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There is still a sweet & spicy brown sugar on the tip of the tongue but its effect is reduced on the

7: 1991 Cragganmore 17 Year Manager's Dram Single Malt Scotch Whisky A unique short and flat-top still (the spirit still) used in second distillation, in addition to the use of sherry casks, is likely responsible Malt Scotch Whisky This is a Speyside distillery, running 6 traditional Speyside pot stills at its location This one stood out well for both tasters as a single malt. Explored here as single malts was nothing short of a divine experience.

aged to perfection in the Hudson Valley, New York" Further identification: Bottled on 7/27/2021; This single Post-sip the oak notes are more prominent, but still faint. There are many of the rye characteristics still poking through: punchy earthy herbs, pepper, and vanilla

Company on Label: Del Bac Whiskey Type: Sonoran Single Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Age: NAS Further identification: Fall 2021 Distiller's Cut is an expression of the classic Sonoran Single

Palate is very light still but a syrupy cherry note melts into a brown sugar and leather base.

Mayor Pingree 5 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Percentages: Undisclosed Valentine Mash Bill Proof: 117.8° Age: 5 years Further identification: This single There's a thick and leathery nose feel that certainly tingles a bit on the way through.

Occasionally the nose still drifts off to a farm somewhere with the mash bill grains showing off. Finish is low & slow, but a creamy presence asserts itself still.

It's Starlight Sunday over here in the Amongst household again! I figured I'd combo that with a shared pour - this sample comes courtesy of my friend Ian (@barrelproofnerd) in a sample swap we did not too long ago. In looking for the barrel details I also discovered that the venerable Frank (@bourbyourenthusiasm) has also reviewed this barrel for Malt! I'm thrilled to be sipping on something that we have both tried and I look forward to comparing notes once I finish up putting down my own thoughts. This will probably be a shorter one for me tonight, but let's get into it! Company on Label: Starlight Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed if it's from Starlight's 3 or 4 grain mash Proof: 114.8° Age: 4 (and a half) years Further identification: This cigar batch is finished in Brazilian Amburana barrels; it is a @bourbonfinds pick that comes from barrel # FB113-1 Nose: Right up front on the nose I find a synthetic vanilla and insanely rich toffee note that comes off the glass like a Falcon 9 at full thrust. The smell of this almost makes me hungry in the same way a really sweet desert can reinvigorate your appetite when you previously thought you were stuffed. There's a rich blackberry jam, dark fig and a very clear & robust mincemeat pie aroma here. It feels incredibly dark, heavy and viscous in the nose. It comes across like tiramisu but cranked up to 11 in intensity with some kind of strange, eclectic cinnamon twist. It's incredibly, incredibly unique, but I can't quite tell if I'm into it just yet. Let's get into a sip. After a sip the nose softens considerably as light notes of those candy dots that come on the strip of paper appear. Lighter wood aromas begin to show up and I'm greeted with more orange tones. Palate: On my first sip I find a very similar story as the nose, but it actually turns out softer here compared to the intensity of the nose which I appreciate in this scenario. Gingerbread cookie, Moroccan oranges, and an ever prevalent mincemeat pie flavor coat the mouth well without being overpowering. There's a significant smokiness hiding out in the linger after waiting a while before another sip. After going for another I find more orange peel, funky mesquite wood, and something synthetic out of the 90s that I just can't quite place. The linger is nice on this being on the lighter side with cooler fruit tones bubbling off the surface of my tongue. Oh wow. I just figured out the synthetic note... It reminds me of camping out on a brand new portable air mattress; it's that new-plastic smell that is incredibly potent, so much so that it transfers to the palate here as well. Nearing the bottom of the glass I am finding that I'm oddly accepting of some of these incredibly strange flavors that seems to be coming together in the end. My last sip is certainly on the spicier side with clove and nutmeg as well as a flash of soft cherry. The finish is drying with a medium linger of plum and rich earth tones. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) Overall, I can definitely appreciate a brand trying something as unique as this. At the same time this feels so different just for the sake of being different and overall I'd definitely say the typical flavors found throughout these Amburana barrel finished releases just might not be for my palate. I know some are crazy for this stuff and by all means I'm not saying this is a bad whiskey with a 2 score here; it just doesn't agree with my flavor interests personally. I will say this pick is significantly better than 1 of the previous Cigar Batch barrels that I've tried... Maybe they just need to be paired with the right cigar to properly unlock the right flavors; who knows! I do know I love Starlight distillate, so this miss won't put me off of them by any means. Cheers!

Left Glass > Right Glass, but they are incredibly close Reveal: Left Glass = 13 Year Right Glass = Single to in terms of quality and will likely not represent the entirety of their line, as is expected with single Russell's 13 comes with a white top label and a blue bottom label; it is NCF stated Russell’s Reserve Single

Barrell Craft Spirits has been doing wonderous and remarkable things. From my most recent experience with Barrell Seagrass, to Dovetail, to the fun batches of bourbon & rye, there hasn't been anything from them that I've been able to turn down a pour of yet. I even won a signed bottle from Joe Beatrice in a blind tasting competition! That said, I go into every pour with a challenging and inquisitive mind. I generally try to disregard label and price once the liquor hits the glass and just evaluate on my reception to the experience. Company on Label: Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 119.54° Age: 7 years Further identification: Distilled in Kentucky, USA is listed on the back of this bottle; Barrel # Z2F4, bottle # 161. This is a store pick from Kappy's in MA for the 1940 Barrel Society called "Kappy Endings". I purchased this bottle in June of 2021 Nose: Wow, lovely spicy cherry; not hot in the sense of pepper spicy... not herbal... but a zesty hot tamale candy cherry. Really nice introduction smell. Caramel funk and citrus tied marvelously to the oak. It has that hallmark Pinesol note I've come to know very well. This has the makings of something that really reminds me of Willett distillate. Lightly dusty but mainly that sweet cinnamon is shining through on the nose pre-sip. Now some herbal chocolate mixes in. A bite of pepper. This has to be fairly high in rye content with what I'm smelling so far. I love it, but it definitely does not nose like a bourbon at the start! Introducing some air on a swirl brings out some light vanilla, white pepper and more of that funky citrus. The pre-sip nose seems to have run it's course, so let's give this a taste. Post sip, some of the intensity of the spice has mellowed which is a nice reprieve for the nostrils. It's more of a cardamom spice now with a slightly burnt oak. Caramelized sugar totally decimates the spice and now there is just a silky base of sweetness. A touch of mint can be found now that the aromas have turned more delicate late in the glass. A bit of dark, bready graham cracker can be found on deep inhales. I have zero complaints about this nose. Empty glass is a bit of floral vanilla and light molasses. Palate: Woah! That cherry explosion! It instantly fades into the cinnamon hot tamale candy profile I was also getting on the nose. The delivery of this is intense on a fresh palate. The linger is ridiculous. Alcohol soaked oak carries the same funky Pinesol-esque citrus forward. Molasses and chocolate are found left on my tongue on an exhale. The citrus feel has transitioned a bit to something that resembles a cooked or poached orange. Spearmint presents late as if the glass just turned over a new page. Some light chamomile tea flavors dance along late in the pour, as some lemon juice and honey drizzle their way into the finish. Some extra dark fruit and brown sugar is incredibly subtle but there. The last sip leaves me yearning for another glass, which is pretty rare for me. The light sting of lemon zest is so enjoyable to me at this proof. Rating: 5/5 This flavor is exactly why I love Willett family estate offerings. I obviously have no way of confirming if this indeed came from Willett, but my palate is about 95% confident it is... and I'm 100% confident that I love this bourbon. Thinking through this a bit more, it is definitely capable of being from Willett, given distillation resumed in 2012 and this is a 7 year age statement; it also shares a similar cask strength proof to some other Willett 7 year offerings I found online near 120°... Now does this mean Willett thought this wasn't good enough to be bottled under their label, or was Kappy's just lucky enough to select a fantastic barrel before it could go into the un-obtain-o-sphere? Thanks to Blake over at Bourbonr for some of the information that led me to this conclusion. I claim no accuracy to the information in this post, this is just my humble opinion on what I am tasting tonight. Let me know if you have tried this and what you think of it. Am I crazy? Definitely possible. Cheers!

Weller Full Proof hitting a Glencairn glass is like music to my ears. This pick is among one of the better picks coming out of MA from 2020. Prior to this bottle, I had finished a bottle of Weller Full Proof from Total Wine which was not a good offering at all. Let's see how this pick tastes! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 114° Age: NAS Further identification: 2020 release from Kappy's - Barrel 294 Appearance is a robust caramel; a tilt or swirl reveals thick, long legs on the glass. Nose: Sweet pepper. Creamy leather. Smooth cinnamon without the typical bite on your nostrils. Cherry and butterscotch. Brown sugar comes in like a dusting sitting atop a strip of oiled leather. Some orange citrus zest is what feels like is keeping the ethanol of the proof at bay and doing it very well. Palate: Super rich caramel & brown sugar. Mouth coating feels akin to experience of real thick maple syrup. Chewy cinnamon balanced perfectly by the cherry note. On heftier sips smooth flames can be felt exiting your nostrils. They are not painful but creamy and flavorful. Finish is an impossibly long mouth coating, but the rising creamy/zesty finish cuts off a little too short, forcing more delicious sips. As the glass opens up longer, so does the finish. Let this one rest. Rating: 5/5

~4 year MGP rye, ~5 year Alberta rye, and ~15 year Light Whiskey Further identification: This is a single