review

Barrell Bourbon Batch 011 Review


Gaining a larger following with each batch, Barrell Craft Spirits has released their latest bourbon.  Batch 011 is a six-year-old bourbon distilled in Tennessee.  Like previous releases, Batch 011 is bottled at cask strength.  In this case 57.4%, or 114.8 proof.  The mash bill for this one is 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% malted barley.  The high amount of rye should provide a bit of extra spice.  Let’s see how it fares.

The nose kicks things off with spices (cinnamon, allspice, cloves) thanks to the rye grain, followed by thick caramel.  A little airtime develops a bit of sweet corn, along with a buttery dough that reminds me of unbaked cinnamon rolls.  The entry is a little hot, with initial notes of light caramel and slightly sharp rye spice.  There’s a little development beyond that, with hints of cinnamon candy and some herbs emerging.  The finish is chest-warming, and surprisingly clean, with just a short burst of light brown sugar and cinnamon.

In our current “older is better” age (not true, by the way), a six-year-old bourbon might grab the attention of those looking for older releases.  There’s definitely quality in the crafting of the whiskies that make up this batch.  Batch 011 might not turn heads, but it is a beautiful example of a delicious, classic bourbon and shouldn’t be overlooked.  8/10

Barrellbourbon.com

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

Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Bourbon Review

I like the Knob Creek lineup, from the standard (now NAS) Small Batch and Single Barrel bourbons to the rye whiskey.  Last year’s limited edition Knob Creek 2001 met with mixed reviews.  I tried Batch 1 and thoroughly enjoyed it, though it hit close to my threshold for acceptable oak impact in a bourbon.  One of the big complaints I’ve read about KC 2001 was its “low” proof.  It was bottled at 100 proof, like the standard Small Batch and Rye Whiskey bottlings.  Maybe Beam Suntory caught wind of the criticism and corrected it for their next release.

Enter Knob Creek 25th Anniversary.  This limited edition release (rumor is about 10,000 bottles total) is an unfiltered, barrel-proof, single barrel bottling.  Barrels picked for Knob Creek 25th Anniversary are between 12 – 13 years old.  Sounds fantastic, no?  

Even though it’s set for a June release, Knob Creek 25th is already proving controversial.  The major concern among some consumers is the price.  People are saying they can grab a 12 or 13 year old store pick of Knob Creek Single Barrel for $40 versus the $130 asking price for this 25th Anniversary release.  They make a great point.  I’m sure there amazing older store picks out there.  However, older store picks aren’t available everywhere.  And keep in mind the palates of the owners (or spirit buyers) who pick out single barrels of Knob Creek aren’t always great.  Some of these folks simply don’t know a good whiskey from a bad one.  This past weekend during the New Orleans Bourbon Festival, Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe told me he is tasting and approving each barrel for this release. I trust his palate.  I don’t think the $130 price tag for a barrel proof, single barrel 12-13 year old bourbon is outrageous at all.  It’s priced about where it needs to be.  I just see Knob Creek Single Barrel as a steal for $40.  

Beam Suntory was kind enough to send out advanced samples to some reviewers and writers.  I received a sample from two different barrels, both filled on 2/11/2004.  I suppose this is more a preview than a review, as we’re still a few months away from the official launch. Once released, the plan is to try it again for a more in-depth look.  In the meantime, here are my tasting notes and some final thoughts.

Sample 1 came in at 121.8 proof.  I picked up dark brown sugar, grilled corn, black cherries, and cigar box on the nose, as well as a hint of dried vanilla pod.  The palate was full of molasses and toasted grain upon entry, developing hints of herbs and roasted nuts on the mid-palate, leading to oak tannins going into the finish.  The finish was warm and long, with cinnamon sticks, caramel and herbs.  8.5/10

Sample 2 was bottled at 125 proof.  This one was a bit sweeter on the nose.  Dark chocolate, dried figs and carmelized sugar led to  hints of dark fruits, oak and spice.  Taste-wise, burnt orange peel and vanilla start things off.  Soon after, some bittersweet dark chocolate, cigar, cherry jam and oak spice develop.  Like Sample 1, things start to become a little dry as the finish approaches.  The long finish features hints of sweet oak, molasses and spice.  9.10

As expected, there is some variation between barrels.  The two samples sent were quite delicious in different ways.  Both feature a fair amount of oak, which is part of Knob Creek’s DNA.  I didn’t find these two samples over-oaked, but like Knob Creek 2001 Batch 1, they just about hit my threshold for oak in a bourbon.  The first sample came across as good as any Knob Creek Single Barrel I’ve had, but not necessarily better.  The extra couple of proof points stood out in the second sample, coming across as a bit bolder than the 120 proof Knob Creek Single Barrel.  I’d easily reach for more of Sample 2 if I had more.

My hope is that quality control is strictly implemented when it comes to barrel selection.  Whether or not it’s “good value” is not a question I can answer for you.  Personally, I think this new release is worthy of purchase, though you’re really paying for a couple of extra proof points versus the 120 proof of the standard KC Single Barrels.  I don’t think Beam Suntory is going to release subpar or over-oaked barrels for this release, but I know some barrels are going to be better than others.   Based on what I tasted, I think Knob Creek 25th Anniversary will sell better than last year’s 2001 release.  Bottom line:  If you’re a fan of Knob Creek, I’d recommend seeking out a bottle of Knob Creek 25th Anniversary when it starts hitting shelves in June.  

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

Michter’s 10-Year-Old Rye Whiskey (2017) Review

There’s something special about a rye whiskey with a little age.  I’m not a giant fan of really young rye.  Two or three year old rye whiskies are best for cocktails, in my opinion.  At around the six year mark, things start to get interesting.  The young “green” note is no longer present, as the spirit has had some time to round out its edges.  Though the sharp notes are mostly gone, the rye grain still brings that zesty spicy quality I look for in this type of whiskey.  After a decade in the barrel, some rye whiskies, like this expression from Michter’s, can put you under a magic spell.  The spirit mellows out and intimately intermingles with everything the American Oak barrel it ages in brings to the table – baking spices, vanilla and caramel.

This release of Michter’s 10-year-rye whiskey marks the first special release from their new Master Distiller Pamela Heilmann.  If you’ve read Fred Minnick’s beautifully written “Whiskey Women,” you’ll know women played an important role in the whiskey world. Whiskey is still mainly a male-dominated industry, so it’s refreshing that Michter’s has promoted Heilmann as their Master Distiller.  She previously ran the Booker Noe distillery for seven years before joining the Michter’s team.

The whiskey itself is a single barrel rye bottled at 92.8 proof.  My sample came from barrel 17A37.  It goes through one of Michter’s filtration processes before being bottled.  The suggested retail price is $150.  Michter’s 2016 release of their 10-year-old rye whiskey was one of my favorites of the year.  How does the 2017 release fare?

Wonderful aromas of figs, baking spices, brown sugar, and toasted rye bread fill the nose.  On the palate, this whiskey is mouthcoating.  An initial caramel sweetness is tempered by some rye spice, followed by hints of Madagascar vanilla bean, dark brown sugar, licorice and tobacco leaf.  Slight oak tannins creep in during the medium-length finish, along with cinnamon candy and caramel.

From first sniff, I knew I’d like this whiskey.  It’s beautifully matured and delivers an aromatic nose and rich flavors you can only get from a well-aged rye whiskey.  Highly recommended. 9/10

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