Stands Out

Old Forester Single Barrel

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Forester Single Barrel 90 proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

Private selection of Discount Drinks in Wyandotte, MI
Floor 1; Warehouse O
45% ABV
$46.99
Website

What the Distillery Says

Every fingerprint is unique. The same is true for every barrel of bourbon. Old Forester Single Barrel is bottle from one individual barrel, so there is no other bourbon exactly like it.

Old Forester Single Barrel is crafted using the time-honored methods established over 140 years ago. Depending on the barrel selected and the angel’s share lost to evaporation during aging the barrel, each Old Forester Single Barrel selection should produce between 200 to 240 750ml bottle of bourbon.

TASTING NOTES
Each Old Forester Single Barrel selection is a unique expression of Old Forester, with a distinct flavor and aroma. Bottled at 90 proof, with a rich, robust bourbon profile, Single Barrel offers a truly one of a kind taste experience.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich baking spices, vanilla wafers with salted caramel, sprinkle of nutmeg and subtle cinnamon.
Palate:  Sweet caramel cremes that sharpens a tad with some citrus spice zip, pepper and cinnamon.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, with subtle pepper spice and charred oak.
Comments:  This is a decent enough pour, although I really wish Brown-Forman would offer these at a higher proof. Compared to classic Old Forester 86 proof, this is a step up; more nuanced with a richer nose, and less oak and edge all around – no doubt a function of maturing on the first floor. No age statement, but I’d guess it isn’t very old. The few Old Forester Single Barrels I’ve seen where the store posted the age all tended to be 4 to 5 yrs old. They also tended to be on floors 4 or higher. First floor barrels tend to be more tame, less aggressive than their higher floor counterparts (producers use the first floor for barrels they’ll put a lot of age on since they have a chance of surviving that without becoming oak bombs). You get more stable temperatures, so less ‘action’ if you will (the spirit moving in/out of the barrel). If you’re looking for the Old Forester profile with a little less edge (or are a whiskey geek looking to better understand a first floor barrel vs higher floors), this may be right up your alley.

Rating: Stands Out

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Legent Bourbon Whiskey

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Legent Bourbon Whiskey

47% ABV
$35
Website

What the Distillery Says

A Bourbon Unlike Any Other.
Legent™ is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey partially finished in wine and sherry casks. But it’s more than that. It pushes the boundaries for how bourbons can be created while remaining true to the core of bourbon’s principles. It’s a collaboration between two whiskey legends – Fred Noe & Shinji Fukuyo – and two unique styles of whiskey making.

Three Barrels, One Unique Taste.
Three different types of barrels are used to create the unique flavor profile of Legent. Each one imparts its own unique characteristics to this boundary-pushing bourbon.

Bourbon Barrel Aging.
From these barrels, Legent absorbs char notes and rich, traditional bourbon cues like layers of caramel, oak and vanilla.

Sherry Cask Finishing.
Sherry casks add complex layers of spice, raisin and heavy dried fruit flavor. These casks also help give Legent its deeper, reddish color.

Red-Wine Cask Aging.
French oak wine casks impart different oak notes than traditional white oak bourbon barrels. These red-wine casks also give Legent mild, fruity undertones and a light acidity.

Legent Neat or On The Rocks.
As you drink Legent neat or on the rocks you’ll notice it change quickly as it sits on your tongue. It starts like a bourbon – rich, warm and oaky. Then, like a Japanese whisky, it features both complex layers of dried fruits and spice. Adding an ice cube or two accentuates Legent’s already bright, smooth and unexpectedly long finish.

What Gary Says

Nose: Caramel, chocolate covered cherries, raisins, ripe red grapes, honey, wine cask, charred oak.
Palate: Sweet with caramel, honey,  tart cherries, grapes, balanced with allspice and wine notes, a hint of oak.
Finish:  Moderately long, on the wet side with notes of canned fruit salad syrup lingering.
Comments:  If you like finished bourbons, this is well executed. I’ll admit – I was skeptical at first, as it is easy to over-do it with too many different casks where the result is just a mess. I get the bourbon foundation, the expected fruit notes from the sherry finishing, and the wine cask influence. Well balanced between the three without losing any of them. Having said that, I can’t say I love it. Personal preference, but I’ve yet to find a red-wine cask aging or finishing on bourbon that I’ve really liked. Just not in my wheelhouse. But I’m glad I tried this, and respect the craftsmanship at work.

Rating: Stands Out

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Four Roses Small Batch Select

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Four Roses Small Batch Select

52% ABV
$55-$60
Website
Four Roses Small Batch Select

What the Distillery Says

A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY
SMALL BATCH SELECT
NON-CHILL FILTERED
104 PROOF
Small Batch Select launching in Kentucky, New York, California, Texas and Georgia.  It will launch to additional locations in the future.

Crafted from six Unique Bourbon Recipes:
OBSV, OESV, OBSK, OESK, OBSF & OESF

This entirely new Bourbon marks the biggest addition to Four Roses’ storied history since Brent Elliott became Master Distiller, so we sat down with him to get a bit more information about this new product. Here’s what Brent had to say:

“We wanted to add something to our lineup that brings that pure experience you get with a non-chill filtered Bourbon, while also showcasing some of our recipes and flavors that aren’t as forward facing in our other existing bottles. While Small Batch Select can certainly be one of your special occasion Bourbons, we want it to be more accessible so you don’t hesitate to open up that bottle and enjoy it any time.”
-Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller

On the nose, Four Roses Small Batch Select offers raspberries, clove and nutmeg. As it hits the palate, it opens into flavors of apricot, ripe berries, vanilla and light oak. The finish lingers with notes of spearmint and a touch of cinnamon.

Each of the Bourbons selected for Small Batch Select have been aged for six and seven years.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich, caramel apples, baking spices, vanilla bean, blood orange, floral notes with subtle oak and a hint of mint.
Palate:  Thick mouthfeel that starts sweet before the spice kicks in; fruit salad with toasted caramel, mandarin oranges, nutmeg, allspice, hint of cinnamon.
Finish: Moderately long, damp with oak and trailing spices.
Comments:  Props to Four Roses for offering what whiskey geeks want: non-chill filtered, high proof whiskey. It takes water well, and is nicely balanced. If this was $40 or $45, it would be a no-brainer “Must Try”. Don’t get me wrong – it is very good whiskey, and I doubt fans of Four Roses would be disappointed. Although if you’re on a tight budget, might want to try this at a bar first.

Rating: Stands Out/Must Try

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Port Charlotte – Scottish Barley

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Port Charlotte
Scottish Barley

Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
50% ABV
$60 – $70
Website

What the Distillery Says

Peated to a heavyweight 40ppm, Port Charlotte Scottish Barley is a cuvee crafted from cask profiles originally selected by master distiller Jim McEwan. It showcases the supreme elegance of this remarkable single malt – a union of the classic floral elegance of Bruichladdich and heavy peat. Trickle distilled from 100% Scottish Barley the spirit gently matures in the lochside village of Port Charlotte before being bottled here at the distillery using Islay spring water.

TASTING NOTES
CHARACTER – The texture is extraordinarily rich with a huge depth of character. The smouldering heat of peat fires pulls you into a whirlpool of islay flavours and aromas but with such finesse that you welcome the storm.
COLOUR – Gilded lily.
NOSE – Opening with assertive waves of peat smoke and Atlantic squall, the olfactory system is on high alert in anticipation of some major sensory excitement. A swell of aromatics flood the senses with notes of iodine, salty canvas, crushed sea shells, charred oak staves, black pepper, paprika and leather tobacco pouches. The second wave brings vanilla, figs and soft plump dates, marinated pear, freshly milled malt, dark sweet toffee and cracked walnuts. It’s smoky. It’s smouldering. It’s sensuous. Just close your eyes and inhale long and deep. This is aromatic awesomeness.
PALATE – Wow! Waves of the sweetest, smoothest, warmest smokiest spirit that you have ever experienced flood onto the palate like the atlantic surf on Saligo Bay. It is potent, focused and the flavours explode brilliantly onto the palate. Full of depth and complexity, the smokey sweetness of the barley contrasts beautifully with the marine freshness of the spirit and the richness of toffee and vanilla. The complexity is enhanced further with a citrus twist and then mellow oak tempers the fire. Once the taste buds adjust to what is happening, they rejoice in the company and pleasure of this young Celt.
FINISH – It’s long and heart-warming, arousing feelings of pride and passion. It brings courage and strength, honesty and faith to your very soul.
MOOD – It cries “freedom”. You are in a good place and you envy no man. You feel alive and ready for whatever lies ahead, knowing that the true spirit of Islay is with you.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Soft sea air with iodine laden peat smoke, dried hay & grass, subtle hints of barbecue sauce.
Palate:  Earthy sweet with vanilla, caramel and nutmeg on graham crackers; peat fire next door with a savory spice note.
Finish: Moderately long, drying with medicinal smokey notes.
Comments:  Concluding our exploration of Bruichladdich The Wee Laddie Tasting Collection Gift Pack, we enjoy Port Charlotte Scottish Barley. This is a very interesting dram. I love peat, and this has it balanced in a lovely way (no ‘peat bomb’ here). Easily my favorite of the three.

Rating: Stands Out

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Bruichladdich – Islay Barley

/ / Islay, Review, Scottish Whisky /

Bruichladdich Islay Barley

Unpeated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
50% ABV
$65 – $75
Website

What the Distillery Says

Yellow gold with great structure. Soft with honey, citrus and sea salt, hints of spicy bourbon and young Islay barley. This is a Hebridean journey like no other
NOTE: Bruichladdich provides a lot of details for different vintages of these releases, which is great; I really love that level of transparency! Unfortunately I’ve no idea which vintage was included here; so using the gift pack image as well as  only providing the above notes which were part of the in-box materials.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet malt, honey over floral and herbal notes, a hint of dried orange zest with a stronger hit of sea air.
Palate:  Creamier mouthfeel, honey with vanilla and pears, some orange spice that transitions to a pepper spice.
Finish: Moderately long, thick and sweet with spice notes trailing.
Comments:  Continuing our exploration of Bruichladdich The Wee Laddie Tasting Collection Gift Pack, we arrive at Islay Barley. The nose is quite similar to The Classic Laddie, just a touch less sweet, a touch more herbal, and a touch more sea air. On the palate the distance grows, with a richer sweetness and some citrus spice. While fairly similar, I prefer this over the first.

Rating: Stands Out

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