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.
Review - Old Weller Antique 107
We plan on keeping a bottle of 107 on hand at all times and for under $30 bucks you can too. Probably would not be a good first experience for a novice whiskey drinker because it comes across pretty hot and surprisingly deep in flavor. Someone who enjoys bourbon would appreciate the detour from your standard Kentucky release.
Rating 3.5 Glasses
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery
Years Aged: NAS (Multiple sources put it around 7 years)
Proof: 107
Local Price (USD): $26.95
Availability: Uncommon
Tasting Notes
Color & Consistency: Canadian Maple specifically from Northern Quebec with thin and quick legs.
Nose: Spice, Rubbing Alcohol, Berries, Vanilla & Oak. "Smells like burning" Moved Jeff to shed a tear.
Taste: Taste is good, picante, good burn but not too hot. Hits ya quick and then smooths out to sweet.
Finish: Lingering spice, vanilla and wheaty sweetnes.
Conclusion: We plan on keeping a bottle of 107 on hand at all times and for under $30 bucks you can too. Probably would not be a good first experience for a novice whiskey drinker because it comes across pretty hot and surprisingly deep in flavor. Someone who enjoys bourbon would appreciate the detour from your standard Kentucky release. Definitely would go great in an old fashioned or serve with ginger ale and slice of lime. Side note: Pacifico is a bad chaser.
Review - Jack Daniel's Old No. 7
Smoother on the palate but harsher on the finish than Evan Williams or Jim Beam. Jack Daniel's is the Toby Keith of whiskey. It'll put a boot in your ass and is just about as American as you can get for under $25. …The only way to get more American than Jack Daniel's is if you bottled the amount of freedom in 50 Bald Eagles, drank it while flying the Flag standing on the roof of a Walmart® on the 4th of July eating a Big Mac®.
Rating 3 Glasses
- Distillery: Jack Daniel Distillery (Lynchburg, TN)
- Years Aged: NAS
- Proof: 80
- Local Price (USD): $22.95
- Availability: Widespread
- Local Price (USD): $22.95
Tasting Notes
- Color & Consistency: Light honey with thin, quick legs.
- Nose: Light alcohol, pretty mellow actually with a hint of confectioners sugar.
- Taste: Nutty, buttery & bitey. Salty peanut butter.
- Finish: Lingers a while, oak with some brown sugar. Like a smoldering campfire in your mouth.
- Conclusion: Smoother on the palate but harsher on the finish than Evan Williams or Jim Beam. Jack Daniel's is the Toby Keith of whiskey. It'll put a boot in your ass and is just about as American as you can get for under $25. Is rumored to have been enjoyed by George Washington as he crossed the Delaware and Thomas Jefferson as he inspired the Bill of Rights (We know that Jack Daniel's started in 1866 but it seemed to work). The only way to get more American than Jack Daniel's is if you bottled the amount of freedom in 50 Bald Eagles, drank it while flying the Flag standing on the roof of a Walmart® on the 4th of July eating a Big Mac®.