Stands Out

Daviess County Lightly Toasted Bourbon Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Daviess County Lightly Toasted Bourbon Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Lightly Toasted American Oak Barrels

48% ABV
$50
Website
Daviess County Lightly Toasted Bourbon
We would like to thank Lux Row Distillers and BYRNE PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

This limited edition Daviess County variant is finished in lightly toasted American oak barrels, providing a smooth mouthfeel with notes of caramel, vanilla, and hints of oak. Like all Daviess County variants, it features a signature combination of ryed and wheated mashbills, aged for over four years and is 96 proof.

“I’m proud to honor the rich history and tradition started in 1874 by the Daviess County Distilling Co. with this latest expression of our Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon,” said Lux Row Distillers master distiller John Rempe. “Finishing our traditional Daviess County bourbon in lightly toasted American oak barrels imparts aromas of caramel, vanilla and hints of oak on the nose, while delivering flavors of sweet caramel with notes of vanilla and coconut on the palate. This unique flavor profile is certain to become a fast favorite among fans of the brand”

Daviess County Lightly Toasted is the first in a series of annually offered toasted-barrel finishes for the Daviess County brand family, which also includes perennial variants Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finish and Daviess County French Oak Finish.

TASTING NOTES
AROMA: Caramel, vanilla, and hints of oak
PALATE: Sweet caramel with notes of vanilla and coconut
FINISH: Warm, sweet finish with a touch of oak

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, caramel, green oak, allspice, toffee and nutmeg.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, sweet with caramel, honey, bit of coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with caramel, honey and oak.
Comments:  A nice bourbon, with the toasted oak finish having a subtle influence. I preferred the Daviess County Double Barrel Bourbon Limited Edition over this, but like that they’re trying new things each year (and while a ‘limited edition’, not pricing it out of reach for many consumers). A bit of water changes the oak on the news from new/green to an older, rickhouse aroma.

Rating: Stands Out

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Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

52.5% ABV
$55
Website
Buzzard's Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon
We would like to thank Buzzard’s Roost for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

OUR PROCESS
We start by sourcing the best aged whiskey we can find, but the real magic is in our barrels. We use only brand new, 53-gallon white oak barrels that are carefully toasted and very lightly charred. Each one is designed from the ground up to deliver a specific flavor profile.

We work closely with our cooperage to tweak every parameter of the barrel – from the seasoning to the charring to the development of our custom toast profiles. All of our barrels are unique and proprietary to our company, giving Buzzard’s Roost a truly one-of-a kind flavor. After resting only a few weeks in our new barrels, the whiskey is purposefully transformed and ready for bottling.

Buzzard’s Roost Char #1 Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 4 Years | Proof: 105
Mash Bill: 59% corn • 36% rye • 5% malted barley

About: Buzzard’s Roost is excited to announce the launch of its third bourbon in celebration of three years of making exceptional whiskeys. Created from 4-year-old whiskey, then aged in our proprietary barrels, this bourbon is created from a mash bill of of 59% corn, 36% rye, and 5% malted barley.

The color is a rich bronze, and this bourbon is sure to stand out in your favorite whiskey cocktail or enjoyed straight on its own.

Char #1 Bourbon offers tantalizing aromas of brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla. The palate is a perfect blend of flavor and structure, with woody notes that are matched with cherry and dark fruit notes. The finish is long with just the right intensity. The fruit and vanilla hints are accompanied by a pinch of spice.

• Nose: The nose is full of brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla.
• Palate: Once on the palate, flavors of sweet vanilla and brown sugar lend themselves to a sweet and rich mouthfeel.
• Finish: A harmonious and subtle fade to cherry and blackberry.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Cooked corn mash with brown sugar, vanilla, touch of honey, oak and cinnamon.
Palate:  Vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, pepper spice with oak and cinnamon.
Finish:  Short with oak, pepper and vanilla.
Comments:  The nose definitely comes across as young (which at 4 years it is). I do appreciate the higher ABV, and this is one of those rare whiskies < 55% ABV where I actually prefer it with a bit of water – which amps the brown sugar on the nose to almost molasses, and tamps the edges on the palate with even more brown sugar.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Buzzard’s Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon

52.5% ABV
$75
Website
Buzzard's Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon
We would like to thank Buzzard’s Roost for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

OUR PROCESS
We start by sourcing the best aged whiskey we can find, but the real magic is in our barrels. We use only brand new, 53-gallon white oak barrels that are carefully toasted and very lightly charred. Each one is designed from the ground up to deliver a specific flavor profile.

We work closely with our cooperage to tweak every parameter of the barrel – from the seasoning to the charring to the development of our custom toast profiles. All of our barrels are unique and proprietary to our company, giving Buzzard’s Roost a truly one-of-a kind flavor. After resting only a few weeks in our new barrels, the whiskey is purposefully transformed and ready for bottling.

Buzzard’s Roost Toasted American Oak Bourbon
Age: 4 & 5 Years | Proof: 105
BLEND OF TWO MASH BILLS:
74% corn • 21% rye • 5% malted barley
59% corn • 36% rye • 5% malted barley

About: Buzzard’s Roost is excited to announce the latest addition to their bourbon collection. Created from a blend of 4- and 5-year-old double-barreled bourbons, Toasted American Oak Bourbon is made from a blend of two mash bills.

The color is a vibrant mixture of bronze and apricot. With elegant and enticing tasting notes, this bourbon is best enjoyed on its own or in a classic whiskey cocktail.

To the nose, Toasted American Oak Bourbon lends itself to caramel, coconut, and vanilla notes met with delicate candy aromas. The palate moves from the sweet notes from the toasted oak barrel finish, and notes of confectionary and baking spice flavors shine through along with hints of candied goodness found on the nose. The finish carries notes of butterscotch, toasted oak, vanilla wafer, and coconut.

• Nose: Aromas of caramel, coconut, and intense vanilla dominate, and a re coupled with sweet candy and floral notes.
• Palate: The palate moves from the sweet notes created by the toasted oak barrel finish toward baking spice flavors, accompanied by the pleasant candy notes found on the nose.
• Finish: The finish is a delight, with notes of butterscotch, toasted oak, vanilla wafer, and coconut.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, toasted oak, crème brûlée and dried coconut.
Palate:  Dark caramel, cinnamon, honey, pepper, oak and a hint of butterscotch.
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with oak, vanilla and pepper.
Comments:  A very nice bourbon that takes water well. This is the first Buzzard’s Roost whiskey I’ve tried, but I’m encouraged by the quality and use of 53 gallon barrels. That said, the price point doesn’t seem reasonable when compared to a lower price point on a competitive (and while not age stated, certainly older) product. Age isn’t everything, but when aged properly it does increase the complexity on both the nose and palate, and while this is an enjoyable dram – it comes across as under 6 years old.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Limavady Single Malt Whiskey

/ / Irish Whiskey, Review /

Limavady Single Malt Whiskey
Single Barrel Irish Whiskey

46% ABV
$50
Website
Limavady Single Malt Whiskey
We would like to thank Limavady and R\West for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

SINGLE BARREL, meet Irish Whiskey.

WITH A NOD TO THE PAST and a great vision for the future.
Darryl is fulfilling his lifelong dream to craft his own exceptional whiskey, by combining the precision of a whiskey Master and the spirit of Limavady’s namesake.

Limavady will satisfy serious whiskey lovers but fits the bill for everyday enjoyment with whomever you choose to bring to the table.

THE DETAILS
100% Irish Barley
Small Batch Triple Distilled Copper Pot Stills
Aged in Bourbon Barrels & Finished in PX Sherry Casks
846 Bottles Per Barrel

TASTING NOTES
The sherry casks deliver warm, inviting dried fruit and spice notes, adding richness to a toasted vanilla base; smooth at first with a satisfying warmth on the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malty grain, honey, porridge, vanilla, dried fruit, hint of caramel, grassy and a bit vegetive.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with vanilla, fruit notes, grainy barley malt, honey, dash of pepper, touch of cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, honey with malted grain.
Comments:  Nice mouthfeel, and quite easy to drink. It tastes young on the young side to me, with the PX sherry influence being there, but mild. Single barrel product brands have a challenge of wanting to deliver consistency (while acknowledging that single barrel carries with it some uniqueness; arguably that’s the point!) I asked if Limavady would share any details on the age (are they targeting a particular flavor profile, and keeping the age to a narrow range, etc). Appreciate their providing the following details in response:

“Limavady sources all barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky and focuses on getting first fill bourbon casks exclusively. Darryl only uses them once for each barrel – because he really loves the spicy/vanilla flavor profile that is imparted from that initial aging. He is constantly tasting and going back to the liquid, but on average for 4 – 4.5 years minimum for every barrel. From there, its then finished in PX Sherry Buttes for roughly 3-6 months leaving us with a rich burst of fruitiness and sweetness.”

Contrasted with some other Irish whiskies which might mature rather than finish in Sherry, this has a more subtle fruitiness. The bottle is hefty and interesting, although I found the glass topper to be so tight that it was difficult to remove. This takes water well, and retains the nice mouthfeel. While not overly complex (and you wouldn’t expect it to be given the age details provided), it is a really nice sipper.

Rating: Stands Out

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Barrell Dovetail Whiskey

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

Barrell Dovetail
Whiskey Finished in Rum, Port & Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Barrels

62.35% ABV
$80
Website
Barrell Dovetail
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Dovetail took almost a year to get right, from blending to labeling, all coming together in a seemingly perfect point. We have produced limited releases of Dovetail using the same ingredients and process. With each bottling, there are proof variations.

Dovetail is blended to highlight some of our favorite flavors. Woody bourbon; terroir driven Dunn Cabernet; toasted French oak; Late Bottled Vintage Port pipes; black strap molasses casks; all working in tandem to create a buttery and deep whiskey as unique as it is delicious.

FLAVOR NOTES
​Neat
Appearance: Rose gold with highlights of worn copper.
Nose: Opens with mature aromas both sweet (canelé, panna cotta, crème de noyaux) and savory (walnut oil, leather). This is followed quickly by a vast array of fruit derived both from the spirit (smoked apricot, grapefruit peel) as well as the cask treatment (sloe gin, damson jam). The aroma is high toned, pungently floral and herbaceous, with subtle, balancing pops of minerality.
Palate: Darker (cocoa, molasses, burnt marshmallow) and spicier (cola, nutmeg, Tellicherry peppercorn) than the nose, an effect well-complemented by the cask treatment and rendered more complex by the savory and herbaceous themes running throughout.
Finish: A sweet and elegant signature of rose jelly, chestnut honey, and Pineau des Charentes that also features hazelnut, eucalyptus, and Corsican mint.
With a few drops of spring water
An unexpected avalanche of orange and tropical notes of watermelon, lychee and vanilla on the nose.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla, tropical fruit notes of pineapple and grapefruit, sponge cake, savory spice, floral, nutty with subtle exotic wood (mahogany?) notes.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel with cocoa, caramel, molasses, pepper spice kicks in with cinnamon, savory spices with tarragon and an acidic citrus note.
Finish:  Moderately long with honey, chocolate, hazelnut and mint.
Comments:  I hadn’t tried this before, and had NO idea what I was missing. Deceptive nose with more tropical and citrus fruit notes, while the palate shifts gears and reminds me of a spicy SNICKERS® bar. I like (good) surprises, and when a nose and palate feel different, provided both are good, that’s not a bug but a feature – and one that is tricky to pull off. Bit of water brings out the fruit more, while retaining that lovely thick mouthfeel.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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