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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!