Review - Maker's Mark Private Select Kentucky Bourbon - Troutdale Liquor
10 individual custom wood finishing staves were hand selected by Troutdale Liquor in Troutdale, OR creating this kick in the pants….It isn’t for faint of heart at 109.8 proof and is definitely not in the price point for just anyone either. This is top-shelf hand-crafted Kentucky Bourbon and fits the bill.
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc - Star Hill Farm, Loretto, KY
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 109.8
Local Price (USD): $67.95
Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Rusty Caramel borderline copper. Slow and thick.
Nose: Rubbing alcohol and cough-syrupy sweetness with a corny allspice.
Taste: Hot like someone lit a fire in your mouth but super sweet at the same time.
Finish: Caramel and vanilla notes linger but HOT as the bowels of the deepest pits of hell.
Conclusion: 10 individual custom wood finishing staves were hand selected by Troutdale Liquor in Troutdale, OR creating this kick in the pants. Maker’s Mark Private Select starts off as cask strength fully matured Maker’s Mark. Custom wood finishing staves are added to the barrel and it is then left to age for 9 weeks in their limestone cellar to create the unique flavor profile.
Available Staves for Selection (information from Maker’s Mark Website):
P2
Virgin American oak and French oak are the woods of choice for Private Select finishing staves. P2, or Baked American Pure, is made from American oak and is the first stave sampled in the program. It adds notes of brown sugar, vanilla, caramel and spice.
Cu
Next in the tasting order is Cu, also known as Seared French Cuvée. Cu is made from French oak that's ridge-cut and seared with infrared heat. It gives off toasty notes of oak and caramel.
46
The next finishing stave is the one used to finish Maker's Mark 46. It's made from seared French oak and delivers dried fruit, vanilla and spice. A barrel fitted with 10 of these staves would give you a cask-strength version of Maker's Mark 46.
Mo
The Roasted French Mocha stave, or Mo, is French oak toasted at high heat in a convection oven. Mo adds pleasant traces of char, maple and cacao.
Sp
Sp, or the Toasted French Spice stave, is also French oak that's toasted in a convection oven, first at high heat and then low heat. Sp has a flavor profile of smoke, coumarin and spice.
Out of these options Troutdale Liquor chose 5 P2, 2 Cu, 1 46 & 2 Mo.
Staves Picked By Troutdale Liquor
Based on the heavy influence of American Oak in the finishing of this whiskey we understand why it comes across as being very hot on the palate. It isn’t for faint of heart at 109.8 proof and is definitely not in the price point for just anyone either. This is top-shelf hand-crafted Kentucky Bourbon and fits the bill. The waxed top doesn’t give you any extras and there are definitely a few competitors available that could go toe-to-toe (namely Stagg Jr., Wild Turkey Rare Breed & Elijah Craig Barrel Proof) but we would recommend taking the plunge if you dare.
Review - Basil Hayden's Two By Two Rye
More and more coming to the conclusion that Basil Hayden’s is the Lacroix of bourbons. Basically whiskey infused with essential oils… It's pretty pricey for what it brings to the table … confused. Two By Two Rye doesn’t give us anything to hate but nothing to bring us back.
Rating 2 Glasses
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery, Clermont, KY
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 80
Local Price (USD): $44.95
Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Amber thin legs.
Nose: Rye leading to light vanilla.
Taste: Water flavored with rye and bourbon. Not cohesive, spice rolls to sweet.
Finish: Waterproof band-aids, very fast to run away and leave you relived the confusion is over.
Conclusion: Limited Release. More and more coming to the conclusion that Basil Hayden’s is the Lacroix of bourbons. Basically whiskey infused with essential oils and all over the map as far as flavors go. It's pretty pricey for what it brings to the table and there’s really no reason to pay any money to be confused. Two By Two Rye doesn’t give us anything to hate but nothing to bring us back. If you are looking for a decent Rye check out Michter’s Rye or High West’s Double Rye
Review - Wild Turkey Longbranch Bourbon
…The main component of what makes the profile of this whiskey unique is the proprietary dual-charcoal filtration process…that makes you want to fire up the Traeger® with every sip.
Longbranch is a good value for an 8 year small batch and a great whiskey for someone being introduced to Bourbon and American Whiskey.
Rating 3.5 Glasses
Distillery: Wild Turkey Distillery
Years Aged: 8
Proof: 86
Local Price (USD): $39.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Golden fast and fat thunder thighs.
Nose: Vanilla, apple & caramel. Tastes like a whiskey flavored Now and Later.
Taste: Smooth charred oak and spices.
Finish: Medium to long finish. Light with a touch of Mesquite smoke.
Conclusion: A collaboration between Wild Turkey Creative Director Matthew McConaughey and Master Distiller Eddie Russell, this 8 year small batch bourbon is a culmination of 2 years of testing between the duo. The name Longbranch was “inspired by the friends that form the longest branches of our family trees” as McConaughey and Russell share ties to both Kentucky and Texas. The main component of what makes the profile of this whiskey unique is the proprietary dual-charcoal filtration process in which the whiskey is first filtered through American White Oak and then a second time through Texas Mesquite. This helps the whiskey achieve a smoother feel and imparts that wonderful light Mesquite smoke that makes you want to fire up the Traeger® with every sip.
Longbranch is a good value for an 8 year small batch and a great whiskey for someone being introduced to Bourbon and American Whiskey. It would go well along side any plate of BBQ but especially well with a nice big slab of smoked brisket. Enjoyable neat and all the components are there for even the aficionado to enjoy. Why not grab a bottle and check it out for yourself?
Review - Michter's US-1 Limited Release Barrel Strength Straight Rye Whiskey 2019
Bottled at 108.4, this particular selection from barrel No. 18F829 is truly a wonder to behold. Familiar but with a depth of flavor and ABV punch that you won’t get from Michter’s std US-1 Rye.
Rating 4.5 Glasses
Distillery: Michter’s Distillery
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 108.4
Local Price (USD): $79.15
Availability: Rare
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Caramel with rich long legs.
Nose: Pepper and rubbing alcohol leaning into butterscotch and cherries.
Taste: Rye spiciness and buttery smooth charred vanilla with a warming heat that rises slowly.
Finish: Oak and rye spice that lasts well into overtime.
Conclusion: Luckily we were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to snag a bottle of this limited 2019 release. Barreled at a lower 103 proof allows the higher water content distillate to take on more of the flavors of the barrel and makes for a fuller-bodied whiskey. Bottled at 108.4, this particular selection from barrel No. 18F829 is truly a wonder to behold. Familiar but with a depth of flavor and ABV punch that you won’t get from Michter’s std US-1 Rye. It’s hot and spicy like a good rye whiskey should be and we can only hope to come across another in the future. For the money if you happen to see this one on the shelf at your local liquor outlet, grab it and don’t look back, you won’t be disappointed.
Review - Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8
Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 is a solid barrel proof bourbon that is readily available and reasonably priced. Steadily increasing in proof over the years, this most recent release at 116.8 is the best yet… Rare Breed delivers a flavor packed punch that can hang with the other big boys in the category …
Rating 3.5 Glasses
Distillery: Wild Turkey
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 116.8
Local Price (USD): $39.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Dark caramel with drippy legs that are slow to develop.
Nose: Fir trees, vanilla, spices, pipe tobacco and alcohol.
Taste: Charred oak, lemon zest, vanilla, caramel & a burn that just don’t quit.
Finish: Oak, sour cherries, pepper, bitter dark chocolate. The heat remains long after everything else fades.
Conclusion: Wild Turkey Rare Breed 116.8 is a solid barrel proof bourbon that is readily available and reasonably priced. Steadily increasing in proof over the years, this most recent release at 116.8 is the best yet providing way more flavor and boldness above the previous 112.8 which was kind of a dud. Purportedly comprised of 6-12 year old whiskey, Rare Breed delivers a flavor packed punch that can hang with the other big boys in the category such as Booker’s and Elijah Craig. The price is on point but the only thing that knocked it down a bit on the glass rating was that the alcohol was a bit too forward and wiped out some of the more nuanced flavors that might have been present had it been better balanced.