Evan Williams Cherry Reserve Kentucky Liqueur 35% ABV/70 Proof $13 to $16 Widely available across the U.S.
What the Distillery Says: Evan Williams Cherry Reserve Kentucky Liqueur, a new product that marries extra-aged Evan Williams Bourbon with natural cherry flavor.
What Richard Says: Nose: Luden’s cherry cough drops floating in cherry 7-Up. Palate: Cloyingly sweet. Cherry Nyquil comes to mind. No hint of Evan Williams. Finish: That sickly sweet taste hangs around for almost a minute. As it clears it leaves a light pleasant cherry note for a while. The finish is definitely the best part. Comments: The best thing about this is that it actually make me yearn for Red Stag. Again, the whiskey connoisseur is not the audience they are targeting. However, if you’re inclined toward a cherry/whiskey infusion then I would pick Red Stag over this. Evan Williams Bourbon is so smooth that it can’t really stand up to all that cherry sweetness as well as Jim Beam. Rating: Probably Pass
Red Stag Kentucky Straight Bourbon Infused with Natural Flavors 40% ABV/80 Proof $15 to $18 Available across the U.S. What the Distillery Says: Red Stag contains all the pride of the Beam Family’s 200 year history. Originated by Jaco Beam in 1795, Beam Bourbons are the product of seven generations of pioneering distillers. Like all Jim Beam products, Red Stag Black Cherry is made from the highest quality ingredients. And because it is made with Jim Beam, the world’s finest bourbon, it has a delicious taste and is rich with American heritage.
What Richard Says: Nose: It smells like saltwater taffy floating in generic cherry Nyquil. Palate: Luden’s cough drops (you know the ones in the white box that all get stuck together) with a Jim Beam chaser. Finish: It’s like cherry generic Nyquil on the finish. Comments: Do I hate it? No. It’s not as appalling as the popular nickname “Reg Gag” would imply but i’m not going to buy a bottle. I’m also not the target market for this product. I think among flavored/infused whiskeys this is one of the better ones. I’m going to pass on this but if you’re inclined to give it a try then by all means. Rating: Probably Pass
Old Crow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 40% ABV/80 Proof $8 to $10 per liter Found on bottom shelves around the country What the Distillery Says:
They don’t really say a whole lot. Press on bottom shelf brands is sparse at best.
What Richard Says: Nose: Rubbing alcohol, moldy flowers, and wet dog. Palate: Harsh, a little sweet, and did I mention harsh? Better than Black Velvet though. Finish: I wish this didn’t stick around as long as it does. It’s bitter and hot on the finish. Comments: I saw this four $4 a pint when I was at the store recently and thought what the hell. Interestingly, I purchased it the same day I picked up a bottle of Macallan 18 Year Old so I got a pretty funny look from the guy behind the counter. This is an old brand with history dating back to the 1830’s. It’s named after James Crow, a Scottish immigrant who started distilling near Frankfort back then. It was a favorite drink of Ulysses S. Grant but his Old Crow is not this Old Crow. Old Crow now is a 3 year old straight bourbon made from the Jim Beam recipe by Beam Global/Fortune Brands. It’s what you would expect from such a product. No surprises here. I would definitely regulate this to the mixer cabinet if you’re unfortunate enough to own a bottle. Rating: Probably Pass
Early Times 354 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 40% ABV/80 Proof $15 to $17 Widely Available
What the Distillery Says: Experience where bourbon begins.
A little bourbon history: Early Times started out as a bourbon back in 1860, and remained so until the early 1980s.
It all started with our founder, Jack Beam (Jim’s uncle), who began working at his family’s distillery at the tender age of 15. In short order, he was running the operation and in 1860 built his own distillery at Early Times Station, Kentucky.
Beam named his whisky Early Times, both as a tribute to its place of origin and as a nod to the old-world craftsmanship that goes into making it. He believed in the early times method of whisky-making: mashing grain in small tubs, boiling the beer and whisky in copper stills over open fires. It’s an abiding belief that has stayed with the Early Times brand ever since.
By 1953 Early Times was the best-selling bourbon in the world. As the vintage advertising from that era proclaimed, Early Times is “the whisky that made Kentucky whiskies famous.” Steeped in bourbon history, Early Times Distillery’s federal permit, No. 354, is the longest held in Kentucky.
Today Early Times pays homage to its rich bourbon heritage with Early Times 354 Bourbon.
This classic, full-bodied bourbon honors that philosophy – delivering superior taste and exceptional value. In fact, Early Times 354 Bourbon was preferred by Jim Beam drinkers in a national, independent taste test.*
Crafted with pure water, select grains and proprietary yeast, carefully distilled, matured for four years in select oak barrels and bottled at 80 proof, it’s the newest (and in a way, the oldest) member of the Early Times family.
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber
Aroma: Spicy with sweet fruit, fresh oak and delicate corn notes underscored by a layer of vanilla and caramel
Taste: A lively entry with spice, caramel and vanilla that melt into a mixture of fresh and dried fruit notes
Finish: Warm with subtle hints of apple and corn
What Richard Says: Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, a hint of pipe smoke, and fruit. Palate: A little vanilla, and fruit but it’s pretty bland, yet harsh. More than anything it tastes young. Finish: Oak and a little tart. Comments: This is much better than regular Early Times. Even still, this is still a little too young. I think it makes a fine mixer or on the rocks but I’d pass on drinking this straight. Rating: Probably Pass We want to thank Brown Forman for providing us with a bottle for review.
Early Times Kentucky Whisky 40% ABV $13 to $15 Available damn near everywhere What the Distillery Says: Early Times Kentucky Whisky is distilled, aged a minimum of three years and barreled in used oak barrels at the Early Times Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. We are the only company to own its own cooperage and make its own barrels, which allows us to control how the barrel contributes to the taste characteristics of Early Times. Early Times Kentucky Whisky is known for being a high-quality whisky that delivers a consistently smooth taste and flavor profile while still being offered at a value to our consumers.
Color: Light, bright honey
Nose: A fresh, sharp oak note ripens into a dry clove spice and hay, hints of leather, dill spice and fruit add complexity to a subtle foundation of white chocolate.
Taste: Smooth and creamy malt character with a light oak sweetness and herbal grass notes.
Finish: Mild and clean, and fulfilling with a very pleasant, soft, apple peel character.
What Richard Says: Nose: Woody, vanilla, peaches, and a light caramel sweetness. Palate: Very smooth and lightly sweet. It’s almost like it’s not there. Finish: The finish is a little short and bland. There’s just a bit of oak. Blink and you’ll miss it. Comments: Brown-Forman sent us a bottle of this with their new 354 Bourbon so that we could compare and contrast. For those that don’t know, the reason why it’s “Kentucky Whisky” and not bourbon is because there’s some aging in used barrels going on. More likely than not, when you order a well drink containing whiskey you’re likely getting Early Times. It’s cheap, plain, and unoffensive. There’s nothing wrong with drinking this straight it just doesn’t bring a lot to the party. Rating: Probably Pass
We want to thank Brown-Forman for providing us with a bottle for review.
