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Madeira is a fortified wine made on the Portuguese Madeira Islands, off the coast of Africa. Madeira is produced in a variety of styles ranging from dry wines which can be consumed on their own, as an aperitif, to sweet wines usually consumed with dessert. I am really interested in exploring this cask finished rye, and I hope it allows the whiskey to continue to shine on its own with some subtle nuanced additions of the sweeter side of things. Company on Label: Taconic Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 90° Age: NAS "Distilled and aged to perfection in the Hudson Valley, New York" Further identification: Bottled on 7/27/2021; This single barrel offering is a pick from the Kappy's 1940 Barrel Society, I purchased this bottle recently in 2021 Nose: Maple and vanilla forward at first. Almond Joy creaminess and a light cracked pepper abound. A few light hints of a light & fluffy tangerine can be found. Very mellow and subtle in all its presentation on the nose, a strong swirl elicits more dry vanilla, a new honey, and some very faint funky herbs. Post-sip the oak notes are more prominent, but still faint. Pepper grows in intensity and brings with it a creamy floral bouquet. Again more of that smooth vanilla, like a candy cream filling. Aromas are really growing in strength and poise now later in the glass. Sweet marshmallow and caramel like a Cow Tales. Really fantastic nose here. Palate: Woah, way more punchy than the nose let on! This is a sweet factory. Confectionery sugar, maple walnut ice cream and a lovely plum. Hmm, definitely a few touches of dark, ripe grape notes also present on the linger. Definitely a little bit on the tannic side with this wine influence, but the cask finish is definitely on the lighter side, which I enjoy and prefer. There are many of the rye characteristics still poking through: punchy earthy herbs, pepper, and vanilla spice. Syrupy, but thin, this is a very easy sipper. The finish brings a bit of stinging in my gums, but also many layers of French bakery goods. Very tasty offering I'm glad to have! Rating: 3/5

Company on Label: Sazerac Whiskey Type: Canadian Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 80° Age: NAS Further identification: This single barrel product bears no additional information (kind of disappointing) Lovely light caramel toasted oak with citrus zest and a touch of pine needle tea. Noses a bit towards a leather scent. Light white pepper, dusty vanilla, and some airy hints of butterscotch. Very floral at times and other times not. There are some indeterminate fruit aromas that come off like unripe berries. Sips easy with creamy lemon brittle and a bit of walnut shells. Some shortbread cookie similar to a Midleton Irish whiskey profile. Mostly caramel and vanilla forward - a fluffy wanna-be-bourbon at its heart, really. Some orange creamsicle can be dug up on longer swishes and chews. At 80 proof I’ve made way more of this bottle disappear than I had anticipated! It really sips too darn easy. Rating: 3/5 Not bad at all! This is a fantastic pour for hot days and tired days... Drinks better than most Irish whiskeys I enjoy on similar evenings.

This sample came to me in a swap with @barrelproofnerd, who has also provided the picture of the bottle for this review. Thanks Ian! Have you seen these Old Carter releases around you? I don't have access to them, but have been interested in trying more of these as I had a small tasting of a batch 6 American release that really impressed me in passing. This will be my only Old Carter available review unless I can secure some more samples... But, no better time like to present to get into more samples from great folks; onto this Old Carter review! Company on Label: Old Carter Whiskey Co Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed - a Kentucky bourbon mash bill that went into used barrels Proof: 117.5° Age: NAS Further identification: Batch 1 (8 barrel blend), Bottle 1183 of 1854; Bottled in Bardstown, KY; release October 2020 Nose: Hmm, nice corn sweetness start to this, with some malty caramel following close behind. Zesty clove and anise with a bit of mellow citrus temperament. This pour makes my nose twitch around the glass, trying to find the real big tones to this, but everything is coming off quite light and in little swirling spurts. Now the heft of 117.5 proof is starting to show: maple, dusty oak and a faint bread aroma are beginning to build. Slightly nutty now with touches of salted pistachios. Wow, now for something completely different... Cherry is hidden behind some kind of smokescreen/fogginess. Green foliage you might find in a marsh or wetland area - it's coming off like reeds I smell sitting in a duck blind next to a river. Time for a sip. Post sip things stay surprisingly mellow with caramel and a light, sweet oak being the mainstay aromas. Earthy tones enter now with more cloves and allspice. The overall feel of this pour is very pungent and earthy for sure. The empty glass smells of molasses. Palate: Definitely a lot of the citrus and clove from the early nose is present; it punches across my tongue in quick darts, but leaves behind thick maple and brown sugar - more malty than sweet. So incredibly punchy on the palate, I almost want to say this is on the younger side of things, maybe right around 4 years. It's not grainy young per-se, but the oak characteristic on the palate is what makes me believe that. Lemon cake presents now, still carrying a lot of ethanol heat. Vanilla now on a larger chew, a bit of buttery bread, and the main driver of the palate of this pour: more dark earthy herbals with new-growth citrus undertones. The last sip feels like I have my tongue pressed up against a piece of freshly split oak - drying, but with a long linger of molasses. Rating: 2/5 I really wanted to like this release, but it just doesn't do it for me. I may have had a bit of high expectations coming off of that small pour I mentioned I recently had of the American Whiskey Batch 6, but completely in a vacuum I would not be reaching for a bottle of this.

Quite the change of pace for me, but when @bourbondipity_ gives you 2oz of something cool to take home after a good night, you take it and enjoy it! This is an organic whisky that is all done "seed-to-spirit" from the farm. The whisky is aged in French Limousin oak and Cognac casks. I've even dropped my 'e' for this one! Time to get a bit out of my comfort zone and try something new. Company on Label: Brenne Whisky Whiskey Type: French Single Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% of 2 heirloom varietals of barley Proof: 80° Age: 6 years Further identification: This is a single barrel bottled in 2014 (barrel number 304); it was described by Allison Parc as having aging characteristics similar to a 12-14 year from Scotland that only takes 6-8 years in the microclimate of Cognac to achieve the same experience Nose: Very malty forward early on the pour with a thick sweetened / soft licorice. Dusty chocolate characteristics. Dark tree bark. Great earthy chocolate tones all through this, with a hint of an orange peel twist garnish. This pour makes me feel like dancing. It's so light but effervescent and the perfect level of sweetness. Further digging on the nose reveals lightly toasted crème brûlée. There is something high-flying that keeps this floating up in the air for me. It feels like something akin to a banana peel, but with more thick sweetness. Very subtle on the back end of deeper inhales there is a bit of a mint note. Light white pepper lingers a touch near the bottom. Absolutely nothing offensive about this pour, it's quite enjoyable to experience. Some touches of grains can be extracted near the bottom now. I would really love to experience all of the distillation smells this whisky goes through. The empty glass smells of light red berries, forest floor herbals and a piece of chocolate sitting on a dry school desk. Palate: Very light on the first sip. Wow, wait. So buttery - almost chardonnay-like. I love this... Some sort of synthetic floral thing is happening too. More of that chocolate is way more apparent on the palate with a long linger to boot. Something about this reminds me of drinking from the garden hose as a kid. Wow, a big vanilla pop really makes this feel like a boozy hot chocolate. I can't believe the flavor this elicits. Dried cherries are another delicious garnish built into this whisky; there's an almond note too that really ties the winter alcoholic hot chocolate vibe together too; a staple in my recipe for sure. Later in the glass things start to also lean on a bit of a syrupy Cortland apple. Cinnamon creeps in with the chocolate notes now giving off a bit of a pie feeling. It really makes me feel like I am ready to welcome Fall here in New England! The last sip is a wonderful cacophony of banana, pepper, caramel, vanilla and chocolate - a perfect highlight reel of a consistently delicious pour. Rating: 4/5 Experiences like this are why I love whiskey so much. The memory-tied experiences of subtle nuances that can be stirred up from a faint flavor or aroma are just so cool. Enjoy this one if you can!

The fantastic label for this pick was crafted by the private group Boston Barrel Society. It is a play on the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (aka BTAC) line. The clever labels are almost as enjoyable as the fantastic picks that are coming out of Northside Distilling. The previous project that was also honey barrel finished was the Wan Vinkle Lot "Bee", which I reviewed. I've been nursing that one bottle since then and I may have to do a side-by-side of these two at some point if time and fills allow. I'd like to mention (since I don't normally do this) that this review will be on a freshly cracked bottle with little to no oxidation present. Let's get into it. Company on Label: Northside Distilling Co Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Barley Proof: 110° (proofed up from aging in the honey barrel from 108°) Age: 6 years Further identification: Boston Barrel Society pick 2021 Nose: Whew-wee! That is honey forward! Hibiscus also greeted my nose on the first whiff. Malt and pepper follow. It definitely feels a bit hotter than the Lot "Bee", which proof-wise makes sense. Strong oak aromas make this feel like it's a 20 year instead of a 6.5 as the label states. Powerful floral aromas dart out like little needles from the oak base. They sting the nostrils slightly. A bit of spring dandelion, some earthy grassy notes, more pungent pepper and leather. Post-sip things are still very peppery, but with a bit more herbals. There's something that wants to be molasses but they honey influence doesn't allow it to come through. Some dry corn stalk can be found later in the glass. Definitely a good bit of rye grain to this pour, which is unsurprising with it making up 36% of the mash bill. Near the bottom is where things really start to turn herbal and citrus forward. It elicits a floral feeling akin to white lily petals. A lemon zest and shiny copper come to the foreground on a deep inhale. The empty glass smells of potent dark chocolate, nutmeg, dark vanilla, and molasses. The undertones feel a bit Christmas-y to me. I will be saving enough of this bottle til then now! Palate: Pow! Right in the kisser. Sweet child of mine this has so much honey sweetness. It almost tastes like some kind of 'dark' honey, if that's a thing. I wouldn't be surprised if you told me this was distilled mead or something wild. It's like Dansk Mjød Viking Blod on steroids. More of the hibiscus comes through on the palate, as it did on the nose. Ooh a tiny bit of milk chocolate squeaked out past the sweetness and brought with it a bit of syrupy vanilla. There also feels like there is a hot cherry floating in the background just waiting to break through, and I kind of hope it does before the end of this pour. A longer chew does pull it forward, with more of a tannin forward plum and grape profile presenting itself alongside it. I'll be honest I really want to know what the base bourbon tastes like without the honey influence, as nice as it is! I feel like it's hiding so much. Definitely an easy sipper for the exit proof point. The last sip leaves me with orange peel zest, bitters, light cinnamon candy and a malty fruitiness that reminds me of a warm summer day spent on the farm. I think this would make an unbelievable old fashioned, as much as I prefer adding a rye to that cocktail. It's almost the entirety of that drink already without any added ingredients. Rating: 3/5 I liked this one a tad less than the Lot "Bee" to be honest. This pour really didn't let the bourbon do it's thing. I can definitely appreciate the drink for what it is, which to me, is more of a high octane mead than a bourbon, so if you can manage your expectations in that regard, it will not let you down. Really tasty stuff. If I wasn't still in the process of moving/organizing all my bottles I might be able to find my Lot "Bee" for a side-by-side, but that will have to wait as moving is still ongoing and my whiskey shelves are not yet painted! Instead I think I'll have another pour of this BEETAC tonight. Cheers!

Oh the places you'll go! The samples you'll see! Seriously I have way too many of these and I'm doing the lovely folks who sent me them a disservice for not getting into them more often. So I'm here to try a sample from a swap with a good friend of mine, the host of "Bourbon Night 2021", Eric @ra1nmannn. This is one of many outstanding pours that were generously shared with me. As always, I'm going into my review analytically and the extraneous details of the whiskey go out the window when the liquor hits the glencairn. Let's get into the details! Company on Label: Kentucky Owl Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 112.8° Age: 10 years Further identification: Batch No. 4, nicknamed “The Last Rye,” is a blend of rye stocks aged 10-to-13 years Nose: Wicked syrupy plum, this smells delicious! Slightly floral. Dark brown bread & butter notes all through. Oak is layered in like a misty fog hanging over the glass. Lovely rye grain is toasted and sweet. Light white linens form a thin curtain that can't contain the sweet dark red fruits behind it. Dusty at times and then suddenly bursting forth with citrus sweetness, this is a great nosing experience thus far. Some very faint dark chocolate leads towards a hint of molasses and allspice. Very mellow and smooth around its edges on the nose, you can really dig deep with this glass. After a sip some raw vanilla bean can be found in abundance. Some of the malty characteristics I was picking up on the palate have now come forth on the nose as well. Also an incredibly clear smoky char just lept out of the glass and feels here to stay. That was a wild transition towards that clear, ashy smoke. The end of the glass smells of Battleship Cove metallics, molasses, and black currant. It reminds me of a very wild forest area teaming with green things and berries. It's really a lovely nosing experience from start to finish. Palate: First sip tingles my lips and refreshes me with a palate that reminds me of the 2019 Thomas H Handy, very clove forward. It settles into a Cabernet sweetness that carries dark red grapes, allspice and a hint of plum. A good bit of oak is available on this palate with the herbal side of the rye profile shining more now. There's a bit of dark malt on the back end of this one too that feels a bit out of place against the other flavors to me. The smoky portion of this glass now returns towards the clove forward profile, but it has been subdued some in intensity. Something like a brown sugar meat marinade can be found now. A larger chew shows off a thin molasses, a toffee forward demerara sugar, zesty orange peel, and dill. A really dark cherry note was found, but suddenly made this drink a touch hot, whew! Mmmm, then suddenly back to the smooth vanilla. This pour can be a bit fickle for sure. My last sip leaves me with a chamomile tea, smooth vanilla, and an eruption of spices that float up through my chest. The finish is medium in length, but quite enjoyable in intensity. Rating: 4/5 A lovely sample to have, I enjoyed it thoroughly. I will definitely admit the nose surpasses the palate on this one. The clove note is not for the faint of heart, nor the Buffalo-Trace-or-Bust crowd. I think this is a rye drinker's rye for sure. Enjoy it if you've got it, I don't know if I'd be able to get myself a bottle or not at this point.

Old Soul... Meet old floors. I don't know if I've ever found a more relatable label than Old Soul. I've always been assumed to be older than I am... So this handsome label came my way, and I saw it was MGP liquid, sourced from one of my most trusted palates... Here we are! I had previously tried one of Old Soul's recent blends in brief passing where I was impressed by a nice banana note. It definitely inspired me to pick up this single barrel offering. The Mississippi aging has me intrigued on duration. I wish the bottle gave me more information. Let's taste this "High Rye" (it's not that high?!) straight bourbon whiskey. Company on Label: Cathead Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 109° Age: NAS, but assumed 4-5 years old by the barrel number, if the "16" in the barrel number represents a barrel entry date Further identification: This is "aged and bottled by" Cathead Distillery and was distilled in Indiana; it is a 2021 Private Selection for Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits (@1940BarrelSociety) from barrel number 16B29-1. It went into the barrel at 120 proof. I don't often comment on appearance, but the color of this is impressively rich & dark Nose: Confectionery sugar and caramel forward. A hint of sweet banana candy. Dusty, sharp vanilla is both potent and inviting. Stewed plums are brewing in the depths as a hint of cherry teases what's to come. Sweet charcoal layers into more of that potent, sugary caramel. The oak and vanilla aromas remind me of a toasted barrel aged product. Dusty newspaper aromas are showing up as this evolves slightly. Now the more floral aromas are beginning to take over which are still incredibly light; 21% isn't crazy high, so don't be fooled by the "High Rye" label. This one stays very mellow and sweet on the early nose. Post-sip a mellow lemon frosting has entered the ring which is a nice addition. Ooh now the herbals are here late in the glass. I get a faint hibiscus, pine, thin molasses and a funky walnut/cacao combination. Still altogether very sweet and creamy forward on the nose. Just a touch of ethanol can be dug up when nosing this heavily, but that doesn't transfer to the palate whatsoever. At times there's something a bit musty to this; it's like a mixture of black cardamom without the citrus, rust and gone-by almonds. There's some kind of cleaner note that I think provides some astringency. Some light, freshly ground espresso is peeking out late in the glass. Now leather and a touch of butterscotch has evolved on the last sip left in my glencairn. Empty glass smells of creamy vanilla & caramel. Palate: First sip is a gentle introduction of caramel that pops into a cinnamon covered plum. Dark fruit coat my entire mouth after this small sip. The blackberry and apricot are now the highlights where plum and cherry once sat on the nose. A fun one to swish and chew on, there is absolutely no bite to this at 109 proof, yet it still carries plenty of flavor. The candied banana note is also here on the palate, but it is not your typical Brown-Forman banana; it's light, nuanced, and very unique to me given this mash is from MGP. A long chew elicits pepper, allspice and something adjacent to leather. This pour does start to get spicier as things go on, now with a medley of flavors that reminds me somewhat of Swedish Glögg. The finish on this is medium in length, and has actually shortened since the beginning of the pour somewhat. It carries syrupy plum, oak, black peppercorn, and some nice herbals that are a fun departure from the dill base one might expect out of this. Rating: 3/5 Really solid evolution to this pour. My only complaint (if it even is one) is that it evolved backwards to my preference. I would have loved those darker flavors first, where the sweeter fruits peek out later in the glass. All-in-all a great change of pace from some other things I've been sipping!

Were you on the fence about picking this Wathen’s Single Barrel? I’m going for this one tonight as it’s the only thing new I have on hand after a busy weekend of projects! Company on Label: Charles Medley Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 77% Corn, 10% Rye, 13% Barley Proof: 94° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a sourced bourbon from an unknown/undisclosed distillery Nose: Medicinal cherry to start. Brass metallics like a spent 30-06 cartridge. This nose feels like a story from a wise grandfather. A slightly shiny caramel is there, but it doesn't really care how you feel about it. Synthetic vanilla and some light herbal spices. Dusty oak and a hint of citrus. This richness of the caramel is enhanced after a sip. Near the bottom of the glass a lemon zest is brooding. Empty glass smells like a Four Rose's Small Batch Select. Palate: Syrupy medicinal cherry again is forefront. It is followed by herbal oak and a wave of spiced vanilla. It almost has a winter drink feel to it, like a marshmallow-laden hot chocolate with some nutmeg sprinkled on top. The mouth feel is fairly nice and the flavor profile is very direct and unwavering. At the bottom of the glass the flavors are bordering on sweetness but really stay tied into that metallic and medicinal feel. Relatively simple in complexity, but a really unique pour I've enjoyed enough to give a 2nd bottle a go! Rating: 3/5 Update after having another pour after this opened up a bit: This tastes a lot like a Beam product to me...

Michter's has two lesser-known legacy brands they continue to put out releases for in Shenk's and Bomberger's. You may have seen both of the 2021 releases starting to hit shelves recently around you! I had a pour of the 2020 Shenk's last night as I packed box after box to move out of my previous residence. No time like the present to get into a pour of the 2020 Bomberger's as I sit on the porch of my new home, surrounded by a mess of things that have yet to find a permanent spot. Let's give this a quick review tonight as I am on the more-tired-than-usual side! Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 108° Age: NAS Further identification: Batch 20G1523, Bottle 1100 of 1759. Review: Delicious bright red maraschino cherry on the nose. Seasoned oak. Citrus floats up powerfully but soft. First sip is like sweet cherry cola. Vanilla layers in for another slice of yum. Tart, lively and effervescent this has all the qualities of a fantastic mouth feel for me. Finish is superbly long and intense with maple syrup, plum, raspberry jam and fig. Highly recommended for someone who likes sweet yet tart flavors that aren't overly in your face. End of the glass smells of lemongrass, allspice and dark chocolate. Rating: 4/5

It's been much too long since the last Un-Gnome Whiskey review! @amongstthefernsco poured me something blind tonight and I'm so ready. This one comes into my hands appearing very dark... Interesting! Let's see if we can figure this one out. Bottle information will be posted after the glass reveal at the end. Scroll slow if you don't want spoilers! Nose: Stone fruit forward. Very sweet bourbon aromas at the start. Cinnamon smoke, almost like an incense floating into my lungs feeling. Light raisin. Dried plum. Cherry skins. It's both a cacophony of aromas, but all of them altogether fairly muted at the start of this glass. I'm going to give it a swirl. Not much springs forward even now, but maybe some slight unique grains and a bit of chocolate. Things are evolving towards more of a rye profile now with allspice and cloves. Funky change! I almost want to keep letting this change on the nose, but the lack of exciting punchy aromas are also driving me towards starting into a sip to help me identify this one. Post sip this is super herbal which is interesting given the sweetness of the sip. Copper metallics with some heavy patina. This pour feels moody. Deep inhales present a light cotton aroma I recognize a bit. The rest of the pour highlights some dark maple syrup that has been somehow stripped of its sweetness. Interesting cereal grains, results in a slightly higher than usual malt level that isn't my favorite, but also works fairly well with the darker aromas of the glass. What happened to those sweeter fruit from the first nose? That smoked incense has returned. Empty glass highlights dark chocolate, copper, molasses and oak. Palate: Light syrupy plum that sticks to the top of my tongue and nowhere else. Clove pop followed by more unique grainy oak. I have a feeling this is a specialty offering from a craft whiskey company that I won't know off the top of my head. I know a few people have sent me things that could fit that bill and are in the running here, so memory may be on my side. There is a nice creamy texture to this. More of that plum sweetness. There is a long build towards a fairly strong chest hug. This might be up around 100-110 proof. Does this have a finish to it? I can't tell. It's a very light/short barrel finish if so, but the one-directional fruit sweetness says maybe a wine barrel was involved. Altogether, for how dark this is, I really expected more flavor. A larger chew elicits a spicy cherry, dark grapes void of tannin, a metallic molasses and something bordering on citrus. Something with maybe a tiny bit of banana hiding in the back of some cereal notes on the last sip. This one is befuddling. At the very end I get more proof than I thought... Rating: 3/5 Guess(es): 1) King's County Barrel Strength Bourbon II) Starlight Sherry Finished Bourbon III) J. Rieger Co Private Stock Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon Reveal: J. Rieger Co Private Stock Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon Post tasting/reveal thoughts: I think I overthought and overestimated the color part of this, and then let the proof thoughts spiral towards confirmation bias. Well, I was right on figuring out this has a subtle finish to it! Got it on the 3rd guess, which I'll take. Thank you to @bruns_bourbon for this sample that I got as part of a swap. I'm told this is likely 6-7 year old MGP. Company on Label: J. Rieger & Co Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 56% Corn, 30% Rye, 14% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: NAS (assumed 6-7 years?) Further identification: This is a store pick from Bubble's Wine & Spirits; the sample was given by @Bruns_Bourbon on Instagram

As you can tell from the bottle fill level left at the time of review, this was a staple pour of mine for quite some time before sitting down for a formal review. Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 110° Age: 8 years Further identification: Rapid Liquors store pick Barrel 20-0164. Distilled 09/19/11, dumped 03/31/20, bottled 05/21/20 from Warehouse E, Floor 4. Nose: One of my favorite caramel specific note noses to date. Touched with pepper and funky oak. Oily goodness provides a rich, thick base. Cherry sits into a leather couch, not getting up for anyone. Sweet bakery confection, but also heavy like brown sugar sticky buns. Vanilla glaze definitely helps sell this experience. Explosive in the scents that jump out of the glass without any ethanol punch. Noses more like a 12 year old barrel at closer to 10 years aged in actuality. Such creamy goodness, noses up there with some really heavy hitters. Vanilla turning lighter than the beginning glaze texture now, making way for a hint of bright florals. Lemongrass citrus note is also an unbelievable addition late; where did this complexity come from? A linen note I've only specifically experienced in George T Stagg before. Yuuuum. Ugh. I have maybe two pours left of this and the nose is just exceptional. It smells like everything a bourbon should be, and what made me fall for this brand of spirit in the first place. Palate: Much of the same expressiveness on the palate; cherry and a lovely menthol lead the way. Way more herbal here on palate without the creamy caramel and brown sugar holding down the lighter notes. There is still a sweet & spicy brown sugar on the tip of the tongue but its effect is reduced on the overall blend of flavor. Perfect mouth feel, not too drying. The nose rising experience of a good sip and chew is lovely. No sting but linen & molasses rise strongly. Later in the pour things definitely transition to that sweet citrus side of things. Enjoyable oakiness where I would normally prefer other flavors works very well here. This one is definitely staying on my shelf as long as I can keep it there. May be one of the best Russell's picks out of MA. I am truly sad this is the only bottle that I have. Rating: 5/5

About my last post... I may have said I go for Kentucky Spirit before I reach for a Rare Breed. Well I did so because yesterday was a little on the hotter side and I had lower proof on my mind, but today cooled off marvelously here in New England. As such, my penchant for barrel proof bourbon seems to also have come back and I found myself looking at a bottle of none other than... Rare Breed! I have done a Head-to-Head of these before, but thought I'd give Rare Breed a shot at redemption yet again after bad mouthing it while ogling what was already in my glass! Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 116.8° Age: NAS (formerly known to be a blend of 6, 8 and 12 year old bourbons) Further identification: This is one of the newer labels (likely purchased in 2020) Nose: Oaky to start with some nice citrus zest. Silky cherry. Vanilla bean with high intensity. Herbal greens; almost verdant like a summer forest. Intense zesty spices churning up from the depths. Limoncello and chocolate, delicious aromas. More herbal and zesty post sip. Level oak says it is just the right age for me. A new, lighter, dusty oak is starting to come through now. The herbals & lemon zest continue to be the highlight of the nose which I absolutely adore as very few things can pull off a quality limoncello profile. Oh near the bottom of the glass as things warm up from the heat of my hand is where this starts to get really interesting. Rich milk chocolate and marshmallow turn this into a beautiful sweet dark candy bouquet. I don't want to finish it now for fear of this smell going away. It took the better part of an hour to get here but it's so fun to see things evolve like this. Palate: Lemon shaved ice first and foremost. Cherry sundae drizzles. Caramel forward on a solid sweet yet slightly spicy mouth coating. Very oak forward with more of that limoncello experience from the nose transferring. Molasses is on the thinner and sweeter side, maybe closer to a maple glaze with brown sugar. Vanilla extract is punchy and powerful now. Just a hint of cracked, empty peanut shells is present. Definitely drinks closer to a Warehouse E Russell's Reserve pick. Lovely palate profile, but is lacking somewhat in the linger and finish category. Larger sip produces large oak notes, cherry hots and cinnamon sparkle. This sip does reveal a fairly solid linger of marmalade over lightly toasted bread. Last sip is a wave of caramel, molasses, earthy herbs and allspice. Solid pour! Rating: 4/5 Yeah, this is a solid pour too - but definitely in a different way than last night's Kentucky Spirit pour. This drinks far more similarly to a good Russell's Reserve pick as I mentioned above, and as-such, I stand by my ranking from the Head-to-Head post. Cheers!