Category: Hall of Fame

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.

One of this week’s featured bottles is Blanton’s Gold, the second ever version of Blanton’s to be release at 103 proof, and a bottle I have gone back and forth on over the years. This particular bottle was dumped on 2-27-23 from the usual Warehouse H, form Rick #8. Nose is lifted caramel and fruit with soft oak aromas throughout. On the palate, a soft fluttering curtain of silky oak with tropical fruit and light baking spices to finish. Looking for something between too easy drinking and too hot, this is exactly your jam.

One of this week’s featured bottles is Stagg! And that’s JUST STAGG now, as the “Jr.” has been removed. This latest batch weighs in at 130.2 proof and is a flavor packed fun ride from start to finish. The nose issues forth a smoky vanilla bean with butterscotch and cornbread with a strong lingering oak spice. On the palate a big wallop of cinnamon infused oak to kick things off, then some valencia orange, then back to a butterscotch and oak spice finish.

One of this week’s featured bottles is the new Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection, the Sonoma Triple Finish, and the first from newly minted Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. This year’s Woodford MC is a combination of brandy-barrel finished woodford, Pinot Noir barrel finished Woodford, and Woodford finished in a variety of wine casks that were once Woodford barrels, but then held that wine. Bottled at 90.4 proof the nose is one of the most aromatic plum and dark fruit notes I’ve ever nosed in the bourbon with smoky vanilla and oak notes emerging as well. On the palate, big juicy spice with layers of oak complexity with red and tropical fruits over cinnamon, vanilla, and toffee.

Brazilian Amburana at its best imparts a deep smoky cinnamon flavor to almost any bourbon. The key is to have that balanced against sweeter nuanced notes within the whiskey. This first ever Bourbon World Cigar Batch at 114 proof drips with sweet and smoky cinnamon on the nose with a floral, tea, and incense note in the background, deepening the effect. On the palate, soft yellow exotic fruit play with the cinnamon and barrel spice quite nicely, neither overpowering the other. The result is a soft, floral whiskey with a mega spice kick that never gets tired!