Stands Out

Oaklore Story Series: Old Fashioned Cask Finished Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey

49% ABV
$90
Website

We would like to thank Oaklore Distilling Co. for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Our Story Series continues with a four-grain bourbon of wheat, rye, corn, and barley, aged at least 6+ years from our North Carolina and Kentucky sister distilleries. The bourbon is then finished for 12 to 18 months in Oaklore’s Old Fashioned barrels — barrels previously used to age our Old Fashioned Cocktail Mixer — picking up layers of orange bitters, spice, and baked sweetness. Bottled once it reaches its fullness of character.

NOSE: Orange Bitters, Salted Pecans
PALATE: Snickerdoodle, Vanilla, Spiced Honeysuckle
FINISH: Cinnamon Butter, Spice Cake

What Gary Says

Nose: Wow – old fashioned! Orange bitters with pecans, honey and vanilla.
Palate: Caramel with orange bitters, pepper, cinnamon roll and honey.
Finish: Moderate in length, drying with orange bitters and cracked pepper.
Comments: Pretty sure this is the first old fashioned bourbon (or any) whiskey I’ve tried. Impossible to mistake this for anything other than old fashioned – which I love (probably my favorite cocktail). That said – this is still heavy handed as far as finishing goes; the old fashioned aspect is really strong. But on the plus side, having this over a couple of rocks is nearly a cocktail by itself (although the proof will sneak up on you if you’re not careful).

Rating: Stands Out

Blue Note Wheated Blend 101
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Unfiltered Small Batch

50.5% ABV
$45
Website

We would like to thank B.R. Distilling Co and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Soft winter wheat takes the lead as Memphis heat pulls hidden nuance to the surface. Ripe peach, dark caramel, apricot, and cinnamon rise on the nose. The palate brings sticky toffee, pastry sweetness with a little grit, and hazelnut rolling into a honey-soaked finish. Smooth, but never timid—Blue Note Wheated carries true Southern swagger.

Nose: Caramel, apricot, peach, cinnamon
Body: Velvety, smooth
Taste: Toffee, pastries, hazelnut, sweet oak, graham cracker
Finish: Floral, honeysuckle, honey

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Product Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 21% Wheat 9% Malted Barley
Proof & Filtration: 101 proof, unfiltered
Availability: Select Markets, Crafted in Memphis

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, peach filled pastry w/ cinnamon and vanilla cream frosting, bit of oak.
Palate: Rich mouthfeel, pastries w/ caramel drizzle, pecan praline, honey and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderate length w/ honey and floral notes.
Comments: Very nice! I appreciate the ABV as well as the unfiltered treatment. As a straight bourbon with no age statement, guaranteed to be 4 years old (sources say 5 years, which wouldn’t surprise me). Strong honey notes on this, which I enjoy. Their limited edition Honey Cask is one I keep an eye out for (definitely worth picking up!). A bit of water brings out honey glazed brioche on the nose, and thickens the mouthfeel further bringing out some subtle fruit notes.

Rating: Stands Out

Gambit No. 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Wine, Apple Brandy, Sherry & Tokaji Casks

46% ABV
$70
Website

We would like to thank Foley Family Wines and Raptor Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

THE DETAILS
ARE THE
DIFFERENCE
A rich and dry six-cask finished bourbon whiskey that reveals itself in layers of baking spices on the nose, and a balanced palate with hints of cacao, sweet tobacco, and a diverse blend of ripe fruit notes. Perfect sipped neat or in an Old Fashioned.

6-year Kentucky Bourbon
6 Distinct Cask Finishes

• Sonoma Chardonnay
• Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon
• Apple Brandy
• Oloroso Sherry
• Muscatel
• Tokaji

Why 6 Casks?
That’s the GAMBIT. Chip originally envisioned a double wine barrel-finished bourbon but found that adding four more barrel finishes added something unique to the blend in structure, palate, and finish.

What Gary Says

Nose: Fruity with pears, apricots, figs, vanilla, oak, bit of cocoa, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, mint and a hint of mandarin orange.
Palate: Dark chocolate covered cherries, toffee, red wine, red berry compote, cinnamon, orange zest, vanilla, brown sugar and pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with citrus spice, cinnamon and honey.
Comments: Very interesting pour. The nose is bourbon with the fruit dial cranked up. On the palate the wine cask really stands out, enough so that the bourbon doesn’t stand out quite as much (not that it’s “not bourbon”, but harder to pin down). All that said, this is very enjoyable sipping neat, although a few drops of water doesn’t hurt it – bringing out more cocoa on the nose and taking the dark chocolate more towards milk chocolate (plus thickening the mouthfeel nicely).

Rating: Stands Out