Category: Buy It Again

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.

On SALE for $59.99, this single barrel of Jefferson’s Reserve is as soft and fruity as they come. Soft leather, tropical fruit, and butterscotch define the nose. On the palate, a perfectly sweet romp through vanilla, caramel, and more butterscotch. It’s 100 proof but drinks so much softer and sweeter. Take advantage fo the price and be on the look out for Barrel #586!

This 107 proof “XO” bourbon is truly “pure Kentucky,” distilled, aged, and bottled by Willett at 107 proof. Tell us 107 and we’re ALL IN! Pure Kentucky is a blend of 72/13/15 Corn/Rye/Malted Barley & 52/38/10 Corn/Rye/Malted Barley. The mix creates a soft and spicy malt forward bourbon with biscuit and bread on the nose. On the palate, the spice kicks up but a malty backbone persists throughout.

If you’re always on the lookout for a great “everyday” sipper or Old Fashioned Bourbon that’s not going to break the bank and may just be a little outside the norm, then Johnny Drum might be your new “go to”. It’s been a Willett house brand for years, first as a sourced whiskey, then as a homegrown one. Bottled at 101 proof with no age or mashbill given, which means it’s at least 4 years old, the nose is green apple, toffee, lemon, and jut a touch of oak. On the palate, the 101 proof is as expected, soft and sweet with a richer fruit and oak mid-palate than what I remember from the past. This is definitely an easier sipper and certainly a Tuesday night “go to”

This 90 proof, 8 year old Kentucky bourbon is made with 74% corn, 18$ rye, and 8% malted barley. The nose is soft with notes of burley tobacco, hay, lemon, and leather. The palate is soft and fruity as well with a nice balance of rye spice and barrel spice rounding out a generally very drinkable whiskey. Sometimes a right down the middle sipper for 50 bucks is all you need, and this fits the bill perfectly.

Penelope Architect Build no. 7 is bottled at 104 proof and 4 years old, finished with French oak staves from Radouzx in France. The result is a perfumed baking spice driven apple cinnamon tinged dessert whiskey with a whip of spice on the finish. Palate starts with soft fruit, almost cobbler like, then the spice ramps up along with the oak. Fruit remains pliable due to the relatively young age with the additional oak treatment blowing away some of the unwanted younger notes. Overall, a nice spicy offering from a progressive bottler!

Comparing the new Chris Stapleton/Harlen Wheatley blended whiskey to OTHER blended American whiskies really isn’t fair, as that category has been stuck on the bottom shelf for years, BUT perhaps this new entry at closer to $40 will spark a trend and revive a great American “blending” tradition to reform at the premium price level. At least that’s the hope for distillers whose creativity is far more unbound when allowed to combine so many different types to whiskey to come up with a whole better than the sum of it’s parts. Traveller is a non-age stated 90 proof blended whiskey with no age statement. The nose is fresh and fruity and inviting with feint vanilla and marshmallow notes with a touch of lemon. On the palate, my guess is some combination of Buffalo Trace distillate with a decent chunk of vanilla sweet Canadian whiskey. Imagine the love child of Blanton’s and Caribou Crossing at 90 proof and a bit younger. That’s why this tastes like with a distinct “blended” whiskey drinkability that will even appeal to a Crown or Johnnie Walker drinker.

We haven’t seen new bottlings of the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection for a while now, but this latest batch includes a 9 year, 5 month old bottle of bourbon with “peated” malt substituted for the regular barley malt used in the Buffalo Trace mashbill #1. Bottled at 90 proof like regular buffalo trace, the nose is reminiscent of mesquite wood, smoky but sweet. On the palate, the smoke takes the form of pepper playing sharp contrast to the normal bourbon sweet notes. Some will like this, most won’t. The holy grail of course is to make something that both scotch and bourbon lovers would like. Oh yea, it’s called Canadian Whiskey!

This year’s 2023 release of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength weighs in at 118.2 proof. These are hand selected barrels that spend extra time in port cask, aged between 5 and 9 years. The result is a maximally delicious fruit bomb! Big red fruit, especially apple and pear on the nose. Touch of herbs with mint and eucalyptus leading along with feint honey. On the palate, a tremendous mid-palate fruit and honey platter with the darker fruits playing supporting roles. Tastes like a barrel aged top floor Old Forester single barrel with the fruit turned up to 11!