This @josamagnus private barrel is one of the earliest examples of their product that graced my shelf. I've slowly sipped and managed to savor this over the course of a few years without too much volume going missing to worry too much about oxidation. Now that I am getting back into it I will definitely start to think about drinking through the rest of it in good company! If you don't already know Liquor Junction - they have one of the most epic barrel programs just about anywhere at this point. The quality has consistently improved through the years and their store has come to be one of my main shopping points in Massachusetts now. Undoubtedly a collaboration between one of my favorite brands and one of my favorite stores is bound to be a hit - but let's dive into some specifics on this one. Company on Label: Jos. A. Magnus & Co Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Indiana Mash Bill Proof: 104° Age: NAS Further identification: This exclusive bottling of a hand selected private barrel of Joseph Magnus comes from the Liquor Junction team; I am reviewing bottle 25/105 which has a distilled in Indiana statement on the label which also says it was bottled in Washington, DC Nose: Creamy tones surround bright, white florals on first lifting the glass to my nose. Black pepper, leather and barrel funk permeate the glass. I almost get a tingly citrus like one might find out of distillate hailing Bardstown, KY - though it's likely attributable to the cognac side of things, not any mishaps on the labeling front. Let's have a sip! Returning from a sip I find wet clay, rattan and a light varnish characteristic. Late in the glass heavy anise layers build. Overall things continue to be funk-dominant. The empty glass smells of vanilla bean ice cream and old leather books. Palate: Punchy citrus and wicker flavors are a funky, unique surprise here. I forgot how different this one is compared to anything else you might find out of Indiana. Another sip is bright and sweet with floral tea notes proliferating alongside pear, grapefruit and creamy peach cobbler. Orange marmalade sits syrupy in the linger. My last sip is zesty on the tongue and in the gums with sweet orange peel, angostura bitters, and a big plop of plum that swings in a wave of cinnamon spice late. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) The best part of this pour was the addition of the cognac finish, which ultimately felt like a band aid over a non-descript underlying bourbon. Though the flavors I did find were fun and unique, ultimately this just didn't achieve a level I'd consider remarkable. It's still a decent pour that is enjoyable, but not one I am going to clamor for another (non-existent bottle) of. I guess I can see why I still have this one on my shelf! Not every pick can be a winner and it's best to remember that. I still wholeheartedly trust Liquor Junction to do great picks today - with or without my help! The score I gave this is much more fair and honest than some others who have reviewed similar picks, clearly tasted things they didn't like in their palate & finish sections, yet they still rated it a 7.X/10 which corresponds to "great" or "well above average". I am wholeheartedly against all the every-decimal-that's-close-to-ten rating scales and hope you enjoy my scale which puts the middle of the road whiskeys right where they belong - in the middle of the rating range. As always - honesty is the best policy. Cheers!

I am really stoked to get (back) into this batch 16 after scoring one during the first wave of its release. I opened it immediately to see how it stacks up to previous batches, and as a welcome reprieve from my batch 13 I'm struggling to desire a pour from lately. I explored a bit of this bottle last night with a cigar pairing (not a regular thing for me), and have definitely found a few overarching themes I'll try to touch on, as bottles will evolve a bit over time with oxidation. I try to give most things a fair shake when I can, but some things get reviewed at different fill levels. The picture attached to the post is usually a good indication of where I am. Now, let's see how this Stagg Jr is tasting this evening! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 130.9° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 16 (Summer 2021) Nose: Syrupy sweet plum and raisin forward to start., Dusty, herbal citrus laced oak follows. Vanilla bean. Peppercorn and a bit of anise. Waves of malted caramel. Somewhat salty and nutty too with traces of almonds. Caramel crusted popcorn. All of those fun departures circle back to a dry vanilla that serves as a wonderful base for one of the softest & approachable batches of Stagg Jr my nose has dipped towards. There's a bit of charcoal that slides under the rest of the flavors attempting to go unnoticed. A touch of bitter dark chocolate. Time for a sip! Afterwards, more of the sweet stone fruit take over; primarily the spicier cherry with a bit of cinnamon hots alongside it. The rich older oak notes now start to appear as well. I know the going rate (rumor) is that these are ~8 years, but this one noses up there maybe closer to 10 years. It hasn't yet found the George T. mature notes of leather yet, but it produces much of the same enjoyment. Some newspaper notes and toffee shavings settle in now. There's oddly something that reminds me of the cold produce section of the grocery store here too. I think it's a light clove and something earthy and akin to a root-vegetable. The glass has finally returned to a dusty oak plank with cherry and vanilla intermingled. A little smoked butter presents slightly oily late in the glass. The empty glass has multitudes of lovely brown sugar, molasses and more vanilla! Palate: Boom. That is a vanilla bomb! Beautiful cherry and cinnamon similar to Batch 14 explode with effervescence across my tongue. As these flavors dance and fade, an infinitely long wave continues to form that just builds and builds flavors of pure raw vanilla. Flashes of anise, hibiscus and copper metallics are really interesting layers here. There is an incredibly long chest hug that let's the rest of your body know your tongue was fooled on the proof of this one. It is very easy to sip on this one, but if you're brave enough for a larger chew, amazing flavors get kicked up: red starburst sweetness, red grape, allspice, and plum. These all coat the entirety of my mouth marvelously. The finish leans a little towards the tannic side. Larger sips are oh-so-sweet. Really delicious, but it carries a slightly drying mouth feel. Apricot and nectarine are refreshing yet weathering a bit on the palate. These nuances are all very low in intensity which is a surprise for me from Stagg Jr. When I think of my go-to pour (batch 14), I am expecting things to be a little more punchy. This batch, much like batch 15 I believe, has been selected and crafted to be approachable to more folks than the die hard barrel proof fans. It loses a bit of some things in that effort, but I can certainly understand it. The overarching feel of this pour is definitely centered around the flashes of sweet fruit that dart around a wonderful river of vanilla. The last sip includes waves of all the stone fruit of the pour, more dusty, dry vanilla and a long hug goodbye of warm winter hearth allspice bakery notes. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.)

From the bottle label: Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream. - Demetrius, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 4, Scene 1 - Wm. Shakespeare Company on Label: High West Whiskey Type: A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of 95% Rye, 5% Barley and 80% Rye, 20% Malted Rye Proof: 98.6° Age: NAS (mix of 5-6 year MGP and 4-9 year at High West) Further identification: Act 9 Scene 1 is High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels; this is the Fall 2021 release Nose: Creamy nose feel with a very jammy fig forward sweetness greeting me gently. Crème brûlée that is only lightly seared; very sweet and sugary. Citrus and oak marry well. Lovely complexity already on only a few breaths in. Slight hints of clove, nestled under a fir bough. Roasted almonds and chocolate now. Hearty clusters of raisins, plums and prunes. All the delicious dark fruit you could ask for. After a sip things turn markedly more oaky here, which in this case is a good thing as it is still creamy rather than dusty in texture, likely due to the finishing casks. A bit of green moss and smoke layer in later in the glass. Peach preserve tingles a bit and then settles back into a creamy vanilla. The empty glass smells of vanilla and dates. Palate: First sip is like a strip of fruit silk. Vanilla parfait, loaded with plums and more of that fig jam. Lovely syrupy mouth feel coats the tongue, but doesn't stick to your teeth like a sweet wine does. Bits of cinnamon tingle here and there as orange marmalade, blackberries and slight floral notes dance. Slight hints of a candied kind of mint layers over the fruit at times. Such a robust and evolving bouquet of fruits at all times, this one never lets your taste buds settle on just one thing. Cherry now dominates more-so late in the glass. The last sip is as smooth as butter and yields a dark, syrupy cherry with waves of pepper, molasses, mint, and raisin that lingers long. Swish and savor this pour and it will be good to you! Rating: 4/5 This is just begging for a cherry pie pairing. I love this pour every year, with Act 7 stealing my heart the most... But this Act 9 might give it a good run if I do a head to head soon. If you are still sleeping on this pour - I hope you are now awake! Share this pour with friends and family this Winter. May your hearth be warm. Cheers.

I love Noah's Mill. This and Rowan's Creek were a few of the first bourbons I ever tried and since then I've never had a batch I didn't like. I will be resetting my expectations of this bottle a bit here and seeing if it has stood the test of time as I've explored hundreds if not thousands of other whiskeys since those early days of learning. Question: Would you consider this bottle a 'shelfer' due to its availability, or is it just out of the price range for that qualification? Let me know in the comments. Now it's review time. Let's go! Company on Label: Willett Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed, but I assume it to be a majority OG mash (by taste): 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 114.3° Age: NAS Further identification: This is one of the flagship products of Willett distillery that they work hard to blend into quantities that can satisfy the huge demand for Willett bourbon; it is the slightly higher in proof and cost sister label of Rowan's Creek Nose: Mmm. Punchy cherry upfront with a hint of cola. Big funky barrel influence all throughout; it smells old, rich and inviting. Cinnamon hots tickle the nostrils as the air rushes through. Plum, raisin and incredibly dusty pepper jump into the glass in an explosion of proofy heft. Soft leather and cooking oil aromas rise to the surface. There's a ton of citrus zest bursting at the seams but not taking center stage just yet. The richness of the caramel and molasses is definitely not to be understated here - it comes across almost savory. Impressively powerful in all regards for aroma with no sharp edges. This noses like an incredibly well crafted whiskey. On deep inhales there is a sugary tiramisu characteristic. Time for a sip! Mmm. It has that Willett magic on the nose - usually attributable to the rye side of their profile for me. I find star fruit, juicy pear and lychee that borders on a tannic quality without the bitter characteristic. The nose is distinctly dusty layered on the oak aromas like most 10+ year bourbons will deliver. Beautiful floral sweetness bubbles up on deep inhales. The blend here (assuming it is a blend) is coherent and incredibly well crafted; I don't find any messy layers, flavors or aromas that don't wholeheartedly jive. The empty glass smells of hibiscus, honeysuckle and faint campfire ash. Palate: Oh wow. That is delicious. Cherry hots definitely hit first. It's followed by a nutmeg spiced hot chocolate and tiramisu creaminess that balances the initial flash of heat well. On a follow up sip that beautiful citrus pop I love drops in for a visit; yum! Raspberry sherbert, plum and cherry skins bring in just the right amount of fruit sweetness here. Light jackfruit gives off a slightly tropical vibe. The fruit bombardment does not let up as I find blood orange, blackcurrant and grapefruit. Cherry continues to be the shining beacon of homely comfort all throughout. Blackberry peach cobbler comes across dark and delicious. There's just a hint of the smoke that the cast iron Dutch oven protected the dessert from. My last sip is well worth savoring as dark cherries, plum, black raspberries and figgy jam sit atop a strip of well oiled leather. The finish is delectable as it fades into a long linger of breakfast jam on rye toast. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This bottle rekindles the feeling you get when you're just starting to explore the wide world of whiskey... The baffling volume of new flavors & aromas and finding that certain profile that just matches your palate perfectly. Whatever Willett was doing in 2020 with this release I hope has been the norm for the subsequent years because this is one of my favorite profiles. Cheers!

I've long been more of a critic than a believer in these barrel proof single barrels. I was excited at first when I found out they would be releasing one of my favorite products (94 proof store pick single barrels) at their straight-from-the-barrel proof. What I'd find later on was disappointment after disappointment where the single barrel products just couldn't live up to their 12 year age-stated batched product counterparts. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 just recently rocked my world and earned my top mark. So what gives? Only recently did I start coming back around to these releases when I found a few stores actually doing really great barrels. First, Liquor Junction did a barrel that was one of the earliest as far as I know. I crushed two of those at a spectacular price point. Then I was invited down to Kentucky to help pick another barrel from Heaven Hill. While it was far from the coolest barrel picking experience I've been on, there's nothing better than the smell of the inside of a rickhouse. Hammering out the bung on a few barrels that could be yours and sipping your way through nuances to find the one that is just right is more challenging than you would think. You've got to form a consensus across a few palates and then also consider what your average consumer is going to be looking for as well. When I pick a barrel I have to have the following conditions met for me to be willing to put my name on it: I have to love the whiskey enough to be willing to buy a minimum of 6 bottles of it for myself It has to do something unique; I don't want a barrel that tastes exactly like the shelf option - people ultimately need a reason to choose your barrel pick versus someone else's It can't be too weird... being unique just for the sake of being unique is more detrimental than fitting in Stores who keep these things in mind and have a core group of good palates end up putting out consistently good picks, building repertoire with their customers, and elevating the entire whiskey experience for the community. Finding these stores is more difficult than you might think. Everyone wants to do barrel picks these days - but that doesn't mean everyone should. Today's review comes from a store that is definitely starting to earn my respect. From the surprise Willett purple top barrel to a sleeper of a value bourbon, I've been impressed thus far. Will this Elijah Craig pick sing or flop? Let's find out! Company on Label: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 125.1° Age: 8 years Further identification: Barrel serial no: 6688127 was picked by the Dion's team Nose: Sugary tones immediately jump out of the glass. Peanut brittle, toffee and classic Heaven Hill vanilla are omnipresent aromas as I inhale off the surface of the glass. Almond starts out simple before blooming into the smell of a sweet amaretto. A tinge of linen creeps up next to rich oak and caramel popcorn. Overall the glass feels dark, earthy and funky in all the right ways. Rich barrel influence gives this a sturdy backbone. Let's jump in for a sip. Coming back more traditional vanilla and dark woodshop tones are dispersed through the glass. Overall this smells like a solid, well-aged bourbon with black pepper and leather just starting to come around. Bright red peppers provide a little heat on deep inhales on a well rested glass. Swirling things around produces more notes of the lovely medley of vanilla and black pepper that tickles the nostrils. The disturbed liquid below has upset the balance of the glass and an angry proof wall guards the surface from supplanting any aromas. Brown sugar and funky rum sweetness linger near the bottom of the glass. Lavender calms the glass from doozy to dozy. The empty glass smells of buttercream frosting, nectarine and silky smooth oatmilk. Palate: A small sip to open the palate up is ladened with dark cherry, plum, orange peel, and a thick mouth coating of caramel. Another sip is again fruity with new layers of heft and spice reminiscent of the first bite into a hot tamale. Light tarragon leans more towards the sweet side of bittersweet and introduces a nice wave of lemongrass and honeysuckle. Sugar cookie evolves into a cherry tart. This doesn't have a ton of depth, but it makes up for that in high quality flavors. Raspberry scones sit towards the back of the tongue while lemon Italian shaved ice tingles on the tip. Mmm-mm! The linger is distinctly warm and buttery as if there was some in a pan getting ready to receive a drizzle of pancake batter. My last sip is delicate, creamy and well put together like a strawberries and cream waffle spread. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Overall this is incredibly far from a flop. It doesn't quite sing enough for me to personally say I would pick it or buy a case, but I'd definitely put this at an approachable tie to many of the batched products I've come to know and love. There are unique layers and vast similarities to the traditional Elijah Craig profiles that one might expect. This is another solid pick from the Dion's team.Where this would shine is in a blind lineup of several releases in order to have fun picking apart the subtle nuances. Let me know in the comments where you'd rank some of the single barrels you've tried. Cheers!

I've enjoyed this release for quite some time (much more than it's equal-rarity-counterpart Sweet Wheat). This is now my 2nd bottle I've opened, which I've had probably 4 glasses out of thus far. I waited til now so I wouldn't have reviewed a highly oxidized bottle like my previous one was. Twelve Year is harder to get than most of the other shelfer options, but if you go looking it's not impossible. I seem to see these anywhere from 80 to 100 bucks around Mass at certain times of the year now. The Barton 1792 distillery has a long and interesting history that is not often talked about for whatever reason. They seem to just silently keep plugging (or chugging?) away at making a ton of great whiskey these days, even offering that as their explanation for why they stopped doing facility tours in June of 2022. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Situated in heart of bourbon country on 196 acres, the Distillery boasts 29 barrel aging warehouses, 22 other buildings including an impressive still house, and the legendary Tom Moore Spring. Barton 1792 Distillery is named in honor of the year Kentucky joined the United States. The brand website also describes the some of the background of this release: Twelve years is a long time to wait, but patience has its rewards. Starting with our signature "high rye" recipe, this impeccable bourbon whiskey is the satisfying result of maturing for more than a decade in the finest charred American white oak barrels. This one is usually solid for me. Let's see how it tastes today! Company on Label: Barton 1792 Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (but assumed to be 74-75% Corn, 15-18% Rye, and 8-10% Malted Barley) Proof: 96.6° Age: 12 years Further identification: This one of the rarer releases of the flagship line from the 1792 series; it features the light gray neck tag and the distinct gold 'UFO' topper Nose: Right away there are tingles of caramel, cherry skins and bright, sugary laffy taffy tones. The glass is loaded with butterscotch, gingerbread cookie and crème brûlée. It's balanced, approachable and steeped with bakery tones that bring comfort on every inhale. Distinct age comes across rich and decadent in the quality of the caramel with a strong but not overpowering leather and oak backbone. Let's jump into a sip. Returning to the nose I find the sweetness is joined by plenty of floral tones now. Cedar shakes, black pepper, corn fritters and cherry-soaked Spring florals all jive incredibly well. Everything is subtle, nuanced, bountiful, yet somehow balanced. Bravo to the blending team on this one. Hints of earthy iron embolden a well layered experience. The empty glass smells of soft honey and jasmine flower petals. Palate: My first sip is cherry forward - skins, juice, pit and all. The mouth feel is tingling as angostura bitters, chamomile tea and candied plum undulate to and fro. Each sip is distinctly soft yet flavorful with prevalent stone fruit jiving up front before lemon frosting and other soft creamy treats smooth over the taste buds. There's an inherent elegance to the creamy mouth feel reminiscent of a decadent mouthful of dessert being savored. Vanilla icing like you'd find drizzled over a warm cinnamon bun coats the tongue. Another sip and swish produces more of the bread tones that were lying deeper in the glass before. Ciabatta bread comes across with tiny inklings of rosemary, sage and thyme that never quite materialize fully. Later in the glass things return to the sweet and complete cherry experience. There are a lot of whiskeys that produce cherry notes, but none as well rounded as this. The consistent deliciousness of this experience of biting into a fresh cherry is quite impressive. On larger sips just a hint of cinnamon can be found in the slightly tannic delivery. This one doesn't have infinite depth, but just the right amount for an approachable but fun-to-explore pour. My last sip is distinctly sweet with the obvious cherry we started with, plum, slightly minty blackberry and a creamy tiramisu mouth coating. The linger is medium to short with all the sweets sticking in the corners of my mouth. Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) This is just solid bourbon. This pour doesn't try to do anything too flashy or unique, but instead leans in on a traditional profile with magical completeness in the ways it nuances distinctly recognizable flavors and aromas. This is one of those bottles that always seems to tantalize you into having another glass. I won't be without one of these on my shelf. Cheers!

It's time for a fresh Booker's batch review! In my journey to try as many as I can, I can't sleep on the modern releases. This is the latest I have - I haven't found 2022-04 just yet, despite us being in the 2023 calendar year at the time of writing. On the Booker's website Fred Noe describes the inspiration of this release saying: While some may flavor their water with tea leaves, my dad, Booker Noe, loved to flavor his water with bourbon – something he called Kentucky Tea. As you can imagine, Dad loved the flavor of bourbon, especially his Booker’s Bourbon. Since Booker’s is over 100 proof, the flavor still pulls through when added to water. So, he’d take one part bourbon and four parts water and enjoy his drink. One night, when a reporter was at Dad’s house for supper, he asked why Dad drank Kentucky Tea. Dad quickly replied, “Why would I flavor my water with tea leaves when I can flavor my water with bourbon?” It was that simple - Kentucky Tea was Dad’s drink. He would drink it with a country ham or fish dinner and would say you need to sip the right proportion of Kentucky Tea to really appreciate the food. As you sip this batch, add a taste of it to your water so you can try Dad’s Kentucky Tea with “Kentucky Tea Batch.” I know that’s how he would’ve liked it. Cheers! Now let's dive into a quick review of what's in the bottle! Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 126.5° Age: 7 years (4 months, 14 days) Further identification: 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch comes bearing a light pink label in a wooden box with a batch information card Nose: Bright vanilla and hefty oak permeate the glass upon first lifting it to my nose. The wood tones are prevalent, sticky and invasive. It's like the inescapable smell of a woodshop in full production mode: the planers, band saws and mills all generating chips, chunks and dust. Inklings of banana peel can be separated from the deep, prevalent oak. A dusty earthiness begs my nose to sneeze. Rather simple on the nose, I find myself shying from digging too deep with the bright dustiness being rather dry and harsh in the airways. A swirl of the glass unlocks better layers of tannic grape skins and bright florals. Sharp vanilla returns in droves. Time for a sip. Returning from a sip mellows the aromas out drastically. Typical barrel funk indicative of well-aged bourbon persuades me to keep digging. Aromas of rose, strawberry cereal and white pepper tantalize now. Heavy leather clashes against molasses. Towards the bottom of the glass synthetic deodorant aromas begin to form. Black pepper and subtle sweat against a warm sweater are further odd aromas that have me thoroughly perplexed. The empty glass smells of sea salt, grass and chocolate cake. Palate: My first sip is noticeably chocolate forward with fruit and floral undertones. I was not expecting that level of complexity based on the nose! The mouth feel is syrupy like a slightly watered down honey would feel. The linger is prevalent and cooling similar to the feeling of just had a sip of mint tea. That flavor mixed with the chocolate does very well for me to tonight. Another larger sip and swish shows this to be really distinctly floral and minty. It clashes awkwardly on the tongue and leaves me wishing for a sip of water. Perhaps Fred's recommendation to drink this batch with water is rooted in sage advice! As I continue down my neat pour exploration, I continue to find flavors at odds with each other. Zesty orange peel intermingles with old leather. Dry raspberry abuts clove and way too much star anise for my personal preference. It's quite bitter at times and zesty similar to some MGP releases at best other times. Overall, this is a stark departure from what I know and love about Booker's bourbon. Sipping near the bottom of the glass I find more red fruit mixed with citrus characteristics. The linger continues to be bright and minty with distinct proof imbalance. Every sip leaves me further unsettled & I am longing for this glass to be through. My last sip is small and satisfyingly muted. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) I have to admit I thoroughly disliked my first ever taste of this bottle which was prior to tonight. I tried to think of that as a one off fluke on a bad day, but revisiting tonight seems to have confirmed that first tasting for me. Tonight was better, but I still think this is incredibly off-profile for Booker's. I'm thoroughly surprised and disappointed to have to rate one of my favorite batched bourbon releases in existence this low, but I honestly think this one is a distinct miss. I hope this batch does actually make a decent "Kentucky Tea" because I can't envision myself sipping this neat again. For the sake of being thorough - I did try the prescribed Kentucky Tea recipe. 4 parts water to 1 part bourbon. It certainly makes this palatable! The citrus characteristic is enjoyable and the mint backbone is mostly gone. It still makes me shudder as black licorice sits in the linger. Eugh. Here's to hoping 2022-04 is better! Cheers. Historical Booker's reviews I'd recommend checking out: 2016-05 Off Your Rocker (4/5) 2017-02 Blue Knights Batch (4/5) 2019-03 Country Ham (5/5) 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits (4/5) 2020-01 Granny's Batch (4/5) 2021-01 Donohoe's Batch (4/5) 2021-02 Tagalong Batch (4/5) 2021-03 Bardstown Batch (4/5) 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch (3/5) 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch (4/5) 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch (4/5) I think that's a pretty good summary of historical greatness. The average score of all the Booker's batches I have reviewed so far is 3.833/5.000. I've also done reviews on all the Little Book releases. Those can be hit or miss too with Chapter 6 being a distinct flub in my book. Chapter 2 is my personal favorite if you can still find it. I hope this extra context helps. Let me know what you think!

This sample comes to me from the absolutely epic shelf of my good friend @ra1nmannn. I thank him for providing it to me for review! This is another one of those crazy rare releases that few will try. You might be wondering if it's worth chasing this down... or dare I say... opening one of your own? This stuff is meant to be shared & Eric knows and exercises that adage better than most I know. So... What's the deal with Warehouse C? The mythos is built and described well on Buffalo Trace's website. They state: This ten-year-old Bottled in Bond bourbon was aged in Warehouse C, built by Col. Taylor in 1885, and the barrel warehouse he was most proud of – the final piece in his “model distillery.” Like some of the previous releases, this one-time-only bottling of E.H. Taylor, Jr Warehouse C Bourbon is very limited. The barrels in the E.H. Taylor Jr. Warehouse C release were all aged for ten years in the center of Warehouse C, with half of them coming from the 2nd floor and the other half from the 5th floor. The second floor is an outstanding aging floor for older barrels. The ricks are very tight, making it slow and difficult to put in new barrels. The floor is very dry, making it ideal for 10 to 15-year-old products. The fifth floor of Warehouse C is a well-rounded aging floor with windows all the way around, providing excellent air flow throughout the floor. There is ample sunlight through these windows which helps heat up the warehouse and the aging process. The ideal aging locations for these barrels led to a wonderful flavor combination, with a nose of cherry cobbler with rum sauce and a hint of oak; a palate of cherry cola, vanilla bean and toasted oak; and a finish that is long and lingering with a hint of spearmint, coffee, raisin bread and anise. Okay, so. if I'm allowed to paraphrase a little.. It's limited. The barrels used were all from a single rack house called Warehouse C A particular well-aged profile was targeted All this sounds like a recipe for something great, but does it live up to the hype when you actually find it, open it and drink it? Let's dive into a review & find out. Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (Buffalo Trace) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 100° Age: 10 years Further identification: Warehouse C is a one time release (alongside the Tornado Surviving modifier) that came around in 2021 Nose: Up front there is thick cherry pie filling, apple dump cobbler and and oodles of sweet cinnamon mixed with brown sugar. The sweetness of the glass can be smelled from several feet away and exudes the feeling of being in a dessert bakery. Hefty oak comes across like a charcuterie board platter loaded with plums, blackberries, dark raspberries and assorted chocolates. Hints of smooth black pepper slide through the nostrils like a wisp of smoke from a freshly extinguished candle. Clay, leather and crushed stone give this a dry, slightly earthy backbone. After a swirl of the glass distinct barrel funk comes across heavy, dark and brooding. I long for it to settle back into the sweet profile this glass started with. Let's get into a sip. Coming back from a sip I begin to find classic well-aged bourbon notes of funky oak, caramel and tobacco. As the glass settles again it begins to form a cooling sensation in the nose. Vanilla bean becomes bright and creamy like a thin coating of frosting on angel food cake. The proximity of the sponge cake aroma returns me to the bakery with strawberries and cream notes proliferating in the glass. What a treat. I find myself stalling another sip as the nose here makes me close my eyes and dream. I let the dream take me somewhere. Deep inhales bring me to a warm, sun-filled storefront by the sea; moisturizers and lotions line the tables. As I snap back to reality - I am still quite impressed by the nose here. It's got a surprising depth and elegance unlike anything else I have tried. Everything that I smell is such a treat & the nose feel is one of the softest out there while still delivering strong aromas. There's something for everyone to love here. The empty glass smells of cherry skins, raspberry scones, grape jelly and ladyfingers covered in confectioner's sugar. Later in the empty glass I also find dark amaretto, delectable scones and rich cappuccino aromas. Palate: Hefty for 100 proof at first, this almost instantly soothes into beautiful cherry pie with a side of strawberry shortcake. It's short, simple and sweet on first taste, but the quality of the cherry and strawberry flavor is distinct & elegant. Another small sip reveals subtle layers of lemon peel, prevalent oak and a creamy nutmeg-loaded cappuccino. After a long hiatus with my nose nestled in the glass, I come back to find tannic plum has joined the nutmeg jamboree. There's an interesting layer of confectioners sugar throughout this that gives the sip a funky, one-of-a-kind mouthfeel texture. The linger is medium with very soft notes of tarragon and botanicals like rose & lavender. What this does differently than most Taylor releases is that it layers in much more fun baking spices and floral tones to the traditional sweet factory that Taylor fans know and love. It's distinctly less like the pure skittles candy that some can be and layers in a distinct extra layer of age most Taylor doesn't exhibit. My last sip is a satisfying medley of fruit salad and herbal tea. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) That nose was just something else... Even the empty glass was the gift that kept on giving. Overall I'd say this tastes like a really unique riff on Taylor Single Barrel. While this is a blend, I don't think the concept strays too far from reality. It's really quite delicious as most of the Taylor lineup is. I'd definitely drink this regularly if I could. If you made me rank them, I'd put this just a tiny notch above Single Barrel. This release is at the point where you get pretty far out to the right on the cost / quality curve before you fall off the collectable cliff. Though everyone's cost scale is different, and quality is also subjective to the individual palate... we can definitely still make informed decisions. Check out this awesome plot of the phenomenon I am describing below from commadot.com. There are many other accessible alternatives at this score, so if you can't find this one - don't fret. Sipping on this surely won't change your life, though it is damn fun to explore! Thanks for reading & thanks again to Eric for being such a generous soul. Cheers!

This sample comes to me from the infinitely awesome bar of @ra1nmannn. I thank him for providing it to me for review! This is one of those unicorns you don't see very often. Even more rare... is an open bottle. Well when good friends are up for good pours, inevitably you end up with sips like these. I've been afforded two tastes at this bottle thanks to the generosity of Eric & our larger whiskey community and for that I am truly grateful. If you have a favorite whiskey shared story, drop it in the comments for me! The Buffalo Trace Distillery website describes this release, saying: In the nineteenth century, bourbon aristocrat Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. exuded a passion for producing the finest whiskey in the world. This bourbon honors Taylor’s enduring spirit of innovation and commitment to exceptional whiskey by introducing Amaranth as the flavoring grain. Amaranth was originally cultivated by the Aztecs and is known as the “Grain of the Gods.” This ancient grain is similar to wheat, but offers a complex taste with subtle flavors ranging from a nose of butterscotch and spearmint, to a finish of pecans and dark berries. Amaranth roughly translates to “never fading,” just like the legacy of Colonel Taylor, the founding father of the modern bourbon industry. Now let's get into a review. Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper (Buffalo Trace) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A modified Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 which is normally Low Rye < 10%) but here the rye is replaced with a unique grain: amaranth Proof: 100° Age: NAS (but per the press release for this it's older than 10 years) Further identification: The Amaranth Grain of the Gods release was a one time release for the Taylor lineup that came out near the middle of 2019 Nose: Immediately the glass is bursting forth with an intensely sweet, syrupy cherry juice aroma that is quite enticing. Pungent, intense typical-Taylor sweetness that reminds me a lot of the single barrel expressions I've tried. It's tart red berries all over the place with background sweet floral tones that level it off into the candy realm. There's definitely something unique about this on deeper inhales where the cinnamon spice that maybe typically comes in with the rye grain is distinctly missing. It makes the nose lean towards more of a silky smooth nose-feel that has touches of cream, leather, chocolate and a slight peppery oak bark trailing off softly. Time for a sip to see what this pour can do! Coming back to the nose I find the delightful bourbon-y aromas of caramel and plum. The nose-feel continues to be very silky and the glass is approachable at any depth you want to take your nose. Later in the glass things do transition into an earthy realm which I am enjoying. Typically I find that the mainstay Taylor releases can be a bit one-directional, despite doing those few flavors incredibly well. This release certainly has layers. As I write that and return the glass to my nose I'm greeted by a rich funk that has shown itself. I'd describe it best as a peanut shell that came too close to the fire. There's also a rich leather aroma that floats away into a creamy marshmallow on the back end of a long inhale. As the glass nears empty rich butterscotch jumps out at me. Wow, yeah - that is an excellent aroma that I don't want to end. Tipping and tilting the glass I shake up black coffee, vanilla bean, stewed apricot, and white pepper. The empty glass smells of distinct nutmeg, citrus zest, and creamy oak. Palate: My first sip is surprisingly funky with a lot more oak than I was expecting from the nose experience. The sweet cherry syrup is definitely there but feels hidden behind a wall of wood that you certainly don't typically find on the more traditional Taylor offerings. Another sip brings on orange marmalade, sweet grape, and a undulating linger of grenadine. The overall palate reminds me of all things that are the color red for some reason. It's sweet and lovely all the way through after the first sip through me for a loop. Continuing into the glass with a larger sip and swish shows off impressively little spice and heat with big oak notes coming through the strongest followed by a distinct amaretto sweet pop and a long sizzle of a slightly nutty flavor I can't quite place. The nuttiness could certainly be the amaranth grain showing up as that grain has been described as tasting a bit earthy and nutty, but I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing the grain on it's own myself to know for certain. The linger is impossible long with cherry being the dominant flavor, but the intensity could definitely be a little higher for it to really have 'wow' factor. Coming back to another sip after some time I am finding more and more of the nuttiness taking over the sweet cherry profile; it's like the two flavors are at odds and fighting each other in a Dragon Ball Z style clash. Molasses, butternut squash and a tiny hint of banana can be dug up late in the glass. My last sip is distinctly earthy with a pop of sandalwood upfront followed by a soft, tapering linger of cherry, bitters and licorice. Rating: 4/5 While this release certainly does something really unique, I'm not sure if I wanted it to do the things that it did. It felt distinctly off-profile for Taylor, but at the same time had flashes of the familiar. I don't think it told a very compelling story overall for such a limited release, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the dram that I was afforded thanks to my good friend Eric! The nose once it opened up was really something special and the final tastes made me yearn for the rest of the glass to have tasted the same. Follow up perspective: Immediately after finishing the Amaranth sample I poured a small taste of my Taylor Single Barrel to see where what I know to be a pleasing release stacks up against what I just tasted. The nose on the single barrel is drastically neater and sweeter overall and my first sip confirms my suspicions that the Amaranth sample tasted fairly muted. The Single Barrel offering bursts forth with incredible sweetness and is marked by the distinct nerdz candy I always search for on these releases. It's lovely and I think this follow up tasting helps to solidify my confidence with my score. I'd easily give Amaranth the complexity nod, but the Single Barrel is definitely better.

There's a fun new release on the market capturing a new form of whiskey innovation: blending Irish whiskey with American bourbon. The brainchild of master distiller Brian Nation, this release aims to bridge a gap between categories that have historically remained very distinct. Though many Irish whiskeys will employ used bourbon barrels in their finishing, the river doesn't often flow the other way given that bourbon needs to be aged in new,, charred American oak. From the Keeper's Heart website, Brian's background is described well: He is an absolute legend in the world of Irish Whiskey and we couldn’t be more proud to call him a member of our family. Brian’s experience speaks for itself. For the last 7 years he was Master Distiller for some of the most renowned and high quality Irish whiskeys in the world including Jameson, Redbreast, Midleton Very Rare, the Spot range and Powers Irish Whiskey. It is not just Brian’s taste for whiskey that brought him to Keeper’s Heart—Brian was captivated by the opportunity to bring his skills and family to America in order to explore new expressions in whiskey, bringing together two whiskey traditions to create something entirely new. We are thrilled he is part of the family. The blend consists of triple distilled pot still Irish whiskey, Irish grain whiskey, and presumably MGP bourbon given the mash bill listed. I've long been vocal about keeping Irish whiskey and bourbon separate, previously berating Redbreast cask strength for having too much bourbon influence. I mentioned that at "117.4 (and with some bourbon barrel aging going on) I'm too closely reminded of a plain bourbon itself; something that I would reach for if that was my hankering". I've long enjoyed both styles of whiskey, and long preferred to keep them separate, to be used for different moods and different times of year. Despite all that skepticism, I have ventured to give this release a fair evaluation tonight. I have had several previous tastings where I explored and jotted down some formative thoughts so I know that any individual tasting I conducted was not a one-off. Now let's get down to business! I want to mention that Keeper's Heart provided this bottle at no cost to me and with no strings attached. I thank them for the opportunity to give this an honest review! Company on Label: O'Shaughnessy Distilling Co Whiskey Type: Blended Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Unconfirmed percentages of 100% Malted & Unmalted Barley, 100% Malt and the bourbon mash consisting of 75% Corn, 21% Rye, and 4% Malted Barley Proof: 92° Age: NAS, though all subcomponents are listed as minimum 4 years Further identification: This is a release I believe came out in 2022; it comes alongside several other releases that spans an interesting product family Nose: Right away creamy pot still viscosity coats the nostrils. A deep inhale produces bright notes of vanilla, hay malt and buttered King's Hawaiian dinner rolls. Layers of malt part to reveal hints of caramel and butterscotch. Creamy coffee bean aromas mix well into a tiramisu sweetness. The Irish influence seems to dominate on the nose. Traditional notes of shortbread cookie can be found in every corner. There's an inherent metallic characteristic that seems to attach to all the other flavors. Deep inhales leave me wanting for more volume. Let's dive into a sip. Coming back I find a lot more oak alongside a soft river of freshly squeezed orange juice. Delicate nutmeg and gingerbread characteristics layer in softly. I can't understate how low volume this pour is. It's beyond approachable and would stand out to novice whiskey drinkers who don't want to appreciate layers of taste and smell. Ground coffee and raspberry tart can be found when really (and I mean really) chugging some air through the nose. The empty glass smells of Pirouline wafer sticks, clementines and a big city asphalt jungle. Palate: Oily buttercream frosting jumps out at me first. Another sip evolves the simplicity of the first sip with popcorn and orange pound cake. Caramel and light lemon peel layer in softly. Everything here is beyond delicate to the point of being nearly muted. Another sip evolves into raisin bread, though it is distinctly missing a desired layer of cinnamon to complete the profile. My last sip is oily, viscous and perfectly content being a silky smooth delivery of the same buttercream frosting the glass started with. The linger is short and mellow with hints of tarragon, menthol cigarettes and raspberry gelato. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) This is a very simple whiskey. I think it's been blended for true mass-consumption and that's totally cool. A ton of people are going to love this release, but your diehard Irish whiskey lovers and long time bourbon fans are probably not going to be flocking to find a backup of this one. I myself found this quite off-putting when I first opened it, but it has started to grow on me now on the fourth time I've revisited this. Hopefully this review helped you. Let me know what you think down in the comments. Cheers!

Taylor Barrel Proof... Which of the latest batches is the best? That is the burning question in my mind tonight, so I had @amongstthefernsco set me up a blind sample flight of batch 9, 10 and 11. My taste of Batch 9 comes from a sample that my good friend Mark graciously provided me with. I purchased and recently freshly opened both batch 10 and 11. They were blinded for me, but for sake of clarity I will reveal which glass is which below. Let's jump in! Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper (Buffalo Trace) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: Batch 9: 130.3° Batch 10: 127.3° Batch 11: 129.0° Age: NAS (supposedly 6-8 years) Further identification: Batch 9 is the 2020 release, Batch 10 comes from 2021, and Batch 11 just released in 2022; see my latest post on Batch 11 for a helpful identification list Batch 11: On the nose plenty of butterscotch, caramel and oak. It feels decadent and dessert-like with oodles of vanilla, brown sugar and charred effervescence. Bright linen tones give this the illusion of age. Cinnamon tones meld softly. Jumping into a sip of this glass shows off dark cherry skins, plum, apricot, nutmeg and cacao. It comes across with just a kiss of heat that makes your chest shudder slightly. Not bad at all with anise, black tea and prevalent oak. I get really unique Christmas Tree Shop vibes from this glass that are interesting, but I wouldn't say this is my favorite profile. Finishing off the glass I'd put this at a solid 4/5 for me. Batch 9: Smelling this glass produces the same notes of caramel and oak, though much more muted. Definitely the most lacking of the three noses. There's something savory like sea salt and vinegar chips in there too. Sipping this I find lovely stone fruit up front. Candied cherry, strawberry and all the typical sweetness you'd expect out of the Colonel Taylor brand. I'm incredibly surprised by the dichotomy between the nose and palate here. The mouth feel is thick, coating, flavorful and lingering which is everything I look for in a bourbon. It's bold and inviting. Just beautiful. 5/5 stuff. Batch 10: The brightest and fruitiest of the three glasses on the nose. It's dusty for days and very reminiscent of the experience of being in a rick house. Lovely fruit, age, heft and overall complexity. This is an exemplary bourbon nose. Vanilla layers in well as a creamy dessert profile. Tasting this glass shows me subtle fruit, mint and bready tones. It has intriguing layers. Cacophonous and savory; I am loving the salted meat characteristic hiding out in here. This flavor profile used to be one of my favorites (think Booker's Country Ham), but for someone who has evolved through every phase of barrel strength, I think I tend to prefer sweeter tones today. I'd peg this one at a high 4/5 for me tonight. Ranking: Batch 9 > Batch 10 > Batch 11 I'm glad I dove in on this blind tonight. Damn am I disappointed that the least accessible one happens to be my favorite! I am also surprised I have a different rating for batch 10 as I had when I reviewed it un-blinded last year. I think this has more to do with my palate and personal preference changing some towards more sweeter profiles rather than just in-your-face proof which was more of my jam last year. Hope this ranking helps you in some way. Cheers!

This 2022 end-of-year release of Taylor Barrel Proof is finally here! I was fortunate to win the right to purchase this bottle from a raffle run by Vinnin Liquors. I of course dove right into it and started forming some thoughts on this new release. I've recently just finished my bottle of Barrel Proof Batch 10, so I have some of those notes fresh on my mind as well. Perfect time to dive into this one for a thorough review. Buffalo Trace describes this years release on the back of the bottle saying: Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. was born in Kentucky in 1830. After moving to Louisiana with his great uncle Zachary Taylor as a boy, Edmund eventually returned to Kentucky where he made his most indelible mark on history as a founding father of the modern bourbon industry. Hearty and complex, this uncut and unfiltered whiskey was drawn directly from barrels aged in warehouses constructed by Taylor over a century ago. Hand-selected and bottled over 125 proof, it reflects the way whiskey was produced in the days before prohibition. With hints of chocolate and molasses, it is smooth, yet powerful and uncompromising - just like its namesake, Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Notably this batch 11 shares the same proof as batch 3 did, so in order to figure out the difference between those two you'll have to look at the laser code on the bottle. If you don't know where to find the laser code drop me a comment at the bottom of this page and I'd be glad to help you out. If you're ever struggling to figure out which proof corresponds to which batch like me, here's a helpful list. Taylor Barrel Proof batches by proof and by year: Batch 1: 134.5° (2012) Batch 2: 135.4° (2013) Batch 3: 129.0° (2014) Batch 4: 127.2° (2015) Batch 5: 127.5° (2016) Batch 6: 128.1° (2017) Batch 7: 129.7° (2018) Batch 8: 129.3° (2019) Batch 9: 130.3° (2020) Batch 10: 127.3° (2021) Batch 11: 129.0° (2022) I thoroughly enjoyed Batch 10 which earned my top score and a 'Keep Amongst the Whiskey' distinction. Let's see how the new release stacks up! Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (Buffalo Trace) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 129.0° Age: NAS (supposedly 6-8 years) Further identification: Batch 11 is the 2022 release of the barrel proof offering which first originated in 2012; this yearly release is set to be joined by a possible E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Rye at some point, which I am looking forward to Nose: Thick, decadent caramel and oak are prevalent on first raising the glass to my nose. Gobs of dark molasses, gingerbread, brown sugar and black bread tingle in the nostrils. I find an effervescent aroma on deep inhales that reminds me of dark earth meeting verdant plant growth. This smells much higher aged than the rumored 6-8 years, though my sense could be fooling me here. Wafting from one nostril to the next I find light confectioners sugar, cigar smoke and dry newspaper on the right. On the left the glass drums up subtle floral tones alongside nondescript sweetness. Deep inhales on either are surprisingly easy, maintaining an approachable nose-feel devoid of any evidence of proof. The well rested glass produces quite muted tones of anise and cacao. After an aggressive swirl of the glass more vanilla tones flush out white lily, black pepper and allspice. Attempting to dig further leads only to a bit of nose-blindness setting in, so let's dive in on a sip. Returning from sipping I begin to find the strawberry tones the palate produced, but layered in with a shortcake feel that really starts to feel complete & cohesive. The whole glass is much more lively now with a good bit of metallic proof showing through a thin veil of white linen. I love the well aged oak and caramel tones on the nose, but I can't find too many other interesting aromas here today. As I get closer to the bottom of the glass I finally start to find more of the cherry candied sweetness one would come to expect from the Taylor label these days. The empty glass smells of rich barrel funk, amaretto, newspaper and Kentucky rack house dust. Palate: My first sip is a surprisingly citrus forward for Taylor. I find lemon peel, pomegranate, peach and strawberry sherbet up front. The mouth coating is thin but prevalent. Cherry hots sit squarely in the center of my chest in a delicate manner. The proof here is again invisible as it was on the nose. The linger tapers off slowly without much flavor volume. Another sip produces a little flash of tart red fruit sweetness; cherry, plum and date flavors sizzle on the tongue. The fruit dances a bit before splashing into a creamy river littered with chunks of cinnamon. Rye bread, molasses and a subtle hint of rosemary give this an interesting direction I wasn't expecting. Sipping towards the bottom of the glass highlights a noticeably sweeter profile than before with maraschino cherries and soft amaretto. My last sip is easy with tannic red grape, nutmeg, cinnamon and black raspberry leading the way. The linger is soft and short with stewed plum, muddled cocktail apricot, candle wax and dry cacao. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Overall this definitely lacks the wow factor that batch 10 had. It's still a solid bourbon I'm certainly glad is on my shelf, but I don't think I am going to be hunting a backup of it any time soon (given the difficulty). Maybe we finally found where the canceled George T Stagg barrels ended up? Hope this review helped you out today. If it did, consider buying me a coffee! Cheers!