Old Rip Van Winkle... AKA "ORVW"... A classic! A dang tater classic! This 10 year wheated bourbon is now being distilled and bottled by Buffalo Trace, not the same distillate that created the original "Pappy craze". Regardless, I typically enjoy this mash bill from them (same as the Weller line). Today I received some good news which means the 'good stuff' is available for pouring. The first bottle that came to mind was this, and as such, I'll be giving it a proper review. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Wheated Mash Bill Proof: 107° Age: 10 years Further identification: This is a 2020 release Nose: Cinnamon, syrupy cherry, candied apple & caramel all immediately present themselves after pouring. Dark oak wafts warmly into the nose from anywhere. Nutmeg and sweet whipped cream paint a wonderful cappuccino portrait. Plum and cherry are now the predominant sweetness. A tiny hint of milk chocolate is hanging around in the back of the glass. Raisin and stewed plums mm give me wicked pie vibes. Is this November in a glass? Dreaming of Fall already. Noses much like Weller Antique does, but definitely has a little more character tonight compared to previous pours. Settling in to a very smooth delivery; the vanilla notes are so perfectly married to the desk oak that floats through. While I'd love to keep funding new notes, this glass seems to have run out of new tricks. I love all the notes I found so far through and can definitely appreciate some of the hype on this one for people who want big flavor with no bite. Palate: Peppery nutmeg & cinnamon pop! Spicy cherry washes all the sharpness of the first sip down. Whipped heavy cream and caramel settle things into a solid base. Creamy mouth feel continues, but is accompanied with the high flying citrus zest tied to the cherry. Hints of the herbal side of things dare to dart out in between waves of varying cherry profiles. The vanilla sticks in the peripherals of the mouth, adding up to the overall flavor experience over time. I love a pour that builds. In previous tastings I may not have let this come into it's true form on it's own. Yum! Rating: 4/5

Four Roses Limited Edition is always an exciting release every year. The creativity in the blends is always interesting & I love to see some of their high aged barrels going to a blend when traditionally they do a lot of single barrel products. What’s your favorite @fourrosesbourbon release? From information gathered from the Four Roses website, a blend of this nature might combine the delicate fruit and rye of OBSV with extra rye & light floral character of OBSQ while layering in baking spice, more fruit and caramel from OESK and OESV. The back of the bottle shows off the master distiller's intention of the blend saying: The Four Bourbons in this beautifully layered Limited Edition release present delicate sweet aromas of ripe berries, light floral notes and hints of rich, warm oak. Bright fruit flavors of plum and orange peel, and delicate spice lead to a finish that is long and smooth with lingering touches of vanilla cream and dark chocolate. Savor every sip. The embossed cluster of four roses on the front of the glass along with the proud shoulders of the bottle shape give this wonderful distinction on the shelf. I waited in an arduously long line in excruciatingly cold weather at Julio's Liquors in MA in order to turn in a hold card for the right to purchase this at a fair cost of around $150 sometime in early 2021. I've been diving back into this frequently now that I have a 2022 release on hand, which I have since reviewed as of March 2023. For now let's dive into some of the deeper specifics of the 2021 release & make sure to keep on scrolling for my tasting notes. Company on Label: Four Roses Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of both the B and E mash bills; if we assume equal parts of each mash bill were used (B being 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley & E being 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley) we would arrive at something like 67.5% Corn, 27.5% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley Proof: 114.2° Age: NAS on the bottle (but it is listed as a blend of 12-16 year bourbons) Further identification: The 2021 limited edition blend consists of 16-year-old Bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 14-year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV; the back of the bottle shows off the bottle number 12,356 of 14,880 Nose: The nose has lovely effervescence right away. Tingling lemon peel, vanilla frosting and cardamom greet me in a delightfully exuberant wave of aroma. Interesting bits of coriander, cumin and brown sugar meet in a funky, old-timey bourbon profile. The barrel influence is certainly present with all those highly aged ingredients; leather and dark oak are brooding yet inviting. After pulling off some of the heft at the start of the rested glass I begin to find more creamy tones. Floral tones begin to creep out of the depths as the more delicate aromas can be dug up. Vanilla orchids meet ponderosa pine in a silky nose-feel. Time for a sip! Returning to the glass after a sip I find a punnet full of fruit. Plum, raisin and blackberry jump out at me. Perfumed florals and a distant chocolatier hard at work give this fantastic depth. This continues to be extremely delicate yet voluptuous and just a fine example of what bourbons in this age range can accomplish. It's like a berries and cream parfait that I'm sure almost anyone could enjoy. I absolutely adore this nose. The empty glass smells of chocolate, raspberry and old leather-bound books. Palate: Well that drinks like silk! My first sip is soft, delicate and inviting like a warm cup of Earl gray tea. A squeeze of lemon sinks in behind it as some of the heft makes itself known. It's simple yet seductive as plum and allspice mix delicately with vanilla buttercream frosting. Another sip is simpler still as soft caramel and oak melt on the center of the tongue. With a swirl of the glass plum pie comes in incredibly bright and bubbly. This glass goes through interesting undulations throughout, never straying anywhere near inbalance or distaste. I find an interesting medley that reminds me of a Choco Taco. My last sip is a perfect balance of creamy citrus & floral funk. Lavender and lemongrass sit long on the linger. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I won't make any exceptions on ranking nose over palate, but if I did have to rate this on just nose alone it would easily be a 5 for me. Everything is so expertly layered on this blend. The palate unfortunately just fell a little short in my book, though it is certainly an incredibly easy sipper. I know a whole slew of drinkers who would prefer this over many other rare barrel proof whiskeys just due to its approachability. This is a release that a lot of folks might not try or even get to see. If you do get the chance - I hope this review is helpful to you!

Four Roses is back at it again with another bold age-statement of 14-20 year bourbons from 4 different mash bills. This blend runs 'E' heavy on the mash bill for those who prefer the lower rye content. You can see the recipes used below, and if you have trouble deciphering the code words shown you can use this chart from Four Roses here. The 2021 edition of this release had an exceptional nose and a delicious palate, but ultimately fell short of my top mark: the illustrious 5/5. With the age creeping higher on this release, and more of the E mash bill taking center stage, this one might have the opportunity to soar to new heights. We won't know until we try it though will we? I have tasted this twice now before today as I also managed to score one of my good friends a bottle, which we shared together. My prior experiences have both been fairly amazing, though that can often happen in more of a social setting where expectations tend to manifest into reality. Regardless of the outcome of today's review, I'm always grateful for memorable experiences sharing whiskey in good company, and Four Roses often elevates those kinds of experiences. Now let's switch into analytical mode and pick apart this glass. Strap in; this is going to be a fun one for sure. Company on Label: Four Roses Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of both the B and E mash bills; B being 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley & E being 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Proof: 109° Age: NAS on the bottle (but it is listed as a blend of 14-20 year bourbons) Further identification: The 2022 limited edition blend consists of 20 year old OBSV, 15 year old OESK, 14 year old OESF, and 14 year old OESV bourbon; I am enjoying bottle 3,952/15,600 Nose: Lifting the glass to my nose I find funky molasses, butterscotch and praline. Another whiff wafts out heavy bread and dark, damp lumberyard aromas. It's immediately apparent that this has some serious age to it as potent oak tingles in the nose and chest. Allspice, soft black pepper cooled by vanilla frosting, and Adventurefuls Girl Scout cookies deepen the complexity of the aromatic experience. Flashes of well oiled leather, bright metal and general cleanliness remind me of a car showroom here. Overall the nose presents like a dulled down ultra-aged armagnac finished bourbon. There are hints of dark chocolate and linen. Ah, wow! Suddenly on a long inhale sweet plum begins to shine through. What a lovely transition that was. Cardamom, lavender and bright, earthy moss create a pleasant aura of an early Spring. The excitement fades as the glass returns to a simple wood forward array. Let's jump into a sip from here. Returning from a sip there is a glorious unleashing of sweet aromas that were hidden previously. Honeysuckle dominates now as the delicate sweetness of a strawberry purée slides like silk into the nose. Where this glass was soft and funky to begin with it is now bold & proudly producing beautiful fruit and floral tones only slightly jarred by a hint of cinnamon. On the empty glass I find notes of smoked chocolate bread pudding, raspberry scones, and a hint of crème brûlée. Palate: Mmm, where the beginning of the nose was lacking in fruit, the palate does not miss. Strawberry, cherry and raisin sit lazily on the tongue. There's incredible approachability here with zero evidence of any of the 109 proof points amid the sweet fruit parfait. Prune and plum can be found in the delicate linger, softened by a chewy vanilla cookie. The first sip emanates elegance like an exquisite bakery delight. Another sip offers more promising flavors: the strawberry punch is present again, followed by orange blossom, rhum agricole sweetness, and delicious lychee. There is a faint hint of coconut shavings sitting in the long linger noticeable during an exhale. Color me impressed thus far; these are some of the most delicious flavors I've had on a whiskey in a long time. A larger sip and swish poses the possibility of a sharp spice punch which instead fizzles out into a soft citrus zest. Flashes of creamy tea can be found between the more prominent fruit notes. Nerds rope is a fun surprise later in the glass as candied cherry and raspberry come together. As we work towards the bottom of my pour, I begin to find myself yearning to slow down even slower than my typical snail's pace and savor every drop of this. The cherry note is so crystal clear and delicious; I can feel myself biting through the skin, a juicy pop of sweetness hitting my tongue, and the pit being captured between my teeth in order to not get swallowed up with rest of the succulent fruit. It's just perfect. My last sip is indulgent and bittersweet. I find chocolate covered raisins, maraschino cherry, angostura bitters and black forest cake. The linger is impossibly long with strawberry sherbet, Earl gray tea, and expressed orange peel. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This is an incredible whiskey I am not soon to forget. Brent Elliott and the Four Roses team hit an absolute home run with this blend in my opinion. Comparing it head to head with the 2021 release, I definitely prefer the 2022 release personally. This years blend managed to take what was an already amazing whiskey and crank up the volume without getting too messy. Both batches have exceptional qualities that whiskey enthusiasts near and far can enjoy. I know I am going to be going back for more of this soon. Let me know if you agree with the 2021 vs 2022 comparisons down in the comments. Cheers!

If you don't already know about Parker's Heritage Collection, it's likely attributable mostly to its rarity. Very few bottles get released annually as we crest Heaven Hill's 16th year of honoring their late master distiller Parker Beam. Parker was taken from the Heaven Hill team after 56 years of service, ultimately succumbing to a 7 year battle with ALS. As such, in tribute of the incredible contributions he made to the distillery, a portion of every Parker's Heritage Collection bottle sold now goes to ALS research and patient care. For a little more backstory on this legacy, Heaven Hill's website states: Each year as part of the Parker's Heritage Collection, we select a special whiskey to be released in the name of our late Master Distiller Parker Beam. The barrels selected for this series include Bourbon, Rye, and Wheat Whiskeys, among others, and are some of the finest and most diverse American Whiskeys ever produced. They are a fitting tribute to the expertise of Parker Beam. In addition, the back of the bottle lists some extra information about this specific release, stating: The 16th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection consists of 67% 13-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that has been double barreled and then blended post aging with 33% 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The 13-year-old Bourbon was aged on floors 5 - 7 of Rickhouse Q and was then re-barreled in new American white oak barrels with a level 3 char for 4 weeks. Then, it was blended with 15-year-old Bourbon aged on floors 2 and 5 of Rickhouse II. The double barreling of the 13-year-old Bourbon helped to bring out even more oak and spice notes from the barrel, while later blending it with older Bourbon helped to create a unique, bold and balanced flavor profile. At bottling, the liquid was uncut and non-chill filtered to preserve the complex flavors of this truly unique Bourbon. With the previous releases of the Heavy Char 10 year bourbon and the wheat whiskey under my belt, I'm excited for what I'm expecting will be another rollercoaster ride of flavors. So before we lose you, patient reader, let's get into the review. Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 132.2° Age: 13 years (though it lists a breakdown of 67% 13 year and 33% 15 year bourbons in the blend) Further identification: The PHC 16th edition released in the Fall of 2022 Nose: Bountiful barrel funk emanates powerfully from the glass upon lifting it to my nose. Caramel, molasses, worn leather and aromas of a well-stocked woodshed rush into the airways at full steam. Soft hints of peanut brittle can be found behind subtle vanilla cupcake. Every evolution of oak can be perceived here from leaf to bark to grain to earth. The extra oak from the secondary barrel isn't too overbearing (though definitely present) given the average age is something around 13.66 years. Sugar cookie and buttery fried breading can be found later in the resting glass. Thus far solid, but unexceptional to my nose before jumping into a sip. Let's do that now! Returning to the nose I find the barrel funk has returned but with a lot of great company. Confectioners sugar, vanilla, browned toasted marshmallow and exceptionally sweet cherry skins. This has all the hallmarks of well-aged bourbon as leather seeps into my nostrils on a long inhale. A softness creeps into the glass as the remaining volume draws low; thick butterscotch sauce trails off before materializing too clearly. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, smoke, leather, old linens, and a hint of sweet licorice. Palate: This certainly doesn't try to hide the fact it is sitting up at 132.2 proof. Cask strength lovers are in for a rich wave of dark fruit and spice like a well made mulled wine on first sip. Raspberry, plum, clove and allspice meet in a pretty lovely concoction. The mouthfeel is thick and jammy which leaves a sticky, long, tart-sweet linger sitting heavy on the tongue. Another sip is again fruit forward with cherry skins, tannic red grape and fig undulating softly. A sharper spice swings in after the fruit and tingles the tongue with a shimmer of tarragon, cardamom and nutmeg. A touch of salted cashew gives an interesting complexity that undulates between a thick, oily mouthfeel and the shock of a sprinkle of salinity. There are great meanderings between bakery sweets and the fruit concoctions all throughout this glass. A larger sip and swish certainly turns up the heat to a point where this would likely not be approachable to all, but it should be well in hand for an experienced whiskey drinker. Triangulating between the three pillars of this pour I taste through the backbone of this pour: solid, funky oak, typical Heaven Hill vanilla and the mulled wine fruit notes all culminate in a very tasty dram. My last sip has the big wave of raspberry again, nuanced slightly with blackberry and fig. It's big, bold and delicious. The linger is dark and moody with plum pudding, sticky honey and slightly savory baking spices. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) As always, honesty is the best policy. While this is an exceptionally delicious whiskey - it doesn't have the wow factor to earn my top mark. I am still incredibly glad that I won the rights to purchase this one at this years Rapid Liquor whiskey raffle & will be savoring (and sharing) every bit of this bottle. Have you tried this one? Let me know what you think of it in the comments.

I have actually already reviewed this previously; I forgot that, and reviewed it again anyway! Funny enough - I reviewed it for the same reason I did last time... I had it open for preparing a sample! I've shared more of this bottle than I've enjoyed it myself. It seems to be one people ask for a lot when they see it on my shelf. I'm grateful to have one to share, but try to reach for it sparingly to keep that opportunity alive. Let's see if my thoughts have changed much with a little air time on this? Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 120° Age: 10 years Further identification: 2020 raffle win Nose: Malt & chocolate. Dusty Heaven Hill vanilla forward. Light clove and anise. Vaguely reminds me of a smoother Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye, oddly. Baking spices flourish throughout this glass. Slightly dry & metallic. Definitely that unique Heaven Hill vanilla is the dominant note early in the glass. After a bit of jostling and a swirl some faint stone fruit come out to play. Some great nuttiness to this too; roasted peanuts with a bit of salt. Olive oil & touches of parsley. Lovely complexity here. 120 proof is a bit of a nose scorcher if you get too close. A continued dry yet creamy vanilla continues to be the predominant smell. Wow, fine cut saw dust now. This thing just keeps evolving... Some caramelized sugar now alongside a bright white paper note. The empty glass smells of wet pavement, axe-split red oak, and a medley of baking spice. Palate: Syrupy mouthfeel with an immediate flavor bomb that explodes across the tongue. Cinnamon hots, heavy oak, pepper and peanut shells are at the forefront of my first sip. That definitely came off quite intense, so be ready for this pour! Thick, unbelievably rich mouth feel. Plum, apricot, dusty oak and vanilla are a bombardment of flavors that starts syrupy that then fades into a long, drying finish. I'm kind of amazed at how nutty this is remaining throughout. The nose has evolved drastically but the palate has stayed mainly on the same course. Hints of mint are trying to claw out from the back end of the glass, while a grapefruit citrus bubbles across my tongue. This is one of those pours that 'breathes' with you a bit, which I love. A lovely mellow popcorn shell and buttery pecans are a nice surprise near the bottom of the glass. I fear I am entering the phase I usually end up on this pour - it turns most incredible right at the end of the glass. Ohhh yes, lovely plum sweetness with a strong vanilla backbone has returned. It's now incredibly robust without being too hot. My last sip was swishes and savored long with pie crust, walnuts, cherry hots rising late, and then long lingers of toasted oak, vanilla dust and peanut brittle. Delicious finish! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Actually, very close to some of the notes from the previous review... I think I enjoyed it a bit more tonight than my last review, but not enough to move the score. I still wholeheartedly agree that the nose far surpasses the palate on this one.

The legendary release from Michter's Distillery is back for 2022! We have to admit that rarity sometimes catches a lot of attention. The 2022 release of Michter's 20 year epitomizes that phenomenon with only 592 bottles available for the world. Quality, in my opinion, should always be judged by what is in the bottle, but ultimately packaging can have an effect on your overall experience. I have a portion of that removed presently for this review given I am pouring out of a sample jar (which does not seem to have tainted the whiskey in any way). Regardless I'll do my best to be honest based on what I taste. I normally like to try something 2-3 times before I offer my thoughts to you, oh wonderful reader, but that won't be possible on this one. I hope you understand... As for how I came by this epic opportunity to taste a ridiculously rare release, my good friend Jordan managed to score one of those bottles and without batting an eye, graciously shared a sample with me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to dive into this one with no strings attached & the warm and fuzzies of a wonderful whiskey community that truly makes me feel like I stand on the shoulders of giants at times. Michter's describes their process for finding barrels fit for this release, saying: While we regularly sample all our Michter’s barrels to see how our whiskey is aging, we pay even extra special attention to our barrels once they are over 17 years old. At Michter’s we consider 17 to 20 years the “Fork In The Road Point” when certain barrels of whiskey can achieve an extraordinary level of quality. It is these particular barrels that our Master Distiller Dan McKee personally selects for our very limited bottling of Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Now let's see how it tastes. Is the juice worth the $1,200 squeeze? I'll leave that for you to decide, but hopefully these tasting notes help you in that regard. Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 114.2° Age: 20 years (minimum, but Michter's has been known to use older stocks than what's on the label) Further identification: Batch No 22H2517, Bottle 237 of 592 Nose: Rich & inviting from a distance. Lemon forward citrus tones & white lily are both delicate on initially inhaling the air sitting undisturbed in my glencairn. There's a beautiful brightness to the nose here like some vintage pre fire Heaven Hill releases have demonstrated to me. It has that light clay characteristic that screams low barrel entry proof. Cardamom, allspice and creamy vanilla takes me on a sudden ride. Let's have a sip! Coming back I find funky evergreen sap, cedar, old spice aftershave and a trove of leather clippings. This is such an interesting medley of aromas you just don't find on high volume whiskey production today & not a profile I think I'll ever see replicated again. Nearing the bottom of the glass star fruit and anise begin to bubble up out of the depths of the glass. Old newspapers crumpled up for lighting the cast iron wood stove settle things down. Deep inhales now produce bountiful charred wood like the end of a spent match. The empty glass smells of white linens on a Summers clothesline & strong, fresh tea steaming up into my nostrils. Wow. Palate: Buttercream frosting and lemon cake jump out at me first. Boozy amaretto and hot chocolate follow, a staple Winter warmer in the Amongst household. Another sip ratchets up the surprisingly subtle oak and spice, bringing in cherry skins, pomegranate and peach preserves. A larger sip and swish produces a nice array of black pepper, pie crust, plum and fig. The linger is fleeting but it does roll in a big Indiana Jones boulder from the tip of the tongue down through the chest with great weight and volume. My last sip is a delicate one as subtle notes of lemon peel, black tea, curry powder and vanilla extract undulate into the annals of my memory. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Just exceptional whiskey. A delicate yet powerfully moving blend that I'm not soon to forget. Now I just wish I could get my hands on a bottle! Cheers folks.

New England Barrel Company continues their world tour in 2023! What started as me meeting up with James Saunders at some of the first stores to get single barrel picks (Redstone Liquors and Gordon's) has quickly snowballed into a company with some serious fans. I've had the great pleasure of selecting two barrels myself for Mass Bourbon Alliance, but the magic really lies in generating blends that can satisfy a seemingly insatiable demand for good bourbon that exists today. Enter small batch select. Blending a few barrels to be able to achieve a cohesive final product is actually much harder than it sounds. Talented tasters will have a field day experimenting in this space, but not everyone really has a knack for it. There are fantastic examples of good blenders out there, but many more examples of blends that just don't quite land. Today's review features one of the more recent installments of the blending prowess of James. Now let's dive right in to the whiskey itself. Company on Label: New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley Proof: 118.36° Age: 4 years Further identification: Batch 2021-04 comes with a distilled in Kentucky statement which means it was distilled by Green River Nose: Funky caramel and molasses jump out of the glass upon first lifting it to the nose. Bright sugary tones provide a layer of effervescence in the nose-feel. Crème brûlée and distinct lemon peel layer in over a subtle tea backbone. I love what's going on here so far. Deepening my dive I find my left nostril finding more of those citrus tones as orange zest and light grapefruit join the hot toddy medley. My right nostril harbors most of the spice where cinnamon and sweet bread meet powerfully. Let's jump into a sip. Returning from a sip I find a volume of funky oak that would easily fool me if I were to try to guess the age on this blind. Much of the same classic caramel and vanilla can be found unevolved here. Consistency can certainly be key for some, but I find this a little unexciting on the nose personally. Late in the glass some great barrel funk returns, nearly touching upon some of the same characteristics that dusty releases quadruple this age statement would elicit. Hints of leather and linen can be found between the creamy vanilla that has settled back into the glass. My now empty glencairn smells of leather, mahogany and a tropical beach. There's a fresh pot of coffee not far away. Palate: Right away things feel turned up to 11 on the flavor knob. Lemon scone and raspberry tart punch forth before a buttery dinner roll calms the riotous show down. Another sip allows me to dissect much further as coffee bean meets plum and fig in an interesting shimmering standoff of flavors a bit at odds with each other. The linger sits heavy but short in a creamy wave of buttercream frosting, vanilla bean ice cream and pot-still sugar cookie. Fans of Irish whiskey will be right at home with this profile, and there's plenty of corn sweetness to appease the bourbon drinkers as well. This flavor profile is altogether quite unique to this distillate. It's chocolate forward in a way that borders hot espresso, but it ultimately lands closer to tiramisu without as much creaminess. Raspberry skins and amaretto build well late in the glass. The prevalent flavor I can't seem to shake now continues to be that coffee bean from earlier. I wish the glass maintained the lemon forward characteristics it started with, but I'm ultimately still not disappointed in this bottle. My last sip is much of the same with decent cherry heft up front, followed by a wave of caramel & cream, and ultimately finishing in the realm of Irish coffee served on ice. It's a fun profile that I think bucks the norm of modern whiskey, giving a subtle and tasty nod back to distilling days gone by. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Adding a little water to another ounce post-review has unlocked significantly more wood tones on the nose and amplified the caramel and cream flavors. The linger has extended and is now filled with jammy fruit notes. James knows best in this space - it's always fun to experiment with whiskey. These blends are testament to that innovative spirit and I think New England Barrel Company has pulled off some pretty impressive blends with an eclectic array of inputs. If you ever see batch 21-03 just buy it and thank me later. 2021-04 is also a strong hit for the lineup, but not my personal favorite of them all. Hope this review helped. Cheers!

New England Barrel Company is an awesome new start up out of New England who are taking a new spin on sourcing great whiskey. I was excited to see a new local label on the shelf. The lighthouse definitely caught my eye as something new. I have previously tasted my way through their 21-02 batch which I jumped a little too hastily into reviewing early on. The bottle ended up being pretty great and I crushed it with a few family members out on a trip. I have since found the 21-01 label and thought I'd give this one another fair shake. Let's see how this tastes! Company on Label: New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley Proof: 117.4° Age: 3.25 years Further identification: From conversations with the founder, James, he informed me this batch (21-01) is sourced from Green River Distilling, formerly the OZ Tyler Distillery out of Owensboro, KY Nose: Floral caramel candy. Nice chocolate rye spice. Wax paper with a light black pepper sprinkled over it. Rye grain nestled well into a savory oak. Dark cherry skin presents very light and needs to be pulled out quickly and aggressively. Light allspice. Impressive almost murky layers to this. Almost as though I am smelling through a thick fog. The air in the glass feels heavy and rich. Meaty funk like pulled pork; occasionally kicked into another gear by lemon and an earthy grass. The meaty notes are so pronounced here... This is really fun/interesting. Such a clear, unique chocolate and pepper combination too. Great pre-sip nose. Post sip nose turned a bit creamier, and with it came some metallic notes. It feels like I'm over a vat or by a still with this nose; like I'm part of the creation of this somehow. Creamy vanilla is now translating into more sweetness which is nice. Eventually there is enough sweetness where it starts smelling more like a marshmallow late in the glass. Deep inhales characterize the overall feel of this glass to be very caramel and spice forward. Some light molasses funk and a tad bit of nuttiness like a pistachio. Later this turns more into a standard peanut smell. Empty glass shows off a light milk chocolate. Good layers all the way through. Palate: Whew! Big spice tingle to start, followed by the creamy caramel and vanilla. The cherry skin from the nose has popped and it is so syrupy with some cinnamon hots running through the cracks in the cherry. Definitely some cooking herbals starting to stew in the bottom of an oily pan. A spicy rise exudes a good amount of proof on the back end of the flavor. Things have mellowed into more sweetness now with a salty raisin note and smoky, charred oak. When I say smoky it's not like a heavy fire smoke, but like if someone were smoking a vanilla tobacco out of a pipe the next room over kind of feel. Cherry is turning quite hot near the end, but it has a great syrupy texture to it that is really yummy. The finish is really the only place the oak shows up on this one. The texture and taste of the oak note on the finish is the only place I had any evidence of this being under 4 years. I think it definitely drinks above it's age, at least to the 4 year mark, which is usually very hard to do against my palate. Last sip of the glass is enjoyable and warming, with a dark cherry hug goodbye. Rating: 4/5 Color me impressed on this one! I think this definitely tasted better than the 21-02 batch I tried, but for 3.25 years, which would normally almost always be a turn away point for me (or so I thought), this bourbon does great things. It just goes to show that there really no hard and fast rules in the world of whiskey. If you were on the fence about this one and like spicier bourbons: give this a shot!

Karthik Sudhir at Phenomenal Spirits is back at it again! The RY3 project has been a hit across the world with rum cask finishes, toasted barrels, and now madeira cask finishes all spreading to whiskey enthusiasts fortunate enough to try the brand. The one constant across these 3 releases is the base blend. The Ry3 title is a reference to the clever combination of 3 base whiskeys: Indiana rye, Alberta rye, and light whiskey. The madeira cask that was offered to Spirit Animal Society and Liquor Junction is probably the most light whiskey forward blend I've tasted to date. As part of this pick we were offered 3 different options. The picking team chose incredibly well; big thank you to the Spirit Animal picking team that was selected to help me make this choice: @barrettimbibes @bourbonman81 @fatheatklein @_LostNemo_ @luckytimmy13 @suburban_ontherocks @whiskey_thief_dude and @witwhiskeyandworkouts We asked for some extra aging on this cask after we had selected it and our wish was granted. The end result is a whiskey that I think evolved even further beyond the exceptional finish we tasted at time of sampling. Now let's get into how it tastes today! Company on Label: Phenomenal Spirits Whiskey Type: 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: Undisclosed proportions of ~4 year MGP rye, ~5 year Alberta rye, and ~15 year Light Whiskey Further identification: This is a single barrel pick that Liquor Junction picked up in collaboration with Spirit Animal Society Nose: Beautiful funk up front mixed with just the right amount of sweetness to be both intriguing and enticing. Deep inhales produce notes of honeysuckle, Spring flowers and succulent peach. Stewed apricots, plum, fig and toffee culminate in an exceptionally layered dessert for the nose. Aromas of crêpes flambé, roasted walnut and a new layer of funk that reminds me of a well-aged armagnac continue to evolve. Let's jump into a sip. Coming back from a sip I've found the profile to have been maintained well, but now with more volume. This thing is cranked up to 11 in the aroma volume department. It fits the "MAD RY3" tasting team's craziness well. More stewed fruits continue to build up alongside the prevalent oak. Hints of leather, black pepper and salted caramel provide exceptional complexity for the more experienced whiskey drinker. To me this noses mostly like a light whiskey and almost nothing like your typical rye. What an exceptional blend. Interestingly, late in the glass almost all of the funk that was present in the glass earlier subsides, and I'm left with a return to the lovely soft profile of a honey-laden tea being enjoyed in the early morning sun of a late Spring day. To shorten that prose - it's beautiful. Hints of salinity can be found near the bottom of the glass. Deep inhales elicit the smells of vanilla frosting emanating from a Parisian Patisserie. A real macaron can nearly be plucked from the glass. From the empty glass I find notes of savory pub grub (think ketchup / barbecue sauce, but fleeting) and plum skins. Just unreal through and through. Palate: Oooh - a punchy, flavorful wave hits first with none of the burn you might expect to come along with it. In that wave I find deep tones of orange peel, peach jelly and crème brûlée. The mouthfeel is syrupy without being cloying; mostly reminiscent of a well made grape jam or a raspberry parfait. I'm torn between leaning towards the jam on toast profile or the creamy yogurt mixed with fruit idea. Both seem to be open to interpretation here as you dig through this delicious dram. Another sip produces more strawberry and cherry tones more typical of a great bourbon profile - I think this will appeal well to all sorts of drinkers. It's just delicious. Honey nut bars can be found in the simmering, easy linger. This drinks so, so far below it's proof, yet never lacks in the flavor department. Wow, as the glass gets lower the red grape flavors begin to amplify and I begin to grow happier (I swear I poured a normal volume for this review). These sweet flavors are again balanced perfectly by a subtle walnut, fig and toasted almonds. Wow; every sip seems to build in intensity as blackberry, plum and cacao start to envelop the taste buds. Nearly imperceptible layers of a well-made cup of coffee usher me towards another sip. I haven't had something this flavorful and head turning in a long, long time. Late in the glass the raspberry, plum and fig tones come back strong. The overall feel of the glass is that of a well crafted fruit dessert. It's comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable and one of the most balanced cask strength whiskeys I can think of. My last sip is thoroughly delicious with a repeat of the raspberry and plum flavors, but this time we get an exciting addition of sugar cookie and kouign amann. The linger is long with tart fruit hanging out at the back of the tongue as light citrus tones and creamy tea rise out from the chest. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up If this review was a little too wordy for you, don't fret. This section is for you: this is the best RY3 release I've had to date. While I am going to stick to my policy of not rating anything that I personally had a hand in selecting, I can tell you that I'm being as honest as I can be when I say this is one of my new favorite whiskeys for this year. I'd put this in line with some really exceptional releases I've also reviewed such as Elijah Craig C922, Redbreast PX edition, and Starlight PX Sherry finish. Get over to Liquor Junction and grab one of these as soon as you can.

Black Brier is one of the newest additions to a growing product line from Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. The brand has a long and fun history that I definitely suggest you explore. I got into their whiskeys early on and learned that the company certainly knows whiskey; sourcing and blending some of my favorite releases to date. Charlie can probably tell you the story in the most fun way, but Andy is a great wealth of whiskey knowledge too. If you missed the Spirit Animal Society live interview with Charlie, you're certainly missing out! Photo: Whiskey University To sum up their incredible story in too few words to do it justice, the aforementioned brothers resurrected their great-great-great grandfather's family distillery that originated in 1860. They're now making, blending and bottling whiskey that they believe honors their family's distilling legacy - a legacy you can continue to read about over on their website. It's well worth your time. Now back to the release! Given the few clues we have from the bottle labeling, I think we can assume this is a blend of some of their older remaining sourced stock as well as their own bourbon. The front label reads "a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys" and the back label reads "Bottled by Nelson's Green Brier Distillery". Without a 'distilled in' statement, we'll perhaps never know - so do with this little information what you will. I already know and love stout finished bourbons as a category, so this release is going to have a pretty high bar to clear for me. As I sit with this glass in front of me, I'm growing impatient to re-experience this... So let's get on with the review! Company on Label: Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed bourbon mash bill Proof: 109.8° Age: NAS Further identification: This Nashville distillery only release debuted in early 2023 at the Nelson's Green Brier Distillery gift shop; according to Charlie - the finishing barrel held a Blackstone Brewery Imperial Stout for about a year before getting dumped and then the bourbon blend spent another 11 months aging in that beer-soaked barrel before bottling; I have bottle 1851, so this seems to have been quite the blending undertaking Nose: Upon lifting the glass to my nose I find a comforting array of dark chocolate, cinnamon toasted oats and walnut bread. It's soft and inviting in the creamy nose-feel highlighted by bananas foster. Nutmeg and cashew sit in the undisturbed pool of liquid honey. As a stout lover, the influence is light here for such a long finish, but certainly present. Cacao nibs and syrupy vanilla come across almost like a root beer float with a big scoop of ice cream. A swirl of the glass reveals a well aged bourbon set aside for long enough to be noticeably oak-forward before deep inhales produce the lovely cherry tones I adore. Darker hints of raspberries begin to form in the glass before unveiling brighter tones again. Lemongrass and orange peel are nice additions to a complex array of aromas. Let's jump in to a sip from here. Returning from a sip I find a really unique caramel mixture that leans more towards a smoky butterscotch - if that's a thing. Overall the nose is bright with caramel, nougat and linen tones. Deep inhales produce soft notes of black pepper amid confectioners sugar. There's plenty of barrel funk for lovers of that style of whiskey. Rich oiled mahogany and hints of tobacco can be found near the bottom of the glass as the senses hone in on the experience presented. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, cherry skins and raspberry tea. Palate: On first sipping this I'm greeted with a delicious blackberry peach cobbler profile. The background notes are distinctly fruit forward - not buried by a huge wave of beer influence - which is what I loved about the previous iteration of their stout finished bourbon, Black Belle. Another sip amplifies the chocolate tones as mousse, tart raspberry and grape soda culminate in a fun, funky fresh flavor profile. Orange sherbet meets Irish coffee. Plum meets bark. Pecan meets fig. Everything about this is really interesting to explore, but the delivery is a touch messy in the way that it flip-flops. It still works pretty well here with enjoyable flavors all throughout. The highlight for me is how well the raspberry and the chocolate tones work together. As I sit pondering the feeling I get after the medium linger fades, I find that I love this glass, but I'm not in love with it. Black forest cake sits beautifully in the linger as waves of flavor continue to permeate from the exhaled air post-sip. The chest rise is elegant at this proof. My last sip has that wonderful effervescence that Black Belle did with sweet plum and cherry leading the way before a crème-filled chocolate imparts decadence on the tongue. The linger is long now with tootsie roll sweetness, sugar cookie and raisin. Yum! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Just a delicious whiskey to enjoy on any occasion. I'm a sucker for stout finished bourbon and this one checks all the boxes of a delicious whiskey. I personally would have preferred a little more volume and finishing barrel influence when I compare it to the 113.3 proof cask 6499 Black Belle release I have alongside it post-review. While it didn't transcend into my top score (which is quite exclusive), it's still a whiskey I'm beyond thrilled to have on my shelf. As such - it easily earns my "Keep Amongst the Whiskey" distinction. If you can't get Black Belle (which it's fair to say you probably can't) - this is the next best thing. Props to the NGB team on another great release! Cheers.

Belle Meade is an oft overlooked brand (at least in my state) where I was amazed to find another bottle of the since-discontinued 'Cask Strength' version of the Reserve release still sitting on a shelf just last week. I purchased the bottle I am drinking in early 2020 and mainly left it alone after the first pour didn't knock my socks off and I had a lot of other open bottles at the time. I then promptly worked through half the bottle the next time I opened it and realized how good it is. I then left it alone for a long time again, knowing I may never get another of these cask strength versions with the new 108.3 proof release starting to take over NGB's production capacity. The standardization is likely great for consistency. I will definitely be reviewing the 108.3 proof Reserve release soon as well, but for now it's time to see how this Cask Strength holds up against my palate today. This has a distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN statement on the back of the bottle that tells us it is sourced from MGP. The mash bill is self-proclaimed as high-rye, but isn't the highest rye bourbon mash bill that MGP runs. Smoke Wagon is 36% for perspective. I'm really excited to revisit this so let's get into it already! Company on Label: Nelson's Green Brier Distillery (Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 64% Corn, 30% Rye and 6% Malted Barley Proof: 112° Age: NAS ("Aged to Perfection", 7-11+ years) Further identification: Batch No. 20-02, Bottle No. 1740; I purchased this in early 2020 Nose: Rich toffee and molasses forward profile on first nosing. Baking spice rises to the occasion swiftly but softly. Vanilla, dried apricot, allspice and bright oak dance in the glass. Hints of chocolate, leather, and syrupy plum build in well. A hefty wave of bergamot gives this a really nice profile that certainly sets it apart from other MGP releases I've had. Now with some air time things are definitely taking on some of the sweeter fruity tones but are brought back level and soft by flashes of lightly browned marshmallow. So far this is hitting all of my favorite notes. There's a touch of smoke alongside a dark raisin and walnut shells. A swirl subdues some of the citrus zest to expose soft pepper, allspice and old, earthy barn wood. Time for a sip. Wow, I didn't think I could like it more, but after a sip the nose is even better. Caramel has developed in well, the marshmallow is even softer & sweeter, and everything is just creamy soft. It gives me the feeling of falling asleep in a really comfortable chair or bed. It makes me want to close my eyes, just breath in and enjoy. Some of this softness may be due to oxidation at this point, with this bottle being around for so long and at an unfortunately lower-than-full fill level. The overarching note on the nose is definitely a comforting vanilla. There's a touch of lavender that surely helps this pour achieve a calming sensation. The empty glass smells of charcoal, sugar cookie, honey-soaked leather and white marble floors. Palate: My first sip is indulgent with syrupy plum, maraschino cherry, and a long caramel linger. I can tell already this is going to be a sweet tooth's delight. I'm admittedly not that person, but I can appreciate a well crafted assortment of flavors nonetheless. Another sip builds in the stone fruit intensity and adds in touches of leather, cinnamon and a heavy char that produces a syrupy vanilla mouth feel. Prunes, dried pear, and a mellow Sichuan peppercorn mouth-tingle all mingle incredibly to outperform some of the best mouthfeels I have experienced. It has that slightly numbing, slightly effervescent tingle that I know a lot of people love. And every sip reminds you of the fruit sweetness that launched this whole experience as well. If you're drinking along at home with this one, there's no way you can miss those red fruit; they are delicious. Ever so slight hints of banana peel can be found in the background of the linger if you filter out the incredibly sweet stuff that is happening in the foreground. Subtle touches of maple syrup, pie crust and cedar give this incredible depth. My last sip is once again soft and delectable with punchy surprises of raisin, dark cherry skins, caramel, plum, nutmeg and cinnamon. The finish is long with sweet fruit rolling over the tongue as your gums tingle with glee. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Absolutely delicious pour! After telling myself I was only going to have one pour tonight, I think I will make an exception for this bottle. Yum.

The top of the line; Redbreast 27 year is presented here under the Batch 3 bottling. I have just started to see Batch 4 coming around in MA, so hopefully I'll have a chance to give that a try too at some point. This bottle in particular was an amazing gift from my friend Eric - another stalwart example of how great the generous whiskey community can be. Many thanks to him for making this an easy choice to have open and share amongst friends in the Whiskey Study. The Redbreast lineup consists of quite a few exceptional bottlings: they have the 12 year, Lustau, PX Sherry, Kentucky Oak, 12 year cask strength, 15 year, 21 year and this 27 year. There also was an obscure 19 year release that had a very limited run. I have sampled all of these listed except for the 19 year and they do range in quality from release to release. Without fail though, a Redbreast release has always dominated my yearly Irish whiskey bracket. While I am clearly a fan of the 12 year and PX edition releases, not every release has been a hit. So you might be wondering... Is this thing worth 500 bucks? Let's find out. Company on Label: Pernod Ricard (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley Proof: 106.2° Age: 27 Years Further identification: This Batch 3 edition of Redbreast 27 year comes in a stunning wooden box with metal inlays and a magnetic wooden latch that keeps the nigh 500 dollar bottle comfortably contained within its bounds Nose: Upon lifting the glass to my nose I find a thick wave of crème brûlée. Deep vanilla bean sweetness carries much more heft than your typical 80-90 proof Irish whiskey. Nougat, anise, leather and black treacle ooze rich barrel influence across the senses. The hallmark sugar cookie note is distinct yet missing its typical oily backbone. Rich oak and syrupy bakery sweets emanate elegance and comfort. Frosted vanilla cupcake aromas breath softly. Let's jump into a sip, where this glass usually shines. Coming back after a few sips I find that the glass has settled into the backdrop of a quaint, old woodworking shop. I find myself set into the countryside of pine boughs and cranberry bogs in early Spring. Deep inhales continue to produce cool waves of infinitely sweet vanilla. Swirling the glass wakes up the darker, brooding, warm tones of dusty cigar box, dark grape, and the damp dinge of the forest floor. As the glass gets low more fruit come forward on the nose; I find mulberry, prune and blackberry predominantly. The empty glass smells of sangria, tea and smoky honey. Delicious. Palate: Right away you can tell this is going to be a full-volume pour. Punchy citrus tones accentuate a juicy array of red fruit on the first sip. The mouthfeel is thick, oily and viscous - a staple of a good Irish whiskey in my mind. Buttercream frosting, soft & chewy vanilla cookies, and creamy banana cheesecake with a hint of lemon produce a sumptuous linger. Another sip and swish confirms the tenacity of the spinning flavor wheel. Lemon pudding comes across lightly textured with a layer of granulated sugar. There's so much sweetness up front that it can be easy to overlook some of the nuanced layers hiding behind that first punch. Tart raspberry is tantamount to the fruit itself; it reveals itself in a near holy way where I could clearly envision the fruit shrouded in a bright light as the flavor bounced off my gustatory cortex. Lemon glazed scones produce an irresistible sweetness that keeps me coming back for more. As I exhale after a sip I find notes of freshly brewed coffee, black forest cake and chocolate covered raspberries rising up from the chest. Excellent layers come together cohesively on my last sip. I find macerated cherry, plum, creamy vanilla, and ground espresso bean settles perfectly in the middle of the tongue for a medium to long linger that maintains poise and volume well. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Overall this is an exceptional Irish whiskey bottled at its peak performance. This would make an excellent addition to any whiskey enthusiast's bar. I am despondent every time I finish a glass from this bottle as I know it's not an easy one to keep stocked. I've been thoroughly impressed by every tasting I have had from this so far (this is my fourth try) and tonight is no different than previously. When I first opened this one I actually did a head to head comparison to the 21 year, and on that night the 27 year blew the 21 out of the water. Since I have some extra time and it's a Saturday with no further plans, I'll add a small comparison to the 21 year here below. While the 21 year is quite a bit more oily, it's also distinctly more boozy despite being lower in proof. It lacks the fruity balance of the 27 year release, but does shine in a completely different way as notes of sweet cereal, smoke and earthiness flesh out a very different final product. I could certainly see folks being a bit divided between the two based on personal preferences. I definitely find myself gravitating towards the fruit and bakery sweets that the 27 year showed off. The 21 feels quite simple in comparison, but it does share that freshly brewed coffee quality across both releases. While there are things to love about both I definitely still agree with former me that the 27 year shines quite bright and is a perfect example of the high quality whiskey coming out of Redbreast these days. Cheers!