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 - Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
This one is unique in that it is the only Irish Peated Single Malt Whiskey widely available today. Connemara Original is perfect for those scotch lovers that would like something just a bit lighter to enjoy on a hot day or with light dinner. Pour a big glass and call it good as this is one you could sip on all evening.
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Cooley Distillery (Beam Suntory)
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 80
Local Price (USD): $47.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Straw colored with slow legs.
Nose: Peat, grass, butterscotch, light smoke & buttered popcorn.
Taste: Very thin on the tongue, almost watery. Earthy sweetness with light spice.
Finish: Lingering light spice with just a touch of peat and toasted oak.
Conclusion: This one is unique in that it is the only Irish Peated Single Malt Whiskey widely available today. Double distilled (instead of the more common triple distillation for Irish whiskeys) in two small copper pot stills with large necks at the famous Cooley Distillery (Part of the Kilbeggan Family and owned by Beam Suntory, Inc). This causes the distillation process to take twice as long and is thought to produce a more refined product with greater flavor. Connemara Original is perfect for those scotch lovers that would like something just a bit lighter to enjoy on a hot day or with light dinner. Pour a big glass and call it good as this is one you could sip on all evening. For us Connemara fits in a unique space, being a lightly peated and soft whiskey at only 40% but if what you are looking for is that peat & smokey hit, you’re better off spending your Benjamins on a Highland or Islay Scotch.
Review - Glenmorangie 18 Year Old Extremely Rare Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This is a very subtle and subdued whisky with flavors that are pleasant. It is well blended but just wish there was a little more ponch to it… we really wanted Chris Hemsworth but got Tom Hiddleston.
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Glenmorangie Distillery
Years Aged: 18
Proof: 86
Local Price (USD): $115.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Golden honey with medium, thin and slightly runny legs.
Nose: Light hints of vanilla, hand sanitizer, and very floral. Kind of like walking into a hospital gift shop.
Taste: Mellow and balanced but hard to pick out individual flavors. Lightly charred oak & dried fruits.
Finish: Light, warm & dry with just a touch of smoke at the very end.
Conclusion: This is a very subtle and subdued whisky with flavors that are pleasant but nothing that stands out as spectacular. If you enjoy Johnnie Walker then you will definitely enjoy Glenmorangie 18. It is well blended but we just wish there was a little more ponch to it. Probably wouldn't seek it out at the price point as you are better off putting your money towards a good bottle of Highland Park or Aberlour. To analogize it… we really wanted Chris Hemsworth but got Tom Hiddleston.
Chris Hemsworth
Tom Hiddleston
Review - Wanderback Whiskey Batch No. 1
The first release from Wanderback Whiskey, Batch No. 1 was made in collaboration with Westland Distillery in Seattle, WA….This solid whiskey is full of oak and smoke and perfectly at home enjoyed neat in a Glencairn.
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Westland Distillery (Bottled by Wanderback)
Years Aged: 2 (Website says 3)
Proof: 90
Local Price (USD): $59.95
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 Honey. Slowly developing thin legs.
Nose: Smokey bacon, toffee and maple with a hint of vanilla.
Taste: Buttery toffee gives way to spice and charred oak. Reminds me of Lagavullin.
Finish: Long smokey dry finish with remnants of charred oak and spices.
Conclusion: The first release from Wanderback Whiskey, Batch No. 1 was made in collaboration with Westland Distillery in Seattle, WA. Aged in new American oak barrels, this great single malt contains a mix of Washington Select Pale, Pale Chocolate, Munich & Crystal Malts. Released in Summer of 2017, Wanderback's Batch No. 1 took home the 2018 double gold medal from the The American Distilling Institute. This solid whiskey is full of oak and smoke and perfectly at home enjoyed neat in a Glencairn. If you liked this review of Batch No. 1 go check out our review of Batch No. 2 here and we can't wait for the release of Batch No. 3 which is slated for Fall of 2019. Bottles Released: 2160
Review - Old Grand-Dad 114
…Old Grand-Dad uses a mash bill of 62% Corn, 28% Rye & 10% Malted Barley. This unusually high Rye content and high proof makes this pour an especially potent one. Basically like pouring 10lb of sugar into a bucket of kerosene and setting it ablaze…
Rating 3 Glasses
Distillery: Jim Beam
Years Aged: NAS
Proof: 114
Local Price (USD): $29.95
Availability: Widespread
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Amber paraplegic
Nose: Oak and rye spice hits you right upside the head.
Taste: Lemon, alcohol and dark cherry sweetness. This is where it’s high proof really shines through.
Finish: Molasses with a burn that seems to last forever but finally fades leaving just an essence of ethanol.
Conclusion: Named after Basil Hayden Sr. a famous distiller known for being the “King of High Rye”; Old Grand-Dad uses a mash bill of 62% Corn, 28% Rye & 10% Malted Barley. This unusually high Rye content and high proof makes this pour an especially potent one. Basically like pouring 10lb of sugar into a bucket of kerosene and setting it ablaze. All joking aside it is a bit harsh overall and could use a little smoothing around the edges but we can’t really knock it too hard as it’s a decent one to have on the shelf and definitely can’t complain about the price.