Bourbons and Whiskies
BOURBONS AND WHISKIES
1.5 oz
BUFFALO TRACE BOURBON
The former George T. Stagg distillery was renamed Buffalo Trace when Sazerac took over ownership in 1999. Master Distiller, Elmer T. Lee, came out of retirement for the creation of the Buffalo Trace Bourbon which was released later that same year. The whiskey is comprised of a low-rye mashbill providing for a softer, sweeter expression and is bottled at 90 proof. TASTING NOTES "The aroma is sweet with a hint of alcohol. It gives way to vanilla, Heath candy bars and barrel spices. The palate is very sweet with a mixture of corn, brown sugar, and tobacco. The finish is quick, sweet and full of New Jersey sweet corn."
1792 Small Batch
This product was originally called 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon; it was rebranded and repackaged in 2015. Both are no-age statement bottlings, but prior to 2013 it had one of 8 years. This is still a high-rye bourbon and is still bottled at 46.85% ABV.
BOWMAN BROTHERS
Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon is labeled as being “produced in Virginia”. While distilled a third time in copper stills at their Virginia distillery, this is high-rye mash bill rumored to be purchased as new make distillate twice distilled from Buffalo Trace in Kentucky. It is aged and bottled in Virginia at 90 proof. TASTING NOTES "Mint, thyme and tobacco jump off the nose to accompany our usual vanilla and spice. On the palate hints of chocolate, ginger, and black pepper accompany a mild fruit. The finish is short with a slight sweetness. "
W L WELLER SPECIAL RESERVE
When it comes to wheated bourbons, this is the one that started them all... Well, William Larue Weller (the bourbon's namesake) is the one that started it. When you talk Pappy, Maker's Mark or Rebel Yell you have to thank Mr. Weller for having the foresight to swap out the rye for wheat. Special Reserve is the 'entry' bottling to the Weller line and a must have for anyone wanting to learn more about bourbon and its different variations. Note: Can't find Pappy? Drink this, the Weller 12 year or the Weller Antique. TASTING NOTES "Nose is nice and sweet with honey, apples, leather. Palate is delightful with well balanced sweet/semispicy, caramel apple, vanilla, and shelled nuts. Finish is a little long, crisp and continues with shelled nuts and honey."
MICHTER'S BOURBON
Until just recently, Michter's was a contract brand of KBD (now known as Willett Distillery); but recently, they've set up their own shop in Louisville and are purchasing from Brown Forman. Small Batch for Michter's means about 20 barrels per batch. Bottled at 45.7% ABV. TASTING NOTES "A nose of pit fruits, honey, caramel and vanilla gives way to the palate of corn, raisins and astringents. The finish finds cinnamon and butterscotch with just a bit of lingering sour astringency."
MICHTER'S STRAIGHT RYE
Michter's Straight Rye is contract distilled at an unnamed distillery in Kentucky. As their straight rye is released in single barrel batches, slight variations may occur. Due to limited production it can be a bit elusive, but well worth the hunt. TASTING NOTES "Mint, honeysuckle, and pepper fill out the nose, with more mint, fresh cut grass and some spicy rye in the palate. The finish is long and spicy, with more honeysuckle, rye and barrel coming through."
E.H. TAYLOR SMALL BATCH BOURBON WHISKEY
As the name indicates, this is a small batch whiskey comprised of selected whiskey barrels which were aged in Warehouse C. This warehouse was constructed by Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr in 1881. This bourbon is also a bonded whiskey which means that the bourbon was distilled in one season, aged for at least 4 years and bottled at 50% ABV. TASTING NOTES "The nose is sweet and rich with chocolate, vanilla, corn and toffee. A palate of smooth sweetness with a well balanced hint of spice. Think vanilla, chocolate with hints of tobacco giving way to red hots and rye spice. A long finish, continuing with the sweetness of the vanilla and chocolate with more hints of red hots and spice."
ISAAC BOWMAN PORT BARREL FINISHED
This is a permanent addition to the A. Smith Bowman portfolio following the success of their limited edition Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon in 2016. Like that whiskey, this bottling uses former Virginia port-style wine barrels as well as used port wine barrels from Portugal for 3-6 months to finish the maturation process. These barrels were made of American oak and French Limousin oak. After this finishing process, the whiskeys are married to create this product. Isaac Bowman, a soldier and Virginia militia officer during the American Revolutionary War, was the youngest of the Bowman Brothers.
ELIJAH CRAIG 9 YR SINGLE BARREL GLOBAL BREW PICK
TASTING NOTES "The nose is reminiscent of your grandmother's candy bowl--caramel, butterscotch, vanilla--with a hint of the charred oak and ocean breeze underneath. All the notes on the nose continue on the palate along with some saltwater taffy. The finish is medium-length with sweet bourbon vanilla notes and hints of rye and char coming through a bit. "
EAGLE RARE 10 YEAR
Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is one of the flagship products of the Buffalo Trace collection of whiskeys. It is made from 10 year old bourbon aged at the Kentucky distillery. The barrels are hand selected for quality and consistency before bottling. TASTING NOTES "Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon is one of the great bourbon bargains out there, tasting way more expensive than it is. Its complexity starts with fruit flavors of dark cherries, red apples and bananas. Then the spices of cinnamon, clove and allspice kick in. These are rounded by honey, caramel, milk chocolate, vanilla and toasty oak. A rugged leather note rides it off into the sunset."
HEAVEN HILL 7 YEAR BOURBON BOTTLED IN BOND
Heaven Hill Bottled In Bond 7 Year Bourbon is produced from the brand's traditional mash bill. Heaven Hill's bottled in bond brand dates back to 1939. This Kentucky straight bourbon is aged for 7 years when only 4 years is required for this bottled-in-bond category. TASTING NOTES "This bottled-in-bond release from Heaven Hill adds an extra three years of ageing to the typical four, and to good effect. It's a very well-balanced bourbon, with a spice balanced by oak, vanilla, pecan, and caramel. The finish is sweet and long-lasting, making this enjoyable for sipping while also being well-suited to spirit-forward cocktails."
BASIL HAYDEN CARIBBEAN RYE
Basil Hayden's Caribbean Reserve Rye is made from a blend of two rye whiskeys. One is an 8 year-old Kentucky straight rye and the other is a 4 year-old Canadian rye whisky. Unusually, the blended rye is finished with a final touch to the product: Black Strap rum. TASTING NOTES "The black strap announces its presence with a deep mahogany color in the glass, as well as a first impression on the nose of molasses followed by dark brown sugar, burnt caramel, and cotton candy. The palate is thin, as is often the case with the 40% ABV Basil Hayden's lineup, but some big flavors develop, think: graham cracker pie crust speckled with brown sugar and baking spices. A quick finish leans drier, with earthy oak and leather leading the way to more of that molasses-brown sugar 1-2 punch."
HENRY MCKENNA 10 YEAR
Made by Heaven Hill Distillery, this Henry McKenna bottling is a Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Aged 10 years, this release is also a single barrel release with each bottle bearing both the bottling date and the barrel number. Single barrel whiskeys are unique bottling so your mileage may vary, but you'll generally be sipping a rye-drinker's bourbon. Big, bold, spicy and a great choice for an Old Fashioned--go easy on the sugar, amp up the bitters a bit and garnish with a single orange peel. TASTING NOTES "Heavy alcohol on the nose which balances out nicely on the palate. Distinct spicy aromas followed closely by mint, orange peel and Nilla Wafers. On first taste, you get classic bourbon flavors of caramel, toffee and vanilla, then the rye kicks in with menthol, wood spices and citrus. Bone dry with a long finish and oh-so-American charcoal undertones, this is the George Carlin of the bourbon world. It takes a long time to make its point, but is certainly worth the ride getting there. "
HANCOCK'S PRESIDENT'S RESERVE SINGLE BARREL
This small-batch bourbon is distilled at Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, KY and is made from a high-rye mash bill. It's named after named after Hancock Lee, an early settler in nearby Leestown. TASTING NOTES "A light, sweet nose with caramel, tobacco, tropical fruit, and apple greets you on the nose. For a high-rye bourbon, the rye spice certainly doesn't exert itself, leaving the palate to lush, rich caramel, mocha, mango, toasted oak, and orange. The rye spice sneaks in at the end but doesn't draw much attention. The finish delivers dried apricots, oak, and caramel. "
1792 SINGLE BARREL
1792 Single Barrel Bourbon is the third limited edition bottling released by the brand. Select barrels of this high-rye straight Kentucky bourbon are chosen from the brand's Bardstown, Kentucky rickhouses. TASTING NOTES "An unexpected breeze of pineapple, pear, banana, and tart lemon greet the nose and palate. With further sips, rich vanilla, toffee and butterscotch enrich the fruitiness. The spice comes in at the end in the form of black pepper, clove, allspice, and cinnamon. All together, the whiskey is nicely balanced with a flash of drying heat that travels down the throat. "
1792 BOTTLED IN BOND
Available beginning December 2017, this Kentucky straight bourbon from Barton 1792 follows the Bottled in Bond requirements. Among these are: distilled in one season from one distiller, aged at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof.
1792 FULL PROOF
n 2007, 125-proof bourbon was placed in new, charred oak barrels and stored in warehouses E, N and I for 8 1/2 years at Barton 1792 Distillery. The warehouses in which it was stored are exposed to direct sunlight through 7 story-high windows, with metal frames and concrete bottom floors. The aged distillate was filtered once though a plate and frame filter (no chill filtering) in order to maintain its proof. TASTING NOTES "Scents of honey, bananas, pears and golden apple waft from the glass along with some faint phenol notes. These sweet and fruity aromas are repeated on the palate with a taste similar to Honey Nut Cheerios cereal sprinkled with cinnamon and clove. Some lemon oil tartness and slight bitterness come out in the finish. This bourbon definitely needs a big ice cube to smooth out the flavors and soften the alcoholic heat. "
Sezerac Rye
Named after the Sazerac Coffee House on Royal Street in New Orleans (and subsequently the cocktail), this rye is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. It is aged from four to six years and formerly had an age statement of six years. Bottled at 90 proof. The rye category's growing popularity has made this bottling difficult to keep in stock.