August, 2022 - BourbonSphere

Mike And Matt Taste Ragged Branch Signature Bourbon

This Bourbon is made at the Ragged Mountain Farm, LLC., in Charlottesville, Virginia operating as the Ragged Branch Distillery. The late Dave Pickerell helped them start this distillery and develop their mash bill. It is a traditional Bourbon made with…

Royal Brackla 12 Year Old Scotch Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ Introducing a distillery to The Whiskey Reviewer readership is a rarity these days, so it’s refreshing to take on task for Royal Brackla. The distillery was started in 1812 by an ex-soldier, Captain William Fraser, on the estate of the Earl of Cawdor. Despite frequently clashing with local tax officials …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

Royal Brackla 12 Year Old
(Credit: Bacardi)

Introducing a distillery to The Whiskey Reviewer readership is a rarity these days, so it’s refreshing to take on task for Royal Brackla. The distillery was started in 1812 by an ex-soldier, Captain William Fraser, on the estate of the Earl of Cawdor. Despite frequently clashing with local tax officials on whether or not he had to pay for his evaporated spirit (“angel’s share”), Fraser’s whisky managed to garner the attention of King William IV. In 1833, his distillery became the first to earn a Royal Warrant, effectively becoming the official whisky of the British monarch.

The distillery underwent the vagaries common to antique Scottish distilleries, so it has been shuttered, bought and sold multiple times in the two centuries since its foundation. Today it is part of the Dewar’s portfolio, which in turn is owned by Bacardi. The current core line of single malts from Royal Brackla dates back several years, but it was recently revamped.

The Scotch
I found the pour surprisingly dark for a 12 year old malt, but certainly not amber. It’s more like tarnished gold, were such a thing possible. The nose delivers a hefty dollop of malty honey and dry Sherry, tinged with a sliver of dry oak. The flavor builds on that, adding vanilla to the honey sweetness, black pepper to that background oaky note, and nuttiness to the current of Sherry wine.

The finish goes farther and reverses expectations, opening with a peppery, woody note, only to fade to the wine fruit, honey sweet side. Mind you, I found this turn to the sweet aspects in the finish a faint one, coming only after the wood and pepper were gone, but it was there and turned the whole closing of the show on its head. For that reason alone, it’s an interesting standout for a 12 year old malt.

The Price
Expect to pay about $85 a bottle in the US.

EVENT Aug 9th: Hardin’s Creek Bourbon Dinner Pairing at “North of Bourbon”

(LOUISVILLE) Jim Beam’s new Hardin’s Creek Bourbon is teaming up with restaurant North of Bourbon for a special evening. 8th gen Jim beam distiller Freddie Noe will lead the whiskey part as Head Chef Lawrence Weeks prepares an eclectically delish sounding 3 course meal with additional appetizer and dessert. More on Hardin’s Creek Bourbon HERE. […]

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(LOUISVILLE) Jim Beam’s new Hardin’s Creek Bourbon is teaming up with restaurant North of Bourbon for a special evening.

8th gen Jim beam distiller Freddie Noe will lead the whiskey part as Head Chef Lawrence Weeks prepares an eclectically delish sounding 3 course meal with additional appetizer and dessert.

More on Hardin’s Creek Bourbon HERE.

The Aug. 9 Hardin’s Creek Bourbon Dinner bourbon dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. with a welcome cocktail and grazing plates, with the first course served at 7. Tickets are $150 (includes tax and gratuity).Tickets can be purchased by calling 502-749-3305 or emailing northofbourbon@gmail.com.

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NEW RELEASE: Barrell Craft Spirits Launches “Gray Label Dovetail” at 131 Proof

(LOUISVILLE) This week Barrell Craft Spirits, which launched Barrell Dovetail in 2018, released BCS Gray Label Dovetail, which uses the same award-winning blend and finishing method as Dovetail, but with older and more rare barrels, aged up to 20 years. The new, limited-edition expression was bottled at 131.54 proof and bears an SRP of $249.99. BUY […]

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Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail

BUY HERE

Key Facts

Whiskey finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards cabernet barrels
Distilled in Indiana, Tennessee and Canada
Aged in the US and Canada
Crafted and bottled in Kentucky
131.54 proof cask strength bottling

Tasting Notes (Brand Provided)

Nose: Green grape, tart apple, and pollen lead into one very vivid note of just-pressed cider. The notes of gooseberry jam, cranberry sauce, and dried apricot are pronounced and defined. Maple walnut ice cream, tahini, and leather provide a subtle, savory undertone.

Palate: Robust and impeccably balanced, with flavors ranging from strawberry rhubarb pie to fennel pollen. Flan and coconut oil provide a rich and creamy texture that balances some light sandy tannin and modest astringency. Depth seems to come mostly from the oldest Canadian whiskeys, in the form of fennel, poppy seed and peppercorn. Allspice, ginger, and cola notes from the French and American oak round it out.

Finish: A burst of licorice candy and molasses gives way to
Earl Grey Tea with honey. The palate is left with a range of dusty mineral notes, among them necco wafers, oyster shell, and squid ink.

With a splash of spring water: Classical notes of crème brulée and funnel cake take the lead. The complexity here is more savory, with shiso, tomato, and tajin. An unexpected burst of lychee on the finish yields to charcoal and paraffin.

The post NEW RELEASE: Barrell Craft Spirits Launches “Gray Label Dovetail” at 131 Proof first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

2022 Kentucky Bourbon Festival “Premium Events” Are Now On Sale

(Bardstown, KY) The Kentucky Bourbon Festival in September (National Bourbon Heritage Month) has just released its “Premium Events” which are now on sale. Here is the full list to check out! NOTE, ticket purchase for the main event is required for access to the “Premium Events” opportunities. MORE INFO: www.kybourbonfestival.com Wed Sept 14th 1-2:30 p.m. […]

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MORE INFO: www.kybourbonfestival.com

Wed Sept 14th

1-2:30 p.m. Equipped and Ready to Cocktail: Great cocktails are made with correct tools, delicious amendments, precise recipes and specific techniques. In this hands-on session Samantha Montgomery, national brand ambassador for Bardstown Bourbon Co., will discuss the tools included in attendee’s personal cocktail kits, how cocktail amendments affect each drink, why drink recipes are necessary for good results, and lead the group through hands-on drink making.

Cost: $125 and includes each student’s cocktail kit and light bites.

Location: Bardstown Bourbon Co.

Thurs Sept 15th

1-2:15 p.m. Tasting Whiskey’s Past & Present: If you ask whiskey expert Travis Hill how best to understand American whiskey’s past, he’ll tell you to learn how differently it was made way back when—and then pour you some of it. Join Hill for this extended tasting of some fine “dusty” whiskey and their comparisons to some modern favorites. This year’s lineup includes:

Old Forester 1996 Olympic Bourbon, 96 proof, compared with Old Forester Single Barrel, 90 proof
Virgin Bourbon (distilled by Heaven Hill in 1992), 10 years old, 101 proof, compared with Henry McKenna (made by Heaven Hill) 10 years old, 100 proof
Old Granddad (made by United Distillers in 1981) no age statement, 114 proof, compared with Castle & Key Single Barrel Rye, 5 years old, 113.9 proof

Class cost: $150 and includes whiskeys and light bites.

Location: Bardstown Bourbon Co.

2:30-4 p.m. Discovery Series Deconstructed: Ever wondered how Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s (BBC) blending team creates its Discovery Series whiskeys? These amazing whiskeys contain as many as five unique bourbons, corn and rye whiskeys of widely varying ages that are blended into a single amazing product. Join us when Dan Callaway, vice president of hospitality and product development at BBC, deconstructs one of its Fusion whiskeys, lets you taste its individual parts and then guides you to reconstruct that amazing blend.

Class cost: $100 and includes whiskeys and light bites.

Location: Bardstown Bourbon Co.

FRIDAY SEPT. 16

12:30 Cocktail Creations: The Bitters Truth: Lynn House, who learned mixology firsthand working in some of the nation’s top bars, knows delicious and balanced cocktails require bitter notes. In this seminar, the well-known national brand educator at Heaven Hill will show you how to leverage bitters in three, easy-to-make and memorably tasty cocktails.

Class cost: $75 and includes cocktails and a Scrappy’s Bitters kit.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

2 p.m. Cooking with Bourbon: Ouita Michel knows a lot about Kentucky foods. As co-owner of Holly Hill Inn and several other restaurants, Michel is a seven-time James Beard Award nominee, cookbook author and nationally revered chef. Bring an appetite when she cooks a few items from her recent cookbook, “Just a Few Miles South.”

Class cost: $95 and includes a welcome cocktail, tastes of Chef Ouita’s food and a signed copy of her cookbook, “Just a Few Miles South.”

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

3:30 p.m. It is Finished: A Deep Dive into Secondary Barrel-Finishing: Making and aging whiskey is no simple task, so why would whiskey makers complicate the process with secondary cask finishing? To create novel flavors, variations on longstanding grain themes tantalize whiskey lovers’ palates, of course. Join our expert panel of a distiller, a blender and a barrel maker to learn about—and taste—how secondary barrels drastically elevate whiskeys.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of finished whiskeys

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

5 p.m. The Mash Hour: The Fun Past and Frustrating Present of Whiskey Collecting. Brian Gelfo and Travis Hill remember whiskey collecting as fun. In the early aughts, dusties were easily found and affordable. Today, vintage whiskey difficult to find and prices are astronomically high. Same holds for modern whiskey, especially if it has a cult following. Listen in as Gelfo and Hill discuss how bottle shopping once was, what it’s now become, and what it’ll look like in the future.

Class cost: This event is free to VIP ticketholders only.

Location: VIP Tent

SATURDAY SEPT. 17

12:30 p.m. Cocktail Creations: That’s Amaro! From cocktails such as the black Manhattan to the Brooklyn and the Paper Plane, amaro and American whiskey play well together. Let one of our Distilled Living mixologists discuss amaro’s role in cocktails and show you how to make some.

Class cost: $75 and includes cocktails made by attendees.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

2 p.m. Cooking with Bourbon: Newman Miller, chef and co-owner of the Harrison-Smith House in Bardstown, returns to the Bourbon Festival for another entertaining round of cooking, sips and stories. Settle in for some amazing culinary stories and tastes of his amazing food.

Class cost: $75 and includes a welcome cocktail and tastes of Chef Miller’s creations

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

3:30 p.m. Uniquely Single: The single barrel pick is the true unicorn of the bourbon world. Since every barrel of whiskey is unique, these one-and-done bottlings will never be repeated, and demand for them has never been greater. Join New Riff Distilling’s Creola Dickerson and Maker’s Mark’s Jane Bowie to learn the nuanced differences in each distillery’s single barrel program.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of multiple whiskeys.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

5 p.m. The Mash Hour: American Whiskey Was Different We Started! For a combined 90 years, master distillers Chris Morris (Brown-Forman) and Fred Noe (James B. Beam Distilling Co.) have seen it all in American whiskey. And as both men will tell you, it’s a vastly different industry in 2022 than when they started in the 1980s. Grab a cocktail and a seat and soak up some of the most entertaining stories ever told by these industry legends

Class cost: This event is free to VIP ticketholders only.

Location: VIP Tent

SUNDAY SEPT. 18

12:30 p.m. Bourbon Brunch Cocktails Bourbon at brunch, you ask? Yes, and doubly yes at the Bourbon Festival. Let one of our Distilled Living mixologists demonstrate how to make three bourbon-based cocktails that’ll pair with any brunch menu.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of cocktails and light bites.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

2 p.m. Go to the Source! A large portion of bottles on retailers’ shelves are filled with whiskey sourced by non-distiller producers (NDPs) from distilleries with excess capacity. Some sourced whiskeys become legends, and some are coveted bottles in the modern marketplace. Listen in as Barry Brinegar (founder of RD1 Spirits), David Mandell (co-founder and former president of Bardstown Bourbon Co.) and Monica Wolf (president of The Spirits Group) discuss the art, science, difficulty and luck involved in finding great sourced whiskeys.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of multiple sourced whiskeys.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

3:30 p.m. Big Flavors from Craft Distilleries: “Craft” implies many things when it comes to distilled spirits, but as America’s 2,500 craft distilleries have proven, the plant doesn’t have to be big to produce great whiskey. Join distillers Caleb Kilburn (Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.) and Royce Neeley (Neeley Family Distillery) for a fun and factual discussion of craft whiskey and, of course, some sips of their whiskeys.

Class cost: $75 and includes tastes of multiple whiskeys.

Location: Kentucky Bourbon Festival Loft

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Woodford Reserve’s Porch Swing Cocktail will Cure End-of-Summer Blues

Summer temps are holding steady, but fall is lurking. Hold on to carefree summer vibes with this light and refreshing cocktail from our friends at Woodford Reserve. INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 oz Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey 3/4 oz lemon juice 1/2 oz honey 6 oz peach tea INSTRUCTIONS1. Combine ingredients into a tall glass and […]

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Woodford Reserve Summer Porch Swing Cocktail

Summer temps are holding steady, but fall is lurking. Hold on to carefree summer vibes with this light and refreshing cocktail from our friends at Woodford Reserve.

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 oz Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
3/4 oz lemon juice
1/2 oz honey
6 oz peach tea

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Combine ingredients into a tall glass and stir.
2. Garnish with a slice of peach or lemon wheel.

Find more Woodford Reserve cocktails here.

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EVENT, Aug 10th: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s “John G Carlisle” Release Party at Northern KY’s Smoke Justis

PRESS RELEASE from “The B-Line“ for Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s upcoming launch Party. Co-founders of Kentucky Senator Bourbon, KY State Senator Majority Leader, Damon Thayer, and equine attorney, Andre Regard, will be at Covington KY’s Smoke Justis on August 10th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to launch Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s new release, the John G. Carlisle. […]

The post EVENT, Aug 10th: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s “John G Carlisle” Release Party at Northern KY’s Smoke Justis first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

PRESS RELEASE from “The B-Line“ for Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s upcoming launch Party.

Co-founders of Kentucky Senator Bourbon, KY State Senator Majority Leader, Damon Thayer, and equine attorney, Andre Regard, will be at Covington KY’s Smoke Justis on August 10th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. to launch Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s new release, the John G. Carlisle.

ARTICLE: Kentucky Senator Bourbon’s 3rd Release: John G. Carlisle

Smoke Justis is on our 2021 “America’s Best Bourbon Bars‘ List. Cool vibe. Solid food and first class Bourbon selection.

Kentucky Senator Release Party, Smoke Justis — Smoke Justis. Part of Northern KY’s “The B-Line” and member of The Bourbon Review’s 2021 America’s Best Bourbon Bars list.

Kentucky Senator Bourbon is a storied brand in the state of Kentucky with deep Northern Kentucky roots. Whiskey makers of excellence, Crigler & Crigler, were based in Covington, KY on Pike and Scott streets prior to Prohibition. They originally produced the Kentucky Senator brand for the world as one the finest Kentucky Bourbons.

Senator Thayer and his business partner Regard gave Kentucky Senator new life by working with various providers to recreate this celebrated brand. They dedicate each release to a Kentucky Senator that has left their mark on history. The first release of Kentucky Senator honored Alben W. Barkley, a Kentucky Senator that became Vice President of the United States under President Harry S. Truman. The second release commemorated William J Deboe, a sponsor of the 17th Amendment to the Constitution. We are especially excited about the third release of Kentucky Senator, celebrating Covington’s John G. Carlisle, who was critical to the passing of the Bottled in Bond Act in 1864.

The John G. Carlisle Kentucky Senator release is a seven-year-old bourbon at a 107 proof. We asked Executive Bourbon Steward and Head Bourbon personality at Smoke Justis, Jade Colwell, to give us some tasting notes to get you excited. She shared her thoughts on the new Kentucky Senator release as “a 7-year-old gem that has budding hints of freshly picked cherries on the tongue. As the bourbon progresses on the pallet shades of sour apple and freshly churned butter appear. Just when you think you are done it hits you with a perfect blend of walnuts and tangerine”.

Make sure to mark your calendar for August 10th at Smoke Justis for a chance to meet co-founders Thayer and Regard, sip some Kentucky Senator John G. Carlisle and learn more about what is next for the brand. The event is open to the public and begins at 6:00 p.m.

For more information on the Bourbon Destinations of Northern Kentucky, please visit www.thebline.com.

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2022 American Whiskey Masters Awards: Buffalo Trace Distillery Wins Big

The winners from the 2022 American Whiskey Masters Competition (AWMC) are in. You’ll notice some familiar faces (cough, Buffalo Trace), but you’ll also see some whiskey winners which may be new to your palate. The AWMC is just one component of the broader Global Spirits Masters Competitions which in total has 21 different spirit categories, […]

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The winners from the 2022 American Whiskey Masters Competition (AWMC) are in. You’ll notice some familiar faces (cough, Buffalo Trace), but you’ll also see some whiskey winners which may be new to your palate.

The AWMC is just one component of the broader Global Spirits Masters Competitions which in total has 21 different spirit categories, each category having its own judgement day. The results of each competition are published in The Spirits Business.

The 2022 AWMC took place in London with 5 different judging panels, each comprised of qualified whiskey tasting pros. There were hundreds of American Whiskey entries.

The Highest Award Goes To…

6 different labels were chosen with the distinctive honor of “MASTER”, and the overall highest award “TASTE MASTER” going to a Buffalo Trace Distillery’s “Weller 12 Year Bourbon”.

The awards pecking order are as followed: Taste Master > Master> Gold > Silver

COMPANY	PRODUCT	AWARD
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller 12 Year Old	Master & Taste Master
Luxco	Remus Repeal Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey	Master
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon	Master
Distillery 291	291 Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Barrel Proof Single Barrel	Master
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Rye 6 Year Old	Master
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye	Master

Distillery With The Most Wins….

Some, OK many would say not shockingly, Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY came away with the most awards with 16 medals. Including the highest honor of Taste Master and their Weller CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) grabbing Master. Also of notice, BTD wreaked havoc in the “Bourbon – No Age Statement” category earning 11 of the 15 awarded medals. All but one of those being gold.

Four Roses and Wild Turkey also grabbed multiple Golds.

In the American Single Malt category, Virginia Distilling Co cleaned house.

Luxco’s “Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Whiskey” snatched a coveted Master award. Could that be a game changer for them? Along those lines, Colorado based 291 Distillery grabbed their own Master medal. That certainly won’t hurt their brand reputation and elevation.

Now, we bring you the AWMC awards, broken down by category….

EXCHANGE RATE: 1 Euro = 1.02 US Dollars

Bourbon – Premium (£0‐£30, $0 – $30.74)

Brand	Product	Medal
Four Roses Distillery	Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon	Gold
Four Roses Distillery	Four Roses Straight Bourbon	Gold

Bourbon – Super Premium (£31‐£50)

Brand	Product	Medal
High West Distillery	High West American Prairie Bourbon	Gold
Four Roses Distillery	Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon	Gold
Four Roses Distillery	Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon	Gold
Angel’s Envy	Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels	Gold

Bourbon – Ultra Premium (£51+)

Brand	Product	Medal
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller 12 Year Old	Master & Taste Master
Luxco	Remus Repeal Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey	Master
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Eagle Rare 17 Year Old	Gold
Campari Group	Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon	Gold

Bourbon – No Age Statement

Brand	Product	Medal
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon	Master
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Stagg Jr	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller Antique	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Elmer T Lee Single Barrel	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Colonel EH Taylor Jr Small Batch	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller Single Barrel	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller Full Proof	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Colonel EH Taylor Jr Single Barrel	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Early Times Bottled in Bond	Gold
Distillery 291	291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Small Batch	Gold
Zamora Company	Yellow Rose Harris County	Silver
Zamora Company	Yellow Rose Outlaw	Silver
Buffalo Trace Distillery	WL Weller Special Reserve	Silver
Vok Beverages	5 Square Mile Bourbon	Silver
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Colonel EH Taylor Jr Barrel Proof	Silver

Bourbon – Aged up to 7 Years

Brand	Product	Medal
Luxco	George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey	Gold
Bently Heritage Estate Distillery	Bently Heritage Estate Distillery Bourbon Whiskey	Gold
Campari Group	Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon	Gold

Bourbon – Aged Over 8 Years

Brand	Product	Medal
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Eagle Rare 10 Year Old	Gold
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Rye 10 Year Old	Gold

Bourbon – Single Barrel

Brand	Product	Medal
Campari Group	Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit	Gold
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon	Gold
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Rye 13 Year Old	Gold

Bourbon – Cask Strength

Brand	Product	Medal
Buffalo Trace Distillery	A Smith Bowman Cask Strength	Gold

Tennessee – Super Premium (£31‐£50)

Brand	Product	Medal
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey	Uncle Nearest 1884 Premium Small Batch Whiskey	Gold
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey	Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey	Gold
Emporia Brands	Daddy Rack	Gold

Tennessee – Ultra Premium (£51+)

Brand	Product	Medal
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey	Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch No.001	Gold

Single Malt – No Age Statement

Brand	Product	Medal
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask Whisky	Gold
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask Whisky	Gold
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction Bourbon Cask Whisky	Gold
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction American Single Malt	Gold

Single Malt – Aged up to 7 Years

Brand	Product	Medal
Bently Heritage Estate Distillery	Bently Heritage Estate Distillery Single Malt Whiskey	Gold

Single Malt – No Age Statement

Brand	Product	Medal
Westland Distillery	Westland American Single Malt	Gold
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask Whisky	Gold
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction Bourbon Single Cask Whisky	Silver
Virginia Distillery Company	Courage & Conviction Sherry Single Cask Whisky	Silver

Rye – Super Premium (£31‐£50)

Brand	Product	Medal
High West Distillery	High West Double Rye	Gold
Campari Group	Wild Turkey Rare Breed Rye	Gold

Rye – Ultra Premium (£51+)

Brand	Product	Medal
Distillery 291	291 Colorado Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Barrel Proof Single Barrel	Master
High West Distillery	High West Rendezvous Rye	Gold

Rye – Aged up to 7 Years

Brand	Product	Medal
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Rye 6 Year Old	Master
Campari Group	Wild Turkey 101 Rye	Gold
Luxco	Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey	Gold
Luxco	Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Strength	Gold
Bently Heritage Estate Distillery	Bently Heritage Estate Distillery Rye Whiskey	Gold

Rye – No Age Statement

Brand	Product	Medal
Zamora Company	Yellow Rose Rye	Gold
Whistlepig	Whistlepig Piggyback Rye	Gold
Buffalo Trace Distillery	Colonel EH Taylor Jr Straight Rye	Gold
Distillery 291	291 Colorado Rye Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Small Batch	Silver

Rye – Single Barrel

Brand	Product	Medal
Campari Group	Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye	Master

Flavoured Whiskey

Brand	Product	Medal
Ole Smoky Distillery	Salty Caramel Whiskey	Gold
Ole Smoky Distillery	Peanut Butter Whiskey	Gold

The post 2022 American Whiskey Masters Awards: Buffalo Trace Distillery Wins Big first appeared on The Bourbon Review.

Limavady Single Barrel, Single Malt Irish Whiskey

I’d like to thank the producers and their PR team for sending this review sample along with no strings attached.

…

I’d like to thank the producers and their PR team for sending this review sample along with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A bottle of Limavady Single Malt Irish Whiskey

I’m going to come right out and say it. I haven’t yet had a Single Malt Whiskey that I actually liked. Notice the Capital S on that categorization. See, I’ve liked the occasional whiskey that uses a large percentage of malt in its mash bill, but for some reason, once it is classified as a Single Malt Whiskey, the odds are that I’m not going to like it. But it really isn’t fair to those whiskeys. Over the years, I’ve simply discovered that I don’t actually like the flavor of malted grains in whiskey. It doesn’t matter if it is malted barley or the relatively recently introduced rye whiskeys that are, entirely or partially, made with malted rye grains. (Never had a whiskey that uses malted corn or malted wheat though so I can’t say on those.)

Of course that doesn’t mean I am going to stop trying them either. I mean, what fun is that? You hand me a whiskey to try and I’m going to try it, whether it uses a large percentage of malted barley or not. Heck, if you handed me a whiskey made entirely of malted corn, malted rye, and malted barley, I’m going to be at least trying it. Even though I don’t care for the taste that malting brings to the grain.

I guess there is a reason I like bourbon and rye best. Styles where the malted grains are usually used in single digit percentages.

So when the PR firm that handles Limavady reached out to me to see if I wanted to try their new product, I of course said yes. Who turns down free booze when the only downside is that it might not be good? It might also be amazing. Plus, I’ve liked quite a few Irish whiskeys, though the ones I’ve liked have been made from a mix of malted and unmalted barley.

So let’s learn a little bit about Limavady, the Single Barrel, Single Malt Irish Whiskey. First, here is what the brand has to say for itself:

Limavady Irish Whiskey- As one of Ireland’s oldest whiskeys dating back to 1750 and inspired by the Gaelic origins of Limavady - Leim an Mhadaidh, meaning “Leap of the Dog.” Darryl McNally, Whiskey Master and descendant of the Limavady Distillery’s 18th century operators, is at the helm of the brand, with his own underdog story to tell. Limavady is made of 100% Irish barley and is small batch, triple distilled in a copper pot still. The single malt whiskey is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in PX sherry cask before bottling each cask individually, at 46% ABV. The sherry casks deliver warm, inviting dried fruit and spice notes, adding richness to a toasted vanilla base, for a drinking experience that’s well-rounded and genuinely delicious.

The rest of the details are as follows. This whiskey is made from 100% malted Irish barley. It was aged in ex-Bourbon barrels and then finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. The whiskey comes in at 92° proof and is made by Darryl McNally, a 20+ year veteran distiller in the Irish whiskey industry.

Ok, but now onto the important stuff. How does it taste? We know my biases, let’s see if this Irish Single Malt can overcome them.

Limavady Single Barrel, Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Purchase Info: This sample was sent to me by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99 for a 700mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.57

Details: Proof: 46% ABV. Mash bill: 100% Malted Irish Barley. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in PX sherry casks. Barrel#: 0136. Bottle#: 640 of 846.

Nose: Dried fruit, caramel, and lemon.

Mouth: Sweet with notes of dried fruit, mint, and hints of cinnamon candy.

Finish: Medium finish with notes of cinnamon and dried fruit.

This gets a neutral face from me. I don't like or dislike this one.

Thoughts: I’m not going to lie, this one isn’t for me. I appreciate this whiskey more than I like it. It has a pleasant enough flavor, it just isn't my preferred flavor profile. Let’s put it this way, I finished the glass after the tasting, but i didn’t pour another. So I’m very neutral on this personally, but for people who like malt whiskey with a strong Sherry influence, this would probably be worth a look.

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Bourbon Groups Join Southeastern Kentucky Flood Relief With Online Auction

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association, the Bourbon Crusaders charitable organization and Bourbon curator Fred Minnick are joining forces again, this time to support recovery and rebuilding efforts from the catastrophic flooding in Eastern Kentucky. The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit will feature an online auction of exclusive private barrel selection experiences, rare and vintage spirits, and unique tasting …

The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit will feature an online auction of exclusive private barrel selection experiences, rare and vintage spirits, and unique tasting and tourism offerings from Kentucky’s signature distilling industry and hospitality and charitable partners.

“Kentucky’s Bourbon industry was there for our Western Kentucky families following the tornadoes, making the single largest donation to that relief fund – and now I am proud to see this industry stepping up once again to support our Eastern Kentucky families affected by the devastating flooding,” Gov. Andy Beshear said.

“I know this will make a tremendous impact for our people and I am grateful for the continued support.”

The partnership raised about $3.4 million in December during a similar auction to help ease suffering and restore hope for residents of Western Kentucky whose communities were ravaged by a tornado outbreak.

“We prayed that we’d never have to get this group together again in the face of disaster, but our friends, families and neighbors in Eastern Kentucky are braving through unspeakable tragedy and devastation,” KDA President Eric Gregory said. “It’s our duty as a signature industry to help.

“We were so impressed and humbled by the outpouring of support for Western Kentucky, and we hope that Bourbon aficionados and bidders show the same unparalleled generosity for the thousands of Eastern Kentucky residents who desperately need our assistance.”

The online auction will begin Thursday, Aug. 11, at noon EST and run until Sunday, Aug. 21, at 11 p.m. EST. Go to www.kybourbonbenefit.com to view auction items and bid. Westport Whiskey & Wine in Louisville is coordinating collection and distribution of donated items.

All proceeds will go directly to the state’s official Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund to assist those impacted by flooding. The website to learn more or make a donation is https://secure.kentucky.gov/FormServices/Finance/EKYFloodRelief.

RJ Sargent, President of The Bourbon Crusaders, said, “The core purpose of the Bourbon Crusaders is to make a difference in the lives of others, and once again the state we love so much needs our help.

“When the tornadoes hit Western Kentucky last year, we joined the KDA and Fred Minnick to help raise over $3 million from our generous supporters. Now with the recent flood disaster, many more Kentuckians have had their lives upended. We are joining forces again and hope our friends will step up, too. The Bourbon community sticks together.”

Minnick said, “I wish we didn’t have to do this. But the Bourbon community deeply feels for their neighbors in Eastern Kentucky, as we did for the Western Kentucky tornado victims, and we will do everything within our power to ease the situation for the flood survivors.

“This is about our friends, family and neighbors. We must be there for them.”

Chris Zaborowski, owner of Westport Whiskey & Wine, said, “We were heartbroken to see the devastation brought to Eastern Kentucky with the recent flooding. We knew we wanted to team up with the KDA again to help raise the much-needed funds for our fellow Kentuckians.”

Gregory said many KDA members are once again offering private barrel experiences where Bourbon enthusiasts can personally taste and select their own one-of-a-kind barrel. Each barrel usually yields 150-200 bottles depending on age and proof.

Whiskey aficionados with the Bourbon Crusaders are raiding their collections and donating dozens of limited edition and single barrel expressions of Bourbon, rye and Scotch whiskies. Distillers also are donating rare bottles that disappeared from retailer’s shelves long ago.

Minnick, a best-selling author and expert on all things Bourbon, is using his renowned distilling and celebrity connections to reap a treasure trove of bottles, private experiences and memorabilia to fulfill any whiskey lover’s dream.

Kentucky distillers also are sending tanker trucks and totes of fresh water to Eastern Kentucky, along with contributing thousands of dollars to organizations and relief funds involved in the cleanup and recovery.

“We deeply appreciate the support of all our member distilleries and friends with the Bourbon Crusaders, Fred Minnick and the team at Westport Whiskey & Wine for their partnership in helping our fellow Kentuckians,” Gregory said.

“Bourbon is America’s native spirit and Kentucky is its birthplace. It’s our honor and obligation to step up and help our fellow Kentuckians in times of need. Thank you to everyone who is helping in the recovery and rebuilding efforts, and please continue praying for our beloved Commonwealth and its people.”