Well the heavy hitters have entered the ring! Bourbon barrel finished stouts (and now stout finished bourbons) always have a place in my heart. I've loved the Black Belle ever since my fellow Spirit Animal Society founders @_LostNemo_ and @SaxyBourbon introduced me to it. Their casks both earned solid 5/5 scores from me. I'm now lucky enough to own a bottle thanks to a kind soul named Jamey Harlan who offered it up to me at cost. It came in handy for this comparison and I love sharing it with folks who haven't tried it. When James Saunders first said there was a possibility of a Lord Hobo stout finished bourbon, I was immediately interested. We knew this would be a great local story through and through... Well when @bourbondipity_ and I get together for a @MassBourbonAlliance barrel pick, we historically come out with two when we find the whiskey is as good as NEBCo is putting out. Pick details: The base bourbon was dumped and in went Lord Hobo’s 2021 Godmother Imperial Stout. The stout was aged in the barrel for 4 months and then bottled. The bourbon was then re-barreled for 3.5 months of finishing in the stout-laden oak. NEBCO only did a handful of these barrels and ours will be the only one in the Northeast. We had a blast with the NEBCo crew and were also glad to have two of the Lord Hobo guys join us for an awesome afternoon of tasting and laughs. This NEBCo pick will be available (hopefully) by the end of February at a Liquor Junction near you! For now, enjoy the sneak peak. Some extra info on the Black Belle as well: For our 3rd and final selection of the 2020 Craftsman Cask Collection we are proud to announce the return of the Black Belle. This annual collaboration with Blackstone Brewery in Nashville, TN is the one that started it all. In 2017 we released one barrel of this remarkable beer barrel finished Bourbon and it set the internet on fire. It gave us the idea that trying our hand at other experimental finishes might be fun and thus the Craftsman Cask Collection was born. In 2018, we released three barrels of “Black Belle,” and three more in 2019 and once again, it was a hit. This year’s Belle Meade "Black Belle" Bourbon is aged for a minimum of 9 years and then finishes its aging for an additional 1 year and 11months inside of Imperial Stout barrels from Blackstone Brewing in Nashville Tennessee. Once we dump the initial barrels, we send them to Blackstone Brewing where they then fill them with their Black Belle Imperial Stout. This 10.2% ABV stout is infused with cocoa nibs and rests in the used Bourbon barrels for 7 months. After Blackstone Brewing dumps the barrel, they send them back to us and we fill it again with 9-year-old Bourbon and let it rest for an additional 1 year and 11 months. The result is a robust Bourbon with chocolate and stout notes that smooth the palate, lengthen the finish, and bring even more complexity to the already stellar whiskey. New England Barrel Company Lord Hobo Godmother Imperial Stout Finished Single Barrel Bourbon Company on Label: New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, and 4% Malted Barley Proof: 113.6° Age: 3 Years (11 months and 14 days... basically 4 years!) Further identification: This is barrel 17-41 selected personally from NEBCo in early 2022 Belle Meade Black Belle Imperial Stout Finished Bourbon Company on Label: Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 64% Corn, 30% Rye, and 6% Malted Barley Proof: 115.3° Age: 9 Years Further identification: This spent an extra 1 year and 11 months in the Black Belle barrels NEBCo Stout Finished Single Barrel Bourbon Nose: Chocolate sweets! Christmas cookies, leather and coffee on my first nosing. Creamy nose feel with a bit of shiny, shimmering effervescence. Quite powerful on the nose after a long introduction rest in my glencairn. Crème brûlée beats against a solid door of oak, begging to bring in some more sweetness. At the start it is quite dark and moody, much like the air a rich stout gives off. Candied molasses and maple sugar dance in the glass. There's a tiny bit of Spring florals that are trying to also poke out from under the heavy blanket of milk chocolate and coffee beans. Oooh, suddenly the nose turns frothy, like the foam atop a cup of espresso. Sweet lemon butter cookies is an exciting extra layer. The oak is level, but ever-surrounding on this one. It reminds me of sitting in an old pub with a lot of wood furnishings. Continuously silky nose-feel on this is really nice. On a resting glass some light cereal and rolled oat aromas can be lifted off the surface, but they are incredibly faint in intensity. I'm really struck by how many wood aromas are floating through this now - it's more than just oak; there's some cedar and birch bark mixed in there too. Digging through this on deeper inhales reveals a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream with a solidified hot fudge dipped crust. Time for a sip! Dark chocolate now that the nose has evolved some and the palate has opened up my senses a bit more. There's a nougat undertone that reminds me of a chocolate bar loaded with almonds, hazelnut and a crunch of toffee at the end. Slightly dry cake notes float over the surface of this glass and mystify the experience a bit. Digging further there is a bright paper note that quickly dissolves into the lovely oak base. The empty glass smells of molasses, warm Summer pavement, graham cracker, strawberry shortcake, and just a hint of oak-laden banana foster. Palate: Oh yeah. I'm immediately reminded of why we selected this barrel. Rich caramel candy mouth feel with a long milk chocolate and toasted vanilla linger. There's a thick, rich mouth feel to this one that carries lemon peel, troves more milk chocolate and raspberry tinged macchiato. There's an incredible amount of parallels between these glasses so far. A sip of water before going back in on this glass made the raspberry flavor really pronounced here. Lots of good cap'n crunch flavors throughout this. My last sip is marked with barbecue brown sugar, tiramisu, pie crust, Crunch bar, and a long linger of bakery sweets. Rating: 5/5 Belle Meade Black Belle Stout Finished Bourbon Nose: Woah, a lot of butterscotch and rye spice on this one. It smells almost like the delicious Willett citrus aroma I love so much. If I were blinded to what this was I might make that guess. I love it; it sizzles on the nose like a flame of lemon sweetness. Cinnamon hots, plum and a bit of raspberry jump out of this glass. This is punchy at this proof for sure. I get a lot of the same chocolate and coffee bean notes on this as I did on the NEBCo pick, but this smells significantly hotter! Where the NEBCo pick has a lot of sweet confectionary dessert flavors, this one brings the fruit. This is likely the big difference between the base whiskies themselves and not the stout finishing additions. I'm impressed at how equal the notes that I am thinking are attributed to the finishing are between the two. Okay, it's drinking time. I've had a long week... Wow, yeah the fruit just builds and builds on this pour the more you get into it. The nose is ripe with dark berries all the way through. Plum, orange, and a light citrus wooliness that reminds me of cashmere. Delectable! Woah the floral bits build into a bit of a synthetic perfume smell when they coagulate into one clump of aromas. The individual parts are much more fun to experience in little bites. The empty glass smells of the arts and crafts lodge at Summer Camp, silky chocolate, allspice, rye grain and just a hint of that Willett piney, lemon zest citrus note. Palate: Plum pie with cinnamon spice and caramel lead the charge for this pour. The linger feels a bit longer on this one but the mouth coating isn't as rich and viscous. Definitely more fruit sweetness with peach cobbler, blood orange and blackberry jam. There is also a surprising sandalwood finish to this I was not expecting. Dark cherry syrup coats the palate well now and brings with it inconspicuous sweet floral tones. My last sip is really vanilla forward with funky cherry skins, strawberries & cream, and a final fond farewell to the stout chocolate and creamy espresso. Rating: 5/5 Final Ranking: Belle Meade Black Belle > NEBCo Stout Finish But not by much! This is a true 'in-the-margins' comparison. Both whiskeys are fantastic. Tonight I enjoyed some of the sweet fruit that the Black Belle delivered just a hair more than the bakery goodness that NEBCo pick is cranking out. I'm not all that surprised that a much older whiskey with much longer finishing time was able to drum up a little more oomph, but I'm incredibly impressed with how well the NEBCo pick stands up to it. It's also worth mentioning that the Black Belle is absolutely impossible to find (especially here in MA), so for a more readily available and cost effective pour, you won't want to miss this "Dirty Work" pick when it drops! What a fun little experiment this was. For someone who is definitely ready for some higher proof pours on a weekend night, I'd have to lead with the Black Belle. On a calmer night, perhaps a weeknight, I could definitely see myself reaching for the NEBCo barrel first. If you are a fan of Belle Meade, stouts, or are open to trying really unique whiskey experiments these both are the pours for you! I'll try to update this with a link to the pick when it becomes available. In the meanwhile - enjoy the proposed bottle artwork below! If you are interested in future Mass Bourbon Alliance picks, follow along on Facebook or Instagram for more early access information. Cheers!

Photo cred on the first image goes to @foodboozecigars Jack Daniel's hazmat proof Coy Hill is here! I couldn't find a bottle of this myself, but thankfully a fantastic @SpiritAnimalSociety member, @foodboozecigars. I hear he also has a cool website that may get rekindled here soon. I really appreciate these mail call care packages on days like today when winter comes a-knockin'. I'm actually pretty excited to experience 140.7 proof, as I love barrel strength pours when the conditions are right. Let's see if I can handle this heat! Some extra details: This year’s annual special release celebrates Coy Hill which is the highest-elevated rolling hill on the Jack Daniel Distillery property. This release was hand selected by master distiller Chris Fletcher. I really enjoyed Jack Daniel's 2020 limited release which was the barrel proof rye. I ended up getting a bottle of that after really loving the sample that I reviewed here. The Jack Daniel's 10 Year release reviewed well with me... Did you hear they will be releasing a 12 year product next? And beyond?! There doesn't seem to be any brakes on the freight train that is Jack Daniel's this year. Wherever you land on JD I hope you enjoy this review! Company on Label: Jack Daniel's Whiskey Type: Tennessee Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 140.7° Age: 9 years Further identification: This is a 2021 special release single barrel aged on the highest hill of the Jack Daniel's property (Coy Hill) Nose: This is some dark, dark stuff. The first nosing right after pouring is filled with rich molasses. It smells as if it would be as thick as motor oil if you were to try to drink it. Heavy, syrupy prune aromas are powerful on this. Everything here is fruity, but in a thick, jammy way. I get a lot of plum jam, grape skins, peach and blackberry aromas. There's no real pain or sorrow with respect to the heat on the nose which is quite surprising. This barrel feels well in hand and unsurprisingly it was selected for a special release of this caliber. There's a bit of dry newspaper that swings in before the oak makes itself known. The oak characteristic itself is touched with bright pepper and allspice while delivering sweet maturity without any bitter tannins. A lot of bright & sharp dustiness. Coming back to this again highlights that potent molasses smell which is quite enjoyable for me today. Ooh, fighting through that thick sorghum I just got a really nice powdery milk chocolate smell. Dark cereal aromas continue to flourish throughout this glass, but at this point I am ready for a sip! The nose feels much more complete after drinking a few sips. There's a silkiness that has crept into the molasses and made it lighter, softer and more easily enjoyed. Vanilla shows up well with a bit of oxidation. I'm now smelling a delicious loaf of banana bread baking in the oven, a little bit of barbecue smoke, and a big wave of vanilla. There are a lot of darker bakery smells later in the glass. The empty glass smells of peanut brittle, oak, honey, gift shop tea spices, pepper, and charcoal. My absolute favorite part of this pour is the empty glass smell. Palate: Oh yeah, this has some power to it. Lemon zest instantly gives my whole mouth a quick, tingly shock. Afterwards a slightly minty caramel drives a numbing sensation throughout, quickly putting out the fire this tried to start under my fresh palate. Luckily cooler heads prevail and I can appreciate the soft banana note that lingers in the background. Another sip builds in just as much heft, but in a more appreciable manner. I get the thick molasses, tart berries and bright pepper that the nose was highlighting quite well. By my third sip, I feel as though this pour has mellowed out dramatically. The main highlights are a sweet banana peel note followed by the mixed berry buffet of raisin, plum, cranberry and cherry. The linger is medium with thick molasses making my saliva quite tacky along with it. I also find great spice that feels nestled under a layer of bread which softens the blow to the palate. Great flavors here, but rather unremarkable overall. My last sip is an allspice bomb that dropped on my palate and exited in great fumes through my nose as well. There's a big mouth coating of dry cinnamon and a lot of oak now surprisingly. The linger tapers off slowly, but noticeably rapidly as I feel the enjoyment level dropping. If this pour could stay in that sweet spot of big flavors longer I think I would enjoy it more. It can definitely drink a little hot at times. My last sip is punchy on the tongue as I let it linger as long as I can bear. The sting that spreads across my tongue is pronounced and I'm quite numbed by the experience. The main feeling I'm left with is a big caramel candy that is slowly dissolving in my mouth. Rating: 3/5 Are you a fan of hazmat level proof points? To me this pour felt a lot like your typical single barrel Jack Daniel's barrel proof picks, albeit a little more refined and certainly cherry-picked for quality. It's nice, but I don't see myself going out of my way to secure one of these bottles through unscrupulous methods, but I would gladly still buy one for retail if I saw it. It certainly tasted better than the last barrel proof pick I tried. To refresh my memory, I just cracked open the 2020 limited release rye to compare... The rye is definitely more up my alley and should definitely get a full review here soon! Thank you again to @foodboozecigars for the sample! I love getting to try before I buy. This was super helpful! To me hazmat is a bit of a novelty; there's barrel strength releases that handle their proof incredibly well (Elijah Craig, George T Stagg, Booker's to name a few) and then there are pours that are just hot to be hot. This is the latter... so proof hounds rejoice!

Company on Label: Maker's Mark Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Barley Proof: 109.6° Age: NAS (~6 Years) Further identification: 2021 Release Leather, roasted nuts, chocolate & pepper on nose. Meaty notes are present; vanilla and smoked wood. Creamy almost rum-like flavor hiding out of the depths. Occasionally there is a big punch of brown sugar. Just so rich and complex on nose. Palate is a balanced caramel sweetness mixed well with the dank, proofy leather & wood. Syrupy. Long. Yummy. At all times. The creamy rum notes are more present on palate. Rich, rich, rich! Really enjoyable mouth coating of brown sugar, cinnamon and molasses. Rating: 4/5

Michter's 10 Year Bourbon Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 79% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 Years Further identification: Barrel No 20F1287 Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength Company on Label: Maker's Mark Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Barley Proof: 109.6° Age: NAS (~6 Years) Further identification: 2021 Release Michter's 10 Year Bourbon Review: Nose: Citrus and smooth - not tannic - wine nose. Herbal hay note. Wow; nose is exceptional. Earthy grass & caramel/marshmallow marriage. As it opens it turns into a candied fruit medley like I sometimes will get out of a Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel. Big anise note shows up late. Palate: Candy sweets! Cinnamon red hots, cherry syrup, and the drying presence of those smarties. Hmmm; molasses and syrupy stewed herbs. Very interesting. Oaky for sure, but balanced with a sweetness that keeps it from becoming drying past the gums. Leaning heavily on the lemongrass freight train, this doesn't evolve as rapidly as the other glass. It takes it's time, weaving a sweet and slow story together that is certainly meant to be savored. The finish is long and slow, building up from molasses and pears into a rye spice crescendo that leaves you looking forward to the next sweet sip. Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength Review: Nose: Leather, roasted nuts, chocolate & pepper on nose. Meaty notes are present; vanilla and smoked wood. Creamy almost rum-like flavor hiding out of the depths. Occasionally there is a big punch of brown sugar. Just so rich and complex on nose. Palate: A balanced caramel sweetness mixed well with the dank, proofy leather & wood. Syrupy. Long. Yum. At all times. The creamy rum notes are more present on palate. Rich, rich, rich! Really enjoyable mouth coating of brown sugar, cinnamon and molasses. Final Ranking: Maker's Mark 46 Cask Strength > Michter's 10 Bourbon by a thin margin

I'm running a little behind on reviewing these Blue Run releases! So many bottles, so little time! I was specifically asked to do a review on this cask strength rye whiskey from a great @SpiritAnimalSociety member, @suburban_ontherocks. I'm always stoked when @ra1nmannn gets a chance to meet up with me as we usually swap a pretty epic amount of bottles. This last meetup was no different when I got two of the High Rye 12 day holiday single barrel releases. It also reminded me of sharing my first pour of this bottle at the adamant request of @ra1nmannn himself as he was already quite fond of it. I'm looking forward to tasting through this one tonight, it feels like a good pour given the setting here in New England: an impending snow storm that will probably drop at least 2 feet of snow on us! Great time for a rye. Let's see how this one tastes! Company on Label: Blue Run Spirits Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 106° Age: NAS Further identification: Batch: Holiday, Date 11/02/21, Bottle 1423 of 2604; this is the cask strength version of Golden Rye release Nose: Immediately there is a whammy of maple sugar upfront on the nose, followed by a soft wave of grill smoke and basil. Soft squeezed lemon juice is just the right amount of sweet. Soft cinnamon swirled banana bread lifts loftily through my nostrils. There's little to no heat on this one at all despite the proof. There's something like a funky pound cake that has been sufficiently smothered in sweet cream cheese frosting to not come across as too funky here. A swirl of the glass builds in stronger vanilla notes, a little bit of pepper and a layer of synthetic leather. The nosing experience is quite mellow with nothing overpowering ever reaching the edges of the glass. Time for a sip! Coming back from the palate there is a great silky, creamy nose-feel that continues to persist and build. I'm also starting to find some of the sharper notes that were not quite formed earlier in the glass. There's a stronger dry black peppercorn, verdant green undergrowth, and a spiced oak profile that I'd imagine puts this rye somewhere between 4 and 6 years. Subtle stone fruit can be found on the back end of deep inhales, producing tart plum, raisin and raspberry jam aromas. Later in the glass a bit of bubblegum presents itself as well. The empty glass smells of chocolate, flaky vanilla wafer sticks, honey, and a wonderful lightly toasted oak. Palate: Immediately this pour makes its presence known on the palate with lemon peel, pine needle, intense baker's chocolate, and creamy peppermint. Another sip startles up the taste buds into full attention now. There is a nice wave from front to back on the palate with a long linger of tumultuous liquid plum. Cinnamon bun, molasses, and an ever-so-slightly medicinal cherry flavors build well. I can tell for sure this is one of those pours that builds as you sip more and relies on some extra swishing or frequent sips to really shine. Doing so builds more of the sweet fruit flavors I am loving. Woah, this sip just gave me an epiphany moment over 3 quarters of the way through the glass. This is delicious! Another longer, savoring sip makes allspice nestle into the level oak while syrupy plum arm wrestles with cinnamon and blackcurrant. There's definitely some distinct earthy characteristics to this pour that make me feel quite grounded. I don't find myself daydreaming on this one, but focused and calculating as I sip through it. There aren't many extra frills to this whiskey, just a solid profile that undulates between soft & silky notes and blasts of sweet fruit & occasional spice grenades. My last sip is touched with soft thin mint cookies, lemon zest, and honey. Rating: 4/5 While fairly low in complexity for a rye for most of the glass, it does drink really, really easily which is something to watch out for given the cask strength bottling proof! If you have the patience to sit with this one a while it will reward you. I would recommend this to someone who is new to rye as an exploration pour, but seasoned rye lovers will likely be looking for more traditional notes that appear to be blended out on this release. This is a bourbon lover's rye for sure!

I'm just about at capacity in the whiskey study and therefore continuing with operation bottle kill in the Amongst household. This one is looking prime to be up next for the cause, so I figured I'd give it a proper tasting during it's send off. Keep in mind this bottle may be much more oxidized at time of review than a fresh pour. Anecdotally, this is where I think Old Ezra shines. I finished off my previous bottle of this around April 2021, so this bottle shouldn't be too bad. Let's get into it! Company on Label: Lux Row Distillers Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley Proof: 117° Age: 7 years Further identification: The back label says distilled and aged in Kentucky (by an undisclosed distillery that's presumed to be Heaven Hill), and bottled for Lux Row Distillers Nose: Sweet toffee forward, leading into indulgent caramel chews on first lifting the glass to my nose. Tobacco, herbal tea and pepper jump out immediately after. Dried pear is pretty unique here. Chocolate and peanut brittle build in some lovely complexity with aromas I thoroughly enjoy. It feels like a Beam product at it's heart. Building in spice as well as funky fruit now, I'm definitely starting to notice the proof creeping up in intensity. Raisin and cinnamon start to tingle and singe my nostrils as I yearn for a sip. After going for one, buttery pecan pie fills the glass. There's a dry paper note that really reminds me of many Heaven Hill releases now. The nose is almost whiskey-nostalgic for me, reminding me of many of my first whiskey tasting and nosing experiences. Pecan pie really is the absolute best way to describe the overall experience of the nose on this glass. There's a touch of sandalwood at times. I'm impressed by how many layers this glass has, but many of them are a bit fleeting. The empty glass smells absolutely incredible with hot fudge drizzle, vanilla bean ice cream, graham cracker and a touch of honey. Where on earth were these aromas earlier?! Palate: Yum! Immediately a rich caramel coats the tongue and then a wave of dark cherries and bitters undulates at a decent pace. Soft on the mouth feel, but with certain herbal and spice tones that threaten like they might bite yet they never do. Definitely a fruit forward profile that comes off low in intensity. It's like a sangria that's a little too watered down by ice to be really potent any longer. Plum, apricot and pecan drive the major profile of another sip. At times the cherry sweets can turn a little medicinal and spicy which is a bit harsh on the palate. This has a lot going on; it never really feels like this glass is sitting still. It's quite a high energy pour that I think I'd much rather enjoy with company than sipping solo for a review. I'm finding this a little too spicy, which is quite surprising for the fill level. The profile levels off by the end of the glass revealing pear, raw sugar and many layers of nutty cherry. Rating: 3/5 This is a really decent 3 for me, but the flashes of spice are a bit much for most occasions I'd say. I've had great tastings of this and I've had just-decent tastings of this. Overall, I'm not sore having a bottle on hand, but it's not one I reach for regularly. When I do enjoy it I like to have a couple glasses. I actually think this would do wonders in my infinity bottle tonight, as I have been looking for a little bit of that spice kick in my blend. I think I'll add a pour next time I make room off the top!

Sunday Funday in the whiskey study! Don't you love a good collaboration? I'm relatively new to the New Riff scene, but I've tried a few things I have really liked. If you are following me on Instagram, you might have seen this bottle open and making waves in tasting flights already in my house. I figured it was time for a proper evaluation after a nice Sunday spent eating good with family. Let's get into it. I received this bottle from Altamar Brands who kindly provided me the opportunity to review it with no strings attached. Company on Label: High N' Wicked (Distilled by New Riff) Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Proof: 90° Age: 5 years Further identification: This batch of whiskey is produced for High N' Wicked by New Riff on an all copper column and doubler Nose: Ooh, a nice lemon frosting right out of the gate on the nose. Creamy vanilla and an undercurrent of bright linen also greet me early on. Wet, green flower stems on deep pulls. Sweet florals dance softly in the background; mainly hibiscus and rose petals. This glass is quite soft tonight, like a bed of nasturtium. Hints of cinnamon bread, cola and slightly funky, perfumed oak build in the glass. Time for a sip. Afterwards the nose has developed some dark, powdery chocolate notes that present softly over the aromas of a well-used campfire pit. A swirl of the glass builds on the oaky characteristics even more. I envision a tall stack of oak firewood next to the pit now. There's just a hint of bubblegum hanging out in the background of this one, while the main powerful aroma continues to be quite citrus forward. Hints of caramel pop in and out. Woah, later in the glass things have returned to the creamy characteristics we started with, now producing some rich butterscotch alongside a level molasses. Vanilla returns with vigor which I'm finding quite enjoyable and savoring. Every time I come back to the nose I am finding myself enjoying this pour more! Palate: My first sip is soft with lemongrass and orange rind leading the way. There's a nice grassy characteristic that I'm sure rye lovers are very familiar with. Squeezing my tongue into my gums produces slight patches of mint that come off in quick flashes. Another sip builds in some deep, earthy spices like paprika and basil, as well as sending another big wave of citrus across my palate. Dry black tea now begins to build in my glass, suddenly feeling quite dark and cool like an impending rain storm is coming in. It reminds me of being on many camping trips in pine forests with little to protect me but perhaps one tarp or just a tent. The nose has taken over in some great complexity now where I've been reluctant to go for another sip. When I finally do, I find a shift in profile that has lost some of it's impressive flavors. There's still sweet forest undergrowth smells all through this glass that makes it feel quite woodsy. While I can thoroughly appreciate this experience as an avid outdoorsman, it doesn't leave me overly impressed from a whiskey evaluation perspective. My last sip is filled with lemon peel, soft clove, a sprinkle of nutmeg and a lingering oak bark. Rating: 3/5 I'm a bit surprised by tonight's tasting. This bottle recently took the top spot on a really low-key, impromptu flight that I posted on Instagram, so perhaps my expectations were a little higher. This is definitely one of those that's high on my 3 score. I will certainly enjoy the rest of this bottle in good company on nights that rye feels right! It did one night beat out Early Times, Old Grand Dad 114, and a Larceny store pick, but tonight it was just a little uninspiring of true greatness. I did enjoy the pour and always appreciate getting to experience good whiskey coming from new places!

Oh, Redwood Empire! Talk about fantastic labels. The crew over in California have been cranking out good whiskey for a little while now, recently upping their product list to include Grizzly Beast and Rocket Top in 2021. I semi-recently had the pleasure of tasting through their entire lineup at a @jigzliquor event that @saxybourbon invited me to which was fun. I had also asked about the Haystack Needle release and now that it comes bearing an older age statement I finally found myself in front of a bottle where I pulled the trigger. I tasted this on two prior occasions to better know the bottle before casting any judgements. Let's see how it tastes tonight! Company on Label: Redwood Empire Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 110° Age: 14 years Further identification: This is the Fall 2021 release of Haystack Needle Double Barrel is sourced from MGP and finished in a cabernet sauvignon cask; I purchased this bottle in January of 2022 Nose: Right away, beautiful, rich, syrupy fruit jump out of the glass. This is a welcome introduction to any whiskey for me. There's a stewed plum up front, sugar-laden cranberry and blackberry cobbler notes that vibrantly dance in the glass. There's a lemon meringue pie and several dashes of vanilla extract building now as the heavier fruit depart from the surface of the whiskey. The nose feel is savory now with brown sugar, ground ginger, and tempura batter. There's a lurking musty funk that must be the older oak characteristics starting to bubble up. A rich, dusty leather builds well, a hallmark of whiskey nearing or exceeding 15 years for me. It's this complex characteristic that helps bottles like George T Stagg earn high remarks for me. Now there is a bubbly lemon effervescence that triggers intense memories of early 2000s Fresca. Slight tickles of black tea dance in my nose. I'm really quite enamored with what I'm experiencing that I almost want to stop writing and just enjoy it, but I'll power on for you. There's layers of rich toffee, butter cream frosting, and a shed full of well-seasoned oak. Now that the rollercoaster of aromas have settled some, I believe it's time for a sip! A sip has turned this pour much brighter and it really embraces the tea and tea-adjacent aromas: think a wedge of lemon aside a cup of herbal tea and a small drizzle of honey still stuck to the spoon. The nose-feel is still all silky toffee and vanilla with zero evidence of there being any alcohol in this glass whatsoever. There's just the right balance between musty old age and sweet, fruitful exuberance on this pour. Deep inhales really show off the charred oak's beautiful vanilla characteristics. This might be the perfect nose. Syrupy marmalade, soft caramel, molasses and punchy citrus floral notes really run the full gamut of my favorite smells. The empty glass smells of honey, fresh house framing, woody florals, and a hint of sweet cherry smoke. Palate: My first sip is delicate; it starts floral and citrus fruity on the tip of my tongue and then suddenly a tannic wave of red fruit crashes through the rest of my mouth. The linger is immediately built up, not requiring another sip to immediately follow in order to enjoy some of the undertones of this pour; raspberry and elderberry sit long in the back of my mouth. Another sip brings more of that rich citrus zest I was enjoying on the early nose. The back end shows off a sweetened tea note and old leather. Wow, on a larger sip and swish I'm presented with potent cardamom, nutmeg and molasses. As the glass weathers on I continue to enjoy the profile as it returns back to the darker stone fruits of the start of the nose. I'm kissed by a blackcurrant, tart cherry and cinnamon simple syrup. I can't find a single offensive note in this, for which I am grateful to have an entire bottle yet to enjoy and share. My last sip is careful but confident in its delivery with honey oats, soft pecans, pine bristle and a lovely long linger of a hot toddy. Rating: 5/5 This is really a tremendous pour. The finish feels really subtle upfront, likely only getting slight nuances from the secondary barrel as master distiller Jeff Duckhorn described the last time I was on a call with him. I asked specifically about the Haystack Needle. He mentioned they usually only spend a few short weeks in an extra barrel to really let the base whiskey keep on shining, because they have some really great barrels from MGP to work with. I'd tend to agree with him on that last point. This 14 year stuff is really worth it' weight in gold. I will say the tannic side of the fruit does start to get a bit overwhelming after one pour, so I'd stick to one glass of this on a special occasion. Cheers!

It's no secret I love Russell's reserve picks. Rapid Liquors 2020 Russell's Reserve single barrel stole my heart and managed to compete with an incredible 13 year release as well. I own their 2021 Russell's pick barrel and am currently storing/aging my infinity barrel in it! Well, I've got 4 fresh ones for you tonight. I know local picks don't always help the general population, but I have been seeing some people crazing over particular warehouses and floors on these Russell's picks, so why not for the greater good? I'll give you a sneak peak at 4 that are on my shelf as of today. You can tell a few of these won't be long for this world after tonight. One is a local staple that flew well under the radar of most folks. One is a road trip pick up I am nursing my last sips of. One is a gifted couple pours from a great Bourbon Thieves friend, @egilbert09. One is a pick from a store that I've been enjoying plenty of other picks from. I'm interested to hear if you have tried any of these picks, and if not, if you have a favorite warehouse or floor! Drop a comment and let me know. Now let's get into this flight! Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Private Barrel Select Bourbon Company on Label: The Wild Turkey Distilling Co. Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley Proof: 110° Age: 8 years (All of these happen to be 8 based on their distilled and dumped dates) Further identification: All of these bottles are store picks from various locations; Georgio's Liquor: Warehouse A, Floor 4, Barrel #20-0341 Liquor Depot (in CT): "Barrel #4" Warehouse K, Floor 4, Barrel #21-0103 Liquor at the Lake (LAKE HA-HA!): Warehouse CNA, Floor 4, Barrel #21-324 Kappy's 1940 Barrel Society: Warehouse K, Floor 4, Barrel #21-0063 Georgio's Liquors A/4 Russell's Review Maple and brown sugar to start on the nose, followed by dry oak, vanilla and a hint of peanut brittle. Good dusty oak characteristic all through this glass as well. On the palate I get a muddled cherry, a soft dash of bitters, vanilla bean and coffee creamer sweetness. This is the most 'chill' of all the glasses if you were just looking for a simple sipper that is completely inoffensive. Hell, this could definitely be someone's favorite bottle, but in this flight it's not doing much to shine for me. Liquor Depot K/4 Russell's Review Salted caramel, crème brûlée, sweet lemon pledge, and a rich toffee jump out of this glass in intriguing waves. Very well put together nose. So far the best nosing experience of all the glasses. Upon going for a sip there is sweet fruit abound. Cherry, plum, orange peel and mulled wine coat the palate. Yum! Decently long linger that presents a more than satisfying finish. Wow, the nose opened up fabulously with a sip as well. Just a solid pour. There's just a hint of a note of savory vinegar in the glass that might seem like an odd smell for a whiskey, but somehow it fits in to the overall experience just fine. Oh my, returning to this glass is a treat every time. The nose is delectable, vibrant and bright with tangerine, sultanas and flashes of pine syrup. The palate is easy going but packed with flavors like nutmeg, allspice, maraschino cherry juice and a bouquet of floral, candied sweets. This is what I dream about when I am thinking about my favorite bourbon profiles. I think this one could stand up to Rapid's legendary pick I linked in the intro above. Liquor at the Lake CNA/4 Russell's Review Light in aroma and intensity on the first nosing. There's just subtle hints of chocolate, peanut shells, woah - then suddenly a wave of birch bark, white paper and funky oak. This has that classic Turkey, older feeling profile. So far the most prominently different of the four. This also has somewhat of that savory smell the Liquor Depot barrel had. The palate is really surprising compared to the nose. Cinnamon hots that come off soft, vanilla bean and amaretto sweetness present well. The linger is slightly tannic with red grape skins and dry prune. Interesting mouth feel that comes off a bit synthetic. There's a touch of leather in the linger, but otherwise it's a mellow oak bomb that rolls all over your tongue. Kappy's 1940 Barrel Society K/4 Russell's Review Creamy nose feel to start with a soft caramel, bright oak and dusty molasses profile. Oh wow, a really yummy vanilla frosting has formed in this glass. There's a soft angel food cake feel to the nose as well. The nose feel is syrupy and moist, really inviting me for a sip. Upon doing so I'm greeted with a sweet coffee bean, cinnamon sprinkled maple syrup and a rich mouth coating of caramel and stout. This one really wins out in the uniqueness category for a powerful mouth feel that is quite hard to describe. Coming back to this glass I get that amazing maple syrup feel on the nose, coupled with soft confectioners sugar, key lime pie, and a return to that earthy molasses the glass started with. Sipping this following the other K/4 pick shows off that this barrel packs a bit more spice to it, but not in an herbal way. It's like sharp fruit sweets, almost like when you have a really sugary candy and it almost causes a stinging sensation on your tongue. This is a sweet tooth's delight, but it comes off in a different way I'm again struggling to describe. It's a fun pour that certainly keeps you guessing. Big points for complexity here. Really, really close 2nd to the Liquor Depot K/4 I think. Might get better with time. Final Ranking: Liquor Depot K/4 > Kappy's K/4 > Liquor at the Lake CNA/4 > Georgio's A/4 I've been through enough pours of these Russell's bottles that I was able to confirm what I already might have suspected. I suspended any of my preconceived notions tonight in an effort to re-evaluate these pours but the winners really showed themselves on this one. I will say that the Kappy's being the highest fill level was a little bit unfairly treated, as I actually find that I tend to enjoy Russell's picks once they get below half full and a little oxidized. It softens some of those spicer characteristics and I always find myself absolutely savoring the last drops of a bottle in small portions as I feel that's where these really shine. Fun tasting regardless; cheers and thank you to all these stores for picking great barrels! Consider that Liquor Depot pick killed. Someone PLEASE find me a backup of that!

I'm still feeling rye today! It's another really cold day out here. The lake is starting to make those Star Wars laser-firing noises that happen when ice rapidly changes volume with large temperature swings. Hopefully there will be some skating and ice fishing in our future at the Amongst house soon if this cold keeps up! These temps always push me towards higher proofs and zesty flavors profiles. I previously remember this pour being intensely clove forward the first time I tasted it and I was a bit disappointed given the moment I was attempting to celebrate this bottle with. I first opened this bottle as a celebration of the purchase and closing on the home that @AmongstTheFernsCo and I now live in together. It's been shared a few times with different folks who have come over to warm a rocker on my porch or enjoy dinner and a well-stocked bar. Today, I'm diving in solo to see how this pour makes me feel. I've got a venison stew on low and slow down stairs and have been knocking off tasks on the to-do list all day. This review will make a nice respite if nothing else. Let's get into it! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (Buffalo Trace 'Low Rye', likely 51% rye) Proof: 125.7° Age: 6 years Further identification: This is from the 2019 release of Buffalo Trace Antique Collection that was distilled in the spring of 2013 and matured in Warehouses K, M, and N Nose: Savory malt, old leather baseball mitt and an ancient dusty paper note greet my nose on first pass. Pungent tobacco and a slight iron metallic note waft slowly out of the glass. The aromas feel like they are moving in slow motion as I pull them out of the bulb of my glencairn. This has an incredibly dry nose-feel which carries dusty oak, vanilla bean, woodstove ash, and allspice. A swirl brings out black cherry skins that are devoid of sweetness. This reminds me of a stuffy, old library in a way... It's that whirlwind of decaying tomes that gives off a slight bright citrus smell alongside a treasure-trove of musty paper and grass. While some may find these aromas nostalgic and fun, I think most will find them too funky for regular consumption. At times there are some sweeter notes that jump out... Fragrant vanilla and bergamot give off an Earl Grey tea profile. Time for a sip! After a sip, the mustiness of the pour has taken on a bit of a new tone; it's more lively now and laced with caramel and black pepper. Later on there is a savory brown sugar and molasses glaze. The end of the glass is probably my favorite concoction of aromas; we've come full circle on the leather and mint while everything is just generally softer. The empty glass smells of raisin, heavily charred oak, vanilla custard, and cherry Garcia ice cream. Palate: Lemon peel at the start followed by a big wave of clove I was expecting. Woah, there's a lovely wintergreen mint too. It reminds me of the first time ever finding wild wintergreen in Carver, MA on a Scout hiking trip when I was a much younger version of myself. Cherry sweetness finally finds its way into this experience now which I'm glad to greet. There's a cooling tingle in my gums from the mint flavors that are more of a background feeling than a flavor here. Another sip builds in strong vanilla and black tea. Allspice, anise, pepper, and clove continue to dance across my tongue in spicy prickles. A little headspace for air in this bottle has done very well to tame the clove note and allow other notes to shine during this tasting. There's a perfumed floral characteristic that flashes across my palate briefly, causing a raised eyebrow. Jumping right back in for another sip shows off a sweet molasses, milk chocolate hidden behind grass, and orange crush pound cake - illustrating why patience with a pour like this is often rewarded. Most sips you do have to still fight through a bit of clove upfront before you can find these extra nuances. The vanilla and cherry characteristics develop incredibly well late in the glass as I near my last two sips. This mouth-feel experience is like a small, flaming ball that sits right in the middle of your tongue and doesn't move. Nothing else gets a coating, and the linger is mainly experienced in this one location too, central on my tongue. My last sip is rather uneventful. It's still a robust, spiced-up and an enjoyable sip. The finish is quite short with little flavor following the main event. Rating: 3/5 Changes from my first and subsequent tastings to now illustrates perfectly why there are no singular answers to experiencing whiskey. You can capture a trend with enough experience of a pour, but there are no hard and fast rules for what you might get out of a glass. This one was incredibly memory provoking for me today which I love. The quality of the whiskey itself though, for me, doesn't quite shine on this pour. I have heard that the 2020 release is really good. I thought for the longest time that this bottle was the 2020 release, until I finally went to open it and saw the proof was not the batch I was expecting. Oh well, at least you know where to find a pour if you're ever in my neighborhood. Anyone got a 2020 or 2021 bottle to try? Cheers!

Bottle photo credit goes to Kevin O'Connor (an absolute whiskey saint) who also sent along this sample for me to try. Thank you sir! From the tastemakers at Doc Swinson's website: Working with some of the best distillers in the industry we source a number of mash-bills in a variety of ages and barrel types. Taking these, we then go to work creating blends that we are curious about and enjoy, some of which will be finished in a selection of neat and rare casks from all over the world. Doc’s strives to be adaptive; we will only bottle what we believe makes the cut, and only when it’s ready. We also don’t believe any of our products are our magnum opus. This mindset keeps us creating, searching, and perfecting. We pride ourselves on starting with quality ingredients and, through experimentation, finding an outcome that is better than the sum of their parts. At our heart, we are whiskey lovers and we aim to make whiskeys that are fun to make and even better to indulge in. Whatever comes through the doors at Doc Swinson’s, our small group of tastemakers works to create whiskeys that hold our expectations of great whiskies to a higher standard; and this starts with always letting the whiskey shine. This release happens to be a single mash bill of a very low barrel count. There's a lot of rumors floating around where this mash bill comes from, but that's all they will be for now as the original distiller asked to remain nameless. I may wager a guess or an idea during my review. For now, let's see how this whiskey is! Company on Label: Distiller's Way LLC (Doc Swinson's) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78.5% Corn, 13% Rye, 8.5% Malted Barley Proof: 118.2° Age: 15 years Further identification: Rare Release No. 6, from 18 barrels, bottle no. 1702/2664 Nose: Wow, immediately after pouring I can already smell something wild coming out of this glass. Immediately there is a rich stone fruit sweetness that greets me. It softens as I inhale and turns slightly tannic like Syrah red wine. Some subtle hints of skillet-seared peanuts present softly alongside plum and a deep, tight-grained oak. A deep left nostril inhale shows off a touch of smoke alongside grass, earthy chocolate, and a salty turkey brine. My right nostril finds the sweet fruit and a bit of the spicy proof; there's blood orange, cranberry and a slight medicinal cherry that dance in the foreground before a rich vanilla toffee. Interesting white linens now after I let the glass rest a moment. The nose-feel is bright like a white tile floor under hospital lights. There are dark flavors that creep in from the sides, though, that tell a much more compelling, complex story. It's a rich, nutty snickers bar as the body develops in the glass. Soft drizzles of butterscotch sauce fall over confectionery sweet vanilla. This is too enticing... time for a sip! Afterwards there's a simplistic, rich candied fruit that sits alongside a potent white linen note. It borders on the paper note I get on a lot of Heaven Hill releases. It's vaguely musty all through this glass now. After a few drops of water the nose opens up with touches of leather. The empty glass smells of rich leather, old metal warship interiors (i.e. Battleship Cove), and lovely caramel chews. Palate: Whew, that's a powerful first sip of the day! There's a big cinnamon splash to start, then the red grape sweetness kicks in after a few moments. The mouth feel is slightly dry, but very fruity. It feels as if I've just chewed on a tart dark cherry. The nuttiness from the nose swings in much stronger on the linger as I exhale. It reminds me of a Peaceful Meadows ice cream cake. Later on a much longer rest the same spice punch then sweet sizzle occurs, this time with much more caramel and soft bread notes. Misguided copper metallics settle onto the center of the tongue and give off a slightly bitter profile. While the nose had many fun nuances, the palate is pretty one dimensional here, leaving a bit to be desired. It's spicy characteristics that lead the charge of every sip seem to numb out most of the flavors on this. For science, I'll try my last sip with a little water. After adding a few drops and swirling, the spice is significantly subdued and I'm greeted with honey, plum, black pepper, molasses and soft floral aromas. My last sip is soft and easy with cherry skins, more waves of honey and a final flash of slight nuttiness. Rating: 3/5 This pour is greatly improved with water. Unfortunately I have but one sample to review this one on, so the score will have to stick for now! Thanks again to Kevin for the sample. Cheers!

Today I'm finishing out the last of the 3 latest releases of Penelope bourbon - a fantastic brand being crafted by Mike Paladini and company. You can check out the flagship bourbon and the barrel strength batch 8 sample I previously reviewed as well. Based on what Mike has said, this release should be the best of their best! I'm excited to try it and thankful for the opportunity to review it with no strings attached. From the Penelope website: Penelope Bourbon Private Select explores new and unique expressions of our signature four grain straight bourbon whiskey. Every Private Select is an exclusive blend of the three bourbon mash bills we traditionally use. The barrels selected for Private Select are the best our inventory has to offer and go through an extensive hand-selection process – making each batch truly special and unique. This blend utilized 29.7% of a bourbon mash bill, 43.2% of a rye mash bill and 27.1% of a wheat mash bill. Let's see how this blend turned out! Company on Label: Penelope Bourbon Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, 3% Malted Barley Proof: 115.2° Age: 4 years (Blend of 4-6 year old barrels) Further identification: This sample of Batch 21-15 was provided to me from Penelope Bourbon Nose: Malty with a rich molasses forward nose to start. Quite a bit of pepper, bitter dark chocolate, peach, and fresh cut flowers presents powerfully on the nose. This took no time to kick into full gear at all. Dusty oak comes off bright and white - like a really old, worn-out, unfinished church pew. Faint bits of pecans and almonds dance in the background. Bright allspice and slightly astringent florals are a bit intense on the nose. With a little time the glass softens nicely and we return to a hazelnut undercurrent. Fun nosing so far, but let's give it a sip to see if anything changes. Wow, now some bright citrus mingles in alongside a saltwater taffy softness and an almond joy candy sweetness. The nose is beginning to level off into a powdery floral profile with a strong vanilla backbone. Late in the glass a nice maple syrup aroma has formed. It introduces a creamy chocolate and just a hint of espresso bean. The empty glass smells of smoked oak, brown sugar, earthy balsam fir incense, and tobacco. Palate: My first sip is a wild mix of cherry, plum, almond and a bundle of spices. A subsequent sip produces a big wave of flavors including cinnamon, cardamom, peanut shells, and salted caramel chews. I'm more and more impressed with every sip as the layers of complexity build to form the full picture. This is incredibly nut-forward on the palate for me now with a dry, dusty-textured vanilla bringing everything together. The mouth coating is medium in both consistency and length. It carries maraschino cherry juice, clove and small flashes of nutmeg. Prunes, fig and strawberry fruit sweetness develop stronger later in the glass. This is a really devious barrel strength offering. When the liquid first hits your tongue it drinks incredibly soft and sweet, but then a sneaker wave of spice comes flying in later to wash your gums in cinnamon spice and gives you a long, tingling, cool feeling for a while. Nearing the bottom of the glass there is a soft chocolate and coffee ice cream undertone that I really enjoy. My last sip is creamy with almond, lemon peel, chamomile, peppered caramel and vague stone fruit tannic sweetness. Rating: 4/5 What a fun, layered pour. This has great complexity to it. Some of the moments of this pour were exceptional and others were a little too spicy for my palate today. I'd imagine if I wasn't up so late last night I may be a little more tolerant of barrel strength offerings, so make of that what you will. I still thoroughly enjoyed this pour and will look forward to seeing what else comes out of Penelope next!