Category: Hall of Fame

ANYONE SHOPPING AT BOURBON WORLD Dec 15th, 2023, CAN ENTER TO WIN THE RIGHT TO BUY THIS BOTTLE! This year’s Parker’s Heritage is a barrel proof rye bottled at 128.8 proof. Striking the right balance between rye spice and barrel spice, this year’s release exhibited smoked meats and smoldering oak fire on the nose with ginger, brine, and orange fruit emerging. On the palate, intensely chewy rye, bready at first, then sharp and textural. This ain’t a starter whiskey. The oak is dark, but eventually lets the grain come out and play as you chew. Fruit is obliterated on the finish leaving nothing but a tingling oak sensation. Blockbuster and worthy of the name!

ANYONE SHOPPING AT BOURBON WORLD Dec 14th, 2023, CAN ENTER TO WIN THE RIGHT TO BUY THIS BOTTLE! The combination of drinkabilty due to the relatively low proof of 90.4 and the bite of 12yrs of oak ageing along with the soft creamy spice of the wheated mash makes this the “go to” Pappy in the lineup. Drink it like Julian with a twist of lemon and a big rock. You’ll love it!

ANYONE SHOPPING AT BOURBON WORLD Dec 13, 2023, CAN ENTER TO WIN THE RIGHT TO BUY THIS BOTTLE! This year’s 2023 George T Stagg weighs in at 135 proof on the nose, aged for 15 years and 3 months in warehouses C, I, K, L, and M on floors 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. A 55 second #4 char on Independent Stave casks was utilized. This year’s release is a big, massive whiskey as usual with leather, cocoa, cinnamon, and vanilla frosting. Big, rich, barrel spice finish.

It’s BACK BABY! The 2023 edition of Midwinter captures the early magic of the brand with that signature dark red fruit nose and palate that combines the piney sweet bite of a high percentage rye with the deeply rich and fruity influence of part barrel ageing. Soft red fruit on the nose with vanilla bean and subtle rye spice emerging. On the palate, a sweet cocoa shines through with the dark rye spice presenting as snickerdoodle. Grab your favorite pipe and sweater and settle in for the night with this one!

A 56 proof beer finished in a variety of casks, including Pineau des Charentes, bourbon, ruby port, and even peated scotch. Meticulously blended in a “spare no expense” process that allows the “beer” to drink and age like a combination of fine spirit or fortified wine. High octane yeasts and LOTS of cask babying and blending contribute to the final unique flavor profile. Big initial fruit and malt on the nose. On the palate, it’s got alcoholic bite of a young ruby port with the rich malty blast of a barley wine. To be sipped and savored after dinner with stilton and walnuts.

Elijah Craig 18 as been around for many years. Back before the bourbon boom, you could regularly get it for $50, which means at that point in time it was probably the best deal in bourbon and held that title for many years. And even though the price and rarity have increased in recent years, I’m happy to say the quality has remained the same. Love a 90 proof 18yr with such a rich herb and fruit profile. It may be the most classically “Heaven Hill” of all the Heaven Hill brands as it simply drips with mint, caramel, pine, and orange, with an ethereal nuttiness that I’ve never seen replicated. Sure, you proof hounds might take exception to the lower proof, but damn if that doesn’t make it that much easier to ENJOY!

MASH BILL: 95% of the blend is drawn from the OE mash bill (75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley) and 5% from the OB mash bill (60% corn, 35% rye, 5 % malted barley)AGE: A blend 12-, 14-, 16-, and 25-year-old barrels PROOF: 108 Proof. Amazing berry aromas with sweet tea, cardamom, honey, and cinnamon gum. On the palate, a harmonious deep berry fruit with licks of honey and caramel. This is bright but with touches of age throughout. Masterfully done blend. + DON’T FORGET YOUR TICKETS TO BOURBON EXPO HERE

The last Jack heritage barrel release was one of my ALL TIME favorite whiskies. If I ever see that blue label I jump on it. This year’s heritage barrel release is a twice barreled rye whisky at 100 proof and I’m happy to say it meets if not exceeds the high bar set by the first heritage barrel release. A unique “reverse” barrel that’s HAVILY toasted, but then LIGHTLY charred, it imparts in the finishing process a balance of toast, fruit, and pillowy soft cinnamon inflected oak that I’ve simply never tasted in another whiskey release. Woodford Double Oaked has the beginnings of it, but this Jack Heritage Rye takes it all the way.

One of this week’s featured bottles is a bottle of Weller 12, a 90 proofer with JUST about the most age you want on a wheated bourbon of this caliber. But remarkably it takes you right up to the line but never over, demonstrating a dry oak that blends back perfectly with the sweeter wheat flavor components. On the nose, sweet tree nut aromas, clover honey, cinnamon, and tuned up oak. On the palate, a creamy fruit followed by a perfectly pleasant oak bite. They is the chewiest of the Wellers, and certainly a master class in oak barrel ageing.

One of this week’s featured bottles is a 2023 single barrel from Bourbon World of Four Roses OBSO recipe, featuring 35% rye, with the fruit forward “O” yeast, weighing in at 109.4 proof. I LOVE the lower proof 4R picks because they get more and more drinkable with no dilution of flavor. This year’s OESO was a standout to me for it’s intense sugar coated pecan aroma and extremely bright fruit and gentle oak finish. Some of these Four Roses Barrel Proof picks when they are lower proof are just down right elegant, and this one certainly fits that description.