Time passed, and filled along with his The place of many more; Time came, and hardly one of us Had credence to restore, From what happened one day, the man Whom he had known before. —Edwin Arlington Robinson Released three times per year in January, May, and September, Larceny Barrel Proof is a small batch, non-chill filtered bourbon featuring Heaven Hill's wheated mashbill. The Larceny brand is the modern heir of Heaven Hill's historic wheated mash bill known at the distillery as O.F.D. or "Old Fitzgerald Distillate". This bolder and more distinctive expression is usually more available to consumers than another popular Heaven Hill wheated bourbon release,  Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond . The standard 92 proof of Larceny was first released in 2012 and is ongoing (a shelfer, if you will). The barrel proof, however, is relatively new on the scene and was first released in 2020. Since three batches of the barrel proof are released yearly, the label distinguishes them by letters (A, B, C) and three numbers representing the month (1, 5, 9) and year (20, 21, 22, etc). It should also be noted that each batch varies in proof point, as well. I do owe credence to Larceny, the standard proof in particular, for contributing to some of the first bottles on my shelf. The last bottle of Larceny Barrel Proof I purchased is the one featured today. As you can see, I haven't spent much time with it, perhaps four pours total, and I will admit, it lives rather far back in a dark corner on one of my shelves at this point. Was it a hiccup in the timeline of all things whiskey that kept me from revisiting this bottle? Or was this a forgotten dram for a more likely reason? Let's dive in and find out, shall we? Company on Label:   Old Fitzgerald Distillery (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 12% Malted Barley Proof:  126.4 ° Age:   6 years (a blend of 6 to 8 year barrels) MSRP: $70 (2023) $64.99 (2025) Further Identification:  This is batch C923 released in September of 2023 Nose:  Wow. Oak, you're not shy, are you? If I close my eyes and imagine my location, purely by this smell, my nose would be right up against a barrel aging in a damp rickhouse, and I am inhaling deeply. Which, let's be honest, is fun, but this is way too overpowering for the liquid in my glencarin. With effort, I can nose-blind the oak influence and find in its place classic bourbon notes, creamy caramel, and thick vanilla syrup. Crushed Michigan cherries and confectioner's sugar are also pleasantly present. Deep inhales have a slight ethanol quality, which is where the proof is most obvious. Returning to the nose after a few sips offers some relief from oak, as a toasted brown sugar has taken over but is quickly dominated by the alcohol, unfortunately. The evolution isn't complex, and the proof does not jump out of the glass in a way that burns. The empty glass smells of cotton balls, wood varnish, and a used incense holder. Palate:  Sizzling caramel and cherry syrup coat my tongue with the first sip. The silky wheat influence shows up mid-palate like a loaf of freshly baked wheat bread. The finish is all heat, burning off any additional flavors that could have sat down and chatted for a minute. Maybe a second sip will offer them room at the table. Yow. Hot. Caramel, cherry, and a passing by wave of vanilla combine in one fast and furious hello before the obvious heat and abundance of cinnamon take over. The linger is long and tingling, a bit earthy too, albeit slightly drying. I find myself less inspired to continue sipping as I believe subsequent tastes will result in a stacking effect of this very obvious heat, but sip on I will. Luckily, the gap between flavor and heat does not change, although the imbalance remains constant. As the liquid grows lower and I take my final sip, I find my palate waving a white flag. TL;DR: a sip with kicked-up heat but at the detriment of developing flavors Rating:  3/5 Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. Unfortunately, this drank hotter than the stated proof and eventually dominated the flavors as a result. I remember thinking the same thing when I purchased this bottle in 2023, but am glad to have explored it again. I will likely gift this bottle at this point. If you have brands that once enticed and are wondering what happened, or if they will be just as nice, I encourage you to dust off those bottles and give them another go. Even if they don't land like you once remembered, it's probably the most validating way to gauge your palate's growth and, in turn, will educate you on what you like now and what's worth spending your money on as a result.   WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

This article has been expanded upon with the introduction of " The Stagg Hub " which covers every batch of Stagg Jr and the George T. Stagg bottlings that I've had the chance to try. Head over to that write up if you're looking for the latest and greatest on all things Stagg. Recently I was able to blind taste batch 12-18 of Stagg Jr and 2020 George T Stagg all at once (they were small pours). It was an incredibly tasty lineup, but there were distinct differences batch to batch. Though I was blinded to which glass was which - I will be posting post-reveal as to not lead to unnecessary confusion. Read on to check the ranked order, or feel free to watch my reel with audio on ! If you've ever struggled to identify the Stagg Jr batch by proof, here's a helpful list of each along with their release dates: Batch 19 - 130 proof - Winter 2022 (AKA "22B") Batch 18 - 131 proof - Summer 2022 Batch 17 - 128.7 proof - Winter 2021 Batch 16 - 130.9 proof - Summer 2021 Batch 15 - 131.1 proof - Winter 2020 Batch 14 - 130.2 proof - Summer 2020 Batch 13 - 128.4 proof - Winter 2019 Batch 12 - 132.3 proof - Summer 2019 Batch 11 - 127.9 proof - Winter 2018 Batch 10 - 126.4 proof - Summer 2018 Batch 9 - 131.9 proof - Winter 2017 Batch 8 - 129.5 proof - Summer 2017 Batch 7 - 130.0 proof - Winter 2016 Batch 6 - 132.5 proof - Summer 2016 Batch 5 - 129.7 proof - Winter 2015 Batch 4 - 132.2 proof - Summer 2015 Batch 3 - 132.1 proof - Winter 2014 Batch 2 - 128.7 proof - Summer 2014 Batch 1 - 134.4 proof - Winter 2013 The seasons listed are rough approximations of release timing, and your local distribution may vary. The notes presented below were from the conglomerate tasting, but feel free to click through the batch link to a deeper review of each. Now let's get into this epic flight! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: Varies by batch Age: NAS, though George T. Stagg is supposedly aged 15 years and the Junior batches around 8 years Further identification: Batches can be identified by proof via the list above Ranking #1 - 2020 George T. Stagg Nose: Wow—weirdest of the bunch with orange peel, tea tones, and yummy kool-aid. Fun and fruity here. I really like this. Butterscotch and tons of caramel come up. Leather and cinnamon. Just perfect. Easily the best nose. Delicious caramel popcorn comes up late in the glass. Palate: Funky beauty. Clay and fruit parfait. Cherry and tobacco are prominent. Figs, raisins, and chocolate all dance perfectly. Linen and vanilla sit in this ever-repeating undulation of the most magnificent linger. Buy 2020 George T Stagg Bourbon #2 - Batch 17 - 128.7 Proof Nose: Mostly bready tones coming through on the nose here. Graham cracker and confectioners sugar are light and easy on the nose. Plenty of oak going on here. Later, it turns decadent and rich with plenty of sweetness. Robust cherry and graham cracker. Mmm. Palate: Oh yeah. That's my fruity jam right there. Plum, raspberry, grape, cherry, and raisin all mixed into one beautiful medley. That's delicious. Vanilla sits lovingly in the linger. It's a wonderful fruit bowl. There are some slight tannic notes, but it still remains perfectly balanced. After tasting this, I don't want to sip anything else for a long while as the tangy flavors sit on my tongue. Nearly tied for #1. Buy Stagg Jr Bourbon Batch 17 #3 - Batch 14 - 130.2 Proof Nose: Molasses and bread notes jump out first. It's soft, but loaded with caramel. Complex and funky, the glass feels surrounded by a waffle cone. Cherry is prevalent and delectable. It's one of the fruitiest here. Sweet and easy on the nose, it demonstrates a classic corn-forward bourbon profile. Late in the glass, it really forms a fantastic funk as loads of barrel influence come through. Palate: Woah. All that funk translates to the palate too. Sweet black bread and molasses drink neat and complete. There's a marvelous citrus punch that produces one of the heftiest sips without turning too hot. The spice portions fade quickly and reveal cherry and strawberry before tapering off into a long linger of tobacco and allspice. Hints of anise can be found in subsequent sips, layering onto an awesome array of flavors. Buy Stagg Jr Bourbon Batch 14 #4 - Batch 18 - 131 Proof Nose: Leather and barrel funk up front. Digging, I find complex fruit and floral tones. I love this nose. There's intense creaminess and frosting sweetness all through this. A soft tobacco and barrel funk note has good heft. Caramel, vanilla, and dusty oak scream well-aged bourbon. Candied fruit and cherry skins sit in the linger. A hint of smokiness excels this into exceptional territory. Palate: A lovely cherry forward profile presents up front. Cinnamon hots swing in later in the sip, much like I remember batch 14. Caramel, chocolate, and plenty of bakery sweets hang on strong. Another sip shows off zesty and bright with candied apple and honey. Cherry is dominant and delicious. Mmm. Buy Stagg Bourbon Batch 18 #5 - Batch 15 - 131.1 Proof Nose: Funky black pepper and woodshop aromas characterize the early glass well. Candied cherry and dried fruit are a solid backbone. Palate: Punchy and bold upfront, and then it becomes inviting with strawberry shortcake on the back end. Vanilla, linen, and troves of oak burst forth. This glass has a long, simmering linger of cherry hots. So good. Buy Stagg Junior Bourbon Batch 15 #6 - Batch 16 - 130.9 Proof Nose: Much softer than the other glasses. I find linen, cereal, oats and plenty of vanilla. Funky tropical fruits hide in the corners and occasionally will escape the glass. Late in the glass things simplify as hints of savory tones seep into the dominant vanilla profile. Palate: Hmm, fruity and floral on my first sip. The sweetness of vanilla frosting invades the mouth, though it ends up feeling a touch thin. Strawberries and cream is a fun note, though I can't help but feel that the fruit notes I am finding here are lower in quality to the other glasses. It feels slightly imbalanced and ultimately a middle-of-the-pack release for me. Buy Stagg Junior Bourbon Batch 16 #7 - Batch 13 - 128.4 Proof Nose: Vaguely fruity... like freeze-dried strawberries. Creamy tones and cherry are there. It's sweet and easy on the nose. Quite funky late in the glass, though not in a way that suggests high-quality aging. Palate: Hot up front... Though notes of wheat bread cool things slightly. It's funky with hints of sand, spice, and incense. Molasses sits heavy in the mouth. It has a sharp citrus punch that stings the throat slightly. It punches hard but doesn't stick around long. Buy Stagg Junior Bourbon batch 13 #8 - Batch 12 - 132.3 Proof Nose: This glass is blindingly bright as vanilla pops up first. Simple cinnamon and brown sugar sit in the nostrils. Later in the glass, the aromas briefly turn potent before causing a bit of numbness in the nose that returns this to a simple profile that doesn't amaze. Palate: This is the hottest of any of the glasses as cinnamon punches me in the throat. Coming back for another sip, I find this drinks like magma still for no reason. It's just too hot and too muted all over. Not a winner. This may have been due to the fact it was the only whiskey that was poured from a sample jar, which may have experienced some unfortunate sample jar taint that I've written about at length . Buy Stagg Junior Bourbon Batch 12 Ranking Summary: GTS > 17 > 14 > 18 > 15 > 16 > 13 If I were to cluster these into groups of quality, I'd lay them out below, with my estimated score of each. Exceptional (5/5): George T. Stagg, 14, 17, 18 Good (4/5): 13, 15, 16 Disqualified: 12 The last place finish of batch 12 might be a big surprise for folks, as batch 12 has long been lauded as one of the best by experienced whiskey drinkers. For me, it came off way too hot compared to the rest of the batches I tried and produced little in the way of aroma and palate complexity. This may have been because of the fact that the batch 12 taste I reviewed here was provided to me in sample form. I have since revisited batch 12 and found it to be way better than the sample in this tasting presented. For that reason, I will disqualify it from this ranking! What are your favorite Stagg Jr batches?

Long-lauded as the king of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, I too have fallen for the rich, perfected flavors of George T. Stagg bourbon . Having tasted some of the original Geo. T. Stagg whiskey from the early 1900s , I'm well equipped to tell you if this year's release is any good. The fact that they only release it once per year and will also skip years if the quality isn't good enough should be telling enough. I've tasted quite a few years of Stagg, and they are, for the most part, some of the best bourbon I've enjoyed in my long tenure as a whiskey taster. What makes it so great usually is its balance between epic volumes of flavor and supreme drinkability. I've often used it as my toast pour; when I need to really celebrate an occasion, we bust out the Stagg. Christmas, birthdays, promotions—you name it—they've all been celebrated with the legendary George T. Stagg. This is not to say there aren't dud years. I think the 2023 release was a bit of a miss personally . I had asked myself going in, "Is GTS still the king of the Antique Collection?" Unfortunately for the 2023 bottling, the answer was a resounding, "No." I went in depth with that one too, comparing the 2019, 2020, and 2022 releases, noting that the 2023 was a deadbeat, last-place finisher. But it's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me... and I'm feeling good . Buffalo Trace kindly enough sent along a media sample of the 2024 bottling for review with no strings attached, and that's just what I'll be reviewing here today in accordance with my editorial policy . Is the crown ready to come back? Let's dive in and find out. Company on Label:  Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskey Type: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (high corn, low rye, malted barley) Proof:  136.1° Age:  15 years Further identification:  The 2024 release of George T. Stagg is detailed in their yearly release letter: Nose:  Lifting the glass to my nose shows off a whiskey rearing to go. Cherry cordial, buttercream frosting, and barn-cured tobacco leaves lead the way—this is the Stagg  I remember falling for. Deep inhales nose well underproof as creamy vanilla cupcake, pear liqueur, and glazed doughnut tones permeate the wonderfully balanced glass. Brown sugar, dark, rich oak, and wonderful rickhouse funk offer all the hallmarks of a well-aged bourbon. After a sip, walnut and almond tones become stronger, though the dominant character remains trending towards Buffalo Trace's classic stone fruit. Nosing late in the glass offers delectable marshmallow notes, one of my favorite notes to find in whiskey. The marshmallow adorns a beautifully boozy hot chocolate profile, one that has been made more robust by the creamy addition of sweet amaretto. Late in the glass, leathery tones begin to take over a bit, though it remains just a perfect bourbon throughout. Sweet panela, thick maple caramel, creamy espresso, and bitey graham cracker smell like the most inviting coffee shop you've ever been to. There are candles, board games, and bake-at-home warm salted pretzel kits in a boutique shop next door. Everything about this pour oozes comfort and class. Butterscotch, lavender, caramel, and bergamot undulate in infinite, poised complexity. Each component countervails the next, never letting the glass grow boring over a two-hour tasting. The empty glass smells of a distant campfire, granite grindstone, the misty spray of a Maine waterfall, and tempranillo grape. Palate:  My first sip is far bolder than the nose led on, though it carries that same cherry cordial and a buttercream frosting note predominantly. The mouthfeel is pervasive, tingly, sweet, and creamy—everything I like in a barrel proof bourbon. Another sip and swish reveals tart raspberry, ganache, and mulberry up front before a tingling linger of cinnamon simple syrup, anise, and allspice swings in softly. This glass tastes like fall. It carries with it the excitement of hiking without sweating, the sling of an arrow, the quickened heartbeat of a lover drawn near for warmth. Sipping later in the glass continues the cherry theme, now leaning towards a root beer profile, settling somewhere closest to a less-sweet cherry cola. As the glass nears empty, the volume knob stays pegged. Almond extract, Luxardo cherry juice, and bergamot round out a perfect glass of whiskey. My last sip is like the confident actor finishing their lengthy performance with perfect accuracy and pizzazz. Linalool gives off that sweet, earthy, woodsy tone, while sweet tea cools the senses. The finish is long, smoldering, and thoroughly enjoyable. Stewed quince, plum, and the infinite complexity of a loquat leave me utterly satisfied. TL;DR: A majestic performance from Stagg, delivering infinite complexity in perfect harmony Rating:  5/5 ( Pinnacle whiskey. A true rarity in quality. ) The king of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is back. This glass has such a wonderful balance between hefty, in-your-face flavor and drinkability with this year's GTS release, something that was a bit of a struggle last year. The 2024 release manages to shine bright without the need for comparisons to any other years—it's a marvelous whiskey in its own right. The effort that went into getting this right must have been massive. Kudos to the team behind this bottling, as this is one of the finest whiskeys I've tasted in a long while. If you're interested in seeing where this lands in relation to the rest of the GTS releases I've tasted, make sure to check out the Stagg Hub . Buy 2024 George T Stagg Bourbon WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

With the 9 year Gold Spot edition first releasing in 2022 and being fairly well received across the board, there was a good bit of excitement in the whiskey community for a 13 year age statement bearing the same paint swath. The Spot Whiskey website describes this release, saying: The latest addition to the Gold Spot’s series is a thirteen-year aged whiskey, once again championing the use of wine casks in whiskey, transcending tradition, and demonstrating the harmonization of heritage and innovation. The extraordinary expression marries Gold Spot’s established use of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, with a unique maturation in Valpolicella Riciotto Italian wine casks for 16 months. This final maturation elevates Gold Spot’s subtle spice notes, with the red wine adding layers of dark fruits, berry compote and creating a softly textured sweetness, finishing with a touch of oak and sweet wine. This special whiskey, the perfect balance between Irish whiskey and Italian wine, celebrates the exceptional story of seven generations of the Mitchell family, guardians of Spot Whiskey and one of Ireland’s premier wine families. The charcuterie board shines in this pairing First released on March 11, 2024, in Europe via the Midleton website at €150, this left US-based Irish whiskey fans in the lurch for some time. Months later it finally began showing up on shelves here in the States, but pricing seemed to be all over the map, as if Pernod Ricard couldn't figure out what to price it at through different distributors. I saw discounted pre-sales as low as $180, and the OHLQ website currently has it listed for $300 . Pricing seems to have settled somewhere around $215 , though it remains sitting in stock, whereas the 9 year was commonly held for year-end raffles in 2022. Perhaps the price has something to do with that. We'll taste through to see if there's value to be had here nonetheless! Company on Label:  Midleton Distillery Whiskey Type:  Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  100% malted and unmalted barley Proof:  92° Age:  13 years Further identification:  This is the 2024 Generations Edition of Gold Spot, hitting retail shelves across the globe in a 700mL bottle format at an MSRP of about $285 Buy Gold Spot 13 Year Irish Whiskey Nose:  The nose leads with what some might call a more Scottish-style malt; light florality and apple aromas present quite delicately up front. Warming my glencairn in my hands unlocks Madagascar vanilla beans, fresh dryer sheets, and a hint of the wine cask influence to come. Deep inhales are a bit metallic, bland, and dry. I'm waiting for a bloom to occur, but all I get is the stark blank slate of a cold winter wind. The wine cask finishes are notably tamped down, buried, and muted here. Little changes after a sip of this utterly boring whiskey. The empty glass smells of wet granite, wool, and slivered almonds. Palate:  My first sip is a nice departure from the muted nose of the early glass. Light biscuit is fluffy and clean in the mouth as a pad of melted butter begins to seep through the nooks and crannies. The mouthfeel is great: oily, generally sweet, but quite devoid of any distinct flavor character. Another sip matches that, but with an incremental addition of subtle, dried jackfruit. Sipping late in the glass is the most enjoyable, as little flashes of cheesecake and your traditional Irish whiskey sugar cookie note can be found. My last sip finishes with little fanfare and no forlorn face for its departure. TL;DR: Flat, bland, and boring—this release is a slap in the face to Irish whiskey fans Rating:  2/5 ( Poor showing. Doesn't please my palate. ) 9 Year Gold Spot vs 13 Year Gold Spot Final thoughts: I don't normally talk about value here, but this is a pretty egregious mismatch between price and quality. In a neat demonstration that older is not always better, this is a very clear step down from the 9 year Gold Spot release, and at nearly double the cost, it has me baffled who this could possibly be marketed towards. I bought this bottle with my own hard-earned dollar and feel completely duped for that decision. If you're hunting for something better for cheaper, I'd recommend Redbreast 12 year , Green Spot , or peruse all of the top Irish whiskeys worth drinking for something that calls to you. WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

Michter's is a brand ripe with a rich and storied history, one that I've covered many times on this website . Getting to explore the nuances from year to year and barrel to barrel for a bottling as coveted as Michter's 10 year bourbon is truly a blessing. It should be noted that this bottle was intentionally bought for the sake of this review, but it was purchased by my dear friend Jon Gjebrea , co-owner of Noble Cigars , to whom I am grateful for giving me the chance to review this particular barrel from Michter's. Despite people typically talking about this release by way of vintage, a term that typically denotes the bottling year, as is more traditional in wine, Michter's 10 year whiskeys are single barrel products, which inherently have variation between them. To address this, Michter's offers bottling months in the letter that follows the two-digit year statement on their neck label. A represents January, and F, as we have here today, represents a June bottling date. The rest of the numbers are a unique identifier for that exact barrel. We therefore should be considerate as we discuss our experiences with single barrels, something I've long mentally fought with as a whiskey reviewer. With all those caveats out of the way, let's talk some whiskey! Company on Label:  Bottled by Michter's Distillery LLC, Louisville, Kentucky 40216 Whiskey Type:  Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed Proof:  94.4° Age:  10 years MSRP:  $185 Further Identification:  This is a single barrel release product, so your mileage may vary; the bottle under review came from barrel 24F2384 Nose:  Immediately upon lifting the glass, I find a wave of vinegar-forward barrel funk emanating upwards. Another long inhale is surprisingly muted, leaving me feeling a bit perplexed about this pour, as I'm normally used to an immediate and distinct character from Michter's 10 year bourbon releases. This offers none of the quaint, comfortable Kentucky bourbon character I've come to expect out of an expensive bottle like this. Vague flashes of bleached linen, tannic grape skins, and earthy compost aromas are off-putting and befuddling. Deep inhales fail to register much else at all in a lingering moment of deep dismay. After a few sips, little development occurs in the glass to improve upon the fairly disappointing structure of aroma here. Touches of vanilla and toasted oak can be made out to the generously patient observer. The empty glass smells of caramelized Vidalia onions and tonka beans. Palate:  On first sip, the sad story of the nose is momentarily displaced as I find soft red berries and watered down Riesling ice wine washes across the tongue. Little evidence of proof registers with the sensory system, and the flavors are rather odd here. Vidal Blanc grape and this tart orange jam combine in an incredibly nuanced, differentiated way—in stark contrast to anything I'm used to sipping on right now. Caraway seeds and a slightly overbaked crostata tart crust come together on the short, bodiless linger. Further sips are disjointed, like the mouth has wandered off to a different part of the museum while your mind was lost in space. A moment of panic sets in that something is being missed. For this bourbon, what was missed was the mark. A nonexistent mouthfeel leaves me yearning for so much more, as gossamer-thin spindles of weak and marginalized flavors struggle to tell a cohesive story. Sipping late in the glass offers some redeeming qualities, but I'd still much prefer to move on to a better whiskey at this point. Yeugh . I really am actually struggling to enjoy this pour, unfortunately, as some of the apple cider vinegar tones begin to take hold in my mind. To me, this particular barrel seems to taste rather over-oaked, with a panic-sell decision point being made on what was clearly not going to go the distance to 20 or 25 years without puckering even the most experienced palates. My last sip offers comfort in knowing this drinking experience is over as dry raspberry sweet tart flavors entertain just the outskirts of enjoyment. The finish is short, drying, and tannic, as malbec grape and 90% cacao dark chocolate leave me shuddering. TL;DR: A drastically different spectrum of flavor on this year's 10 year bourbon leaves me nonplussed Rating:  2.5/5 ( Okay whiskey. Nothing special about this pour. ) I know Michter's knows good whiskey , but this particular bottling is just not that. I've seen others waxing poetic about the 24A and 24B barrels from this year's run of single barrel releases. With another data point coming from my experience favoring the 23A barrels of 10 year bourbon , is it safe to start assuming the earlier bottlings from each year tend to be better than the later months? There's that theory, or perhaps this is just sourced from a different distillery than last year. My taste buds were screaming Heaven Hill on the 23A, but this 24F tastes quite a bit like Old Forester distillate, which to me tends to exude a younger character. Both are interesting theories, but the bottling month variation is an interesting one to experiment with further given the nuance in how barrels continue to mature throughout the year. Let me know down in the comments: Are earlier letters, which represent the bottling month of the barrel, inherently better than later expressions from each year? My taste buds certainly think so, but I'd love to have a taste of 24A or 24B to know for sure. Want to taste for yoursel? Buy Michter's 10 year rye here. WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

“Are you sure that we are awake? It seems to me that yet we sleep, we dream.” -William Shakespeare High West Distillery continues to roll out their once-per-year port-finished Rendezvous Rye series, A Midwinter Night's Dram . The name, a play on Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream , was likely born out of a stroke of genius, mid-marketing meeting, by a team searching for a name not fraught with copyright infringement. What better place to look than 16th-century England? This release has been long-lauded by whiskey enthusiasts who have cherished the blend of MGP and High West rye. Some have speculated the ratios are tipping more towards High West distillate these days, something I'd probably agree with as the flavor profile has definitely changed over time. Another feasible possibility is that access to similar stocks that were used in previous years has been cut off, which is supported by what David Thomas Tao reported on with Kentucky whiskey being a component of some former acts . As production numbers have soared into the ~190,000 bottle range annually, I've tried to warn folks that this isn't the small production, limited release bottle it once was . But old traditions die hard, and no other bottle is more synonymous with the cold winter season than A Midwinter Night's Dram. We've still got plenty of cold weather to power through here in New England, so I found myself reaching for a pour of something cozy this evening. It just so happened to be a bottle I haven't written about yet, so I sat down in order to deliver you a long-overdue review. This is a bottle I've shared around quite a bit since scooping it up at the end of 2024, crowdsourcing opinions that have ranged wildly from reserved delight all the way to pure terror. After tasting it many times, I find myself settling somewhere in the middle with this act. A well-formulated opinion surely beats a rushed one, so I'm proud to be finally ready to share my thoughts on this one. Let's dive in. Company on Label:  High West Distillery Whiskey Type: A blend of straight rye whiskeys Mash Bill Percentages:  Undisclosed proportions of the Rendezvous rye mash bill comprised of 95% rye, 5% malted barley distilled by MGP and 80% rye, 20% malted rye distilled by High West Proof:  98.6° Age:  NAS MSRP:  $149.99 Further identification:  This is the 2024 release, the 12th act, bottled on the 4th day of the run according to the scene on the front label , which was first made available in October of 2024 Link: Buy A Midwinter Night Dram Straight Rye Whiskey Nose:  Lifting the glass to my nose, I find sticky red raisin, pear, plum, and fig—immediately suggesting a heavy port influence. Another long inhale produces an array of typical holiday spices: think allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, and clove. Vinegar and raspberry jam follow in a halfway decent evolution. Overall, it's a little dry in the nose, but I am happy to find more rye character than was present on Act 11 , something I had a really strong opposition to in that review . Deep inhales begin to get thin as the enjoyable fruit and spice give way to a can of dried-up paint. After a sip, the nose thins to a simple medley of fig and allspice. Lemon frosting and cranberry ginger ale swing in late in the glass. My empty glencairn smells of synthetic leather, a kiss of smoke, and plain yogurt. Palate:  On first taste, I find a robust rye first and foremost. Cardamom, dill, mint, allspice, and cumin lead the way on a messy conglomeration of flavor. I'm simultaneously glad to find a rye at the heart of this release but also a bit disappointed in its quality. It's a funky sip, perhaps attributable to the malted rye component in the mash bill, which is always an interesting distillation choice to see. The linger carries dominant flavors of moist raisin and raspberry jam. Another sip is once again spice-forward rye character that hugs you at every step of the way. Boozy Italian cherries and a kiss of aperol can be found on the midpalate before the more drying flavors of graham cracker and ginger root powder swing through to sweep away the enjoyment. My last taste is a soft splash of grenadine, clashed by dry clove, and finished with a light dusting of cacao powder. TL;DR: While a clear step up from Act 11, this still isn't anything all that special Rating:  3/5 Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. I postulated against calling this a comeback in my title, but really—don't call this a comeback. It's a passable whiskey at best, but for most whiskey enthusiasts and cost-conscious drinkers, this is likely to be a pass this year. If you don't know any better about what great rye whiskey tastes like, you just might enjoy this, but for those of us cursed with the awareness of the full range of the quality scale, this surely doesn't hang in the broader whiskey landscape. WRITTEN BY: NICK ANDERSON With nearly a decade of sipping experience, Nick Anderson brings a well-calibrated palate to his profound passion for the whiskey industry. Beginning in Irish whiskey before expanding into bourbon, rye, and beyond, he has long been taking the ephemeral observation of unspoken enjoyment and translating it into meaningful words. He is the owner and primary long-winded whiskey writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com , and he hopes you find resonance in the patient conveyance of an honest whiskey review.

"invent yourself and then reinvent yourself, don't swim in the same slough. invent yourself and then reinvent yourself, and stay out of the clutches of mediocrity." — Charles Bukowski Marketed by Buffalo Trace as "the world's best single barrel bourbon" and "the original single barrel bourbon," it's obvious this grenade-shaped bottle and distinctive cork topper with a horse and jockey in various racing positions is out to impress. Ask any whiskey enthusiast or appreciator of the spirit, and I bet, hands down, a bottle of Blanton's was heavily sought after at one point or another. Perhaps you are currently seeking one as you read this. I was certainly guilty of such tendencies when I first started diving into this hobby, and I have several bottles on my shelf as a testament to that once-upon-time first chapter of my whiskey journey. I was recently gifted this bottle of Blanton's Gold from a person with a true heart of gold, my Dad. At a slightly higher proof than the original Blanton's and with a higher rye mash bill, Blanton's Gold is marketed as the "spunkier" version of the whiskey expressions coming out of the metal-cladded Warehouse H on Buffalo Trace's famed campus. The limited release first premiered in the summer of 2020 by the Sazerac Company and is released annually. I am actually quite curious if the slight variations listed between the original Blanton's and Gold Edition turn out to be noteworthy or not, which is why this bottle opened, and the liquid was poured into my glencairn. Company on Label:  Blanton Distilling Company Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye 12-15%) Proof:  103 ° Age:  6-8years MSRP: $129.99 (2025) Further Identification:  Dumped 9-10-24 from Warehouse H, Rick 51, Barrel 62 Link: Buy Blanton's Gold Bourbon Nose:  Upon first lifting the glass to my nose, after an unintentional long rest, I find a good amount of oak filling my senses. The volume is substantial, with that classic Buffalo Trace fruit sweetness. A chalky candy, like crushed-up Smarties, comes next, followed by gooey caramel chews and vanilla cream. It's familiar and cozy, like wrapping up in an oversized plush blanket. Hints of cinnamon and fading oak have me covering a yawn as I snuggle in and prepare to take a sip. Returning to the nose after a few sips has me frowning in confusion. The nose and palate are so wildly different. There's so much more on the nose: sugar and cinnamon rolls warm from the oven, strawberry shortcake, black tea, vanilla biscotti, and a hint of frother cappuccino foam. The empty glass smells like stale Dr. Pepper and Hot Tamales candy. Palate:  An abundance of sweetness and spice, notably cinnamon, flashes across my tongue with the first sip, but all too quickly, a surprising heat takes hold and burns away any remaining flavors. With a feeling reminiscent of whiplash, but for my tongue, I take a second sip in hopes that this dram was simply the overeager horse settling into the endurance portion of a long-form race. Another flash of promising flavors fades again like the lightbulb of an old-fashioned camera. I find myself frustrated with the tease of flavors and the potential for what could be if only the heat and spice didn't overwhelm the palate so quickly. Creamy vanilla and silky caramel melt into nothing but a watery mess, and there's little left to locate other than oak spice and cinnamon to keep my attention. I'm stuck in a wish to taste more of what was initially on my tongue. The finish is a spooked cat running off into a darkened alleyway as the linger reminds me of licking the tail end of a strawberry popsicle in order to read the joke on the stick better. Because, at this point, I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry. TL;DR: a promising nose fades quickly into disappointment on the palate Rating:  3/5 Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. While the nose held much potential, enough that I would have raised my bet If I were a gambling woman, this pour could not surpass my experience of the original Blanton's okayness. I will, however, continue to revisit this bottle, out of sheer stubbornness, to see what time and air do to the palate because that nose did prove to be worth future efforts.   WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

"So the middle ground answer reminds us that reflection is continuous with practice, and our practice can go worse or better according to the value of our reflections." —Simon Blackburn Redwood Empire seems to have hit a stride, and the Amongst The Whiskey writers have been doing their best to keep up with the steady stream of recent releases . I, for one, will never complain about a craft distillery consistently pushing out innovative expressions. This particular release, however, was done rather quietly, and for the briefest of moments, I had concluded the release was simply a label update. After debunking that assumption, I moved quickly into curiosity. What was this middle child of Pipe Dream, one of Redwood Empire's core offerings, all about, and how would it stand out amongst its already well-favored siblings, flagship, and cask strength ? Contrary to perhaps another well-warranted assumption, this offering is not just a slightly higher (or lower, depending on your point of reference) proofed Pipe Dream. There are slight but notable differences that may help you justify the slight but noticeable price difference. As described on Redwood Empire's website : Maintaining a four-grain mashbill, this reserve expression showcases older whiskey stocks, more of our own grain-to-glass distillate, and is cut at a higher proof. The result is a craft whiskey with elevated aromas, rich textures, and bold flavors. Currently, Pipe Dream seems to be the only offering available in the 101 reserve expression. Still, I think it's safe to assume Redwood's bourye, Lost Monarch, and rye, Emerald Giant, will eventually follow suit. Although, if there's one thing you and I can learn from this review, other than how this whiskey is going to rate, is that when we assume, we only make an ass out of u and me . So, it is with this mindset that I will move forward with this tasting with no assumptions or expectations! Company on Label:  Redwood Empire Whiskey Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 73% corn, 19% rye, 5% malted barley, 3% wheat Proof:  101 ° Age:  5 years (a blend of 5-15 year old bourbons from California, Indiana, and Kentucky) MSRP: $55.99 (2025) Further Identification:  This is batch one of Redwood Empire's 101 reserve expression with a release date of November 2024 Nose:  This is undeniably bourbon. Caramel, vanilla, and oak dominate the nose. It's a predictable combination, like unwrapping a stick of butter from its wax paper. While the aromas are enjoyable, they seem to be a bit muted. With a bit of warmth and swirls, a few additional notes release from my glass: a long spiraling peel from a red delicious apple, a crack of black pepper, and the inside of a Tupperware container filled with a kiddo's backyard treasures of grass, dirt, and ladybugs. It's an odd mix of aromas if I'm being honest. Perhaps a taste will coalesce these disjointed smells. After a few sips, I find less cohesion and more confusion: floral tones leaning towards lavender and rose and, as the liquid grows lower, the scent of old books in a small and stuffy used bookstore. Perplexed, I am, but not offended. The core of this expression is absolutely bourbon. The empty glass smells of tootsie roll wrappers, dried flowers, and a restaurant candy dish filled with chalky stale after-dinner mints. Palate:  Vanilla and caramel glide across my tongue as cinnamon and clove shimmer through the familiar duo. The tastes are creamy at first, but all too quickly the flavors fall flat. A tartness, like sipping a stale can of bubbly lemon water dominates midpalate. The finish is hotter than I anticipated, too, given the proof point. As I sip along, I encounter much of the same experience: a pop and quick deflation in flavors, reminding me of an empty bowl of what was once vanilla ice cream with melted whipped cream pooling at the edges. Late in the glass, a fruit characteristic shows up: blackberry, which offers a bit of excitement until the oak spice washes away the delicate flavor. The final sip is void of any further evolution and is primarily dominated by a mixture of grassy spice. TL;DR: classic tastes of bourbon that wish to be more but can't figure out how Rating:  3/5 Middle of the road whiskey. An average showing. Fans of a solid daily sipper will likely be inspired to reach for this slightly kicked-up version instead of the flagship Pipe Dream. Personally, I could go either way. The 101 offers more of Redwood Empire's distillate, but I think the blending process needs a bit of fine-tuning. I'll be curious to taste future releases to see how this expression evolves, assuming more releases are forthcoming in the vast landscape of middle ground .   Buy Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

Buffalo Trace's 2nd bourbon mash bill features releases such as Ancient Age, Rock Hill Farms, Blanton's, Hancock's Reserve, and this bottle - Elmer T. Lee. The legendary master distiller who revived a slowly fading industry passed away at the ripe old age of 93. The distillery continues to honor Elmer T. Lee by producing his namesake single barrel sour mash bourbon. Often the biggest complaint I hear about this bottle is its availability. It is absolutely factual that the demand for this brand far outpaces its supply. I've been drinking and searching for this bottle and its counterparts for a handful of years, only to turn up this singular bottle in the last 5. It was fortunately won in a raffle from a store who charges right at MSRP, so I am able to enjoy this ~$30 bourbon without reluctantly shelling out for costs at or approaching secondary (which are exorbitant). If you've had this bourbon before - what's the most you'd pay for a bottle? Drop me a comment at the bottom of this page. I'm curious! Now that I've explored this bottle a few times before, I'm ready to give it a fair shake here. Let's get into this review. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #2 (Higher Rye ~10-12%) Proof: 90° Age: NAS (though the age of Elmer T. Lee is rumored to be around 9-14 years) Further identification: This is a 2020 release as known from time of purchase as well as the laser code (L20...) Link: Buy Elmer T. Lee Bourbon Nose: Right away prevalent fruit sweetness wafts from the glass. Cherry, candied apple and strawberry are notable in the medley. Deep inhales produce a slightly synthetic vanilla. My nose perceives zero evidence of the presence of alcohol in this glass. Light biscoff cookie and bright black pepper sit in the nostrils. The nose-feel overall is slightly drying and thin. The notable absence of the fruit from the start removes most of the excitement from the glass. Nearly imperceptible wafts of caramel seem to hang up somewhere in the glass. Let's have a sip. Coming back from a sip I find much more oak that was hidden behind the sweeter smells. Black pepper continues to be prominent. Overall there doesn't seem to be anything remarkable or unique about this particular barrel except for its incredible approachability. I think even a first time drinker could find something to like here. Late in the glass some subtle floral tones produce white flowering scents. The empty glass smells of soft caramel bread and warm air tinged with the metallic skeleton of a big city. Palate: Yum - buttercream frosting and sugar cookie flavors jump onto the tongue. These tastes sit there in an oily pool with visions of bakery treats sitting atop parchment paper. The mouth feel is thin but creamy similar to how light proof Irish whiskeys usually feel. Another sip builds up bigger cherry skin, vanilla and ladyfinger notes. A larger sip and swish produces some decent heft for 90 proof giving off vanilla bean ice cream and sweet tart vibes. There's just a hint of some raspberry and tannic fermented fruit in the linger. Everything in the glass continues to be creamy and soft. The most delicious flavors start to appear near the bottom of the glass when strawberries and cream begins to produce softly with a sweet cereal backbone. This flavor proves to be fleeting in my final sip which shows up again with simple cherry skins. The finish adds sweet raspberry and slightly smoky vanilla. Rating: 3/5 ( Decent. I can go either way on it. ) Holistically unremarkable - this pour did have a few bright spots when sweet fruits delivered clear as day. I could certainly see this release getting lauded by those who value an easy sipper. I ultimately don't find it to be worth chasing personally, though I would definitely grab it at MSRP again if I had the chance. Cheers!

I filled this glass just a bit more than I usually like to; I usually try to review a pour that starts right at the transition of the bulb on a proper glencairn glass. Sometimes less is more, and things can be either overpowering or muted at too full of a glass. But it's been a long day, and I'm ready for one good pour before probably an early to bed night tonight! Cheers. Company on Label: The Old Grand-Dad Distillery Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 63% Corn, 27% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 114 ° Age: NAS Further identification: This is distilled at Jim Beam & lists "Lot No. 1" on the back of the label Link: Buy Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon Nose: Dusty nut shells at the start. Light leather and pepper spice. Powerful dustiness that overwhelms the nose. Faint berries hang around a caramel base. A musty paper note only sticks around for a brief moment before settling into more oakiness than anything else. After a little while in the glass, things are smoothing out well and vanilla is starting to dominate more. A bit of meaty allspice can be dug up on deep inhales. Time for a sip. After a sip, the vanilla characteristics are much more pronounced and the glass noses more smoothly. More pepper is there now, but again lighter. This opens up very well after some time in the glass. It was darker and musty at the start, but now it's just a solid, standard bourbon bouquet of aromas. Much less of the Beam nuttiness than I was expecting. The palate and finish are really the highlight of this pour, which will certainly help its score. The empty glass smells like chocolate, plum, and raisin. Palate: Wow, much sweeter than the nose let on. Things start out with a very tart cherry that brings with it a good bit of spice and a strong Kentucky hug. The linger carries a lot of the cinnamon hots you usually get out of higher proof 'spicier' cherry profiles. There are some rye spice funky bits very well hidden in the cracks of the syrupy cherry flavor wheel. Another sip reveals lovely vanilla, rye spice, and caramel. Molasses is a bit metallic, but it's instantly more overwhelmed with the thick cherry mouth coating. This is a powerful pour at 114 proof. There is a solid mouth coating, and the flavors that come with it are quite tasty. It's not bursting with impossible layers of complexity, but it is also certainly not bland in any way. The profile sticks to its guns all the way through. Powerful cherry, caramel, cinnamon hots, and some pepper spice are the highlights of the experience. There was also a brief, wild rising linger of nutmeg that took me by surprise on an exhale. If you wanted to check if your taste buds are working effectively, give this a try. It's powerful in a great way. Rating: 3/5 If you're still paying attention down here, you might be saying: "Nick, a 3/5 AND an Amongst the Whiskey stamp of approval?" Yes. This is the perfect representation of a whiskey that doesn't really overly impress me per se, but I would love to keep around for what it delivers for me. It's got some great flavors that I think deserve to be experienced, but don't go in asking for the moon from this one. I also really wanted to try this in a review to sort of qualify myself for an upcoming private barrel group experiment that utilized an Old Grand-Dad 114 base. Keep your eyes peeled for that review soon!

A single barrel of whiskey, aged to perfection (ideally) and bottled to be sold and appreciated by the whiskey world at large. This all sounds pretty common for a distillery, right? But not every barrel bottled is directly from a single barrel, and more often than not, there's a master blender hard at work alchemizing the perfect blend from various barrels of whiskey. With the rising popularity of blending amongst brands known exclusively for their blending skills and the subsequent success of those efforts, it makes sense to wonder: has the gleam of a single barrel lost some of its shine as a result? Single barrels are much more than meets the eye. Once the barrel is filled, the magic begins as it ages, and the home of said barrel matters significantly. While craft distilleries are less likely to offer single barrel offerings as they make a name for themselves in this hugely competitive market, the likes of Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and Old Forester offer single barrel programs as a way of life, it seems. With so many options available, how does one pick and choose? As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details, and she sure loves her whiskey. She also recommends (the devil, that is, not me—I cringe like I just sipped High West Campfire whenever I refer to myself in the third person) focusing on the warehouse, the floor, and where you are purchasing your single barrel. The location of where the barrel rests affects the taste, especially if the warehouse is heat cycled, as some are on the Old Forester campus. Additionally, what floor the barrel hangs out in the warehouse can affect the depth of interaction between whiskey and wood. Lastly, if you're unable to try before you buy, following and supporting a store and/or reviewer you trust is a must. Paying attention to all three will likely result in less regret and get you excited for upcoming releases from the bigger guys, like the distillery featured today. Affectionately named " Strawberry Krunch, " this particular Old Forester single barrel gained quick popularity a few years back and has developed a bit of a cult following ever since. When Nick offered to send a sample my way for an honest review, I agreed without hesitation, which is no surprise. So we decided to up the ante and offer our readers an Amongst The Whiskey first—a live review with both of us on YouTube . We talk about the variability in single barrels, the overproof experience of drinking these at barrel strength, and the rare magic when a warehouse K single barrel comes together in sweet perfection. While yours truly (me, Jes, on right in the video above) prefers the written word, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Nick about this barrel pick. I hope the additional content compliments your reading experience of my notes below! Company on Label:  Old Forester Whiskey Type:  Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages:   70% corn, 18% rye, 10% barley Proof:   129.7° Age:  NAS                                                                          Further identification:   Warehouse K, Floor 6, Barrel 6618; this is a collaboration pick that Mass Bourbon Alliance  was invited to taste alongside the Liquor Junction team Nose: Not at all what I was expecting, and in a very good way. There's great volume, the proof is obviously high, but it's confidently gentle, like someone explaining a passion of theirs when asked. The nose is remarkably creamy, supporting vanilla and caramel through a soft, milky undertone. The fruit is evident, with strawberries ripe for the picking in a field partially shadowed by a line of towering oak trees. I could sit here nosing for much longer than most other Old Forester single barrels I've tried, but my tastebuds are begging for a sip! Returning to the nose after a taste or two takes me back to my childhood home, where I sat at the kitchen table with my mom, slicing strawberries on top of her cornflake cereal before splashing milk into her bowl. Late in the glass, more wood spice and cinnamon emerge, but the sweet fruit is still there. The empty glass walks me through a mudroom and outside to a campfire with glowing embers and roasted s'mores. Palate:  Oh, the symmetry from nose to palate is just lovely. Creamy vanilla and fruit, with a warming cinnamon and pepper spice. It's effervescent and poppy, with a wonderful back-of-throat heat. A second sip reminds me of strawberries dipped in melted chocolate drying on a sheet of wax paper. There's an all over tongue tingles with toffee sweetness that has me eager to sip some more. Late sips reveal more heat on the tongue and a smidge of oak drying. The fruit is a bit buried now by spice, but in a way that feels inevitable for an almost empty glass. The last sip is like a big hug goodbye and a genuine thank you for stopping by . TL;DR: expect fruit-forward flavors without a blown-out palate Rating:  4/5 ( Really good. I want one of these on my shelf. ) Holy smokes, I am shocked by this Old Forester single barrel. Historically, these pours come across as very hot for me, but this palate was well-balanced and incredibly approachable. My disbelief of the proof drinking much lower than stated and the flavors swirling about my mouth bumped this usually "let down" whiskey into a wish to have it on my shelf. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen, but I'm grateful to have a sense of hope now—perhaps Old Forester single barrels are not all fire water after all! If this review has you on the hunt, you can buy Old Forester barrel strength bourbon here . WRITTEN BY: JES SMYTH W ith what started as a genuine curiosity for the “water of life,” fiction writer and published author Jes Smyth has nurtured her enthusiasm for whiskey ever since. From learning the vast history of whiskey making to celebrating the passion of the industry, she tastes each sip with intention and purpose while expressing the intricacies of whiskey in a relatable and heartfelt way. She is thrilled to be a contributing writer for AmongstTheWhiskey.com  and hopes her words will resonate with those ready to explore the beautiful world of whiskey.

Often regarded as one of the best whiskey releases every year by whiskey enthusiasts near and far, George T. Stagg is a hyper-aged bourbon out of Buffalo Trace. Part of the annual release of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC for short), this is always a focal point of the 5 bottle spread. The other highly allocated bottles that are part of the antique collection include William Larue Weller, Eagle Rare 17 year, Sazerac 18 year, and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac rye. People go crazy for this stuff - mostly because it's limited, but also because these bottles do usually contain some of the finest stocks from the Buffalo Trace distillery. Last year, I was fortunate enough to score all 5 of these releases which I individually reviewed and also ranked based on preference . George T. Stagg took the clear win from 2022, but unfortunately I'm not in the same position to look at the entirety of the 2023 lineup this year. While I can't host an extravagant 2023 BTAC tasting this year, I do have a full bottle of this years George T. Stagg, but it's been disappearing fast since just before Christmas when I opened it with my dad and my cousin. I opened it to raise as a toast after I tagged into a really nice 8 point, 180 pound buck in Massachusetts' primitive firearms season. After field dressing and getting the deer out of the woods for processing into this years food, we clinked glencairn glasses to celebrate another one of life's beautiful little moments - something we should all spend more time doing. Like a shared passion for music, or the comradery that forms around spending countless hours on countless days in the woods, whiskey is a community vessel that has the power to transform experiences. The right pour with the right people can be a magical performance. It's a low level form of alchemy for those who understand it. Put a good whiskey in the wrong company however, and you get the unfortunate transmogrification of gold turning to lead. Many glasses have been shared in my life thus far, and the heart always knows which direction the reaction is going in. A toast to an amazing day in the woods When I'm not sharing, hunting or hiking, I do still write at length about whiskey for this website, believe it or not. I've written about Stagg (junior and prior vintages) quite a bit before, sometimes covering the history of the brand and where the name came from. If you're not familiar, I expect you'll find a lot of answers in the search results linked above. Ready to get into this year's George T. Stagg with me? Let's go! Company on Label:  Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type:  Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof:  135° Age:  15 years (& 3 months) Further identification:  The 2023 release of George T. Stagg finally comes with an NFC tag under the foil lid at an MSRP of $125, with further specs being laid out in the annual release letter: Nose:  Bold oak is the first thing that can be discovered when raising the glass to the nose. Brown sugar, buttermilk biscuits, and deep-stinging allspice all follow in a warm, aromatic, proofy wave. Hints of tropical beaches enter the mind as coconut husks and funky, overripe pineapple scents ride the undercurrent. A swirl of the glass unleashes more potent oak, toeing the line of being too pungent and devolving into a cleaning agent smell. It's leathery at times and loaded with creamy marshmallow and vanilla at others, suggesting good complexity abounds. As I sip off the air that hangs above the liquid with my nostrils, I find the aromas to be slightly fleeting and thinning as more volume is exchanged between my lungs and my glencairn. Hints of saltwater taffy and soft peppermint puffs feel slightly out of place on this blend. Let's try a sip. Coming back to the nose makes maple syrup and molasses tones pop. Soft and sweet bread tones hang in the glass as it gets low, reminiscent of a simple breakfast served on a big mahogany table. The way a distinct marshmallow note ebbs and flows in and out of perception is one of my favorite parts of this glass. Overall, it's quite delicate for the proof, though I can appreciate both the highs and the lows of the nose. Deep inhales late in the glass give off a bit of a vintage whiskey vibe, perhaps due to this kind of age statement not being so commonplace today. The empty glass smells of old cork and delicious, sweet candied cherry. Palate:  My first taste illuminates the mouth with glowing embers, all 135 proof on full display. Classic cherry and red hots hit first on the tongue before the taste buds are soothed by a wooden spoonful of sugar. Touring another sip around my mouth unfortunately makes me find that cleaning agent note the nose foreshadowed; it's vaguely citrusy with unmitigated ethanol. The linger is long, with more approachable notes of nutmeg and cardamom. Sipping late into the glass shows redeeming layers of strawberry, cherry, and blackberry parfait. Patience is a virtue with this glass, as is tradition with ultra-aged whiskeys. The finish carries through blackcurrant, salty sunflower seeds, and plenty of oak that tingles the jaw slightly. At last taste, I find underripe cherry, black pepper, and a grainy bite of milk chocolate. These notes follow through to an unremarkable finish of light linen being held up by wooden clothespins on the Summer's clothes line—a dreamlike state of attention. TL;DR: Not BT's finest work, but still a special bottle for raising a toast or talking over Rating:  4/5 ( Really good; I want one of these on my shelf. ) I find that this drinks much more like a Stagg Junior batch of old... not something to be revered by whiskey enthusiasts like the 2020 release was . It's still quite good but clearly has some interesting faults throughout. As you may be able to tell by the fill level, I've sipped and shared a fair bit of this bottle already. In general, I have been finding it quite crushable—likely a positive to most—but it's not proving to be all that savor-worthy, something I personally value in my whiskey. The nose is exquisite to explore, but I don't find a lot of excitement when I sip this generally. To answer the question from the title "Is GTS still the king of the Antique Collection?"... not this year. Buy 2023 George T Stagg Bourbon Comparisons to Prior George T. Stagg Releases I set out to review the 2023 release of George T. Stagg and ended up going down a rabbit hole of comparisons to the 2022 release . I initially loved the 2022 release, rating it with my highest honor and distinction: the coveted 5/5 score AND a 'Keep Amongst the Whiskey' distinction, but as my bottle (and the bottle I sampled from a dear friend) both got lower - an odd note cropped up... apple cider vinegar . Great for your health - not most people's idea of quality on an expensive bottle of whiskey. So what happened? How could two people's bottles both start so strong and finish so wrong? The world may never know. The note has since disappeared again for me when exploring 2022, but just wanted to put that out into the universe in case anyone else is struggling with that. Comparing the nose between the 2022 and 2023 releases instantly shows that the 2022 is deeper with more rich baking spices like black pepper and more caramel tones. The 2022 however, produces that weird apple cider vinegar note I wrote about in the introduction... I can't un-smell it now that I have found it, and that makes me wonder if it had been hiding there this whole time. I guess you've been warned now, for better or for worse. Despite that note, I actually believe the 2022 is still better on the nose with all it's hookah funk. Head to head on the palate demonstrates the 2022 once again coming across bolder, perhaps warranted by the higher proof, but in a much closer race than the nose. While the 2023 pour is delicately fruity and spiced, 2022 swings in with the viscous mouthfeel of sucking on a Werther's caramel chew. It sticks to the tongue with balanced potency and excites me like an unexpected compliment. As the finish rolls through on the 2022 release, I realize just how outclassed the 2023 release is. Gingersnaps, potent maraschino cherry, and sweet caramel cookie just rolls on and on forever. If you haven't read the full review of the 2022 release, you better head there now . As for the 2020 release , that bottle is just in a different league than 2023 as well. Another top-tier pour for me. Layer in 2019 and we have a ranking shakeout thus: Ranking:   2020 > 2022 > 2019 > 2023 There was no George T. Stagg release in 2021, in case you forgot.