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Maker’s Mark 101 Proof

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Maker’s Mark 101 Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

50.5% ABV
$50 (1 liter)
Website
Maker's Mark 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

What the Distillery* Says

Maker’s Mark® 101 is a bolder interpretation of our classic wheated whisky, bottled at 50.5% abv. This unfiltered expression exhibits a rich and creamy mouthfeel, with a mellow, lingering midpalate finish that combines the smoothness of classic Maker’s Mark, with enhanced natural notes of caramel and spicy fruit. Maker’s Mark 101 will launch nationally this holiday season for a limited time.

Maker’s says, “It’s fully matured Maker’s Mark bottled at 101 proof, which is the way Bill Samuels, Sr. would serve his personal guests at the distillery, showing off his signature bourbon in a bit bolder presentation than the 90 proof of regular Maker’s Mark. Fans will notice a sweet spicy nose and a palate of spicy fruit and caramel, complimented by Maker’s Mark 101’s rich and creamy mouthfeel, and its mellow, lingering midpalate finish.”

* The above is from various press releases and other public statements from Beam-Suntory; this expression was originally released as a travel retail exclusive in 2018. There is no mention of the product on their website.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Vanilla bean, canned fruit salad, subtle oak, light caramel, grassy with a hint of anise.
Palate:  Caramel with vanilla, nutmeg, soft cinnamon, a bit of pepper over fruit, shortbread cookies and toffee.
Finish:  Moderately wet with caramel, fruit and cinnamon.
Comments:  This is a pretty nice proof for Maker’s Mark – although if you can find Maker’s Mark Cask Strength for $40 for a 750 mL, you can bring that down to 50.5% ABV for slightly less (or – don’t). That said, fans of Maker’s Mark I’m sure will find this to be a delicious bottle, and the extra 250 mL over the standard might at least delay a trip to the store a bit. No idea how it fares with water, as I didn’t add any – really nice right from the bottle.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 030

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Batch 030

58.66% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Batch 030
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 030 began with a group of tropical fruit forward 5-year-old Indiana barrels, a group of stone fruit forward 10-year-old high-rye Tennessee barrels, and a group of nutty 6, 9, 11, and 15-year-old barrels. After mingling separately for a month, they were carefully blended together. Finally, wheated bourbon from Kentucky and Wyoming was added to enhance the complexity of the blend.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Wyoming
  • Selection of 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Bottled in Kentucky
  • 117.32 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
An old-school bourbon that deftly balances the individuality of its many sources, incorporating notes of bright French cider with an array of subtle herbs, florals, and the richness of pumpkin pie. The oak is restrained, suggesting coconut and baking spices without overshadowing the spirit’s innate complexity.

​Neat
Appearance: Rich and golden with a bright hue and a striking viscosity.
Nose: Bright and perfumed notes of French cider, inflected with quince and a touch of apple cider vinegar. As your nose adjusts, peach cobbler, pumpkin and fig take over. There’s an earthy side, displaying radishes and butter, tahini, and damp wool. The oak brings coconut macaroon, coriander, and peppermint, without smelling woodsy.
Palate: A sweet and tightly focused entry, tasting of coffee ice cream in an oatmeal raisin cookie sandwich. Basil, fennel seed, and a whole mug of chai round out the herb & spice register. Fruits are subtle but delightfully tropical, around orange curacao, pawpaw, and toasted coconut.
Finish: A burst of caramel and milk chocolate overwhelms the palate. As it fades, the tongue is left with rich, almost fatty notes of orgeat, chestnut honey, and beeswax. An exhale through the nose carries quite opulent aromas of molasses and fig..

With a few drops of spring water
While water usually subdues the oak, here it dials up, introducing crushed walnut, new leather, and a wisp of bonfire smoke. The palate, too, hews darker, with milk chocolate dominating the profile through the finish until only a lingering note of candied rose petal remains.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel apples, fall leaves, toffee, oak, pumpkin spice with a hint of tarragon.
Palate:  Rich with chocolate, caramel, hazelnuts, cinnamon, bit of clove, coffee cake, hints of orange zest and anise.
Finish:  Moderately long, damp with oak, caramel and chocolate.
Comments:  This batch absolutely has a ‘fall vibe’ going on. No, this isn’t “Pumpkin Spiced Bourbon” – it’s subtle (I mean, the main spices in a typical ‘Pumpkin Pie Spice’ blend are cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove, and allspice; ginger doesn’t pop up as often as the rest, but hopefully you get the point). It goes even further with some water bringing out notes of cranberries (as well as leather and toasted walnuts). As I love fall, I’m really digging this blend – and continue to be impressed with their tasting notes (the best, most consistently reliable that I’ve seen).  .

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Yellowstone 2021 Limited Edition

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Yellowstone 2021 Limited Edition
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in Amarone Casks

50.5% ABV
$100
Website
Yellowstone 2021 Limited Edition
We would like to thank Limestone Branch and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

Limestone Branch Distillery is releasing 2021 Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Featuring the most mature and flavorful 7-year-old and 15-year-old bourbons hand-selected by Limestone Branch Master Distiller Stephen Beam – including select 7-year-old barrels finished in Amarone casks – the latest expression of Yellowstone Limited Edition will be available at retail starting in July 2021 at a suggested retail price of $99.99 per bottle.

Each year since 2015, Beam has produced a unique, limited-edition bourbon under the Yellowstone brand, which was established in 1872 by Beam’s great-great-grandfather and early bourbon pioneer, J.W. Dant. For this year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition, Beam selected Amarone casks to finish select barrels of 7-year-old-bourbon to complement the tasting notes of the extra-aged bourbons that make up this year’s Limited Edition.

“Amarone is a rich, red wine that – much like bourbon – takes time and patience to craft and requires at least two years in oak casks to age. Finishing select barrels in these Amarone casks brings notes of fresh cracked pepper and tobacco, as well as hints of black cherry, fig and dark chocolate to the classic bourbon notes of caramel, vanilla and hints of citrus,” explained Beam. “With a finish of oxidized fruit, cherry and black currant, this bourbon is reminiscent of pre-Prohibition whiskeys.”

2021 Limited Edition will be bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV) and sold in custom-designed bottles featuring embossing, a high-end natural cork and a label featuring the 2021 Yellowstone Limited Edition emblem. Beginning in July, 7,500 cases (3 bottles per case) will be available at retail locations nationwide – a 50% increase in production over 2020.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Caramel and vanilla complimented by dried fruit and chocolate
Palate: Vanilla and caramel with hints of citrus followed by black cherry, dark chocolate, and fig
Finish: Reminiscent of pre-prohibition bourbons, with a sweet cherry and black currant finish

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, honey, vanilla, oak tannins, rickhouse mustiness, hints of red wine and dried fruit with dark chocolate.
Palate:  Caramel, vanilla, subtle orange bitters with black cherry, cinnamon, black pepper and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderate in length, wet with vanilla and cherry cola.
Comments:  I really appreciate the restraint and balance that the folks at Limestone Branch employ with these Yellowstone Limited Editions that are cask finished. It has been consistently well done in my opinion, in that the finishing is subtle – adding without distracting from the core bourbon. In fact, had I not known this was finished, not sure that would have jumped out – as the bourbon is the star. A bit of water brings out more cherry notes while tamping the spice edginess, although it drinks nicely neat.

Rating: Stands Out

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Compass Box Menagerie

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Menagerie
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$120
Website
Compass Box Menagerie Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

Welcome to the Menagerie.
Whisky is full of life. Scotland especially is home to many different species of spirit, from heavy to light, fruity to smoky, and pungent to ethereal. Certain whiskies taste that little bit wilder than others, and we have brought together some of these strange and beautiful creatures to create our Menagerie.

We have focused on parcels of malt whisky that in addition to their fruity or spicy charms have something animalic about them just beneath the surface. This is a whisky of mossy woods as opposed to floral meadows; Menagerie is what you put into the hipflask ahead of a Tuscan truffle hunt.

Building on chocolatey and meaty malt whisky from the Mortlach Distillery, we have added whiskies of a citrusy and earthy nature from the Deanston Distillery. Our Highland Malt Blend – aged for a number of years in custom French oak barrels – lends a brooding spiciness, while malt whiskies from the Glen Elgin and Laphroaig distilleries bring musky tropical fruit and tarry smoke, respectively.

Rather than a raucous zoo, bringing these specimens together has created harmonious flavours and textures. Gentle notes of spiced honey, toffee and roasted peach are the flavours on which Menagerie’s wild creatures leap and soar.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Menagerie boasts a complex aroma of baking spices, leather, tar and musky fruits. The palate is engagingly lush with even more fruit, while oily smoke and forest floor notes linger in the finish.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Natural colour | Not chill-filtered | A limited edition of 7,741 bottles | January 2021

LEAD WHISKYMAKER: James Saxon

What Gary Says

Nose:  Smoked barbecue brisket, sea air, peat, old leather, creosote, charcoal ash, lemongrass, nectarines and gentle spices.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, rich with dark fruits, plums, berries, peaches, ginger, peat, cinnamon, honey and a bit of lemon.
Finish:  Moderately long with peat, dried fruit and pepper.
Comments:  Another really solid blend from Compass Box. The nose is pretty smokey, having to work to coax those fruit notes out (or I may just be impatient). Some water helps open those up more. On the palate the smoke and peat take a backseat to some lovely sweet fruity notes.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$100
Website
Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

What the Blender Says

How does French oak influence peated whisky?
A combination of American oak bodies with toasted French oak heads, our custom barrels generate compelling flavours for us. Yet until 2016, their effects on smoky whisky remained something of a mystery.

We took three French oak custom casks which had already been used to mature our Highland Malt Blend and filled them with a cask strength version of The Peat Monster. More than two years later, the French oak had imparted extra creaminess, spice notes and a chocolatey profile – it had also mellowed the whisky’s smokiness. What started as The Peat Monster became something rather different.

Peat Monster Arcana celebrates mysteries but there will be no secrets. This is a blend of malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff and Ardbeg Distilleries, together with our assertive and spicy experiment. We sense that there are plenty more discoveries to be made regarding the impact of French oak on Scotch whisky.

Transparency is incredibly important to us and we believe that you deserve to know what is in your whisky. On this occasion however, we must also inform you about what didn’t make it into the bottle.

To further complement the French oak character of our experimental parcel, we wanted to add part of a cask of our French oak-finished Highland Malt Blend. Unfortunately, this component was not included in the final bottling. So closely did the final liquid match our blending room prototype, we did not discover the error until after the whisky was bottled and shipped.

The recipe as published on the back label for Peat Monster Arcana is therefore incorrect. From bench-top prototype to the full-scale blend, our experimental parcel grew in influence – we want to understand why this was so. The whisky remains true to the delicious fusion of oak and smoke we envisioned, in spite of the Highland Malt Blend’s absence, but we are sorry that the recipe table does not reflect the contents with total accuracy. We are adjusting our processes to better meet the new challenges we face.

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Chocolate, cinnamon and boat tar appear on the nose while the palate is fruity and compellingly waxy. A dry smoky presence steadily builds.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Natural colour | Not chill-filtered | A limited edition of 8,328 bottles | August 2020
LEAD WHISKYMAKER: James Saxon

What Gary Says

Nose:  Peat, gentle smoke, distant smoked meats, seaweed, coal tar, iodine, pears and milk chocolate.
Palate:  Sweet and fruity, pears, peaches and vanilla cream, honey, salted toffee, a bit of graham cracker.
Finish:  Moderate in length with fruit notes amidst peat and light smoke.
Comments:  While virtually every Compass Box whisky I’ve ever seen is non-chill filtered, this one clouded up really quickly with just a few drops of water (which always makes me excited to see!) The nose is quite smokey with the palate being more balanced with fruit notes. I didn’t find anything objectionable, but also it didn’t seem to be remarkably better than the standard Peat Monster (which I should note is not my favorite of their Malt Whisky Collection).

Rating: Stands Out

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