authentic rye whiskey. We hope you enjoy it.

What Richard Says:
Nose: That great rye spearmint note comes through first. Sweet stone fruits, fresh cut grass and buttery notes.
Palate: Molasses sweetness, well balanced, with the rye spice on the back end.
Finish: Rye pepper, light wood, and minty finish lingering to mid length.
Comments: This was my first introduction to High West, and while iterations have varied a bit I still find it to be a great all around rye. It is killer in cocktails and a lovely sipping rye. Kudos to Dave Perkins for his blending talents.
Rating: Must Try

High West Rendezvous Rye Read More »

Thomas H. Handy Rye 2009

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey
2009 Release
64.5% ABV
$70 to $90
Website
thomas_h_handy
What the Distillery Says:
Named after the New Orleans bartender who first used rye whiskey in the Sazerac Cocktail, this uncut and unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey is bottled directly from the barrel, just as it was over a century ago. Full of rich flavors, this authentic American rye whiskey is a symbol of the timeless history of New Orleans and the legacy of Thomas H. Handy.

TASTING NOTES:
Powerful, lush, and boldly spicy. Flavors of toffee, fig cake, and candied fruit, followed by mint, cinnamon and clove. The finish ultimately reveals subtle notes of allspice, coconut and nutmeg. Long and warm.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Licorice, mint, melons, and brown sugar. There is a ton going on in the nose here. It’s like a symphony that I’m having trouble pulling out the various instruments.
Palate: Rich and sweet with lots of oranges, vanilla, and caramel.
Finish: Fire water out the bottle and with the right amount of water a lovely mint finish develops.
Comments: Yes, I know you’re all super men and wonder women but this is bottled at 64.5% ABV. Please add some water or you won’t be able to taste shit after your first few sips of this. If they weren’t charging so much for a 7 year old rye I’d tell you that you had to buy it but being north of $70 is steep.
Rating:Must Try

Thomas H. Handy Rye 2009 Read More »

Ancient Ancient Age 10 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Ancient Ancient Age 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
43% ABV
$15 to $18
Website (this is for the 10 Star, as the 10 Year has been discontinued)
AAA_10BS
What the Distillery Says:
Aged for a decade and bottled at 86 proof, this bourbon is a cult classic. Full of subtle flavors, it is perfect for sipping and easy to enjoy by new bourbon drinkers and connoisseurs alike.

Tasting Notes:
A nose of honey, maple, mixed fruits and spice. Rye takes the lead on flavor with subtle licorice and hickory notes along with vanilla and spice. A long, spicy finish that maintains its timeless flavors.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Wildflower honey, honeycrisp apples, and peaches.
Palate: Lots of vanilla and black pepper with notes of cinnamon
Finish: Black pepper and heavy wood.
Comments: In this day and age of evaporating age statements, funky finishes, and all the latest whiz bang technology it almost seems like classic bourbon is getting harder to find. It’s not really harder to find, you just have to know what to look for. AAA 10 year old is just that, classic, good, uncomplicated bourbon. If you ever ask yourself what grandpa was drinking back in the day then pick up a bottle of AAA 10 year if you can find it (hard to find outside of Kentucky) or Old Grand Dad Bottled-In-Bond, sick back, and think back to simpler time for bourbon. A time when it wasn’t all about the % rye is so and so’s mashbill or where you can find a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle. It’s not an amazing bourbon by any means but it’s good and classic.
Rating: Must Try

Ancient Ancient Age 10 Year Read More »

Blanton’s

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
46.5% ABV
$55
Website
blantons_sb
What the Distillery Says:
In the winter of 1881, Albert Bacon Blanton was born into one of the first families of bourbon history. At the age of sixteen, he started work in the Distillery as an office boy and fast became a leading pioneer in the development of bourbon. From the time he was made company president in 1921 until his retirement in 1952, his Distillery expanded from 44 to 144 buildings to become the largest Distillery of its day. During that period Colonel Blanton created his very special and limited supply of bourbon – his private reserve – handpicked and stored in what now is known as the famous Warehouse H. Although Colonel Blanton died in the spring of 1959, his legacy lives. The Single Barrel Bourbon is the first of its kind.

Tasting Notes:
What Richard Says:
Nose: Light and powdery on the nose. Vanilla and wintergreen stand out with a little anise. Orange and citrus notes as the nose develops.
Palate: Surprisingly sweet and reminiscent of Corn Pops. Heavy vanilla, caramel, and oak.
Finish: Dry, oaky, and slightly bitter.
Comments: Elmer T. Lee’s groundbreaking single barrel bourbon is still and damn good dram. The “single barrel” field has exploded since this was first release in 1984 but Blanton’s still sets the benchmark. An excellent mid priced bourbon. Either try it for the fact it was the first single barrel bourbon commercially release or just because it’s damn good. Either way, try it.
Rating: Must Try

Blanton’s Read More »

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey
47% ABV
$45 to $50
Website
JD SB
What the Distillery Says:
Single Barrel is matured in the highest reaches of our barrelhouse, where the dramatic changes in temperature cause its color and taste to deepen further. We still hand select each barrel for its robust taste and notes of toasted oak, vanilla and caramel.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak and peanut butter on burnt toast.
Palate: Richer and creamier than regular Jack by far. More vanilla, caramel, black pepper, and wood in the mouth.
Finish: The alcohol gives it a little more heat on the finish riding into pepper and oak.
Comments: Not challenging by any stretch but much better than Old No. 7. $50 better? Well, no. I do enjoy this and to me it’s what Jack Daniels should taste like but it’s not a $50 bottle. At least not if it’s my money. That said, if you haven’t tried it and see it at a bar I would recommend giving it a try.
Rating: Must Try

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Read More »