Stands Out

Cascadia Rye Whiskey

/ / Review, Rye Whiskey / ,

Cascadia Rye Whiskey

43.5% ABV
$49 – $57
Website
Cadee Distillery Cascadia Rye Whiskey
We would like to thank Cadée Distillery for sending us a sample to review (and for making the time for a call to answer questions!)

What the Producer Says

Handmade in small batches. Well balanced, mellow rye with a rich malt edge. Deep color with a good nose offering malt sweetness and dried fruit. An aroma rich in port, cocoa, dark cherries, toffee, chocolate and mature oak on the palate. Aged for an average of four years in new American Oak, then finished for an average of 12 months in imported 20-year-old French Oak Ruby Port barrels. Rye spice sparkles throughout yielding to a long finish with hints of vanilla, tobacco and light wood notes. Cascadia gently rolls over the tongue like waves to the shore.

Cascadia Rye Whiskey is one of America’s finest whiskeys. We aren’t saying that, these are the gold medals and double gold medals speaking.

Try it out to experience its spicy flavor with malt sweetness and dried fruits. One marked and delicious characteristic of this whiskey is its lingering aroma rich in port, tobacco and light wood notes. This amber-hued whiskey provides an aroma of spicy rye with rich notes of dark chocolate along with overripe fruit, the concentration of flavors is completely inimitable.

Made from 51% rye, first matured in new American Oak barrels and then double barrel finished in French oak casks previously used for maturing rich, 20 year old port in Portugal. The casks were transferred to the distillery’s No.I vault, the Isle of Whidbey’s oldest maturation warehouse. Located at sea level on the shores of Port Clinton, the spirit was left to mature under nature’s care. The straight Rye developed into one of the most incredible whiskies we have produced.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Bright with mint, eucalyptus, orange zest, a touch of ginger, some herbal notes and birch wood.
Palate:  Quite smooth for rye, with gentle spices of mint, black pepper and allspice amongst chocolate covered cherries and hints of orange.
Finish:  Short in length with notes of mint and citrus spice.
Comments:  I find that rye whiskey fares better at a young age than bourbon does (not that I prefer young rye over older rye!), so I was looking forward to this.  Like Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey, its age is clear on the nose, although I didn’t get as much of the port finish by comparison.  What I did get reminded me of some type of beer cask finish (not being a beer drinker, I apologize for the lack of specificity).  In fact, the nose reminds me a bit of Jameson Caskmates Revolution Brewing Limited Edition, which ironically reminded me of rye whiskey. This is very soft, gentle, and smooth for a rye whiskey.  If you’re looking for that sharp rye bite – you won’t find it here (maybe a ‘gateway rye’ for folks who have thought rye was too harsh in the past?) but you still get those spice notes and herbaceous qualities.  Very easy drinking, and again nothing off-putting.  Cadée Distillery’s founder Colin Campbell explained that they use malted barley as well in this mashbill, and with all of their whiskies they use water drawn from Whidbey Island when bringing the whiskey down to bottling proof – which provides a unique character.  While this may not be released any older, I do hope they’ll consider perhaps a higher proof offering.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey

42.5% ABV
$45 – $57
Website
Cadée Distillery Deceptivus Bourbon Whiskey
We would like to thank Cadée Distillery for sending us a sample to review (and for making the time for a call to answer questions!)

What the Producer Says

Handmade in small batches. Deceptivus Straight Bourbon is finished in imported Portuguese Port wine casks for an award-winning spirit. We guide each batch’s conditioning, blending our handcrafted bourbon in a single barrel at a time. It’s typically aged for at least four years in American Oak Barrels, then finished for an average of 12-18 months in imported, French Oak ruby port wine casks from Portugal. While we lose about 20% of the spirit to absorption and evaporation, or “the Angel’s Share,” this adds subtly distinct flavor nuances that enhance the whiskey without challenging it. This creates a whiskey of unprecedented smoothness, sweetness and balance.

Bourbon’s origin is varied and often disputed, a wealth of legend and myth. But beyond these tall tales lies a process which makes this among the most loved alcoholic beverages by spirit connoisseurs.

A bourbon made for US consumption must be produced in the United States. Made from a grain mixture at least 51% corn, aged in new, charred oak containers, distilled to no more than 160 U.S proof, and bottled at 80 proof or more.

Bourbon whiskey is made in the USA having a ‘fatter’ and sweeter flavor profile, relying on the new charred oak barrels for much of its character, mixability and versatility, making it America’s native spirit.

Cadée’s Deceptivus bourbon is an exceptional maritime whiskey. Created by experienced whiskey producers, with centuries of distilling and blending experience, our bourbon is aged for at least four years in American Oak Barrels, and then double-barrel finished for an average of 12-18 months in imported Portuguese Port wine casks. This award-winning spirit provides an unforgettable tasting experience.

Taste and savor this great whiskey. You will love the whiskey for its unprecedented smoothness, sweetness, and balance. Cadée’s Deceptivus Bourbon is rich, smooth and its easily approachable taste is to be enjoyed by experienced and casual drinkers alike.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweetened corn flakes with cherries, port wine, pears and roasted peaches, hints of vanilla and subtle oak.
Palate:  Fruity with cherries and pears in a port wine reduction, soft pepper with a touch of cinnamon in the back.
Finish:  Short with a slightly drying fruit note and a hint of cinnamon.
Comments:  On the nose this whiskey shows its age with more notes of corn coming through than one might expect.  The port cask finishing is well executed – with the influence clearly present but not heavy handed which I appreciate it. It is pleasant, soft, and quite smooth – very easy to drink with no off-putting characteristics. I thought that the characteristics I associate with younger whiskey might be driven by the more temperate climate of the Pacific Northwest, where the temperature variation is closer to Scotland than it is to Kentucky.  In speaking with Cadée Distillery’s founder Colin Campbell, he explained that the location of Whidbey Island, which is in Puget Sound just north of Seattle, sits between the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.  This leads to the barometric pressure changing frequently – which has an impact on the maturation of the spirits.  He shared that the 20% evaporation loss is after the first three years (where for example – Heaven Hill’s website shares that they lose 6% in year 1 and 3% each year after – for 12% loss after 3 years).  He also mentioned that barrel heads become convex and concave after just a few years – again something that you see less frequently in similarly aged barrels in Kentucky.  All of this and more leads to a bourbon that isn’t going to taste like your typical bourbon.  They’re looking to continue aging some stock for older products, although another impact of the climate is that the proof in the barrel is dropping – again similar to Scotland (although some bourbon barrels will also decrease in proof based on where they are aged).  I hope that with more age, the sea air will work its magic.  I also hope that they consider bottling at a higher proof, but that’s just my preference.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Old Bardstown Estate Bottled

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Bardstown Estate Bottled
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

50.5% ABV
$30 – $35
Website
Old Bardstown Estate Bottled

What the Producer Says

Small Batch – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
tasting notes
Nose is sweet, herbal, citrus. The palate is herbaceous, sweet fruit, vanilla, on a layer of oak and earthiness that goes on like a champion marathon runner.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Musty oak with vanilla, cinnamon, hint of anise and fall leaves.
Palate:  Starts sweet with caramel sauce, vanilla cream frosting and walnuts; sharpens with a cinnamon bite, white pepper, nutmeg, allspice, and a bit of clove with oak throughout.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length with a lingering vanilla frosting and baking spices.
Comments:  This isn’t ‘Willett’ distillate (at this time), and is a decent enough 101 proof bourbon. Non-age stated, but that musty oakiness is typical of some older whiskey – along with the sharper palate. Not overoaked, but a health dose of wood if you like that sorta thing.

Rating: Stands Out

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William Heavenhill Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

William Heavenhill Single Barrel

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 14 Years
57.5% ABV
$250
Website
William Heavenhill 14 Yr Single Barrel

What the Distillery Says

Nothing unfortunately (no mention of it on their website).
This particular William Heavenhill single barrel was offered at the Bourbon Heritage Center in Bardstown, KY. During a visit, my dad and I had a chance to try it as part of a tasting, and he liked it well enough to buy one (and was generous enough to provide me a sample to review!)
Additional details from the bottle include:
Barrel 24
Barreled: 2/6/2003; Bottled: 7/11/2017

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich salted caramel, fudge, charred oak, vanilla bean, a slight tannic, smokey, sulfur note, subtle cinnamon with hints of anise and clove.
Palate:  Thick and creamy mouthfeel, nutty dark chocolate with bits of caramel, black cherries, dates, oak and pepper spice; a tad hot.
Finish:  Long and drying with oak and pepper spice.
Comments:  This is a bit more oak prominent than I prefer, but not overly oaked. I remember loving this when tasting it in Bardstown (although not enough to buy a bottle). I struggled with what felt to me like a very good single barrel version of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof w/ 2 more years – at triple the cost (or more). So I didn’t buy one, but remember thinking it was delicious all the same. I was disappointed to not love it nearly as much when I sat down on three different occasions to make tasting notes (I suspect something with my sample, although not sure what – who knows).  It takes water well, maintaining that lovely mouthfeel and tamping the hotness enough.

Rating: Stands Out

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Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve

/ / Other Whisk(e)ys, Review /

The Yamazaki Single Malt Japanese Whisky Distiller’s Reserve

43% ABV
$70
Website
Yamazaki Single Malt Japanese Whisky Distiller's Reserve
We would like to thank Paul (check out his reviews here, or on Dapper Drams) for sending us a sample to review.

What the Distillery Says*

* Note that there is no mention of this product on their web-site, the below content is from various sources including packaging images.

Yamazaki Whisky is Suntory’s flagship single malt whisky, from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery, multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara aromas. Released in Spring 2014, this is one of two Distiller’s Reserve single malt whiskies from Suntory in Japan. This single malt from the Yamazaki distillery is jam-packed with superb red berry notes, gained from the whisky being matured in Bordeaux wine casks and Sherry casks. It also features malt matured in Mizunara casks, adding subtle fragrant oak notes.

TASTING NOTES
Color: Gold
Nose: Strawberry, cherry, Mizunara (Japanese oak)
Palate: Raspberry, white peach, touch of coconut
Finish: Sweet vanilla, clear finish with, hint of cinnamon

What Gary Says

Nose:  Fruity with citrus, peaches, green apples, banana, grapes, a bit of red wine casks and Mizunara oak, hints of strawberries, cherries, and almonds.
Palate:  Sweet and full of fruit notes, peaches, pears, fresh berries, caramel sauce, honey, and almond cookies.
Finish:  Moderately long with lingering mixed fruit and notes of wine.
Comments:  This is like a liquid fruit salad in whisky form. Quite light and fruity, it has a lot going on – albeit it mostly in the fruity/nutty spectrum. Not a critique, but an observation. If you like fruity whisky, this is a lovely dram that you could spend some time with picking out all of the varieties.  You also get the nuance from the various casks which is interesting. While I rather enjoy it, I can see where others might find it lopsided and lacking balance (maybe a bit more spice and savory notes).

Rating: Stands Out

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