Stands Out

Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey
Bourbon Whiskey Finished With A Honey Soaked American Oak Spiral

45% ABV
$60
Website
Oak & Eden Wheat & Honey
We would like to thank Oak & Eden and Champlin PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

DALLAS, Sept. 29, 2022 – Today, DFW-based indie whiskey brand Oak & Eden unveils Wheat & Honey, a small batch release blending the brand’s permanent wheated bourbon with a honey-soaked toasted American Oak spire. Honey is the first flavor that most people discern when drinking whiskey, making this infusion an obvious choice to take a good thing and make it great.

Oak & Eden is built on the foundation of innovation, believing whiskey should be constantly fresh and distinct, never the same. This pursuit leads the brand to constantly create new and unique whiskies that could only be achieved by its patented process of In-Bottle Finishing. Oak & Eden follows traditional distillation and aging to the letter, aging their whiskeys for at least two years in American Oak barrels. They then break tradition in the finishing (or double barrel) process, where instead of putting the fully aged whiskey in a second barrel to add more flavor coming naturally from the wood, they place in the bottle a Spire; a 5” long spiral-cut piece of oak fashioned from the same species and treatment as barrel oak.

With Wheat & Honey, the spire is paired with another libation, American honey, to infuse the oak with an additional element that adds an essence of flavor on the finish. Wheat & Honey, bottled at 45% Alc. by Vol., is available now exclusively online at oakandeden.com with a price of $59.99 for 750mL. Wheat & Honey will continue to roll out in select Oak & Eden retailers across 30 states in the coming months.

“Every Oak & Eden release reflects our pursuit in customizing the experience of whiskey in unique ways — not just with the products we create, but also with how they are designed to be used,” comments Co-Founder and CMO Brad Neathery. “We intentionally crafted Wheat & Honey to pair beautifully with a broad range of refreshing cocktails – cocktails that most people would never assume are whiskey based.”

As a naturally sweeter whiskey, Wheat & Honey lends itself as a go-to for cocktails. To complement the launch, Oak & Eden shares four distinct, easy-to-replicate recipes: Cloud Nine, Solar Flare, American Honey and The Gold Coast. Visit Oak & Eden’s Barkeeper’s Diary for full recipes, cocktail tips and more.

More on Wheat & Honey:
Whiskey: Wheated Bourbon – Wheat & Honey begins with a remarkably smooth combination of 51% corn, 45% wheat and 4% malted barley. Once distilled, the bourbon is aged in new American Oak barrels producing a rich, deep yet sweet spirit.
Wood: American Oak – Containing hundreds of naturally occurring botanicals, Oak & Eden uses a 5” American Oak spire in Wheat & Honey, which produces a rich, velvety whiskey full of caramel, butterscotch, and allspice notes.
Fire: Medium Toast – Before placing the spire into the wheated bourbon, it is exposed to fire, technically a Medium Toast, toasting the wood to the perfect degree that will produce a finish that is deep and rich with subtle notes of candied fruit, vanilla, toffee, and caramel.
Infusion: American Honey – Each spire is infused with American Honey before being
placed in the bottle for that naturally sweet finish.
Tasting notes: Honey, Marshmallow & Candied Fruit

Oak & Eden will debut additional expressions to its Infused Series over the next year as well as build upon its unique Bottle Builder program where customers can craft their own whiskey bottle using one of the maker’s four finished whiskey bases and over thirty infusion options. The Bottle Builder program is currently offered ($90/ 750ml bottle) at the brand’s Flagship retail location and nano-distillery in Bridgeport, TX.

Check out oakandeden.com for more information on Wheat & Honey as well as the brand’s full lineup of whiskies.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sponge cake, vanilla, oak, raw honey, hint of roasted marshmallow.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet with honey, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, oak, and subtle pear notes.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with honey, vanilla and a touch of oak.
Comments:  An interesting dram and enjoyable sipper. I do like honey in bourbon (especially when recovering from a sore throat), and this hits that note. Having done some experimenting with charred oak sticks in bottles, I wonder how time alters this.  Will the honey or oak notes continue to grow heavier? Will it improve? Will it get off-balanced?  I’ll post an update in a few months (didn’t want to delay this until then). This doesn’t need any water, which is good because it thins out rather quickly with a bit of it.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Dewar’s 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 12-Year-Old
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$30
Website
Dewars 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky, has unveiled the new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky. With a new look and feel, DEWAR’S 12-year-old has been taken to the next level with a whisky that balances complexity, flavor and smoothness.

Double-aging the whisky in hand-selected, first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks for the first time has created a distinctly different experience for drinkers, with a greater breadth and depth of flavor, and a radically richer mouthfeel. The new whisky builds upon the renowned DEWAR’S house style of floral, honeyed Highland whisky, with a hint of smoke.

Showcasing up to 40 of Scotland’s finest single malt and grain whiskies, the new liquid was created by DEWAR’S Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod, who was recently awarded Master Blender of the Year for the fourth time by the International Whisky Competition. Stephanie Macleod comments: “Curiosity has been at the cornerstone of the DEWAR’s brand since John Dewar created the first whisky in 1846. And that sense of curiosity has carried through to how my teams and I develop our whiskies today. It was only natural to experiment and craft a new element to the maturation process, which has resulted in a distinctly different tasting experience.”

“Having been experimenting with the influence of cask types on flavor and texture for the last ten years, we knew the time was right to bring some of what we have learnt to our core range of whiskies. We wanted to take DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old to the next level and bring the joys of quality Scotch whisky to a new generation of drinkers. DEWAR’S whiskies have a characteristic floral and honeyed-style and we knew we could add a richer and more complex dimension through the use of first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks.”

Macleod has created a more complex whisky: an aroma of apple, ripe peaches and hints of lemon zest; followed by floral, spice and rich fruit notes; with a robust finish of vanilla, butterscotch and a wisp of a smoke. Complementing the flavor notes is the richer, smoother and more balanced mouthfeel, creating an experience that will delight new and existing whisky drinkers alike.

Brian Cox, Vice President, DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky, North America commented: “The beauty of our Scotch whisky is the ability to bring the breadth of flavor – as well as the depth of flavor – from the variety of single malts and grains that we use to make it. This new expression of DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old is the epitome of what a high quality, pleasurable and indulgent Scotch whisky can be. Reimagining and relaunching this whisky has always been about one thing: delighting whisk(e)y drinkers. Whether you are a connoisseur looking to discover something new or are just seeking to share and enjoy with friends and family, we are certain that everyone will find something to savor and relish.”

All DEWAR’S whiskies share one thing in common – they are double aged for extra smoothness, a maturation process specific to DEWAR’s that was perfected by the first Master Blender, AJ Cameron. 2022 marks the 125th anniversary since AJ Cameron became the first Master Blender in 1897.

The new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky is presented in a new, premium clear glass bottle with a modified base, label and enclosure.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Honey, dried fruit notes of mango, pineapple and peaches; hint of orange and baked apple, vanilla, nutmeg and a bit of butterscotch with a faint note of smoke.
Palate:  Round and slightly oily mouthfeel, fruity with pears, peaches and apples, bit of nutmeg and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and thick, with applesauce, sherried dark fruit and honey.
Comments:  I can’t recall the last time I tried Dewar’s 12 Year Old, so I can’t compare this new release to that. But I know I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as I do this or I’d have had a bottle around the house! This has a lot going on, and is very well balanced with a lovely mouthfeel – things I don’t often get with a 40% ABV pour. I can’t think of another Scotch (blended or otherwise) at this price point that I enjoy as much. Kudos to the blender and team on a really nice whisky!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey

59.8% ABV
$150
Website
Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye 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

As we announced in February of 2022, our award-winning line of whiskeys, with nearly 550 awards since our inception in 2017, is growing. Today, we continue celebrating the legacy of Nearest Green, the Godfather of Tennessee Whiskey, with the newest addition to our Master Blend Edition Portfolio: Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey, our first Rye expression. As with our inaugural Master Blend Edition, this Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey represents the favorite barrels of Victoria Eady Butler, our Master Blender, fifth generation Nearest Green descendant and four-time Master Blender of the Year recipient.

Born in the North – in Canada according to the exact American specifications required to be a Straight Rye Whiskey — and raised in New York for a minimum of four years before moving down to Tennessee, this Rye is crafted and blended by Victoria. As she puts it, “My great-great-grandfather was known for his whiskey filtration method. But this 100% rye is so spectacular, we dared not cut or filter it.” The result is a classic rye spice and character, paired with the incredible Uncle Nearest smoothness that has made our whiskey the Most Awarded of 2019, 2020, 2021 (and soon to be 2022).

We are proud to bring Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey to our fans who will be in for a treat when they experience what critics have already been falling in love over. Just last week, it was announced that our Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye whiskey has already received its first Gold medal and received the highest honor at one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world.

Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey launched on September 17th, as a Nearest Green Distillery exclusive, to rave reviews from our visitors. For those unable to make it to Shelbyville, there will be more Rye to come from Uncle Nearest in the coming months, including Straight Rye and Single Barrel Rye.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Buttered rye toast with orange marmalade, oak, maple toffee, nutmeg, toasted orange zest and a wisp of cedar.
Palate:  Warm and syrupy with caramel, buttered popcorn, fruity with oranges and black cherry, rye bread, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long and damp with pepper, orange honey and caramel.
Comments:  A really nice rye whiskey, intense with a great mouthfeel. I tend to get the popcorn notes with younger whiskey, so guessing this isn’t a lot older than four years old – although it has a fair amount of complexity going on for a younger whiskey. It comes across a bit hot, but takes water really well – bringing out some ginger on the nose and keeping a nice mouthfeel that shifts from syrupy to creamy. There isn’t a ton of cask strength, NCF rye on the shelves, but even so – the price point is high to me. At half the SRPP, I’d be all over it. If you’re a fan of rye and the brand, I’d look for an opportunity to try it first.

Rating: Stands Out

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Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

47% ABV
$60
Website
Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and Praytell for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Continuing the brand’s commitment to deliver rare and unique rye-forward offerings, Redemption Whiskey announces the release of the latest addition to the brand’s highly sought after award-winning Specialty Series: Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey. Redemption Sur Lee was created utilizing a first-of-its-kind whiskey-making technique inspired by the French sur lie winemaking process and designed to add layers
of complexity and roundness.

The resulting whiskey is an entirely unique expression of rye, with rich taste, buttery notes, a silky finish and a hint of rye spice.

This whiskey innovation begins with Redemption’s award-winning classic pre-Prohibition rye mash bill, which boasts a rye content of 95%. Redemption then broke conventional whiskey-making norms by adding the flavorful backset that comes off the still during distillation, called the “whiskey lees,” into the barrels before aging. By periodically rotating the barrels during the aging process, the “lees” and whiskey continually interact and naturally infuse the whiskey with even more flavor. The “sur lee” method invigorates the rye’s complexity to further enhance and develop the whiskey. Before bottling, Sur Lee is non-chill filtered to maintain optimal flavors and aromas. The end result is a whiskey that’s deep and complex with a floral upfront, nutty backdrop and decadent, buttery notes of toasted marshmallow, maple and nutmeg, balanced with a lingering spicy finish.

Flavor Profile
Nose: Floral upfront with a lovely nutty, woody back drop. Evokes deep fruit notes of dried mango, bergamot orange, and honey baked apples.
Palate: Round, rich and soft with decadent nutty and buttery notes that envelop the palate. Supporting notes of toasted marshmallow, maple, and nutmeg, balanced with Redemption Rye’s signature undertones of fennel and caraway.
Finish: A lingering, balanced finish that coats the palate. Spice fades into a hint of sweetness with warming flavors of­ pie crust, sweet pine, buttered popcorn, vanilla and dried fig.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Woodsy rye spice, dill, mint, lemon (leaning towards grapefruit) zest, orange blossom honey with apples.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, nutty with vanilla, orange, apple, mint, nutmeg, savory spice notes with an earthy hint of mushroom and cocoa.
Finish:  Moderately long with fruity spice and vanilla.
Comments:  Definitely a unique addition to the Redemption rye family (and rye whiskey in general). This whiskey delivers on what I look for in a high-rye rye whiskey (not to be confused with a ‘barely-legal’ rye whiskey) with the fruit notes and dill, but there is an earthy nuttiness to this that really stands out. This isn’t earthy like a peaty scotch; it is a much more subtle play that still showcases the rye whiskey, but adds a lovely new dimension. The packaging isn’t my favorite – the glass bottle is slightly frosted and fades to black, giving it a more cloudy/dark appearance than the whiskey itself. I prefer just clean/clear glass; the whiskey is delicious on its own, but not a fan when the packaging makes it look “different” than it does in my glass. Also prefer an artificial bottle stopper over cork, which can deteriorate. But those critiques wouldn’t discourage me from buying a bottle – because I mainly buy for what’s on the inside. This is one of my favorites that I’ve tried from Redemption. Hoping we maybe see a barrel proof release in the future!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Dewar’s French Cask Smooth

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 8 Year Old French Cask Smooth
Apple Brandy Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$24.99
Website
Dewars French Cask Smooth
We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Dewar’s French Smooth, debuting in October 2022, is a result of finishing the brand’s signature 8-year-old, double-aged blend in Apple Brandy Calvados casks from the orchards of Normandy, France. The unexpectedly decadent Dewar’s French Smooth utilizes the oak that creates the traditional Calvados cider to enhance the sweetness of the liquid to develop a delicious blend between baked apples, citrus, and a hint of cinnamon. Given this unique characteristic, the notes on the nose create a complex yet sweet smell with a honeyed sweetness and a dusting of crème anglaise.

Thanks to the crisp taste of the apples, the finished product becomes a perfect study of balance, creaminess, and the encapsulation of the best of France & Scotland coming together while providing a modest price point for the supremely smooth liquid.

Perfectly paired with apple picking season, this liquid embodies the essence of the fall and encaptures that warm cozy feeling. If you’re looking for festive cocktails, look no further than the Dewar’s Apple Nouvelle Cocktail and the Dewar’s Apple Cinnamon Highball. With hints of apple and citrus, these drinks truly transport you to the orchards of Normandy.

The Apple Nouvelle Cocktail: A sparkling tipple bursting with French finesse, bringing the orchard flavor of Calvados to life with sweet floral elderflower, fresh apples, and sparkling French bubbles. Santé

Ingredients
1oz Dewar’s French Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
0.5oz St Germain
1oz cloudy apple juice
chilled soda water
French sparkling wine

Method: Add whisky, St Germain, and apple juice to a cocktail shaker and shake hard with cubed ice, then double strain into chilled coupette glass, and top with a small dash of soda, then sparkling wine.

Apple Cinnamon Highball: Bursting with green orchard fruits and sweet spices, a fruity, zesty, and refreshing highball.

Ingredients
1.5oz Dewar’s French Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
0.5oz lemon juice
0.5oz cinnamon syrup
1oz cloudy apple juice
3oz soda water

Method: Add whisky, lemon juice, cinnamon syrup, and apple juice to a highball glass, then fill the glass with cubed ice. Top with soda, stir from the bottom up and garnish with an apple slice.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malt, fruity with apples, pears, subtle cinnamon, tangerines and a grassy, heather note.
Palate:  Sweet with honey, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of graham cracker with a light citrus note.
Finish:  Moderately long with cinnamon baked apples.
Comments: Wow! This is dangerously drinkable, and delicious. It is definitely on the sweet side of the spectrum, but I love the Calvados finish on this, and as I’m trying this the first week of fall – it is striking all of the right seasonal notes. Really appreciate the screw cap enclosure. At first I thought maybe it was just the right pour at the right time, but in revisiting this a few more times – it is just a really delightful dram. I wish it was bottled higher than 40% (and as such, I wouldn’t bother with any water, although I did try a few drops which didn’t wreck it). I’ve only tried the Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth and Caribbean Smooth, but I liked this significantly more than both of those.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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