Blue Note Crossroads Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Toasted French Oak
50% 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
Finished with two types of toasted French oak staves, Crossroads sips like a lower proof bourbon but sits at a respectable 100 proof. Try it for yourself to see what’s so special about this offering.
Technical Details Product Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finish: Toasted French Oak Proof & Filtration: 100 proof, unfiltered Availability: Nationwide, Crafted in Memphis
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich, light caramel, wood spices, French oak, raw honey, vanilla and dark fruits. Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, vanilla, caramel, honey, toasted marshmallow, dark fruit notes of raisins and a bit of cinnamon. Finish: Moderate in length, drying with oak, spice and honey. Comments: This is a really interesting pour! The dark fruit notes give it almost a sherried finish flavor. The mouthfeel from the lack of filtration is nice, and the higher proof also helps this one stand out. Have tried French oak finished bourbons before, but the toasting of the staves adds something different.
Savor the latest addition to this innovative series with our plantation rum release — 10-year-old Tennessee bourbon finished for 22 months in Plantation Rum barrels.
Tasting Notes: Orange peel, allspice, and cinnamon highlight layers of banana bread with rich caramel. On the palate, apple crisp and molasses lead to a balanced finish of fruit and spice, rounding out this luxurious, summer sipper.
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel, molasses, vanilla, grassy, oak, hint of chocolate with cinnamon. Palate: Sweet with caramel, sharp bite of molasses, chili spice, cinnamon and vanilla. Finish: Long and drying with pepper spice, cinnamon and rum. Comments: This was a bit sharper than I expected, but a bit of water softens it up and I definitely preferred it that way. It smoothed that pepper bit and allowed the molasses notes to shine through. 22 months is a long time for a finish, and a bit heavy-handed for my liking; it really dominates the core spirit for me. But if you like rum more than bourbon this might be right up your alley.
50.5% ABV $100 Website We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Producer Says
Limestone Branch Distillery announces the annual release of Yellowstone Bourbon Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Created by Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam, the 2024 expression is extra aged, featuring 7-year and 17-year aged bourbons and Beam’s first double finish in French brandy and cognac casks. Bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), an allocation of 10,000 cases (3-in) of Yellowstone Limited Edition will arrive on shelf in September 2024 at a minimum suggested price of $99.99 per 750mL bottle. Limestone Branch Distillery has released its annual Yellowstone Limited Edition since 2015. In the 2024 release, Beam sought out spirits to complement the natural flavors in the extra-aged bourbon. Finishing the blended bourbon in brandy and cognac casks from France introduces nuances from different spectrums of distilled grapes within the same style of spirit. The result is a soft and approachable bourbon, perfect for Yellowstone Bourbon loyalists. The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition is a rich amber color and features the bright aroma of pear, panela sugar, ripe apple and leather. With a thick, soft texture, the body includes flavors of American basswood honey, ripe stone fruits and citrus with traditional notes of caramel and vanilla. The bourbon’s warm and inviting finish delivers honey, Bosc pear, butterscotch and leather. “The 2024 expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition represents my natural progression of experimenting with special finishes over the years,” said Beam. “Now, finished bourbons have become sought after by fans who want to push the flavor profile. I love experimenting and exploring new opportunities, and using a double finish with brandy and cognac casks created a more complex and nuanced bourbon, opening a whole new experience for consumers to enjoy.” The 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is presented in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a label with the 2024 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a high-end natural cork. Tasting Notes AROMA: Bright with notes of pear, panela, ripe apple, and leather. BODY: Basswood honey, ripe stone fruit, citrus, a thick soft texture with traditional bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla. FINISH: Warm and inviting ending with honey, bosc pear, butterscotch, and leather.
What Gary Says
Nose: Fruity with orchard fruits, apples, pears, vanilla, oak and a bit of leather. Palate: Caramel, honey, canned fruit salad of apples and pears, vanilla and cinnamon. Finish: Moderate in length with honey and pears. Comments: This is another nicely done limited edition. I appreciate that the finishing isn’t overdone, even with the double finish. Quite well balanced and a delightful late summer sipper. Takes a bit of water well, and the mouth feel thickens up nicely. Cognac is one of those delicate spirits (like a refined French cousin of sorts) that really lends itself well as a finish for bourbon or rye.
55.5% ABV $150 Website We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.
What the Producer Says
ST. LOUIS (June 25, 2024) – The Bambino meets the Bootlegger. Remus Bourbon is proud to announce an official partnership with the estate of Babe Ruth that has culminated in the release of Remus Babe Ruth Reserve – a blend of three high-rye bourbons aged for six-to-seven years and offered at 111 proof (55.5% ABV). A limited supply of 10,624 bottles, one for each of the Babe’s plate appearances, will arrive at retail this July at a minimum suggested price of $149.99 per 750mL bottle. A QR code on the back label allows consumers to scan and find out what Ruth did in their bottle’s plate appearance.
“Remus Babe Ruth Reserve is a special collector’s release inspired by one of the most iconic figures in American history, the immortal Babe Ruth,” said Ross & Squibb Distillery Brand Manager Allison O’Brien. “Remus is inspired by the finest bourbon of the 1920’s, and partnering with the finest baseball player of the 1920’s gives bourbon and baseball fans a unique and memorable way to celebrate America’s pastime.”
To honor Babe’s famous #3, Remus Babe Ruth Reserve features a medley of three high-rye bourbon mash bills, which include specially selected barrels from 2016, 2017, and 2018, consisting of 49% rye, 44% rye and 36% rye bourbons, respectively. The result showcases the expertise of the Ross & Squibb Distillery in distilling and blending rye bourbons. Consumers can expect brown sugar and fig on the nose; some subtle mint, brown sugar, light fennel and candied pecans on the palate; and a warm rye spice with cinnamon on the finish.
Remus Babe Ruth Reserve is packaged in an ornate rectangular art deco-inspired glass bottle featuring an embossed baseball-diamond pattern and wooden-cork closure resembling the knob of a baseball bat. The front and back labels incorporate Ruth’s signature and elements of a baseball diamond.
Remus Bourbon is sending four lucky sweepstakes winners to Arlington, Texas, for the 2024 All-Star Game. Consumers also can be part of the excitement and celebration of the new release by participating in nearby launch parties the week of the big game. To learn more about Remus Babe Ruth Reserve and the rest of the Remus portfolio, visit RemusBourbon.com.
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel, toffee, dried fig, oak, cinnamon and a hint of baked apples. Palate: Vanilla, caramel crème, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, hint of mint and brown sugar. Finish: Moderate in length with cinnamon, subtle oak and caramel. Comments: The design is a home run, with the baseball bat-inspired cork and diamond-themed accents creating a truly unique package and aesthetic. It’s a substantial bottle, certainly suitable to be used as a decanter when the original spirit has been shared and enjoyed. The attention to detail is commendable, from the QR code offering insights into Babe Ruth’s plate appearances to the individual bottling numbers. For anyone interested – my bottle number was 6,486 (which when you go to the site and enter that, gives you the date, number of plate appearances, what the Babe did and home it was against) was a Babe Ruth home run! Which 2,537 of the bottles represent it says. While the bourbon itself is pleasant (particularly at this proof level – wish this is where they released more things at!) the overall package positions this as a premium product likely to appeal most to dedicated baseball enthusiasts or collectors seeking a distinctive addition to their collection.
Knob Creek 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
50% ABV $70 Website We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says:
Knob Creek® is excited to announce the permanent addition of Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey to its award-winning* portfolio. Made pre-Prohibition style, Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Rye Whiskey is carefully crafted and patiently aged for a decade in deeply charred barrels, bringing fans a full-bodied rye whiskey with distinct notes of spice, vanilla, and oak.
True to Knob Creek’s® unwavering commitment to producing high quality, full-flavored whiskey, this extra-aged rye invites aficionados and newcomers alike to experience its exceptional taste and craftsmanship. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks so fans can experience the depth at its height and drink what tastes right.
TASTING NOTES Knob Creek® 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey captures the essence of its classic offering, Knob Creek® 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey, but has deeper flavors imparted by the extra three years spent aging in the barrel. The result is a bold and complex, full-flavored straight rye whiskey that delivers smooth spice with every sip. PROOF: 100 COLOR: Tawny with waves of copper AROMA: Rich caramel and vanilla, deep rye spice, and dried apple TASTE: Black peppercorn, creamy vanilla and caramel, and hints of deep oak and char FINISH: Smooth, lingering notes of baking spice
THE HISTORY Knob Creek has set the standard for super-premium whiskey for three decades by crafting extraordinary full-flavored bourbon with a rich taste. Knob Creek bourbons and ryes are patiently aged to perfection in new, maximum charred American Oak barrels to impart the biggest and fullest flavor on their whiskey. No matter the expression, Knob Creek is crafted without shortcuts and embodies the pre-Prohibition style that founding distiller Booker Noe created in 1992. Since then, Knob Creek has lived up to such standards with the introduction of Knob Creek Straight Rye Whiskey in 2012, and later on, Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Rye Whiskey. In recent years, Knob Creek announced the permanent addition of Knob Creek 12 Year Old Bourbon to its portfolio, launched two limited releases, Knob Creek 15 Year Old Bourbon and Knob Creek 18 Year Old Bourbon, and announced the addition of an age statement to its flagship rye whiskey, Knob Creek 7 Year Old Rye Whiskey
RYE WHISKEY In the early 1900s, rye whiskey was the most popular spirit in America. However, Prohibition forced many whiskey fans to turn toward the sweeter, more robust flavor of bourbon. Now, thanks to the growing interest in high-quality craft spirits and a surge in contemporary cocktail culture brought about by the success of Super-Premium brands such as Knob Creek, bartenders and curious drinkers alike are turning to bourbon’s spicier counterpart, rye whiskey.
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, oak, vanilla, cinnamon with herbal notes, nutty (walnuts rather than peanuts) with a hint of orange zest. Palate: Pepper spice with vanilla, caramel, oak, nutty with herbal spices, bit of orange and a hint of mint. Finish: Moderately long and drying with oak, nutty cocoa, vanilla and grapefruit Comments: This rye offers an interestingly layered experience. I’m accustomed to more of a peanut note from Beam than walnuts, although that note sometimes disappears in the older whiskies. There’s a strong oak presence for 10 years old, and this has a sharp pepper bite – which you expect some bite in a rye whiskey. For my tastes, this has a bit more oak than I’d prefer but this isn’t what I’d call an ‘oak bomb’ or ‘over-oaked’. However, a splash of water can mellow the peppery edge, making the whiskey more approachable and highlighting its complex flavor profile.
