Saying goodbye to 2021 in style with @amongstthefernsco tonight! These have been some of my most cherished pours of the last year, so it's about time to see how they stack up to each other... I'm going light on the notes and heavy on the enjoyment and really just trying to highlight differences I pick up along the way. For each of the individual pours notes, check out the link at each review title! Blanton's Straight from the Barrel Everything I remember and more. Oxygen has done wonders for this pour. Rich, candied plum. Sweet florals and infinite caramel. Drinks zesty and punchy. Cinnamon hots all over. Slightly drying. Lacking the wow factor for me tonight in this lineup. The best notes come in on the long linger with some hot chocolate powder and a wave of caramel drizzle. This one is showing a little bit of proof imbalance later in the glass. My last sip is malty with a touch of citrus. Sharing the glass with Brittany elicited a thumbs up. Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Batch 10 Wow, great butterscotch and caramel on this one. Smells a touch softer and more refined than the Blanton's. Cherry skins and vanilla comes off silky smooth. Orange peel sweetness. The oak intensified with time. Unbelievably soft for the proof still. Doesn't quite have the richness of the GTS. Wow, the nose on this has developed marvelously later in the glass. This leans on some faint herbal notes now; it's less pungent than the Stagg Jr, but very close in quality. I readily drank a good bit more of this than the Stagg Jr, which I think is testament to the quality of this. My last sip is filled with rich stone fruit, orange peel and sugary bread pudding. Brittany smelled a bit of linen on this one. Upon tasting it she gave a really enthusiastic thumbs up with eyebrows raised. 2020 George T Stagg Woah, I can tell this one is starting to get oxidized a bit. White linen, sweet plum, apricot and leather. Deep depths of oak. Holy. Moly. Nothing has this much flavor. Rich oak, leather, molasses and toffee chews. Skittles candy sweetness now. Just lovely. A bit of sweet fruit smoke shows up on the nose after a long rest. The sweetness on this has developed almost to a perfume level. Nothing else carries the weight this does on the palate for me. It's a wave that turns into a bomb that finally sizzles off indefinitely; it has something beyond effervescence. One sip of this yields flavorful satisfaction for several minutes. My last sip is like a bakers dozen donuts. Vanilla frosting, leather, tobacco, raspberry, cherry hots and honey lingers on and on. Brittany sipped this and thought this was a little too spicy for her palate. The smokiness I also experienced was a unique change of pace for her. Stagg Jr Batch 17 This comes off the lightest of all on depth and complexity. The aromas are easy going and all nestled into a deep oak that won't reveal its secrets quite yet. Vanilla and toffee forward on the nose now. Drinks softer than the Blanton's and just as loaded with flavor. This has the chest rising long linger that the George T Stagg has as well but with less balanced flavors. Woah, after refreshing my palate with some water this took on a rich butterscotch and nutty profile that reminds me of a sundae. This pour feigns like it's about to be hot but then it is absolutely not. The late nose is riddled with confectionary sugar and bakery vibes. This definitely has more flavor than the Taylor, but it's just a hair lower in quality. The brown sugar bomb comes off just a little too spicy. This is a barrel proof lovers delight. It's than little bit of flashy over-proofed linger that knocks this down just below the Taylor. Brittany gave this one an aggressive thumbs up. Final Ranking: 1. George T Stagg 2. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 3. Stagg Jr 4. Blanton's Bonus Brittany ranking: 1. Stagg Jr 2. E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof 3. Blanton's 4. George T Stagg She likes the sweeter, less spicy stuff for reference! I've been meaning to do this tasting for a while. I'm a bit saddened the Straight from the Barrel didn't do as well as some of the other single barrel offerings I've tried; this particular offering doesn't quite stack up. I am glad I did this because that Stagg Jr batch had captured my heart on a fresh palate, but this lineup helped put everything in perspective. In reality - the best whiskey is the one that's in your glass. Enjoy folks and see you in 2022!

Drizzly day dram. If you've known me a while, you'd know my first whiskey was an Irish whiskey. I've always been a fan of the style of whiskey in general, but have certainly taken a liking to bourbon and rye as of late. I like to bring it back whenever I can and this relatively new release from High N' Wicked is certainly an excitable return. This whiskey comes out of County Carlow, Ireland and is produced from locally sourced malt at the Royal Oak Distillery. It is first filled in ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in 300L Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for 8 months. This is a one time bottling of 1000 9L cases. 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 Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley Proof: 117.4° Age: NAS Further identification: The Wild Rover comes in a wide bottle with a prominent green label; the neck label states 'HNW No. 2', signifying the second release from the brand; Bottle No 2,639 Nose: Herbal forward on the first nosing. There's a rich, creamy sweetness that floats up out of the glass before your nose gets anywhere close to the Glencairn. Dry cacao, copper metallic molasses, and a sharp, bright pepper aroma build. Very earthy now; wow. It's mossy and damp like wet grass. Lemon clover presents itself delicately as well. Woah, suddenly there is a stark transition towards vanilla aromas; effervescent sugar cookies burst forth from the light colored liquid. Some soft oak can be found now as this glass has rested for a while. Pear and a medley of stone fruit sit on a pie crust. Touches of fig. Faint hibiscus and strawberry cereal build in some nice complexity. Leafy sweets continue to dance in the glass. Time for a sip! After tasting, the nose turns brighter and the oak mellows out into a creamy malt sugar base. Swirling rekindles the intensity on the oak aromas and adds in a slight layer of smokiness. Definitely a sweet dessert whiskey, I would love to pair this with a heavily glazed, warm cinnamon bun. The empty glass smells of Pirouline dark chocolate filled wafers, blackstrap molasses and just a touch of smokiness that makes this feel extraordinary. Palate: My first sip is quite pleasant leading with vanilla, rich oak, black tea and honey. There is a pleasant buzz to this at cask strength, which most Irish whiskeys don't get bottled at. There is a long citrus linger that drips down through my chest at the pace of molasses. Another sip builds in some of the complexity of the nose with hibiscus, sherry sweetness, and a raspberry filled chocolate truffle finish. The mouth feel is on the thinner side but is also impossibly long and sticky. Plum and raisin are highlighted in the areas of my mouth where the linger is tingling on the longest. Giving this glass some air really improves the crème brûlée vanilla. The palate only has a hint of the oily copper pot characteristics I would've expected on this pour. My last sip is a decadent array of sweet cinnamon, nutmeg, leather and rich toffee. Rating: 4/5 A lovely, lovely glass to enjoy - I'd definitely recommend this one to your favorite lover of Irish whiskey who needs to try a bit of a splurge bottle. This bottle opened up much better on the second glass I poured on separate occasions. I'd suggest you get yours while you still can if you want to try this. There is another exciting Irish release coming out of High N' Wicked now that I'm also excited to try...

It's the last Stagg Jr batch! Everyone panic! It's true, but no need for screams and tears. When batch 18 releases, there will be no more 'Junior' in the name but the whiskey will keep on flowing. The batch numbers don't really mean anything to me, other than reminding me which releases I liked the most - like batch 12 and 14. Every time I see a bottle on a shelf, I usually pull up the batches by proof list so I can make sure I'm getting something I know I want. I'm going to keep the notes brief on this one as this is a fresh crack, but I wanted to get some thoughts in front of folks as this starts to release. I was lucky one of my local stores I have helped out and built a longstanding relationship with was able to get just ONE bottle from the distributor. It does not appear that batch 17 is arriving in large numbers in MA (at least yet). Now time to get into it! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 128.7° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 17 (Winter 2021) Review: Wow. The nose is incredible rich and decadent with aromas that remind me of the intense amazement I get when I smell the 2020 George T. Stagg release. There is amazing sweetness I could smell from several feet away even on a cold outdoor porch. This definitely has the robust cherry, vanilla, brown sugar and rich caramel molasses cookies that I loved on batch 14, with maybe some of the cinnamon spice turned down on the nose somewhat. This smells certainly on the older side, with troves of burly oak, tobacco and leather. Holy mouth coating... This has a sweet cherry introduction with a minty plum linger that shows absolutely zero evidence of its proof even on a first sip of the day. A subsequent sip reveals more intensity and a raspberry jam. I can't believe how fruit forward this batch is. It comes off slightly tannic but has a lovely chest hug with infinite depth. I won't venture a score but this might be up there with one of my top batches! The mint notes are a little surprising for Stagg Jr, but overall I can tell this is going to have some nice complexity when I give it a chance to open up a bit longer. For now I'm just going to enjoy the rest of my glass! Cheers. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up

Getting ready to pour up on this fine Tuesday evening left me wondering what to do a quick review on... I looked at the fill level on this Old Elk single barrel bourbon pick and realized I have to get on this one before it's gone! I've shared this with quite a few friends and family members through the holidays already so I feel like I am at least a little versed in this one already, but not well enough acquainted yet. It's time for the full story. Did we pick a winner on this one? Let's find out. Company on Label: Old Elk Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 51% corn, 15% rye, 34% malted barley Proof: 110.6° Age: 6 years Further identification: This is first single barrel selection from the Spirit Animal Society Nose: Crisp vanilla greets me on first nosing after a long rest in the glass. Ripe banana peel slides in on the back side of the vanilla. Crème brûlée forms strongly over a layer of dusty oak. Rich cacao now mingles with fruity, sweet banana forming a lovely banana split profile. Sprinkles of raisin and plum dance around the edges of the glass softly. The nose-feel is now quite creamy as if you blended all of the prior notes into a smoothie and added a splash of whole milk. This is incredibly soft for how much aroma is coming off the glass; it is quite easy to enjoy this neat in a glencairn. On a deep inhale on my right nostril is the only time I can find a hint of floral spice. The left nostril comes across with buttery aromas and a crumbly croissant texture. A good portion of the smell is touched with that really fun banana note that's quite sweet and certainly feels fit for consumption! Time for a sip. After tasting things continue to pile on in the sweet department with fermented red grape, SweeTARTS (the candy), and milk chocolate. Ooh, and the s'mores sweetness! The chocolate blends into a sugary marshmallow and graham cracker aroma now. Very interesting baking spices start to form late in the glass if you can keep your patience in check and not sip down the rest of this glass... There's cardamom, mace, lavender and allspice coming off quite subtly from the glass. Together it forms a mellow citrus-forward medley that gives the vanilla aromas a complex backbone. Floral undertones continue to surprise me as I dig deeper. The empty glass smells of vanilla, chamomile and chrysanthemum. Really nice. Palate: My first sip is definitely banana forward. Wow, I'm not sure I've ever tasted anything quite like this unique mash bill before. The mouth feel is syrupy, sweet and slightly effervescent. Vanilla and an incredible sugary honey drive this into the sweet tooth territory for sure. Sipping again reveals a lot of spiced oak that reminds me of some kind of wooden boat aroma; I feel like I could be on a pirate ship trying to figure out the brandy barrel from the rum barrel from the Old Elk barrel on this one. There's some touches of salt water in the linger that likely give off this feel. Sipping again gives off more banana sweetness alongside milk chocolate, cherry and a long vanilla linger. A larger sip and swish is incredibly easy on the palate yet still bursting with flavors of lemon peel, Spring florals and light leather. The linger washes over you in a wave that feels like it goes right through you. My last sip has a silky smooth mouth feel and a big kick of the late glass baking spice. Cardamom and allspice give the tongue a quick touch on the way by that leaves a little tingle. Buttery vanilla desserts abound. Yum. Rating: 4/5 What is it about this bottle that makes you want to have another glass immediately? I really don't get the urge to drink two glasses of anything concurrently almost ever and this bottle does that for me. This is clearly why the fill level is so low on this already... Great job to the Spirit Animal Society tasters who got to pick this barrel: @SaxyBourbon @_LostNemo_ @AmongstTheWhiskey @BourbonAndSold @BustyBourbonBatch @DocJitsu @FemaleWhiskeySociety @FilmAndBarrel @For.The.Love.Of.Bourbon @Fritchtx @WafflesAndBourbon @Whiskey_Whiskey_Chronicles @WhiskeyByTheFire And cheers to @KY_Waterman for the label art! These seem to be going fast, but are available here as of the 28th of December 2021!

It's Christmas Eve and the LAST DAY of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. I contributed this sample from my bar. It is one of the two single barrel releases I was able to secure for myself. It was an easy decision to share out the whole bottle on this one, as that's what this is for, right? I love trying new things. I do still get to taste it tonight for myself after all - and now 11 others get to experience what likely few have already! This was quite the limited bottling. I have to thank Mike Montgomery and Jon McKnight from Blue Run Spirits for the assist on classing up these sample bottles with the black butterfly. I hope all enjoyed the extra attention to detail from a brand that clearly takes a lot of care with their bottle designs. These folks (you too Tim) have been a really amazing group to get to know. They always show the Spirit Animal Society love when we have events, and we thoroughly enjoy drinking their whiskeys. Just look at @SaxyBourbon's shelves! I haven't gotten a proper chance to try one of these 13.5 year releases until now. There are so many new releases I need to review now too. Big things are most certainly going to continue to happen for this brand in 2022. Were you able to get one of these single barrel releases? I hear they went quick... Let's see if the hype is real on this one! Company on Label: Blue Run Spirits Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 128.31° Age: 13 years (13.5 year stated) Further identification: This is barrel BB1-2 "Sweet Tooth" that came in the sleek black boxes; on the neck of the bottle there are markings for batch (Spring), date (4/20/21), and bottle (096 of 108) Nose: Whew - incredibly caramel and molasses forward. Milk chocolate pops with some heat coming off the glass early on. Super rich and malty. Herbal with loads of cooking spices. Boozy coffee (think Irish), cinnamon, creamy cacao and velvety mascarpone whipped cream. Silky while hot and sweet while spicy, this comes off like a powerful tiramisu profile. Graham cracker, brown sugar and oak start to wander into the glass now. Everything I am smelling is coming across intensely with the proof definitely showing its strength here. Vanilla seems to be the robust backbone of this pour from what I am finding before going for a sip. Afterwards, caramel comes swinging back in with a vengeance. Smoked maple, butterscotch and another big wave of vanilla after a little time settling later in the glass. As things wear on, everything turns quite soft and I feel like I can really take my time, relax and sit with this now. The vanilla comes off a little smoother. The butterscotch is a bit creamier, trending towards a Werther's Original. Where there was once baking spices and cinnamon there is now condensed milk, white linen and soft almond nuttiness. This late nose transition, which occurred about an hour and a half into this pour, is absolutely incredible. I imagine this is what a partially oxidized bottle would smell like all the time, and I'm definitely not against it. There's a bit of smoke and an herbal, sweet tang like tomato paste near the bottom of the glass. The lovely waves of creamy caramel that phase in and out of this pour are what really takes this nose to the next level. The empty glass smells of salted caramel, dark earth, and heavy charred oak. Palate: My first sip is a lovely syrupy cherry, touched with lemon peel, green tea, vanilla frosting, and that creamy & slightly savory mascarpone whipped cream. This has all the fixings of a good dessert profile; I can certainly see where the name "Sweet Tooth" came from on this one already. It reminds me of my grandmother's lemon cake recipe somewhat, with some extra layers to it. Woah, some serious cinnamon spice pops up on a subsequent sip. It is drying with plum and stewed apricot served over a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Another sip gives me the feeling of a very cherry forward Manhattan. This sip will certainly bring you some warmth on a cold night! On a larger sip and swish, much more dry oak and cedar can be found. There's quite a bit of spice to this, so fellow taster beware of attempting a swish of this. Late in the glass things have mellowed out drastically, as the nose did as well. Buttercream, white chocolate and molasses continue to drive a confectionary creaminess that is really nice. My last sip is soft and velvety with a black tea brewed with a cinnamon stick, stone fruit sweetness that reminds me of a mulled wine, and crème brûlée. Rating: 5/5 This is one of those ones that make you a little sad when the glass hits empty. Really great barrel that I thought started out a little shaky and then settled into greatness. Spice lovers REJOICE on this one! It's sugar, spice, and everything nice in a glass - Powerpuff Girls approved. If you have the patience to wait as long as I did (or hopefully shorter for an open bottle), this really transforms into something special as it opens up. Chris Rogers added a drop of water and achieved the same result, if you want to go that route. I gave my dad a sip of this after I was finished with the review and he said it tasted like something he's had before.... Upon thinking for a moment he compared it to the 2020 George T Stagg we drank together a few weeks prior. High praise! Cheers all & Merry Christmas!

It's the second to last day of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was added courtesy of Phil Acin. This one is usually savored for special company that I know will appreciate it. It garners high praise every time it is sampled and I'm really stoked to be trying a different barrel of this to see if there are big differences to the barrel I previously reviewed. Only way to find out is to taste it... so let's get on with it! Company on Label: Blanton Distilling Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye 12-15%) Proof: 127° Age: NAS (estimated to be ~6 years) Further identification: Dumped 1-22-20 from Warehouse H, Rick 12, Barrel 488. Nose: Creamy fruit from across the table - I already like what I smell. On bringing the glass to my nose I get a rich, deep earthy caramel. Smoked meat with a brown sugar glaze greets me as well. This feels dark as can be with a sweet, funky mustiness that I recall experiencing before. Older oak is certainly present, giving the feeling that the 6 year estimate on this may be conservative. Stewed peach cobbler and spiced plum pudding show up now with some heft. Toasted oak and confectionary sugar. Deep molasses. Hints of lemon peel zest. Soft black tea. Oooh, the citrus notes have really started to build now with lemon meringue pie sweeping in loftily. On a swirl some of the spicier aromas bubble up. Allspice, soft clove and a hint of anise give this some great depth of character. Alongside the spice there is a subtle mint smell as well that leaves the nose feeling cool. Time for a sip, I've waited long enough! After a taste, things are leaning much more towards a lovely vanilla salt water taffy. After a long rest, malted corn sweetness is prevalent, followed by a sweet marshmallow on the left nostril. The right nostril has the dark fruit and spice storm that comes off a bit fiery. Wow, late in the glass well-oiled leather has formed on top of the glass. Smelling through that reserve reveals sugar cookie and sweet oak. The empty glass smells of peppered honeycomb, campfire smoke, soft caramel and a life-savers minty white cotton. Palate: First sip is incredibly cherry forward. It's candied and incredibly sweet with cinnamon hots following shortly after. The cherry note seems to have been injected with a rich vanilla - becoming so entwined together that they quickly alternate, spiraling like a barber shop candy cane pole across my tongue. Oh my, really, the vanilla on this is so rich and it builds incredibly on subsequent sips. Hints of pear and apricot follow on the long linger that floats around in the top of my chest. The mouth feel is sweet and coating like a thick maple syrup experience. Later in the glass the cinnamon spice really kicks it up into high gear. It's never quite hot, but really flirts with getting there. It tingles my gums and rolls over the palate like a slow wave, very similar to the experience I get from 2020 George T Stagg. My last sip of the first 1oz of this is smoky now alongside oodles of cherry, plum and fig sweetness. There is a honeysuckle texture that sticks to every surface of my mouth it touches. Spring florals blow softly in the breeze on the long, smoldering finish. You better believe I am pouring the other 1oz of this now. This is delicious. Rating: 5/5 Incredibly robust, complex and fun to experience... this is my definition of a 5/5! I love sharing this pour and am very thankful to have been shared a new barrel to experience. This one really knocked it out of the park for me. It didn't quite have the instant 'WOW' factor of some of my other top ranked pours have had, but the summative complexity of this sets it clearly apart from other middle-of-the-road releases. Will every Straight from the Barrel release taste as good as this one? Probably not, but I haven't been let down yet in my limited (2 barrel) experience. Hope you are able to enjoy some of this as I have! Cheers.

Playing a little catch up for Day 8 and 9 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was added courtesy of Travis Scafuri for Day 8. Stagg Jr is one of those things I can't leave on the shelf if it's a decent price... I have previously done a brief flash review of this batch, but I'll try to go a little more in depth with this one tonight. I wonder how much it will differ - it's been a while! Let's find out. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 131.1° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 15 (Winter 2020) Nose: Oh my goodness. There's such a heavy leather on the first nosing. This is followed up with a heavy cloth and sandalwood incense aroma that reminds me a lot of George T. This is way more complex on the nose than I recollect. Honey sweetness with a fig jam/marmalade hefty fruit preserves explodes out of this glass. Quite smoky on deeper pulls. Now the glass is mellowing I recall some of the strawberry cereal I experienced the last time I tried this. It's funkier and heavily tied to a rich caramel undertone that pokes through the bedsheet that passes over this glass from time to time. Wow this nose really comes off soft now - like a marshmallow without the synthetic, sugary vanilla aspects. Wow - holy cilantro! On a deep left nostril inhale I got a very clear cilantro and cumin experience that felt a lot like some flavorful taco seasonings. On the right nostril I get more of the fruit, oak and molasses. This is a thoroughly rich and complex nosing experience. After a sip things turn more bright and linen-forward. Oak is far more prevalent but it is layered in well. More hints of the taco spices and a smoky cast iron wood stove make this glass feel like it's close to home for me. The empty glass smells of ash, cast iron, citrus oak, and soft vanilla. Palate: My first sip is incredibly as thorough as the nose; it starts out with rich leather, pulsating into a caramel wave and resting down into a strawberry base. Cinnamon spice kicks up well but doesn't punish the palate. Hefty, creamy, refined caramel is quite impressive to experience. Smokey in flashes at times, this glass is full of surprises. The linger is long with baking spices and hints of forbidden florals. The flavors on this are rather obscure, but incredibly enjoyable. It doesn't quite remind me of anything that exists, which is really fun. There's just a touch of clove I experience on some of the finish experiences. My last sip is incredibly rich with a big wave of caramel, white pepper, butterscotch and just a hint of cardamom. Rating: 4/5 Complex and lovely. I like this way more than I remember. It's close to a 5 for me for sure.

Playing a little catch up for Day 8 and 9 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was added courtesy of Justin Fillip for Day 9. I have always loved Booker's from the start, so I have high hopes this is one of my new favorite batches. I have a bottle at home I haven't had a chance to get into personally, so this is a great introduction for me. The story I heard: “Off Your Rocker” is also a tribute to Dad’s larger-than-life personality that he was so well known for. He always said exactly what was on his mind – cracking jokes and surprising people – and I remember our friends and family telling him he was “off his rocker” every now and again. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 129.7° Age: 6 years (& 7 months and 23 days) Further identification: 2016-05 Off Your Rocker comes bearing a light orange label in a wooden box Nose: Mmm very chocolate forward on the first nosing, with nutmeg spice and crème brûlée. Almond joy and bright, well-aged oak. This reminds me a lot of the 2017 and 2019 releases I've tried. Oooh, turning really nutty now, which I love in Booker's releases. Not so much in everything, but there's something about that peanut funk that is really endearing to the Booker's brand for me. Faint citrus nuances. There's a bit of fir bough that may have come from the proximity this glass had to the Christmas tree before pouring, but I'll attribute it to the whiskey experience nonetheless. More dusty old oak and a bit of extra wood that reminds me of cedar shingles. The aroma of tiramisu gives this nose-feel some serious elegance. Lemon drop candies smell quite sweet from time to time, occasionally venturing into a perfume like quality. One of the mellower batches on the nose; little to no proof is apparent. After a sip a slight rubber aroma forms subtly; it's like an old rubber band that holds the newspaper together. Lovely vanilla swings in to remind me this is a great bourbon profile. This is coming off as a very dusty smelling batch - I'm digging this. The empty glass smells of bubblegum, wet oak, and Charleston chews. Palate: The first sip is raisin forward with little explosions of earl gray tea and some hefty oak. Wow the second sip is a clear cut above the first with powerful cherry skins, cinnamon hots, creamy lemon frosting, nutmeg and allspice. A nice citrus and vanilla wave runs over the palate with this. It is quite warming to the body given the proof point. The linger is incredibly long with my gums tingling with effervescent lemon peel twists. My last sip is vanilla bean sweet with toasted almonds, lemon juice, and smoky oak. Rating: 4/5

We're keeping the age statements high on Day 7 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was added courtesy of Chris Lugiano. I'm excited to try this one for the first time here. I believe I have a bottle of one of the MA releases to get into eventually as well. Keep in mind this NY-1 batch may taste significantly different than another batch, given how small the barrel mixing lots are with this release. Time to get into this pour! Company on Label: Three Springs Bottling Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley Proof: 103° Age: 15 years Further identification: This is the 2021 release of Release #7, Batch NY-1; this group of releases is comprised of 2-3 barrel blends that are non-chill filtered Nose: On first nosing there is a slight floral and fruity undertone that comes along with a rich caramel. Plum, raspberry and black currant flow forth plentifully. An interesting bright vanilla reminds me of polished, white tile floors. It then settles into a creamy simple syrup and coffee bean profile. It's a very soft and inviting nose-feel. Wow, fantastic toasted marshmallow builds now. I absolutely adore when a glass can form this quality of aroma. Soft white lily and lemongrass swing in behind the creamy confectionary sweetness. Slight maple syrup. Faint white pepper spice. Good barrel char to this, which is listed as a #4 char on the bottle label. The oak is quite subtle for 15 years aged, but it's definitely still present. Toffee candy bar forms now with a hint of cacao. I keep feeling like I've smelled all there is to smell in this glass until something new floats along. Regardless, I think it's time for a sip! Wow, the nose just gets more and more syrupy sweet with time and care. There's a hint of smoke underneath apricot and vanilla smoothie. Tiny flashes of pear, steak marinade and molasses can be dug up on deep inhales too. This glass always leans back on a lovely vanilla base that keeps things enjoyable through and through. Touches of sweet lemon desserts keep tempting me to go in for another sip, but when I taste this many of these aromas don't seem to be present on the palate. Late in the glass things are just as enjoyable as they started; there's many layers of sweet and soft aromas you might find in a Parisian pâtisserie. The empty glass smells of rich raisin, fig, caramel, and just a hint of floral mint. Palate: The first sip is sweet forward with a slightly chalky oak. Dried cherries, cinnamon spice and prune sit on the tongue on another sip. These flavors give off a significant drying feel on the palate. Molasses sits on the tip of the tongue, but there doesn't appear to be much of a linger outside of a slight flan dessert. Another sip shows off a nutty medley of peanuts, cashews and almonds. A larger sip and swish builds up dry cacao, raisin and coffee bean. There's a good bit of cherry later in the glass with a caramel and cinnamon pop that follows; this feels a bit like the experience of a sip of Weller Antique 107, but comes off slightly more muted. My last sip is touched with a dry, medicinal cherry as well as oak bark, dark chocolate powder, and a decently long caramel linger. Rating: 3/5 This pour will really reward you if you take your time with it, especially on the nose. The palate takes quite a while to really get going - I enjoyed another ~ half ounce after I finished the review and thought it had opened up a bit more. This might be one that does well over the course of 2 glasses instead of just one! The nose on this is an easy 5/5, but unfortunately with the big disconnect to the palate, I can't score it in a similar fashion tonight. Still glad to have sipped through this sample - thanks for the contribution Chris!

Photo credit goes to the legendary Frank who mans the fantastic hub of fun over on the @BourbYourEnthusiasm page. For Repeal Day this year, he did a great write up on this bottle, and the George Remus legacy that you should definitely read. We're on Day 6 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was added courtesy of Alex Cottle! At first when I saw there was Remus on the lineup for this weekend, I thought I was going to be re-tasting the Remus Repeal V batch I recently tried which I certainly would have loved... But my excitement went through the roof when I pulled out the sample and it said Remus Volstead Reserve instead! I'm definitely grateful to be trying a one-time release (that's long gone) that I would not have had the chance to try otherwise. What a gorgeous bottle too! From the George Remus website: To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Volstead Act – we are proud to introduce Remus Volstead Reserve. This ultra-premium bourbon is a one-time release that has been aged for 14 years, in honor of the 14 years of Prohibition. Bottled-in-bond and 100 proof, this limited 2005-aged reserve bourbon has rich aromas of dried candied fruit and caramelized pecans to balance the robust flavors of rich oak and barrel char that intensify the tasting experience. Let's see how it tastes! Company on Label: G. Remus Distilling Co. Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: 14 years Further identification: This was a one-time release from late 2019; it is a blend of MGP barrels which produced a 6,000 bottle batch Nose: Big citrus funk on the first nosing - like lemon butter cookies. Wow, this is like birthday cake and barbecue; a strange mix of sweet and savory sounds odd, but is actually quite enjoyable. Heavy brown sugar, leather and rich molasses. Burnt sugar, vanilla extract, and bright allspice. These aromas culminate in an overall savory nose-feel that gives off the feeling of pork burnt ends and caramelized onions. Woah, giving this glass a swirl immediately softens all those smells that were starting to become quite pungent. Vanilla builds into the lemon butter cookies and gives it a creamy frosting. Letting this sit for some time made a really big prune aroma build up in this glass. Seriously this presents so powerfully, I'm amazed it is this strong in smell at 100 proof. The oak is so rich and musty. Roasted pecans float up at times. Caramel and a faint floral note follow now. Things are calming down in the glass as I go on for sure. After a sip things lean heavily back on the expressive oak and nuttiness, while a slight tobacco starts to trickle in. There's a slight copper metallic and short bread cookie note to this that reminds me a little bit of pot still whiskies. This never seems to lose its strength as the glass gets low on the nose. Intense, rich and robust, this is one of those pours that just carries some decadence with it. It still surprises me from time to time becoming incredibly soft and delectable, producing a really nice experience that I think would hold up well to water. Oh wow, digging really deep on the left nostril I find a slight Pinesol note that I love. Returning to the right nostril produces much heavier aromas of acorn, rich brown earth, and farm barn wood. The empty glass smells of vanilla, confectionary sugar, grassy molasses, and lightly toasted oak. Palate: Oh, wow. Like the nose, things start off with a solid lemon sweetness that has a bit of black tea as well. Creamy mouth feel with a barrel full of vanilla forward char. Faint nuttiness on the linger as some cashew and sesame seed aromas trail off. A nice blast of cinnamon spice on the second sip with dry plum, cherry and raisin building. Much longer linger on the second sip with honey sweetness and a solid base of oak underlying everything. Slight herbal tones come off at times. Ooh - a faint peach marmalade just flashed up and left a soft lychee linger. Cherry pops up from time to time and then the oak comes over in a wave that crashes new flavors all around in your mouth. The mouth feel is on the thinner side, but the linger builds to the point of feeling like it could last forever. It carries agave nectar, orange peel and hints of chocolate. My last sip is touched with zesty lemon peel, rich toffee and whipped cream. Rating: 4/5 What a fantastic pour to experience. While it doesn't quite earn my top mark, this is a bottle I would love for more people to try. I'm really excited to see what my 11 other fellow tasters get out of this tonight! Cheers.

Day 5 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was put forth by Ameya! Another single malt whisk(e)y is up for tasting from our group. I have had so many really great and really different single malt experiences recently... My favorite of recent memory is a sample of a Brenne 2014 single barrel release that was just one of those mind-changing moments. I'm hoping for something similar tonight. Let's get into it! Company on Label: Amrut Whiskey Type: Single Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley (25% peated malt) Proof: 100° Age: NAS (4-5 years) Further identification: Amrut Fusion is the culmination of barley grown in India as well as peated barley from Scotland Nose: Oooh, silky nose-feel to start. Peat and fruit parfait. Floral briefly... followed with earthy chocolate tones. Grassy plains. Pear and a faint grapefruit now. Light nuances of vanilla. Tiramisu coming on strong now which is lively with a creamy rum cake texture. Time for a sip! After a sip much more oak is apparent. Caramel and smoked apple crisp. Oak builds and builds now... With a drop of water and a swirl the oak mellows and bright, Spring grass returns. Hints of citrus and vanilla are much softer but less creamy. The empty glass smells of dry leaves, wet campfire ash and stonedust. Palate: Woah, much less smoky than the nose was letting on. There's a lovely baking chocolate, confectionery sugar and a licorice linger. Caramel tries to sneak out from earthy ash. Heavy tobacco turns a little bit lighter by a honey wine sweetness. Toffee is bright and clean. Chocolate returns strongly later in the glass. Adding a touch of water now increases the smokiness for me. My last sip is earthy, heavy on the used coffee grounds and quite drying. The finish is short but the smokiness persists on the palate long after finishing this pour. Rating: 3/5 Smoky pours are usually not my jam but this did a lot of extra things alongside it. Not bad at all! Love trying things like this and expanding horizons. Cheers!

Day 4 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was put forth by Grim from @worthadram! This is a great change of pace from the wheated-every-day start we had; the whiskey drinkers from our group definitely appreciated some new flavors. I've loved chatting about tasting notes and experiences thus far. Company on Label: Del Bac Whiskey Type: Sonoran Single Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley Proof: 111.4° Age: NAS Further identification: Fall 2021 Distiller's Cut is an expression of the classic Sonoran Single Malt aged gracefully in High West Distillery Rye Whiskey barrels Nose: Loads of funky fruits all through this. Earthy tones. Star anise. Cinnamon pops alongside fresh pear. Sandalwood and younger oak. The nose-feel is incredibly soft yet carries a heavy viscosity. Smoky vanilla. Red grape skins, dirt and molasses. This feels really close to the ground for me. There is a bit more smokiness on the nose building after a sip. There's something that reminds me of bricks here I can't quite place. Paprika just flashed up right as I was about to go in for my last sip, but I stopped short to explore this more... It is no longer there, replaced with dusty ancient oak like older built houses with well-worn carpets. The empty glass smells of dry rice, pungent caramel and a grassy hillside. Palate: Woah... that pepper spice! Earthy and briny on the palate with allspice, star anise, ginger and clove. Cardamom and fennel. I feel like I'm sifting through an old spice cabinet here! Honeysuckle gives this a nice, light sweetness. Definitely feels heaviest on the clove during the linger, much like the 2019 Thomas H Handy release. Chocolate and slight coffee ground notes offer some subtle nuances later in the glass. Light spices and more ashy smoke build well as the pour comes to and end. My last sip is highlighted with clove, mustard seed, vanilla bean, wet ash and funky malt. Rating: 3/5 This was such a fun pour to explore. I started out a little shaky in this new flavor space, but then once the pear note came about I sort of knew what to look for next. I'm not personally a big smoky flavor fan, but if you are, I'm sure this pour would be right up your alley! Great sample to try tonight. Thankful for new experiences as always. Cheers all!