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I tasted this alongside an E.H. Taylor Small Batch as a bit of a bottled in bond battle. This was my first opening of the Heaven Hill BiB. I try not to review neck pours, but this is one of them where I did. Read the follow up pour of E.H. Taylor Small Batch here. Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 100° Age: 7 years Further identification: Purchased early 2021 Nose: Bright, sweet, dry vanilla. Something else attached to it that resembles the smell of a fresh stack of paper. Candied apple. White pepper. A tobacco that is very light and masked in a touch of ethanol. Dry, old oak. Definitely primarily driven by vanilla & white pepper. Some extra char here yields a marshmallow note I've thoroughly enjoyed out of some Elijah Craig offerings. Some light raisin notes round this nose out well. Late nose is most enjoyable; turns all sweet. Palate: Wow, unironically smooth. Incredibly balanced mouth feel on first sip, the pepper and a light zest forming in the center of the tongue. Vanilla is a permanent fixture around the rest of the mouth coating. This drinks just ridiculously silky smooth. The marshmallow bits of char here mix well with a rich plum. No matter how I chew this, I can't elicit any bite. The vanilla and paper I experienced on the nose crescendos very intensely on these chews however. The linger is intensely long, driven by a recently acquired vanilla sweet lemon cake that breathes through my airways for the better part of a minute. The overall vibe is definitely explosive vanilla notes. Rating: 4/5

The hilarious label for this pick was created by the private group Boston Barrel Society. It is a play on the Old Rip Van Winkle Lot "B" label in the hazy background of this image. I chose to let this barrel shine on it's own and not try a head to head at this time! @northsidedistillingco said on this post it was one of their "most enjoyable projects to date". This pick also came with a small jar of the honey that was used, which is delicious! Company on Label: Northside Distilling Co Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Barley Proof: 99.8° (proofed down by the honey barrel from 108°) Age: 6 years Further identification: Boston Barrel Society pick 2020 Buttery barbecue savory sweetness immediately on nose. Super robust; proof is apparent, but welcome to me. The rye notes (36% of mash bill) are spectacular. The rye spice is kept in line by the sweet, creamy mouth coating likely from the honey barrel finish, but also could be a slight marshmallow note from the char. Without that balance I think this might drink pretty hot. Through the whole glass the most apparent note is a syrupy cherry. Some extra oak is level and fresh, not tannic or charred. The finish shows the spice that couldn't be subdued. When the glass gets empty the honey barrel really takes over in the glass coating. Overall a very nice experience. Rating: 4/5 I have shared this one with quite a few people at this point. I wish I had another bottle to enjoy myself on hot summer days, but I'd be content sampling out the rest of this bottle for others to get to experience this really unique presentation!

This was the review I started my Instagram page with! I recently took stock of the short list of folks who helped me get started back near that first post. It's a fun moment of nostalgia and I'd like to thank everyone who helped me grow over these last ~13 weeks from a guy with a spreadsheet to a guy with an Instagram, to a guy with a website! Cheers to you all. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 90° Age: 8 years Further identification: NHLO store pick - Barrel 123 Definitely feels different to the standard flagship flavor profile. Cherry wine nose beats out the usual candy apple I was expecting. Rich peppery caramel. Palate is very light still but a syrupy cherry note melts into a brown sugar and leather base. Touch of marshmallow comes through. Late in the glass some vanilla cream, cloves and BBQ notes are present (maple, slight char/smoke). If you ramped this up from 90 proof to 130... It would be divine. Rating: 4/5 Brief shoutout to some folks from Instagram who were great supporters early on: @saxybourbon @_lostnemo_ @8ourbon @bourbon_fiend_and_finder @bourbondipity_ @thewhiskeynoobs @barrelproofnerd @chasingbourbon @egilbert09

Weller Full Proof hitting a Glencairn glass is like music to my ears. This pick is among one of the better picks coming out of MA from 2020. Prior to this bottle, I had finished a bottle of Weller Full Proof from Total Wine which was not a good offering at all. Let's see how this pick tastes! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 114° Age: NAS Further identification: 2020 release from Kappy's - Barrel 294 Appearance is a robust caramel; a tilt or swirl reveals thick, long legs on the glass. Nose: Sweet pepper. Creamy leather. Smooth cinnamon without the typical bite on your nostrils. Cherry and butterscotch. Brown sugar comes in like a dusting sitting atop a strip of oiled leather. Some orange citrus zest is what feels like is keeping the ethanol of the proof at bay and doing it very well. Palate: Super rich caramel & brown sugar. Mouth coating feels akin to experience of real thick maple syrup. Chewy cinnamon balanced perfectly by the cherry note. On heftier sips smooth flames can be felt exiting your nostrils. They are not painful but creamy and flavorful. Finish is an impossibly long mouth coating, but the rising creamy/zesty finish cuts off a little too short, forcing more delicious sips. As the glass opens up longer, so does the finish. Let this one rest. Rating: 5/5

A bottle I am thankful to have. I was introduced to George T. Stagg on the 2019 release which was really impressive in it's own right. The first time I opened this 2020 bottle I was almost shocked and disappointed - it was too hot and weird. These are my notes from my 2nd open of this bottle which was a divine surprise & a complete change from the first open. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 130.4° Age: 15 years Further identification: 2020 Release Leather, cinnamon, cherry & tobacco. Perfection on nose. Candy vanilla, marshmallow. Beautiful char. Anise. Caramel. Pepper. Back to a smooth leather nose. Later nose turns to citrus, light bleached linen. Grass. Smells like sitting in a cool room on a warm summer day. Buttery. On palate there is a thick rising cherry, some citrus coming in early with a thick cream. Easily most complex, layered experience I've ever had. Cherry note is perfect. Caramel lights a fire under all the fruit notes that are perfectly balanced proof wise. All these notes explode up after a sip and rises in waves through the nose with absolutely no sting. Mouth coating is thick but not choking. Later in the glass things turn into thick, herbal chocolate. Raisin and figs. Oak really only shows up late for 15 years in a barrel. Easily the best bourbon I tasted in 2020. Rating: 5/5

The two favorite Irish whiskeys selected from St Patrick's Day 2021. My favorite on left, @amongsthefernsco's favorite on the right. We tasted quite a few in a bracket style competition to find the best ones from our collection. We will continue to enjoy them throughout the spring and summer! Red Spot Single Pot Still Company on Label: Midleton Distillery Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey finished in American Bourbon casks, Spanish sherry butts and Sicilian Marsala wine casks Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 92° Age: 15 years Further identification: 2020 purchase Redbreast Lustau Edition Company on Label: Pernod Ricard Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey finished in Oloroso Sherry casks Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed malted and un-malted barley Proof: 92° Age: NAS (~10 years) Further identification: 2020 purchase in a Redbreast trio sample pack Red Spot Flash Review: Smells like camping in a tent. Can smell the extra oak influence on this one for sure. A high rye bourbon profile was likely used for the aging process based on the notes present; allspice, pepper. Earthy now. Delicious caramel & wine palate. Marshmallow forever..... Expertly crafted. Yum. Redbreast Lustau Flash Review: Cherry forward; very strong/rich fruit nose. Bright, sweet creamy with some chocolate. Citrus fruits come out on nose now. Wow. Marshmallow. Back to caramel and some floral. Good! Final Ranking: Red Spot > Lustau for me! Both were exceptional Irish whiskeys. A couple of honorable mentions of the lineup were Blue Spot for it's rich robustness and the really surprising depth and character from Drumshanbo. Look out for further reviews of those pours to come!

Weller v Weller. I think everyone knows what order this should rank in... But will it? Weller Special Reserve Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 90° Age: NAS Further identification: One Stop Liquors store pick, 2020 purchase Weller Antique 107 Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 107° Age: NAS Further identification: 2020 purchase Special Reserve Flash Review: Dirt, specifically an earthy mulch note comes through on nose. Light caramel and cherry shine through early. Candy apple springs forward. Surprising proof imbalance at times. Slight pepper with a light oily mouth coating. Good. Antique 107 Flash Review: Beautiful caramel nose; butterscotch and oak. Spice that starts as cinnamon/allspice, but turns significantly more complex as it rests. Light pepper with a dense sweet cherry. Rich syrupy molasses mixed with dark chocolate. Great mouth feel. Cinnamon, cherry and molasses are the highlight of a finish that is faint in intensity but long lasting. Final Ranking: Antique 107 > Special Reserve (Store Pick) This store pick Special Reserve was definitely a bit of a cut above. I remember going around asking around some stores for more saying "This stuff tastes like dirt, I love it!" and getting funny reactions. It still definitely could not outclass the greatness of Antique 107 though!

This bottle is one of those ones that once you finally score one, you feel obligated to open. This is no exception for this Blanton's Straight from the Barrel. I have tried one pour of this before and was impressed enough to be excited to get this open. Company on Label: Blanton Distilling Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye 12-15%) Proof: 128.5° Age: 6 years Further identification: Dumped 10-19-20 from Warehouse H, Rick 14, Barrel 58, Bottle 89. Nose: Similar mustiness to the ECBP B521 I warmed up with. Earthy caramel & burnt molasses. Chocolate & a medium weight leather note. Vanilla is baked-in and dry, almost like angel food cake, if it weren't tied to a darker black pepper bite. Dusty oak is just a tiny influence in the back. Definitely still contributes to the dark, old kind of scent vibe. Now the vanilla turned more of a Nilla wafers with a sugary side appearing. After a sip more of the earthy, dry garden herbal notes come out. What was before musty in would now call funky with allspice, walnuts and some dark, dry tobacco leaf. Certainly a bit of ethanol if you dig deep, but very approachable for 128.5 proof. The sweet stone fruits just finally broke through like a stampede. If also brought along a strange smell I'd call akin to beef jerky. Following that funky meatiness is a musty oak & dark chocolate. Lemongrass and something still vaguely spicy like paprika. Late in the glass features something unique like maple syrup and pine sap. Palate: Wow, palate is syrupy; instant prevalent plum and cherry mouth coating. As it thins there is a very intense spice that develops. The mouth coating does fade rather quickly on the first sip which leaves my tongue dry. More rich and thick than it is sweet, I'm presented with a lot of moody caramel. Things have finally opened up now where a suppressed citrus can now finally roam free. I get the sharp sour bite as if I sucked on a lemon wedge after a shot of tequila. Silky at first, then a thick caramel coating forms and finally a wave of delicious spice takes over on every sip. Fun, powerful & dynamic pour. Rating: 4/5

One of my favorite humans on earth @_lostnemo_ has sent me some fantastic @mayorpingreewhiskey samples from @valentinedistillingco for review. I've been meaning to try these releases for so long, but I don't have access to them very readily in MA. I blinded all these samples so I wouldn't know which was which during my review. I identified them all correctly and have simply listed the post-reveal bottles for clarity below. Mayor Pingree 6 Year Red Label Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A MGP mash bill Proof: 124° Age: 6 years Further identification: Mug & Jug store pick; Cask No IND-71; Date 01.20.21; NCF Mayor Pingree 5 Year Red Label Single Barrel Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Valentine Blend (?) Proof: 120.2° Age: 5 years Further identification: Rainbow Liquor store pick; NCF Mayor Pingree 13 Year Black Label Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: MGP Blend Proof: 123° Age: 13 years Further identification: Barrel No 5 Mayor Pingree Red Label Small Batch Company on Label: Valentine Distilling Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Valentine Blend Proof: 94° Age: 4 years Further identification: Batch 010, NCF 13 Year Black Label Nose: - Mmm plum sweetness - Caramel - Pepper - Leather - Thick molasses - Spice in dry vanilla - Hint of very light pipe tobacco - Almost a buttery popped corn shell or kernel - Most complex 13 Year Black Label Palate: - Dark spice - Wow so rich - Tastes oldest - Wine soaked dark red oak - Powerful on a chew - Super thick plum, raisin and dark cherry - Biggest proof exposure 5 Year Red Label Single Barrel Nose: - Dusty and light - Pine bark - Herbal / spice - Something oily - Younger oak - Copper metallic - Lovely vanilla late 5 Year Red Label Single Barrel Palate: - Thin citrus - Bombs into a spicy pop - Caramel/molasses forward - Long mouth coating/linger - Spicy and zesty - Intense sweetness is dark stone fruits late 6 Year Red Label Nose: - Musty vanilla - Smooth oak - Dusty citrus - Chocolate - Thin marshmallow - Slightly tannic - Evolved into a rich delicious marshmallow momentarily - Devolved into young, fresh saw dust 6 Year Red Label Palate: - Syrupy, oak forward - Musty aspect of vanilla still present - Herbal funk all across tongue - Long linger of herbal spice - Thick vanilla char - Creamy red wine grape pool - Late turns too tannic Small Batch 010 Nose: - Citrus - Faint white pepper - Light dill - Herbal - Almost floral - Touch of copper - Tough proof imbalance leaves this outclassed Small Batch 010 Palate: - Very thin at start, no mouth coating - Slight cherry swings in late - Late dry molasses mouth coating forms - Rising lemon zest tumbles through the mouth & nose; most surprising improvement - Finish/mouth coating is almost impossible to shake - Low proof is actually kind of a nice break in this line Final Ranking: Black 13 Year > Red 5 Year Pick > Red 6 Year Pick > Red Label Batch 010

This @josamagnus Batch 100 triple cask was one of the first bottles in my bar on good recommendation from a friend. I am finally getting around to giving it a proper review. Let's see how it tastes! Company on Label: Jos. A. Magnus & Co Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 100° Age: 12 years Further identification: Batch No 100, Bottle No 752/892 Nose: Sweet chocolate & unmistakable sherry. Light, airy spice is almost like an alluring perfume. Sweetness early on is thin in intensity, but delicious in character. Fig. Raisin. Definitely some flashes of dark earthy cognac which drums up more of the dark fruits. Smooth transition into a wonderful syrupy vanilla. Everything about this nose is intoxicating & I haven't even had a sip yet. Following my first taste things definitely turn more towards earthy tones. Dry, dark soil and tobacco swirl together. This gives me the feeling of being in a dark, foggy forest environment. Old broken acorns and chocolate powder are similarly themed. Suddenly things turned much lighter as a blood orange citrus ray of sun shines through. This settled very nicely into a profile that almost resembles Midwinter Nights Dram Act 8 Scene 4; very rye forward plus that tannic sweetness. Tobacco is a recurrent note throughout. Back to very herbal & floral with no more dark earth available to grow in, this glass has bloomed. Palate: Some citrus pop, followed by the delicious fruit medley I was met with on the nose. Slightly tannic & drying, the extra oak involved here has certainly left its mark. Herbal chocolate notes claw out from under a blanket of molasses & fig. Hints of allspice and pepper are well subdued by the syrupy sweets. Strangely both thick, viscous and coating while also drying; it's like the fruit and the oak are raging a vicious battle back and forth. Some raisin bread... maybe closer to an oatmeal raisin cookie. Very syrupy sweet at the end with heavy cherry and rich oak flavors pulsing through in a very low ethanol delivery. Flashes of tobacco are also present on the palate. Only thing I'd say is missing it a little more linger. Rating: 3/5

I am a big Booker's fan in general. I have every batch from 2017-02 up 'til present review date available to me. I really like tasting them next to each other to find the nuances of each batch. I'm excited to keep learning about previous batches as well as new. This is the latest and greatest as of now; let's find out if it's worth having on your bar while you can still find it in stores. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 127.9° Age: 6 years Further identification: 2021-02 Tagalong Batch comes bearing a light green label in a wooden box with a batch information card Nose: Smooth vanilla dryness lays over a well aged oak. Deep pulls of paper dry cherry. Raisins, including the box (thank you SunMaid). Some fun vegetal notes sneaking in now. Earthy like a potato skin. Wow, tart apricot swings in with big syrupy power, finally defeating the dryness present early on. The vanilla stays present but mixes with the stone fruit medium sweetness, so it noses differently now. Almost presents with some citrus, but I think it's more of an herbal artifact like rubbed sage and mint. These notes are very subtle though behind the vanilla and oak dominant profile. This also has some of the peanuts of Granny's Batch, but also maybe some hints of walnut and dry paper. Late/low in the glass things adopt a strong dark chocolate, orange peel zest and a lovely return of the first note: vanilla. Palate: Immediately a pool of sweet apricot & cherry forms & lingers impossibly long. Strong mouth coating is thick like cold molasses. Some cinnamon bite in the back, but waves of fruit, vanilla, toasted oak and burnt sugar power through. This might be close to one of my favorite Booker's profiles. I'm more inclined to sip and enjoy than sit and take notes, that's a sure sign of a good pour. Another taste produces a big pepper note that pops on a caramel bubble, releasing all of the slightly tannic plum and apricot. Each sip really follows that sizzle, pop and then waves of deliciousness behavior. This is exactly how tasting an uncut whiskey should go. Yum. As this opens more it does start to develop that peanut profile, which I like. Rating: 4/5

The 2021 release of Michter's 10 Bourbon is making the rounds. I have a bit of my 2020 release bottle still available, so let's see how they taste next to each other! I actually tasted these blinded, but was able to identify them easily given my extensive experience with the 2020 release and didn't feel the need to hide which was which here. See previous 2020 Michter's 10 Year Bourbon notes here. 2021 Michter's 10 Year Bourbon Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 79% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 Years Further identification: Barrel No 21D1232 2020 Michter's 10 Year Bourbon Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 79% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 Years Further identification: Barrel No 20F1287 2021 Review Nose: Earthy, dark oak with cinnamon undertones. Light citrus floats like a cloud with no zesty bite. Slight tannic fruit with a touch of sweet funk. Caramel moves even more dark fruit in. Very nice complexity, even early on, pre-sip. Lovely marshmallow creaminess has rolled in. Fruit has parted for now to let the caramel dance on it's own, slowly turning over in the glass. Wow, a swirl really makes this pop with that marshmallow and baking spice. Palate: Linen and herbal funk lead the way; strange metallic caramel happened early on, maybe an effect of the dreaded neck pour? Citrus and leather improve things drastically. Great proof rise with baking spices, some light anise, and plums. Longer finish than you would expect out of 94.4 proof; this is a lovely but still somehow light experience. Waves of citrus, hay and leather float over longer sips. Bigger flavor than before, I believe this is a 2021 I will be savoring #AmongstTheWhiskey. 2020 (Re) Review Nose: Bright spice and light sweetness. Dry vanilla layered over a smooth oak. Powdered candy sweets like smarties. Some sweet tarts. Sweeter citrus like a lemon drop. Light caramel swings in some enjoyable baking spices and a hint of some herbals. Light linen and leather mix well, predominantly leaning towards the linen side. Something shiny like stainless steel. Chocolate herbs pop on a light swirl. Some mature rye spice showing late in the glass. Light pepper. Palate: Candy sweets! Cinnamon red hots, cherry syrup, and the drying presence of those smarties. Hmmm; molasses and syrupy stewed herbs. Very interesting. Oaky for sure, but balanced with a sweetness that keeps it from becoming drying past the gums. Leaning heavily on the lemongrass freight train, this doesn't evolve as rapidly as the other glass. It takes it's time, weaving a sweet and slow story together that is certainly meant to be savored. The finish is long and slow, building up from molasses and pears into a rye spice crescendo that leaves you looking forward to the next sweet sip. Final Ranking: 2021 > 2020; although the candy profile of 2020 has its merits, I enjoy the higher level of complexity I am getting out of 2021