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 - Wanderback Whiskey Batch No. 2
…Wanderback's second release sets itself apart by first aging in new American oak barrels then finishing its last 6 months in Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon barrels. In our opinion Batch No. 2 is a notch above its older sibling and delivers a smoother, more balanced and flavorful experience overall….
Rating 3.5 Glasses
Distillery: Westland Distillery (Bottled by Wanderback)
Years Aged: 3 (website says 4)
Proof: 100
Local Price (USD): $64.95
Availability: Uncommon
We want to thank the the good folks over at Wanderback for providing this sample for review. Our reviews are objective and without bias regardless of how the whiskey was obtained.
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Golden amber with skinny turtle legs.
Nose: Floral and buttery rum cake drizzled with grenadine and lightly singed around the edges.
Taste: Sweet, spicy, rummy. Less smokey than Batch No. 1.
Finish: Smooth but medium fade. No smoke but instead hints of cherry brandy and rum.
Conclusion: Made from the same mash bill as Batch No. 1, Wanderback's second release sets itself apart by first aging in new American oak barrels then finishing its last 6 months in Nicaraguan ex-rum and Heaven Hill ex-bourbon barrels. In our opinion Batch No. 2 is a notch above its older sibling and delivers a smoother, more balanced and flavorful experience overall. As far as rating this whiskey, we would give it 4 glasses based on flavor and experience but the higher price point holds it back a bit. Yet still a very strong performance for only their 2nd release to date. Mash bill: Washington Select Pale Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt, Munich Malt, Crystal Malt. Bottles Released: 2,500 Based on how the current progression has been, we can't wait to see what Wanderback has in store for us with Batch No. 3 set to be released in the fall of 2019. You can check out our review of Batch No. 1 here. And when it's released our review of Batch No. 3 here.
Review - Willett Family Estate Bottled Small Batch Rye
One of those whiskeys that hides its true character until you get a taste of it…..Worth every penny so buy it when you see it and don't look back.
Rating 4 Glasses
Distillery: Willett Distillery (Bardstown, KY)
Years Aged: 3
Proof: 111.2
Local Price (USD): $64.90
Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Light Caramel (aka... the soft supple fur of the Grizzly), slow thin legs due to the high alcohol content (aka happiness).
Nose: Do we dare nose at 111.2 proof? Astringent grainy sweetness and not overly complex.
Taste: A complete 180 from the nose. Leather, oak & rye spice. Just imagine a swift kick to the gonads delivered by Satan himself while riding an all black thoroughbred stallion straight out the heart of Kentucky.
Finish: A fleeting infatuation. The Jezebel affect. Like a temptress in the night it escapes you as quickly as it arrived.
Conclusion: One of those whiskeys that hides its true character until you get a taste of it. Perfect pairing with a Connecticut wrapped cigar. It’s not over the top as far as the proof goes, but with the rye spice and somewhat young nature it packs a good punch to the senses. Worth every penny so buy it when you see it and don't look back.
Review - Elmer T Lee Bourbon
You can’t beat Elmer T. Lee for the flavor and value… ETL is pretty darn rare so grab it when it’s available as you won’t find a better or more consistent single barrel bourbon for the price. Earned all of its 4.5 glasses and we will definitely be picking up every bottle we come across.
Rating 4.5 Glasses
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 90
Local Price (USD): $37.95
Availability: Rare
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Caramel covered Goldylocks, clings to the glass
Nose: Apple, clove, caramel & sour patch kids with a slight burn
Taste: Green apple, lemon, light oak, smooth & light spice. Nice to have enough heat to cut the sweetness.
Finish: Nice and long while retaining the warmth.
Conclusion:
From Buffalo Trace - “Named after Master Distiller Emeritus Elmer T. Lee, this whiskey is hand selected and bottled to the taste and standards of Elmer T. Lee himself. Perfectly balanced and rich, as declared by the man who knows how great bourbon should taste.”
You can’t beat Elmer T. Lee for the flavor and value. This particular barrel that we sampled gave us quite a different profile than what would be considered “standard” but still was exquisite. ETL is pretty darn rare so grab it when it’s available as you won’t find a better or more consistent single barrel bourbon for the price. Earned all of its 4.5 glasses and we will definitely be picking up every bottle we come across.
Review - Little Book™ Chapter 2: Noe Simple Task
Full bodied and uncharacteristically smooth for its proof, the second release of Little Book™ - Chapter 2: Noe Simple Task makes a perfect dram for the holidays or any day for that matter. Full of oak, spices and dried fruit notes, this is definitely one bottle you would want to seek out. Look for it to be released yearly just ahead of the holiday season. Noe Simple Task is a cliffhanger and we look forward to what Freddie has written for Chapter 3.
Rating 4 Glasses
Distillery: James B. Beam Distilling Co. - Clermont, KY
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 118.8
Local Price (USD): $99.95
Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Amber waves of honey, Mobile 1 10W-30
Nose: Astringent & takes a bit to open up. Ethanol up front with caramel, toffee, oak & dried apples.
Taste: If you thought it might be akin to Booker’s you’d be wrong. It’s like a awesome party in your mouth with vanilla, oak & cinnamon rolls.
Finish: Medium but slightly dry with lingering oak and spices to round it out.
Conclusion: A perfected blend of: 8-Year Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 40-Year Canadian Whisky & 18-Year Canadian Rye Whisky, the second annual limited release of Little Book™ is again curated by Frederick “Freddie” Booker Noe IV.
The 8th generation Beam distiller & Grandson of the legendary Booker Noe, Freddie chose the name “Little Book” to pay homage to the nickname given to him by his grandfather.
Full bodied and uncharacteristically smooth for its proof, the second release of Little Book™ - Chapter 2: Noe Simple Task makes a perfect dram for the holidays or any day for that matter. Full of oak, spices and dried fruit notes, this is definitely one bottle you would want to seek out. Look for it to be released yearly just ahead of the holiday season. Noe Simple Task is a cliffhanger and we look forward to what Freddie has written for Chapter 3.
