WOODFORD RESERVE BOURBON PERSONAL SELECTION Because each barrel matures at its own rate, they take on a character of their own. So you’ll taste several as you craft your own two barrel batch. Then we’ll bottle your selections, complete with personalized labels. It’s Craft Bourbon, and you’re one of its craftsmen.
Here’s what you’ll receive:
180 1 Liter bottles of your selected bourbon, offered in personalized, individually labeled bottles bearing your name Personalized barrelhead (upon request) Personalized barrel (upon request) A private tour of the distillery and lunch with tasting group Your name or company name on display at the Distillery
What Gary Says
Nose: Caramel, charred oak, cigar paper, orange zest, cinnamon, hint of milk chocolate. Palate: Creamy mouthfeel, sweet caramel, vanilla, allspice, cinnamon, toffee, citrus with a hint of anise. Finish: Moderately long and drying with cinnamon and toffee. Comments: A solid bourbon overall; not too sweet, not too spicy. Woodford Reserve hasn’t been one of my favorites, and not because it is objectionable – but I suppose that it is priced as a premium and doesn’t stand out enough to me. I hadn’t had regular Woodford Reserve in a while, so I picked some up in order to bump this against that in a blind side-by-side, and I couldn’t tell the difference between the two. Note that the ‘Personal Selection’ isn’t a single barrel program, but the next smallest batch size of two barrels – so I had hopes that this might be more different. Maybe if this was higher proof it would stand out more from the standard offering, although again – nothing objectionable with this. Other selections might vary more from the standard depending upon who does the selection.
Ethereal and delicate, the nose has surprising hints of white tea, wild flower, and bergamot. Whiskey dringers will appreciate the subtle, peppery entry resulting from the barrel-aging process, while the soft essence of peach will appeal to those with sweeter tastes. The meticulous attention to detail employed to distill Susan for President Peach Brandy pays off in the warm, round and fuzzy mouthfeel that mimics biting into a fresh peach — surprising and alluring
Susan for President commemorates the creative legacy of KOVAL co-founder and president Sonat Birnecker Hart’s Aunt Susan – an artist, sculptor, and connoisseur of finer things. As part of her artistic approach to life, she casually campaigned for President of the World, passing out calling cards adorned with humorous, often risqué illustrations and slogans. In memory of Susan, this line of specialty spirits is a posthumous way for her to continue the campaign, for as she used to say, “the beat goes on,” and there is still much beauty in this world to celebrate.
What Gary Says
DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Brandy (so read at your own risk!) Nose: Peach, honey, notes of tea, allspice, nutmeg, citrus notes with bergamot. Palate: Peaches, vanilla, honey, subtle spearmint with a hint of cinnamon. Finish: Short and drying with peaches and cinnamon. Comments: Again – NOT a brandy connoisseur, and similar to the Santa Fe Spirits Apple Brand – a bit of a one-trick pony. But this did have more complexity than that, and a bit less one dimensional. Just not enough to make me ever think of converting from whisk(e)y.
A blend of superb exclusively copper pot-distilled brandy with real character and depth of flavor mingled in a unique, modern American style. Small batch distillation of superior, highly aromatic wine selected for exceptional quality.
Non-Chill Filtered For An Authentic, Uncorrupted Natural Flavor and natural color. Some Cloudiness, faint suspension or light sediment may be apparent at colder temperatures. Our ambition is to retain the integrity of the distillate with minimal intervention, with our signature mouth-feel and definitive aroma.
Matured in Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey and medium-char American white oak barrels for balance, complexity and a polished, velvety finish. The approximate blend is 90% Kentucky Bourbon Barrels & 10% New American Oak.
Tasting notes Appearance: golden, caramelized oats, darkening harvest sun. Aroma: caramel, honey, cherry wood, honeysuckle with a hint of melon and subtle floral bouquet. Taste: luscious, ever so slightly oily & viscous. Honey, toasted oak, tobacco, dried stone fruit, feisty spice on the mid-palate.
What Gary Says
DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Brandy (so read at your own risk!) Nose: Honey, fruity with cherry, apples and kiwi, floral with subtle notes of tobacco. Palate: Sweet with honey, cherry, melon pepper (and maybe a bit of chili) spice. Finish: Moderate in length, damp with fading fruit and pepper spice. Comments: Of the three samples included in the Flaviar tasting box (The Brandy Bunch Vol. 2), this had the most complexity – but it still left me wanting more. Which might just mean I don’t care for brandy.
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch honors the year that Evan Williams founded Kentucky’s First Distillery. Pulled from fewer than 300 barrels, this extra-aged small Batch Bourbon won the 2019 Consumers’ 2019 SIP Award.
Proof: 90 Proof Age: 6-8 Years Old
Tasting Notes Color: Brilliant honey Aroma: Oaky vanilla, sautéed butter, and sweet corn Taste: Semi-sweet, oaky, and honeyed Finish: Lean, off-dry, and regal
What Gary Says
Nose: Salted caramel, vanilla, richhouse mustiness with a hint of cocoa. Palate: Sweet vanilla, caramel, honey, bit of clove and cinnamon with subtle mint. Finish: Short to moderate in length, drying with oak, caramel and bitter chocolate. Comments: One of the first dusty bourbons I ever had the good fortune to buy was the 10 year age stated Evan Williams 1783. From what I recall from that, it had quite a bit more mint than this – although it would have been pre-fire Heaven Hill – so entirely different distillate. This is not that whiskey. When I first tried this, I thought it was quite nice – a solid albeit, sweet bourbon. It got me thinking how it might compare to Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond (which is a few dollar cheaper, but higher ABV). In a blind side-by-side-by-side (which included Benchmark Bonded), this was very similar/close to the Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond. On the nose, they were incredibly similar, with this having just a touch more oak, and on the palate, this had a bit more spice – although these differences were subtle. I actually preferred the BIB over this by a hair, but both were quite nice – and liked both more than the Benchmark Bonded (which was the most expense in that three-way tasting).
40% ABV $25 Website We would like to thank Alberta Distillers and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.
What the Distillery Says
TORONTO, March 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Alberta Distillers Ltd, one of the first distilleries to create a true 100% rye whisky, are proud to announce the introduction of their signature core expression, Alberta® Premium to the U.S. for the first time. This stateside launch follows the successful relaunch of the highly coveted Alberta® Premium Cask Strength Rye into the U.S. in 2021. The premium 100% Canadian rye whisky currently boasts the title of the No. 1 selling 100% rye whisky in the world, as outlined by IWSR global sales numbers1, and is a true testament to the skill and craftsmanship of Alberta Distillers, which was named Distillery of the Decade by the 2020 Canadian Whisky Awards.
Crafted and distilled in Calgary, Alberta, Alberta Premium is made from 100% Canadian prairie rye grains grown by local farmers. The grains are uniquely nourished by nutrient-dense, glacier-fed spring water from the surrounding Rocky Mountains. The result is a perfectly balanced whisky with unique nuances of flavor that are influenced by the natural climate and environment in which it is made.
“We were thrilled by the response to our re-introduction of cask strength rye whisky to the U.S. last year, and this year we wanted to offer U.S. fans the opportunity to get their hands on the liquid we’re best known for,” remarked George Teichroeb, General Manager of Alberta Distillers. “Alberta Premium showcases exactly what true Canadian rye whisky can be, and we’re proud to continue the tradition of producing the gold standard for Canadian spirits and using 100% rye grains to craft this distinguished liquid.”
You can taste the great quality in every bottle of this distinctive and award-winning whisky*, which has earned high accolades such as Gold at the 2021 International Spirits Challenge, Platinum at the 2021 SIP Awards, and Excellent/Highly Recommended at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2019. Best enjoyed neat with a drop of water, on the rocks, or in a classic cocktail, such as an Old Fashioned, this coveted whisky is packaged in an eye-catching, faceted glass bottle and features the following characteristics:
Alberta Premium will begin to hit shelves this month with a SRP of $24.99 for a 750ml bottle. This winning whisky continues to set the standard for premium rye whiskies, and as demand grows for Alberta Premium products, U.S. whisky fans can rest assured there’s more to come from Alberta Distillers in the months to come. For more information and to keep up to date on the latest news, follow Alberta Premium on Instagram and Facebook, or visit our websites at www.albertadistillers.com and adl75.ca, and visit us on social media at our Instagram and Facebook.
An explosive taste that is bold with its own unique earthy character, made with 100% Canadian Prairie Rye and aged for a minimum of 5 years, Alberta Premium is the original 100% rye.
Tasting Notes An authentic prairie rye, this whisky has a rich gold colour, and aromas of banana, toffee and light spice. Expect the flavour to be mellow and smoky, with a finish of vanilla and spice.
What Gary Says
Nose: Cedar, vanilla cotton candy, grassy note with a hint of caramel. Palate: Sweet with vanilla, maple candies, light caramel, nutmeg, honey and a hint of green apple cider. Finish: Short to moderate in length with vanilla, green apples and gentle spice. Comments: Compared to American rye (whether barely legal 51% rye mashbill or higher), this is quite a bit different – and is more gentle and mellow. I loved the Cask Strength Limited Editions (2020 & 2021). I wish this was a higher ABV than 40%, as this is a bit more mild than I prefer in a rye, but it is tasty and gives a different perspective on the grain – which is always welcomed. This has a longer finish than I expected as well.
Rating: Stands Out
1 IWSR 2013-2020; 2020 Case volumes: 336k 9-liter cases; June 30, 2021
