Forged Oak is the latest release from Diageo’s Orphan Barrel series. The youngest bourbon of the group, Forged Oak is 15 years old and 90.5 proof. Forged Oak is also the cheapest in the series. A bottle should run you about $65. It was distilled at the new Bernheim distillery in Louisville between 1997-1998 and aged at the Stitzel-Weller warehouses. It’s mash bill is 86% corn, 8% barley and 6% rye. Looks like a really low percentage of rye. How does it fare in a glass? (more…)
My wife knows the way to my heart. This past Valentine’s Day my wife Carly bought me a bottle of 14 year old George Dickel Tennessee Whisky. It is a hand-selected barrel from Dorignac’s, a local New Orleans-area grocery store. I really enjoyed the 9 year old George Dickel I received as part of the Dickel Dozen blogger program, so my expectations for the 14 year old Dickel were pretty high.
On the nose I get lots of oak, light caramel, and vanilla. There’s a little baking spice in there… cloves or nutmeg, maybe? I love that the distillery kept this at 106 proof. You get some of that high-proof liveliness on entry, but calms down a little with more caramel, oak, and vanilla. It’s not as sweet as its younger brother. The finish is long and semi-sweet.
Overall this whiskey is an oakier version of its 9 year old brethren. It’s not over-oaked. Instead it just turns up that flavor element. I tend to prefer older, oakier whiskies. A bottle of 14 year old George Dickel cost my wife about $70. The 9 year old will cost about $45. The big question is which of the two do I like best? For “everyday” drinking, I’d most likely reach for the Dickel 9 year old. For nicer occasions, I’d easily grab the 14 year old Dickel. Honestly, you can’t go wrong either way. Highly recommended.
9/10
Bulleit bourbon is one versatile whiskey. It’s great neat, but its high rye content makes it outstanding in cocktails. Best of all, it’s a solid buy for about $25-$30. In 2013, Bulleit Distilling Company unleashed a version of Bulleit bourbon aged 10 years, which is about 3-4 years older than their standard Bulleit bourbon, and considerably more expensive ($45). How does the extra time in the barrel change things? Is it worth the extra cash?
(Bulleit Distilling Company provided a small sample for this review). Where Bulleit bourbon is dry and spicy, its 10 year old sibling Bulleit 10 is a bit more balanced. On the nose there’s some oak along with spice, vanilla, and a little caramel. It’s nice. Taste-wise, I don’t get the alcohol kick I expected at 91.2 proof. Much less of a kick than its younger brother. There’s a nice balance of oak and spice, with a little vanilla and caramel. The finish is a little spicy and sweet, but doesn’t stick around too long.
Overall Bulleit 10 is a tasty, balanced bourbon. It lacks the big spice of its younger sibling, but evens things out with a little oak. The whiskey in this bottle is highly recommended, even at $45. My only gripe is the price. It’s about $15 more than standard Bulleit bourbon… a fantastic bourbon in its own right. Bulleit is the better value, but Bulleit 10 is the better bourbon.
8.5/10
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