It's day 4 of Irish week and this train just keeps on rolling! All this week I will be running a giveaway on my Instagram where you will have the chance to win a bottle of Green Spot Irish whiskey or 4x 2oz samples of 4 bottles of your choosing that I drink this week! There will be 5 total days of nothing but Irish whiskey reviews from me as part of this; keep participating every day to increase your odds. If you want a boatload of bonus entries make sure to drop a comment on this webpage with your Instagram handle and your favorite Irish whiskey you want to see reviewed (or just some love)! As a special thank you to my website subscribers (love you all!), each of these comments are worth 10x more than an Instagram tag! Also feel free to drop a comment on all of my previous Irish reviews below: Bushmills Black Bush High N' Wicked - The Wild Rover Redbreast Lustau Edition Red Spot and Redbreast Lustau Head to Head Redbreast PX Sherry Finish Redbreast Small Batch Cask Strength Tomorrow on the 17th @amongstthefernsco and I will be tasting through just about everything we have, so stay tuned for a big finale. I'm glad to be changing pace on the distillery tonight. Let's see how this unique Irish offering turned out. This bottle was unwittingly shared with me for review by Brendan Winch; Amongst the Whiskey thanks you for the dram! Company on Label: Teeling Whiskey Company (Cooley Distillery) Whiskey Type: Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 95% Corn, 5% Malted Barley Proof: 92° Age: NAS (aged 6 years in Californian cabernet sauvignon barrels) Further identification: This is a rare example of a single grain Irish whiskey, which means it was column distilled from a mash of multiple grains, often corn, rye, unmalted and/or malted barley, and wheat and made at a single Irish distillery; it is stated as being non-chill filtered Nose: Woah, definitive corn sweetness up front here. There's a lighter oak and dust level compared to many of the other releases I've been through. Faint metallics and a light floral undertone are hard to pick up, but nice on the senses. Hm, a swirl brings out a funky savory note I wasn't expecting here. Wet cask iron (a sin) keeps coming back to me on this. I really can't say this nose early on does much for me. Time for a sip to see if things open up! Again the nose stays quite tame here as just traces of oak continue to rise off the surface of the whiskey. Ah, here we go - now I get a bit of a lemon twist over tea with a soft honey; if this were warmed to the point of steaming I could mistake it for a hot toddy. Copper and caramel flash up briefly before the red berry fruit parfait medley comes back to show off again. The empty glass smells of red licorice, moss, campfire ash, and sweet cornbread. Palate: Yum, yum, yum! That first sip was a complete 180 from the nose. Oh wow - the fruit parfait on this is just delectable. It's got some slight effervescence as if you popped a whole bunch of nerds candy in your mouth all at once. There's just an incredible softness to this that makes it feel like my tongue is being gently put to bed after falling asleep in the car. It's dessert savory like a really nice frosting, but devoid of that cloying sweetness some other Irish whiskeys drive at you. There is a bit of creamy coffee bean that I love to find. It also almost comes across like it has a flat milk kind of mouth feel which surprisingly is a lovely experience here. The fruit I mention at the start that I can pick up on are strawberry and red raspberry while a syrupy grenadine flavor ties them together. There is definitely a thicker, creamy yogurt feel to this which makes the parfait comparison still feel like it is ringing true later in the glass. This develops really well with time, but continues to be quite subtle. This is a pour you need to be paying attention to in order to pick up its character. The slight metallic feel I had early on in the nose transferred now to the palate as well. My last sip is a creamy, dreamy array of vanilla granola, light orange zest and soft florals that fade slowly into a long linger of faint peach brandy. Rating: 4/5 This one is surprising for its own unique reasons. I think this is the type of release that if you're not paying attention you could crush way too many drams of this very quickly, and that would be a damn shame because this whiskey shines best when you take your time with it. This also feels like most of the magic comes on the first sip and you're left chasing that high a bit through the rest of the dram. I hope you can enjoy some of this in a glass near you soon to see what I'm talking about. Cheers!

It's day 3 of Irish week and I am back baby! Fingers crossed we don't lose this review like we lost the Blue Spot write up I did! All this week I will be running a giveaway on my Instagram where you will have the chance to win a bottle of Green Spot Irish whiskey or 4x 2oz samples of 4 bottles of your choosing that I drink this week! There will be 5 total days of nothing but Irish whiskey reviews from me as part of this; keep participating every day to increase your odds. If you want a boatload of bonus entries make sure to drop a comment on this webpage with your Instagram handle and your favorite Irish whiskey you want to see reviewed (or just some love)! As a special thank you to my website subscribers, each of these comments are worth 10x more than an Instagram tag! Also feel free to drop a comment on all of my previous Irish reviews below: Bushmills Black Bush High N' Wicked - The Wild Rover Redbreast Lustau Edition Red Spot and Redbreast Lustau Head to Head Redbreast PX Sherry Finish On the 17th @amongstthefernsco and I will be tasting through just about everything we have, so stay tuned for a big finale. Now, let's see what cask strength Irish whiskey does to me tonight! Company on Label: Pernod Ricard (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley Proof: 117.4° Age: NAS (~9-10 years) Further identification: This one-off release from Redbreast that carries the label "Batch No. B1/19" likely an omen of future batches that inevitably got squashed by COVID - as this whiskey took until 2021 to get released in the US (exclusively, as far as I know). The whiskey starts its finishing timeline in bourbon and sherry casks but gets an extra 70 days of finishing in Oloroso Sherry butts. It was a rather expensive release which might be why you are here looking for a review of it! Nose: Yum. The nose starts very traditional for an Irish whiskey with light, bountiful sugar cookie notes and a soft, buttery consistency in the nose. Woah a second, deeper inhale definitely shows off the extra proof. It's interesting to note this comes out at the same proof as Blue Spot... There's a clear dustiness and funkiness to this. Dried citrus fruits are very light, but present on the back end of a draw. Buttercream frosting parts slowly into a vanilla base and then falls suddenly into black pepper. Mmm, there's a nice, crisp floral sweetness on this as well that doesn't come off too hot. I'm actually quite impressed that this has so far managed to take what a good Irish whiskey is supposed to do and cranked it up a bit in intensity. Ah - now tilting the glass a bit side to side I can finally find some of the fruit that the sherry casks & butts should have imparted. Oh, oh my - there's a distinct Choco Taco (the ice cream) vibe to this now. Don't let your proof nostril get too close to this though as 117.4 on an Irish comes off a bit more intense than you'd expect. I get much more barrel influence on this than anything else; it's quite dry in the nose with a dusty feel and loads of typical oak spice. Time for a sip to see if we can open this up. After a sip a distinct metallic note that reminds me of barrel hoops shows up but doesn't last long as a beautiful caramel note takes over. Wow, I was beginning to get a bit disappointed in this glass until very close to the end when the sweet factory just turned their lights back on. I get a blueberry pie smell, prune sweetness and a light, earthy oak bark. The empty glass smells of soft molasses, sawdust, smoke, a hint of minty licorice, fig and pear. Palate: Coffee ice cream leads the way on the palate with a chocolate buttercream linger. It drinks quite easy with your traditional oily mouth coating keeping any potential ethanol bite off the surface of your tongue. Sleek, creamy orange pound cake comes off delectable yet very soft. Another sip builds more creamy tones, but I struggle to really draw a lot of flavor from this release so far overall. For me tonight there's just the creamy start, the spicy crescendo, and then a pulsing, proofy wave of vague sugary desserts. Introducing a little air during a sip increases the vanilla characteristic but also brings a big wave of spice that carries allspice, nutmeg and almond. If you really dig on the palate, a touch of strawberry and peach can be found. My last sip is soft again with creamy vanilla once again leading the way and a short linger of strawberry cereal and sweet coffee creamer. Rating: 3/5 There may be good reason most Irish whiskeys are bottles near 92 proof... 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 also was not quite impressed with the relative lack of complexity of this - something that other cheaper releases of Redbreast can accomplish handily. I still liked all the flavors this glass threw at me, I just wish there were more of them for a whiskey of this caliber. It started really promising on the nose, but as whiskey is meant to be drank I have to bump this down to a middle-of-the-road 3, which (per my scale) means it's decent. I can go either way on it. I will say it's surprisingly crushable despite the proof, so be warned! I'll certainly continue to explore, learn and enjoy this bottle and I recommend you give it a try for yourself too if you can.

Are you a fan of sherry finishes? Are you a fan of Irish whiskey? I’ve been drinking Irish for a lot longer than I’ve been drinking anything else. I’m throwing it back to this one tonight. The last time I had this was St Patrick’s Day, where @amongstthefernsco crowned it her Irish Whiskey 2021 Bracket Champion. Let’s see how I feel about it tonight. Company on Label: Pernod Ricard Whiskey Type: Sherry Cask Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 92° Age: NAS (9-12 years) Further identification: This comes in a nice presentation box; purchased today, Friday the 13th of August 2021 Nose: Shortbread cookie! Bright vanilla. Some malty grains that instantly evolve into a rich chocolate & coffee bean. The start of the glass is kind of a cacophony of aromas. Sweet ashy smoke. Caramel and baking spices. Smells like some kind of confectionery creation my grandmother would make me. Pungent walnut parfait. A light leather and oak forms near the bottom of the glass. It floats along the incredible river of creamy vanilla that has been the highlight of this pour. Empty glass highlights some copper metallics I didn't originally find. Palate: Starts out viscous and oily but with very little sweetness right now which is surprising. The sherry finish on this definitely leans towards allowing the whiskey to work it's magic instead of taking over the profile. Creamy butter spread on a flaky square of cornbread. Syrupy sherry sweetness grows and grows the more you sip on this one. It feels like a solid step above in cask quality than what Bushmills Black Bush is finished in, which pains me to say, but it's true. I'd also wager it spent less time in the secondary cask. Slightly herbal near the bottom of the glass, this pour has always impressed me with its complexity over other Irish offerings. There's a texture and flavor that reminds me of my favorite parts of Nikka Coffey Malt. Last sip has buttery layers like mashed potatoes, rolling into a light oak and finally mellowing into the marshmallow sweetness of the evolved vanilla. Rating: 4/5

Time for a sample from the magic whiskey drawer! This port wine finished pour comes courtesy of @ra1nmannn, who also provided me with a bottle of the 2021 release to benchmark against as well. See the bottom of the page for a bonus head to head ranking of 2018, 2020 and 2021 releases. There's something about cold, snowy weather that always beckons me towards port wine finished whiskey; whether it be A Midwinter Night's Dram, Isaac Bowman, or this tasty treat - there's something to the mix of snow and the comforting respite of a well-finished whiskey in the warmth of your own home. I've previously reviewed the 2020 release already and am just coming off a Bardstown Bourbon "The Prisoner" review as well. I'm glad to be getting into these today - let's see how the 2018 tastes first! Company on Label: Louisville Spirits Group Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley Proof: 124° Age: NAS (supposedly up to 7 years) Further identification: This years release is also port wine finished - though other finishes have been used in the past Nose: Milk chocolate, toffee and a creamy raisin bread come up first. Dusty plum is right there immediately - certainly an offspring of the marriage between bourbon and port wine. More bread-like tones keep coming up mixed with plenty of berry notes; it reminds me of something like Stollen (German Christmas bread). There's plenty of level oak in this glass; it feels well-tempered like it has been properly stored at all the right conditions to not deteriorate. Surprisingly easy on the nose for the proof. Time for a sip! Yum. Some really nice caramel and butterscotch aromas have built well in this glass. Deeper inhales shows off a flavorful vanilla profile. I'm liking the creamy characteristics that are building now as it cuts through some of the dry dustiness and spices. Coming back after a long rest I get more dusty caramel and a touch of molasses. There seems to be surprisingly little depth here. The empty glass smells of earthy, dry dirt notes, cherry skins, red grapes and fig newtons. Palate: Wow. This is quite punchy from the get-go. I get aromatic bitters, cherry Garcia ice cream, plum, raisin, fig jam, and an intense cinnamon slap to the throat. Whew! The nose was deceiving! Another sip is less surprising with loads of dark red berry notes bellowing out. This is definitely a spice-forward release with allspice and nutmeg charging forward before settling into a plum base with cinnamon hots coating the edges of my mouth. The linger is short with chocolate, earthy funk and raisin. The sweet flavors are definitely there, but I'm finding them to be quite hidden under an undulating wave of heat that obfuscates the flavors. My last sip is pleasantly vanilla forward with Nerds candy, raspberry and maraschino cherry juice. Rating: 3/5 The 2018 was a surprising bit of a let down for me tonight. There were certainly some fleeting moments of greatness, but overall the whiskey drank a little too hot for me. Head to Head Rankings: Angel's Envy Cask Strength 2018 vs 2020 vs 2021 2020 As I nose into the 2020 release I'm greeted with a lot of the same dusty sweetness but it feels much more well-kempt. There's a lovely paper note I always enjoy which is likely an oak artifact. It's much more leadingly sweet and has a buttery nose-feel. This one drinks malt-forward with surprising pear and apple notes. All the same lovely fruit you'd expect. Really... Wow.. This one definitely feels on-par with a good Midwinter Night's Dram Act. Yeah, wow, this one drinks like silk compared to the 2018. Lovely port wine influence that just checks the box while still remaining predominantly a whiskey for me. I might be getting a little soft in my whiskey preferences; I feel like I used to be the barrel proof king and now I find myself targeting a lot of the sweeter profiles. This one fits that bill. Delicious! 2018 The second time going into a half-glass of this I get something really strange; it's like a fruit fluoride, or something that reminds me of my old dentist's office. That note passes and returns to the chocolate and breadiness I was expecting. Back to a sip of this my proof pain point has certainly been diminished as I'm getting into a higher volume of whiskey. This reveals some nice citrus notes I didn't get in my initial review, but the flashy linger is still quite stinging and tingling on the mouth. 2021 Well, this feels somewhere in between the other two with nothing prominently jumping out as different at first glance. There's much more dry oak to this and something like powdered nitrile rubber gloves that is subtle yet quite confusing on this nose. It drinks much softer and sweeter than the 2018 release with a lovely grape-forward profile. The linger is much, much longer than the 2018 was giving me and I'm impressed with the delivery of strawberry and aprium. Returning to the nose on this, I feel like this one might be the most complex and a touch on the darker side compared to the very, very sweet profile of the 2020. It drinks easily and certainly earns a spot in the ATW study. Final Ranking: 2020 > 2021 > 2018 Though 2020 and 2021 are very close but for different reasons.

I've had one other really amazing experience with this bottle prior to today. This bottle completely held it's own and even stood out amongst giants during the last "Bourbon Night" that @ra1nmannn hosted. After reading this was Tennessee sourced on the bottle for the first time I was quite surprised that I was not repulsed the time that I tried it. I know I am not personally a fan of that vitamin flavor some Dickel releases can bring, but this one certainly didn't have that the first time I tried it. I'm hoping I continue to be impressed by this bottle, but I'll be going in with no expectations to todays tasting. Let's see what The Prisoner is all about! Company on Label: Bardstown Bourbon (distilled in TN) Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, and 8% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: 10 years (plus 18 months of finishing!) Further identification: Release 2; The Prisoner is a collaborative series release that partnered with The Prisoner Wine Co; it spent 18 months in The Prisoner's red wine French oak barrels Nose: Yum, on first blush a rich sweetness floats up alongside a rich butterscotch. Toasted oak and cereal are next to reach my nose. There's a lovely honey sweetness that comes across alongside some Spring florals. There's a lot of soft red fruit coming off the glass almost lazily. I find traces of raisin, black cherry, and fig. This glass is incredibly soft on the nose early on; it feels like I'm being taunted into going for a sip with this. Oh, I'll bite. Yup, this evolved gracefully into a sweets factory with a crème brûlée crust. Candied cherry, dusty oak and the ever prevalent vanilla tone that rocks the senses. Wow, some funky brown sugar and molasses has built well in the glass over time after coming back to it after a long rest. There's a lovely lightness like flaxseed oil, or maybe some paper, here too. The empty glass smells of wonderful honey sweetness, milk chocolate and vanilla pudding. Palate: My first sip starts delicate and then a rush of plum and blackberry come rushing over my tongue. The immediate flavor that follows is an incredible vanilla that really coats the mouth well. It rings sweet and true for a long time in a rich and creamy profile like Madagascar vanilla. A funky molasses now jumps into the glass with plenty of baking spices as well. The whole experience feels like a big tidal wave at first that crashes in but never recedes. The linger is impeccably long and never seems to change in intensity or depth of flavor. The chocolate and vanilla just seem to hang on until you completely lose track of time. There is a slight tingle as a sweet strawberry pop rocks feel hits the tongue. This definitely isn't as sweet as I remember it being, but I'm also on a fresh palate and not on my 6th pour of the day. I also am not following this up after a pour of Pappy 23 like I did the last time! This was leagues better than the Pappy 23, for the record. This does everything it should for a wine finished bourbon and does so incredibly well for how long of a finish was used. My last sip is finally bringing all the sweets with cherry, raisin and red grape varietals. The linger continues to impress with honey, blackcurrant, and a light & easy cinnamon. Rating: 4/5 Perhaps I let my expectations get the best of me here, but I definitely wasn't as amazed by this pour as the last time I tried it. I still thoroughly enjoyed it & will continue to share and enjoy the rest of the bottle I have. I've been hearing about all the new releases that Bardstown is coming out with so I think I will spend some time exploring those new releases before chasing down another bottle of this. Cheers to great experiments!

I've been meaning to get into a deeper dive of this whiskey for a while now. I have had a tipple or two already so I know it a little bit, but I surely haven't sat down for a proper review yet. Finally we get to rectify that today! This ongoing release has been all over the map for me. I know that I'm in general quite a big Beam fan, so I approach every one of their new releases with excitement, but tempered expectations. I love that this is the Booker's line really experimental branch and I think this blend definitely follows that same vein. Their website has more information about this batch, for now, I just want to get into it! Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Blended Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 116.8° Age: 2 years (blend of 2-15 year old whiskey) Further identification: This 2021 release is a blend of 2 year Kentucky straight bourbon, 3 year Kentucky straight rye malt whiskey, 5 year Kentucky straight bourbon, and 15 year Kentucky straight bourbon Nose: Sugary, caramel candy jumps out the glass first at me. Malt-forward and prevalently spiced, I'm surprised to already have found a quite apparent oak note this early in the glass. There is a nice raisin that seems to be riding atop a wave of molasses. Brown sugar, pepper and a sharp steel metallic note all feels rather heavy on the nose and tells a story of a higher proof whiskey than this. Faint dusty peanut shells can be dug up, perhaps a piece of the key 15 year component on this? Toasted vanilla notes just completely leapt onto the scene now. There's a light linen note that smells like fresh laundry. The air coming off the glass feels light like a bright Spring day. Time for a sip... Yum, the sweetness has ramped up significantly here and I'm greeted with all kinds of confectioner scents. The overall feel is definitely one that favors caramel and caramel adjacent notes. Woah, big barbecue brown sugar notes now; this almost has that savory characteristic that Booker's Country Ham delivers. There is a backbone of great sweetness all through this glass too. Raspberry and raisin are the most prevalent notes, but there are subtle nuances of many dark fruit. The nose late in the glass definitely reminds me of some of the earliest whiskeys I got to experience (likely a handful of Booker's batches). It's a unique vanilla you won't find reproduced just like this in anything else. The empty glass smells of rose, honey, and peach jam. Palate: Wow, this drinks quite soft right off the bat. No first sip of the day punch on the tongue like most whiskeys would deliver. There is a nice cherry forward tongue linger with just a hint of nuttiness like an almond crust. Wow, I really dig the mouth feel on this; while it's not the huge prevalence and richness that some barrel proof offerings it comes across very orderly and complex. There are sweet cherry pops during the sip and then a wave of grenadine and lemon drops washes over. The linger is slightly cooling in the mouth with a light and effervescent black treacle. Taking a few subsequent sips really lets the spice build. I get cinnamon hots, blackberry cobbler and a flavor I don't recognize well, but it feels quite bright. This blend - like many other blends I've tried - gets a little overwhelming to experience at times because there seems to just be so much going on with it that only very key notes clearly identify themselves. The mouth feel is quite cooling and numbing, likely attributed to a mint flavor that doesn't quite materialize on the taste buds. As the glass starts to get low some citrus and tea flavors begin to shine more than others. I really am amazed by the mouth feel on this, perhaps more of the rye (the 3 year component) shows off here. My last sip carries brown sugar, rye bread and chocolate covered cherries. Rating: 4/5 Going through this whiskey feels a little out of order at times; things don't build or subside when you expect them at all. This glass was full of many pleasant surprises and Freddie Noe has managed to really buck the norm with this release while still delivering a great whiskey experience. This one definitely earns some extra points with me for uniqueness, but this profile might not be for everyone, especially those who like to enjoy 2 or more glasses of the same thing in a row. I will continue to enjoy this bottle, but probably 1 glass at a time before moving onto something else.

The ever lovely @_lostnemo_ has sent me another amazing @mayorpingreewhiskey release from @valentinedistillingco for review. This time it was in the form of an entire bottle as a housewarming gift! Can you believe her? I appreciate everything the @SpiritAnimalSociety has brought to the whiskey community so far, but our crown jewel has got to be Abby. She does so much and is incredibly kind to boot. What more could you ask for in a friend? I'm surely glad to call her one of mine! 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 the Michiganders are producing these days! Mayor Pingree 6 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Straight Rye Whiskey Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 121.6° Age: 6 years Further identification: This single barrel is produced and aged by Valentine; the whiskey comes from barrel 705 and is a distillery only release as far as I know Nose: Oh mylanta, this is a rye? I get all the hallmarks of an unbelievably well crafted bourbon with syrupy caramel, vanilla, molasses, and level oak. There's another wood characteristic that reminds me more of cedar too. Wow, incredible wood characteristics all throughout this now. I feel like I'm in a woodshop. I've only had one other whiskey that elicited that exact feeling. Now the cherry syrup and plum characteristics are swinging in. I get some really nice earthy tones that remind me of tomatoes growing on the vine. It's not overly powerful despite its higher proof. On a good swirl I drum up sweet raisin, savory black pepper, and milk chocolate. What a silky, bakery sweet scent to this. There's a touch of warm leather on the front end with things blooming into hints of allspice and nutmeg. There's a lovely bubbling cranberry note that simmers to the top as I dive deeper. The overall feel is definitely one that favors bakery sweets like pastries and cakes with flashes of lovely fruit sweetness that make this a complex pour with savoring. Time for a sip. Wow, a paper note is quite prominent after a sip. It's a bright oakiness not many other pours can replicate. Soft honey is there, and the descriptor is quite apt for many of the aromas that find their way out of this glass. The empty glass smells of Summer flowers, soft plum, honey, and grenadine. Palate: Plum and pepper lead the charge on my first sip. A long heft builds and hugs me warmly all the way down without every coming off too harsh. There's a calm copper metallic note that sits on the palate gingerly. Another sip builds in the milk chocolate, caramel and molasses that the early nose was demonstrating well. The mouth coating is thin, but warming in a comforting way that reminds me of sitting in a sunlit window seat of a breakfast diner. The raisin and cranberry notes swing through now and dance with a bit of citrus zest on the middle of my tongue. The mouth coating is really starting to build now with caramel cookies and pastry dough continuing to set the scene. Wow, bright honey and lemon tea just flashed onto the scene like an old friend coming by for a surprise visit. As I near the end of the glass the dark red fruits continue to build in intensity and do start to take on a bit of bitterness that's not unwelcome. My last sip is on the larger side of a sip and it produces lemon zest in troves, cinnamon, cherry skins, soft herbal tea tones, and honey. The oak characteristics linger well, but certainly not too long. The finish is slightly drying with the feeling of consuming something that was coated with flour. Rating: 4/5 I thoroughly enjoyed this pour, and am definitely reaching for another as a follow up on this fine Friday evening! I did think this presented fairly traditional overall; maybe I was expecting something unique out of the Michigan aged spirit, but it ended up delivering something delicious, familiar and overall a really great whiskey that I am so stoked to have more of. Thank you again Abby!

Sample and bottle photo courtesy of @bourbondipity_! Well, false Spring is here and I am going to thoroughly enjoy it before the next snow storm. Couldn't have asked for a better day out on the porch in New England sitting in the warm sun with Brittany & Fern. This review was completed in that atmosphere and might not be as complete as some of my indoor reviews. Let's see how the 16 year Seagrass stacks up against their original Seagrass release I still have open. Company on Label: Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Finished Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 130.82° Age: 16 years Further identification: This is the first release of the older gray label Seagrass; bottle 1,487 Nose: Upon pouring the sample an immediate thick, sweet vanilla floats out of the glass. Oh yeah, first raising this to my nose I can tell this one is going to be a rye lover's delight. The finish feels more mellow than the Batch 1 Seagrass I have thoroughly enjoyed and this really let's the base whiskey shine. Lemongrass sweetness jumps out at me immediately with pear and apricot swinging in behind that aroma. Incredibly bright for something with an age statement such as this; none of the darker oak characteristics have taken this over which I'm glad to note. Soft fig slowly transitions to a brandy sweetness that is quite white grape prevalent. Surprisingly supple on the nose, I'm having a nice (yet challenging) time picking through this one. I keep coming back to this incredibly syrupy sweet, viscous vanilla aroma that makes this quite a treat to smell through. Sun-beat Spring florals dance loftily on deep inhales. Just a tiny hint of the raspberry sweetness I get out of the flagship release made it into this batch. Like I mentioned earlier I wouldn't be surprised if this was a shorter finishing time than the Batch 1 release. Some dust and chocolate round out the nose experience and really make me want to go for a sip now, which I think I shall. A soft breeze is blowing over the glass as I sip now which may be pulling some of the aromas I'd normally keep digging for off the surface. Pressing on I find a lot more sweet chocolate now. There's a faint gingerbread characteristic that combines with the chocolate to make something similar to a pirouline stick. The vanilla sweetness has layered in with a sweet prune. I've loved everything I have smelled so far. Golden flowers and tan brush are the two visuals I get from experiencing this. The empty glass smells of thick honey, lemon preserve and unbelievable floral sweetness; it feels like I've just stepped into a beautiful indoor garden, much like the one in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Palate: Wow, this is much more powerful than the nose let on. Troves of plum, raspberry and apricot jam instantly coat my whole tongue in a well balanced sweet profile. The mouth coating and linger is incredibly thick & sweet. It sits with you like a spoonful of wild honey. Another sip draws more appealing sweets in vanilla bean ice cream, toasted marshmallow, raisin and a hint of light smoke on the back end. The palate presents quite bold, but the smoldering sweetness and refined edges of this give it the same elegance I enjoy on the flagship release. As more flavor builds I get a good bit of sweet oak influence starting to show up and evolve. Soft pepper coats the roof of my mouth while the stone fruit medley continues to bombard the tip of my tongue. Lemon zest jumps back in and comes across softer than most. Golden caramel is there if you're paying attention before the fruit flavors take over. My last sip is soft with plum, pear, praline and pepper. The linger is lovely with rye forward lemongrass, soft heather, and honeysuckle. Rating: 5/5 I'm into this. Barrell has managed to take what was already perfection in my eyes and tweaked it into something completely different that still titillates the senses. Well done! Having a Batch 1 next to me, I will follow up with a few sips of that to see how they compare. I think I'd give a slight nod to the OG Seagrass. Better fruit sweetness, more finish influence (especially the Madeira, wow), and less explosive / in your face in the proof department. All in all, a fantastic pair of whiskeys to experience today. I definitely enjoy all of this release.

Company on Label: Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Finished Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 118.4° Age: NAS (~5 to 12 year blend) Further identification: Bottle # 2596 Nose: Lemon glaze frosting, super floral and herbaceous. Slightly smoky but mostly really sweet scents. Citrus mint. Grassy and light earthiness, like a pine forest. Such a creamy, dreamy and thoroughly smoothed nose experience. Later on some of the more traditional rye notes appear like a dusty oak, chocolate and pepper. A silky vanilla can be pulled out on deep inhales as well. It evolves to a marshmallow as it continues to open with time and warm outdoor air. This is an intensely layered experience thanks to the crazy triple finish. The rum gives it that oily, tropical spin... the Madeira packs in some extra sweetness... and the brandy brings the floral, citrus punch. Really, this came together perfectly on the nose. Palate: Instant thick apricot cream. Big first mouth coating. Tropical fruit like a pineapple cocktail tastes delicious early on. The fortified wine experience is also very prevalent with stewed fruits like pear and apricot leading the charge while a strawberry vanilla smoothie tries to push its way through the syrupy, heavy, sweeter fruit. Chewing on this one a bit I turn up quite a lemon and grapefruit zest. This combined with a fully materialized mint note manages to finally sting my tongue just enough where I remember this is a 118.4 proof neat pour. Smaller sips are as approachable as can be. Grapefruit and pineapple goes phenomenal together. I don't usually go for fruity drinks but now I think I want to try that combination with some white rum. Again, top notch in layers and complexity. The finish comes and goes at its leisure and honestly I think I prefer this one to not have too much of a high rising, proofy explosion. I'm here for the sweetness and sunshine. Yum. Rating: 5/5

I love doing whiskey flights. They are like palate calibration for me. Another layer of fun is removing any label hype by serving them up mixed up & blinded by the lovely Brittany. The whole table smells delicious already, I think I'm in for a treat tonight. Think I'll guess these all right? Let's see... Do you do flights? They are great learning tools if you can get them set up right. Give it a try next time you want a few pours! Maker's Mark Private Selection Stave Finished Bourbon Company on Label: Maker's Mark Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, and 14% Malted Barley Proof: 111.2° Age: NAS (6 years) Further identification: This June 2021 pick is from Gordon's (@TheWhiskyGuys) Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Company on Label: Old Forester Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 18% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley Proof: 115° Age: NAS (~4 years) Further identification: This is the old label style that was likely purchased in early 2021 or perhaps 2020 Rebel Distiller's Collection Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon Company on Label: Lux Row Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% Malted Barley Proof: 113° Age: 6 years Further identification: This single barrel pick was selected for Julios (The Loch & K(e)y Society) from barrel 6819646 which was barreled 9/26/2014 Cream of Kentucky 12.3 Year Bourbon Company on Label: J. W. Rutledge Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 102° Age: 12.3 years Further identification: This is labeled as Batch #3 and was purchased sometime in 2020 and I should probably be through it by now but alas Black Paw Glencairn Nose: Sweet orange peel Funky, funky, funky... Quite musty Smells like you mixed all the sodas at the soda fountain Vinegar Finally mellowed really late, but this might be a corked whiskey unfortunately Sweet tarts; chalky & sugary Palate: My body is telling me not to drink this, but I will, for science Not as bad as I was expecting, but still not good Burnt rubber I tried... this one is spoiled Blue Fish Glencairn Nose: Sweet chocolate Bright vanilla Sharp cherry Nerdz candy Toffee Slightly floral Cinnamon back end Palate: Chocolate is heavy on this, it carries a dry, textured mouth feel Crème brûlée Salted caramel Molasses Savory chocolate dessert feel Smoky barbecue with a deep spice on the back end Green Peacock Glencairn Nose: Lemon zest Cinnamon spiced cereal Surprising contrast to the previous two glasses Very woody, sharp Spice forward Crayons Palate: Good cinnamon spice Level oak, fun nuances Smarties candy Tingling sweet linger; rather nondescript Zesty now with lemon hard candy notes Light and bright mostly Hints of cherry and vanilla Red Antlers Glencairn Nose: Malty chocolate Lemon frosting Delicious butterscotch Vaguely savory and slightly metallic Slight grain showed up after a sip, but it was a microscopic flash, not a prominent note Marshmallow Definitely my favorite nose due to the creamy marshmallow note Molasses Palate: Soft vanilla and cherry forward Vanilla leans into marshmallow Sweet, silky coffee bean Chocolate pudding, yum! Reminds me of those little snack pack pudding cups Softer molasses than the nose Orange peel zest Final Ranking: Antlers > Fish > Peacock > Paw Guess: Paw ~= Rebel Fish ~= Makers Peacock ~= Cream of Kentucky Antlers ~= Old Forester Reveal: Paw = Cream of Kentucky Fish = Old Forester Peacock = Rebel Antlers = Maker's Accuracy: 0% Humility: 100% Fun: 110% Clarified Final Ranking: Maker's > Old Forester > Rebel > Cream of Kentucky (DNF) Another friendly reminder to finish your low bottles! I really hope that the CoK 12.3 year is just oxidized and the whole batch isn't spoiled. Let me know if you've had a problem with this bottle too in the comments. I think it's just my bottle, as I originally reviewed this without the same funk. For now, please don't read into that ranking too much. You win some, you lose some... Coming from the same guy that identified a brand, proof and the fact it was a store pick correctly blind once, there has never been a more clear writing on the wall for needing a bit of a break than this I think. The rest of the week might be wine only for me if I'm lucky! One thing is for certain: that Maker's pick from Gordon's rocks. See you soon folks. We have some really exciting stuff coming from the @SpiritAnimalSociety soon! Stay tuned.

Thank you to @ra1nmannn for providing me a sample of this bottle for review as well as providing a picture of the bottle itself! Between this and the bottle of 2021 Angel's Envy Cask Strength you left here at the whiskey study, you've earned many an open bar tab at my house. You are the epitome of a good friend & truly understand what whiskey is all about. Cheers! From the website: In celebration of Founder’s Day on August 19th, the 10-year anniversary of the first port barrel filled by Angel’s Envy, we’re releasing our first expression in our Founder’s Collection. On August 19th of 2010, Lincoln, Wes and Kyle Henderson filled their first ruby port wine barrel with Kentucky Straight Bourbon. 10 years later, we’re celebrating this Founder’s Day with a truly unique launch that would have made Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson proud. Wes and Kyle blended two Kentucky straight bourbons in a 50/50 ratio (four year and nine year) and finished them in hand-selected, charred, new Japanese Mizunara oak casks for an additional two years. Company on Label: Louisville Spirits Group Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed blend of two bourbon mash bills (<51% corn) Proof: 97.8° Age: 4 years (a blend of 4 and 9 year bourbons, finished for another 2 years) Further identification: The Mizunara oak casks that were used are from 200 year old Japanese wood Nose: Enchantingly sweet aromas are coming off the glass before I can even get it up to my nose, I'm already quite intrigued. The depth of caramel aromas are incredible; it almost feels textured as it enters my nose. Floral sweetness greets me early as well. Maybe it's some mental imagery transcending into the aromas but I am envisioning Japanese cherry blossom trees in full bloom as I get into this. Strawberry sweetness is slightly sharp, but still enjoyable. There's definitely some oak-laden characteristics; some pepper from the American charred oak and hints of floral (instead of the normally spiced) sandalwood and a sweet honey that likely comes off the Mizunara staves. A soft chocolate nibbles at the edges of the glass. I still can't shake the wonderful floral tones that this has. I'm amazed by the uniqueness of this as well as its ability to feel comfortable and perceptively soft. Deeper inhales certainly show off some more heft, notably in a bright raisin. cranberry and plum. I'm led towards a creaminess that reminds me of a blended red wine. Soft vanilla parts early on a deep left nostril inhale and produces a fine funk that vaguely smells like a skunk that has passed by from a great distance. It's not offensive but certainly gets your attention. Everything on the nose so far has been incredibly soft and slightly damp, like inhaling the mist coming off a humidifier. Time for a sip! Honeyed molasses comes in strong when I return my nose to the glass. A distinct, dark grape juice jumped out of the glass late. Woah, the pepper and funky, sugary vanilla came back in troves now as well. There is a nerdz candy sweetness followed by the deep funk that feels quite attached to the milk chocolate tones. If you hold out for experiencing one note in this glass, make it that fun funk note. You'll know when you find it! Late in the glass things have returned to the multifaceted caramel wave I found at the very beginning. The extra oak from the finishing reminds me of the smell of a busy woodworking shop. The empty glass smells of delicious orange blossom honey, vanilla, raisin, clay, and soft wood varietals. Palate: My first sip is very fruit forward with a lot of the same raisin, cranberry and cherry coming across my tongue. There's a distinct funky spice that comes across like a plum-infused sandalwood. Where I thought I was experiencing something quite unique on the nose, the palate is even more unique to anything that I've tried before. I'm attempting to recollect what I thought of the Taconic Mizunara oak I tried in passing not too long ago, but I can't recall if there are any parallels to this whatsoever. Certainly some plum and cinnamon are quite coating near the back of my tongue. Ginger and cardamom are fun surprises and the linger reminds me of Spring florals like daisies and daffodils. Apricot jam and a pungency like papaya seeds come flying out on bigger sips and swishes. The mouth coating and linger is rich, sweet and slightly tingling mainly in the gums. My last sip is the most spiced of any of them with nutmeg, black pepper and turmeric leading the way then parting into a sweet honeysuckle finish. Plum and cinnamon lead a surprise charge back briefly before softly fading in waves like a falling leaf. Rating: 5/5 This was definitely a pour that captured my attention and forced me to really dig in to find the subtle nuances. Spending a good amount of time learning a pour of the nose is really important for me before I take a sip. One of two things happen after a sip: you become a bit nose-blind to the smells that don't specifically jive with the flavors of the palate, or the bigger aromas that do align to the palate become a bit overpowering. The end result of either is a missed opportunity in my eyes! The way I intend reviews to read would be to start with all the nosing notes you find before you see that I've taken a sip. From there jump back and forth between the palate notes and the remaining nosing notes as I'm usually popping back and forth between the two. You might be able to pick up on my skipping rhythm once you know this fact! This pour put me almost into a dream-like state with its softness. As I sit in on a snowy day here in New England, it brings me the promise of Spring's arrival. Even while being quite analytical and explorative, this whiskey completely relaxed me. The lower proof on it certainly doesn't scream big flavors, and that's exactly what this pour attempts to avoid; there is a softness in every corner of this glass. I suggest drinking this one in a quiet environment, free of distraction, and savored slowly. Now... Anyone got a lead on a bottle? Cheers!

This one is probably an easily overlooked label on most shelves. It caught my eye one day gathering dust and I figured it would be worth a try, given all the great whiskey coming out of the Beam distillery. The review was requested by Matt (@WhiskyGnome) who is a great supporter of the Spirit Animal Society! If you have any review requests make sure to drop me a comment. Let's get into this Beam! Company on Label: James B Beam Distilling Co Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley Proof: 86° Age: 4 years Further identification: This bottle is listed as a limited edition tribute to the 85th anniversary of prohibition's repeal which by the math would make this a 2018 release; NCF Nose: Floral and nutty on first raising the well-rested glass to my nose. Oily oak characteristic that immediately opens into a strong dried corn scent. Smoky and earthy smells that remind me of Summer cookouts. The left nostril is very light & tame, while the right nostril builds in a ton more of the smokiness. There's a cleanliness to the nose that reminds me of a floral candle burning on a warm night (which is not tonight, so the imagery is a bit surprising). Hints of bright copper metallics lead into dry chestnuts and bright cotton aromas before a sip. Afterwards a bit of oily coffee bean forms in the glass. Caramel gets a hint of chocolate complimenting it well. The empty glass is loaded with peanut oil and pungent, earthy honey. Palate: A distinct nuttiness on my first taste that comes across incredibly light with an oily mouth feel. Faint creamy caramel builds on a subsequent sip along with peanut brittle, cornbread, and honey. Very refreshing pour with nothing dark or heavy coming through at all. A small pool of cherry juice is forming over several sips with sprinkles of cinnamon mixed throughout. I think this pour dramatically benefits from the non-chill filter treatment, leaving a lot of thicker natural oils to coat the palate. My last sip is a nice rich coating of chocolate, toffee and silky honey. Rating: 3/5 This one definitely struggles to wow at its proof point, but I can tell the whiskey is still good. Matt might have described it better than me as "Old Tub Light"! If you are looking to introduce someone to the world of bourbon this might be a nice introduction for someone scared of upping their proof.