Stands Out

Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey

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Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey

58.5% ABV
$55-60
Website
Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey
We would like to thank RS Lipman for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Intriguing aromas of vanilla bean, banana brioche, marmalade, and sweet corn brulee with an essence of sandalwood. Graceful on the palate featuring flavors of caramel corn, toffee, and orange zest with a hint of cocoa, all gently wrapped in warm, subtle notes of oak. The extended aging lengthens the taste profile and results in an incredibly smooth, approachable barrel-proof whiskey, matured in 18-year-old ex-bourbon barrels.

A quote from Robert Lipman, owner of RS Lipman:
“We are extremely proud of the recipe and mash bill we developed with our distiller partner using whiskey that was laid down back in 2008. Our goal was a barrel proof whiskey that is nicely balanced with color coming only from the ex-bourbon barrels. Sam used his expertise to bring this vision to life by creating a 117-proof whiskey that is mellow, easy to sip and natural in color. We could not be more pleased with the results.”

Aged 10 Years*
Mash Bill: 99% Corn 1% Malted Barley
Limited Release
*The bottle is age stated at 10 years old, which indicates the youngest whiskey included in the batch. Per their website, the majority of the whiskey is 13 years old.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich vanilla custard with banana, creamed corn and toasted oak.
Palate:  Caramel corn, honey, toffee, bit of orange zest and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey, corn and pepper spice.
Comments:  If they’d had asked me, I’d have suggested NOT using 18 year old bourbon barrels. 18 years is a long time, and while used bourbon barrels go off to give life to other whiskies, I think that they’ve given up a lot of their flavor over 18 years. This is interesting, but I’m just not a fan of really old corn whiskey. I bought a bottle of Heaven Hill Select Stock: 14 Yr Corn Whiskey several years back (paying $100) and thought that was a complete waste of money and time. Granted, this is just over half that price, and honestly tastes much better. If you’re a fan of corn whiskey, and have wondered what it might be like with more age than you typically see, this won’t break the bank (and is a unique offering in that respect). Corn just doesn’t take on a lot of complexity with age in my experience, or maybe it is the use of tired barrels.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Tokaji Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2023 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Steve Beam announced the 2023 release of Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This latest bourbon – featuring a blend of 7-year, 13-year and 16-year aged bourbons finished in Tokaji casks – was bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), with a limited allocation of 10,000 3-in cases offered nationwide at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750 ml bottle starting this August.
As he has done with his limited-edition Yellowstone Bourbon offerings since 2015, Beam hand selected the three aged bourbons, which were then blended and finished in Tokaji casks. Tokaji is a traditional sweet wine from the Tokaji region of Hungary made exclusively from white-wine grapes. Tokaji wines are known as much for their complex, layered flavor profiles as they are for their sweetness.
“With each year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition offering, I seek a finish that I both personally love and believe will make for a flavorful, well-balanced bourbon. This year, I found the perfect finish in the Tokaji casks sourced from northern Hungary,” said Beam. “Consumers can expect aromas of honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon; a body highlighted by dry spice, followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper; and a finish containing notes of dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak. Fans of Yellowstone Limited Edition offerings will have a new contender for their favorite!”
The 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey features custom designed bottles with embossing, a high-end natural cork and label containing the 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a 101-proof callout.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon.
Palate: Dry spice followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper.
Finish: Dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, honey, grapes, oak, cinnamon, citrus zest, vanilla and white wine.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, black cherry, tangerines, peaches, cinnamon, nutmeg, bit of cocoa and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with caramel, fruit salad, oak and tobacco.
Comments: Another really fine example of finishing with a deft hand. This is the first whiskey I’ve had where Tokaji casks are listed on the label, and I’ve never had Tokaji wine – but this isn’t a big step from straight bourbon. Appreciate that Limestone Branch includes some older bourbon casks in these limited editions which bring some complexity and mouthfeel to the party. A bit of water thickens the mouthfeel further, and tamps the pepper spice edge while bringing the fruit forward – although this drinks perfectly well neat.

Rating: Stand Out

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project: European Moscatel Barrique

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project Series: Single Cask European Moscatel Barrique 
Canadian Island Peated (54 ppm) Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$? (maybe $135?)
Website
Macaloney's Peat Project Washington Peat and Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Distillery smoked using Washington Peat and carefully crafted in a premium European Moscatel Barrique

This sweet white wine Euuropean oak barrique explores peat ‘terroir’ from Washington State (Canadian and Islay peat coming soon). The nose has medium peat smoke, bonfire, cigar, vanilla, white wine with apricot, lychee, melon, fresh ginger, coconut, sweet peas, roses, and honey. Juniper and pine forest yield to white chocolate, walnut, and peat smoke. The palate is velvety, with big peat, sweet burnt heather, seashort, malt extract, pineapple, sultanas, pears, figs, stewed apples, chocolate orange, and Key lime banana pie, with cloves, white pepper, liquorice, marzipan and hazelnut. The finish is dry with a hint of salt and lingering smoke.

Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, exotic fruit notes, peat smoke, floral, honey, smoked meat with a hint of spices.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with pears, apples, and tropical fruit (not quite pineapple), peat, chocolate, sea salt and cracked pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with peat smoke, salt and kiwi.
Comments:  This is really nice – and was my favorite of the 5-sample pack sent! Less of the peat and minerality than the others, and the nose on this is rather complex. With a bit of water, it thickens nicely and opens up. My only complaint is that there’s no mention of this on their website! My guess is word got out and they had limited inventory (while a ‘single cask’, I hope they didn’t just have ONE single cask, but who knows). I’m making the leap that the price would be in line with the others, which is still on the high end.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project: Portuguese Red Wine with Washington Peat

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Macaloney’s The Peat Project Series: Single Cask Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask with Washington Peat
Canadian Island Peated (54 ppm) Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$135
Website
Macaloney's Peat Project Washington Peat and Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Distillery smoked using Washington Peat and carefully crafted in a premium Portuguese Red Wine STR Cask

This single cask release comes from a select re-charred red wine barrique, with a peat ‘terroir’ from Washington State (Canadian and Islay peat coming soon).

The nose has medium peat smoke, wood ash, floral notes, fruit, heather, lemongrass, juicy malt, nutmeg & cinnamon. The palate is creamy, very smooth and pleasantly warming, with big peat and waves of peat smoke, heather brush fire, wood wash and tropical fruits. Finishes with floral nectar, a dry malt sweetness, coconut milk, hint of salt and lingering smoke.

Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Earthy peat, minerality, salty sea air, caramel, subtle fruit, nylon rope, lemongrass and cinnamon.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, fruity with peat smoke, earthy mineral note, pepper, caramel and ashy.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with red berries, peat and sale.
Comments:  The peat is turned up in this cask, and for my palate maybe too much? Or at least too much for this particular cask? Just not as well balanced as the others and a bit one dimensional for my liking.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Siol Dugall Canadian Island Medium Peated Single Malt Whisky

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Siol Dugall Canadian Island Medium Peated Single Malt Whisky

46% ABV
$130
Website
Siol Dugall Canadian Island Medium Peated Single Malt Whisky
We would like to thank Macaloney’s Island Distillery for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Siol Dugall, our Whiskymaker’s medium peated signature expression was married from a select combination of Kentucky Bourbon casks, virign American casks, and re-charred Portuguese red wine barriques.

Nose: The nose is superb with pine wood smoke, light peat smoke and tropical fruit, pork scratchings, rosemary, cedar, sandal wood, and lapsang souchong tea, developing to rose petals, dates, lemon zest, and butterscotch with hints of nutmeg, cloves and ginger. There are also summer meadow flowers, fresh cut grass, malt extract and burnt heather.

Palate: The palate has a velvety mouthfeel with sweet malty peat smoke, barley water, sweetpea flowers, clover honey, crème brûlée with burnt caramel, fennel seed, lemon sponge cake, and dried hay, with lingering oak, a light sweet smoke finish, and a hint of salt with ocean breeze.

27 PPM
ABV: 46%
Natural Colour & Non-Chill Filtered

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich fruit and peat, savory notes of rosemary and thyme, subtle citrus notes, smokey with vanilla.
Palate:  Thick, creamy mouthfeel, rich with honey, fruity with peaches, pears, apricots, peat and caramel.
Finish:  Long and wet, with floral notes, peat and pepper spice trailing.
Comments:  This one surprised me, as sampling this next to An Aba it is lighter in color. This is much more intense, and not just the peat but all around. Really nice balance between the sweet and savory, with the nose advertising something more on the savory end of the spectrum. A bit of water brings out more bright, tropical fruit notes on the nose.

Rating: Stands Out

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