I love doing whiskey flights. They are like palate calibration for me. Another layer of fun is removing any label hype by serving them up mixed up & blinded by the lovely Brittany. The whole table smells delicious already, I think I'm in for a treat tonight. Think I'll guess these all right? Let's see...
Do you do flights? They are great learning tools if you can get them set up right. Give it a try next time you want a few pours!
Maker's Mark Private Selection Stave Finished Bourbon
Company on Label: Maker's Mark
Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, and 14% Malted Barley
Proof: 111.2°
Age: NAS (6 years)
Further identification: This June 2021 pick is from Gordon's (@TheWhiskyGuys)
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Company on Label: Old Forester
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 18% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley
Proof: 115°
Age: NAS (~4 years)
Further identification: This is the old label style that was likely purchased in early 2021 or perhaps 2020
Rebel Distiller's Collection Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon
Company on Label: Lux Row
Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 113°
Age: 6 years
Further identification: This single barrel pick was selected for Julios (The Loch & K(e)y Society) from barrel 6819646 which was barreled 9/26/2014
Cream of Kentucky 12.3 Year Bourbon
Company on Label: J. W. Rutledge
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed
Proof: 102°
Age: 12.3 years
Further identification: This is labeled as Batch #3 and was purchased sometime in 2020 and I should probably be through it by now but alas
Nose:
Sweet orange peel
Funky, funky, funky... Quite musty
Smells like you mixed all the sodas at the soda fountain
Vinegar
Finally mellowed really late, but this might be a corked whiskey unfortunately
Sweet tarts; chalky & sugary
Palate:
My body is telling me not to drink this, but I will, for science
Not as bad as I was expecting, but still not good
Burnt rubber
I tried... this one is spoiled
Nose:
Sweet chocolate
Bright vanilla
Sharp cherry
Nerdz candy
Toffee
Slightly floral
Cinnamon back end
Palate:
Chocolate is heavy on this, it carries a dry, textured mouth feel
Crème brûlée
Salted caramel
Molasses
Savory chocolate dessert feel
Smoky barbecue with a deep spice on the back end
Nose:
Lemon zest
Cinnamon spiced cereal
Surprising contrast to the previous two glasses
Very woody, sharp
Spice forward
Crayons
Palate:
Good cinnamon spice
Level oak, fun nuances
Smarties candy
Tingling sweet linger; rather nondescript
Zesty now with lemon hard candy notes
Light and bright mostly
Hints of cherry and vanilla
Nose:
Malty chocolate
Lemon frosting
Delicious butterscotch
Vaguely savory and slightly metallic
Slight grain showed up after a sip, but it was a microscopic flash, not a prominent note
Marshmallow
Definitely my favorite nose due to the creamy marshmallow note
Molasses
Palate:
Soft vanilla and cherry forward
Vanilla leans into marshmallow
Sweet, silky coffee bean
Chocolate pudding, yum! Reminds me of those little snack pack pudding cups
Softer molasses than the nose
Orange peel zest
Final Ranking: Antlers > Fish > Peacock > Paw
Guess:
Paw ~= Rebel
Fish ~= Makers
Peacock ~= Cream of Kentucky
Antlers ~= Old Forester
Reveal:
Paw = Cream of Kentucky
Fish = Old Forester
Peacock = Rebel
Antlers = Maker's
Accuracy: 0%
Humility: 100%
Fun: 110%
Clarified Final Ranking: Maker's > Old Forester > Rebel > Cream of Kentucky (DNF)
Another friendly reminder to finish your low bottles! I really hope that the CoK 12.3 year is just oxidized and the whole batch isn't spoiled. Let me know if you've had a problem with this bottle too in the comments. I think it's just my bottle, as I originally reviewed this without the same funk. For now, please don't read into that ranking too much. You win some, you lose some... Coming from the same guy that identified a brand, proof and the fact it was a store pick correctly blind once, there has never been a more clear writing on the wall for needing a bit of a break than this I think. The rest of the week might be wine only for me if I'm lucky! One thing is for certain: that Maker's pick from Gordon's rocks.
See you soon folks. We have some really exciting stuff coming from the @SpiritAnimalSociety soon! Stay tuned.