Stands Out

Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey

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Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001 The Journey
Blend of 3 Aged Whiskies

57.5% ABV
$200
Website
Whiskey JYPSI Legacy
We would like to thank Whiskey JYPSI and CHQ Media for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

STORY OF INNOVATION
Categorizing whiskeys by “mash bill” has become a short-hand way of indicating the style and character of the finished liquid inside the bottle. Whiskey JYPSI’s Legacy took that shorthand and replaced the weight of each grain in the recipe with the percentage of individual fine-aged spirits in our blends. A deconstructed mash bill, if you will, using some of the finest spirits available anywhere as the components of our whiskey. Regardless of geography, boundaries or borders.

Instead of blending the grains before fermentation, Whiskey JYPSI lived up to its name – sourcing individual aged whiskey components from various origins, and ultimately blending them to recreate our version of the mash bill.

We began by selecting only the highest quality, fully aged mature spirits that beautifully expressed the individual primary grains in that mash bill. Truly, each component in the blend would be an outstanding product by itself. Then we developed multiple prototypes, using combinations of these fine spirits of various ages and cooperage as our inputs. Blending three distinct spirits, each at different stages of development, created unexpectedly rich layers of aroma and flavor – and deep wood character – not generally found in spirits.

After more than two years of development, experimentation and tasting exercises with experienced whiskey tasters, reviewers and advisors, the company’s first product was born.

Introducing Legacy Batch 001, named “The Journey.” Because literally and figuratively, it has been one. And the result is a whiskey unlike any other. Smooth, complex and unconventional. A remarkably crafted blend of three fine aged whiskeys.

70% Indiana bourbon made from 99% corn and 1% malted barley. Distilled in Indiana, and aged 7 and 8 years for a smooth corn character, this bourbon component retains its rich and sweet corn character, with structure and depth from the cask.

21% Canadian rye made from 91% rye and 9% malted barley. Distilled in Alberta, Canada, and aged 20 years, this is a highly esterified and perfumed rye whiskey with pronounced butterscotch, spice and finesse that comes from spending the last two decades in barrels.

The last 9% of this remarkable blend is 100% malted barley from Indiana. Aged four years, this malt-forward American Single Malt has a beautiful balance of rich, nutty malt character – and strong vanilla, smoke and caramel notes borrowed from its new American oak casks.

And we called it Whiskey JYPSI to celebrate those who think differently, reinvent the rules, and seek greater adventure and purpose in life. Those who live life with a “JYPSI Spirit.” Like the remarkable team who’ve given birth to this remarkable liquid.

What Gary Says

Nose: Corn bread, fruity with apples and pears, caramel, baking spices, malt and soft oak.
Palate: Thick and chewy mouthfeel, caramel, peanut butter, milk chocolate, mint, but of cinnamon and pepper.
Finish: Long and syrupy with caramel, chili spice and honey.
Comments: I absolutely love the thick, viscous, chewy mouthfeel on this whiskey. The nose is nice, but the palate was an intense surprise. This is one of those drams that improves given some time in the glass. The bottle is a cool package if you are into that sorta thing, with a solid/heavy topper. A bit of water brings out some citrus notes, and doesn’t thin down the mouthfeel. If this was priced closer to half the SRP, this would be a solid Must Try and borderline Must Buy.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Baker’s 13 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Baker’s 13 Year Old
Unfiltered Single Barrel
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

53.5% ABV
$130
Website
Bakers 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

Baker’s® Bourbon is excited to announce the return of Baker’s® 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-time offering highlighting the influence that extra-aging, warehouse and barrel storage location, and environment has on each and every unique bourbon barrel.

Originally released in 2019 when the brand reemerged as a single barrel product, Baker’s 13 Year Old is aged at least six additional years than the brand’s classic offering. While the single barrel bourbon showcases distinct nuances between each individual barrel, fans can expect to experience more robust vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak flavors in this special, extra aged expression.

“Baker’s Bourbon celebrates the individual characteristics in each and every barrel, and this 13 Year Old expression takes that experience even further as the distinct flavors from the barrel develop over time,” said Fred Noe, Seventh Generation Master Distiller. “We received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback the first time we released this 13-year-old edition, and I’m proud to bring it back for whiskey fans who appreciate something special from Baker’s as a true gem within our Small Batch portfolio.”

While the notes of every barrel of Baker’s 13 Year Old offer a unique tasting journey, you can expect a few defining characteristics:

● Proof: 107
● Age: Minimum of 13 Years
● Nose: Fruit, vanilla and caramel
● Palate: Medium-bodied with flavors of oak and toasted nuts, with vanilla and fruity notes
● Finish: Robust, medium long, warmly rounded
● Sipping Suggestion: A neat pour or on the rocks to taste the distinct nuances from each barrel’s individual aging experience

Fans can also learn more about what shapes the distinct tasting notes of their bottle by heading to the Single Barrel Journey page on the Baker’s website. After entering the serial number found on the bottle’s neck tag, Baker’s fans can follow along to see how weather, length of aging and warehouse location affected the barrel and liquid of their personal bottle.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Warm, vanilla, toasted crème brûlée, caramel drizzle, oak, hint of peanut brittle with some subtle fruit notes.
Palate:  Cream mouthfeel with caramel, vanilla, mixed nuts (some lightly salted, some cinnamon glazed), oak, bit of apple and raisins along with brown sugar.
Finish:  Moderately long and thick with caramel, oak and spice notes.
Comments: I’ve always been a Baker’s fan, and thought it was one of the most under-rated of the Beam small batch collection. I think part of that is the proof point of 107, which for my money – if you’re not going cask strength – this is a damn fine place to be. This is a really nice bourbon, and fans of Baker’s won’t be disappointed. As a single barrel, there is apt to be some variation but I can’t see the fine folks at Beam selecting barrels for this that would stray too far. The house style of Beam (that peanut/nutty note) comes through, and is balanced really nicely with oak and spice, while not approaching anywhere close to over-oaked. Another really nice addition to the Baker’s saga!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 035

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Barrell Bourbon Batch 035

58.75% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon Batch 035
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Barrell Bourbon Batch 035 is a blend of 6, 7, 8, and 13-year-old bourbons. A multi-mashbill blend of 6 and 7-year-old spicy and earthy, high-rye, high-proof, oak forward barrels was combined with a blend of 8-year-old softer, lower-proof barrels with concentrated notes of dark cherry and butterscotch. After mingling for two months, 13-year-old barrels with dominant fruit flavors were layered in. A portion of these barrels had more tropical fruit notes and the other portion showed more dried and candied fruit notes. The resulting bourbon is peppery and intriguing on the nose, and sweet and long on the finish.

BLEND COMPONENTS:
Indiana: 6, 7, & 8 years old
Tennessee: 7 & 13 years old
Kentucky: 8 years old

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 117.5 proof cask strength bottling

DERIVED MASH BILL:
Corn: 78%
Rye: 18%
Malted Barley: 4%

FLAVOR NOTES
Banana bread on the nose is complemented by a myriad of herbaceous aromas from the rye grain. An earthiness intensifies on the palate. Bold spice settles down to rich, sweet notes of chocolate milkshake and frosted cinnamon bun. Water completely transforms the whiskey into a punch bowl of fresh and tropical fruits.

​Neat
Appearance: Luminous amber.
Nose: Jammy and cooked fruits leap out first such as lemon curd, cherry, and banana bread. That well-spiced character of the banana bread continues as woodsy notes emerge, with birch beer leading into tiramisu. The rye in the mashbills is particularly bold, bringing olive and thyme. Once the nose settles down a bit it reveals deeper aromas of cocoa butter and molasses.
Palate: Mexican hot chocolate, cinnamon and dried chili peppers make a spicy first impression. There’s a freshness to it with grapefruit peel and absinthe. There’s also an intense earthiness of pinecone and baking chocolate. As you roll the sip around your mouth it grows much richer and creamier, developing into eggnog and tahini.
Finish: Lime zest and amaretto, and some grated coconut; rye spice takes over as slate, fennel, and cola notes linger.
With a splash of spring water
Still plenty of jammy fruit but they’re tropical now, displaying dried papaya and pineapple jelly. They’re joined by some fresh gooseberries and watermelon. Even the herbs and spices brighten, becoming rose, tobacco, and crystallized ginger. The palate is completely transformed: where there was once hardly any fruit at all is now a fruit salad of peaches, Mirabelle plums, cantaloupe, and blood orange segments.

What Gary Says

Nose: Rich with banana nut bread, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, caramel turtle brownie, apricots, cherry, oak, hints of coffee and savory herbs.
Palate: Spicy with cocoa, cinnamon, citrus and nutmeg.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with chili spice and citrus zip.
Comments: This has one of the most intriguing noses I’ve come across in a bourbon in some time! Lots of ‘baked goods’ vibes but also fruity and savory. The palate for me was interesting, although not as complex and nuanced. I definitely enjoy this one with some water, which really thickens up the mouthfeel and brightens up the flavor, bringing some ginger to the party while tamping the spicy edges. Given the spiciness on this one, I opted to try this in a Manhattan in place of rye whiskey, and really loved it!

Rating: Stands Out

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Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey

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Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey

58.5% ABV
$55-60
Website
Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey
We would like to thank RS Lipman for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Intriguing aromas of vanilla bean, banana brioche, marmalade, and sweet corn brulee with an essence of sandalwood. Graceful on the palate featuring flavors of caramel corn, toffee, and orange zest with a hint of cocoa, all gently wrapped in warm, subtle notes of oak. The extended aging lengthens the taste profile and results in an incredibly smooth, approachable barrel-proof whiskey, matured in 18-year-old ex-bourbon barrels.

A quote from Robert Lipman, owner of RS Lipman:
“We are extremely proud of the recipe and mash bill we developed with our distiller partner using whiskey that was laid down back in 2008. Our goal was a barrel proof whiskey that is nicely balanced with color coming only from the ex-bourbon barrels. Sam used his expertise to bring this vision to life by creating a 117-proof whiskey that is mellow, easy to sip and natural in color. We could not be more pleased with the results.”

Aged 10 Years*
Mash Bill: 99% Corn 1% Malted Barley
Limited Release
*The bottle is age stated at 10 years old, which indicates the youngest whiskey included in the batch. Per their website, the majority of the whiskey is 13 years old.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich vanilla custard with banana, creamed corn and toasted oak.
Palate:  Caramel corn, honey, toffee, bit of orange zest and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey, corn and pepper spice.
Comments:  If they’d had asked me, I’d have suggested NOT using 18 year old bourbon barrels. 18 years is a long time, and while used bourbon barrels go off to give life to other whiskies, I think that they’ve given up a lot of their flavor over 18 years. This is interesting, but I’m just not a fan of really old corn whiskey. I bought a bottle of Heaven Hill Select Stock: 14 Yr Corn Whiskey several years back (paying $100) and thought that was a complete waste of money and time. Granted, this is just over half that price, and honestly tastes much better. If you’re a fan of corn whiskey, and have wondered what it might be like with more age than you typically see, this won’t break the bank (and is a unique offering in that respect). Corn just doesn’t take on a lot of complexity with age in my experience, or maybe it is the use of tired barrels.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2023 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Tokaji Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone Limited Edition 2023 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Steve Beam announced the 2023 release of Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This latest bourbon – featuring a blend of 7-year, 13-year and 16-year aged bourbons finished in Tokaji casks – was bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV), with a limited allocation of 10,000 3-in cases offered nationwide at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per 750 ml bottle starting this August.
As he has done with his limited-edition Yellowstone Bourbon offerings since 2015, Beam hand selected the three aged bourbons, which were then blended and finished in Tokaji casks. Tokaji is a traditional sweet wine from the Tokaji region of Hungary made exclusively from white-wine grapes. Tokaji wines are known as much for their complex, layered flavor profiles as they are for their sweetness.
“With each year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition offering, I seek a finish that I both personally love and believe will make for a flavorful, well-balanced bourbon. This year, I found the perfect finish in the Tokaji casks sourced from northern Hungary,” said Beam. “Consumers can expect aromas of honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon; a body highlighted by dry spice, followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper; and a finish containing notes of dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak. Fans of Yellowstone Limited Edition offerings will have a new contender for their favorite!”
The 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey features custom designed bottles with embossing, a high-end natural cork and label containing the 2023 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem and a 101-proof callout.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Honey, green grapes and freshly baked cinnamon.
Palate: Dry spice followed by caramel, dark cherry, citrus and white pepper.
Finish: Dry tobacco, honeysuckle and smoky oak.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, honey, grapes, oak, cinnamon, citrus zest, vanilla and white wine.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with caramel, black cherry, tangerines, peaches, cinnamon, nutmeg, bit of cocoa and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with caramel, fruit salad, oak and tobacco.
Comments: Another really fine example of finishing with a deft hand. This is the first whiskey I’ve had where Tokaji casks are listed on the label, and I’ve never had Tokaji wine – but this isn’t a big step from straight bourbon. Appreciate that Limestone Branch includes some older bourbon casks in these limited editions which bring some complexity and mouthfeel to the party. A bit of water thickens the mouthfeel further, and tamps the pepper spice edge while bringing the fruit forward – although this drinks perfectly well neat.

Rating: Stand Out

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