Category: Buy It Again

Wax leather, fine oak, and dark fruit bottled at 90 proof. IW Harper Reserve Cabernet Cask Finish is a vintage brand now owned by Diageo that most certainly flies under the radar, but definitely worh a try. The palate slaps with chocolate covered cherries, mint tea, and a lifted fruit core wrapped around some classic vanilla and toffee that makes this a great dessert whiskey.

I didn’t think I would love this whiskey, but boy was I wrong. This is a 12yr old Buffalo Trace aged in French oak barrels. Some other French oak whiskies tend to be overpowering, but this was just the right amount of silkiness, mouthfeel and richer vanilla and red fruit flavor that I love. It somehow manages a sweet mouthfeel without tasting sweet and also manages a fairly heavy oak profile without tasting too heavy. Nougat, caramel, vanilla and a very finely wrought and subtle oak note throughout. Label is kind of a mess, but the whiskey inside is fantastic. Very elegant.

Jim Beam’s latest innovation is a 5 year old 94 proof SINGLE MALT whiskey made with 100% barley malt, distilled in column stills in Clermont Kentucky from a jug yeast mash, and aged in new American oak, as stipulated by US law. This is one of many recently released barley-based whiskies by American distilleries, looking to push the category forward. Toasted cereal grain on the nose with dark fruit and a distinct breadiness, akin to heirloom rye bread. On the palate it’s nutty, with burley tobacco, caramel, and honey nut Cheerios.

Three year old Buffalo Trace, mashbill #1 bottled at 80 proof. First off, the ground work of Buff Trace is in every bottle, the baseline sweetness is there along with a young spice, that drinks a little hot, but for the price, it’s hard to beat. The oak is foundational, and leans towards cinnamon on the palate finishing with a perfectly pleasant bite to go along with the vanilla, toffee, caramel sweetness apparent already even at this young age. No joke, grab a decanter and give this a try on a weeknight sipping neat.

After years of successfully growing the Old Forester brand, Master Blender Jackie Zykan struck out on her own with the Neeley Family Distillery in Stanford, Kentucky. Their first product, called Hidden Barn, honors the tradition of illicit stills dotting the Kentucky countryside, painted black as to avoid detection by the telltale fungus that grows black on all the buildings where distilling is taking place. Their Series 1 product is a small batch blend of 4 and 5 year old Kentucky Bourbons with a 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley mashbill bottled at 110.1 proof. Grain and sweet oak on the nose with dark fruit. On the palate, honey and grain with a very rich, fruit and spice forward finish.

Real Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and ginger ale perfectly mixed at 7% ABV. The refreshing taste of ginger ale and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey come together in perfect harmony, creating an easy-to-drink, smooth and balanced Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey cocktail. It’s a crisp canned cocktail with notes of tangy ginger highlighted by Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.

Green River continues to make great strides under the watchful eye of Bardstown Bourbon Co. Their latest release of a rye whiskey does not fail to impress as well, both in terms of the mature flavor profile, but also the price. Sweet pine and florals on the nose with a touch of nutmeg. On the palate, sweet cinnamon, smooth oak, a lifted, tingling pine note with a touch of soft caramel and a little vanilla as well. Bottled at 95 proof and for $40 it’s a great value from a proud and old DSP.

A triple distilled blended Irish whiskey from single malt and grain, Bushmills is Northern Ireland’s answer to Jameson. If you’re looking for a shot to pair with a Guinness, there may be no better whiskey in the world than this! Sweet malt aroma bursting with citrus, lanolin, and tropical fruit. On the palate, Bushmills is rich beyond its price, and smooth beyond its years.

Massive tropical fruit notes for a rye whiskey. Spice is fairly subdued. I’ve been critical of some ham-fisted Hard Truth releases in the past, but what we have here emerging is an actual new “house style” of whiskey. You have to manage your expecatations though, becasue it is NOT an MGP 95% rye, and it’s not even in the same universe as most standard distillery 51% ryes. This is wholly on it’s own. First off, it’s 100% fruit driven, almost cordial-like in both nose and palate. Apple skins, pears, and peaches along apricot and even lime! On the palate, the 93 proof spirit, skims the tongue, leaving anise, clove, ginger, and a distinct oak note. Tried it neat, on the rocks, and in an Old Fashioned and I have to say the Old Fashioned stood out becasue of how soft and fruity the whiskey is to begin with, so give it a shot. It’s local, it’s made with integrity, and it tastes pretty darn good!

Was $89.99, NOW $69.99. From our 2023 archives, don’t sleep on this NULU toasted barrel. Many have tried toasted barrel finishes in the past several year, but Nulu’s are some of the best, and this EXCEPTIONAL cask proves it all day long. Sweet coconut and along on the nose with marshmallow, shortbread, banana, and pear juice. On the palate, major toast coming through, sweet burnt marshmallow followed by oak, leather, and spice.