Stands Out

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye

49% ABV
$80
Website
O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye
We would like to thank Brown Water Spirits LLC for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says

The release of O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye follows the highly successful launch in October of the first in the River Aged Series, O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Whiskey. After a strong launch in Middle Tennessee, O.H. Ingram quickly moved into East Tennessee, including, but not limited to, the Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities markets.

“The response to O.H. Ingram River Aged so far has been beyond what I could’ve possibly imagined,“ said proprietor Hank Ingram. “Since our Straight Whiskey hit shelves in October, whiskey lovers have been able to experience the taste created by our unique aging process, and our Straight Rye will only deepen their connection to the Ingram River Aged Series.”

“Bourbon first became popular in America because it came down the river to New Orleans where it gained popularity and distribution. The goal of our process was to put the river back into American whiskey and see what effect it would have on the whiskey,” Ingram continued. “Even in the midst of the pandemic, we’ve found that people are always ready for a good story and a good drink. With O.H. Ingram River Aged, we offer both.”

The O.H. Ingram River Aged Series is the only whiskey aged inside a first-of-its-kind floating rickhouse moored on the riverbank in Ballard County, KY. Here, it’s exposed to the climate of the Mighty Mississippi River and its rise and fall. These factors combine to provoke a unique interaction between wood and spirit that isn’t possible inside a traditional rickhouse. The constant motion of the river ensures that the whiskey never stops working, creating an extraordinary spirit with a taste mature beyond its years.

O.H. Ingram River Aged is the result of blending entrepreneurship and innovation with traditional aging processes. While all whiskies are products of the environment, only O.H. Ingram River Aged is ‘Mellowed on the Mississippi.’

Hank is the latest in his family to take a great idea to the water. More than 150 years ago, his family began its American success story with two things — oak trees and a rushing river. Now, Hank is adding his chapter to this story by bringing together whiskey and the magic of the river to create O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey.

Ingram River Aged is currently available in Middle and East Tennessee with additional markets coming as inventories are available.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep burnished copper
On the Nose: Floral, subtle notes of caramel
Mouthfeel: Soft, butter, presence of rye spice
Palate: Vanilla, graham cracker, cinnamon, hints of hay and nutmeg
Finish: Butterscotch, bubblegum, raspberry preserves, hints of tobacco

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral and soft with herbal spices, notes of dried mint, cinnamon, lemongrass, touch of vanilla, oak and a faint hint of clove.
Palate:  Vanilla with a spicy bite of cracked pepper and cinnamon, sour oak, nutmeg and caramel sauce.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with a citrus (tangerines?) spice.
Comments:  The history of American whiskey maturing on the river isn’t a marketing ploy.  In fact, the time and interaction with the charred barrels during the trip from Kentucky to New Orleans certainly contributed to the rise in popularity of what came to be known as ‘bourbon whiskey’.  Michael Veach has written on this topic and others (if you’re a fan of history and bourbon and aren’t reading him already, I’d highly recommend it as a trusted source). Now back then, the whiskey wasn’t spending years on the water, so this isn’t an attempt to recreate that – but to create something unique with a nod towards history.  The whiskey itself is nice.  Three year minimum age stated on the bottle, distilled by the fine folks at MGP with a mash bill of 51% rye, 45% corn and 4% malted barley.  I can’t say that I’d have pegged this for a three year old if tasting blind.  The nose is fairly subtle for a rye, but the palate has that sharper bite rye whiskies are known for.  I get more oak on the palate than you’d expect for the age, although this isn’t surprising given the increased interaction of river aging.  While an interesting whiskey, the price point is disappointing

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Compass Box Phenomenology

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Compass Box Phenomenology
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$170-$180
Website
Compass Box Phenomenology

What the Blender Says

‘Phenomenology’ – Noun. An approach that concentrates on the study of consciousness and the objects of direct experience.

Phenomenology and whisky. What, you may wonder, is the connection?

We’d long been working on a blend of single malts that combines seemingly dissonant flavour profiles, but together creates something compelling.

We landed on a recipe that elicited a surprising range of reactions and descriptions, each person taking away something different from the whisky.

Bottled at 46% | Not chill-filtered | Natural colour | Lead Whiskymaker: John Glaser

Rather than referring to our tasting notes and description of the aromas and flavours of this whisky, we invite you to first experience it for yourself without preconception. Describe the ‘phenomena’ of this whisky yourself, in your own words and ideas. Your experience is your own, personal, subjective experience. Relish it.

FLAVOUR DESCRIPTORS: Aromas and flavours reminiscent of berry fruits, baked apples and hints of banana, with a delicate peaty smokiness that follows and resonates in the long finish.

AVAILABILITY: Limited Edition release of 7,908 bottles worldwide. Bottled September 2017.

RECOMMENDATIONS: This is an ideal whisky for sipping and contemplating on its own, or with a splash of water or an ice cube, which will reveal the subtle complexity of the whisky as the whisky very slowly dilutes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and bright, floral, grapefruit, peaches, green apples, nectarines, apricots, subtle peat brine.
Palate:  Waxy citrus sweetness, apples, slight pepper bite gives way to bananas and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with wine notes and fading spices.
Comments:  Quite a nice dram! Fruity without being lopsided with sweetness. Has a bit of a dry quality that reminds me a little of a Riesling.  Improves a lot with some water, thickening the mouthfeel and bringing the fruit notes out more on the palate.  Another really solid offering from the folks at Compass Box.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Compass Box The Circle

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky /

Compass Box The Circle
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

46% ABV
$140-$150
Website
Compass Box The Circle

What the Blender Says

Sunshine in a glass

Rosey Mitchell is the 2018 winner of The Circle, our programme designed to inspire bartenders around the world. Rosey’s prize? To create a blend with Compass Box founder John Glaser and whiskymaker Jill Boyd. Rosey wanted to make an approachable whisky to be shared with friends, something for the daytime, a whisky with brightness. She called it “sunshine in a glass.”

The Circle is based around a parcel of fruity and creamy single malt from the Tamdhu Distillery in Speyside. This is supported by malt whisky from the Clynelish Distillery. A touch of peated malt whisky from an Orkney distillery and a small proportion of a French oak-finished blended malt whisky complete the recipe.

We think we’ve achieved exactly what Rosey envisaged. The whisky is bright and warm with a creamy softness. It practically radiates sunlight!

FLAVOUR PROFILE: Bright, vibrant, creamy. Bursting with apple, vanilla and malty notes with a hint of smokiness on the finish.

SERVING RECOMMENDATIONS: In the sunshine with good friends.

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Bottled at 46% | Natural colour | Not chill filtered | A limited edition of 6,151 bottles | May 2019

LEAD WHISKYMAKERS: Rosey Mitchell and Jill Boyd

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright, green apples, vanilla cream, touch of citrus and a hint of oak.
Palate:  Soft, supple and sweet with vanilla, apples, malt, bit of allspice and pepper.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dried fruit and pepper.
Comments:  Another delightful dram from Compass Box that is maybe too easy to drink.  Very bright and fruity, and takes water quite well – with the mouthfeel shifting to creaminess.  Nothing objectionable, but not as complex a pour as I’m accustomed to from Compass Box (at least at this price point). I blame them for spoiling me!

Rating: Stands Out

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Tamdhu 10 Year Single Malt

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Tamdhu 10 Year
Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$50-$65
Website
Tamdhu 10 Year

What the Distillery Says

Matured in Sherry Casks | Natural Colour

In 1897, Tamdhu Distillery was born of its founders’ Can-Dhu spirit, and 200 years of Scottish Industry.

Today, Tamdhu 10 Year Old embodies the same intrepid approach. Matured exclusively in sherry oak casks, we ensure every drop is as magnificent now as it was then.

NOSE: The softness of vanilla and sugared almonds, balanced by fresh oak and cinnamon.
PALATE: Bursting with fruit and spice – gently yielding to toffee and the richness of sherry oak.
FINISH: Fruit and vanilla linger, becoming pleasantly drying – finally unveiling the merest wisp of peat smoke.
NOTE: The above was taken from images of the product. This is being replaced by the 12 yr and is unfortunately no longer mentioned on their website.

What Gary Says

Nose: Sherry goodness with dark fruit oozing out of vanilla cake, stewed peaches, fresh almonds, pecans, subtle dark chocolate with a bit of anise.
Palate:  Caramel with marzipan, raisins, figs, vanilla, an oaky earthiness with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with vanilla, fruit and earthy notes.
Comments:  This has a lovely nose, that I prefer twice as much as I do the palate.  In my experience, when I like the nose a LOT more than the palate, it usually means that if I could find the same or similar whisk(e)y at a higher proof – I’ll really like it.  If the palate delivered what the nose advertised, this would easily be a Must Try for me.  This has been replaced with a 12 yr (at a higher ABV!) which I look forward to trying, if only for the increased ABV.  Very easy to drink with the peat being present but subtle.

Rating: Stands Out

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Booker’s 2020-03 “Pigskin Batch”

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Booker’s “Pigskin Batch” Batch 2020-03
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

6 Years, 7 Months, 7 Days
63.65% ABV
$90
Website
Booker's 2020-03 "Pigskin Batch"
We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says:

The third release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2020 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2020-03 “Pigskin Batch.” This batch is a nod to 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe’s love of American football, which eventually became a whole family affair.

Booker was a good football player back in the day, playing both tackle and kicker on his high school team. He was quick for his size — standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing close to 300 pounds — and strong from working as a farm hand growing up. Although he ultimately never pursued a college football career, he was talented enough to practice with the team when he attended the University of Kentucky as a freshman – a rare honor in those days.

Anyone who knew Booker knew his love of football. Whether it was his favorite team on the television or his son and grandson playing in the backyard, Booker loved watching a game and made the sport into a true Noe family tradition.

TASTING NOTES

Like all batches of Booker’s Bourbon, Booker’s “Pigskin 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 and that fans of the brand have come to know and love. Uncut and unfiltered, Booker’s “Pigskin Batch” has a beautiful light brown color. The aroma contains brown sweets and slight vanilla notes. The flavor is big and bold with a finish that is long and warm.

Booker’s “Pigskin Batch” is best enjoyed neat, over ice or with a few drops of water.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, vanilla crème brûlée slightly over-roasted, heavy oak, pecan praline, peanut brittle and chocolate.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel with heavy caramel, spice notes of nutmeg and pepper kicking in with dark chocolate, oak and a bit of orange.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying with dark chocolate, oak and citrus spice.
Comments:  A really nice pour. I don’t have all of the various batches from 2020 to try to compare against, although in a blind side-by-side against 2018-04 “Kitchen Table” and 2013-06, I did find I preferred this one (which is props as I really liked 2013-06, one of the initial ’roundtable’ batches). The variation is subtle from batch to batch, and I found this one to be more on the sweet side, with a bit less spice and oak. Takes water really well, although I don’t mind it at bottling proof. The streak of “hadn’t met a Booker’s I didn’t like” remains unbroken!

Rating: Must Try/Stands Out

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