One of my favorite humans on earth @_lostnemo_ has sent me some fantastic @mayorpingreewhiskey samples from @valentinedistillingco for review. I've been meaning to try these releases for so long, but I don't have access to them very readily in MA. I blinded all these samples so I wouldn't know which was which during my review. I identified them all correctly and have simply listed the post-reveal bottles for clarity below.
Mayor Pingree 6 Year Red Label
Company on Label: Valentine Distilling
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: A MGP mash bill
Proof: 124°
Age: 6 years
Further identification: Mug & Jug store pick; Cask No IND-71; Date 01.20.21; NCF
Mayor Pingree 5 Year Red Label Single Barrel
Company on Label: Valentine Distilling
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: Valentine Blend (?)
Proof: 120.2°
Age: 5 years
Further identification: Rainbow Liquor store pick; NCF
Mayor Pingree 13 Year Black Label
Company on Label: Valentine Distilling
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: MGP Blend
Proof: 123°
Age: 13 years
Further identification: Barrel No 5
Mayor Pingree Red Label Small Batch
Company on Label: Valentine Distilling
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: Valentine Blend
Proof: 94°
Age: 4 years
Further identification: Batch 010, NCF
13 Year Black Label Nose:
- Mmm plum sweetness
- Caramel
- Pepper
- Leather
- Thick molasses
- Spice in dry vanilla
- Hint of very light pipe tobacco
- Almost a buttery popped corn shell or kernel
- Most complex
13 Year Black Label Palate:
- Dark spice
- Wow so rich
- Tastes oldest
- Wine soaked dark red oak
- Powerful on a chew
- Super thick plum, raisin and dark cherry
- Biggest proof exposure
5 Year Red Label Single Barrel Nose:
- Dusty and light
- Pine bark
- Herbal / spice
- Something oily
- Younger oak
- Copper metallic
- Lovely vanilla late
5 Year Red Label Single Barrel Palate:
- Thin citrus
- Bombs into a spicy pop
- Caramel/molasses forward
- Long mouth coating/linger
- Spicy and zesty
- Intense sweetness is dark stone fruits late
6 Year Red Label Nose:
- Musty vanilla
- Smooth oak
- Dusty citrus
- Chocolate
- Thin marshmallow
- Slightly tannic
- Evolved into a rich delicious marshmallow momentarily
- Devolved into young, fresh saw dust
6 Year Red Label Palate:
- Syrupy, oak forward
- Musty aspect of vanilla still present
- Herbal funk all across tongue
- Long linger of herbal spice
- Thick vanilla char
- Creamy red wine grape pool
- Late turns too tannic
Small Batch 010 Nose:
- Citrus
- Faint white pepper
- Light dill
- Herbal
- Almost floral
- Touch of copper
- Tough proof imbalance leaves this outclassed
Small Batch 010 Palate:
- Very thin at start, no mouth coating
- Slight cherry swings in late
- Late dry molasses mouth coating forms
- Rising lemon zest tumbles through the mouth & nose; most surprising improvement
- Finish/mouth coating is almost impossible to shake
- Low proof is actually kind of a nice break in this line
Final Ranking: Black 13 Year > Red 5 Year Pick > Red 6 Year Pick > Red Label Batch 010
