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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.