Stands Out

Broken Barrel Honey Smoke: Reserva

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

Broken Barrel Honey Smoke: Reserva

Straight American Whiskey Finished with Broken Barrel Staves

55% ABV
$80
Website
Broken Barrel Honey Smoke: Reserva
We would like to thank Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. and Ro-Bro Marketing & PR for sending us a sample to review.

What the Producer Says

Broken Barrel Whiskey is excited to announce its latest offering of Single Barrel whiskeys – a return of its immensely popular Honey Smoke [2022], with some slight updates to the offering and a sizable increase in its distribution and accessibility.
Building off the 2022 release of the Honey Smoke Rye (101 Proof, 180 Bottles), the new single barrels of Honey Smoke Reserva will feature a Kentucky-distilled American Whiskey, bottled at 110 Proof with a 6-Year age statement. The whiskey has also updated the Oak Bill to blend both Honey Barrel staves with Texas Sotol barrel staves, providing an even deeper, earthier and smokier complexity than last year’s release. The older whiskey, higher proof and longer finishing time (now over 5 months) lend to an all-around masterpiece that promises to be one of the most distinctive tasting spirits every produced. The new Oak Bill provides another industry-first for Broken Barrel, using Sotol and Honey in combination to finish a Kentucky whiskey, which has never been done before.
On the nose, the earth and terroir of the sotol hog the spotlight, while the sweetness of honey waits patiently in the glass to be discovered when sipped. With the earthy complexity of barrel aged Texas sotol, a truly extraordinary elixir offers the senses both enchanting aromas of honeycomb sweetness mixed with charcoal and woodiness.
On the palate, a remarkable flavor unfolds with familiar hints of vanilla and spice, harmonized beautifully with golden honey sweetness that balanced the grain and oak. The smoke underpins the entire experience with a constant but never overwhelming presence that separates this whiskey from traditional bourbons and ryes. It is a fascinating union, creating a compounding unique flavor profile, departing from last year’s release that had vegetal and floral notes.
The finish is a testament to the brand’s innovative genius, leaving lasting impressions of sweet, spice and warming smoky flavors. These single barrels are expected to move quickly and can be found in select states and online retailers.

Mash Bill:
99% Corn
1% Malted Barley

Oak Bill™
50% Ex-Honey Barrel
50% Ex-Sotol Barrel

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft, subtle, charred oak, smoke, earthy with a hint of vanilla in back.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel with vanilla, honey, allspice, nutmeg and a pepper bite at the end.
Finish:  Moderate in length, wet and syrupy with honey and smoke.
Comments:  The heavy corn mashbill is a good choice for the honey and Sotol barrel staves (a bourbon or rye might have dominated the finishing with barely a hint). This is a nice, unique whiskey. A bit of water brings out cornflakes by a campfire on the nose, and on the palate it brings out more vanilla and a touch of caramel. While there is a bit of smoke on this, I wouldn’t call this ‘smokey’ necessarily. Someone who appreciates an Islay whisky might argue this isn’t smokey, but if you’re comparing this to a corn whiskey – there’s definitely more smoke and earthy notes.

Rating: Stands Out

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Lock Stock & Barrel 16 Year Rye

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Lock Stock & Barrel 16 Year
Straight Rye Whiskey

53.5% ABV
$160
Website
Lock Stock & Barrel 16 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

What the Producer Says

Lock Stock & Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey is double distilled from a rare mash bill of 100 percent rye grain. A “robust cut” is selected by master distillers, then the unfiltered spirit is aged in new charred American Oak barrels in cold weather. Lock Stock & Barrel 16-year is a tightly woven fabric of aromatics, with notes that suggest roasted acorns, sour grass, wild cherries, stewed blackberry, dried pear and sassafras.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Christmas spice, cinnamon, freshly grated nutmeg, hints of clove and anise, sour oak, subtle orange zest, honey, bit of brown sugar and cocoa.
Palate:  Chewy and warm mouthfeel, chocolate orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, honey, mint, pepper and oak.
Finish:  Long and damp with citrus, white pepper and honey.
Comments:  This is a really nice spicy rye! The oak is there as you’d expect with 16 years, but it isn’t overoaked. A bit of water brings out some eggnog on the nose, and orange bitters on the palate. While I miss the days of 7 year cask strength rye for $50 or less, in this market coming in at $10 a year for high proof rye with age is reasonable.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Dewar’s 12 Year vs Dewar’s 12 Year

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky / , ,

Dewar’s 12-Year-Old (older vs newer)
Blended Scotch Whisky

40% ABV
$25-30
Website

Comparing Older vs Newer Bottling

If the older one isn’t being made anymore, why bother? Well, when I posted a review in 2022 of the newer version, someone commented that they tried it and didn’t like it – preferring the older version. I hadn’t had Dewar’s 12 in ages, so I sought to find an older bottling in case this helps fans of the label with how they are different.  This comparison is from a couple of blind side-by-side comparisons, and is focused on the differences.

The Differences

 

Older
Newer
Package
Colored Glass Bottle

Dewar's 12 Year Blended Scotch older bottle

Clear Glass Bottle

Dewars 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

What Gary Found Different

Older
Newer
Nose:Subtle with apples, vanilla, floral notes and malt.Richer with honey suckle, apples, pears, vanilla, peaches, subtle soft smoke with an earthy mineral note.
Palate:Creamy with a round mouthfeel, vanilla, malt, pears, apples, honey and a subtle earthy note.Creamy mouthfeel with more flavor intensity, fruity with peaches, kiwi, pears, apples and a bit of nutmeg.
Finish:Moderate in length, damp with honey and dried fruit.Moderate in length with vanilla, honey and fruit notes (pretty similar here).
Comments:Nothing off-putting here to me, but also nothing that really stands out. This reminds me of what I had thought ‘blended scotch’ was before I had experienced some truly remarkable blends (thanks Compass Box for opening my eyes there!)When I was sent a sample of this to review last year, I was really surprised by how much I liked it.  6 months after that review was posted, a reader remarked on it that he much preferred the old, so I sought a bottle of the older version out for just this tasting.  Glad I did, as I’ll sleep well knowing I don’t need to go and dusty hunt for them!  This is absolutely a step up in my opinion; more flavor depth and complexity for the same price?  Thank you Dewars!
Rating:
Average
Stands Out/Must Try

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Yellowstone Bourbon Finished in Toasted Staves

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Yellowstone Toasted
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves

50% ABV
$50
Website
Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves
We would like to thank Limestone Branch Distillery and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Distillery Says

ST. LOUIS (Oct. 9, 2023) – Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Toasted Staves – the first release within the brand’s Special Finishes Collection and the latest inspiration from Limestone Branch Distillery Master Distiller Stephen Beam – is set to hit retail shelves in October. Aged four years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), Yellowstone Toasted will be available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $49.99 per 750-ml bottle.

Yellowstone Toasted starts with the brand’s traditional bourbon mash bill, which is then stave finished. Beam, a seventh-generation master distiller, hand-selected a combination of five different staves – high toast, American oak double-toast, vanilla, rick house and spice rack – to get the desired flavor profile.

The resulting bourbon features a nose of toasted caramel and vanilla with hints of fall spices and cinnamon; a medium body with notes of walnut, toffee, black tea and white pepper; and a crisp finish highlighted by cocoa, tobacco and oak.

“The Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection is a great way to honor more than 150 years of bourbon heritage while still keeping things fresh and exciting,” said Beam. “I began experimenting with toasted barrels in 2016, 2017, and 2018 with Yellowstone Limited Edition releases and again more recently with distillery-exclusive Yellowstone Toasted Single Barrel. My experience helped in crafting what stave flavors to use and at what percentage to get the right flavor profile for Yellowstone Toasted. I can’t wait for consumers to try this latest full-time member of the Yellowstone Bourbon family.”

Yellowstone Toasted packaging features the brand’s iconic bottle and Roosevelt Arch artwork, as well as a more prominent version of the Yellowstone brand name and a Special Finishes Collection call-out. The bottle’s brown top-wrap helps to differentiate Yellowstone Toasted Bourbon from other Yellowstone variants.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Caramel, toasted oak, baked apple crisp, anise, nutmeg, cinnamon and citrus zest.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, caramel, chocolate, walnuts, brown sugar, oak, pepper and cinnamon.
Finish: Moderately long, syrupy with honey, caramel and spices
Comments:  This is a really nice, spicy bourbon! Lots of spice notes with an edge but not too sharp. Drinks nicely neat, although a few drops of water bring out some nice nutty chocolate notes. The spice on this also lends it to fit in nicely in a variety of cocktails that call for bourbon or rye.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 15 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 15 Years Old
Straight Bourbon Whiskey

49.05% ABV
$200
Website
Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 15 Years Straight Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Luxco and BYRNE PR for sending us samples to review.

What the Producer Says

ST. LOUIS (Sept. 19, 2023) – Ross & Squibb Distillery announced the return of the most-limited
member of the Remus Bourbon family: Remus Gatsby Reserve 2023 Edition. Released to celebrate F. Scott Fitzgerald’s legendary novel, “The Great Gatsby”, a century ago – from the events in 1922 that inspired the novel to its publication in 1925 – Remus Gatsby Reserve is bottled at 98.1 proof (49.05% ABV) and offered in ultra-limited quantities at a minimum suggested retail price of $199.99 per 750-ml bottle.

Crafted by Master Distiller Ian Stirsman and the team at Ross & Squibb Distillery, Remus Gatsby Reserve contains some of the 175-year-old Lawrenceburg, Indiana, distillery’s finest 15-year-old reserves of straight bourbon whiskey. This year, Remus Gatsby Reserve features two bourbon mash bills (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% barley malt; and 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% barley malt) and is offered at cask strength. Hitting shelves this October, Remus Gatsby Reserve leads with aromas of caramel, candied dark fruit and saddle leather, with slight brown sugar and very sweet candied notes. The taste profile is characterized by flavors of caramel, oak, dark fruit syrup, candied raisins, char and brown sugar, while the finish lingers with notes of saddle leather, cherry and oak.

“We have produced great bourbon whiskey over the years at Ross & Squibb, and the Remus Bourbon brand has provided our team an opportunity to showcase some of our best,” said Stirsman. “Remus Gatsby reserve provides a special opportunity to showcase the best of the best – including two different mash bills of some of the finest 15-year-old bourbons in our reserves. Remus Gatsby Reserve made quite an impact when it was launched last year, and the 2023 Edition is likely to follow suit as a highly sought-after member of the Remus Bourbon family.”

The inaugural 2022 expression of Remus Gatsby Reserve achieved some of the highest recognition in the bourbon category, earning Gold in the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits competition, the 2023 Bartenders Spirits Awards competition and the 2023 SIP Awards. Additionally, the 2022 Edition of Remus Gatsby Reserve earned Platinum status at the 2023 ASCOT Awards and was named “Bourbon of the Year” by Robb Report, as well as one of “The Best Rare Bourbons That are Actually Worth the Cost” by Inside Hook magazine.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, toffee, oak, vanilla sponge cake, honey, worn leather, brown sugar, cherry, baking spices and a hint of blackberry.
Palate: Thick mouthfeel with caramel, oak, dark fruit notes (raising and blackberries), cinnamon, raw honey, chocolate and a bit of molasses.
Finish: Long and drying with oak, leather and black cherry.
Comments: The nose on this is lovely with depth and complexity. The palate is almost too oaky for my taste, but some lovely notes as well. The inaugural release of Remus Gatsby Reserve 15 Years Old last year was really nice, and also low proof for a cask strength bourbon, and while I don’t have any left to compare side by side, this is a bit different. Like last years, it doesn’t want for water, but a bit changes things up, bringing the fruit notes on the nose forward including a tropical slant towards pineapple and coconut. Another really solid limited edition offering!

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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