Tonight I am visiting another shelf staple that I am long overdue on for a review! I haven't really done much 1792 in the past outside of a few Full Proof store picks, the Sweet Wheat release, and the Twelve Year release. I just opened up the whole line to share with a Spirit Animal Society member and now I'm excited to visit all these myself. Not sure what caught my eye about the Bottled in Bond but I went for this one first as it should be more consistent bottle to bottle and therefore more useful information for a greater amount of people. If you've tried this one I'd love to hear what you think of it in the comments! From the 1792 Bourbon website: In 1897, the Bottled-in-Bond Act revolutionized the quality of American whiskey. Carrying on that tradition, this well-aged bourbon comes from only barrels filled during the same distilling season and is bottled at exactly 100 proof for a bold taste and lingering finish—a testament to the Bottled-in-Bond Act established over a century ago. TASTING NOTES True to its heritage, the unmistakable spice of 1792 Bourbon is met with notes of charred oak and fresh mint. Subtle caramel apple tones are delicately balanced with the lingering essence of coffee and black pepper. Company on Label: Barton 1792 Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (but assumed to be 74% Corn, 18% Rye, and 8% Malted Barley) Proof: 100° Age: NAS (minimum of 4 years) Further identification: This is part of the flagship line from the 1792 series; it features the yellow neck tag and the distinct gold 'UFO' topper Nose: Cracked pepper and caramel greet me first thing in this glass. There's a nice chocolate nuttiness that serves as a great base. Floral fruit jump out at me early on until a big wave of salty molasses swings in. Dusty oak comes off quite powerfully and I can smell an earthy bark tone behind it. The dusty characteristics also carry candied apple and caramel corn. Later in the glass I find some bright, juicy pear aromas and grape skins. The overall nose feel is level and soft. Time for a sip! Afterwards the glass turns exceptionally creamier with much more caramel and lemon frosting coming off the glass. The empty glass smells of sunflower seeds, lemon ginger tea, and walnuts. Palate: My first sip is delicate at first with soft caramel and floral sweetness. Cherry skins build on subsequent sips and slight tannic tones creep in. The baking spices can be a bit smoldering at times but I'm really enjoying it tonight. I find lemon peel and earl gray tea alongside that constant floral fruit. My last sip is soft and rather simple but still quite delicious with an overall fairly caramel forward fruit medley. Rating: 4/5 I've been pleasantly surprised by this release. I wish this distillery was a little more forthcoming with information on their releases, but I love the classic look of the bottle and the old-timey vibe their whole operation puts off. This might hang in well with the Twelve Year release, which I also need to visit for a review soon. Look for that next!

The first picture is from Redbreast's website. I've been interested in trying this ever since I saw it was coming soon! I have really, really loved the Redbreast line in general with the PX edition and the 12 year release both earning my rare top rating recently. I am grateful to Alan Starr for providing me with a 2oz sample jar so that I am able to review this tonight! Looking forward to seeing if this release is worth hunting down; now let's try it. Company on Label: Pernod Ricard (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley Proof: 101° Age: NAS Further identification: This new release from Redbreast is a higher proof than normally seen on Irish whiskeys and is nuanced by its extra finishing in American bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts as well as a 4 month aging in hand selected, air-dried American Oak from the Taylor family farm in Kentucky Nose: Mellow baking spices appear to be hanging around the glass upon first leaning in for a smell. There's soft, creamy vanilla and caramel tones up front with black pepper, candlewax, lemon peel and robust oak that hides a little deeper beyond the surface of the glass. There's a touch of dark funk and corn kernels that feels like a good bit of the bourbon barrel influence does come up. Dusty molasses and loads of caramel continue to pour out of this glass, but there isn't much going on beyond that for me tonight. Time for a sip! After a sip there is a bright linen note I definitely only typically get on bourbon barrels, particularly most notably on Wild Turkey and Heaven Hill barrels. I find lovely floral & perfume aromas drifting off softly. It continues to have a lot of that dusty oak character thanks to all the different levels of finishing it has been through. I find a sharp copper note as I near the bottom of the glass. The empty glass smells of deep oak, asphalt, and soft dirt. Palate: My first sip is a lovely sweet presentation of Werther's caramel, plum, sugary raisin, truffle and a sweet balsamic vinaigrette vibe. There's a touch of brine on the mouthfeel and it is overall fairly viscous. This feels notably different to the traditional creamy Irish whiskey mouthfeel one might come to expect from a Redbreast release; this definitely bucks the norm a bit. The caramel and molasses flavors continue to build with subsequent sips. It drinks quite easy, but doesn't give off much wow factor for me tonight. I'm enjoying the silky coffee bean flavors I know and love from the typical triple distillation process in a copper pot still. My last sip is both delicious and unremarkable with vanilla leading the way, followed by grape skins, waffle cones, and a short linger of flan. Rating: 3/5 I am much more impressed with this release compared to the Redbreast cask strength I tried; it toes the line well between trying too hard to be closer to a bourbon and keeping some Irish tradition in mind. It's not as complex as I'd hope out of a higher price point limited release such as this, but I'd certainly like to enjoy another glass of it at the end of the day.

Ah, Woodford! The wedding-staple shelfer everyone knows and loves. This Brown-Foreman product is a special finishing series selected by Master Distiller Chris Morris. Traditionally the second oak barrel finishing, usually with some extra char involved, is intended to bring out more of those sweet oak vanilla notes. This Versailles, Kentucky release bares no indication of batch size or repeatability, but those that have come to enjoy it know that it is definitely one of their more consistent releases. They also do single barrel selections of double oaked releases. I had the pleasure of helping select one at Liquor Junction not too long ago. As I enjoy all the offerings I have available to me I want to make sure I take care of some of these staple brands. This is the best opportunity for you - a curious whiskey drinker to taste something along with me without too much worry about cost or availability. So let's do just that if you have a bottle of this! If you don't, I hope this review helps you decide if this is something you think you want to try in the future. This bottle was shared frequently at my table at one of my friend's wedding celebration not too long ago and it was one of the bigger hits of the table alongside Willett Family Estate Rye and Four Roses Small Batch. But that's enough about stories and lore - let's see what's going on in this Woodford bottle! Company on Label: Woodford Reserve Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley Proof: 90.4° Age: NAS Further identification: This is the flagship double oaked release from Woodford Reserve; despite the fill level being as low as it is, this bottle was opened not too long ago and should not have any drastic oxidation effects changing the review here Nose: Up front there's something impressively savory tied to the oak. I find molasses and marzipan as I pull some of the soft aerosolized aromas out of my glencairn. It feels soft and inviting in the nose with just a small threat of cinnamon spice on the back end of a tart cherry note. There's a dark earthiness that builds in intensity the more you pull off the glass, never quite getting out of the way to allow other flavors to squeak by. After a bit the vanilla frosting begins to take over the glass - vanilla (or its further evolution into marshmallow) being a hallmark of double oak released. There's something candy-sweet about this without coming across as actually being 'sugary' in that sense. It's like sweet borage nectar; one step removed from becoming some delicious honey. Borage produces a similar smell and taste to a salty cucumber. I'm surprised by the level of savory notes coming off this glass to be honest; it's smelling really unique! I think it's time for a sip. Returning from sipping I find the savory characteristics have settled down and the vanilla-forward oak has made itself comfortable. There are hints of orange peel, angostura bitters and grenadine jumping up in little whack-a-mole surprises. I find charcoal & slightly chalky sweet tart aromas tucked away in the back corners of the glass as I continue to dissect this pour. The empty glass smells of juicy raw green peppers, fresh-sawn lumber, and a well-used grill. Palate: Woah, there's way more cherry on this than I recall! That sweet maraschino cherry is immediately followed by a wave of marshmallow that is quite enjoyable. The mouth feel is on the thinner side but its also slightly oily so it sticks to all the surfaces of your mouth. Again the cherry pops up first with some subtle side notes of plum and fig. There's a light herbaceous quality that sticks around in the linger but it's more like a subtle garnish than a mainstay flavor. Later in the glass molasses begins to darken the mood. After a few sips the linger begins to shorten and the lower proof doesn't quite have the backbone or gusto to continue to deliver the same nuanced flavor experiences we started with. Overall the glass falls back into a very comfortable and enjoyable creamy vanilla frosting profile with a little bit of cinnamon spice tingling the gums. My last sip and swish rekindles the sweet cherry fire I enjoyed earlier. This one is definitely an easy sipper but falls a bit short for me in the complexity department after starting out really strongly. There is a soft buttercream characteristic to the linger that is really the complete opposite of offensive. I would wholeheartedly recommend this whiskey to someone just getting started out in the space, but the veteran is definitely going to be yearning for a little more here. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) I think of the comparable wedding pours we sampled, the Four Roses Small Batch would have bested this pour as my favorite between the two for some more perspective. This is certainly a good whiskey and I would recommend you try it at least once yourself!

Cabernet is one of my favorite styles of wine, but I haven't seen too many whiskeys finished in this style of barrel before... When founder of Taconic Distillery and jack-of-all-trades Paul Coughlin told me the cab finish was one of their gift shop best-sellers, I knew I had to try it. My previous Taconic experiences mainly come from small tastes - I've never done a real deep dive into their distillate. I've tried 3 single barrel bourbons that Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits selected - one of each of their barrel picks now lives on forever in my infinity barrel blend. You might spot them in this incredibly fast paced (and insane) dump video. I also have given a brief review of the Madeira finished rye that also made it to Mass. In general we haven't seen a ton of their product roll through my home state. One of my favorite things that I've tried from Taconic was a Mizunara cask finish that I got to try at a tasting event. I remember it being one of the best things I tasted that day, and my good friend Frank's recent review seems to back that finding up. I'm excited to give this offering a fair shake! I'd like to thank Paul at Taconic for sending me a bottle of this whiskey for review and allowing me to taste it with no strings attached. Now let's dive in. Company on Label: Taconic Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 25% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley Proof: 90° Age: NAS (but assumed to be aged 4 years at time of writing) Further identification: This tasting room release should be available for visitors at their retail location in the heart of Dutchess County; it is open Saturdays from noon to 6 PM Nose: Up front I find a very corn-forward, dusty aroma first breath off the glass. There is fantastic peanut brittle, caramel and toffee tones that come across soft yet aromatic. Bit of chocolate mix well with a fun floral funk. On a deeper inhale I find slightly tropical fresh fruit aromas. There's a bit of drying oak clearly tied to them which tells me I may have just unearthed some of that cabernet influence here. Oh yeah, it's like a fruity light switch just went off now where the earthy chocolate tones carried in a basket of sweetness; there's plum and raspberry here while a distinct grape skin texture fills out a robust nose-feel. The glass feels borderline creamy, but it leans just a hair further towards the tannic oak side of things without being overbearingly so. This feels like another great example of not relying on a finish to take over a whiskey, but allowing subtle nuances to build upon an already well-crafted whiskey. Time for a sip! After coming back from a few sips I find the nose has opened up marvelously, showing off a decent bit of rye spice and a big red-wine influence that actually reminds me more of a port wine than a cabernet. The nose-feel is notably more creamy now and deep inhales show off really high quality charred oak aromas of universally appealing vanilla and pie crust. Overall this smells like a solid bourbon profile; I'm impressed with how nuanced and light the finish is on this, as I'm a big fan of letting the whiskey speak for itself in general. Oh wow, late in the glass there is a big, sweet navel orange aroma that develops. I dig that. The empty glass smells of dry top soil, soft herbal notes, and a light sprinkle of nutmeg. Palate: Oooh, this is satisfyingly light on the tongue without sacrificing flavor. Up front I get cherry skins, raisins and a faint chocolate covered peanut. The mouth feel is really interesting here as it seems to coat my mouth in a way that I typically associate with certain foods like a savory Korean beef rice bowl might. Another sip reveals creamy caramel, rich red grape and blackberry cobbler flavors that dance slowly across the taste buds. It presents much like the nose did initially - soft yet an impressive volume of flavor. Coming back after a brief rest there are soft citrus notes that have crept in now; not sharp, zesty notes, but almost like a little squeeze of orange drizzled over vanilla bean ice cream. The whole conglomeration is unironically 'smooth': devoid of any sharp notes, bright flashes or unwarranted spice zaps. It's incredibly relaxing to sit with and enjoy even with an analytical mind fully activated on a first pour of the day. Later in the glass there are some increasing undulations of malt that are a little off profile for what I am usually looking for, but the fruity tones do well to balance this out. The linger is impressively long for this proof point and it carries soft maraschino cherries alongside cacao-laden oak. My last sip is more on the tannic side but it brings forth the fruit flavors in droves and I am here for it. Yum! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) While I do tend to like my whiskey alcohol content to be high, this is one of those great examples of something that consistently delivers big flavors at incredibly approachable proofs. This cabernet finish was right up my alley. I'd love to know how long the finishing process was run for, as it feels like it may have been on the shorter end. It would be interesting to see how the results may change with a little extra time in the cabernet barrels. Great release! Cheers & thanks for reading

The ever lovely @_lostnemo_ has sent me another amazing @mayorpingreewhiskey release from @valentinedistillingco for review. This go around it's an infinity barrel contribution! So after this review (so long as it goes well) the rest of this bottle will be added to the infinity barrel, I'll pull a sample for her & Abby's will go on the contributor list! If you don't know 'Nemo' - go give her a follow and a shout... right now! Then come back and read the rest of this review... Despite the bottle being a lovely gift, I will try to review the whiskey without bias, which usually includes removing the bottle from my view as I sip neat from a glencairn. Let's see what this Michigan release is all about! Mayor Pingree 5 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Valentine Mash Bill Proof: 117.8° Age: 5 years Further identification: This single barrel is produced, bottled and aged by Valentine Distilling; the whiskey comes from barrel TR-10 Nose: Immediately I am overrun with thick maple syrup and molasses; I can tell this one is going to be a rich profile. I find thick Werther's caramel, rich oak, barbecue spices, and vintage marmalade. What an amazing cacophony of potent & delicious aromas! This one smells 'big' and delivers notes that swing well above this age and proof range. There's a thick and leathery nose feel that certainly tingles a bit on the way through. I find some dark plum, dates and fig once the proofy spice subsides slightly. Wow - on deep inhales I find rich earthy tones that come up alongside the light fruitiness and rich, dusty caramel backbone. Toffee tries to show itself upfront but is quickly overwhelmed by that dark treacle aroma that is so pervasive in this glass. I'm loving it so far, but it's time for a sip. Coming back I find a floral note that reminds me of petunias. The oak aromas have turned over a new leaf and are much more moist and earthy now. The floral tones mix well with a honey sweetness that exudes some elegance. The really thick maple and caramel notes are really where this whiskey shines on the nose. That medley keeps me savoring this glass which otherwise is very crushable on the palate. Wow... Letting is sit just keeps replenishing the magic. This is a great glass to sit with and slowly enjoy. Later in the glass I find savory, scrumptious cornbread. Near the bottom of the glass there's just an inkling of a cedar note that produces a faint citrus and herbaceous aroma... I like that. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, light bread and plum skins. Palate: Upon first sip I find a big cherry hots bouquet which immediately gets followed by a huge wave of maple and oak. Wow. There's some big tea notes that hang around attached to the thick, maple-syrup-viscosity mouth feel. Another sip touts vanilla upfront as it touches my lips, followed by a marvelously creamy caramel, angostura bitters, faint sawdust, and a flash of cinnamon spice. I'm amazed at just how rich the flavors are on this. This would be up near my very top favorites if the spice factor was a little more toned down, but I know a ton of people are going to love this in-your-face flavor factory for sure! Oh yum! After a bit the cherry note has built up and there's now a layer of effervescence I'm really digging. This one is so interestingly tart, fruity, dark and brooding all at once. There's many facets that go into this profile, but the output is certainly an overall delicious whiskey. My last sip is an ever-expanding wave of crème brûlée, lemon caramel sauce and maple syrup bread. The linger is a touch shorter than what I would consider medium, but it leaves a lasting impression of delectable desserts. Rating: 4/5 I certainly will be keeping this one 'Amongst the Whiskey' as it will be living on possibly forever in my infinity barrel blend! Thank you again Abby & cheers to the Valentine Distilling team for another amazing release.

I'm finally getting around to sitting down for a longer sit with this Four Grain release. It did well on my first-thoughts post I dropped on Instagram closer to when it released. I actually also have a bottle of this that I split with my good friend @bourbondipity_ so hopefully it's good! My initial thoughts from the flight from the quick Instagram review night: I definitely get the high malt bourbon banana note that's prevalent on the single barrels that I've selected from that mash bill. Funny enough I tried my own version of this before I even knew this release was coming around. I mixed the @spiritanimalsociety bourbon barrel pick with the @massbourbonalliance wheated bourbon pick and it came out awesome. This one smells like it could almost have some red wine characteristics. Sipping I find the same banana as the nose. There's a great vanilla bean sweetness and a long linger. It's certainly malty and that Metze Malt special sticks to your taste buds fairly strongly. I'd like to thank @oldelkbourbon for sending this to me with no strings attached for an honest review. Let's see how this blend turned out! Company on Label: Old Elk Distillery Whiskey Type: Four Grain Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 51% Corn, 22.5% Wheat, 19% Malted Barley, 7.5% Rye Proof: 105.9° Age: 6 years (blend of 6-7 year whiskeys) Further identification: This is the recent 2022 release of this new product for Old Elk; it circulated in my area starting in May. It is a blend of 6-7 year high-malt bourbon and 6 year wheated bourbon Nose: Up front I find nice, crispy caramel corn right away. There's a lovely malty, funky rick house aroma that I love. There's troves of level oak sitting right at the perfect age where things round out. I'm so surprised about the caramel popcorn smell; it's slightly salty which comes off savory and delicious. A lovely dusty, dried shelled corn aroma keeps finding deep prevalence here. There's a savory barbecue note I'm digging. Wow, as I continue to take deep inhales off the surface of the glass I find incredibly rich malt notes starting to take over which is likely more of an artifact of that high malt bourbon. I'm surprised that I am not finding more of the banana note I tend to expect out of the high malt bourbons though. I mentioned the banana note in the Instagram review above. Later in the glass things haven't evolved drastically but it seems to have taken on some floral and cinnamon undertones. It continues to be very chocolate & malty all the way through for me. Time for a sip! After taking a drink off the glass, the nose intensity increases towards the absolute corn bomb. It smells like it could be significantly higher than 51% corn for some reason! It's so funky, but I really like it. It reminds me a bit of the aroma of the 8 year Willett high corn bourbon from barrel #6061. There's a lot of buttery pie crust characteristics hanging out late in the glass alongside just a touch of smoke. The empty glass smells of marbled rye, warm Indiana air, and cooked white rice. Palate: My first sip is dark, chocolatey and bam(!) there's the banana note I was expecting. It's paired well with a toasted vanilla note. Another sip really shows off the major league corn that I was finding on the nose. The linger is long and tingling up in the outside of my gums. There is a banana split feel that comes up in soft waves from the medium viscosity mouthfeel. There's soft cinnamon, crème brûlée, banana bread and a big baking spice sizzle. This doesn't have a ton of depth to it, but the flavors it does show off feel really well crafted. The best way I could summarize this would be that it's like a banana split covered in crushed caramel popcorn. My last sip is notably vanilla forward, there's a zesty candied banana pop and then a long, undulating wave of Little Debbie nutty bars. Yum! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This thing is a corn monster! Overall it's a very good blend that I think showcases the skill that Greg Metze and team has well. I wish it did just a touch more in the way of nuanced flavors, but it's also really hard to make a cohesive blend such as this, so kudos to the Old Elk team for that.

I love trying new things & this release is fresh off the truck! Many folks in the Instagram community got sent some samples of these fantastic releases - I got sent the Four Grain thanks to the wonderful folks at Old Elk, but knew I couldn't sleep on this Double Wheat release. I immediately headed over to Kappy's Liquors in Medford to grab one once I knew it was available. I did a short write up on this one as I tasted through a small sip flight recently, but I have been seeing a lot of demand for a review on this one so I figured I'd give it a deeper dive tonight. Company on Label: Old Elk Whiskey Type: Wheated Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 71.5% Wheat, 25% Corn, 3.5% Malted Barley Proof: 107.1° Age: 6 years (blend of 6-8 year whiskeys) Further identification: This is the recent 2022 release of this new product for Old Elk; it circulated in my area starting in May Nose: On the nose immediately there is a surprising caramelized corn aroma which is crazy given I'm used to drinking a lot of 51%+ bourbons that don't typically show this off this drastically. This does it quite powerfully at a mere 25%. There are sugary and savory notes well intertwined throughout this; I can tell already that this is going to take some picking apart to understand. I'm quite surprised by how dark the aromas in the glass are - not so much heavy, but more like a damp farm with their grain storage filled to the brims. There's a shiny copper metallic smell alongside muted stew spices. So far this nosing experience is just not up my alley. I think I'll go for a sip to see if I'm just stuck on the wrong things here. Coming back to the nose I find things have lightened significantly and a creamy banana bread has taken over. It definitely doesn't smell like any of your typical whiskey releases these days - testament to the fun experimental side that Greg Metze has really been flexing in his role there. There are some soft floral tones in the background I wasn't finding before as well. We're back to that dark, funky, musty leather aroma now. There's a hint of skunked pepper on the back end of deep inhales too. This thing smells absolutely wild! The empty glass smells of some kind of funky candle smell that you'd find at the Christmas Tree Shoppe or Yankee Candle; wow.... Palate: When the whiskey first hits my tongue I find hints of banana peel and a really syrupy, sugary mouth feel slowly makes its way around my taste buds. The mouth coating is quite thin with an airy caramel crisp being the predominant flavor. The linger hangs up in the gums for a little while without pushing out too much in the way of flavor. Ooh, now things are opening up a little better. I get some nice graham cracker flavor upon giving the whiskey a little air as I sip. Sipping again I find a funky, herbal chocolate note that just doesn't quite jive; it almost leans into the flavor of black coffee. As I get towards the bottom of the glass the creamy notes continue to build which I definitely like better than where the glass started. There is a slight proof imbalance on the linger that's definitely a surprise for me. My last sip finally touches on a few subtle stone fruit, but they fade quickly and leave me with that same light caramel and a fair bit of oak lingering. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) I am quite surprised by this score tonight! I really liked it a lot more the other night when I was a bit more tired. I do think this is a bottle I will go back and forth on, which is why it perfectly exemplifies what my 3/5 score means! I can definitely go either way on this one. One night I really was digging it - tonight, not so much! Oh well - I do know I love their wheated bourbon mash bill specifically as I've personally picked 3 single barrels of it thus far and certainly plan to pick more in the future. I don't think the wheat whiskey did the wheated bourbon any favors here tonight. But, this might be the risk you take when you are doing stuff as experimental as Old Elk is doing - not all of your mixes are going to hit the mark. If you are a fan of mustier, darker flavors this release might actually be for you. I've definitely had more hits than misses personally though, and I look forward to jumping into the Four Grain release soon!

The Irish itch struck me tonight! My good friends Gloria and PJ recently gifted me a bottle of this so it was fresh on my mind. I gave the website a quick search for Irish and amazingly I haven't given this bottle the spotlight it deserves... so we will rectify this tonight. This has traditionally ranked fairly high on my Irish scale when I've done head to heads, but we'll give it a 'reset button' and a fair shake in a fresh glencairn (I had to switch from the glass I took home from Ireland, as the nose felt distinctly muted compared to what I am used to on a glencairn glass). Let's dive in. Company on Label: Pernod Ricard (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley Proof: 80° Age: 12 Years Further identification: This is a readily available flagship release from the Redbreast line; it's a traditional Midleton triple distilled Irish whiskey 'matured in the finest oak casks' Nose: Up front there's a silky traditional sugar cookie on the nose. There's big confectioner's sugar alongside vanilla and flashes of fun, funky oak. Light cherry skins dance on the surface of the liquid below. There's a chocolate-laden crispy wafer aroma that I'm really loving. Soft hints of caramel and toffee elegantly lift up on deeper inhales. There's a sweet floral perfume aroma that really draws my attention in. The lightness that the low proof gives off here is actually a positive for me; it's a bit tantalizing and it reminds me of the uncertainty of young love. It really embodies one of the most perfect Irish aroma whiskey profiles I think anyone could craft. As much as I love my high proof bourbons, this nosing experience delivers the perfect medley of soft almond, jackfruit, and lemon forward Fresca (the old recipe). It takes me back to big family backyard barbecues in the Summers when I was a kid. I think it's time for a sip. Coming back to the nose after having a few sips I find that the oak aromas are much more prevalent as they give off a soft level of refinement you typically will get out of this age statement region. I find small flashes of leather, black pepper and level, earthy undertones. I can't ignore the sweet fruit medley and floral notes in the background but they're rather non-descript or secretive as I may have alluded to earlier. There's a faint bourbon characteristic to the oak I find late in the glass, but it's not trying too hard to be something it's not. There's hints of smoke, mossy earth and a faint metallic characteristic near the bottom of the glass. The empty glass smells of rose petals, grenadine and faint charcoal. Palate: Immediately on the palate I find a lovely creamy texture that hits my tongue. Those beautiful pot stills produce such lovely oily, rich, viscous mouth feels. It carries hints of grapefruit, caramel butter bars and chocolate puff pastries. Another sip unlocks big flashes of sherry, ripe dark cherry, and an enrichment of the chocolate pastry-style dessert flavors. The linger feels short but I think that's more of a deceiving artifact of the low proof as the caramel, minty grapefruit and confectioners sugar continue to dance around on the taste buds for quite some time without any of the sensation indicating that you may be consuming alcohol here. I continue to find the feeling of being around loved ones as I sip through this glass. Perhaps it's just me being a touch nostalgic with the style of whiskey that first captured my attention, but I'm certainly not looking to get rid of this glass any time soon. The linger is incredibly long as the mouth coating sticks with you allowing for a little sip to really go a long way. As I get lower in the glass the creamy caramel and sugar cookie notes really ramp up in intensity and some of the more nuanced fruit fall by the wayside. This feels like a great glass to savor and share one of, but might not draw you in for a 2nd or 3rd pour necessarily. My last taste is a larger sip and swish. With that I find troves of caramel, bits of molasses, a soft sizzle of lemon, and a pervasive wave of vanilla toffee cookies. Lovely, lovely all the way through - this is an exceptionally crafted Irish whiskey. Rating: 5/5 This is one of my all time favorite Irish whiskeys. It is also just an unbelievable value and exudes marvelous elegance every step of the way. I have a Redbreast 21 I have yet to crack open and it's very clear that that bottle is going to have some really big shoes to fill. I want to thank Gloria and PJ again for gifting me a bottle of this! You chose damn well!

It's Starlight Sunday over here in the Amongst household again! I figured I'd combo that with a shared pour - this sample comes courtesy of my friend Ian (@barrelproofnerd) in a sample swap we did not too long ago. In looking for the barrel details I also discovered that the venerable Frank (@bourbyourenthusiasm) has also reviewed this barrel for Malt! I'm thrilled to be sipping on something that we have both tried and I look forward to comparing notes once I finish up putting down my own thoughts. This will probably be a shorter one for me tonight, but let's get into it! Company on Label: Starlight Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed if it's from Starlight's 3 or 4 grain mash Proof: 114.8° Age: 4 (and a half) years Further identification: This cigar batch is finished in Brazilian Amburana barrels; it is a @bourbonfinds pick that comes from barrel # FB113-1 Nose: Right up front on the nose I find a synthetic vanilla and insanely rich toffee note that comes off the glass like a Falcon 9 at full thrust. The smell of this almost makes me hungry in the same way a really sweet desert can reinvigorate your appetite when you previously thought you were stuffed. There's a rich blackberry jam, dark fig and a very clear & robust mincemeat pie aroma here. It feels incredibly dark, heavy and viscous in the nose. It comes across like tiramisu but cranked up to 11 in intensity with some kind of strange, eclectic cinnamon twist. It's incredibly, incredibly unique, but I can't quite tell if I'm into it just yet. Let's get into a sip. After a sip the nose softens considerably as light notes of those candy dots that come on the strip of paper appear. Lighter wood aromas begin to show up and I'm greeted with more orange tones. Palate: On my first sip I find a very similar story as the nose, but it actually turns out softer here compared to the intensity of the nose which I appreciate in this scenario. Gingerbread cookie, Moroccan oranges, and an ever prevalent mincemeat pie flavor coat the mouth well without being overpowering. There's a significant smokiness hiding out in the linger after waiting a while before another sip. After going for another I find more orange peel, funky mesquite wood, and something synthetic out of the 90s that I just can't quite place. The linger is nice on this being on the lighter side with cooler fruit tones bubbling off the surface of my tongue. Oh wow. I just figured out the synthetic note... It reminds me of camping out on a brand new portable air mattress; it's that new-plastic smell that is incredibly potent, so much so that it transfers to the palate here as well. Nearing the bottom of the glass I am finding that I'm oddly accepting of some of these incredibly strange flavors that seems to be coming together in the end. My last sip is certainly on the spicier side with clove and nutmeg as well as a flash of soft cherry. The finish is drying with a medium linger of plum and rich earth tones. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) Overall, I can definitely appreciate a brand trying something as unique as this. At the same time this feels so different just for the sake of being different and overall I'd definitely say the typical flavors found throughout these Amburana barrel finished releases just might not be for my palate. I know some are crazy for this stuff and by all means I'm not saying this is a bad whiskey with a 2 score here; it just doesn't agree with my flavor interests personally. I will say this pick is significantly better than 1 of the previous Cigar Batch barrels that I've tried... Maybe they just need to be paired with the right cigar to properly unlock the right flavors; who knows! I do know I love Starlight distillate, so this miss won't put me off of them by any means. Cheers!

The Spirit Animal Society is back at it again - making picking whiskey barrels more accessible to the community! Thank you so much to the picking team that helped @_lostnemo_, @saxybourbon and me select this delectable whiskey treat. That's you @_yliejus_, @bourbonchick_6, @bustybourbonbatch, @dpmac1970, @filmandbarrel, @luckytimmy13, @trywhiskywithfitzy716, @thejameswells, @subourbon.appa, and @wafflesandbourbon! For those that don't know what Tokaji is (like me before this pick), it's a Hungarian sweet wine from the Tokaj wine region. This varietal is often made from grapes that experience 'noble rot' which is what creates such sweet flavors on these wines. It is pronounced like "toe-coy", but I think 'toe-kai' would work too, or maybe it's something in-between (I won't be picky either way). I just want to see how this whiskey tastes coming out of the bottle for now! Let's get into it. Company on Label: Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Finished Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed blend of Indiana (MGP) and Kentucky (C&K) whiskeys Proof: 124.46° Age: NAS (main component is a 14 year Indiana whiskey) Further identification: Blend # CJ54; Bottle # 164 - This is the pick that a group of Spirit Animal Society members got to join the founders in picking! From the Barrell Craft Spirits website: CJ54 is a blend of Indiana and Kentucky Whiskeys, the largest component being 14-year-old Indiana whiskey, finished in a Tokaji barrel. Nose: Creamy vanilla bean ice cream right away on the nose as soon as I lift the glass. Potent lemon frosting, bright florals and intensely sweet crème brûlée jump out of the glass. There's a rich oak characteristic all throughout. The aromas tied to that oak also come across similarly to a sugar cookie with a dash of nutmeg. The nose is ever bright and pungent with a background linger of baking spice and leather which provides a nice contrast to all the sweetness. Time for a sip! After sipping that amazing creamy cheesecake aroma is definitely present. It's not overpoweringly sweet, but more of a complex, layered sweetness like a well crafted dessert. Wow. The vanilla frosting characteristics of this are just incredible. I remember why we picked this now. Yum! On deeper dives of the nose to the glass you can definitely pull out some strong baking spices from the base whiskey - a great sign that the finish hasn't overpowered the blend. As I move through the glass I find black pepper, white grape skins, and a warm tree bark nose-feel. Lemon tea evolves softly as you progress. The nose on this really is just a soft, dessert sweetness all around - you could sit with this for ages and never have your senses get weathered like some other cask strength releases can cause. The empty glass smells of sweet Spring florals, hints of smoky chocolate and funky, figgy jam. Palate: My first sip is extremely approachable for the high proof; I immediately find a rich, sweet grape varietal clearing showing itself off from the finish. The linger has heaps of sweet cherry cola, cheesecake and an airy fruit parfait. Another sip builds in punchy raspberry, raisin and a nice grape brandy flavor that reminds of some of the best Copper & Kings releases I've tried. Mmm, yeah! That honeysuckle sweetness is really bringing me down the brandy branch flavor wise; I'm really digging that as it's certainly a unique experience I've never had on a whiskey before. There's an absolutely incredible creamy caramel; it's like Werther's meets flan. Yum, later in the glass I'm finding an orange sherbert flavor. My last sip is caramel forward with spiced plum, exotic wine tannins, and it turns quite bready on the linger. Delicious! Rating: Two Thumbs Up! This might be my new go-to dessert pour; it feels exceptional for sharing after a good meal. It's light enough that it won't blow up your palate if you feel like moving on to something else after, but rich and sweet enough that you want to savor it for a long while. I definitely recommend that you give this one a try! It doesn't have infinite complexity but I certainly look forward to seeing how it evolves over time. I truly believe this is one that someone of any whiskey background could get into - which is surprising given the 124.46 proof point. This is one I will certainly enjoy sharing with friends and family all Summer long.

I am continuing the Starlight Sunday trend I started on my Instagram last week! The Indiana winery-turned-distillery is putting out some incredible spirits these days and on my last visit we got to sample our fair share of their offerings. That visit did not include any Cognac finishes so I'm excited to try this one! I may or may not have another bourbon and rye incoming from the same picking team... My previous review from the same distillery was an unfinished bourbon single barrel from a store out of CT. Company on Label: Starlight Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of Starlight's 3 & 4 grain mash (51% Corn, 20% Rye, 9% Wheat, 20% Malted Barley) and (60% Corn, 20% rye, 20% Malted Barley) Proof: 111° Age: 4 (and a half) years is listed on the website Further identification: Barrel 21-2213-1 was selected by the Seelbach's team and is available on their website at time of writing Nose: Oooh. The nose feels immediately 'big'; it's big in the way of potency of aroma. Sweet earth is the best way I can describe what jumps out early on in the glass. Sharp vanilla bean, sugary cherry skins. stewed apricots and prunes are all very present, distinct and delectable on the nose. There's a dry leather that sits on the back end of a long inhale. There's definitely some distinct earthy funk that likely got imparted from the cognac barrel finish, but this is a prime example of finishing done right - not so long that it changes the base whiskey. I find a nice linen quality that comes along with the soft oak notes. The overall profile feels balanced and quite expressive. Time for a sip! After returning from a sip I find funky malt, orange marmalade and potent sweet sugars. I really love the smell of this. I'm finding myself spending much more time with this than going for sips. Nearing the bottom of the glass I continue to find the potent linen, hints of orange and red berry medley. Deeper inhales continue to drum up leather, earthy tones and funky fruit. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, grenadine, charred oak and a faint savory lemon butter sauce. Lovely and fun all throughout the glass. Palate: My first sip is very fruit-forward with plum, raspberry and blackcurrant coming across much like the nose - earthy sweet. Further sipping shows off rich oak bark, soft black pepper, and a thick mouth coating of sweet grape and mixed berries. As the glass weathers on there is a floral softness that begins to take over; it's reminiscent of honey without as much sweetness. Nearing the bottom of the glass I find some creamy chocolate and confectioners sugar. While this one doesn't have infinite complexity like some may hope for, the handful of flavors it does produce are quite enjoyable. I feel this one would pair well with a cool night on the porch with a mild cigar. My last sip offers a big mouth coating of orange peel, hints of grapefruit and a nice zest that lightly tingles the gums. The linger is medium long and continues to simmer in the gums for quite some time while a faint caramel trails along with a slightly smoky undertone. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf) Awesome pick! I didn't think I was going to enjoy this one as much as I did, but a fresh palate can do wonders for a whiskey. Starlight - keep up the great work! You make picking barrels so easy when everything you make is so good. Cheers to Blake & team for bringing this whiskey to the world for enjoyment!

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Starlight Distillery out of Indiana. The winery-turned-distillery is putting out some incredible spirits these days and we got to sample our fair share. As part of my due diligence for picking 4 barrels with them, I tasted through this single barrel coming out of a lovely little store in Connecticut called Liquor Depot ahead of time. This bottle went with me all the way as far as Ohio before coming back to MA. I've enjoyed quite a bit of it at this point and have really explored many of its layers. I figure it's about time to give it some proper tasting notes here so I can share the whiskey experience I think everyone in some of the states with shorter distribution availabilities are missing! Let's get into it (before it's gone!). Company on Label: Starlight Distillery Whiskey Type: Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Starlight's 4 grain mash: 51% Corn, 20% Rye, 9% Wheat, 20% Malted Barley Proof: 120.6° Age: 4 (and a half) years Further identification: Barrel 16415 was picked by Liquor Depot in CT; it was aged in a barrels from Spirit of Canton barrels charred to a level 3 char with a charred head - I'd like to give a shout to Andrew Jerdonek who somehow remembered all the details from this pick from memory (mash bill, cooperage, everything... that guy is a wizard) Nose: Creamy vanilla pudding upfront as I lift the glass to my nose. A light lemon peel and Earl Grey tea gently lift off the surface. A soft, oily, viscous nose-feel greets you until you dive really deep where a touch of worn leather, pepper and caramel begins to build in intensity. Time for a sip! Coming back after a few sips I find the glass has maintained the creamy vanilla profile while adding much more baking spice. Pepper and leather continue to add a nice level of complexity. I'm not overwhelmed by the volume of aromas at all, which makes this much easier to relax with and enjoy rather than spending a lot of time attempting to be analytical. The empty glass smells of grenadine, honey, brown sugar, and sweet barbecue smoke. Palate: My first sip is an explosion of lemon frosting and light, floral tea. Caramel comes in like a tidal wave right behind those initial flavors and produces a thick, rich mouth coating. As the wave of the first sip slowly fades I find great chocolate and baking spice tones. Another taste brings in a touch of tannin and a big tingly mouthful of cherry and faint cinnamon hots. Every sip feels like it carries a crescendo, or perhaps follows a bell curve; there's a slight sizzle, a dazzling, intense delivery and then a long off ramp that is just the right pace to not prove cloying. A subtle background note carries a touch of peanut brittle that could easily be missed if sipping through quickly. A larger sip and swish shows off lovely plum and raisin characteristics. Oooh, later in the glass there is a really funky fruity spice that has built up; it reminds me of a warm cinnamon, plum and walnut Dutch oven cobbler. Throughout this entire pour this sips are really easy, even up at 120.6 proof. The fruit medley is just sweet enough to fend off the more stinging effects of the background spices. Primarily this is a sweet and charismatic bourbon I'd love to keep on my shelf. The linger continues to be long and really quite straightforward which gives this whiskey an overall comforting feeling. There aren't too many surprises, just solid flavors at every corner. My last sip has almost a linen quality to the oak, something I've definitely found before in other whiskeys, but this one tastes a touch different. There's a long, simmering smolder of cinnamon and orange peel that I primarily feel up in my gums. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf) A lovely, lovely bourbon I'm impressed with more every day. I put it in blinds and head to heads and consistently this profile finds its way up near the top of my list. I'm really going to enjoy finishing off the last few ounces of this bottle. If you're local and want to try this before it's gone, you should hit me up sooner than later! I do think the bottle has definitely leveled out a bit with oxidation at this point, so take some of my points with that in mind. Have you tried any Starlight products? Let me know in the comments! Cheers all.