Bourbon

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (Batch A117) Bourbon Review

Image courtesy of Heaven Hill


Barrel strength whiskey is something I always look forward to tasting.  Even though many are batched together (versus a single barrel release), it’s like tasting straight from the barrel.  No dilution is taking place before bottling.  The robust quality from these bottlings is something you don’t get from a standard whiskey release.

One of my favorites is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) from Heaven Hill Distillery.  This 12-year-old batched bourbon is offered several times a year.  Starting with this first batch of 2017, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is introducing batch numbers (sort of like Booker’s has been doing the past couple of years).  It was a fantastic idea for Booker’s, and I’m sure ECBP will experience some success from it.

The batch code breaks down like this: The first letter signifies the release batch of the year, while the numbers indicate the month and year of release.  So, A117 = the first batch of the year, released in January 2017.  The new batch numbering system will make it easier to track down which batch is which.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch A117 comes in at 127 proof.  While not the strongest batch I’ve seen by any stretch, 127 is still a high proof.  Let’s get to the tasting notes.

Dark brown sugar and molasses burst out of the glass, alongside touches of anise, vanilla and oak.  On the palate, this oily whiskey features hints of caramel corn, vanilla, tobacco leaf, and oak spices.  A splash of water brings out more oak.  The long finish warms the chest (perfect for winter), leaving behind lingering spiced caramel and slightly drying oak.

To this day, I haven’t run across a bad batch of ECBP.  I’m happy to report the streak continues.  Batch A117 might be a bit lower in proof than previous batches, but it’s just as complex and full of flavor as anything that’s come before it.  Nicely done.  8.5/10

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

Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel (2016) Review

Wyoming Whiskey is a craft whiskey brand that’s been picking up some steam lately.  I see the name come up more and more as I read through whiskey publications and social media.  Everything used to make this whiskey comes from Wyoming.  Based in Kirby, Wyoming, the distillery’s lineup includes a small batch bourbon, the occasional single barrel bourbon, and a just announced sherry cask finished bourbon.  

This single barrel bottling is their second, with 400 cases now available throughout Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin and Wyoming. This 2016 bottling is more than double in size than the original November 2015 release, which the company said sold out before it hit shelves.  Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel retails for $59.99.

The nose here is really nice, with hints of honeyed grain, vanilla cream, ground cinnamon and an elegant floral note.  It almost smells more like a light bodied, well aged single malt than it does a bourbon.  The palate says differently:  sweet buttered corn, Mexican chocolate, fresh basil leaf and vanilla bean.  The finish is long, with a small burst of spice, followed by some mint.

I am really digging Wyoming Whiskey’s Single Barrel Bourbon.  It’s aroma is completely different than any other bourbon I’ve tried.  On the palate it’s rich and has a creamy mouthfeel.  Too bad distribution is limited to six states.  If you see this one and want to try something different (and delicious), pick up a bottle.  8.5/10

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

Four Roses OBSF Single Barrel Bourbon Review (Maisano’s bottled 12-08-16)

Photo courtesy of Maisano’s

Last December, I took a ride over to Ocean Springs, Mississippi for one of my semi-regular visits to Maisano’s Fine Wine & Spirits.  I’m always interested in what single barrel store picks owner Jonathan Maisano has in stock.  I picked up a bottle of his store pick 1792 Full Proof while I was there.  Before I left, he gave me a tiny sample of his next Four Roses Single Barrel pick  – a 9 year, 9 month old 118 proof OBSF.

I asked him to let me know when the bottle was hitting shelves, as I’d like to post short piece about the release.  So, as you’re reading this post, 114 bottles are currently hitting the shelves at Maisano’s for about $60 each.  That’s the barrel yield.  Not a lot to go around.  

Being an OBSF recipe, this Four Roses is spicy!  Cardamon and cinnamon lead the nose, alongside hints of caramel, red fruits, and oak.  Taste-wise, oak spice is a major player here.  Underneath lies a bed of creamy caramel.  The bourbon opens up to reveal ripe tree fruits and vanilla, with a touch of spearmint.  The finish is long, leaving a warm, satisfying cinnamon-topped vanilla creme.

Four Roses store picks generally don’t disappoint, and this one is no exception.  I tend to like the spicier “B” recipes from the distillery.  Great barrel pick from Jonathan.  8.5/10

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