I was exposed to The Glendronach rather recently. Before that wonderful introduction, the big sherry bombs I was familiar with were The Macallan and Aberlour. What struck me about The Glendronach was the richness I didn’t quite find in the aforementioned brands. Not to take anything away from them, but Glendronach fit my taste like a glove.

The distillery’s latest is a very limited edition tied to release of the upcoming film in the The Kingsman series. Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie, in collaboration with film Director Matthew Vaughn, created this LOVELY malt. It’s a 29-year-old single malt, vintage 1989, matured in Oloroso sherry casks. Compromised of only six casks, the whiskey then saw a short maturation in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. It’s bottled at 50.1% abv and available for at a suggested price of $1,299.

I don’t generally cover color on this blog, especially since so many producers add caramel coloring. The Glendronach doesn’t add any color to their whisky. Compared to The Glendronach 12, this Kingsman Edition is several shades deeper and darker.

The nose is chockfull of raisin, dried fruit, dark toffee, and tobacco. Aromatic wood spice develops after a few minutes in the glass. It’s quite lovely. On the palate, candied ginger and toffee provide a bold but controlled entry. Plum, dried fruits, and raisin-y notes build more layers on this complex whisky. The back palate sees hints of baking spice, cigar box, and slightly astringent old oak. The finish is long with lingering notes of burnt orange peel, spice, and dark fruits.

Autumn literally just began as this post goes live, and this release couldn’t come at a more perfect time. Given it’s complexity, The Glendronach Kingsman Edition 1989 Vintage is a whisky you’ll want to block off an hour to savor. This has landed a spot as my favorite whiskies of 2020. It’s just that damn good.

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

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock these past few years, you should know that Little Book is Beam’s experimental line. Eighth generation Beam Distiller Freddie Noe gets to explore the deep reserve of Jim Beam whiskey to create a new blend every year.

This fourth iteration, or chapter, is called Lessons Honored. The name and blend are an ode to what Freddie’s learned from his family. Distilling royalty, indeed. Chapter 4 comes in at 122.8 proof. It’s a blend of three Kentucky straight bourbons: a 4-year-old brown rice bourbon, 8-year-old “high rye” bourbon, and 7-year-old bourbon. I remember Beam released a rice bourbon a few years ago, but I didn’t get a chance to taste it.

There’s lots of vanilla and caramelized fruit on the nose. Those notes sit right alongside a herbal and woody undertones. Tart cherries and dark chocolate kick off the palate, balanced by orange zest, vanilla, and barrel char bitterness. A little spice leads us to a long, warming finish.

This is nice. The blend provides a fruity and caramel character with some added oak (not the drying, astringent oak qualities of older whiskies). It’s full-bodied and bold, but easy to sip at bottling proof. It’s quite a departure from the sometimes peanut-heavy Beam flavor profile. Little Book Chapter 4 should please those looking for a bold whiskey experience. Recommended!

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

A few weeks ago during a visit to Maisano’s Fine Wine & Spirits, owner Jonathan Maisano passed along a sample of an 18-year-old Barrell Whiskey he was going to release soon. I’m always up for a sneak preview!

That time is now. Barrel A117, an 18-year-old Kentucky straight whiskey, has just hit that store’s shelves. Coming in at 58.29% abv, or 116.58 proof, this single barrel whiskey carries wonderful aromas.

The nose is filled with hints of orchard fruits, vanilla, and light butterscotch. Light sweet corn and butterscotch kick off the palate. Stewed fruit and a slight herbal quality develop by mid-palate. That same fruitiness and the lightest touch of baking spice, along with a hint of astringency, finish things off.

The fruit complements the butterscotch well, with some “seasoning” in the form of herbs and spice thrown in there for good measure. Given this whiskey is 18 years old, it doesn’t come across as heavy or oaky. It’s REALLY nice neat, but also works well in a highball. Maisano’s has this Barrell Whiskey on shelves for $98.13. If it’s anything like their other single barrel offerings, it’ll be gone before you know it.

Thanks to Maisano’s Fine Wine & Spirits for the sample. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.