I absolutely love finding some Willett distillate, especially when it's incognito. The Old Kirk sample is courtesy of @BarrelProofNerd and the Hirsch pick is a barrel select from Kappy's for the 1940 Barrel Society. I have no clue which I will like better as of yet as I haven't reviewed either of them previously. This should be an exciting match up! Old Kirk Barrel # 6938 Company on Label: A.P. Hotaling & Co Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye and 15% Barley Proof: 130.1° Age: 6 years (9 months) Further identification: This was the Frugal MacDoogal pick; Bottle 156 of 171. Hirsch Selected Whiskeys Pick - Barrel KY-012 Company on Label: A.H. Hirsch (Bottled by Strong Spirits; Distilled in Bardstown, KY) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 135.3° Age: 7 years (9 months) Further identification: Barrel No KY-012, Bottle 145 of 147, Barrel entry 62.5%, aged 7 years 9 months; Batch No on the neck is AHH0821. Old Kirk Barrel # 6938 Review Pre-Sip Nose: Musty and herbal forward on the first nosing. Distinct citrus. Something really funky going on here... I can't quite place it. Sharp clove note nestled deep into a thoroughly rich oak. Dark stone fruit feel trapped in the bottom of this glass - I have a feeling they will come out but this glass hasn't quite opened up just yet. Coming back to it I get the smell of wet woodchips that reminds me of my elementary school playground. My left nostril picks up faint smells of fall leaves, allspice, and tree bark - all of these things are incredibly muted still at this time. My right nostril picks up a lot of oak and something akin to wetland field full of cattail. Malty at times and rather uninviting and underwhelming on the early nose. Spicy pepper now with an aggressive swirl, suddenly quite intense in the ethanol department with only a faint citrus beginning to rise and poke through. Wow, this glass just completely awoke right before I was about to take a sip. Now there is a great leather note, molasses and smoky, dried cherries. There is still something almost like a skunked beer note that is lingering all throughout this glass that is making it hard to smell past it. Blood orange and cardboard now. I think it's time for a sip as this nose is just torturing me! Palate: Immediately an intense medicinal cherry slides across my tongue. It's on the thinner side, but incredibly punchy. Cherry hots burn in a wave through my chest. That big spicy pop is something I normally like on a pour (i.e. Stagg Jr batch 14, older ECBP batches). Here it's mingled with a lot of black pepper, lemon zest, black tea, weathered oak, and clove. Subsequent sips build out the plum and raisin flavors. Later in the glass there's a solid caramel formed with some walnut dryness and malty, thick bread notes. My last sip is cherry forward with a short linger of molasses, pepper and oak. The mouth coating stays with you for quite some time but is mainly oaky in character. Late nose: After a sip a synthetic strawberry and much more oak is apparent. Oh, a lovely transition to a smooth marshmallow now. What an incredibly fickle pour! Lovely sweet perfume scent now with Spring flowers just coming into bloom. There's the slightly sweeter, good-enough-to-drink Pinesol note now finally as well. Coming back to this there's something that reminds me of an arts and crafts bin - maybe it's crayons or paint, but it's there. Such a strange experience through and through with this one. There's definitely not anything really bad going on with this pour, but I do feel like the matchup is what is not letting this pour shine. Before the last sip of this glass things are still quite mellow in the aroma intensity, but there is some faint molasses and vanilla. The empty glass smells of barbecue rub, charcoal, cherry pits, and a compost pile. Rating: 3/5 Hirsch Barrel KY-012 Review Pre-Sip Nose: Incredible creamy marshmallow up front. Syrupy cherry juice. Crème brûlée. Oh my this smells absolutely delicious. Incredibly rich vanilla and toffee forward profile that is unbelievably smooth in the nose. On deeper pulls from my left nostril I find rich cherry, plum and dark chocolate. The right nostril is higher flying butter, caramel and level oak. The creaminess continues to dominate with caramel and that unique Willett Pinesol note I would recognize absolutely anywhere. Chocolate dipped oranges smell delicious here. Mmm, the oak presents quite seasoned here. Like 3 year old split wood ready to go into the cast iron wood stove. There's a bit of ashy lingering smoke in the depths. Always prevalent throughout the glass is that marshmallow and citrus/cherry combination. Palate: My first sip was a large one which was surprisingly manageable. Rich orange peel, vanilla ice cream, a thick coating of caramel and a chocolate drizzle on the linger. Taking a sip of this takes you on a journey; it makes your mind wander and your tongue sing. Lovely depths of dark chocolate, earl gray tea, honey, and lemon. Fuck, that's good. Like really fucking good. Cherry is definitely still one of the dominant flavors on this, with a small chest hug for 135.3 proof. There is a slight nuttiness to the linger, which is incredibly long. Prunes, raisin and a slightly drying blackberry now. The tingly effervescences tingles my gums thoroughly. I love a pour that shimmers like this. It's like when light sparkles off a body of water under a bright moonlight; there's just something magical about it. Nearing the bottom of the glass this continues to have a lovely citrus medley alongside syrupy stone fruit. They balance each other quite well here. The last sip is bittersweet, but this review has taken a ridiculous amount of my time tonight as I have savored and explored both of these pours. Awesome intensity with some zesty stings on both sides of my tongues as the citrus Pinesol note waves over my tongue in incredible intensity. This is one of those shock and awe pours. It has certainly left me amazed and humbled. Honey, tangerine marmalade, a hint of tobacco, and cinnamon are a perfect send off to this pour. Late Nose: Smoky now, with honey sweetness coating the edges of the glass. The Pinesol note has subdued in citrus intensity and started to favor a more savory caramel, pepper and ground cherries. Butterscotch and that beautiful, beautiful marshmallow note returns again. Back to citrus. Kind of a 'bouncy' aroma experience, but it is going between all great notes. Trending towards some more earthy tones now, I'm getting topsoil, sawdust and something like a thick comforter. Kahlua coffee liqueur is very creamy coming back to this from the Old Kirk. Fun aromas through and through that are both comfortable and exciting. The empty glass smells of dry wheat grain, honey, match tips, balsam wood, vanilla and a light ash. Rating: 5/5 Final Ranking: Hirsch KY-012 > Old Kirk Barrel # 6938 by a long shot; this one may make a few more appearances in the future

Time to pass the torch. Tonight we say goodbye to a great @russellsreservebourbon store pick and welcome the next. I went into these pours blinded/randomized for fairness. Will I be able to recognize my old flame? Will the new taste steal the show? Let’s find out! Left Glass Review: Nose: Delicious peanut and cherry forward. I could be smelling a Booker's batch here. Spice cut with a nice marshmallow. Rich syrupy plum and some herbal funk. Sweet confectionery sugar. Chocolate. Perfect puffy campfire marshmallow note in the back. Yum! Palate: Syrupy cherry with a big whiplash of citrus and spice. Cinnamon hots at the back of my mouth. Nice mouth feel of vanilla where some of that peanut profile can shine on the palate without being overpowering. Nice citrus proof rising well again here. A good balance somewhere between peanut and vanilla where everyone just gets along! Right Glass Review: Nose: More mellow than the left glass. Caramel and vanilla perfectly blended. Light dusty earth and oak. Citrusy proof that leaves a light sting in the nostrils. Nice clear raisin coming through. I'm reminded here of the smell of a cotton bed sheet, flapping on the clothes line on a breezy summer day. Caramel ties well to the herbal molasses blend. You never have to dig long for some nice notes here. Slight peanut late in the glass; maybe a wave hello from the left glass. A similar marshmallow says this bottle is ready to be kicked! Palate: Wow, rich citrus bite on the tongue. Beautiful caramel and molasses herbs work over much like the nose. Slightly metallic mouth coating; maybe attributed to a unique mix of citrus and anise. Definitely the easier sipper of the two, but that may be due in some part to oxidation. Final Ranking: Right Glass > Left Glass, but both are fantastic offerings Reveal: Left Glass = Liquor Junction Right Glass = Rapid Liquors Left Glass Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 110° Age: 8 years Further identification: Liquor Junction store pick Barrel 20-0213. Distilled 11/22/11, dumped 04/02/20, bottled 04/29/20 from Warehouse G, Floor 4. Right Glass Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 110° Age: 8 years Further identification: Rapid Liquors store pick Barrel 20-0164. Distilled 09/19/11, dumped 03/31/20, bottled 05/21/20 from Warehouse E, Floor 4.

Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 101

Bottled in Bond Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: 7 years Further identification: Purchased early 2021, this was Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 101 Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10% ) Proof: 90° Age: 10 years Further identification: This is a store pick from Muckey's Liquors in Lakeville

Michter's has two lesser-known legacy brands they continue to put out releases for in Shenk's and Bomberger's Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 108° Age:

The label includes the DSP number (DSP-KY-10), which is Green River Distilling Company , the 10th-oldest Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley Proof:  100

Oloroso Sherry casks Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed malted and un-malted barley Proof: 92° Age: NAS (~10

The goal of the challenge was to have 10 people taste the sample blind and try to identify the brand, A little smoke in this older oak; maybe 10-12 years. : Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 112.86° Age: 5 years (Blend of: 25% 5 year, 30% 10 year, 35% 14 year, and 10% 16 year... which would produce a weighted average of 10.75 years) Further

the distillery team at Stoll & Wolfe, including Erik Wolfe and former legendary Historic Pennsylvania Michter Straight rye whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed, other than the 65% Rosen rye proportion Proof:  106.5

Personally, I tried Weller Antique 107 early on in my whiskey exploration and remember thinking,  had I suppose Weller Antique 107 has honorary runner-up status. Type:  Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof:  107 If you're on the hunt for a bottle, you can buy Weller Antique 107 here .

Currently, Pipe Dream seems to be the only offering available in the 101 reserve expression. Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 73% corn, 19% rye, 5% malted barley, 3% wheat Proof:  101 Indiana, and Kentucky) MSRP: $55.99 (2025) Further Identification:  This is batch one of Redwood Empire's 101 The 101 offers more of Redwood Empire's distillate, but I think the blending process needs a bit of fine-tuning

Yep, Casey Jones is the grandfather, and this 10th Anniversary Founders Blend is in celebration of his To celebrate our 10th anniversary, I’ve crafted a special bottle that blends tradition and innovation The workhorse of his production has largely been a 1000 gallon hybrid pot still, recently expanded upon 50% corn, 50% cane (barrels 200 & 234) and 96% corn, 3% rye, 1% malted barley (barrel 160) Proof:  103.6 ° Age:  5 years Further identification:  This limited-edition 10th Anniversary Blend combines two five-year