Day 3 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ coordinated. This pick was put forth by that same gracious host! We are still rocking the wheated bourbon theme with this Boone County single barrel. I have never tasted their wheated bourbon before, but I have tried their small batch bourbon which is fantastic. This is a great brand I definitely recommend you take a look into. The Boone County Distilling Co spirits of today take inspiration from the best of these men. The courage of Reverend John Tanner. William Snyder’s untamed creative spirit. The practical determination of Appleton, Jenkins, and Gaff. All tempered by the refined elegance invoked by Freiberg and Workum. A progression that itself mirrors the production and maturation of a fine bourbon whiskey. Those early pioneers have long since departed, but their influence is unmistakable in BCD's craftsmanship. That’s the promise in the brand’s ethos, “Made by Ghosts”. An example of reverence for history can be seen in the brand’s design: The “8” linking the words “Boone” and “County” reflect the original “Registered Distillery 8” designation. In these simple, honest ways, they honor those who came before us. Let's get into this one! Company on Label: Boone County Distilling Company (Made By Ghosts) Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 108.8° Age: 8 years Further identification: Distilled Spring of 2013; Barrel # BCW55; This is MGP's Indiana wheated bourbon mash bill Nose: I'm invited from across my desk by the unmistakable sweetness of a good bourbon. Upon lifting the glass to meet my nose, I'm greeted with rich red berries, soft vanilla sweetness and peppery caramel. Funky molasses rising up powerfully now. Coming back to it after a bit of a rest reveals a delectably complex caramel drizzle. This certainly reminds me of some older MGP releases with some hints of leather starting to build up on top of the softest of oaks; that softening always seems to happen with high wheat content mash bills. Deeper pulls have a bit of spice to them! Dry cinnamon flashes up alongside some sweet peach. Plum builds now as I clear the class of some lingering vapor. Wow, this just completely filled back up with fruit-forward notes; the mainstay being an awesome peach cobbler. I think I'll take a sip while things are going this sweet! After sipping the nose invokes some more caramel and molasses as a slight strand of lemon frosting trails across the surface. Country stone ground whole wheat bread (specifically Freihofer's) comes around now as well. Later in the glass the palate really starts to shine and the nose starts to take a bit of a back seat. The overall feel is still a lovely fruit medley with caramel and a great deal of vanilla undercurrents. Very late in the glass things took a turn for the best on the nose... With a big return of almond extract and slight peanut brittle, this just crossed into a territory of really complex noses. The empty glass smells of coconut shells, syrupy peach cobbler, and a hint of dark chocolate. Palate: Wow, that is incredibly vanilla forward on the first sip of the day. Lovely smoky crème brûlée forms fast, and it almost hints upon a touch of peat level of smoke for a moment right there before that flashes away. It calmly collects itself back into a heavy char oak and candied caramel linger. Ooooh another sip builds upon some of the previous flavors with a candied cherry bubbling up quickly. This glass really begs for subsequent sips to really build a powerful flavor experience, but the linger is incredibly long and rewarding if you can resist that temptation. Plum, apricot and hints of red grape perform very well under pressure; this almost comes off like a sangria kind of experience with much more of a thick, syrupy mouth feel. Sweet tooth - you've been warned! This is quite sweet, but not overpoweringly so. Lavender, tarragon and strawberry cereals build in well. There is just an inkling of star anise that I think would easily go unnoticed if you weren't really digging for it. My last sip is a larger one and I swished it long to savor it. The mouth coating has a touch of cardamom alongside the fruit medley I've been experiencing all throughout this pour. The linger is impossibly long and intense with lemon zest, plum and a red oak fire roaring in the fireplace. Rating: 4/5 Wow, I was really on the fence about giving this one a 5. It has been a while since I've experienced what I thought was a 5, so I went back to one before filling in my final score. I know I don't presently do fractional scores, but this would easily earn a 4.5 in my book, for what it's worth. This is really such a fantastic bottle I would love to have on my shelf forever! I do fortunately have a bottle of this to try, another 8 year in barrel BCW45, only 10 away from this one. Looking forward to trying that barrel too. I am incredibly excited for this release to get even older, as I think some of those nuances will come alive. 10 years might push this to true unicorn status for me. Regardless, what a great night of pours already - I'm thankful for getting to try new things! Cheers to all.

Well, well, Weller Full Proof is back on the menu tonight for the 2nd day of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ coordinated. This pick was put forth by Mike Wick. Excited to see if there are any fun nuances between the two picks while I still have the other fresh on my mind! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 114° Age: NAS Further identification: 2021 release from Burlington Wine & Spirits in MA Nose: Heavy caramel; thick, syrupy and rich nose-feel. Sweet candied cherry and a soft, velvety wheat characteristic. Slight candied apple is hidden well by a caramel crusted shell. Pepper and creamy vanilla. Bright oak is there with a slight citrus characteristic nestled deep. Crème brûlée and a light pie crust. Hints of light leather now on deeper pulls; this nose is lovely. After a sip the caramel turns things up a notch and the baking spices begin to bubble up. Soft vanilla ice cream swings back through and keeps everything sternly in check. Oooh - a smoky barbecue grill-char aroma just flashed up as well. Sweet brown sugar. Wave after wave of more caramel. There seems to be infinite amounts of aroma available in this glass even as it nears empty. The white paper, smokiness and oak return powerfully now as well. The empty glass smells of warm cinnamon, Yankee candle spice, burnt sugar, and a slightly chocolatey oak that reminds me of a Guinness Extra Stout. Palate: Oh my. The cherry parfait that just came off that first sip was incredibly soft and enjoyable. I am much less affected by the proof on this 'first sip' as my palate isn't fresh tonight. Strawberry milk made with a little extra Hershey's syrup describes the linger well. Creamy, soft and fruity early on. There's a slight white paper characteristic that seems to be attached to the oaky flavors that are building later in the pour. Much later in the pour I'm finally greeted by the cherry hots that I've come to expect out of most Full Proof picks. The evolution of this glass is perfect, with softer notes leading the charge and getting you ready for the bigger flavors to crescendo. This is definitely one that airs on the side of easy-sipping and therefore lacks a little bit of wow factor, but the flavors that are present are really delicious. My last sip is touched with slight molasses, pear skins, creamy caramel and that awesome crème brûlée linger. Rating: 4/5 Whew, this one really drank well. I'd probably give a slight nod to this pick over last night's if I had to choose. I thankfully have a bottle of this pick myself that I now get to look forward to opening at some point! I'll be saving my other 1oz of this to also try on a fresh palate if I can and may update the review at that time as needed.

Tonight we have the latest Barrel Strength release - Batch 8 - on deck. I previously tasted the four-grain Batch 6 barrel strength release which is what actually got me into the Penelope brand in the first place. This sample comes from a trio of the latest releases from Mike Paladini alongside the flagship bourbon and a sample of one of the private releases I am also excited to try soon. I thank Penelope Bourbon for providing the whiskey for review and allowing me to taste it with no strings attached! I love that the mash bill subtly varies between releases with different proportions of each input MGP mash bill varying slightly. From the "Your-Nightcap" section of the Penelope website: Barrel Strength pushes the boundaries of our signature four grain balanced flavor profile. Each batch is blended from three bourbon mash bills aged in new American oak barrels and completely uncut and non chill-filtered. Each barrel was hand selected and blended into a single batch in order to create this unique offering. Company on Label: Penelope Bourbon Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 74% Corn, 16% Wheat, 7% Rye, and 3% Malted Barley Proof: 115.8° Age: 3 years (A blend of 3.5-5 year barrels) Further identification: This sample of Batch 8 was provided to me from Penelope Bourbon Nose: Dusty oak, pepper, caramel, and a slight citrus greet me well. Everything feels well balanced with intense scents that come off soft and sweet. White linen, cherry skins and lilac smells very nice. Caramel feels like the strongest note here and it's slightly salty and bright. Slight peanut brittle presents very dusty. Post sip the nose is hotter with sharp vanilla and oak-soaked peach marmalade. Mellow, dusty caramel returns later in the glass. The empty glass smells of starchy, smoky caramel, angostura bitters and malty oak. Palate: A small first sip comes across as chocolate covered peanuts. There's a touch of raisin and plum that layers in after as well that produces a lovely arc of flavors. A longer chew is a little more fruit forward and tannic with a flash of cinnamon spice at the end. The center of the tongue tingles with baking spice as creamy sweet fruit settles into the corners of the mouth. Incredible tasting subtle nutty characteristics linger well. On a swirl vanilla begins to dominate as cherry oak settles into fruition. Late in the glass things are feeling really solid - your typical vanilla and caramel are ruling the roost while more fruit parfait and pecan pie build. My last sip is sweet and tart like a mulled wine with allspice and pepper on the tongue lingering. The finish is long and enjoyable with chocolate malt powder, cranberry sauce, and sweeps of soft floral notes. Rating: 4/5 This drinks a clear cut above the flagship bourbon for me, as someone who definitely is guilty of enjoying higher proof pours more. I'd anticipate this drinking really well for someone who enjoys Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength releases, or some of the sweeter Booker's batches. Let me know what you think of this batch if you've tried it!

Newer brands are always some of the most exciting. A new perspective, a new strategy, or whatever it may be usually yields something in the way of a unique whiskey. I previously reviewed the four-grain Batch 6 barrel strength release that was really good which totally piqued my interest in the brand. After talking with Mike Paladini some about his brand and releases some - he was kind enough to send along some samples for further review. I thank him for providing the whiskey for review and allowing me to taste it with no strings attached! Company on Label: Penelope Bourbon Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, and 3% Malted Barley Proof: 80° Age: 2-3 years Further identification: This sample was provided to me from Penelope Bourbon Nose: Caramel forward on first nosing. Voluminous floral funk. Plum with a hint of baking spice behind it. Sharp, shiny citrus is tied well to a bright vanilla bean. Zesty and lively on the nose, this is quite bubbly and excitable despite its lower proof. Malt is apparent now. Slight mint and banana as well. White linens. Reminds me a bit of a hotel because of the slight fresh bed linen characteristic. Hints of shiny copper at times. After a sip the nose opens up to more floral characteristics; rose petals, grenadine and Spring grass develop well. The nose has the feel of Spring cleaning; everything has just bloomed and the windows are all open as you mop the floors to get rid of Winter's salty boot prints. Really lovely experience here on the nose! The empty glass smells of molasses, brown sugar and citrus cleaner. Palate: Interesting first sip! Light caramel keeps the grains just under wraps on this one. This is the kind of barrel group that got selected 'right on time' where it starts to show that lovely barrel influence. This very light sipper is nuanced with molasses, strawberry cereal, freshly shucked corn and just a touch of oak. This also carries through the citrus characteristic from the nose well. Vanilla char is light and airy. The roof of my mouth is slightly drying as the finish rolls back quickly. Later in the glass some of the chocolate grain does show through; I enjoy the nose on this one a bit more than sipping. My last sip is a subtle medley of cracker jacks, salt, mint, faint whipped cream and lemon peel. Rating: 3/5 This pour feels like it would drink much better in Spring time, rather than the current Winter weather when I tend to go for higher proofs. I still enjoyed it quite a bit and would recommend it to those who aren't in the barrel-proof-or-bust mentality. I'm sure this being their most approachable, lowest proof and lowest cost option that you'd do well to give it a try for yourself and see if you agree with my sentiments! The Penelope story, from their website: Penelope Bourbon was crafted and created in a classic American tradition – to celebrate an impending birth of a child. In 2018, Mike Paladini and his wife, Kerry, found out they were expecting a baby girl, Penelope. To commemorate this occasion, Mike quickly realized he wanted to create a spirit that embodied the daily joy of celebrating life’s pleasures – big and small. Teaming up with his close childhood friend and neighbor, Danny Polise, they set out to discover and produce a Straight Bourbon Whiskey everyone could appreciate and enjoy. A company was born. Today, Penelope Bourbon is sold in over 23 states nationwide and Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. Proving that with enough love and care, and hard work, anything is possible. Distillery: Penelope Bourbon is distilled at MGP's historic Lawrenceburg, Indiana distillery. The distillery was founded in 1847. Blending and Bottling: Nestled on 113 acres of rolling hills in a castle that holds more than a century of distilling history, Castle & Key blends and bottles Penelope Bourbon under the direction of Mike Paladini and Danny Polise. Cooperage: Since 1947, the family owned Speyside Cooperage has produced the finest casks from the best American Oak. Speyside assists Penelope Bourbon in sourcing unique oak casks for Penelope Bourbon finishes.

This will be a partial Un-Gnome whiskey challenge, blinded by @amongstthefernsco as usual! I've received a ton of samples from many amazing people - it takes me a long time to get to these things because of that, but it certainly does not make me appreciate them any less! Thank you to all I have swapped with and to all who give great gifts in tastes of whiskey. I have a sample from each of the following friends of AmongstTheWhiskey: @_lostnemo_, @barrelproofnerd (and @femalewhiskeysociety is guilty by association!), @bourbondipity_, and @whiskeybythefire. Each of these great folks also supplied me with a photo of their bottle, so photo cred where photo cred is due! Let me tell you right off the bat - this flight of glasses smells FANTASTIC from 2 feet away. I can't wait to get into these! I will keep track of which glass is which and my guesses by the color of the @SpiritAnimalSociety glencairn they are resting in. I will be swishing and drinking some water in between sips of each glass. Blue Fish Glencairn Nose: Malty, salty Caramel forward Rich chocolate Lovely vanilla char Corn chips Slightly nutty Honey sweetness Slight sawdust sits right behind a solid, standard bourbon profile Empty glass smells of pecans and a banana split sundae atop a heap of vanilla ice cream Palate: High flying, intense vanilla Dried plums, raisins and cherry dance well on the tongue A cool, melting fade-away is an enjoyable lingering experience with this Lovely punchiness with floral orange peel zest and tart guava fruit Starting to turn into a heavy hitter later in the glass Hefty molasses Subtle fruit undertones flash up in bursts Oaky maple syrup / sorghum Baking spice builds near the last sip Red Antlers Glencairn Nose: Sweet, fruity Silky, soft Light vanilla Slightly metallic Oh my lanta the floral fruit on this is intense and delicious! Roasted, honey-drenched pineapple Coconut Plum Beautiful, creamy coffee bean note comes back time and time again Oak that reminds me of a bowling alley; a slight cardboard in there as well There's something 'craft whiskey' about this i can't quite pinpoint; it doesn't feel young, but it has me really curious - it just feels like a re-barrel Empty glass smells like Home Depot Palate: Really unique start to this; it's like a coffee bean got ground into a piece of oak Cacao forward and quite malty Obscure flavors are quite hard to pin down, but it's an enjoyable medley Heavy, creamy vanilla Apricot Slight smokiness Mellow and enjoyable, a great sit and sip that doesn't need your undivided attention The coffee bean note transfers well between nose and palate More of the lovely cacao returning; not many nuances to this one tonight Lovely profile, but doesn't stand up to the complexity of two of the other glasses Minty... wait it just finally hit me that this is the rye! Green Peacock Glencairn Nose: Funky, earthy, tomato paste Light spice, a bit rye forward Floral, decadent texture Extra oaky Holy hot chocolate powder in this glass! Marshmallow with subtle stone fruit sweetness Lovely balance to this glass Creamy citrus fruit Amazing evolution Feels really high energy - like this is a pre-gaming pour Empty glass smells like chocolate fondue, sweet tarts, and unicorn tears Palate: Light citrus zest Creamy sweet tarts Drinks like pure silk Vanilla bean Cherry hots Lemon frosting turns around into a minerality that keeps reminding me of sweet tarts or smarties; it's a very candied profile Tart dried stone fruit later in the glass Background is heavy in the chocolate realm Unlike anything else I have tasted; I don't normally score things during flights, but this one is a 5 Please don't let this sample end - I really hope a bottle of whatever this is is available to me! The delivery is just a whammy every time; it strikes a big strum and it just reverberates intensely forever with irreproducible creamy sweetness Last sip is a vanilla bean ice cream smoothie with honey drizzle, bananas, chocolate sauce, and just a hint of lemon zest Rating: 5/5 Black Paw Glencairn Nose: Lightest in nose intensity Pungent, sharp vanilla Meaty and herbal spiced like a sausage lasagna Very rye forward Feels on the younger side of things Earthy tones and a slight dried dill Mellow and subtle now that it has opened some Sawdust Very muted in this lineup Empty glass smells like wet pavement in Virginia Beach, vanilla and light grain Palate: Sour blood orange Spicy first sip Heavy feeling; thick and syrupy mouth feel Intense spice and some pretty significant ethanol burn Funky, but very little flavor coming through Linger is just tingly spice and a chest hug of ethanol Later on things have mellowed some, fig now presenting itself Heavy oak leaves this quite drying on the tongue Pepper and ginger spice now late in the glass I finished this glass first of any, probably only due to how troublesome it was to taste; I'll have to revisit the last 1oz of this Guesses: Blue Fish: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch #41 Red Antlers: Sagamore Rye Cognac Finish Green Peacock: Belle Meade Black Belle Black Paw: Four Roses OBSO Reveals: Blue Fish: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch #41 Red Antlers: Sagamore Rye Cognac Finish Green Peacock: Belle Meade Black Belle Black Paw: Four Roses OBSO Final Ranking: 1. Belle Meade Black Belle 2. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Batch #41 3. Sagamore Rye Cognac Finish 4. Four Roses OBSO Unbelievable tasting tonight! Very thankful again for all the samples that end up coming my way. These kind of tastings are some of the most rewarding for me. A self-challenge and a way to remove bias are always welcome by me. If you have any questions about the bottles and their information (I know I didn't post it) feel free to reach out! Cheers

Look at this thing! Another awesome bottle from the legendary Eric @ra1nmannn collection. I was given a 2oz sample of this in the big 'Bourbon Night' party sample swap. I will be reviewing it here for my own enjoyment, but I also had a glass of it while visiting his bar which was a really nice experience. Company on Label: Kentucky Bourbon Distillers (KBD/Willett) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 90° Age: NAS Further identification: This bourbon was curated by Julian Van Winkle for KBD in the early 2000s for the Japan market which was enjoying much more of the older bourbon market than the US was at the time; the back of the label for this is all listed in Japanese. This was released in incredibly low numbers in 2016. Nose: I could smell some of the aromas of this glass from across my desk; they were sweet and inviting as I prepped this review. First nosing is rich caramel forward. Layers of toffee and vanilla build a base for pepper and light green herbal notes to shine. Creamy notes part after a short while and a copper metallic undertone can be found waiting below. Most of the aromas part away and leave a dusty old oak aroma in the glass. A nice introduction that appears to be over - it's time for a sip. After a sip the glass is rejuvenated with slightly nutty aromas and a warm horse-barn hay. Honeysuckle and both a sharp and a smooth textured vanilla notes are nice layers here. The vanilla notes just keep evolving on this. They get better and better if you can let it breath and sit with it a while. This one is silky smooth on the nose. Light florals are hiding deep in the back, but can be dug up with deep inhales. The empty glass smells of copper, molasses, pine boards, and slightly minty caramel. Palate: Citrus forward with a sour blood orange appearing most prominently. This is followed by rich dark tannins and then a surprising 'sneaker wave' of dark plum. This has some really funky characteristics to it. Now that the glass has opened up some it is much lighter. It has returned to a very citrus forward profile, but now with a lighter orange peel zest. This drinks a little hotter than the proof, but that's fine by me given the 90 proof statement google helped me translate. A tiny bit of dark bread. Very light and enjoyable pour. Chewing on the last sip is still deliciously light with caramel and citrus still being the dominating flavors. The finish is short but it stays in the mouth and doesn't really give you any of the chest hug of higher proof pours. Rating: 3/5

Basil Hayden Senior - AKA "Old Grand Dad" and the "King of High Rye" is the inspiration for this classic, often overlooked brand from Beam. I love learning about the history of where these brands originated from. You may have turned your nose at another toasted release, or at the low proof of this bottle, but I'm here to find out if this is worth picking up! I hope you read on and make your own conclusions, as mine may not match your own. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Percentages of Corn, Brown Rice and Barley Proof: 80° Age: NAS Further identification: 2021 release from Beam Nose: Sweet corn forward. Starchy at first with dry earth, peanut brittle, and barbecue charcoal following. Really corn forward again - dust, malt and green shucks. Turning slightly chocolatey on a swirl, we finally move past the corn maze! Allspice, soft brown sugar and molasses now rise to the surface. Sweet caramel chews. Barbecue sauce. Light popcorn and traditional Beam funk. Time for a sip! After getting into it some lovely cinnamon and baking spice just surprised me. Rye grains, wheat pasta and tomato paste are also new additions. This glass is turning much more smoky later on. Fun aromas bounce off and out of the oak that's ever present on this one, coming off in tiny imperceptible flashes. Orange peel, angostura bitters and more oak now near the bottom of the glass. Palate: Mellow and approachable from the first sip this comes forward with vanilla, sweet corn, caramel and a light nuttiness. Going in for another sip is surprisingly creamy for how dry the nose is. There are mellow layers that undulate softly throughout this sip. Faint plum, Reese's peanut butter cups (specifically the miniature size), and plenty of vanilla abound. The finish is slightly drying with creamy yet tart raisin, fig and a faint, level oak. As I get towards the bottom of the glass some faint metallics, herbal subtleties and a building bitter yet sweet mix of flavors that reminds me of an old fashioned. My last sip is sweet and enjoyable. It falls in line with the rest of the pour with corn kernel sweetness, vanilla, caramel and oak. It doesn't leave me all that excited, but satisfied and relaxed. Rating: 3/5 This feels to me like a very low speed pour. A great dram when you just want to sit and relax and not think about work... which I'm totally doing now that I mentioned it! If you didn't read all the above and think this 3 is a bad score, it's not! This is definitely on the high end of my 3 score... and no I don't want to use decimals! If you're on the fence about trying it, I say definitely do! If you like Beam products in general this fits the bill. I honestly didn't look at the proof until I went to put this into blog format, and I'm actually quite surprised at how flavorful this was for 80 proof.

From the bottle label: Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream. - Demetrius, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 4, Scene 1 - Wm. Shakespeare As I sit by the first fire with @amongstthefernsco in our new home tonight, I can't help but feel grateful for all the things that are going well for us this year. I feel a connection to my Spirit Animal folks - the fun holiday colors of our glencairns adorning my mantle. I'm excited to see where we go next! This should be a fun tasting. If you have any of these batches let me know what you think of them! Time to get into some fun (trouble). A Midwinter Night's Dram Company on Label: High West Whiskey Type: A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of 95% Rye, 5% Barley and 80% Rye, 20% Malted Rye Proof: 98.6° Age: NAS (mix of MGP and High West barrels that vary in age ranges) Further identification: These are High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels; Act 7 Scene 6 is the Fall 2019 release Act 8 Scene 4 is the Fall 2020 release Act 9 Scene 1 + 3 is the Fall 2021 release The difference between Scene 1 and Scene 3 from Act 9 is that they are individual batches Act 7 Scene 6 Review Lumber yard. Soft, wavy vanilla. Smooth, creamy nose feel. Spiced salt water taffy. Soft hot chocolate notes diving the nose deep in the glass. Slight dryer sheet alongside infinitely complex vanilla. I am liking the nose on this one the best so far. Finished? Finished in what? This is the best example of the bunch of letting the whiskey shine. I mainly taste a delicious rye - minty, herbal, with citrus zest and caramel. This one dances a bit on your tongue and then lingers in a delicious pool of sweetness at the back of your mouth. Yum! Woah, great complexity again here. Now the finish is starting to come in a bit stronger, but again as a welcome addition to the awesome base whiskey notes. There's more spice on this with faint clove and punchy rye spice. This really drinks mainly like a fantastic rye. If you are in the mood for that it's got great depth, but less sweetness than Act 9 Scene 3. Act 8 Scene 4 Review Creamy caramel and dull metallics. Dry, tannic oak. Slightly grainy here on long draws through the nose. Dark chocolate. Going in for a taste reveals herbal funkiness, tannic oak, and a slow, soft wave of red wine. There are a few flashes of basil and thyme in the finish that reminds me of cooking my venison stew recipe. Sipping this one after Act 9, Scene 1 leaves Act 8 a little underwhelming - there's a bit of cinnamon that flashes up near my gums, but otherwise a low intensity experience compared to the other glasses. A bigger swig and swish is still rather plain with just hints of blood orange, caramel and maraschino cherry. Act 9 Scene 1 Review Syrupy cherry and a sweet funk. Faint vanilla and light allspice on deep inhales. Wow, the port influence on this one is the most apparent yet. Savoring a taste of this reveals beautiful, rich cherry notes up front with caramel, apricot and molasses following close behind. The linger on this is quite long and sweet. It reminds me of the mouth feel after drinking wine. If I had to guess, this batch spent longer in the finishing barrel than Scene 3. Coming back to this there is still so much port influence on the palate; it's a rich, dark sweetness that coats the mouth heavily. The linger is incredibly long but a little one directional; not at all disappointing if you like that sweet dark wine taste. Darker and more chocolate forward than Act 7. I like this one a lot but it's something I'd reach for on a moodier, stormier night than tonight. Act 9 Scene 3 Review Bright, shiny grape. Plum is soft and sugary without being too strong. Smoky oak. Bright citrus layers into a fresher hint-of-Spring oak. Sipping this first of the 4 glasses reveals a slightly chalky mouth feel with dry raisin, lemon zest and a long linger of dates and stewed sour cherries. Mmm, the fruitiness has built well in this glass with time. Sharp vanilla on the nose leads into some soft cereals and a nice wave of lemon buttercream frosting on the palate. Very much a raisin forward palate now with a slight bubble gum that leans towards spearmint. Lemon tea on the palate. Woah, this is mounting a comeback and is really trying to compete with Act 7. This might be a photo finish, or I'll have to call in a tie breaker palate... My final sip before deciding says: unreal butterscotch coffee bean, amaretto, syrupy maraschino cherries and Nilla wafers. Final Ranking: Act 9 Scene 3 > Act 7 Scene 6 > Act 9 Scene 1 > Act 8 Scene 4 I know I was super nit-picky with my notes here tonight, but it's hard not to be when you are reviewing 4 of the same release. I wanted to illustrate some of the differences between the batches in an effort to be informative! Do you have a favorite batch? Any of these pours when the snow starts falling never fails to hit the spot. Here's to hoping for another Winter without back injuries during shoveling or ice skating! Act 8's aren't at all bad either based on the findings from this tasting. I had an Act 8, Scene 3 that I loved and killed really quickly the winter of last year with family. I also have an Act 8, Scene 5 to look forward to trying as well at some point. I find myself licking at my teeth to grab off any of the sweetness from all these incredible pours that may be stuck there. I'm still enjoying a blend of what remained of all of these at the end of my review. It's quite good all blended together. I may have to explore some of these in fixed volumes if there is any interest. I'll always be a fan of these releases and I hope to make some of these great batches last til next Winter!

What am I doing? A day ahead again? It's not Taylor Tuesday yet... Hey, I go for what I feel like and these two bottles called my name tonight! I haven't had an OBSQ yet, so let's dive in and put it up against what I have been trying to find a replacement bottle for forever. I gave away my last 3 Taylor Single Barrels and unfortunately haven't found another since then. I may or may not regret this decision still today. Now let's get into the reviews. Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper (Buffalo Trace / Sazerac) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 100° Age: NAS Further identification: Laser code L200910115:33K (2020 release) Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength - OBSQ Company on Label: Four Roses Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Barley Proof: 125° Age: 10 years Further identification: This is a pick from Liquor Junction in MA; Warehouse RS, Barrel 24-5Q Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Review Nose: Sweet candy nose. Cherry forward with candied apple behind it. Slightly metallic caramel. Very slight clove in the background, which is a surprising note for this pour. Hints of allspice and sweet, syrupy stewed herbs. A bit more malt forward than I remember. Slight pine note on a deep inhale that showed up sharply. Playground wood chips. Soft and tart, I am really excited to take my first sip of this one! There's a very faint Pinesol note, which if you've ever ready any of my reviews of Willett distillate, you'll know I'm crazy for! Turning a bit funky now, I'm ready to rush into a taste. Coming back to this pour is a nice reprieve from some of the heavier flavors of the Four Roses; there's sweet tarts, crusty blueberry muffin, and a slight meatiness. Light smoke in the glass now. Level, consistent and delicious - this pour hasn't wavered a bit in the hour I've been sitting with it. Undoubtedly one of my favorite pours I've returned to and savored every glass of. There's a wonderful smooth vanilla now late in the glass. The empty glass smells of honey, wood chips and dry raisin. Palate: Instant syrupy mouth feel with a dark cherry sweetness that lingers on the top of my tongue. Just liquid candy in a glass on this one. The palate surpasses the nose almost instantly on this one. There's baking spices up in the gums while plum and hints of coconut dance all around in my mouth. A tiny bit of mint makes this have some effervescence that cools the tongue as you breath over it. Always a fun mouth feel to this. Pinot noir and oak bark. There's just a hint of dryness that I think comes across as just enough oak influence. The linger is quite long with raisin and stewed plums. Coming back to this pour reveals more of the perpetual fruit sweetness this glass has to offer. If you've got a sweet tooth - this is the pour for you! The intensity of the barrel strength offering this is up against has certainly detracted from my ability to pick up subtle nuances at 100 proof, but it hasn't taken my heart away from enjoying the incredible sweetness this provides. My last sip is all cherry syrup with a linger of honey and wheat bread. Rating: 4/5 Four Roses Single Barrel Barrel Strength - OBSQ Review Nose: Spicy, slightly nutty, creamy. and amazing dark fruit on the first nose. Dusty oak. Intense barrel char influences presents mostly vanilla forward. Sweet plum, dates and apricot. Dusty flower petals. Red licorice. Oak and molasses. Dusty, big heavy hitter of a Four Roses release. I'm normally used to a lot of these recipes presenting very delicately but this one is bold. Intense baking spice pops out of the glass on a swirl. Light lemon citrus is laced well into the herbal tones. After my first sip there is turmeric, cloves and more citrus. Dusty milk chocolate now too. This glass is turning really minty later on. The mint has subdued after some time and is replaced with a fair bit of caramel. The exceptional vanilla from the barrel char is back now as well. The empty glass smells of chocolate, dusty oak, sharp vanilla bean and smoky bergamot. Palate: Oh my - vanilla zing at the start! Amazing allspice, cardamom and nutmeg. The first sips finish is surprisingly short to begin with, but then comes roaring back with a finish of tart dates. Much more spicy stone fruit on my next sip with raisin and plum leading the charge. Oddly after taking a sip and giving a deep inhale it tastes slightly minty. A long swig and swish reveals heavy vanilla, wet flowers and moody oaky mint. There's a very unique spice to this - it reminds me of some kind of medley of saffron, coriander and mustard seeds. Heavy molasses. This builds really heavily with every sip and almost feels overpowering as I get towards the bottom of the glass. My last sip is molasses forward with fennel, tarragon, lemon zest and chicory. What an incredibly unique spice experience this presented! Rating: 4/5 Final Ranking: E.H. Taylor Single Barrel > Four Roses OBSQ Boy, these were quite different releases... Both really had me on the edge of my seat as I tasted and smelled along with some light help and entertainment from @amongstthefernsco. I hope you've got something good in your glass tonight! Cheers.

I am firm believer that the days experiences play a huge role in how you experience any given whiskey. In general, I try not to review the first pour out of any bottle, but occasionally time and excitement do get the better of me and it happens. This was the case for my previous review of the 2021 Michter's Toasted Barrel release. Tonight I was prompted by a friend for thought on this release, and without even thinking about if I had already reviewed it or not yet, I dove in for a glass and a full tasting note session. Turns out - the notes vary pretty drastically! Read on below for tonight's experience. I will preface tonight's review with the fact that my palate is not fresh - I was drinking some Weller Antique earlier and then also drank coffee before getting to this pour. I also have not eaten in much longer compared to having just eaten prior to the previous review. Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 86° Age: NAS Further identification: Barrel No 21G0244 Nose: Quite nutty to start. Dry almonds. Chocolate and a little malty. I'd be hard pressed to say this smells like anything other than Beam distillate based on the first nosing. Dried fruit starts to creep through. Vaguely sweet with a younger oak aroma. After a sip the oak builds and soft candy starts to trickle in like some of the notes that are well formed on Michter's 10 year, specifically the 2020 release I've reviewed. Soft cereals and sugar cookie. Dryer sheets now later in the glass. Things have returned to being slight malty as well. Copper metallics. The empty glass smells of Reese's cups, plums, and a slight bit of sawdust. Palate: Slightly medicinal cherry forward on first sip. Sweet molasses builds into a rather malty mouth coating. Herbal, funky - again reminding me of Beam bourbon, somewhat close to a Booker's release. Much sweeter now with bright cherry and vanilla bursting forth. Excitable sips now this developed well from where it was at the start. Slight tannin influence from the extra finishing barrel. Notably none of the sweet vanillin or marshmallow notes of some of my favorite Michter's toasted barrel releases. This tastes much like the flagship Michter's whiskey with just a touch of extra oak influence. A larger sip and swish results in a little bit of citrus zest to form on my tongue which is immediately replaced with cherry and a slightly bitter malt quality that reminds me of Guinness extra stout. Caramel now developing late. The mouth coating is medium but slightly plain. My last sip is slightly grainy with a very creamy mouth feel that then fades into a drying finish of lemongrass, green tea, raisin and confectioners sugar. Rating: 3/5 This is a really rare score change situation, but it definitely goes to show that you can't fully understand a whiskey and how it interacts with you in one sitting! A lot goes into how you experience taste and smell whether it be temperature, food, prior tastings or just personal preference change over time. This actually is a great confirmation of a point in my previous review that said these toasted barrel releases "can be quite fickle beasts to me". I'm going to be making a conscientious effort to not review single tastings or fresh bottles in the future!

Did you hear we are interviewing Aaron Chepenik from Smoke Wagon on the Spirit Animal Society page tonight? Tune in live at 8pm EST on 11/22/2021 to ask him some fun questions with us! I am getting warmed up tonight with a freshly cracked Batch 63. After this review and during the live I will be continuing through my enjoyment of Batch 49. Let me know in the comments if you want to try Batch 49! Company on Label: Nevada H&C Distilling Co Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 112.4° Age: NAS (Undisclosed blend of 4 to 12 year old bourbons) Further identification: Batch 63, bottled May 14, 2021 Nose: Mmm, chocolate forward and instantly bursting with that rich caramel I've come to expect out of Smoke Wagon offerings. Very level, apparent and approachable oak quality to this... This feels like a bit of an older blend on the first nose. Dried dates and an herbal plum. Dry leather, slight pepper and peanut brittle. This has a great funk to it on the nose I always enjoy; similar to what I dig about Booker's batches. Citrus is trying to squeak out from a heavy, dusty corn profile. After a sip, things shift much more towards the wood grains with sawdust and walnut shells presenting sharply on the left nose. Vanilla bean, dry tobacco leaf and heavy butterscotch now. There's a peanut shell that feels crushed under a large piece of oak. The tannic fruit bunch has returned strongly to the glass now - nice undulations of different profiles here. The empty glass smells of leather, sawdust, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and vanilla sugar cookie. Palate: First sip is pure silk! Cherry forward mouth feel. Wow, that went down like candy for a first sip of the day. Thick, salty caramel rises up from my chest long after the sip. Chocolate malt and a thick mouth feel are welcome additions to the linger here. A large sip and swish results in a slightly tannic fruit medley of plum, raisin and dark prunes. There's a heaviness to the flavors, but an incredible lightness to the mouth coating; this batch is certainly an easy sipper. Taking this glass outside briefly drastically mellowed out the intensity and built up the richness of the caramel. It's amazing what a little temperature change can do to a pour. Honey now is quite sweet! Leans in towards an Earl Gray hot toddy now. Yum! My last sip is starting to build in the heat department and brings with it sweet raisin, molasses and tiramisu. Rating: 4/5 Solid pour! Looking forward to sharing this with guests around a fire and seeing how it develops with a little air time.

I absolutely love finding some Willett distillate, especially when it's incognito. The Old Kirk sample is courtesy of @BarrelProofNerd and the Hirsch pick is a barrel select from Kappy's for the 1940 Barrel Society. I have no clue which I will like better as of yet as I haven't reviewed either of them previously. This should be an exciting match up! Old Kirk Barrel # 6938 Company on Label: A.P. Hotaling & Co Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye and 15% Barley Proof: 130.1° Age: 6 years (9 months) Further identification: This was the Frugal MacDoogal pick; Bottle 156 of 171. Hirsch Selected Whiskeys Pick - Barrel KY-012 Company on Label: A.H. Hirsch (Bottled by Strong Spirits; Distilled in Bardstown, KY) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 135.3° Age: 7 years (9 months) Further identification: Barrel No KY-012, Bottle 145 of 147, Barrel entry 62.5%, aged 7 years 9 months; Batch No on the neck is AHH0821. Old Kirk Barrel # 6938 Review Pre-Sip Nose: Musty and herbal forward on the first nosing. Distinct citrus. Something really funky going on here... I can't quite place it. Sharp clove note nestled deep into a thoroughly rich oak. Dark stone fruit feel trapped in the bottom of this glass - I have a feeling they will come out but this glass hasn't quite opened up just yet. Coming back to it I get the smell of wet woodchips that reminds me of my elementary school playground. My left nostril picks up faint smells of fall leaves, allspice, and tree bark - all of these things are incredibly muted still at this time. My right nostril picks up a lot of oak and something akin to wetland field full of cattail. Malty at times and rather uninviting and underwhelming on the early nose. Spicy pepper now with an aggressive swirl, suddenly quite intense in the ethanol department with only a faint citrus beginning to rise and poke through. Wow, this glass just completely awoke right before I was about to take a sip. Now there is a great leather note, molasses and smoky, dried cherries. There is still something almost like a skunked beer note that is lingering all throughout this glass that is making it hard to smell past it. Blood orange and cardboard now. I think it's time for a sip as this nose is just torturing me! Palate: Immediately an intense medicinal cherry slides across my tongue. It's on the thinner side, but incredibly punchy. Cherry hots burn in a wave through my chest. That big spicy pop is something I normally like on a pour (i.e. Stagg Jr batch 14, older ECBP batches). Here it's mingled with a lot of black pepper, lemon zest, black tea, weathered oak, and clove. Subsequent sips build out the plum and raisin flavors. Later in the glass there's a solid caramel formed with some walnut dryness and malty, thick bread notes. My last sip is cherry forward with a short linger of molasses, pepper and oak. The mouth coating stays with you for quite some time but is mainly oaky in character. Late nose: After a sip a synthetic strawberry and much more oak is apparent. Oh, a lovely transition to a smooth marshmallow now. What an incredibly fickle pour! Lovely sweet perfume scent now with Spring flowers just coming into bloom. There's the slightly sweeter, good-enough-to-drink Pinesol note now finally as well. Coming back to this there's something that reminds me of an arts and crafts bin - maybe it's crayons or paint, but it's there. Such a strange experience through and through with this one. There's definitely not anything really bad going on with this pour, but I do feel like the matchup is what is not letting this pour shine. Before the last sip of this glass things are still quite mellow in the aroma intensity, but there is some faint molasses and vanilla. The empty glass smells of barbecue rub, charcoal, cherry pits, and a compost pile. Rating: 3/5 Hirsch Barrel KY-012 Review Pre-Sip Nose: Incredible creamy marshmallow up front. Syrupy cherry juice. Crème brûlée. Oh my this smells absolutely delicious. Incredibly rich vanilla and toffee forward profile that is unbelievably smooth in the nose. On deeper pulls from my left nostril I find rich cherry, plum and dark chocolate. The right nostril is higher flying butter, caramel and level oak. The creaminess continues to dominate with caramel and that unique Willett Pinesol note I would recognize absolutely anywhere. Chocolate dipped oranges smell delicious here. Mmm, the oak presents quite seasoned here. Like 3 year old split wood ready to go into the cast iron wood stove. There's a bit of ashy lingering smoke in the depths. Always prevalent throughout the glass is that marshmallow and citrus/cherry combination. Palate: My first sip was a large one which was surprisingly manageable. Rich orange peel, vanilla ice cream, a thick coating of caramel and a chocolate drizzle on the linger. Taking a sip of this takes you on a journey; it makes your mind wander and your tongue sing. Lovely depths of dark chocolate, earl gray tea, honey, and lemon. Fuck, that's good. Like really fucking good. Cherry is definitely still one of the dominant flavors on this, with a small chest hug for 135.3 proof. There is a slight nuttiness to the linger, which is incredibly long. Prunes, raisin and a slightly drying blackberry now. The tingly effervescences tingles my gums thoroughly. I love a pour that shimmers like this. It's like when light sparkles off a body of water under a bright moonlight; there's just something magical about it. Nearing the bottom of the glass this continues to have a lovely citrus medley alongside syrupy stone fruit. They balance each other quite well here. The last sip is bittersweet, but this review has taken a ridiculous amount of my time tonight as I have savored and explored both of these pours. Awesome intensity with some zesty stings on both sides of my tongues as the citrus Pinesol note waves over my tongue in incredible intensity. This is one of those shock and awe pours. It has certainly left me amazed and humbled. Honey, tangerine marmalade, a hint of tobacco, and cinnamon are a perfect send off to this pour. Late Nose: Smoky now, with honey sweetness coating the edges of the glass. The Pinesol note has subdued in citrus intensity and started to favor a more savory caramel, pepper and ground cherries. Butterscotch and that beautiful, beautiful marshmallow note returns again. Back to citrus. Kind of a 'bouncy' aroma experience, but it is going between all great notes. Trending towards some more earthy tones now, I'm getting topsoil, sawdust and something like a thick comforter. Kahlua coffee liqueur is very creamy coming back to this from the Old Kirk. Fun aromas through and through that are both comfortable and exciting. The empty glass smells of dry wheat grain, honey, match tips, balsam wood, vanilla and a light ash. Rating: 5/5 Final Ranking: Hirsch KY-012 > Old Kirk Barrel # 6938 by a long shot; this one may make a few more appearances in the future