Reviews

Blood Oath Pact No. 3 Bourbon Review

Blood Oath is St. Louis-based Luxco’s limited edition bourbon.  Each year brings a different blend of (sourced) bourbons, with the promise to never repeat.  We’re now on the third release, or Pact No. 3.  This one is a blend of two 7-year-old bourbons and a 12-year-old bourbon.  The three bourbons contain rye as the traditional flavoring grain.  In this release, one of the 7-year-old bourbons is finished in Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks from Swanson Vineyards in Napa Valley.

Last year’s Blood Oath Pact No. 2 featured a port wine cask finish on a portion of the blend, and was quite enjoyable.   Following the first two releases, Blood Oath Pact No. 3 is bottled at 98.6 proof and comes in a nice wooden box for a suggested price of $99.99.  Only 10,000 3-pack cases have been created, so there’s a lot to go around, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find a bottle.

I had the chance to host Luxco’s Director of Brand Research and Development John Rempe for a virtual tasting of Blood Oath Pact No. 3 and Rebel Yell 10 yr.  My full tasting notes are below the video.

There is roasted sweet corn, raspberries and cherries on the nose, all resting on a bed of dark toffee.  Light hints of vanilla, spice and barrel char round things out.  On the palate, this bourbon manages to balance fruit and caramel notes.  Red fruits, caramel, espresso and dark brown sugar are complemented by creamed corn, slighly drying oak tannins and a refreshing herbal character.  The finish is long, featuring rich caramelized fruit, spice, and orange rind, leading to some bittersweet barrel char.

Wow.  I’ve got to say Pact No. 3 is my favorite of the bunch.  It’s fruity, but not overly so.  The decision to mature in Cabernet Sauvignon casks is a smart one.  I’d love to see more American whiskies utilize this type of casks to finish their whiskeys.  Recommended!  9/10

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

Blood Oath Pact No. 3 & Rebel Yell 10 Year Livestream

Luxco’s Director of Brand Research and Development and I talk bourbon, Luxco’s new distillery and more as we taste the new Blood Oath Pact No. 3 and Rebel Yell 10 year bourbon.

A Review of The Singleton of Glendullan Series


The Singleton brand of whiskies refers to several Speyside distilleries, including Glen Ord, Dufftown, and Glendullan.  It’s a bit of odd branding, and I can see where it can be a touch confusing.  Here we’re looking at the Glendullan portfolio, newly available in the US market.  Glendullan isn’t a well-known distillery, though it’s not new.  It was founded back in 1897 in Dufftown.  Most of the whisky is matured in American oak, though some European oak is also used.  I love tasting through a distillery’s whiskey portfolio side-by-side.  It’s a great way to dive into the distillery style, giving you an intimate look at how the spirit matures over time.  

All whiskies in the distillery’s US portfolio (12-, 15-, and 18-year-old) are bottled at 40% abv.  At the moment, they’re only available in CA, FL, NY, CO, TX, PA, WA and NJ markets.  

GLENDULLAN 12

The youngest and lightest of the bunch, Glendullan 12-year-old is very reminiscent of Glenlivet 12.  The nose features hints of slightly caramelized orchard fruits, lemon zest, honey and very light spice.  The entry is a bit subdued, but opens to welcoming crisp apples and orange blossom honey, with vanilla pod and light spices developing.  The finish is short and leaves a spiced honey note.  This is an uncomplicated, easy-sipping entry level whisky.  $34.99  7/10

GLENDULLAN 15

A couple more years of maturation add a bit more richness.  That means more refined fruits on the nose, as well as toffee, fig preserves and spice.  I find the 15 doesn’t have as much citrus zestiness on the nose as the 12.  Taste-wise, the low abv means a slightly watered down entry.  In terms of flavors, honeyed tree fruit, dried fruits and candied pecans dominate, accented by some oak spice and mulled wine notes.  The finish is a bit longer than its younger brother, with hints of zesty malt, honey and spice.  Overall, a bit darker and richer malt that features more dried fruits and spice.  $49.99  7.5/10

GLENDULLAN 18

Described as “balanced, light and elegant” on the bottle, Glendullan 18 is the oldest of the distillery’s US offerings.  The nose is full of rich and spicy cinnamon cake, stewed apples & pears, and dried figs & raisins.  Hints of vanilla, toasted almonds and seville oranges with a touch of dried tobacco.  The palate is the richest of the three expressions, with wave after wave of dark caramel and dried fruits with hints of vanilla creme brulee, peanut brittle and leather.  The finish is long, featuring dark fruit jam and spices, turning a bit dry.  I think the 18-year-old mark is where this whisky starts to find its sweet spot.  Glendullan 18 is rich and full of dried fruits and spice.  Nicely done.  $79.99  8.5/10

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