Reviews

Highspire Whiskey Review

Highspire Rye

What business does California winemaker Austin Hope have making whiskey?  Given the surge of craft whiskies on the market, Hope thought he could bring his palate and ideas to the world of whiskey.

Highspire is a very old brand of Pennsylvania rye whiskey dating back to the early 1800s.  Like countless others, the distillery was shut down for Prohibition and the brand simply died.  Enter Austin Hope.

After spending a couple of years nailing down a mashbill, Hope finally settled on a 100% rye mashbill, sourced from a farm close to his distillery.  In an interview with The Whiskey Jug’s Josh Peters, Hope said he ages his whiskey in used-wine barrels for 130 days hoping to preserve its young, fruity rye characteristics.  According to the brand’s website, a blend of oak staves are added to barrels to help accelerate or enhance the short aging process.

This young whiskey isn’t intended to replicate the original Highspire.  Instead, Hope pays homage to the 100% rye mashbill of the original Pennsylvania Highspire whiskey.  This new Highspire whiskey is bottled at 80 proof and runs around $35 for a 750 mL bottle.  So, how does it taste?

The first thing on the nose is a young, strong rye grain aroma.  Very expected given the mashbill and brief aging.  An oak-aged white wine note (chardonnay?) plays right underneath the rye.  There’s also a bit of young-ish oak and a slight fruity note in the background.  The entry starts a little thin and watery.  The young oak and wine note mingle with the rye grain right up front, as suggested by the nose.  A touch of candy sweetness, vanilla and fruit add to the tasting experience.  Towards the end and going into the finish is a bit of rye spice.  The finish is of medium length, with white wine fruitiness lingering.

I don’t hate this whiskey, but I also don’t love it.  All in all, Highspire Rye is not a bad whiskey.  It’s fruitier than any other rye-based whiskey I’ve tasted up to this point.  It’s simply a different experience,  I do applaud Austin Hope for giving us something interesting.  However, I can’t help but wonder what a year or two in the barrel would do to this whiskey.  In addition, I’d love to see this bottled at a higher proof.  It would help the slight thin mouthfeel and add more punch to the flavors.

That said, if you’re a big fan of white wine and whiskey, this may be right up your alley.  Try a pour at your local watering hole (Highspire’s website lists locations that carries their product).

6.0/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by Highspire.)

Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey Review
Photo courtesy of Stranahan's.

Photo courtesy of Stranahan’s.

Stranahan’s is a whiskey I’ve been wanting to try for a while now.  Each small batch made of 100% barley, and aged in new American oak casks for a minimum of two years in Colorado.  And a small batch it is.  Stranahan’s selects between 10 and 20 casks per batch.  This standard release is bottled at 94 proof.

The nose has a big honeyed malt character.  A touch of oak pops up, along with some stewed fruit.  The entry starts off mellow.  Some wood spice builds up a bit.  Honey and toffee notes ramp up, along with cereal grain and a touch of orange zest.  Stranahan’s is medium bodied, and doesn’t feel thin.  The tasting experience ends with a medium-long finish and a nice clove honey note.

 

Head distiller Rob Dietrich and his crew are crafting some delicious whiskey over in Colorado.  It’s definitely a different breed than other American whiskeys.  Going the barley route versus producing something with a corn-based or rye-based mashbill is commended.  This is a solid bottle of whiskey.  Recommended.

8.0/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by Stranahan’s.)

Booker’s Bourbon “Noe Secret” Batch 2015-06 Review
Photo courtesy of Booker's.

Photo courtesy of Booker’s.

Batch #2015-06, or “Noe Secret”, is the last batch of Booker’s of 2015.  It’s also the third batch selected by the Booker’s Roundtable, a panel of journalist and spirits writers.  This batch is aged 6 years, 8 months and 7 days, making it one of the younger batches released this year.  It’s bottled at a hearty 128.1 proof.  Remember, Booker’s is uncut and unfiltered.  This is straight from the barrel.

Jim Beam master distiller Fred Noe, son of late Booker Noe, explains this batch’s name:

“This batch’s name is a play on words, because Dad kept no secrets — in his life, or in the way he made his bourbon.  He used only the best ingredients available, and made me promise that after he retired, the recipe for Booker’s would never change — and it hasn’t. Booker’s Batch 2015-06 offers fans the robust, full-bodied whiskey profile they’ve come to know and love, just the way Dad liked it.”

The nose is full of vanilla, more so than the last batch of Booker’s I tasted, 2015-04.  It’s also not as grain forward as that batch.  Sweet corn, while still present, is just not as upfront.  Layers of caramel and barrel char build over a fresh red fruit note.  Sweet vanilla and light caramel present themselves upon entry.  Some oak, nuts and corn mash follow.  In a strange way this batch of Booker’s tastes closer to a high proof Jim Beam Black than it does the traditional Booker’s profile.  The finish is long, leaving you with some caramel corn and oak tannin.

Another win for Booker’s.  While not as fiery on entry as other batches, “Noe Secret” has a slight fruit note and it’s a welcome addition.  Pricing is in line with other batches – $59.99 for a 750ml bottle.  I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again – Booker’s is the best thing coming out of Jim Beam right now.  Recommended.

8.5/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by Beam Suntory.)