Reviews

Blood Oath Bourbon Pact No. 2 (2016) Review

Blood Oath 2016

The second annual release of Luxco’s ultra-premium Blood Oath bourbon has just hit shelves.  Like last year’s inaugural release,  Blood Oath Pact No. 2 is a blend of three bourbon whiskies.  First, is an 11-year-old bourbon with a traditional rye mashbill.  Whiskey number two is an 11-year old “wheated” bourbon, or one with wheat in it’s mashbill instead of rye.  Third, but certainly not least, is a 7-year-old bourbon that’s finished in port barrels.

You’ll notice two important changes from the first release.  Pact No. 2’s average age is probably a tad older than Pact No. 1.  Also of note is the port finishing for the youngest bourbon.

Like the first release, this one is bottled at 98.6 proof and comes in a fancy wooden case.  The price also carries over from last year – $99.99 for a 750ml bottle.  The producers (not the distillers) of this bourbon say this blend will not be duplicated. Onwards to the fun part – the tasting.

The nose here is sweet, spicy and fruity.  Sweet corn mash, vanilla, ginger ale, and a summer berry medley jump out of the glass.  The last bit is no doubt a result of the port finish on one of this blend’s whiskies, and that port barrel influence also carries onto the palate.  Notes of cordial cherries and fresh ginger root develop into rich clover honey, vanilla extract and cinnamon.  A blast of sweet and slightly tart fresh berries make for the beginning of a delightful finish, but a sudden hit of astringent oak tannins comes out of nowhere.

I think the use of port barrel finishing one of these whiskies is a brilliant move.  It adds wonderful fruit notes and makes Blood Oath Pact No. 2 a more complex and enjoyable whiskey than last year’s release.  My first glass of this bourbon was just okay.  A couple weeks of airtime really improved things.  If it wasn’t for that slightly overdrying finish, this would be an absolute knockout.  Still, it’s worthy of a pour.

8.5/10
(A review sample was provided by Luxco.)

WhistlePig 15-Year-Old Rye Whiskey Review

img_6743Say what you will about WhistlePig, but make no mistake: they produce some fantastic rye whiskey.  While they are busy churning out new distillate in their new still at their Vermont distillery, WhistlePig continues to mature and bottle sourced Canadian whisky in interesting ways.  First was their outstanding 10-year-old standard rye expression.  After that was the highly-rated cask-strength 13-year-old Boss Hog.  2015 saw the release of WhistlePig Old World, a 12-year-old rye finished in three different wine casks.  I thought the cask finishing was a bit overdone, but okay otherwise.

Now, WhistlePig’s oldest expression to date, a 15-year-old rye whiskey, is being released.  Made from 100% rye, the whiskey is finished in barrels made from Vermont Oak trees grown on the WhistlePig farm.  The company says these trees experience a short growing season, giving the trees a tight grain pattern.

This one’s bottled at 92 proof, but the nose seems a bit more intense than expected.  Oak spice, vanilla and toffee dominate the nose.  With a little airtime, the sweet, creamy notes tame the spicer ones.  The entry is full of wonderful warm spice (cinnamon, cloves).  The palate isn’t as sweet as the nose.  Oak tannins and vanilla bean develop soon after the spicy entry.  There is a bit of a sweet creaminess and a slight citrus note coming in at the back palate.  The finish is long but a bit drying, leaving behind notes of cigar box, cedar, and dried orange peel.

All in all, this is one fine rye whiskey.  At 15 years old, the big dry oak notes don’t really shine until the back palate into the finish.  I expect a whiskey of this advanced age to showcase big oak notes, and this whiskey succeeds in that.  Maybe the oak is a tad overpowering on the backend.  Minor gripe aside, WhistlePig 15-year is full of fantastic flavors that only a well-aged rye whiskey can bring.  While this one was enjoyable, I’d probably reach for a bottle of their 10-year-old rye first.  The suggested retail price is $199.99 for a 750ml bottle.

8/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by WhistlePig.)

Lagniappe Review – Expresiones Del Corazon Tequila
Photo courtesy of Sazerac Company.

Photo courtesy of Sazerac Company.

With Cinco de Mayo nearby, I decided to post a couple of tequila reviews.  Since this is a whiskey blog, a couple of these expressions have rested in either Buffalo Trace or Old Rip Van Winkle barrels.  Of course, I’m talking about Expresiones Del Corazon – Corazon Tequila’s premium lineup.  All are bottled at 40% abv.

Let’s start with Expresiones Blanco.  There is no aging on this one, and only about 5,100 bottles exist.  The nose here carries classic, earthy tequila notes while maintaining a light nature.  I pick up herbs, lemon juice, agave and stewed green fruit.  Taste-wise, there’s something refreshing here.  Waves of citrus and agave lend to a slight minty finish.  A lot of care and expertise was put into the distillation and production of this tequila, and it’s evident in every sip.  Nicely done.  8.5/10

Next up is Expresiones Reposado.  This expression is “rested” in ex-Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels for 10.5 months.  Even in that short amount time, the barrel has managed to shape the flavors of the tequila, mellowing them slightly.  The nose still leans towards tequila blanco, with dominant herbal and agave notes.  A touch of dill, spice and sweet toffee can also be found.  Those herbal flavors also show up on the palate, alongside cinnamon and caramel.  The finish is a bit spicier than the blanco expression.  This one’s a nice balance of mellow tequila blanco and bourbon barrel influence.  8/10

Finally is Expresiones Añejo, aged in Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon barrels for 23 months.  Two years in a bourbon barrel really spice up the tequila.  Ginger, Caramel and herbs rise out of the glass.  It has the most “bourbon” notes of the three expressions, and same goes for the palate.  Spicy caramel, cooked agave and spice (ginger and cinnamon) dominate the palate.  Some lime zest and oak hide in the background.  The long finish carries a nice spiced citrus and herbal note. 8.5/10

My favorite was the añejo, followed by the blanco and reposado.  I’m not generally a tequila fan, but wouldn’t mind sipping on any of these if given the chance again.  If you know me, that’s really saying something.

Thanks to Gemini Spirits & Wine for the samples.