Stands Out

Parker’s Heritage Bourbon Finished in Orange Curaçao Barrels

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Parker’s Heritage Collection 12th Edition: Bourbon Finished in Orange Curaçao Barrels

55% ABV
$90
Website

What the Distiller Says

Heaven Hill Distillery has announced the 2018 limited-edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection, which is comprised of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in orange curaçao barrels. This is the 12th edition of the collection and the second time Heaven Hill has partnered with Master Blender Alain Royer to create a barrel-finished offering.

As the second barrel finished edition of the series, this edition continues to pave the way for innovation at Heaven Hill Distillery. This 7 to 8-year-old Bourbon has been aged in the upper floors of Rickhouse Q and finished for four months in barrels that previously aged French orange curaçao liqueur. It is bottled without chill filtration at 110 proof.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Pepper, dried fruit, oak and vanilla
Taste: Spicy citrus, nutmeg, caramel & hints of honey
Finish: Strong, top of mouth, silky, toasted toffee

The past five editions of Parker’s Heritage Collection have raised more than $1 million toward ALS research and patient care.

Heaven Hill will continue this legacy and contribute a portion of proceeds from each bottle sold of this year’s release to the ALS Association.

With every past edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection quickly selling out, the company expects to generate a significant amount of money for ALS research in Parker’s memory.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Orange gummy candies, oak, bright vanilla and honey.
Palate:  Vanilla and orange cream, sharpening with a pepper spice , oak and orange bitters note
Finish:  Moderate in length, drying with fading orange bitters.
Comments:  To start with, I’m not “anti-finish” when it comes to bourbon.  I get the view from purists that the definition of bourbon means no adding flavor, which certainly happens when you finish in a cask that held some other spirit.  But as long as someone is transparent around “This is bourbon that we’re finishing in something else” – I think it is great for the category and opens up a lot of innovative possibilities.  All that said, this particular offering struck me as ‘over-finished’.  When I initially nosed it, I wouldn’t have called it out as bourbon necessarily.  On the palate, it is more nuanced, and while you can’t miss the orange, it isn’t as overpowering.  But on the nose it really dominated for me, which was disappointing.  All that said, it isn’t off-putting in any way, and I enjoyed sipping it.  I found it drinks incredibly easily for 110 proof (I’d have guessed this to be under 100 proof).

Rating: Stands Out

Parker’s Heritage Bourbon Finished in Orange Curaçao Barrels Read More »

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Red Wine Cask Finish

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Red Wine Cask Finish
19 yrs old

40% ABV
$165-$180
Website
NOTE: If the link above takes you to their homepage, scroll down and select “United Kingdom” as the country.

What the Distiller Says

We created the third expression in our Age of Discovery Collection to commemorate the 1831 voyage of the HMS Beagle. The Beagle travelled around the globe and landed on the east coast of South America, allowing Charles Darwin to collect fossils that would lead to the development of his famous theory of evolution.

Aged 19 years, this edition is finished in oak casks that were once used to produce the complex, velvety wines of South America. The result is an extraordinarily rich single malt with exceptional smoothness, complemented by warm, spicy notes.

Celebrating the spirit of discovery, this expression can be found exclusively in selected Travel Retail outlets.

Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Rich gold with a hint of ruby.
NOSE: Toasted marshmallow with red berry and vanilla oak tannin. Ripe fruits and a hint of woody spice.
TASTE: Spicy notes on first taste, deep and smooth with a velvety sweetness. Rich oak notes and berry sweetness.
FINISH: Sweet with a long, lingering tannin.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Dried fruit, specifically berries and grapes, toffee, leather and subtle smoke.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet, grapes, cherries and dark fruit, bits of chocolate, vanilla, pecans, and a hint of ginger.
Finish:  Moderately long, a tad drying but still on the sweet side.
Comments: This was the biggest departure of the three, with more influence from the cask finish standing out. Quite nice with the fruit notes prominent, and easy to drink. If you’re not wanting to explore the subtle differences of the three, and are just looking for one that is more unique – this would be the one I’d pick; although the price tag is a little steep for me.

Rating: Stands Out

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Red Wine Cask Finish Read More »

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Madeira Cask Finish

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Madeira Cask Finish
19 yrs old

40% ABV
$165-$180
Website

What the Distiller Says

In homage to the intrepid Portuguese voyagers who went on to change our understanding of the new world, we created Glenfiddich’s first ever 19 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky.

Finished in fine, aged Madeira wine casks from an independent island winery dating back to 1850 we named this expression, Glenfiddich Age of Discovery.

An earthy, bright whisky with a warmth that fades to long sweetness. The first time we’ve used Madeira casks for incredible, rich depth.

Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Antique gold.
NOSE: Deep earthy aromas of sweet ripe fig and orange marmalade create a backdrop to bright notes –fresh gooseberry and grapes ripening on the vine.
TASTE: Rich, spicy cinnamon and crushed black pepper rest on a deep earthy base. Caramelised fruits, crystallised ginger, raisins and hints of dry oak unravel. A satisfying, silky smooth, almost oily texture.
FINISH: Dry with warmth that fades into sweet marmalade notes.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, dark fruit (apricots, raisins, dates, figs), caramel and a sharper spice note; hints of clove and cinnamon over oak.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet and fruity, cherries with apricots, dusted with cinnamon and clove, spice notes kicking in stronger at the back.
Finish:  Moderately long, peaches and honey with white pepper.
Comments: Compared with the Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve, this is also quite nice, but a fairly subtle difference. The finish here isn’t heavy handed, which in one respect I appreciate, but on the other hand – you hope for something a bit more “different”. If you’re a big Glenfiddich fan, and a whiskey geek to boot, this box set with the 200 mL might be worthwhile to appreciate the subtle differences. But if you’re hoping for a big change, you may be disappointed.

Rating: Stands Out

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Madeira Cask Finish Read More »

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve

/ / Review, Scottish Whisky, Speyside /

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve
19 yrs old

40% ABV
$165-$180
Website

What the Distiller Says

The Great American Rivers once transported fine oak casks filled with American bourbon towards New Orleans. Bourbon casks could only be used once, their aromas and flavours released quickly, without being exhausted by long maturation. Excellent for ageing single malt Scotch.

Our second release in the Age of Discovery collection and a first for us, Bourbon Cask Reserve is inspired by that history. It is our only expression exclusively matured in American bourbon casks, for 19 years. Creating a refined balance of spicy sweetness and rich dried fruit flavours.

Tasting Notes
COLOUR: Autumn barley fields.
NOSE: Warm, crunchy toffee and deep citrus notes. Marmalade on toast with fine orange liqueur balanced by dry, almost smoky oak tannin.
TASTE: Intriguing layers of light tannin, underpinned by rich notes of vanilla pod, fine leather and Havana tobacco. Develops into a sweet, velvety mouth-feel with spicy hints of cardamom and nutmeg.
FINISH: Warm, delightful long finish.

NOTE: Richard reviewed this about 5 yrs ago (including his notes below as well) from a sample provided. Normally I wouldn’t post a duplicate review – but his was done as a new release at the time, and this is done more as part 1 of a 3 part series.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Sweet, dried fruit with vanilla, musty oak, subtle baking spices and milk chocolate.
Palate:  Creamy mouthfeel, sweet and fruity; canned pears, apricots with nutmeg and allspice.
Finish:  Moderately long with pears and hints of cracked pepper.
Comments: Richard picked up this “Age of Discovery” box set while visiting the motherland, which included a 200 ml bottle of the Bourbon Cask Reserve, the Maderira Cask Finish, and the Red Wine Cask Finish. I thought it would be interesting to taste these three together to compare/contrast, as they are each 19yr Glenfiddich. This is the first of the three, and a very nice dram. On the sweet side of things but not cloyingly so, and nothing off putting. Would have liked a bit more spice to balance things out, but using this as my baseline for exploring the other two. While nice, this doesn’t hit me squarely enough to shell out the dough for a bottle.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Pears, the malty whiff of an IPA, and orange-mint chewing gum.
Palate: A hint of sweet vanilla at first, then Christmas spices, old rough leather like a pair of old buckskin work gloves.
Finish: Very mellow, wet toothpicks, mint notes, fading to old cigar.
Comments: This is a very interesting dram. Personally, if I was going to spend $150 on a bottle of Glenfiddich it would be the 21 year old finished in rum casks. That’s not a knock on this bottle, it’s just not the best Glenfiddich has to offer at the price point. It’s still an interesting iteration and a nice glass of scotch. However, I think this would be more for the Glenfiddich devotee rather than the uninitiated.

Rating: Stands Out

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery – Bourbon Cask Reserve Read More »

Booker’s 2018-04 “Kitchen Table”

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Booker’s “Kitchen Table”
Batch 2018-04

6 Years, 8 Months, 7 Days
64% ABV
$70 – $80
Website

We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Multiply for sending us a sample to review.

What the Master Distiller Says:

It’s special for me to name the fourth and final batch of Booker’s Bourbon for 2018 after a place that was so important to Dad and the creation of Booker’s as we know it today.

This batch is made from barrels produced on three different production dates and stored in six different locations.  The breakdown is as follows:

  • 7% came from the 4th floor of 9-story warehouse E
  • 14% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse E
  • 4% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse E
  • 24% came from the 5th floor of 9-story warehouse J
  • 44% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse J
  • 7% came from the 6th floor of 9-story warehouse D

This batch has a beautiful color that is a deep chestnut and has a robust , flavor rich taste profile.  The nose is a rich balance of vanilla and oak that comes from aging in white oak barrels for more than six years.  The finish is balanced and pleasant and does not overpower your taste buds.  In Dad’s honor, I’ve enjoyed this batch with a healthy splash of water, also called “Kentucky Tea” which was one of his signature ways to enjoy his Booker’s.

– Fred Noe, Beam Family’s 7th Generation Master Distiller

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rickhouse oak, chocolate cocoa with caramel and vanilla; subtle smoke and baking spices.
Palate:  Warm, a tad sharp with caramel and dark chocolate, a hint of peanut butter before pepper spice kicks in; some water really brings out the chocolate and softens the edges, peanutty.
Finish:  Moderate to long, with lingering cocoa and pepper spice.
Comments:  Booker’s was the first “high proof” bourbon (or whiskey for that matter) that I cut my teeth on. I don’t recall the batch (this would have been 2011?) but once I got through the burn – it was delicious. Is there variation between batches? Sure, but of the several I’ve tried – I don’t recall any I thought were poor or ‘below expectations’. Some have stood out as better than others, but all in all – Booker’s is pretty consistent.  Even their web-page lists the same tasting notes at the top for all batches (even when you change the year).  That’s not a knock in the least; that’s a testament to having dialed into a flavor profile that they and their fans like.  This batch is no different; a solid high-proof bourbon that takes water rather well. One note that stood out for me (which I don’t always get from Booker’s) is peanut butter, which is strange since I get a peanutty note in a lot of Beam bourbon products (I tend to think of it as their ‘House Style’).

Rating: Stands Out

Booker’s 2018-04 “Kitchen Table” Read More »