Stands Out

Jim Beam Bonded

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Jim Beam Bonded Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
50% ABV
$20
Website
jb_bonded_750ml_0
What the Distillery Says:
Our bonded bourbon is created from the highest quality ingredients and adheres to the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Enjoy a taste of history today.

Our bonded bourbon follows the letter of the law: the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. It’s bottled at 100 proof, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and produced in a single distillery season at a single distillery.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Unmistakably “Beam”; subtle vanilla, cornbread, and a tangy hint of citrus.
Palate: Decent balance of sweetness and oak; sweet up front with vanilla and honey, light spice kicks in; notes of pine.
Finish: Moderately spicy and drying.
Comments: Always glad to see another “bonded” product on the market. In full disclosure, I’m not a fan of the mainstay Jim Beam white label (although I do enjoy Knob Creek, Baker’s, and Booker’s), and there is no escaping the familial resemblance here. But this adds a bit of depth and character, and for only a couple more dollars. For $5 more, I don’t know that I would recommend, but there isn’t a lot at the $20 price point that I like more these days.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: The peanut and cornmeal Beam signature “funk” ever present.
Palate: Corn pudding, vanilla beans, burnt sugar, and kettle corn.
Finish: Dry and lightly peppery with remnants of corn and wet toothpicks.
Comments: Beam throws one up to the discerning value buyer. This is a bit of a missing link bourbon. For less than $20 you should seek this one out instead of regular Jim Beam. It answers the question of how Beam gets from Jim Beam White to Baker’s. The bonded version shows as the little brother to the Baker’s and if you are a Baker’s fan then I think you will really like the less complex and younger iteration.
Rating: Stands Out

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Knob Creek 2001

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
2001 Limited Edition Batch 1, #12,302
50% ABV
$130
Website
knob-creek-2001
What the Distillery Says:
Knob Creek 2001 Limited Edition Bourbon commemorates a significant year for Knob Creek, as late in 2001, the tradition and responsibility of stewarding Knob Creek Bourbon was passed from Booker to Fred — from father to son. This release, made from barrels that Booker laid down in 2001, was finished by Fred Noe in honor of all he learned from his father and stays true to the pre-prohibition standards that Booker sought to restore when he introduced Knob Creek Bourbon. Bottled at 100 proof and aged for 14 years, longer than any other Knob Creek release to date, this bourbon has an even bigger, fuller flavor than what Knob Creek fans have come to love. It will be released in three limited batches, each accentuating distinct notes of the 14-year-old liquid, for a suggested price of $129.99 for a 750ml bottle.

Packaged in a commemorative wooden case, Knob Creek 2001 Limited Edition Bourbon was selected with the following characteristics:
Age: More than 14 years
Proof: 100
Color: Deep golden amber
Aroma: Robust oak and char notes balanced by sweet vanillas and caramels with a hint of warm brown spice
Taste: Complex oak and char notes with subtle vanilla and warm spice
Batch One: Higher in sweet notes, vanilla and caramel; very smooth
Batch Two: Higher in wood and oak notes; more tannic in nature
Batch Three: Mid-way between Batch 1 and Batch 2, slightly favoring notes of wood
Finish: Smooth and warm sweetness

What Richard Says:
Nose: Woody in a very tannic way. Burnt vanilla sugar comes to mind.
Palate: Barrel char comes out first. This is a little hotter than other Knob Creeks I’ve had. The vanilla and caramel sweetness moves forward with notes of cinnamon and allspice berries but there is a strong peppery back to the palate.
Finish: Hot oak and deep peppery spice. Very dry.
Comments: It seems like these days that just about every bourbon producer finds a way to piss me off. Well Jim Beam…here you go. A 14 year old Knob Creek for $130? What!?! You can regularly find Knob Creek Single Barrel store selections in that age range that taste just as good if not better at a higher ABV. And then you have the audacity to call it a “limited edition”? I’m not sure what your idea of limited is but it greatly differs from mine. My sample was from bottle 12,302 of BATCH 1! And there are THREE BATCHES!! In no realm of reality is 35,000+ bottles of anything a “limited edition”. It’s only limited by the space time continuum.

Is this a bad whiskey? No, not at all. It’s a fine bourbon that’s maybe seen a few too many years in the wood. On flavor components alone I would say this bourbon Stands Out among others but at $130 I would pass on this if I was you. You could buy an equally good, or better Knob Creek Single Barrel and pocket the other $80.
Rating: Stands Out

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Blade and Bow 22 Year

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 22 Years
46% ABV
$150
Website
blade-bow-bourbon
What the Bottler Says:
The award-winning Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a limited-release whiskey inspired by the passion and craftsmanship of the legendary Stitzel-Weller distillery.

Inclusive of whiskies distilled at both the distillery historically located at 17th and Breckinridge in Louisville, Ky. and the distillery historically located at 1001 Wilkinson Blvd. in Frankfort, Ky., this limited release offering was most recently aged and bottled at Stitzel-Weller.

Smooth and smoky, this limited-release bourbon’s taste is accented with notes of torched sugar and apples baked in honey and spices. Its aroma is one of toasted oak mixed with vanilla bean, fig and just a touch of caramel.

Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named the “Best Straight Bourbon” and received the DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL at the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Collect the five distinct keys – some rarer than others – that adorn every bottle.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Oaky – dominant sour wood, bit astringent, burnt toast, coffee grounds, cigar paper, subtle vanilla & cocoa.
Palate: Thin mouthfeel, heavy wood with a sharp bite of pepper spice, burnt caramel, crème brulee.
Finish: Surprisingly short and drying.
Comments: I’m not a fan of “oak bombs”, and there is far too much oak in this for my taste. If you like a lot of oak, this might be more in your wheelhouse – although setting the oak aside, I didn’t find anything exciting. Typically with age the mouthfeel and finish stand out – and for me both of these were uninspiring. As there isn’t a lot of 22 yr old bourbon on the market, I can’t say the price is out of line – but not something I’m searching out.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: An old men’s study – polished oak, old leather, aged tobacco, as well as…Boston Cream pie.
Palate: I agree with Gary that the mouthfeel is a little thin but it tastes very nice with notes of vanilla cream, dark chocolate, caramel, black pepper, and very woody.
Finish: Drying and very woody. Heavy oak and light pepper.
Comments: I like a good woody old bourbon that also provides layers of flavor. I really enjoyed this bourbon. It’s a bit pricey, mostly on the “Stitzel-Weller” name. That is just the warehouse though, not the bourbon. This is a blend of Buffalo Trace and Bernheim distillate. Both of which you can try in separate older Orphan Barrel bottlings. Even still, there is enjoyable substance here too. If you are a fan of older, oak forward bourbons then give this one a try. If you are a fan of a more youthful and vibrant bourbon then this may not be for you.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to thank Diageo and their PR firm for sending us a sample for review.

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Laphroaig Lore

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Laphroaig Lore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
48% ABV
$125
Website
laphroaig-lore-whisky
What the Distillery Says:
Since 1815, each Laphroaig Distillery Manager has been the custodian of the craft to make the richest single malt in the world. Over the years, each has passed on their skills and traditions to the next generation to continue this legacy. To honour this passing of knowledge, our Distillery Manager John Campbell has created Laphroaig Lore, the richest ever Laphroaig. Lore, meaning the passing of a skill or tradition through word of mouth, is the story of how we make Laphroaig, encapsulating the craft passed down from generation to generation over two centuries.

‘Lore’ is a complex marriage of both classical Laphroaig styles and many ages of Laphroaig. The marriage draws from the peaty power of Laphroaig in the same vein as Quarter Cask but with the smoothness of double matured stock finished in European oak hogsheads. To add even further depth and complexity we used our most heavily peated whisky matured in ex-Laphroaig barrels along with some fully sherry matured casks. To ensure none of this amazing flavour was lost we bottled Lore at a full 48% ABV and simply barrier filled before bottling. The result is stunningly complex.

COLOUR: Deep mahogany
NOSE: Rich and smoky with seaside minerals with a hint of ash and bitter chocolate drops. Vanilla follows with oily unroasted chestnuts and a hint of fudge with a malty sweetness. A drop of water adds a creamy clotted cream note with fruit appearing in the form of unripe citrus in a flan glaze.
PALATE: Richly peaty with a spicy chilli bite
FINISH: Short dry finish and a long sweet aftertaste

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose has a deeper, richer smokiness than normal Laphroaig. Nutty with layers of worn leather.
Palate: This is popping with sherried sweetness. Malty, smokey, and salty.
Finish: Dry and salty.
Comments: This dram integrates the sherry much better that other Laphroaigs and other heavily peated drams in general. I’m not sure it is a $125 bottle but scotch prices keep climbing so maybe my baseline is just off. Either way, it is a stand out dram.
Rating: Stands Out

We would like to than DBC PR for sending us a sample for review.

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Laphroaig PX Cask

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky / , ,

Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey PX Cask Triple Matured
48% ABV
$95 (liter bottle)
Website
lrgob.non12
What the Distillery Says:
PX Cask is the first to enjoy maturation in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, widely referred to as “PX” casks. Pedro Ximenez sherry is known to be naturally sweet made from dried Pedro Ximenez grapes.

The three types of barrels used in the maturation each impart a subtly different character, from American oak to Quarter Cask to Pedro Ximenez sherry. The last maturation in the ex-PX Cask provides the rich, sweeter and full bodied notes which perfectly complement the peat-smoke tang of Laphroaig, creating an expression which needs to be appreciated over time to fully explore.

Currently only available in Travel Retail.

COLOUR: Antique Gold
NOSE: From the bottle there is a nice sherry aroma of sweet sultanas and raisins with a hint of sweet liquorice and only the slightest tang of peat. Adding a little water brings out the marzipan and almond aroma with a counterpoint of creamy nuts and lots of ripe fruits but again there’s only the slightest tang of peat smoke.
BODY: An intense and profound deepness
PALATE: Without water a massive explosion of peat fills the mouth with huge amounts of oakiness only just moderated by the sweeter heavy sherry flavour. Adding a touch of water only slightly moderates the massive peat reek which very slowly fades and just allows a little of the sweeter sherried flavours to come through although there is always that burst of peat smoke that dries the mouth.
FINISH: Concentrated peat and thick sherried oak with a deep dryness

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sherry, seaweed, peat, smoke, subtle medicinal notes, rich.
Palate: Silky mouthfeel, sherry sweet w/ trademark Laphroaig peat & sea-air saltiness, subtle spice with smoke.
Finish: Moderate, peppery and drying.
Comments: The sherry finishing really tamps down the medicinal band-aid notes typically found with Laphroaig’s standard bearer 10yr. It isn’t the beast of peat that I do enjoy, but if you are a fan of Laphroaig and also a fan of Scotch aged in sherry, I would consider this a “Must Try”. I really enjoy this intersection, and only wish it was more widely accessible.
Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Stewed stone fruits, Band Aids, bits of anise, and the smell of a campfire the morning after a light rain.
Palate: A nice inviting sweetness greets you before smacking you hard in the mouth with peat smoke, black pepper, and a dry woody flavor.
Finish: All peat, pepper, and wood on the finish. I’m a little surprised at the woody nature given the relative young age.
Comments: I like my Laphroaig like I like my coffee. No finishing, flavored syrups, extra foam, or funkiness. I find the 10 year old cask strength to be the epitome of the distillery. The more they “do” to that wonderful liquid the more that I move away. Quarter Cask is nice, Triple Wood is pushing it, Select is kind of nasty. This PX falls somewhere between the Quarter Cask and Triple Wood on my scale. Why would I move over there when the Cask Strength 10 year old is so damn good?
Rating: Average

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