Reviews

Review: Hennessy Master Blender’s Selection No. 3

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Hennessy just released the third entry to their Master Blender’s Selection series.  This one is the first blend from the company’s new Master Blender, Renaud Fillioux de Gironde.  Each blend in this collection is a one-off, using a variety of eaux-de-vie that carry unique notes or ones that don’t quite fit into the flavor profile of Hennessy’s other expressions.

Master Blender’s Selection is bottled at 43%.  This third edition is comprised of 20 eaux-de-vie that are at least seven years old.  They were aged in young barrels and transferred to older barrels for further maturation.

The aromatic nose showcases figs, baking spices, and toasted nuts.  It’s inviting and perfect on an autumn evening.  On the palate, this cognac is both rich and vibrant, featuring hints of dark caramel, pecans, figs, and some spice.  The finish is long and subtly dry, with lingering dried fruit and spice.

Fantastic.  I’m thoroughly impressed and am excited to see what Fillioux de Gironde does next.  The slightly higher ABV help deliver both heavy aromas and flavor notes, as well as the lighter, more delicate ones.  And, it pairs wonderfully with a mild-to-medium bodied cigar.  This unctuous blend from Hennessy comes highly recommended.  It’d be better to buy a bottle sooner than later, because once it’s gone… it’s gone forever.  9/10

Hennessy.com

Thanks to Hennessy for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Crown Royal Noble Collection 13-Year-Old Blenders’ Mash

The 2018 entry to Crown Royal’s annual Noble Collection is this 13-year-old Blenders’ Mash.  The whisky’s mash bill is similar to that of bourbon.  According to Crown Royal Brand Ambassador Stephen Wilson, it’s about two thirds corn and one third rye, with a touch of malted barley.  This whisky is also aged exclusively in new barrels.  Really, the only thing that keeps this from being bourbon is that it’s made in Canada and not the U.S.

Rich caramel and oak spice are the dominant notes on the nose, complemented by vanilla and floral notes. It’s very reminiscent of a typical bourbon, and that sentiment also carries over to the palate. Cinnamon frosting leads things off, followed by a burst of freshly squeezed orange juice and maple caramel chews. Some oak spice develops in the mid-palate, becoming slightly astringent. The medium-length finish is warming with hints toasted oak and caramel.

This is fantastic whisky, and my favorite of the Noble Collection releases.  Not only is 13-year-old Blenders’ Mash a great gateway into Crown Royal for bourbon fans, it’s simply fantastic.  My only issue here is the price, which is about $100 a bottle.  I can name a number of bourbons for half that price.  So, this Crown Royal blend is a bit expensive for what it delivers.  Price aside, 13-year-old Blenders’ Mash comes with a recommendation. 8.5/10

Crownroyal.com

Thanks to Crown Royal for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Review: Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel
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Photo courtesy of Jack Daniel’s.

Jack Daniel’s was my first foray into whiskey years ago.  So it’s of great interest to me when the iconic whiskey brand releases a special edition.  With their new Heritage Barrel, the folks at Jack Daniel’s are mainly focused on barrel toasting techniques of early coopers.  Jack Daniel’s makes their own barrels, which is an extreme rarity among the major distilleries.

For this release, 200 barrels have been slowly heated, “achieving a deeper, richer toasted layer before being charred,” according to press materials.  It doesn’t end with specially toasted barrels.  The whiskey entered these barrels at a lower entry proof than usual and matured in the upper floors of one of their highest elevated warehouses.  The resulting single barrel whiskey was bottled at a hearty 100 proof.

The nose here is rich with big spiced banana and vanilla notes.  Maple syrup-covered pancakes and some oak show up with a little airtime.  On entry, that viscous and sweet maple syrup note is quickly joined by a peppering of cinnamon, allspice, and orange rind.  Charred banana and vanilla remind me of wonderful Bananas Foster.  Toasted oak, and the slight astringency usually associated with it, start showing up towards the back palate.  The medium finish leaves a lingering hint of spiced caramel and oak.

The slowly toasted barrels together with the lower entry proof, upper floor maturation, and high bottling proof have done wonders to the whiskey coming out of Lynchburg, Tennessee.  The resulting whiskey is rich, spicy, and amplified version of the Jack Daniel’s whiskey we’re all familiar with.  Heritage Barrel isn’t as spicy/astringent as Sinatra Select.  Instead, it comes across as a bit more balanced.  Delicious!  At $64.99 a bottle, Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel comes with a high recommendation.  8.5/10

jackdaniels.com

Thanks to Jack Daniel’s for the sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.