Search Results

Don't you love when something new comes to town? Recently Wilderness Trail started distribution to MA. This was a newer label I had already heard some things about. The rye came recommended out of the line of 4 releases that hit shelves. With the barrel proof label, a sweet mash indication on the side label and a barrel number that suggests the rye inside is 4-5 years old I decided to pull the trigger. Let's see if it's any good! Company on Label: Wilderness Trail Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 33% Corn, 56% Rye, 11% Malted Barley Proof: 106° Age: 4 years Further identification: Barrel No. 16B21U, Bottle 179 of 250; NCF stated Nose: Immediately smells woodsy. Lovely mossy earth draped in creamy caramel. Saw dust. Maple cherry - almost smoked. Damp smelling. Like a verdant forest floor in a dreamy cool summer morning after a rain. Very fleeting chocolate, taken over by a dry bark note. Chocolate is flashy and also tied to something funky. Lemon peel is as light as if it brushed up against a grainy piece of oak that took off a little bit of the skin between the splinters. This nose is both delicious, fun and layered - everything I could ask for out of a rye. Definitely has a bit of sweetness that is great for those that don't do the heavy, punchy spices some other ryes are known for. Post sip there is a bit of baking spice coming through now with nutmeg shining forward first, followed by white pepper, allspice and finally a light cardamom. Maybe I spoke a little too soon about the spices! A bit of candied ginger, raw cinnamon stick and some other concoction that reminds me a bit of pumpkin pie. Dry vanilla starts to overpower the nose late in the glass. A swirl kicks up a dry paper note, followed by a unique rye grain and finally a smooth caramel brittle. Lovely, lovely nose. I could sit and smell this for hours. Empty glass is a smoky oak and raisin. Palate: First sip is intensely citrus sweet forward, with a dark cherry rolling across the tongue and settling right down into a thin maple syrup. Creamy vanilla and lemon intertwine almost magically on the linger. Slightly proofy cherries are the dominant introduction in subsequent sips. Spices are definitely here to stay now on both the palate and the post sip nose. A long swish in the mouth reveals not much else than the flavors already stated. The nose on this one really outclasses the palate in complexity, but I will say the mixture of flavors here are really enjoyable. Some dark raisin present now late in the glass. Very faintly tannic at times. Mainly fruit forward on the palate - definitely highly recommend this for the wine lover or sweet tooth! Rating: 4/5 A really impressive pour that is a highlight reel of a rye nose with a solid delivery on sips. This is one of those cases where I think they bottled this at the perfect time. I am glad to have this one!

Overall the nose presents funky, zesty and bright; it tingles in the sinuses. There's lemon frosting, fluffy whipped cream, tingling vanilla extract, and thick raspberry simple syrup

A rising spice keeps the fire under the caramel burning and it singes and sears the creaminess away as I like it when it isn't singeing my eyebrows off like the first time I opened this bottle!

Mayor Pingree 6 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 121.6° Age: 6 years Further identification: This single

Hints of stone fruit are still on the subsurface. Perhaps a bit of water could unlock them here. Allspice tingles on the tongue while a soft honeysuckle begins to ebb in to push it away. I've admittedly not found too many Elijah Craig barrel proof single barrels that I've liked but this

Excited to see if there are any fun nuances between the two picks while I still have the other fresh

core part of several Johnnie Walker expressions, although official special releases and independent single Company on Label:  Clynelish Distillery Whiskey Type:  Single Malt Scotch Whisky Mash Bill Percentages

Rapid Liquors 2020 Russell's Reserve single barrel stole my heart and managed to compete with an incredible Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Private Barrel Select Bourbon Company on Label: The Wild Turkey Distilling

up faint smells of fall leaves, allspice, and tree bark - all of these things are incredibly muted still There is still something almost like a skunked beer note that is lingering all throughout this glass Before the last sip of this glass things are still quite mellow in the aroma intensity, but there is Taking a sip of this takes you on a journey; it makes your mind wander and your tongue sing. Cherry is definitely still one of the dominant flavors on this, with a small chest hug for 135.3 proof

Yes, bottling cask strength whiskey may seem simple, if the offering is a single barrel, but it can be And Still Austin brought in a powerhouse to elevate their straight rye whiskey into cask strength form Apart from the distillery team (if you haven't checked out Still Austin's story, I cover it briefly  here ), Still Austin is also quite notable for its low-age statements compared to other distilleries Still Austin is quickly becoming the hallmark distillery for such a feat.

I gave away my last 3 Taylor Single Barrels and unfortunately haven't found another since then. I may or may not regret this decision still today. Now let's get into the reviews. Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper (Buffalo Trace / Sazerac) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Taylor Single Barrel Review Nose: Sweet candy nose. Cherry forward with candied apple behind it. Taylor Single Barrel > Four Roses OBSQ Boy, these were quite different releases...

It's time for another Mass Bourbon Alliance pick! Liquor Junction doesn't sleep in the whiskey world and neither do we. Derek and I both got to try a small taste of this and it was an immediate resounding yes. My first impressions were that this is a rum finish done right; the creamy texture one would expect from a rum barrel is applied delicately but deliberately to an already delicious rye whiskey. I brought the rest of the sample away with me to do some proper tasting notes for those that might be on the fence (you're crazy - buy this one)! Old Elk has been producing some incredible whiskeys. I've had the glorious fortune of picking 3 barrels of their wheated bourbon and a barrel of their straight bourbon... Every time I am presented with samples from them it is a really difficult decision to narrow down which is my favorite. The level of consistency (even out of a brand and a master distiller so hellbent on innovation) is incredible. Let's get into this really unique offering! Company on Label: Old Elk Whiskey Type: Finished Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Proof: 100.9° Age: 5 years Further identification: This is an upcoming barrel pick from Mass Bourbon Alliance in collaboration with Liquor Junction (@LJWhiskeyFamily) out of Reading, MA; expect this sometime in the Winter of 2022. It has a 'distilled in Indiana' statement & it comes from barrel 5019. Nose: From a distance I can smell delectable, sugary vanilla frosting wafting off the glass. Raising the glass to my nose I find a bouquet of lovely floral, sweet, traditional rye. It's nuanced with touches of raisin, elderberry, honeysuckle and grapefruit blossom. There's a citrus characteristic that is subdued, but delicious so I find myself digging deep with strong inhales. The nose-feel is incredibly soft, silky, and delicate - though that may have some part to do with the temperature of my whiskey that has acclimated towards something nearing the outside temperature of 57°. A brief swirl of the glass builds out the barrel influence as oak and light caramel begins to enter the mix. Eucalyptus brings just a touch of mint to the experience, though it's layered well with honey, vanilla and crème fraîche. Swirling the glass vigorously produces delicious strawberry and raisin fruit atop a bowl of cereal. Time for a sip! Returning to the glass I find some more tropical-style fruit have begun to bubble up with pineapple and kiwi coming off juicy. Mmm - the nose just settled into a lovely marshmallow sweetness that I adore finding on any glass of whiskey. I've spent a really long time just on the nose here - and rightfully so - but everything has been so deliberately apparent it would seem like this barrel was crafted just for the occasion. I'm swooning a bit here. This is really something special. Another wild swirl of the glass produces fleeting smoky tones alongside a stronger bready note. The nose is so perfectly put together: there's balance, heft and quality all baked into every aroma. The empty glass smells of black forest cake, sweet raspberry, and grenache wine. Palate: My first sip is so creamy upfront; it's like a mouthful of whipped cream! Cherry immediately follows and slides down my chest like a delicious jello shot. The linger is impossibly long on this sip and it sticks around in fruitful, tasty ways. Strawberry, raisin and raspberry jam all meld very well and feels like there is great continuity from the nose. Another sip and swish shows off bright, zest lemon alongside grape skins and peach. Oh wow... the creamy vanilla bean flavor that rips across your tongue on this is worth every penny of the price of admission. The funky sweetness from the rum barrel are finally starting to shine through later in the glass as well - it took some time to build. My last sip is again incredibly creamy with confectioners sugar, light raisin bread, muddled maraschino cherries and a touch of raspberry. The linger continues on in one constant wave that doesn't change in magnitude but emanates in every direction. Overall this is balanced & elegant. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up I think the palate isn't quite as complex and layered as the nosing experience, but wow does it produce an impossibly long linger & impeccably delicious flavors. I'll definitely be looking forward to getting this one on my shelf once it is bottled. Cheers!