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.

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