Reviews

ROCKS Whiskey Chilling Stones Review

You will most likely find me sipping whiskey neat.  I’ll occasionally add a splash of water or, in the case of some cask strength whiskies, a large ice cube.  Both water and ice change the nature of the whiskey, which can make things a bit interesting.  Hell, sometimes I pour two glasses to compare, one with ice/water and one without.

But for those looking for the chill that ice brings without any dilution, whiskey stones may be the solution.  The subject of today’s post are ROCKS Whiskey Stones.  The nice looking granite stones come in six different colors and sit in a wooden presentation tray.  The instructions for use are simple enough.  Rinse them and leave them in the freezer overnight.  I left mine in the freezer for three days.

But, do they work?

They do.  Kind of.

Adding a single stone to my glass cooled the whiskey by a very minute amount.  I could barely tell it was a little chiller.  I had my wife confirm.  The next day I added two stones to my whiskey.  This time things were looking up a bit.  The whiskey was indeed chilled, but not enough to even compare it to adding a single ice cube.  In other words, the stones cooled the whiskey only by a slight amount.  If I wanted cooler whiskey, I would just have to add more stones.

As with ice, the cold stones “took the edge off” the nose and palate without diluting the spirit.  It’s simply another way to drink whiskey, one that some whiskey drinkers might enjoy.  ROCKS  look nicer than standard stones and cost about $26 a set over at Amazon.

Thanks to Quentin at ROCKS for the review sample.  As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Blade and Bow 22-Year-Old Bourbon Review (2017 Release)


When Diageo began seriously embracing American whiskey a few years back, it was full steam ahead.  There was a market for ultra-aged American whiskies, which was perfect for the company because it had a large stock of older whiskies aging at their Stitzel-Weller warehouses.  For the most part, these whiskies began seeing the light of day under the Orphan Barrel umbrella.  However, some was set aside for another new bourbon brand – Blade & Bow.  

Blade & Bow was introduced in 2015 as a solera-aged bourbon, with its oldest component whiskies being distilled at Stitzel-Weller before it was shuttered in the early 90s.  A limited edition 22-year-old bourbon also hit the market.  That release was made from bourbons distilled at what’s now Buffalo Trace and Heaven Hill.  I have to admit that upon first tasting this limited edition I was a bit underwhelmed.  It was good, but not great.  After tasting it again months later, I enjoyed it more and even upgraded its score in my original review.  On Derby Day 2017, a re-release of the 22-year-old bourbon has been announced to commemorate the second anniversary of the brand.

This second batch is just as enjoyable as the first.  Layers of caramel, spice, dark chocolate and dark fruits fill the nose.  Taste-wise, I pick up hints of burnt orange peel, caramelized fruit, cocoa, vanilla and spiced dark fruits.  There is a bed of oak underlying most of the tasting experience, becoming more prominent towards the back palate.  The finish is long and features hints of dark caramel and spice.

Sadly, this release is extremely limited.  This sample is probably the only time I’ll be able to drink this nicely aged bourbon.  If you see Blade and Bow 22 for sale near the suggested retail price of $200, pick it up!  Chances are you won’t see it again.  8.5/10

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

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Review (Batch B517)


I always look forward to tasting new batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.  Five months into 2017 and we’re just starting to see the second batch, B517, hit shelves.  This one comes in at 124.2 proof.  Not as high as previous batches, but still hearty nonetheless.  I find the quality of these releases to be pretty consistent.  I wouldn’t expect this batch to be any different.  

Waves of caramel, dark chocolate and dark fruits fill the nose.  Wisps of sweet corn and cinnamon bark also show up after a few minutes in the glass.  The entry is rich.  I’d expect nothing else from this whiskey.  Caramel and oak are prominent, complemented by hints of espresso, vanilla, allspice, black cherry and buttered corn.  The finish is long with bittersweet oak and spice notes.  

Bottom line, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B517 is pretty damn tasty.  I did find oak played a slightly bigger part here, especially compared to this year’s first batch.  That didn’t put me off from enjoying the whiskey, which I tasted at full proof.  I didn’t need to add any water to this one.  Sure, water will open it up a touch, but you’ll miss that concentrated blast of flavor that only a barrel proof whiskey can deliver.  8.5/10

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