Luxco

Blood Oath Pact No. 2 Announced
Photo courtesy of Luxco.

Photo courtesy of Luxco.

Luxco announced the release of Blood Oath Pact No. 2, a blend of a 7-year-old port barrel-finished bourbon, an 11-year-old wheated bourbon and an 11-year-old rye-based bourbon.  The average age of the whiskies used here is older than last year’s solid release (read my notes here).  There’s more to go around this time, too.  7,500 3-pack cases of this blend have been created for sale, compared to the 5,000 3-pack cases of Pact No. 1.  This release comes with a suggested retail price of $99.99.

Read the full press release below:

(St. Louis) March 28, 2016 – St. Louis-based Luxco has launched Blood Oath Pact No. 2 – the second expression in the limited release, ultra-premium bourbon series, Blood Oath. Blood Oath combines rare, top-notch bourbons, blended and bottled by hand for a distinctively exclusive and unimagined Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Pact No. 2 is a masterful union of three well-bred bourbons ranging in age from seven to 11 years. The first, a seven year rye bourbon finished in port barrels, is artfully joined by an 11 year wheated bourbon and an 11 year rye bourbon. Pact No. 2, bottled at 98.6 proof, is available in limited quantities nationally in 750ml bottles, with a suggested price of $99.99.

“Pact No. 2 is a rich marriage of three carefully selected bourbons, hand blended and bottled for a unique combination and exceptional taste,” says John Rempe, creator of Blood Oath and Director of Corporate Research and Development at Luxco. “The rye mash bill of the 11 year offers an oaky and spicy flavor, which is smoothed out by the extra-aged wheated bourbon – while the port-barrel finished rye brings it all together with a velvety sweet finish.”

Blood Oath Pact No. 2, just like its predecessor, is topped with a custom, eco-friendly natural cork, sealed and labeled with certificate-style paper stock signed by John Rempe. New for this year, each bottle of Blood Oath Pact No. 2 will be sold in a commemorative fire-branded wooden box. The Blood Oath series launched in 2015 with Pact No. 1, and will highlight a different variant, or Pact, each year.

“Pact No. 2 has a slightly fuller mouthfeel than Pact No. 1 with an oaky, caramel and cocoa aroma and a smooth flavor. The port-barrel finish really brings out the spice and fruit finish flavors,” says Rempe. “The freedom to choose the bourbons with the most complementary flavor profiles for Blood Oath allows us to create something truly special.”

Pact No. 2 is limited release, with only 7,500 3-packs created – this bourbon will never be made again.

For more information on Blood Oath, visit www.bloodoathbourbon.com

The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey

St. Louis-based spirits company Luxco is now in the Irish whiskey game with the launch of The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey in a partnership with Niche Drinks.  The Quiet Man’s founder, Ciaran Mulgrew, created the brand to honor his father who was a Belfast bartender for over 50 years.

The label launched in January 2016 with two expressions, a 4-year-old blended whiskey and an 8-year-old single malt whiskey.  The whiskey itself appears to be sourced, with online rumors mentioning the Cooley distillery.  Both expressions were matured in oak barrels, then finished in first-fill bourbon barrels.  They are also bottled at 40% abv.  Let’s take a look the expressions.

Quiet Man Traditional Blended Irish Whiskey

Photo courtesy of Quiet Man Whiskey

Photo courtesy of Quiet Man Whiskey

A combination of malt and grain whiskies, Quiet Man Traditional Blended whiskey has a higher malt percentage, giving it a bit more body than other blends.  Retail pricing is $39.99.

Aged four years, the blend smells young and vibrant in a great way.  Light bourbon aromas (vanilla and caramel) lightly pepper the honeyed cereal grains found here.  The entry is light.  Very soft, in fact.  There’s a nice sweetness provided by a combination of bourbon barrel maturation and spirit character.  To balance, there’s a touch of spice and some apple & pear.  The finish is slightly warm, with some tongue-tingling spice and oak.

Quiet Man Traditional Blended whiskey is a no-frills easy-drinker.  It’s a tad on the sweet side, but there’s enough else happening the keep things interesting.  Neat or with some ice, it’s a decent pour.  Give it a go.

7.5/10

Quiet Man Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Photo courtesy of Quiet Man.

Photo courtesy of Quiet Man.

This expression from Quiet Man is distilled in pot stills and aged at least eight years in bourbon barrels.  It’s twice the age of the blended whiskey and features only malted barley.  Retail for this expression is $49.99.

That extra aging is evident on the nose.  In addition to stewed fruit, toffee and malt, a nice wave of oak presents itself.  A lighter, fragrant floral note also pops up.  Taste-wise, clove honey prominently sits atop some vanilla and light spices.  Some malty notes and oak sit in the background.  The medium finish is relatively clean, leaving behind some sweetness and spice.

Quiet Man Single Malt whiskey has a syrupy mouthfeel that’s missing in their Blended whiskey.  Like that other expression, this Single Malt is flavorful and satisfying pour.  It’s also much richer, providing a different drinking experience.  It may be slightly overpriced at almost $50, but the juice in the bottle comes with my recommendation.  I think you’ll like what you taste.

8.0/10
(Note: Review samples were provided by The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey)

Yellowstone Select Bourbon Review
Photo courtesy of Limestone Branch Distillery.

Photo courtesy of Limestone Branch Distillery.

The autumn of 2015 saw the release of a limited one-off bourbon from Limestone Branch Distillery (LBD) and Luxco.  LBD’s Steve Beam took aged stock Luxco-owned (and sourced) and blended a great-tasting bourbon.  Fast forward a few months to 2016, and the first permanent expression to the Yellowstone line, Yellowstone Select, hit store shelves.

Coming in at 93 proof, Yellowstone Select is a blend of 4 and 7-year-old sourced bourbon.  This is much younger stock than the 7 and 12-year-old stocks that made up the Yellowstone 2015 Limited Edition release.  That’s understandable, as Luxco probably owns much more younger whiskey than they do older whiskey.

The nose here is youngish, with a sweet fresh corn note standing first in line.  Official tasting/nosing notes mention leather and citrus and oak.  I don’t get any leather, especially for a bourbon this young.  However, there’s a citrus note here.  It’s the smell of a freshly cut ripe orange.  Oak is present, but it stays in the background.  While it still tastes a little young, Yellowstone Select does feature sweet ripe fruit alongside buttered corn, rye spice and a touch of vanilla.  Nice. A general spiciness creeps up towards the end of the palate.  The finish is sweet grain, rye spice, and a slightly bitter note.

Where I really enjoyed the 2015 Limited Edition of Yellowstone, I feel slightly disappointed with this new release.  I don’t know the proportions of the 4-year-old and 7-year-old stocks that make up this blend, but it smells and tastes like there’s a lot more of the younger whiskey here.  For a bourbon priced at $49.99, I expect a bit more complexity.  What’s in the bottle isn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination.  It’s just a little overpriced.

7/10
(Note: A review sample was provided by Luxco.)