Stands Out

Blood Oath Pact No. 6

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Blood Oath Pact No. 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Finished in Cognac Barrels

49.3% ABV
$100
Website
Blood Oath Pact 6
We would like to thank Luxco and Common Ground PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Blender Says

In its sixth year, the Blood Oath ultra-premium bourbon series continues to see unique expressions – Blood Oath Pact No. 6 launches this spring. The series – a creation of Lux Row Distillers’ Head Distiller and Master Blender John Rempe – combines three selected bourbons, expertly blended for a distinctive whiskey.

For Pact No. 6, Rempe chose a 14-year ryed bourbon with notes of oak and leather, melded with an 8-year warm toasty ryed bourbon and complemented them with a 7-year ryed bourbon rested in cognac casks. The memorable combination brings caramel notes and hints of spice, along extra flavor from the cognac barrels.

“This particular pact is special in that the cognac barrels added some sweetness and a slight fruity, brandy flavor to the bourbon, creating an amazing taste profile,” says Rempe. “When selecting these bourbons, I wanted to see how these flavors meshed together and I have to say the result was spectacular.”

As with all the other expressions, Pact No. 6 is a limited edition, never to be made again, with only 17,000 cases being produced and sold globally. This expression continues with the tradition of a 98.6 proof and packaged in an intricate wooden display box, with the 750ml bottle being topped with a natural cork and emblazoned with John Rempe’s signature. The suggested retail price is $99.99.

“The Blood Oath series launched in 2015 and it’s hard to believe we have already created more than half a decade of Pacts,” adds Rempe. “I’m honored to see consumers searching for the new release every year and get as excited as I am when a new Pact hits the shelves,” adds Rempe.

TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE: Deep dark amber with long legs.
AROMA: Caramel, butterscotch, brandy and vanilla.
PALATE: Caramel, butterscotch, brandy and vanilla.
FINISH: Lingering spice and nutty.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich coffee cake with vanilla butter-cream frosting, plums, dates, burnt caramel, charred oak, nutmeg with a hint of cinnamon.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, caramel, butterscotch, toffee, fruity with berries and oranges, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of clove with dark chocolate.
Finish:  Moderately long and drying with pecans, cocoa, and baking spices.
Comments:  This is another really lovely, rich and luscious whiskey. The cognac finishing is well done – giving it a layered influence and not overbearing. A bit of water brings out more notes of chocolate .

Rating: Stands Out

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Barrell Rye Batch 003

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Barrell Rye Batch 003

58.35% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Rye batch 003
We would like to thank Barrell Craft Spirits and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Blender Says

Rye Batch 003 is a blend of rye whiskeys from Indiana, Poland, Tennessee and Canada, all with distinct personalities and varying ages. We started with Tennessee Rye barrels with caramel and dried fruit notes and added the Polish Rye for its nuttiness and mouthfeel. We then carefully layered in 13-year Canadian Rye to bring out earthy notes of grass, spearmint and apple. The Indiana Rye was the finishing touch to highlight the candied fruit and spiciness you expect from a rye.

  • A blend of straight Rye Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Indiana, Tennessee, Poland, and Canada
  • Selection of 4 to 14-year-old barrels
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 116.7 proof cask strength bottling

FLAVOR NOTES
Cinnamon donuts lead into earthy notes of walnut, leather, and fallen leaves. Subtly fruity, with hints of white currant and honeydew melon peeking out over the classic rye spice of angelica, catnip and black licorice.

Neat
Appearance: A clear auburn with fiery orange highlights.
Nose: Sweet and earthy, like Indian pudding, halva, and shortbread. That theme is carried forward by corn sprouts, clay pots, honey, almonds, brown sugar and graphite weaving in and out. This is buoyed by bright and acidic kiwi, gooseberry, lemon curd and black cherry clafouti.
Palate: The high proof is tempered by rich peanut butter and a moderate sweetness that carries forward notes of molasses, coconut milk, and sweetened green tea. The relatively modest amount of tannin belies the oaky-driven flavors of pine resin, juniper berry, ginger and leather.
Finish: Holds the earthy theme, beginning with gentian, chewed cigar and mesquite smoke. As it grows gentler, some sweet cream and coconut take over and leave a lingering salty note.

With a splash of spring water
Aromatic spices are unleashed, showing cinnamon churros, mace, and cumin. A deep umami character slowly evolves, resembling red beans and button mushroom. As the alcohol is pushed back on the palate, dessert notes of carrot cake and hefeweizen rush forward before fading out to be replaced by black pepper on the finish.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Notes of pine with wintergreen mint, bit of caramel, orange and lemon with cinnamon, ginger, a hint of clove and freshly cracked pepper.
Palate:  Rich and warm with a creamy mouthfeel, fruit cake with bits of toffee and a cinnamon icing, citrus zest, subtle chocolate, clove, ginger, and a bit of pine.
Finish:  Long and drying, with an earthy and a tad savory chocolate orange note.
Comments:  This is a really delicious whiskey, with some unique notes I don’t see a lot of. Again, props to whomever does their tasting notes – I didn’t get all of that, but they really hit home on several notes (like molasses & sweetened green tea). I asked about how they approach purchasing barrels (this one in particular was intriguing to me, as I’d never had Polish rye that I can recall), and they explained that when purchasing barrels they look for barrels that have uniqueness and complexity, that can be used in a single barrel or a component to a product like this. They also do buy barrels with the intent to age further (so not just buying what is there and blending upon receipt). Another example of blending done really well.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Barrell Bourbon Batch 023

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Barrell Bourbon Batch 023

53.89% ABV
$90
Website
Barrell Bourbon batch 023
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 023 is a blend of 10, 12 and 15-year-old barrels. We focused on a balance of richness and depth from the older barrels. The blend mingled for a couple of months to heighten the lushness and complexity. Finally, we methodically layered in 15-year-old barrels to bring out notes of tropical fruit and angelica spice. The result is an evolving bourbon with layers of flavor.

  • A blend of straight Bourbon Whiskeys
  • Distilled and aged in Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana
  • Selection of 10, 12, and 15-year-old barrels
  • Aged in American white oak barrels
  • Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
  • 107.78 proof cask strength bottling
  • Mash bill: corn, rye and malted barley

FLAVOR NOTES
Cinnamon donuts lead into earthy notes of walnut, leather, and fallen leaves. Subtly fruity, with hints of white currant and honeydew melon peeking out over the classic rye spice of angelica, catnip and black licorice.

Neat
Appearance: A core of zincite ore fades to pale yellow.
Nose: Opens sweetly, on buttered pancakes with maple syrup and cinnamon donuts. Gradually the aroma shifts to exotic, earthy notes of forest floor, cracked walnut, leather, red miso, and incense. Fruits feel ancillary, but kiwi, white currant, mulled cider and raspberry pastille all make an appearance. The rye spice is pronounced, lending bay leaf, angelica and chocolate mint.
Palate: Gently sweet with chewy tannin, the evolution on the palate mirrors the nose. Honey, coffee cake and a touch of brownie taking the lead. Dry rose follows, on walnut shell, fallen leaves and portobello mushroom; reminiscent of an old Oloroso sherry. There’s a juicy brightness that makes notes of honeydew melon, grenadine and orange zest come alive.
Finish: Cinnamon donut accompanied by nocino, black licorice and tar. As it fades, it softens to leather, orange peel and apple blossom.

With a few drops of spring water
Fresh, with a bright sea salt note rounded out by oregano and catnip. The palate grows creamier, tasting of cereal milk.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Salted caramel, vanilla, oaky brown sugar, maple candies, burnt brownie corners, bit of barbecue sauce, cinnamon, walnuts, hints of dark fruits with worn leather.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, chocolate covered cherries dipped in caramel, vanilla, honey with nutty notes of dark fruits and oak.
Finish:  Moderately long, slightly drying with cocoa and oak.
Comments:  This is a damn nice bourbon. Really rich and chewy with intense flavor; sweet but with just enough of a savory slant to keep it well balanced. Takes water quite well. I try not to read the provided tasting notes until after I’ve made my assessment to avoid bias, and not afraid to admit when their notes are better than mine (although we all get different things from a dram). Their notes of coffee cake, sherry and donut are right on.
The word ‘blend’ can mean different things in the world of whiskey. Here in the US, a ‘blended whiskey’ allows for the inclusion of ‘grain neutral spirits’ (or GNS). To be clear, that isn’t what these folks do. This is a blend of straight bourbon whiskies. Blending is an art, and when done well, creates a unique product that can be more interesting (and delicious) than any of the individual components. While I haven’t tried the individual components used here, I can attest that this is done really well.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / ,

Dewar’s 8 Year Old Ilegal Smooth
Mezcal Cask Finish Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$21.99
Website
Dewars Ilegal Smooth
We would like to thank Dewar’s and Nike Communications for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

DEWAR’S® Scotch Whisky, the world’s most awarded blended Scotch whisky, announces the unprecedented first-to-world launch of DEWAR’S Ilegal Smooth: DEWAR’S 8 year-old double-aged Blended Scotch whisky, finished in Ilegal Mezcal casks for a pleasant and unexpectedly sweet, smooth blend with a wisp of smoke. The second in a new cask-finished series of whiskies, DEWAR’S Ilegal Smooth aims to reflect the Scotch spirit’s progressive new face and invite in new whisky appreciators through partnering with Ilegal, the leading artisanal mezcal in the US. This follows on from the successful debut of DEWAR’S Caribbean Smooth last September and the ethos of bringing together two exciting cultures, this time with Scotland and Mexico.

“DEWAR’S is thrilled to launch this second in a series of double-aged cask finishes, which further pushes the boundaries of the whisky category in line with DEWAR’S commitment to innovation,” says Brian Cox, Vice President, DEWAR’S, North America.

“We’ve been considering experimenting in the mezcal space for a while and are thrilled to partner with Ilegal for this exciting world first. It’s a fortuitous collaboration as there are many parallels between Tommy Dewar, one of the DEWAR’S founders, and John Rexer, founder of Ilegal. They both have grit, wit and passion for creating something new on an ambitious scale – the very best ultra-premium, smooth spirits. DEWAR’S Ilegal Smooth pays homage to both of their successful legacies by dispelling myths about what’s possible between whisky and mezcal and ultimately breaking new ground in both categories. The end product says it all,” added Cox.

DEWAR’S Ilegal Smooth’s 8-year-old mezcal cask finish offers brown spirit drinkers a refreshing alternative. “We’ve blended our signature recipe of up to 40 single malts and grain whiskies that have laid in casks for at least 8 years, double aged the blend to ensure our distinctive extra smooth DEWAR’S profile, and then finished in ex-Ilegal Mezcal casks, sourced from Oaxaca, Mexico, all fulfilled in our ageing warehouses in Glasgow,” says Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender, DEWAR’S. “DEWAR’S Ilegal Smooth’s unique flavor profile features subtle notes of caramel, sliced green pepper and a wisp of smoke – making it an ideal pairing for your next dinner party, or as a spirit to enjoy neat, on the rocks or in highball recipes,” added Macleod.

“Many of the barrels utilized in aging mezcal are used whisky barrels. It’s a nice shift to have our used Ilegal Mezcal barrels crossing borders to age whisky in Scotland. The finished product is delicious,” says Founder of Ilegal Mezcal, John Rexer. Ilegal Mezcal is made in Oaxaca, Mexico by Oaxaqueños. The company is composed of Mexicans, Guatemalans, Mexican Americans, an El Salvadoran American, Venezuelans, an Ecuadorian, New Yorkers, Californians and a Philadelphian … people from an array of ethnicities and cultures. We live, work, and play across borders. This partnership between Ilegal and DEWAR’S is about sharing cultures and creating an opportunity for education around the mezcal category,” added Rexer.

Tasting notes: Subtle notes of caramel, sliced green pepper and a wisp of smoke

What Gary Says

Nose:  Malt with a vegetal nose of boiled cabbage, subtle smoke, heather, agave syrup and hints of floral notes.
Palate:  Sweet entry of honey with vegetal notes of green pepper and cabbage, a slight bit of pepper spice.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, with a lingering spice – almost a chili spice note.
Comments: This one is definitely on the vegetal side of things. More savory than sweet by comparison with Dewar’s White Label. Definitely interesting and unique.  Not what you’d call a complex pour, but not presenting itself as such either.  I haven’t tried Ilegal Mezcal so can’t say how close any resemblance there might be. I like that Dewar’s price point on these new offerings is such that if you’re curious, giving it a try isn’t going to really set you back.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey /

Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish
A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskies

50.6% ABV
$69
Website
Sagamore Rye Calvados Finish
We would like to thank Sagamore Spirit and 360PR.plus for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Baltimore, MD – Feb. 25, 2020 – For those who crave a brown spirit that’s perfect before, during and after dinner, Sagamore Spirit today announced a new limited release rye whiskey that threads the needle: Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish. Straight rye whiskies consistent with Sagamore Spirit’s two distinct, signature mash bills are finished in Calvados barrels for over 11 months to imbue silky soft notes of baked apples, cinnamon and honey from the storied French apple brandy casks.

Calvados Finish follows on the heels of the distiller’s Double Gold win at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The finish ideally complements the approachability of Sagamore Spirit’s Maryland-style rye, creating a whiskey that’s undeniably smooth yet complex, at a substantial 101.2-proof. It joins the brand’s much-lauded core expressions, which have been bringing the Maryland-style rye revival to back bars and retail shelves across the country: Signature 83-proof, Double Oak at 98.6-proof and a bold Cask Strength.

“Calvados Finish is a prime example of our distilling team’s passion for experimentation and excellence,” said Brian Treacy, Sagamore Spirit’s president. “One of our distillers has a personal penchant for Calvados and wanted to see what it might bring out in our rye whiskey. That’s where it began, and from there, the team caught the fever and was all-in too. They gave it the time it needed in the barrel to create one of our most special releases so far.”

Sagamore Spirit rye whiskey spends at least 11 months finishing in Calvados barrels before being blended and aged for another 9 months in low-rye American oak barrels. The result is an incredible whiskey that marries the spice of rye with the sweetness of apples, nearly six years in the making.

Notes of baked apples, cinnamon, and honey from French apple brandy casks combine with our smooth rye profile to create a whiskey that is both luscious and daring. Enjoy lingering hints of cloves and walnuts as you sip, savour, and share.

A French-Maryland Connection

Just as local spring-fed water is essential in creating the balance that’s distinctive to Sagamore Spirit’s Maryland-style rye, Calvados shares a similar regionality that gives it a unique taste profile. Unlike other regions of France that are ideal for growing wine, Normandy, where Calvados is made, is cool and damp, making it better suited for rich brandies made from pears and apples.

To make Calvados, apples are fermented into a cider and distilled before aging in oak barrels for at least two years. The result is a liquid expression of the apples that is delightfully rustic compared to other French spirits and liqueurs.

Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish is the award-winning distillery’s first new expression of the year, following the successful releases of Port Finish and Cognac Finish in 2019. It will be available nationwide in March at a suggested retail price of $69 per bottle. To find a bottle near you visit sagamorespirit.com/find-rye.

Notes of baked apples, cinnamon

What Gary Says

Nose:  Baked apple pie with cinnamon, dried mint, thyme, hint of clove with a wisp of lime zest.
Palate:  Apple slices dripping with honey that sharpens with pepper spice, cloves, roasted nuts, citrus notes of tangerine.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with oak and applesauce.
Comments:  I tried this side-by-side with Sagamore Spirit Straight Rye Whiskey, and I definitely preferred this. The Calvados finish is prominent, but not over-done – with notes of apple throughout. This has more edge than the Sagamore Spirit standard bearer, and I appreciate the higher ABV. A bit of water tamps the apple notes a bit and takes the edge off the pepper spice.

Rating: Stands Out

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