Reviews

Forged Oak Bourbon Whiskey Review

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Forged Oak is the latest release from Diageo’s Orphan Barrel series.  The youngest bourbon of the group, Forged Oak is 15 years old and 90.5 proof.  Forged Oak is also the cheapest in the series.  A bottle should run you about $65.  It was distilled at the new Bernheim distillery in Louisville between 1997-1998 and aged at the Stitzel-Weller warehouses.  It’s mash bill is 86% corn, 8% barley and 6% rye.  Looks like a really low percentage of rye.  How does it fare in a glass? (more…)

Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Cured Oak Bourbon Whiskey Review
Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Photo courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace’s newest release, at the time of the writing of this post, is 17 year old Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr Cured Oak bourbon whiskey.  Like the rest of the line, this is a bottled-in-bond, 100 proof whiskey.  What makes it different is an extended barrel stave seasoning. (more…)

George Dickel 14 Year Old Hand Selected Barrel Review

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My wife knows the way to my heart.  This past Valentine’s Day my wife Carly bought me a bottle of 14 year old George Dickel Tennessee Whisky.  It is a hand-selected barrel from Dorignac’s, a local New Orleans-area grocery store.  I really enjoyed the 9 year old George Dickel I received as part of the Dickel Dozen blogger program, so my expectations for the 14 year old Dickel were pretty high.

On the nose I get lots of oak, light caramel, and vanilla.  There’s a little baking spice in there… cloves or nutmeg, maybe?  I love that the distillery kept this at 106 proof.  You get some of that high-proof liveliness on entry, but calms down a little with more caramel, oak, and vanilla.  It’s not as sweet as its younger brother.  The finish is long and semi-sweet.

Overall this whiskey is an oakier version of its 9 year old brethren.  It’s not over-oaked.  Instead it just turns up that flavor element.  I tend to prefer older, oakier whiskies.  A bottle of 14 year old George Dickel cost my wife about $70.  The 9 year old will cost about $45.  The big question is which of the two do I like best?  For “everyday” drinking, I’d most likely reach for the Dickel 9 year old.  For nicer occasions, I’d easily grab the 14 year old Dickel.  Honestly, you can’t go wrong either way.  Highly recommended.

9/10