I don't normally suggest Sour Mash, but after this review I might start to given the notes I found. I don't know what it is about sour mash offerings but they always drink above their age to me.

I love budget finds - I've been trying to review a lot more of them lately, but if you have ever seen my whiskey study, you'll know I have a lot of options on any given day. My love for Willett has grown as I've tasted through many of their 4 year rye 'Family Estate' products, tried all the shelfers, and even picked a barrel of OG mash bourbon. Today we go after another that many would consider a shelfer - though I find distribution a little wonky / sparse in Massachusetts on this one. Though I typically leave price out in how I review and rate whiskeys - I do still personally enjoy a high value product at a reasonable cost, as I'm sure most do. As everyone's budget is different, I like to just tell the whiskeys story on this site without the powerful convolution that money imbues. I'll leave the 'worth' decision to the reader. Now, sweet reader, let's get into this glass! Company on Label: Willett Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed, but I sense a good bit of the Willett rye influence on this glass Proof: 101° Age: NAS (minimum 4 years) Further identification: This is one of the flagship products of Willett distillery that they work hard to blend into quantities that can satisfy the huge demand for Willett bourbon; it comes in as one of their cheapest offerings well below the cost Noah's Mill or Rowan's Creek Nose: Bright citrus pop - I get that Pinesol-esque candied sweetness that I know and love from the Willett rye line. Star fruit effervescence dances in the nostrils. Light paper, sharp pepper and sassafras show off poignantly. Sharp lemon peel and ginger continue to produce a tingly nose-feel. Time for a sip. Returning I find more barrel influence of dusty oak, breadcrumbs and hints of caramel. Dark, dry pepper returns as a soft root beer note undulates in the background. I find a unique clove oil aroma all throughout this that took me quite some time to pinpoint. Good sweetness is balanced by an earthy clay. Soft florals weave into the glass at times. The empty glass smells of chocolate, marbled rye, and a treasure trove of honey I can't believe I missed earlier. Palate: Immediately I am greeted with sweet flavors of candied cherry, fig, and chocolate covered almonds. The palate is cooled by a soft linger of creamy lemon frosting. Another sip builds in a fine balance between creamy and zesty. It reminds me of shaved lemon Italian ice. It's a touch messy as a slew of flavors crash into the palate (usually a sure sign of a blend consisting of many individual parts), but the overall delivery is still quite enjoyable to sit and relax with. There is a soft cooling sensation in the gums, again, much like Willett rye does. Faint bits of sweet strawberry shortcake and trident gum add to the interesting array of flavors. A larger sip and swish produces another big wave of that citrus and bubblegum followed by a much more tart & tannic red grape and blackberry. The linger is long with the pervading lemon peel zest tingling all throughout my mouth. My last sip is sensibly smaller producing strawberry banana, candied mint, orange sherbert and just a kiss of cinnamon. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This ranks very high in the uniqueness category for me; I like it a lot personally for its parallels to Willett Family Estate ryes. If you are a fan of that line I am certain you will also enjoy this pour. There definitely is a lot going on with this pour and it doesn't quite tell a cohesive story, much to my chagrin, as I think this otherwise could possibly reach top marks for me. Regardless - a damn fine pour I would definitely suggest you at least try! I know this distillate can be a little polarizing at times, so this is a great introduction to wade into.

cream that will hopefully eventually lightning rod into the marshmallow note I love on the flagship sour Rating: 3/5 I think I might actually like the flagship sour mash a bit better than this toasted barrel

Michter's Sour Mash Small Batch Whiskey Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: American Whiskey Mash Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey Review: Butterscotch, citrus & heavy leather nose. Sour & toasty. Rich marshmallow nose with some citrus hints. Caramel. A clear step above the other two glasses. Michter's Small Batch Bourbon Review: Peanut nose... Final Ranking: Shenks > Sour Mash > Bourbon

finishing approach, the Japanese whisky and Kentucky bourbon were aged together in-barrel, allowing the spirits The Japanese influence isn't overtly present, the bourbon character dominating the more delicate spirit It's pretty well balanced for a blend of two very different whisk(e)y expressions. technically advanced whiskey distillery, Bardstown Bourbon combines the highest quality distillation and spirited It is a part of Lofted Spirits, one of the largest American Whiskey distilleries in the U.S.

the phrase "Original Proof," "Original Barrel Proof" or "Entry Proof" indicates that the proof of the spirits entered into the barrel and the proof of the bottled spirits are the same. Further, "Barrel Proof" on a distilled spirits label indicates that the bottling proof is not more than two degress lower than the proof established at the time the spirits were gauged for tax determination powerhouse to elevate their straight rye whiskey into cask strength form: For this exceptional rye spirit

as the follow up to Blue Run Golden Rye Whiskey, a Gold Medal winner at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Company on Label: Blue Run Spirits (Distilled at Castle & Key) Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Proof: 116.7° Age: NAS Further identification: This is the Winter of 2022 release from Blue Run Spirits I envision flower petals freshly pressed between two pages of a notebook. An oozing honey sensation soothes the soul at the crescendo of the sip.

Pioneering Scotch whisky distillery Nc’nean   pushes boundaries of spirit making in new limited-release This particular Huntress release is incredibly unique, in that the spirit used is only produced once Unlike most distilleries, it runs two different spirit recipes each year, one for whisky set to be released The spirit matured for Huntress Orchard Cobbler comes from the distillation in the week after the spirit Throughout the year, we run two different spirit recipes at the distillery, a practice that Jim and I

The small batch consists of two entirely different rye mash bills, blended together: one a high-rye recipe Willett’s story and history, leading as one of the first major signs that the distillery’s in-house spirits My adoration for whiskey and diving deeper into this spirit through the written word can be linked to So, as I settle into two years as a contributing writer here on AmongstTheWhiskey.com, what better time

Brooklyn Brewery co-founder Tom Potter, his son Bill (now chief blender & distiller), and Director of Spirits years and 7 months of aging, this particular barrel was ready for selection by none other than local spirits Aaron Goldfarb and Robert Simonson both write for the New York Times and are also well-established spirits In 2021 Brooklyn-based friends and fellow spirits journalists, Robert Simonson and Aaron Goldfarb crossed That's a lot of whiskey for either of those spirits writers to consume on their own.

Last year’s Eagle Rare-17-Year-Old Bourbon marked the oldest release of the spirit since its inclusion Several well-respected spirits competitions recognized the expression, including the 2024 Whiskies of Stagg sits at 136.1 proof and is comprised of barrels aged more than 15 years and two months. Sazerac 18-Year-Old Rye was honored with the Gold “Outstanding” Medal in the 2024 International Wine and Spirits Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the 2024 Singapore World Spirits

While Calumet Farm Bourbon did not begin 100 years ago (strike a zero and add a two and you've got it 100th anniverary, we crafted out most exclusive lineup yet," said Tim Livesay, President of Western Spirits Company on Label:   Bottled by Three Springs Bottling Company for Western Spirits (sourced from Barton With more sips comes more baking spices, and a quick two-step of dark chocolate now—think 90%, slightly