Johnny Drum Bourbon
The character and flavor of this great sour mash whisky never changes. The production process has remained relatively unchanged through five generations of the same family of master distillers. Johnny Drum is produced in limited quantities to ensure that the finest quality is possible with their family tradition. It is handmade in the heart of the Bluegrass, Kentucky’s famous Bourbon country. Containing only the finest natural ingredients and aged to the peak of maturity, yielding a bouquet, character and taste found only in this Bourbon. The alcohol content is 50.5%.
The character and flavor of this superb sour mash whiskey never varies. The method of production has remained unchanged through five generations of the same family of master distillers.
Johnny drum smells light vanilla with pungent, musty undertones and a hint of orange. It tastes citrus "turned" is the first impression; for those of you who have tasted apple cider that has "turned" (slightly fermented) unexpectedly, imagine if the same thing somehow happened to your orange juice or perhaps lemonade. The mouth is quite full.
It tastes wood, then a bite and burn that reminds of JTS Brown or the current six year fighting cock. Also present is more citrus, and just a little bit of maple syrup sweetness underneath.
Hirsch Bourbon
This bourbon is distilled by the now defunct Michter's distillery in PA. It has 91.6 Proof alcohol content.
This Bourbon hits you head on with such a diversity of intense aromatics. It does it with both ease and authority. Plus it smells vanilla, citrus and cream, some baking (desert) spices with some butter.
The intensity of flavor is fantastic. On entry it glides across the palate and then unleashes such an array of flavors; corn, butterscotch, and caramel. This Bourbon is in perfect balance, everything as it should be. The complexity of flavors keeps taunting me; it knows these notes are no match. Although medium bodied it has remarkable presence in your mouth.
It is a thick-textured whiskey, perfectly balanced, which coats the mouth. Rich, complex flavors, very spicy, with plenty of mint, evergreen, dried apricots, toffee, and vanilla. Hirsch Bourbon is long, viscous and so pleasurable. It is a little more citrus in the finish than the taste and nose and the leather comes in at about 15-20 seconds.
Noah’s Mill Bourbon
Noah’s mill is 15 yr old bourbon made in charred oak; it has a fantastically long finish and is quite flavorful. While it is high in alcohol (57.15%) it is one of the most balanced bourbons you can find.
Compare this to bourbon in its price range, and you can’t find a better value on the market today. Should sell for about 50-60 USD, for a rich flavored and well balanced bourbon this is the only way to go!
It is deep amber with a copper-orange cast, and moderately full-bodied. It features reminiscent of pralines, mocha, dried apricot and minerals. It is bold and has a rich texture, and is very dry and assertive on the palate. Nutty, spicy components dominate soft fruit notes. Amid all the power lies a fascinating element of zesty, bright succulence. Beautifully structured, this is a sensual delight. It is aged for 15 Years.
Another entry from the Kentucky Bourbon Distillers consortium, Noah's Mil is a standout from this bottling group. Produced in small batches, it arrives in the bottle at a downright sweltering 114.3 proof, and sipping without water makes one positively sweat.
Add a touch of water to the amazingly dark, toffee-brown bourbon and you get something quite wonderful. Though it's barely mentioned on the bottle, I've read this is a 15-year spirit, which makes it not quite a senior citizen among bourbon whiskeys but definitely a baby boomer in the prime of its life. It certainly smells and tastes its age: The nose is charcoal and wood, a strong indicator of long years spent mellowing in the barrel.
Overall, this is an impressive whiskey and can be found for pretty remarkable price for its age and proof level.
Rowan’s Creek Bourbon
Rowan’s Creek is a 12 year aged, small batch bourbon, produced by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Ltd, Bardstown, KY, is part of their Small Batch Collection: Noah’s Mill, Rowan’s Creek, Pure Kentucky XO, and Kentucky Vintage.
Rowan’s Creek is stored in charred oak barrels Twelve years and it is bottled at 50.05% alc. /vol. (100.1 proof). As is Noah’s Mill, Rowan’s Creek is hand bottled in small batches. It’s quite fragrant although not as rich as Noah’s Mill. The taste is less in your face as Noah’s but very smooth and still quite rich. The taste has vanilla, smoke, oak, leather, some pear, lemon, and floral notes. It is very drinkable with a medium body. Though not a ubiquitous whiskey, it is attracted by its rarity and seemingly small production as compared to the mainstream bourbons.
The bottle nose is a rich butterscotch pudding. The Glass nose is Deep brown sugar, candied butterscotch, vanilla and a hint of chocolate brownie, sometimes piney with alcohol. Tasted without water, you are immediately engaged with a luscious, chewy, deep semi-sweet brown sugar, and lovely concentrated flavors of fruits & flower blossoms, and perhaps a bit of cinnamon. It has a big, long burst of wonderful, dry and satisfying warmth.
Overall, Rowan’s Creek is rich, unique, assertive, tasty and very pleasant bourbon, with a medium body. There are no harsh edges or bitterness, and it is a worthy addition to any collection. It is one of those bourbons that, during the first sip, grabs your attention, and compels you to sit down.
Old Pogue, Master’s Select Bourbon
Aged around nine years, this Old Pogue Master Select is a revival of a very old brand that was forced to close during Prohibition. This true small-batch bourbon is delicate and nuanced, with enticing aromas of maple, stone fruit and brown sugar. Sweet corn, caramel and grain appear on the palate, finishing boldly. This is true sipping bourbon, perfect for enjoying straight. It is a product of Kentucky with 45.5% alcohol by volume.
This bourbon smells leather, corn and soft wood tones with a bit of caramel, and lot of ethanol. There is a little alcoholic on the nose with some spice that comes forward after it begins to open further. It tastes orange spice and pumpkin hit first and then the rye rushed in to take command. The burn is subtle, but there and the rye spice ramps up with no end in sight. Like a good brandy: warming, a bit of a bite, seems like it needs to mellow awhile so the character can build.
It has a finish with lots of rye and spice. The rye dominates this juice to the point of making it unbalanced with anything else. It continues to burn long after the glass is empty. It is a bit dry from the wood tanins but some sweet caramel to balance the wood. Last a moderate long time.
Overall, this is a nice sipping whiskey but would also do well in a Manhattan or old fashioned. The Pogues are moving in the right direction. Old Pogue is in a limited distribution so it may not be available in your area.
Willet Single Barrel Bourbon
It contains 47% alcohol and is priced around $35. It is bottled in a really cool glass pot still decanter, it is soft and elegant on the nose and palate, and very well balanced. No doubt, this is an incredibly drinkable whiskey. There’s no age statement on the bottle, but it was bottled at just the right time, based on its great balance of flavors. Notes of vanilla, coconut, and crème brulee, provide a base for emerging notes of cedar wood shavings, cinnamon, soft mint and a hint of fennel.
This bourbon has a beautiful nose to it, a warm glow as it slides down and then a truly enjoyable sweetness as the flavors explode on your tongue. It smells oak at first then char then sweet brown sugar, nougat and vanilla with dark chocolate and wood char floating through. In time it almost settles on one thing but the oak and smoke never gives up and the desert notes keep changing. This is complex, sweet, long and delicious this is the best nose I have experienced to date. The taste matches the nose with a mix of thick sweet nougat and spice. There is some initial spice and heat on the tongue but it is quickly overpowered by crème brule, nougat and vanilla custard. The desert sweetness balances well with the spice and heat from the proof. There is a deep warm sweet oak char holding it all together.
Overall, there is enough heat from the proof to say this isn't a beginners bourbon but just a couple of drops of spring water softens the burn without taking away any of the special deep complexity and character of this bottling.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is expertly crafted in the time-honored tradition unique to bourbon. Buffalo Trace begins with the finest Kentucky and Indiana corn, selected rye, and superior malted barley. Together, these grains represent our unique mash bill–a trade secret known only by those craftsmen responsible for producing this highest-quality whiskey.
Light bronze in color with streaks of gold, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bears a complex aroma of vanilla, mint, and molasses. Its taste is pleasantly sweet and contains notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak and leather. The long and dry finish has significant depth. When enjoyed with water, flavors of toffee, dark fruit and anise are revealed. It has alcohol content of 45% (ABV).
It has outstanding aroma, kicked off by a spicy prickle, satisfyingly deep, gentle vanilla-ed and molassed with even a sprig of sweet mint.
This bourbon features a rip-roaring waxy sweetness checked by a big build up of vanilla rich oak. Corn is chewy and rye offers a rich textured background. It dries at last as the oak takes command, but rye offers extra depth and a layer of bitterness as does a lingering licorice. It is one of the world's great whiskies.
Burnished gold in color, this Bourbon brings a combination of aromas to the nose: honey, vanilla, oak, toffee, and a suggestion of coriander are all there. The body is big, and on the palate, this becomes a very spicy, masculine whiskey with a complex spicy mustiness and notes of leather, tobacco, overripe oranges, and a surprising smokiness not often found in Bourbon.
Prichard’s Double Barreled
This 9 year old whiskey has been re-barreled in charred oak barrels after being cut to 90 proof. This is an exclusive process used by the Pritchard Distillery that enhances the natural flavors of bourbon. This whiskey was originally made by Heaven Hill then re-barreled by Mr.Pritchard in his small casks for 3 years.
This method of barrelling in small casks causes a much higher proportion of wood/char and an accelerated aging profile. This is straight (unblended) sour mash bourbon. It looks deep patinated copper in the bottle, dark wheat straw in the glass.
First Impression: Deep, heavy oak influence with rye grain influence amidst the corn, caramel, vanilla, ginger, char/oak dried fruit.
It tastes sweet start with a lot of oak/aging almost immediately, and has a medium body slightly astringent, short-to-medium finish. A good bourbon of a drier style, that is not as common as it used to be. Interesting but at $50 a bottle these days I find it pricey for what it is.
It is bottled in a basic square clear flask-type shape with rounded shoulders. Old-style script is printed on the label with simple layout on rectangular label gives it a antique feel. Real cork closure gives it a both authentic and upscale feel.
Tuthilltown Hudson Four Grain Bourbon
With 46% ABV, this bourbon has a short, stout bottle with a simple label. Bottle is clear in color so you can see the remarkable dark gold spirit inside. It is corked and covered with a wax cap that is a brown/maroon.
This is a remarkable spirit. Familiar bourbon flavors abound, but there is so much more to be found in this bottle. This is hands the most delicious and smoothest bourbon I have ever sipped. Nose is bright and sweet, vanilla, spice, and orange are present, with almost a hint of persimmon, and the nose finishes with familiar faint smokiness and alcohol warmth.
On the palate this is smooth and creamy. Flavors of caramel, vanilla, spice, and toasted pecans are present. None of these flavors dominate, they are remarkably balanced. There is also the familiar charred oak and bourbon sweetness present, but these are not overpowering and contribute to the smooth balanced flavor. Finish is remarkably smooth with nice warmth. I have sipped this neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water, and with my new granite "ice cubes". I prefer it undiluted but chilled, so now I only drink it with my granite cubes.
This bourbon has a medium amber color. It smells sweet corn and lightly spicy with a touch of raspberry. Each of the four grains plays its own spectacular note and leaves a symphony of flavors. Smooth and sweet corn give a soft mouth feel on the front end of the taste.
Tuthilltown Hudson Baby Bourbon
Hudson Baby Bourbon is the first bourbon whiskey to be distilled in New York. This single grain bourbon is made from 100% New York corn and aged in our special small American Oak barrels. This unique aging process produces a mildly sweet, smooth spirit with hints of vanilla and caramel. The Baby is Tuthilltown’s first whiskey and the first legal pot-distilled whiskey made in New York since prohibition. Baby Bourbon is a perfect introduction to aged whiskey spirits. It is mild and friendly, bright to the tongue and warming all the way down. Each bottle is hand waxed and numbered. It is a true American classic. The Baby is our most sought after spirit.
Its 100% corn bourbon, aged for only three months in small oak barrels. The Baby Bourbon’s use of 100% corn sets it out as something of a rarity. Federal law requires bourbon to have at least 51% corn, but few types of bourbon have more than 80% corn.
The nose of the baby bourbon have a fairly strong caramel and citrus tones. The first sip brings a lot of lemon and orange peel flavor up front, along with a brief hit of pepper. It mellows towards the back of the tongue with a nice hit of vanilla. It leaves with a bit of acidity, but is very smooth for 92 proof whiskeys. It was easy-to-drink bourbon that retained a great deal of complexity without being too sweet.
