Stands Out

Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel (vintage 2020)
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

45% ABV
$150
Website

What the Distillery Says:

Bottled solely from the contents of one expertly chosen barrel, this expression of Elijah Craig is the pinnacle of Bourbon craftsmanship. Bold, robust, and incredibly complex, 18-Year-Old presents a rare and unique opportunity to sip some of the oldest Bourbon in Kentucky.

Bourbon-making is an exercise in patience & perseverance. Out of the millions of barrels aging in Kentucky, only a small fraction are allowed to age as long as 18-Year-Old. In the beginning, we don’t know which barrels will be worthy of consideration. But time & expertise will tell. As they age, our barrels are meticulously sampled by our master tasters. Even after 18 years, some barrels won’t meet their high standards. Each single barrel is then individually dumped & bottled. The barrel number & bottling date is handwritten on the label.

TASTING NOTES
Color: Warm, deep leather.
Aroma: Aged oak, spiced vanilla, with notes of mint and chocolate.
Taste: Richly textured, nutty, and semisweet. Initial bursts of honey give way to toasted wood and pleasant char.
Finish: Lively and engaging, then lingers with vanilla and pepper.

What Gary Says

Nose: Toasted oak, vanilla, dark chocolate, honey, musty notes with a hint of citrus zest and leather.
Palate: Vanilla bean, caramel, oak, cocoa, black cherry, honey, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with oak, cocoa and tobacco.
Comments: I remember buying this back in 2012 for $50 (Richard reviewed it back in 2010, and noted it was ‘Widely Available’), and thinking it was too oaky for my palate. Still big oak, but my palate has evolved since and I’m better able to appreciate it. A lovely, balanced dram, although at current prices isn’t one I’ll be picking up again (but if you’re offering a pour of yours – I won’t necessarily say now!)

Rating: Stands Out

Wenzel Distillery Toasted Barrel Proof (Batch #01)
Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies

55.9% ABV
$99
Website

We would like to thank Wenzel Distillery and The Whisky Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

This blend of straight bourbon whiskeys, aged at least 8 years (mash bill: 69% Corn, 21% Rye, 10% Barley), is finished for 6-8 months of that time in brand new Kelvin Cooperage toasted barrels. A refined experience that’s perfectly balanced and lingering, it boasts a nose of hay and honey, delivering a honey-sweet taste that fades into a soft, subtle sweetness.

What Gary Says

Nose: Salted caramel, toasted oak, brown sugar, nutmeg, hint of clove, honey and cocoa.
Palate: Bitter dark chocolate, honey, caramel, cinnamon, cocoa, pepper spice with cloves.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with oak, baking spices and honey.
Comments: Compared to the Wenezl Wheated, the rye stands out although I did find this a bit hot on the palate for the proof (although the toasted finish may also contribute to this). A bit of water opens this one up nicely bringing a musty rick house note on the nose (with a touch of fall leaves), and adding a creamy mouth feel dimension on the palate, with notes of dark fruit (figs) and chocolate, as well as tamping the spiciness just a bit.

Rating: Stands Out

Wenzel Distillery Wheated Barrel Proof (Batch #05)
Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies

55.35% ABV
$99
Website

We would like to thank Wenzel Distillery and The Whisky Bard for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Aged at least 8 years, this a rich and full-bodied blend of straight bourbon whiskeys that is a high wheat lover’s delight (mash bill: 65% Corn, 12.5% Wheat, 12.5% Oats, 10% Barley). It has heavy notes of caramel, cocoa, and vanilla that don’t subside quickly. The mouthfeel and flavor are long-lasting, leaving the palette with a rich and full dessert-like finish.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, soft oak, vanilla sponge cake, honey and fresh-baked shortbread cookies.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel with caramel apple, cinnamon, vanilla, pepper spice, toffee and almond cookies.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with oak, vanilla and baking spices including cloves.
Comments: This is a nice, and gentle bourbon (although not your traditional “wheater” with a mashbill of 65% corn, 12.5% wheat, 12.5% oats and 10% barley). The nose is quite gentle, which for me made the palate a bit of a surprise with a spice edge I didn’t anticipate. It isn’t hot – just more spicy than I would have expected. It takes water well, bringing notes of chocolate on the nose, and tamping the cinnamon/spice edge a bit on the palate, while bringing more caramel to the party and taking the toffee notes into more of a fudge.

Rating: Stands Out