Category: Sleeper Hit

Looking for a 5yr wehater at Cask Strength for $50? Look no further. If you think Larceny Barrel Proof is a deal at $80, here’s a single barrel same mashbill for $30 less. Curshed peanutes and teatree oil on the nose, On the palate, soft and floral with a touch of spice on the finish. This is the lighter side of a cask strength bourbon, which makes it perfect for an Old Fashioned.

4yr, barrel proof Huber Starlight single barrel rye. Sweet mint and earth on the nose, saddle leather, cinnabon, and maple. On the palate, wildly juicy rye, succulent almost with more mint infused with apricots, and candied orange peel. Do not over look this barrel!

93 proof, finished in PX sherry casks. Dried flowers, roasted nuts, honey, and chess pie on the nose. Spice driven on the palate with touches of juniper and mint. The sherry fruit is subtle, playing a background role while traditional honey, vanilla, and butterscotch flavors dominate. Certainly a decent Blanton’s analog.

Stranahan’s Colorado Single Malt was one of the first purveyors of a style which many American distillers are now touting as the next big thing. Bottled at 94 proof from a blend of 5, 6, 7, and 8 year old barrels and non-chill filtered, Stranny’s exhibits biscuity malt notes, cherry syrup, butterscotch, and cinnamon on the nose. On the palate, pure cinnamon spice with a sweet malt note building up from beneath. Long, spicy finish. It’s not bourbon. It’s not Scotch. It’s not Irish, but something completely delicious in its own right.

Gotta love a 7yr, 107 proof single barrel, especailly an MGP 95% rye. Juicy, spicy, malty, perfect for Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. Lots of sweet malt and spice on the palate, a touch of earl grey tea, long cinnamon toned finish. This whiskey shows a lot of body and length to match the lasting spice. Tasty!

Four Year MGP 21% rye bourbon at 118.32 proof, founded by musician and producer Neil Giraldo, spouse and collaborator with Pat Benatar. This particular barrel is high on proof for that recipe as well as spice and fruit. Cinnamon toast crunch on the nose with buttery shortbread and apple. On the palate, tropical fruit, with mango and passion fruit. A long, spicy finish follows.

This single barrel of rye was selected in January of 2022, coming in at 113.2 proof. I think the Rossville single barrels are some of the best “everyday” rye values out there, especially due to their proof and price point. This particular barrel exhibits soft baking spice, ripe orchard fruit and a wildflower honey aroma. On the palate, a biscuity, shortbread maltiness is interspesed throughout sharper rye spice notes. Candy corn finish.

Apple, mint-tea, and yellow fruit on the nose. On the palate, cinnamon sugar, vanilla bean, and vanilla frosting. Little touch of leather and spice on the finish. Great daily sipper if you want to go big!

Still a few bottles of IBWE “Bear” single barrel out there from their dog series. This is one people will regret not buying all they could get their hands on when it’s gone. A single barrel 21% MGP at almost 6yrs old at 114.1 proof. Bear is silky and perfumed on the nose with cinnamon and a touch of pear. On the palate, the spice is over the top. Rich and dessert like, but laced with barrel spice all the way down.

Remade and premiumized by Heaven Hill into a 6yr 110 proof “Maryland” style rye whiskey, Pikesville was forever the last man standing 80 proof bottom shelf rye whiskey. That was before MGP, before High West, before mixology in gerneral. Just a bunch of random Natty Boh drinking Baltimoreons with their bottles of Pikesville upheld the tradition. Now, it’s a realtively allocated bottle that’s one of the BEST VALUES you’ll ever find in rye these days. Billed as “Maryland Style” which is up for debate, but basically means MORE corn in the recipe, Pikesville presents soft spice on the nose with oak, orande peel, and dry chocolate. On the palate, mountains of soft fruit and spice, clove and honey with sweet vanilla as well. At 110 proof is drinks great neat, but does tremendously in an old fashioned. If Sazerac Rye is a little too soft at 90 proof, look for this beast and don’t ever leave a bottle on the shelf if you see it.