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!

You've probably heard of or seen this brand by now. 2XO took the whiskey world by storm first with the Phoenix Blend and now "The Innkeeper's Blend" - an homage to Dixon Dedman's family history in the hospitality industry. I'll admit this one really wasn't on my radar for a while. It wasn't until my good friend Brett told me we were going to be getting on an Instagram Live with Dixon, that I finally pulled the trigger on the $100 bottle. Once I dove in... There was no more doubt in my mind. I've made it through about half my bottle of this now at time of writing. I know I'm pretty late to the party here but wanted to add another data point for you, oh studious whiskey enthusiast. If you're not familiar with Dixon's backstory, let me shine some light under that rock for you. Dixon Dedman is a 41-year-old blender who has quickly established himself as one of the most prolific American whiskey blenders in the industry known for his high-proof, robust Kentucky Owl bourbon and rye blends. He grew up on the whiskey trail infusing the learnings from industry legends with his culinary expertise from running his previously owned James Beard award winning Beaumont Inn. His credentials are unsurpassed among high-end whisky retailers, writers, and collectors. He’s a foodie, a wine connoisseur, runs marathons, and is a sneakerhead who connects with a broad range of drinkers, from millennials to boomers. If you don't think Dixon's reputation precedes him, consider this story from one of my last trips to Louisville: I was sitting down having a few drinks with Mark Carter and as we meandered through stories of time and places... Somehow half the stories either started or ended with Dixon being involved. Both of those fine gentlemen's energies are so contagious and I loved to hear about their friendship through the years. Now let's dive in on the whiskey shall we? I'll try to keep in mind some of my previous experiences as I go to give this a rating, but the tasting notes are all live. Company on Label: Prestige Beverage Group Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of high rye (35%) and low rye (16-18%) bourbon mash bills (min 51% corn); Proof: 104° Age: NAS Further identification: 2XO is a play on the words "two times oak", which is a description on how this blend is finished in a second barrel Nose: Boom. Funky molasses hits with major heft from first inhale. Heavy caramel, creamed corn and waves of barrel funk bombard the senses. This is a bold, oak bomb on the nose and it is not shy about it. Macerated grape skins, plum and heavy char catapult through me. I'm a little hung up on the oak now, so I'm going to jump into a sip to see if we can't get free from this snag. Returning from a sip I find significantly more barrel funk and a blinding brightness that makes my nose tingle. Black pepper, brown sugar and more of the underlying molasses develop nicely after a rest. Woah, suddenly late in the glass I smell a wonderful parallel to the butterscotch notes that I usually find on the Weller wheated bourbon profile. The empty glass smells of steamed corn and seashells. Palate: Mmm. Mascarpone cream and cherry skins jump out at me first. The mouth coating is sweet like the remnants of a sip of an old fashioned. There's a touch of smoke as if someone were smoking a cigar nearby. Another sip layers in raspberry, red velvet cake, and a slightly tannic linger like a good Cabernet Sauvignon will deliver. As the glass weathers on I find things slowly calming towards a creamy buttercream frosting profile. Slowly the whiskey bounces between taste buds and fully commits to a wonderful array of stone fruit and bakery delights. My last sip is loaded with sugary sour patch kids. Yum! TL;DR: Sweet, creamy oak bomb Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This just grows and grows with subsequent sips. It does everything that a Kentucky bourbon should without being too plain. While it didn't really deliver any of my fun kind of "flyer" notes, or elicit any specific memories, it is definitely a solid blend.

Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 90° Age: 12 years Further identification: 2019 release I can smell the sweet candy scents in the glass from across the table. Cherry. Caramel. Notes of sweet earth and a full fresh garden. Orange zest, dust & pepper. Very occasionally a light summer linen note comes around. Palate is very balanced but predominantly apple & cherry. Super silky, creamy mouth feel. I keep coming back to a lingering vanilla char and a fruit medley cake. Incredibly sweet without overpowering the palate. Long, enjoyable mouth coating; medium length sweet candied finish. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.)

You may remember a few other Exceptional Series barrels that have come across my desk... This release is not the same as those Kentucky Straight Malt barrels. A straight bourbon fit for this label clearly has to have had something special in the barrel for Pete and Pablo to have given it this distinction. The qualification for such "rare character" if you will, comes from the brand's mission: To release the most distinguished and highest quality whiskeys we can possibly source. While our Single Barrel Series is focused on customization and creativity, this new series is focused on curation and exceptional craftsmanship. These spirits are truly unique; they’re even older and more scarcely available than the rest of our offerings. Every bottle released through this series is at least 9 years old, and is of exceptionally Rare Character. There you have it, straight from the horse's mouth. I happen to wholeheartedly agree with that distinction, given every exceptional release that I've tried from them thus far has blown me away. There's just always this incredibly high bar of quality that rarely gets reached in today's market of getting massive volumes out the door to meet the huge demand of today's whiskey enthusiasts. Sometimes it's nice to just have your little slice of heaven - even if that's only one bottle from a single barrel. As for why Joel decided to pick this barrel for Life of Luxe, he offered the simple satisfaction that "this barrel took me back to the days before all the hype and craziness of bourbon". I can definitely appreciate that. I've tried this pick now 3 times prior, so I'm ready to give it an honest review based on that triangulation of experiences. Let's jump in. Company on Label: Rare Character Whiskey Co. Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Proof: 122.26° Age: 9 years Further identification: Barrel E-KB-06 was distilled and aged in Kentucky from October 2013 until being bottled in December 2022 when it was selected by Life of Luxe under the label "Edition 1"; it bears art depicting the Hollywood sign, designed by Roxanna Moix Nose: Caramel nougat bars jump out of the glass first for me. It's immediately incredibly wood-forward for a 9 year; I find myself feeling like I'm in a woodshop on deep inhales. Everything from the start here feels deep, dark and rich. Leather notes & a crispy textured vanilla like a crunchy wafer are quite pronounced. Cherry skins burst forth before pausing for a strong wave of barrel funk to pass by. Something in here reminds me of 1980s upholstery fabric... like that thick, coarse couch material that absorbed absolutely everything from its environment. Ultimately I think this parallel is a good thing here, as it tells me that this pour has deep, enjoyable layers. As I snap out of nostalgia land I find myself back amongst layers of milk chocolate and tiramisu. Let's jump into a sip before we get too lost in this glass. Coming back from a sip unleashes new depths of creamy vanilla. Hints of graham cracker and marshmallow give me that classic aroma akin to some of Michter's earliest sourced releases. Deep inhales near the bottom of the glass remind me of muddy boots after a long day out fishing in the rain. The empty glass smells of a wet, verdant forest and elegant crème brûlée cordials. Palate: Mmm. My first sip goes off like a stick of dynamite. Dark cola notes are pervasive in a bubbly, dark mouthfeel. Milk chocolate, molasses and heavy malt tones all bury in the taste buds in delight. Another sip shows off vanilla bean ice cream, cinnamon, graham cracker and a slight earthiness that is building slowly. Overall the sip is quite creamy with soft undulations of something a bit savory too. At every turn there's something that raises an eyebrow. Clay notes like some dusty whiskeys will produce lead me into a long chew producing barbecue sauce, tangy tomato and a dark tobacco that somehow jives completely. Always the sip returns to its strong roots of vanilla and level oak. A long sip and swish as the glass nears empty produces notes of cherry skins, raspberry tart and a creamy cigar. My last sip is a soft farewell of semi-sweet honey and orange cream soda. The finish is long & soft with notes of vanilla glazed scones, buttery pâte à choux, and elderflower liqueur. TL;DR: Infinitely complex vanilla bean // vintage whiskey Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This is just an absolute classic bourbon supremely fitting for National Bourbon Day. This pour was a wonderful collision between nostalgia and elegance. While it doesn't quite have the same head-turning reaction as the malt barrels, it really rewards the patient whiskey enthusiast with a wonderful evolution of enjoyable aromas and flavors from start to finish. I spent the better part of 3 hours with this singular pour, and I'm thoroughly satisfied with the trip I just went on. It sparked so many visceral thoughts and memories and that is the magic of bourbon that has captivated me for years. Not many pours cut through the veil like that, but I'm sure glad for the experiences in which they do. Cheers my friends!

Calumet Farm releases honor historic racing horses as part of their shtick. This particular release is named after Citation, a horse trained by Ben A. Jones and jockeyed by Eddie Arcaro. This horse rose to fame in 1947. Calumet further describes the history of the horse, saying: After a stunning 2-year-old season in 1947, famed trainer Ben Jones knew that their horse was set to have a breakout 3-year old season. In 1948, Citation furthered his campaign toward becoming a legend. He began the season with a handful of wins. Then Eddie Arcaro was tapped to jockey Citation. The first race pairing the two was a disappointing loss at the Chesapeake Trail Stakes. This would be the last race that Citation would lose for nearly two years. Citation would go on to capture the 1948 Triple Crown and be named Horse of the Year. By the end of his 3-year old season, he had a total record of 27 victories and two 2nd place finishes out of 29 starts. Citation would go on winning and be the first major North American horse to amass a 16 race win streak and to top $1 million in career earnings. To honor the legacy of Calumet Farm and its second Triple Crown winning horse, this exquisite bourbon has been crafted with the same passion and dedication that led Citation to victory. Many consumers jump at age statements. This release carries a pretty massive one considering it has 19 barrels that all either meet or exceed 16 years & it certainly has the color to match. I know for a fact that some of the older Barton stuff is incredibly delicious. I've mainly explored single barrels up in this age range, so I inherently worry a bit that blindly blending a rack may not result in something exceptional. Let's jump in and find out. Company on Label: Bottled by Three Springs Bottling Company for Western Spirits (sourced from Barton 1792) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Barley Proof: 106° Age: 16 years Further identification: This release comes from rack number W4005.09 which consisted of a 19 barrel batch Nose: Immediately the nose jumps out with a really funky savory note like sea salt and vinegar chips. Another dive in parts ways with that oddity to reveal classic Barton aromas of leather, white pepper and laffy taffy. Soft caramel presents cool and thin in the nose-feel. The light vinegar note returns later in the glass alongside soft stone fruit. Returning to the nose from a sip elicits a much improved profile of vanilla frosting, softer, more supple leather, and grape skins. As the glass gets low, a funky balance between earthy root vegetables and bakery sweets forms. The empty glass smells of dry graham cracker, tarragon, stiff vinyl (think boat seats), and dentist's nitrile gloves. Palate: On first sip I'm greeted by bright cherry, leather, tobacco and potent oak. As I swallow, I immediately feel as if I've just run my tongue across a wooden cutting board. Tannic barrel influence is quite drying and powerful. Bringing on another sip I find cherry jolly ranchers and red licorice. The linger carries more proof than the label would have you believe. Overall the profile comes across similarly to an old fashioned that went heavy on the Angostura bitters. The orange peel, however, comes across rather dry and stale. My last sip is heavy on the leather, molasses and barrel funk. Ultimately I think the non-versatile oak is the one trick pony here, which ultimately leaves me yearning for more from this pour. The finish is short and uneventful outside of a level chocolate note. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) I certainly did not expect this to drink so simply. Many of the notes presented here were quite thin and flat. The flavors I did like were tamped down to a level that were nearly imperceptible. I think this would make a fine sipper for a day you or your palate might be a little tired and you just want something easy, but I can think of many other pours in this range that I would reach for first.

Jack Daniel's threw us a 700mL bonded whiskey in May of 2022. The world went crazy for it that year apparently, with Whiskey Advocate calling it their "whiskey of the year". I have my doubts about this being the top of any list, but I'll keep an open mind as I go into evaluating my experience with it. I've had this bottle since it first came out last year and this is probably my 4th taste of it. The 700mL distinction was a change that became available to US producers as of 2020, when the TTB added several available bottle sizes - one of which is already standard in most of the world outside of the US. For a brand with such high volume and reach, it makes perfect sense for them to standardize to a single size. The bonded distinction, made recently quite popular by great folks like Bernie Lubbers and Timothy Van Riper, is also an easy marketing improvement for a brand trying to distance themselves from old Jack Daniel's stigma still lingering today. If you're interested in learning more, feel free to check out the press release. Well my dear reader, you are probably here to see if the whiskey is any good... So let's get into that part now. Company on Label: Jack Daniel Distillery Whiskey Type: Tennessee Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: 4 years Further identification: Jack Daniel's Bonded is an ongoing line extension for the Jack Daniel Distillery brand that first came to fruition in 2022; it's relatively accessible in most markets at time of writing Nose: On lifting the glass, seared corn and caramel can be made out without too much trouble. Light vanilla and hints of butterscotch undulate slowly. Candied cherry and slight waves of banana bread come off on deeper inhales. Chocolate, malt and funky molasses come off the surface of the whiskey after returning from a sip. The nose is light and easy with some lovely crème brûlée notes showing up late in the glass. The empty glass smells of wet beach towels by the campfire, black tea, vanilla bean, black licorice, and peach marmalade. Palate: My first sip is grain forward with plenty of classic Jack banana - if I weren't in a review setting, this would probably be my only sip of this before moving on to something else. Venturing back in I find more of that young distillate alongside cherry skins, pressed flower petals and vanilla yogurt. Subsequent sips improve drastically as some of the creamier tones begin to build up on the taste buds. The mouthfeel is on the thinner side, but banana notes do stick around on a medium linger. Raw corn kernels and hints of dry earth persist late in the glass. On my final sip I find more dried fruit coming through with that chalky dry texture similar to how some Dickel releases present, but it doesn't quite show up as bad as some of those Flintstones chewable vitamin flavors. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) I feel like this might drink fine on a really hot day over ice, but as a neat pour from the perspective of the nerdy whiskey enthusiast, this just doesn't land for me. The nose was quite enjoyable, but sipping is paramount to the experience. I really hate to downgrade the brand with this one because I really am such a big JD fan. I've done the full tour at Jack's facility, picked my own barrel with Lexie Phillips, and thoroughly love the team they have working there, but honesty is the best policy. I personally don't understand any of the craze or following on this release. I have struggled to revisit this at all with any level of excitement and this tasting thoroughly solidifies my initial perceptions. Let me know down in the comments what your thoughts are on this one!

Blanton's Black Edition is a Japan export version of the traditional single barrel bourbon from Buffalo Trace bottled at 80 proof. It still comes from warehouse H, but is also noted for having a bit more age to it (8 years rather than the typical 6). I get to offer my thoughts thanks to @ra1nmannn being generous enough to share a sample with me. Let's dive in! Company on Label: Blanton Distilling Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye 12-15%) Proof: 80° Age: 8 years Further identification: This single barrel bourbon will vary slightly depending on your dump date; the one reviewed here is a 9-8-21 dump date from barrel 60 stored on rick 41 Nose: An oily, viscous nose-feel jumps out at me. Sugar cookie leads into cherry skins and raisin. Intoxicating sugary aromas are impenetrable. Perfumed floral aromas build well. Goodness gracious that’s like a pixie stick - tingly sweet. Old-school tight oak leads into light lemon frosting. Palate: My first sip perfectly follows the pixie stick comparison of the nose. Sugary strawberry and watermelon produces a profile I’ve never experienced on a whiskey before. Another sip is oily with light vanilla biscotti, sugar cookie and angel food cake. This is soft, but lovely. I can’t help but find parallels to some fantastic Irish whiskeys in this glass. It’s a little too light to deliver true wow factor, but I’m quite impressed with the flavors it does deliver. Mmm. My last sip is again fruity with raspberry, cherry and plum. It fades off slowly into a silky bed of roses. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I like this a lot - quite a bit more than I was expecting to. It certainly takes a traditional Blanton's profile and manages to ramp it up much more in intensity and depth, despite the low proof. The more oily, malty notes this displays are probably why this gets marketed towards the Japanese market which is in general much closer to the Scotch and Irish whiskey industries.

I've had many experiences with Elijah Craig Toasted barrel since its inception in September of 2020. Historical tastings have usually produced a bit of a coin-flip effect; on any given night with this release, I either love it or it doesn't land at all. What's up with this fickle beast? Are toasted barrel releases more susceptible to oxidation? Are the master blenders for the Elijah Craig brand getting lax in their skills with this one? I may not know the answer to any of these questions, but I do have a decent palate - so I'm going to stick to evaluating the whiskey I've got before me today and I'll try to make an honest assessment of a whiskey that I have stashed in surprising quantities because of how much I liked it from the start in late 2020. This is a fairly recent release as of the time of writing, which I'm hoping will be a little more consistent so you can be a more informed whiskey enthusiast going forward having read this review. Company on Label: Elijah Craig Distillery Co (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 94° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a standard product offering from Heaven Hill that is beginning to achieve wider availability as of 2023 (at least in my Massachusetts market) Nose: Even from a distance an intoxicating sweetness emanates from the glass. Diving in I find Mexican street corn that goes heavy on the crema, faint smoke and overbearing oak. As the glass slowly warms in my hand I begin to find hints of vanilla and black pepper. There are flashes of espresso that can sometimes be gleaned during a sip. As the glass nears empty I find a weird bubblegum note that pops up at times. The empty glass smells of prevalent oak. Palate: At first sip dry cherry skins, white linen, strawberry runts candy, and sugar coated raisins jump out at me. Another sip builds in creamy layers of vanilla and ladyfingers. The linger is short and thin with graham cracker and a tannic dry profile similar to a syrah wine. My last sip is an interesting sweet tart medley that goes down quite easy without any fuss or evolution. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Why is that big marshmallow note that I fell in love with on my first bottle gone forever? I am always chasing it on this release, and more often than not it's missing when I go to explore a glass. They say expectations are the thief of joy. My mourning aside, the overall profile on this pour is a little simple to be considered extraordinary. I think it is a solid regular sipper for those that can find it with relative ease.

Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 101° Age: NAS (~6 years?) Further identification: Purchased early 2021 before the label/bottle change Allspice, cloves and caramel form a perfect base on the nose. Light chocolate, almonds and pepper dance in. Palate is creamy molasses forward with a rich, ripe dark cherry. Anise and warm stewed herbs mix in late. Still very rich caramel and molasses all the way through it. A touch of old linen late in the glass on the nose. Citrus zest is layering in on the impressively long finish. This is the perfect proof point for this. A solid offering I will always have on hand! Rating: 4/5

It's that time again! After a one year hiatus, Michter's 10 year bourbon is back. The reason for the delay? Michter's didn't think they had enough barrels properly aged to warrant the release. Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson commented: Bourbon enthusiasts often tell us how much they love our 10 Year Bourbon for its depth and complexity. While we know our Michter's supporters will be disappointed, just know we are continuing to stay true to our philosophies of who we are as a company and as a brand by always delivering extraordinary whiskey to those who are willing to wait. With the 2023 release, clearly something clicked, as there are finally bottles hitting local liquor store shelves, albeit in very low numbers. I was lucky enough to secure one bottle after trying a sip at a friends house. That one sip was all I needed to know this was going to be something special. I am an analytical engineer at heart though, and as you can see - I've triangulated my thoughts well with several tastings of this prior to sitting down for the review you have before you today. Keep in mind this is a single barrel style release, so your bottle & mileage may vary depending on what's listed on the neck sticker. I have barrel # 23A0043 here, but if you have a different barrel let me know down in the comments if you think it follows suit. The back label of the bottle still carries the statement of "Bottled by Michter's Distillery", which typically means it is sourced from another distillery whether by contract distillation or barrel brokerage deals. This makes sense given the timeline of Michter's reintroduction to distilling in 2015; you can deduce that they wouldn't have anything old enough for this label as of 2023. If you have the wonderfully lucky chance of seeing this available for purchase at MSRP, do not hesitate. This has been a fan favorite release from Michter's since the earliest days when it was rumored to be Stitzel Weller distillate. I'm nearly certain today's release would not be any holdovers from that gone-by era, but I do know that the Michter's team clearly has an eye towards quality with releases of this caliber. Now let's dive into some tasting notes together! Company on Label: Michter's Distillery Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 years (though often claimed to be older) Further identification: Barrel No 23A0043 is listed on the label wrapped around the front of the neck of the bottle Nose: Soft citrus and deep, earthy clay jump out at me right away. This is like a modern day dusty! Vintage linen, old growth wood, and cherry pipe tobacco bursts out of the glass for this low of a proof. Sweet tart, funky cinnamon and plum undulate in the background. As the glass opens up, the whole profile turns toward a delicious buttercream frosting note that’s really sitting nicely in the nose. Freshly squeezed orange juice can be made out on deep inhales. Rich tobacco flashes up at times. This is funky and delightful at every corner; a thorough evolution on the nose, let’s hope the palate follows suit. The dark red berries return late in the glass in high class. The now empty glass smells of dusty oak and marshmallow amidst a camping tent vibe. Palate: On first sip I’m greeted by an array of dried fruit. Plum, raisin and raspberry are pronounced up front before a tingling wave of grapefruit and pomegranate swings through in the thin, gripping mouth coating. Another sip builds in wonderful power as lemon frosting and heavy cream permeate all of my taste buds. Leather layers in interestingly to the medley. A longer sip and swish elicits an audible “mmmh”. I get notes similar to Anderson Club 15 year all throughout this and I am so here for it. As the glass gets low I’m still ooh-ing and ah-ing at every sip; the citrus and clay from the early nose are prevalent in a mouthfeel that comes across like the texture of cheesecake. Just wonderfully made whiskey here through and through. My last sip is an absolute delight highlighting Chantilly cream. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) I'm thoroughly impressed by this one; it's put on one of my favorite flavor profiles I've had in a many months. Early on in my exploration of this bottle I called it a "modern dusty" and I stand by that statement today. It has characteristics that remind me of whiskeys that were on the market in the late 80s and early 90s when lower barrel entry proofs were more common. This may or may not be the case for this release, but it does a damn good job at transporting me back to experiences I've had with some of those old bottlings most won't get the chance to try today.

Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (presumed sourced) Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 Years Further identification: Barrel No 20F1287 Nose: Citrus and smooth - not tannic - wine nose. Herbal hay note. Wow; nose is exceptional. Earthy grass & caramel/marshmallow marriage. As it opens it turns into a candied fruit medley like I sometimes will get out of a Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel. Big anise notes show up late. Palate: Candy sweets! Cinnamon red hots, cherry syrup, and the drying presence of those smarties. Hmmm; molasses and syrupy stewed herbs. Very interesting. Oaky for sure, but balanced with a sweetness that keeps it from becoming drying past the gums. Leaning heavily on the lemongrass freight train, this doesn't evolve as rapidly as the other glass. It takes it's time, weaving a sweet and slow story together that is certainly meant to be savored. The finish is long and slow, building up from molasses and pears into a rye spice crescendo that leaves you looking forward to the next sweet sip. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.)

Today we have a fun one for Amongst the Whiskey - a Japanese malt whisky! While I've primarily reviewed Irish whiskey, bourbon and rye previously, there has been a lot of buzz on malt lately. I have explored a few Japanese whiskies in my past, but none stood out to me as particularly convincing to enjoy on any consistent basis moving forward. I am however always open to new things, and even more eager to have my perceptions changed by new experiences, so I will be going in here with an open mind. This is a relatively new distillery, and from what I've gathered from some of my fine friends on the web, a vision of owner Kimio Yonezawa that's been a long time coming from a family rich in the history of brewing and distilling. If you're interested in learning more about the origin story here, I'd recommend reading this article from nomunication.jp. It's a great read on the history of the brand as well as some of the intricate details I know you whiskey nerds (like me) will love. I'd like to thank Hatozaki Whisky who were kind enough to send this along for a review with no strings attached. Now let's have a taste! Company on Label: Kaikyo Distillery (Akashi Sake Brewery) Whiskey Type: Japanese Blended Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley Proof: 92° Age: 12 years Further identification: This small batch product was primarily aged 12 years in American oak casks before spending 6 months in barrels that previously held Umeshu liqueur, which is produced from small plums called ume Nose: I smell soft grape soda from a distance as I move this glass closer towards me. Oily, bright, decadent plum presents powerfully from below my beard as the glass gets closer to nose height. Diving fully in I begin to find light milk chocolate, sugar cookie and coffee bean aromas. It's viscous and oily in the nose-feel like many well-aged Irish whiskies tend to have. Everything presents delicate, fruity and easy on the nose. A deep inhale builds in just a hint of slightly savory sea salt and olive oil. Returning my nose to the glass from a sip adds in light hints of amaretto, dragonfruit, and pomegranate. Overall this glass continues to be exquisitely delicate and fun to explore. Hints of anise, sweet tarts and bright florals can be found late in the glass. The now empty bulb of my glencairn smells like light charred oak, ambrosia perfume and raisin. Palate: On first sip I'm greeted with fig jam, funky earth and marsala wine - undoubtedly a parallel to the Umeshu liqueur which is unfortunately lost on me due to the lack of personal experience with the spirit. Like the nose, this once again reminds me of Irish whiskey, particularly ones that are sherry finished. I can tell already that I would probably be a fan of ume based on these comparative notes. Another sip shows off more zest now with expressed lemon peel and grapefruit coming through. Chewing a bit elicits a comfortable wave of earthiness amidst a creamy mouth coating of thin caramel sauce. The linger has a touch of sassafras and root beer that I dig. Further sips refine away complexity at this point, but approachability remains high. My last sip tastes of caraway seed, granola and earthy graham cracker. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This is the perfect introduction to the Japanese whisky scene for an Irish whiskey lover to explore; the parallels to some of my favorite whiskeys from Midleton are prevalent all throughout. I am definitely also interested in trying Umeshu liqueur now, because there were a lot of similarities to sherry or madeira that I was finding. Ultimately this was a really fun whisky to sit with and explore; the whole experience is thoroughly interesting and enjoyable if you're good at dissecting low proof whiskies. While this might not be something I venture into regularly still, I'd definitely recommend trying this one for yourself. Between three tastings, I had two very positive experiences and one slightly lackluster tasting. This may not be one for a late night or a 2nd pour of the day, but it truly shines on a fresh palate. Let me know down in the comment section if these tasting notes sound up your alley or not!