Stands Out

Joseph Magnus Private Barrel Bourbon Finished in Cognac Casks

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Joseph Magnus Exclusive Private Barrel Bourbon
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cognac Casks

Liquor Barn – Bottle 3 of 135

52.1% ABV
$100-$130 (varies by age/retailer)
Website
Joseph Magnus Bourbon Exclusive Private Barrel

What the Producer Says

Jos. A. Magnus is pleased to offer a limited private barrel selection program. Contact us for more information.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich and fruity, cinnamon with toffee, caramel, notes of balsamic, and a slight mineral note.
Palate:  Butterscotch & toffee soaked in brandy, honey, vanilla with a pepper spice.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying to oak and cinnamon dusted apple chips.
Comments:  As a single barrel program, these will vary from selection to selection, including age (this particular bottle didn’t list any age, but I’ve seen several that do) and finishing cask. This particular offering was a cognac finish, and a bit heavy handed on the finish for my liking. I’ve participated in private selections where the timing from the selection to bottling stretches out many months, so not sure if this was what they had wanted (fans of cognac might love it!) A bit of water improves this one quite a bit, and while the finish is a bit more prominent for my liking, I wouldn’t turn down a pour if offered.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Joseph Magnus Bourbon

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Joseph Magnus Bourbon
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Sherry and Cognac Casks

50% ABV
$100
Website
Joseph Magnus Bourbon

What the Producer Says

Rich deep flavors with notes of orange citrus, dried dark fruits, and vanilla
A marriage of straight bourbon whiskey aged in white oak barrels and finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximénez sherry, and cognac casks.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, cinnamon buns with raisins & cherries, cocoa, vanilla, musty oak with a mineral note.
Palate:  Rich and fruity, raisins, dates, chocolate with cinnamon, clove, a hint of anise.
Finish:  Moderately long, drying, spicy with berries.
Comments:  This is a super dark bourbon, no doubt influenced by the sherry cask finishing. At first nosing, I thought perhaps this was Dickel distillate, as I was getting a mineral note that I get from their whiskey. By all accounts, this is MGP (and while they do source Dickel it isn’t, or wasn’t, used in this product). But I digress – this is a really tasty whiskey. The finishing is a bit on the strong side, but as a fan of sherried single malt – that isn’t a bad thing.

Rating: Stands Out

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Johnnie Walker Explorers’ Club Collection – The Gold Route

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, The Collector's Cabinet / ,

Johnnie Walker Explorers’ Club Collection – The Gold Route
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$95 (for a 1 L bottle)
Website
Johnnie Walker Explorers Club Collection The Gold Route

What the Blender Says

NOTE: This is a discontinued item.
Johnnie Walker Explorer’s Club Collection – The Gold Route is a luxurious, alluring, contemporary blend which evokes the exotic fruit flavors and beautiful, rich golden colors experienced by agents of John Walker & Sons on their journeys through Amazonia and the Caribbean. This blend is available exclusively to travellers through Duty Free stores.
Johnnie Walker Explorer’s Club Collection – The Gold Route delivers a bold, distinctive smokiness followed by a rush of guava, coconut, mango and pitaya. An undercurrent of sweet vanilla and spice emerges before a smooth, luxurious finish combining rich currants and raisins.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Butter cream icing on freshly baked donuts, maple candies, subtle peat and smoke, herbaceous, fresh tobacco, a malty tropical note.
Palate:  Fruit forward with apple, pears, mangos, other tropical fruit with a subtle earthiness, honey, toffee and a chili spice.
Finish:  Moderate in length with a lingering chili spice and smoke.
Comments:  This is quite nice, especially for 40% ABV. The nose on this is as complex as any Johnnie Walker I can recall (in fact trying this side-by-side with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, I preferred the nose on this). This might be my favorite Johnnie Walker to date. A lovely, fruity, spicy dram!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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El Dorado 21 Year Old Rum

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

El Dorado 21 Year Old Special Reserve Finest Demerara Rum

40% ABV
$120
Website
El Dorado 21 Yr Special Reserve Rum

What the Distillery Says

This richly crafted rum has been laid down in oak barrels for at least 21 years then artfully blended for you to savour and enjoy.

Tasting Notes
Nose of mocha, toffee, tobacco, and dark spices. The mouth is velvety smooth with full body of tropical fruits, coffee, leather, and rich toffee. The Finish is nutty and smoky.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Burnt demerara sugar, fruitcake soaked in rum, oak, toasted orange zest, baking spices, brown sugar, raisins and plums.
Palate:  Fruitcake with orange, apricot, coconut, raisins, bits of dark chocolate, medium roast coffee and honey.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying.
Comments:  Hands down my favorite of the three. A nice step up from the 15 yr, although I can’t say I like it 2.5x as much as the 15 yr. Like whisk(e)y, the price starts to get crazy with age for a number of reasons. And like whisk(e)y, I often find that jump in price doesn’t align with my enjoyment. Price aside, this one definitely stood out.

Rating: Stands Out

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El Dorado 15 Year Old Rum

/ / Other Spirits, Review / ,

El Dorado 15 Year Old Special Reserve Finest Demerara Rum

40% ABV
$50
Website
El Dorado 15 Yr Rum

What the Distillery Says

This rum has been laid down in oak barrels for at least 15 years then artfully blended using the Enmore and Diamond Coffey Stills, the Port Mourant Double Wooden Pot Still and the Versailles Single Wooden Pot Still – for you to savor and enjoy

Tasting Notes
Full nose packed with dark coffee, candied orange, almonds, dark chocolate, pepper and rich vanilla. Beautifully rounded palate with a great spread of flavours: grilled tropical fruit with smooth oaky spice – silky, vibrant and moderately full-bodied.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Similar to the 12 yr with more brown sugar and molasses, a bit more of an herbal quality (celery?) and roasted coconut husks.
Palate:  Bit more candied orange, along with bits of kiwi and green plantains in dark molasses, little pepper and oak.
Finish:  Short and dry, more bitter than the 12 yr with a wisp of pepper.
Comments:  I definitely prefer this over the 12 yr. The nose is a small step up, but the palate made a much bigger leap (almost to where I enjoy the nose and palate equally, but not quite). The finish isn’t much better.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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