Stands Out

Forged Oak

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Forged Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 15 Years
45.25% ABV
$80
Website
forged oak
What the Distillery Says:
A pillar of strength rooted in time and wisdom, Forged Oak was found while foraging through the historic Stitzel-Weller rickhouses. This Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey spent 15 contemplative years in charred American white oak barrels.

Forged Oak is a statuesque whiskey with aromas of cedar, maple and vanilla bean that give way to seasoned woody notes of cocoa and young berries, ultimately leading to a long, dry finish of black pepper.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Oak, burnt sugar, raisins, caramel toffee, cinnamon undertones with hints of leather.
Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, sweet oak that transitions to pepper spice.
Finish: Quite nice – long and lingering.
Comments: When I first sampled this, I was underwhelmed – so I know I had a slight negative bias when approaching this one again. It somewhat surprised me this time around; I like it more than I expected! The finish is one of the longer ones I can recall. While I enjoy the palate, for the age (and price point), I was hoping for more. It has a nice mouthfeel, but seems a bit more muted. If I stumbled upon it on a shelf, I’d have to think about it; not an automatic buy for me, but worth considering.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pleasantly woody with copious amounts of toffee and cinnamon raisin toast.
Palate: Rich and almost chewy. This is a really nice caramel sweetness. Easily one of the better sweet notes I’ve come across in bourbon. Not cloying in the least and not too faint. Just right. It’s backed by a nice integration of vanilla, more cinnamon, and a little crushed mint.
Finish: Oak, black pepper, and cocoa powder.
Comments: I haven’t exactly been bowled over by the earlier Orphan Barrel releases but this one came out quite nice. This is a cracking glass of fine aged and well integrated bourbon. I think if this was release by the current owners of the Bernheim distillery (Heaven Hill) where this was made instead of all the hoopla Diageo attributed to the Orphan Barrel range then it would be received as the exceptional bourbon it is.
Rating: Must Try

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Haig Club

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Single Grain /

Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky
40% ABV
$70
Website
haig-club-whisky-hero-bottle
What the Distiller Says:
Haig Club™ is made at Cameronbridge distillery in Scotland. The liquid has been crafted using a unique process that combines grain whisky from three cask types. This creates a fresh, clean style that showcases butterscotch and toffee for an ultra-smooth taste. Seen by many to be Scotland’s hidden gem, single grain whisky is being predicted by experts as the next trend in whisky.

Working alongside Diageo, David Beckham and Simon Fuller will play an integral role in bringing Haig Club to the world.

“The House of Haig has a rich history and I’m proud to be working at the heart of a home-grown brand which has built an incredible heritage over 400 years. Working closely with Diageo, we look forward to collaborating on Haig Club™, valuing and treasuring the Haig traditions while reinventing this whisky for years to come.”
– David Beckham

What Richard Says:
Nose: Bananas, apricots, lemon/lime Gatorade, crushed winter mint, and fresh cut grass.
Palate: Light, mildly creamy, and insanely easy to drink. Citrus sweetness weaves throughout.
Finish: Light with just a touch of white pepper and wood.
Comments: Blue cologne looking bottle pimped by David Beckham. One of an extremely rare few distiller bottlings of single grain scotch whisky. These two facts left me diametrically opposed on whether or not to buy a bottle. However, my innate WAD (whiskey acquisition disorder) was the tie breaker. It’s kind of like Pokemon…”gotta catch ’em all.” Seriously though, if this was under $50 it would be easy to recommend based on great drinkability. However, north of $70 I’m left feeling that the price is more driven by Beckham than what is in the bottle. I’ll enjoy this one but I won’t be buying a second.
Rating: Stands Out

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Evan Williams Single Barrel 2005 Vintage

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Single Barrel Vintage 2005
Barrel No 455
Barreled 2-17-2005
Bottled 2-18-2015
43% ABV
$25
Website
EVSB2005
What the Distillery Says:
Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon is a five-time Whiskey of the Year award winner. Each year our Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam select barrels that meet their exacting standards. It’s a bourbon that is vintage dated, meaning each bottle is marked with the vintage date it was put into oak and the year it was bottled.

Single Barrel tasting notes
Color: Delicate amber gold
Nose: Dark caramel, sweet oak & charred wood
Taste: Lush & spicey; oak with honey, apple & orange notes
Finish: Long, graceful and relaxed

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet oak followed by caramel, with hints of clove; bread baking.
Palate: Smooth, honey, lovely clean/crisp sweetness, a hint of orange sherry with a bit of spice on the back-end. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but not distractingly so.
Finish: Moderate in length with a pleasant.
Comments: Very “Heaven-Hill-esq”, which is probably not helpful if you’ve not sampled a lot of whiskey from Heaven Hill.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Sweet, rich, and malty vanilla. Clove cigarettes, under cooked caramel, and chocolate orange candies.
Palate: Orange blossom honey with a slightly bland woodiness. It’s very light and kind of thin.
Finish: Heavier on the black pepper spice and oak.
Comments: This is still a nice dram and at a great price point but it seems to be thinning out a bit more and more in recent vintages. This 2005 is probably my least favorite in last five years or so but it’s still a stand out whiskey.
Rating: Stands Out

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Henry McKenna 10 yr Bottled-In-Bond

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Henry McKenna Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bottled-In-Bond Aged 10 Years, Barrel No: 1360
50% ABV
$30 to $35
Website
henry-mckenna-single-barrel-lrg-upd
What the Distillery Says:
In 1837, a young man from Ireland known for his remarkable whiskey-making skills, came to America with his family’s whiskey recipe that had been passed down for generations. Young Mr. McKenna settled in Kentucky and discovered the uniquely American drink known as Bourbon. McKenna instantly took a liking to Kentucky whiskey and set out to create a better Bourbon using his family’s recipe. To ensure the highest quality, he insisted that his Bourbon age in oak barrels before bottling. From this process, highly unusual for the time, emerged a remarkably smooth Bourbon boasting a distinctive character.

As the only extra aged Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel Bourbon, Henry McKenna Single Barrel satisfies those looking for a real whiskey with real history. The super-premium status is conveyed through new packaging. The front label contains handwritten authentication of the barrel number and the barreled on date. It also emphasizes the Bottled-In-Bond designation and the 10 year age statement.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Oaky, subtly sweet with a citrus tinged fruitiness (although a bit astringent?)
Palate: Honey sweet, well balanced – not as much oak as I’d expect on a 10yr; really nice mouthfeel (not exactly creamy or silky, but somewhere in between.
Finish: Moderate in length.
Comments: I’ve only bought one Henry McKenna Single Barrel personally, and was so disappointed I’ve not bought a second. However I’ve tried several others prior, and a couple since – all of which have been a far sight better, including this sample (thanks Rich!) With any single barrel, variability is a risk you take – but at least they include the details on the label (so if you find a great barrel, you can pick up more – where some single barrel bourbons such as Elmer T Lee lack these important details). Considering the price point, age, and proof – I think this is a solid bourbon.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Nice vanilla and cinnamon interplay with oak notes.
Palate: Creamy in the mouth. Cinnamon, vanilla creme brulee, and a Hershey’s kiss milk chocolate note.
Finish: Dry with hints of black pepper and oak.
Comments: I found this particular bottle delicious but I’ve also noticed that the Henry McKennas seem to vary more from barrel to barrel than your typical single barrel bourbon. In general they range from average to stands out. If you can get it for around $30 then even if you get a less stellar barrel it’s a great cocktail bourbon for sure.
Rating: Stands Out

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Old Forester 2014 Birthday Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
Distilled 2002, Bottled 2014
49% ABV
$60
Website
OFBB14
What the Distillery Says:
Handcrafted by renowned Master Distiller Chris Morris, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is vintage-dated bourbon, hand-selected from one specific day of production. The result is a one of a kind character and flavor that will never be replicated.

Each year on September 2nd – in honor of our founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday – Old Forester releases a limited-edition, 12-year old vintage-dated expression. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon has become a must-have for bourbon enthusiasts who want to experience the ultimate in rare handcrafted bourbon. Since its introduction in 2002, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon has received unprecedented acclaim, with an impressive collection of national and international whisky honors.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Furniture polish, oak, undertones of vanilla, with a hint of citrus; not as spicey as 2013, yet more acidic/sharp.
Palate: Nice mouthfeel, well balanced between sweet, spice, and wood.
Finish: Medium in length.
Comments: The nose was out of synch with the palate for me, as the nose said “Wow – think twice before consuming”, while I did enjoy the palate. I’ve been disappointed with the steady price increases of this – not quite double what I paid for my first bottle in 2011, but getting close.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: This year’s is a little hotter on the nose than recent releases. Heavier polished wood floors and burnt sugar.
Palate: It drinks a bit hotter too. Cinnamon red hots and pure vanilla extract jump out front before the hot pepper (both peppercorns and chilies) notes kick in with heavy handed oak.
Finish: Cocoa powder, wet pine needles, and wet split oak logs.
Comments: As nice as recent releases of this have been the 2014 is much heavier on the wood. And the damn price ticked up another five dollars. It’s a stand out bourbon but for a better value and more balanced 12 year old I would probably grab a Elijah Craig or Ezra Brooks at 12 years for almost half the price. Hell, get one of each for the $60+ this will cost you.
Rating: Stands Out

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