Alright! I'm finally digging into another community sample. This Russell's pick basically jumped into my hand so I thought it was meant to be. This sample comes courtesy of Vin (@bourbonspirits) and I thank him for his generosity and kindness in the whiskey community! I'm no stranger to Russell's picks... Let's see how this one tastes! Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 110° Age: Not listed, but likely somewhere near 9 years Further identification: This West Islip Wine & Liquors store pick Barrel 20-0945 that came with a neck tag from Warehouse G, Floor 4 Nose: Dusty & bright upfront. Hints of peanut brittle come up and greet me. Floral perfumes and vanilla tangle together. Time for a sip! After coming back from taking a drink I find the candy tones from the palate transfer well. Creamy caramel and black treacle build on deep inhales. The empty glass smells of lovely tiramisu and noble oak. Palate: My first sip puts off a beautiful cherry sweetness. The soft wave of florals and candy that follow are a delectable treat. Strawberry cereal and nerdz candy do well here. It drinks just a touch hot for 110 which is surprising, but not unwelcome. As the glass gets lower the creamier tones begin to take over. There's a lovely buttery mouth coating on this. My last sip is another sweet treat of black pepper, raisin, maraschino cherry and mixed berry pie. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) And that is the truest use of that rating I can imagine! My shelf is chock full of Russell's picks and I could easily see this one being amongst some of my favorites.

Willett Distillery Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 74% Rye, 11% Corn, 15% Malted

Come 2025, Saunders hopes to highlight more distilleries in their single-barrel program (like Green River thought in mind that he wants to be as transparent as possible about who he is representing in the single the core blends of New England Barrel Company, as well as limited releases, experimental batches, and single This single barrel rye release, selected for Liquor Junction, sold out within hours and has garnered Percentages: 95% corn, 5% rye Proof:  131.04 ° Age: 11.5 years Further identification:  This is a single

Keep in mind this is a single barrel product and your glass/bottle/barrel may vary from mine! Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Another sip elicits more of the peanut aromas, but now they are more like actual salted peanuts; a small

I'm interested to know if bourbon barrel aging was commonplace for Irish whiskey during prohibition.. Company on Label: Bushmills Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley Proof Overall it's very traditionally Irish despite the bourbon cask aging. I'd definitely recommend you give this one a try for yourself if you like Irish whiskey!

: Finished Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of 3 mash bills: 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley (MGP), 100% Rye (Alberta), and a 99% Corn / 1% Malted Barley (Seagrams/MGP) Proof: 122.4° Age ~4 year MGP rye, ~5 year Alberta rye, and ~15 year Light Whiskey Further identification: This is a single Hints of leather, black pepper and salted caramel provide exceptional complexity for the more experienced

It definitely inspired me to pick up this single barrel offering. Company on Label: Cathead Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted

Letting this rest a while reveals some really nice butterscotch which smells a lot like a Weller Single

How do single barrel picks compare? together to make a cohesive and consistent flavor profile, single barrels are just single components If you want to read the full review of each single barrel, click the link at each title! Dion's Single Barrel #491 Where the flagship was consistent, this one was flashy. Kappy's Single Barrel #021 This is a great example of a single barrel that ended up falling short compared

Company on Label: Old Forester Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 127.6° Age: NAS Further identification: Warehouse K, Floor 6, Barrel 6618. This is a collaboration pick that Mass Bourbon Alliance was invited to taste alongside the Liquor Junction team. I was joined by Derek Laverriere and Justin Fillip for this pick; it will be releasing at all the LJ stores in the coming months under the name of "LJ/MBA Strawberry Krunch" through the punch program Nose: Bubbly, bright, and fruit forward on first raising the glass to my nose. Definitely some heat as I went in a bit too overconfident. Lovely brown sugar, molasses and walnut. Roasted pecans. A decently large oak note comes through with a floral sweet back end. Wow... The creamy vanilla and toffee is suddenly quite potent and lovely. Really great nose-feel. This reminds me of everything that got me hooked on bourbon in the first place. Deeper inhales show off pepper, baking spice and a darker earthiness that feels so rich. Strands of oily leather are ever present. Time for a sip. Coming back to the nose, the strawberry fruit is very apparent. There's more floral tones and a rich honey note jumps out at me. The leather, oak and bright Spring bloom notes are really hitting the spot for me on this 80 degree New England day. Later in the glass you can be a little more brash with the depth of your nosing as I find lemon peel, shortbread cookie, and Nilla wafers. The empty glass smells of butter cream, pear and light florals. Palate: Whew! First sip of the day and it is a good one! Cherry and cinnamon hots lead the way on my first sip. The sizzle on the palate is not overpowering and it quickly evolves into a silky strawberry sweetness. There's a rice or cornflake cereal background note that ties this together nicely. I am reminded of why we landed on the name 'Strawberry Krunch' on this one almost immediately. Another sip shows off the honey sweetness as well as a supremely crushable, floral-laced caramel cream. The mouth feel is buttery with a touch of tart lemon effervescence that sticks in the gums. Nearing the bottom of the glass I swear this could be finished in a honey barrel; it's so sweet and enjoyable. Touches of grenadine, faint Aperol and fig really take the glass full circle if you are patient. My last sip is a larger sip and swish. It brings a potent lemon frosting forward while producing a slightly drying molasses pop on the center of my tongue. The linger is medium in length and carries lovely creamy vanilla notes all throughout. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up I really didn't expect to like this as much as I did, as I haven't historically been a big Old Forester fan. It very well may become one of my favorites once the bottles come in, but I have to leave it at today's assessment. Yes, I had a hand in selecting it... but I'm giving this one a fair shake today. This is a re-review of the liquid several days after we selected the barrel already. I truly believe this is a special barrel that not many will get to experience. I am definitely going to want a few of these for myself, but I'm also glad to share it with all of you in the MA whiskey community. Cheers!

The Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Single Barrel release commemorated the 2017 milestone of 25 years of special product that features Dad’s preferred ‘uncut and unfiltered’ style, combined with my passion for single Let's find out how this single barrel offering came out! Your mileage may vary given this is a single barrel product. Company on Label: James B. The mouth feel wisps around like a flame with some spice tingling from the middle of the tongue towards

This single barrel select is Mass Bourbon Alliance's third release. Company on Label: Old Elk Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted More chocolate shows itself but this time a bit more malt-forward while maintaining a confectionary sweetness I get a calm sugar cookie tone that doesn't quite say 'Irish whiskey' but certainly leans in that direction Much like the Spirit Animal Society Old Elk bourbon single barrel pick, I'd call this one 'supremely