review

Review: Booker’s Bourbon Batch 2018-02 (Backyard BBQ)

Summertime is synonymous with BBQ. Former Jim Beam Master Distiller Booker Noe used to hold giant BBQs at his Bardstown, KY house, dubbing them “bourbon-ques.” With that in mind, the second batch of Booker’s for 2018 is aptly named “Backyard BBQ.”

The barrel strength bourbon comes in at 64.4% ABV, or 128.8 proof. The youngest barrels in the batch are 6 years, 2 months, and 10 days old. Barrels were pulled from six locations in three different 9-story warehouses, broken down as follows:

4% from warehouse E, 4th floor
29% from warehouse E, 5th floor
10% from warehouse E, 7th floor
8% from warehouse J, 5th floor
32% from warehouse I, 6th floor
17% from warehouse I, 7th floor

I love the disclosure of this kind of information, especially from a company as large as Beam-Suntory. But the important thing is how the whiskey tastes…

On the nose, a slight departure from the “classic” Booker’s profile finds maple syrup instead of vanilla as the dominant aroma. This is still Booker’s through and through, with hints of vanilla, toasted oak, peanut butter and a touch of fresh herbs. Slightly overcooked caramel kicks things off on the front palate, followed closely by vanilla custard and some spice. This is the point where that high proof shows its cards – a full mouthfeel and a bit of a kick. You’re definitely in flavor town here (a Guy Fieri reference – was that really necessary?). The mid-palate brings hints of grilled corn and cigar box, with cedar shavings following. The long finish is chest-warming, which is always welcome. Acid reflux be damned! Bittersweet caramel and barrel char linger.

This batch of Booker’s slightly leans towards the sweet side compared to previous batches. It’s a welcome quality knowing it still fits under the brand’s flavor profile. “Backyard BBQ” featured less of a corn note and more caramels, meaning it could pair nicely with BBQ ribs, or a smoked brisket, perhaps. All in all, it’s tasty – and I wouldn’t expect anything else from Booker’s. 8/10

Bookersbourbon.com

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

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Review: Kentucky Owl Rye Whiskey (Batch 2)

Shortly after receiving a lot of generally positive buzz from its initial offering of rye whiskey, Kentucky Owl has released batch two. The sourced whiskey, a Kentucky straight rye, is 11 years old and bottled at 101.8 proof, or 50.9% ABV. The company does not disclose which distillery (or distilleries) the whiskey came from. A bottle of this batch of Kentucky Owl should cost you about $200.

I do love a nicely aged rye whiskey, and this one doesn’t disappoint. The nose features hints of toasted rye grain, toffee, cherry and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. Those notes carry over onto the palate. Juicy red cherries and toffee kick things off, developing into a melange of baking spices. The very notable rye grain character is ever present. Things start to become a touch dry on the back palate, with hints of leather and oak being added to the mix. The long finish is dry, warming, and a bit spicy.

All in all, Kentucky Owl rye whiskey batch two is a wonderful example of a well-aged rye whiskey, a category that doesn’t include many entries these days. My only concern is the whiskey’s suggested price of $200. It’s a big increase in price from batch one.

Keep in mind that, while price does not influence the score, it’s hard to justify a purchase at that price. I paid $135 for my bottle, which is well below the suggested retail price and much, much lower than the secondary market price. I know older rye whiskies are hard to come by these days, and people are happy to pay for them. Just good old capitalism at work, I suppose. As for me, it’s a hard pass at $200. But at the $135 price I paid, I’d happily purchase another.

8.5/10

Review: Ardbeg An Oa Single Malt Whiskey

Ardbeg extended their core range of single malts with An Oa, named after the Mull of Oa. This NAS expression sits in front of Ardbeg 10-year-old in said range. Why add another expression at all? Let me answer my question with another – what’s wrong with more Ardbeg?

An Oa is a vatting of different cask types, including PX sherry casks, new charred oak, and first-fill bourbon casks. The whiskies marry for a while in a French oak vat. Looking good so far. Making things better is the fact that An Oa is non chill-filtered and bottled at 46.6% ABV.

The sherry casks add a rich fruitiness to the nose, with both tropical and dried fruit. Make no mistake, however… this is Ardbeg through and through. The BBQ smoke and earthy peat notes are there in a slightly less in-your-face manner than the 10-year-old expression. A bit of oak and vanilla round out the nose. On the palate, rich salted toffee and smoked meat dominate, complemented by the light fruitiness found in the nose… again, courtesy of those sherry casks. There’s some spice and oak on the back palate. The body is rather rich thanks to the higher ABV. The finish isn’t as long as I’d like, but it’s nice nonetheless, leaving lingering behind hints of smoke, black pepper and semi-sweet pineapple juice.

An Oa is a pleasant drink. Calling it “Ardbeg Light” doesn’t do the whisky justice, but the description isn’t entirely untrue. Those looking for a medium peated whisky might find what they’re looking for in An Oa. I appreciate what the different cask types bring here, with, dare I say, more character than the 10-year-old expression. That’s my two cents. 8/10

Ardbeg.com

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

Be sure to follow Adventures In Whiskey on social media for more content.

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