Stands Out

Barrell Bourbon New Year 2023

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon New Year 2023

113.54% ABV
$85
Website
Barrell New Year 2023
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

In the whiskey industry, the past is always with you. But we’ve set ourselves apart by always keeping one eye on the future. Maybe that’s why we love celebrating the New Year so much. Each autumn, we create a very special blend of bourbons as a toast to the new beginnings and fresh energy of the year to come. Making New Year Bourbon gives us an opportunity to see the pillars of our brand through clear eyes, celebrate the inherent creativity of our blending process, and rededicate ourselves to our forward-thinking, quality-driven line of spirits. Released at the beginning of December, Barrell New Year Bourbon 2023 is a tribute to the optimism that every new year brings.

  • A selection of 5, 6, 7, 8, 10-year-old straight bourbon whiskeys
  • Distilled in TN, IN, KY, OH, WY, NY, TX & MD
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 113.54 proof cask strength bottling
  • Aged in American white oak barrels

FLAVOR NOTES
Classic, with caramel on the nose, vanilla and spice on the palate, and a creamy finish. A splash of water introduces a plethora of tropical fruits to the nose while the syrupy palate displays a range of rich liqueurs.
Appearance: Chestnut brown.
Nose: A classic bourbon opening of brioche and caramel. Added to that is a woodsy underpinning of sandalwood and a wisp of smoke. It evolves through a range of sweets: amaretto, coconut macaroons, and cream soda. Gooseberry, quince, and lime cordial add a bit of lift. A range of mineral notes round it out with flint, limestone, and beeswax.
Palate: Though cask strength, the heat is kept in check by syrupy oak sugars. Black cherry soda and roasted molé take center stage. Vanilla is notably strong here and joined by fellow oak spices nutmeg, cardamom, and aniseed. The oak is well balanced by herbaceous rye notes along with rose hip, wormwood, and peppercorn.
Finish: Candied chili pepper and preserved lemon flash across the Horchata takes over as a creaminess builds, adding white chocolate, and cashew. As the flavors slowly fade, a waxiness lingers on.

With a splash of spring water
Passionfruit, mango lassi, and ripe banana herald a broad range of tropical fruits. Meanwhile a leafy side expands, exhibiting cigar, tarragon, and peppermint. A rich sweetness overwhelms the palate, converting every note to its liqueur form: limoncello, maraschino, anisette and crème de menthe.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel creams, cedar and oak, freshly baked sponge cake, nutmeg, mineral note, hint of dried tropical fruit.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with honey, caramel and vanilla, roasted marshmallow, cherry, nutmeg, orange chocolate, hint of anise.
Finish:  Long, slightly drying with a nutty pepper spice and chocolate.
Comments:  This opens up really nicely with some time in the glass. Classic bourbon notes with just a bit of that Dickel minerality; balanced really nicely. Water opens up more of the fruit notes while maintaining a thick mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review / ,

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label
Premium Whiskey

60.5% ABV (for sample provided; varies by barrel)
$79
Website
Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label
We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

An expression that highlights barrels hand-picked by our four-time Master Blender of the Year, Victoria Eady Butler, who tastes every Uncle Nearest barrel and sets aside those that stand out to her as exceptional. Now, we are ready to share these barrels with you.

As with all of our non-rye whiskeys, this new label is both premium Straight Bourbon Whiskey and premium Straight Tennessee Whiskey. However, this single barrel whiskey is different from our other releases. It has the most distinct flavor profile of any of our expressions and was bottled at barrel strength to capture every nuance of this one-of-a-kind spirit. Our distillery’s triple filtration process ensures perfection in every sip. Every drop of liquid that goes into Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label is distilled and bottled by Nearest Green Distillery, continuing the legacy of excellence of our namesake, Nearest Green.

The smooth character of our whiskey is what distinguishes it from all others. The legacy of our namesake is what makes it unrivaled.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cocoa, slightly burnt caramel, anise, oak, vanilla, worn leather, nutmeg and a hint of cloves.
Palate:  Warm and thick mouthfeel, caramel with a bit of cola, vanilla, honey, cinnamon, black cherry and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, thick and damp with vanilla cola and pepper spice trailing.
Comments:  This is a very nice pour (I’d call it a bourbon, and from their description it would qualify as such – although I am disappointed that the label on the bottle doesn’t state “straight bourbon”).  It tastes like a really nice bourbon, and is well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel. A bit of water brings out a chocolate fudge note on the nose while amping the cola notes on the palate, and lending a creaminess to the mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Broken Barrel Americana

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Broken Barrel Americana

Straight American Whiskey Finished with Broken Barrel Staves

50% ABV
$35
Website
Broken Barrel Americana Whiskey
We would like to thank Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

YOUR SLICE OF AMERICA IN A BOTTLE

We strive to create whiskey that reflects a certain style and profile. Each batch and each release is meticulously crafted to ensure it is unlike other whiskey on the shelves. There is little logic to creating more of ‘the same’.

That’s where the Americana comes in – as Bourbon prices soar and alternative American whiskeys styles like Light Whiskey and Single Malt gain popularity, we believe the appetite for new American whiskey styles is growing, and so we give you the Americana. A blend of light whiskey and bourbon, finished with three very American-favored oaks that combine beautifully – toasted, charred and Apple brandy barrel staves. The results of this Oak Bill is a sweet, soft and smooth sip-worthy whiskey that offers a lighter style than bourbon. A great alternative to Highland Scotch or Irish Whiskey, and a fun substitute in your next craft cocktail.

Mash Bill:
80% Corn
14% Rye
6% Malted Barley

​Oak Bill™
40% Toasted American Oak Barrel Staves
40% New Char #4 Oak Staves
20% American Apple Brandy Staves

Batch 001 | Launched November 2022

The blend features older 4+ year-old corn whiskey, coupled with younger robust bourbon. Together, the blend delivers a rich and complex mouthfeel, while maintaining a more impressionable blend that absorbs much more of the flavor from the ​Oak Bill™ staves.

Tasting Notes: A soft honeycomb sweetness melts away into more complex oak and marshmallow notes. The whiskey has a weightier mouthfeel, boasting toasted cashew and notes of butterscotch, with a leathery grip on the tongue. A distinctive and bracing whiskey to be drank neat or substituted for bourbon or rye in nearly any cocktail.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Oak, green apples, fresh donuts, light caramel and baking spices.
Palate:  Light caramel, apple, vanilla, oak, bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, hint of mint and maple candies.
Finish:  Short in length, drying with sour caramel apples.
Comments:  The apple brandy stave influence stands out. While this is a high corn mashbill, it isn’t corny. Easy to drink , and if you like apple brandy, this is an interesting interplay. I would avoid throwing ice or water in as it tends to thin out easily – but at 50% it is very easy to drink neat so thankfully doesn’t require any extra water.

Rating: Stands Out

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Highland Park Old Particular 1997 20 Year Old

/ / Island, Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Highland Park Old Particular 1997 20 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

53.1% ABV
$200
Website
Highland Park Old Particular 20 Year

What the Bottle/Retailer Says

Highland Park is truly a product of its environment. The distillery lays just a few degrees outside the bounds of the Arctic Circle on an island devoid of trees and ravaged by wind, yet relatively mild in temperature swings. This unique location coupled with the extra effort of floor malting their own barley on site are some of the components that lead to an awards list a mile long. This list includes many Gold and Double Gold medals for the distillery and its various bottlings. The barley is malted with local peat from Hobbister Moor, dense in heather, and providing an unusually floral characteristic to the smoke. The gale force winds carry the salt sea air through the barrel houses giving the whisky a salty tanginess that is all together different than the iodine characteristics of Islay. Weighing in at 53.1% alcohol and well below the $550 price tag of the 25 year old distillery bottling, this 20 year old Old Particular cask really struts the salt air and delicate floral smoke. Charged from a refill hogshead.

DL 12125
One of 263 bottles
Distilled September 1997
Bottled September 2017
No Colouring | No Chill Filtration

What Gary Says

Nose:  Tobacco, leather, toffee, peat, hint of dark fruits, bit of creosote, sea air, walnuts and oak.
Palate:  Honey, toffee, caramel, chocolate, nutty with spiced raisins, nutmeg, allspice and salty peat.
Finish:  Long, damp with honey, toffee and peat.
Comments:  Lighter in color than Highland Park’s standard distillery offering, and an interesting perspective without the sherry maturation. Water brings some fruit out and thickens the mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey

50% ABV
$60
Website
Uncle Nearest Straight Rye 100 Proof Whiskey
We would like to thank Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and The Brand Guild for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

SHELBYVILLE, TENN. (November 10, 2022) — Nearest Green Distillery, makers of the most-awarded American Whiskey or Bourbon of 2019, 2020, and 2021, has announced that it will add three permanent expressions to its national portfolio before the end of 2022: Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey, Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Black Label and Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Rye. Uncle Nearest Straight Rye, launched today, is the brand’s first new whiskey available to purchase online and at retailers across the country since the 2019 release of its 1884 Small Batch Whiskey.

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey furthers the brand’s commitment to honoring its namesake, Nearest Green, by creating the highest quality whiskeys possible. The November 10 release follows the sold-out launch of the distillery exclusive Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Rye Whiskey, which has already been met with rave reviews by critics and has received awards from top competitions including being named Best in Class at The Drinks Business & The Spirits Business Autumn Tasting. The 100-proof straight rye, hand-selected by four-time Master Blender of the Year and great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, Victoria Eady Butler, features a bold, decadent nose; a palate brimming with light vanilla cream, caramelized sugar, and the unmistakable spice of rye; complimented by a long, rich finish.

“It took us a while to release our 100-proof straight rye whiskey. If we were going to add rye to our lineup, it had to be worthy of all the accolades and awards our other whiskeys receive,” said Master Blender Victoria Eady Butler. “My great-great-grandfather’s legacy of excellence requires us to take our time to do things differently. I’m confident he would have been so proud of this straight rye whiskey.”

Due to the challenges around growing rye in Tennessee, this whiskey originates in Canada – according to the exact American specifications required to be a straight rye whiskey – and is then aged in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, where it is then rested in used Uncle Nearest barrels for additional maturation. The liquid is then tasted, barrel by barrel, and blended by
Victoria.

“When I was doing my research on Nearest Green, I came across a handwritten letter from President William Taft,” said Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest. “The letter was dated May 16, 1911, and was addressed to his U.S. Secretary of War, Jacob M. Dickinson, thanking him for sending his favorite rye whiskey ‘of the Lincoln County variety.’ This letter led me to believe rye whiskeys were being made in this area, so after I found that letter there was no doubt in my mind a straight rye whiskey would one day be added to our portfolio of whiskeys.”

This was a lofty experiment that worked. The results of this 100-percent rye mash bill, matured in used Uncle Nearest barrels before being bottled at 100-proof, keeps with our tradition of creating some of the most awarded whiskeys in the world. This is rye whiskey, elevated, hitting every mark with its rich flavor profile, incredible balance of spices, and extraordinarily smooth finish.

NOSE: Bold and decadent with notes of praline, nutmeg and white pepper.
PALATE: Brimming with light vanilla cream, caramelized sugar and the unmistakable spice of rye.
FINISH: Long, rich and well-balanced.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Thick with fresh donuts with maple frosting, cedar, vanilla, bit of citrus and cinnamon.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, orange marmalade, mint and a bit of clove.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with caramel, orange, chocolate and a mineral spice note.
Comments:  For fans of Canadian rye, this is a classic rendition of that – with a twist. That additional ‘maturation’ (which I’d refer to as ‘finishing’ if it were me – oh, and this is!) in used Uncle Nearest bourbon casks gives it a little something different. Not that Canadian rye has a lot of bite, but it tamps the edges a bit more and brings more caramel to the party. Adding a bit of water brings notes of toffee as well as a nuttiness I really enjoyed, although it is a lovely dram neat as well. This is similar to the recently released cask strength Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye. I did a side-by-side comparison (diluting that to 50% ABV), and they are quite similar – but not identical.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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