Stands Out

Booker’s 2022-01 “Ronnie’s Batch”

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Booker’s “Ronnie’s Batch” 2022-01
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

6 Years, 11 Months, 22 Days
62.15% ABV
$90
Website
Bookers 2002-01 "Ronnie's Batch"
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

This batch is named in honor of Ronnie Land, a longtime employee at the Jim Beam Clermont and Boston, Ky., plants, when Booker Noe was master distiller.

Ronnie worked at Jim Beam for 40 years, eventually working his way up to Warehouse Manager. Ronnie was responsible for keeping inventory of aging barrels, a key part of the bourbon-making process, and he knew the quantities and locations by heart. He also knew exactly where Booker preferred to store his namesake barrels and was trusted to prepare the samples for batch evaluation. Once, Ronnie sent Booker a box of small samples to taste, and Booker immediately knew they weren’t big enough to get a proper sense of the whiskey. Ronnie then went back and prepared samples that were notably bigger, and Booker was more than pleased. This became the standard sample size which 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe and his son, 8th Generation Beam Family Distiller Freddie Noe, still use to this day.

Booker always had final sign off when it came to batches, but he knew he was working with barrels that met his standards when they were under Ronnie’s watchful eye.

TASTING NOTES
Like all batches of Booker’s Bourbon, Booker’s “Ronnie’s Batch” was selected by 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe to ensure it upholds the qualities and standards that his dad set for Booker’s Bourbon more than 30 years ago. Uncut and unfiltered1, this batch was chosen with the following characteristics:
PROOF: 124.3
AGE: 6 years, 11 months, and 22 days
BATCH NOTES: Booker’s “Ronnie’s Batch” has a nice color and a rich vanilla aroma with hints of brown spice that is enjoyable even before the first sip. It has a sweet taste that comes from the time spent aging in the unique Kentucky climate. It has a warm and pleasant finish, making it an ideal pour.
SIPPING SUGGESTIONS: Booker’s “Ronnie’s Batch” is best enjoyed neat, over ice or with a few drops of water.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Musty oak rickhouse, salted caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla, peanut brittle, cinnamon, cloves and a hint of cherries.
Palate:  Vanilla, chocolate fudge, caramel, peanuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and a bit of cola.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with oak, caramel and pepper spice.
Comments:  Classic Booker’s – rich and intense, but well balanced and squarely in the Booker’s flavor profile. One note that I got here which I usually don’t get is a bit of cola. At 6 years, 11 months and 22 days, this is the oldest batch of Booker’s released since 2015 – which I think is interesting in highlighting that age isn’t everything (and the age on any given batch is just that of the youngest barrel to be included in the batch). I long for the days when Booker’s was $50 (or less on sale!), but appreciate the consistency and quality this has maintained over time.

Rating: Stands Out

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Stellum Rye Single Barrel

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Stellum Rye Single Barrel
Selected By ‘The Chocolate Fountain’ E2 Serpens

58.35% ABV
$60
Website
Stellum Single Barrel Rye Chocolate Fountain

What the Blender Says

Single barrel whiskeys are an expression of distinction and power. Every cask is different. Many make good ingredients, but only some possess the particular character and balance to make a worthy single barrel bottling.

While marrying barrels for Stellum Bourbon and Stellum Rye, we occasionally identify specific barrels that we feel speak strongly alone. We set these barrels aside and bottle them at their true cask strength. Each is very much an individual experience, an unfiltered expression of one specific aging rather than a blend.

We offer Stellum single barrels as unique and exclusive picks for stores, clubs, and private gatherings. We also offer bottle-by-bottle Stellum single barrels in select markets.

Serpens – Selections made in the Spring and Summer of 2021
95% Rye/5% Barley Malt

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye spice, mint, bit of dill, cedar, caramel, toffee, subtle toasted oak, citrus tilting from orange to grapefruit.
Palate:  Dark sweetness (molasses?) with blood orange, cloves, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with mint, brown sugar and orange spice.
Comments:  A really robust rye, where the nose presents squarely in the 95% rye mash bill quadrant, but the palate took a left turn with a surprisingly dark sweetness note. I found this worked really well in a Vieux Carré, although it was delicious neat as well. Bit of water thickens it up nicely, and brings the orange notes more into focus.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Single Barrel Rye “Honey Badger”

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Barrell Single Barrel Rye
“Joe’s Playlist” Track #4 Honey Badger V416
Canadian Rye Single Barrel Whiskey

74.15% ABV
$130
Website
Barrell Single Barrel Rye Honey Badger

What the Blender Says

“Honey Badger!” sounds cute, but don’t mess with it. This 14-year-old Canadian Rye clocks in at 148.3 proof. It has a charming nose of honey and white flowers, but like it’s namesake, it devours its prey. There are only 72 bottles of “Honey Badger!”, so act fast!

What Gary Says

Nose:  Charred oak, honey, caramel, savory herbal notes, orange with a mineral note.
Palate:  Warm, sweet with mint, caramel, savory notes with orange, cinnamon, pepper and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with oak and caramel.
Comments:  A really robust and intense rye, with some sweetness but a lot of savory spice going on. Love that balance! The sample bottle I received didn’t note the details (I thought the nose was ‘a tad hot’ but given the ABV, it really isn’t!). This is a lovely rye whiskey, and takes water really well, thickening up, amping the orange and caramel notes, while toning the edges (but not taming it too much). Only 72 bottles, so probably won’t find this again, but if you run across it in the wild – don’t be afraid of the honey badger!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Alias Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Alias Straight Rye Whiskey

45% ABV
$28
Website
Alias Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

FORGOTTEN NAMES, UNFORGETTABLE FLAVORS.

IN EARLY AMERICA, WHEN THE LAWS STOPPED WOMEN FROM RUNNING THEIR OWN DISTILLERIES, WOMEN DID THE ONLY THING THEY COULD – THEY USED AN ALIAS TO PASS AS A MAN AND DID IT ANYWAYS. EVERY GLASS OF ALIAS WHISKEY IS A CELEBRATION OF THEIR CRAFT AND CRAFTINESS.

TRUTH IS IN THE WHISKEY
AROMA: A BALANCE OF SWEET FRUIT AND RYE SPICE COMPLEMENTED WITH SLIGHT HINTS OF MINT.
PALATE: FORWARD NOTES OF CARAMEL, VANILLA AND FRUIT, WITH A BOLD RYE SPICE FINISH.
FLAVORS: FRUIT, RYE SPICE, SLIGHT MINT, CARAMEL & VANILLA
MASH BILL: 51% RYE | 45% CORN | 4% BARLEY MALT

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fresh and bright, caramel, dill, lemongrass, mint, bit of cedar and a note of corn flakes.
Palate:  Round mouthfeel, toffee, mint, subtle citrus, cinnamon and a hint of pear.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with mint, caramel and pepper.
Comments:  A very pleasant, although gentle rye. I’ve long been a fan of MGP’s 95% rye mash bill, and this ‘barely legal’ rye is quite a bit different. I’m glad that Luxco/Ross & Squibb are releasing different mash bills, as I know some folks who find rye “too spicy/too biting”, but likely would find this delightful. This is a nice sipper. I am not a fan of the dark glass bottle though (seriously, shining an LED flashlight behind the bottle to see how full it is – nothing). I think that is probably part of the branding, but from a practical perspective – I like to know how much whiskey I’ve got left in the bottle when sitting on the shelf.

Rating: Stands Out

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Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof
Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey, Aged 7 Years

58.6% ABV
$70
Website
Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 2022 7 Year Old
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

Ross & Squibb Distillery releases Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof
Annual, limited-release straight rye whiskey, now featuring a 7-year age statement

ST. LOUIS (April 12, 2022) – Lawrenceburg, Indiana-based Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the launch of Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof, its annual, limited-release straight-rye whiskey. Set to reach retail shelves across the country starting this month, this limited allocation of 3,000 six-pack cases was bottled at 117.2 proof (58.6% ABV) and has a suggested retail price of $69.99.

Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof features a medley of straight-rye mash bills, distilled by one of the largest producers of rye whiskey in America – Ross & Squibb Distillery. The flavor profile includes an aroma of rye spice, vanilla, caramel, oak, and slight chocolate; forward flavors of sweet caramel and vanilla, moving to baking spices and chocolate; and a lingering finish of rye and a hint of sweet mint.

There were 82 barrels selected for this year’s release, which is displayed on each bottle of Rossville Union Barrel Proof. And for the first time, every bottle prominently features a 7-year age statement.

“Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof is another example of the great rye-whiskey tradition we’ve carried on at Ross & Squibb Distillery and yet another reason Indiana is the rye capital of the world,” said Ian Stirsman, master distiller at Ross & Squibb distillery. “As the popularity of rye whiskey continues to grow, we’ve selected another exceptional medley of rye mash bills to satisfy even the most discriminating tastes among the ever-growing numbers of rye-whiskey drinkers.”

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rye spice with mint, cinnamon, orange zest, dill, apricot, vanilla, caramel, oak with a hint of cedar.
Palate:  Warm and viscous mouthfeel, chocolate orange, vanilla, spicy with pepper, anise, cinnamon, caramel and a hint of lemon.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with citrus spice.
Comments:  A really nice high-rye rye (which might sound redundant, but it isn’t – more on this shortly!)  Thick mouthfeel, and cracking rye spice which I really enjoy.  I’ve long been a fan of the rye coming out of this distillery, whether it was named LDI, MGP or now Ross & Squibb.  This takes a bit of water really well, bringing out some grapefruit notes on the nose, and amping up the citrus and cinnamon on the palate.  There aren’t a lot of barrel proof, high-rye rye whiskies out there with a 7 year age statement, and if you are a fan of rye, this is one I think you need to try. I really enjoyed this one neat, and look forward to it in some cocktails this summer.

Now – back to high-rye rye 🙂  In bourbon, we think about a ‘wheated’ bourbon versus a ‘high-rye’ bourbon, and I think in the category of rye whiskey, it’s good to think of ‘barely-legal rye’ versus ‘high rye rye’.  They are as different as a wheater vs rye bourbon, and maybe more so.  With less corn in the mix, you get less of the vanilla and caramel sweet notes, and a lot more of that spicy kick.  I did a blind side-by-side with this against Pikesville (which is a barely-legal rye with 51% rye in the mashbill), and they were completely different (and both delicious).

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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