Author: Ed

Château De Laubade L’Unique Armagnac Review

Don’t worry! I haven’t become Armagnac Obsessed, but I actually am about this particular one, because it’s part of a bourbon and armagnac love story, so to speak. Sort of like Romeo and Juliet but with a happier (and tastier) ending. If you’ll remember back in the early summer of 2020, the Bardstown Bourbon Company released their Château De Laubade Bourbon, which was finished in Château De Laubade Armagnac barrels. So the cool thing is that these barrels, after first aging armagnac and then finishing BBC bourbon then went back to Château De Laubade to finish an armagnac. The circle of life. Isn’t that cool?! I have really wanted to get a hold of a bottle of this armagnac from the time I first time that I had heard of it, but it seemed like none of the 698 bottles made it to Kentucky. Fortunately my wonderful wife tracked one down in California and my wonderful brother-in-law muled it back for me.

The post Château De Laubade L’Unique Armagnac Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

L’Unique
The Traveling Barrels
Château De Laubade
BAS Armagnac
Single Vineyard, Cask Strength
48.4% ABV
50% Baco – 50% Ugni Blanc

Please enjoy my Château De Laubade L’Unique Armagnac Review.

The L’Unique Armagnac Backstory

Don’t worry! I haven’t become Armagnac Obsessed, but I actually am obsessed about this particular one. It’s part of a bourbon and armagnac love story, so to speak. Sort of like Romeo and Juliet but with a happier (and tastier) ending. If you’ll remember back in the early summer of 2020, the Bardstown Bourbon Company released their Château De Laubade Bourbon, which was finished in Château De Laubade Armagnac barrels. So the cool thing is that these barrels, after first aging armagnac and then finishing BBC bourbon then went back to Château De Laubade to finish an armagnac. The circle of life. Isn’t that cool?! I have really wanted to get a hold of a bottle of this armagnac from the time I first time that I had heard of it, but it seemed like none of the 698 bottles made it to Kentucky. Fortunately my wonderful wife tracked one down in California and my wonderful brother-in-law muled it back for me.

What is L’Unique?

According to the label: “‘L’Unique” is a blend of two 8-year-old single casks of Baco and Ugni Blanc, finished in one ex-Bourbon barrel for 8 months. In 2018, this barrel was shipped from Laubade to Bardstown Bourbon Company in Kentucky where it was used for maturing Bourbon. In 2020, the barrel was then shipped back home to conclude its transatlantic journey and give an incomparable finish to the Armagnac. “‘L’Unique – The Traveling Barrels” is an exclusive 698-bottle release for the US.

  • Front Label
  • Bottle Number
  • Neck Ring
  • Château De Laubade L’Unique Armagnac Back Label
  • Bardstown Bourbon Company Château De Laubade Bourbon
The L’Unique Armagnac Grapes

So, I am no armagnac expert, and in fact I had to do quite a bit of research to even understand the bottle. Apparently the two different grapes used in this armagnac – the Baco and Ugni Blanc – have an interesting history. The Baco was originally developed to be resistant to grape diseases and pests like phylloxera, and up until the 1970’s was the primary grape of Armagnac. Since then it has been largely replaced by Ugni Blanc (also known as Trebbiano) which is now the dominant grape in the region, although Baco is still used.

Tasting Notes

This armagnac is very enjoyable, and quite different from bourbon. Its fairly fruit-forward, dominated by apple, with some grape, raisin, oak, tanginess and a pastry-like character, with a fairly long finish.

In Conclusion

Can I pick out the bourbon flavors in the armagnac? I can’t say that I can, but I can certainly pick out the armagnac flavors in the bourbon. I guess I am missing one more bottle for comparison – the unfinished Château De Laubade Armagnac. Then I would probably notice the effect that the finishing had. Stay tuned!

I hope you enjoyed my Château De Laubade L’Unique Armagnac Review. Maybe you want to read about the bourbon discussed in this post? If so, check out my Bardstown Bourbon Company Château de Laubade Bourbon review! Cheers!🥃

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Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Review

Four Roses Small Batch Select is the newest addition to Four Roses’ main lineup. It was first introduced back in 2019 with limited availability, but now is significantly more widely available. At around twice the price of the Small Batch, Four Roses gives us 6 recipes instead of four, boosts the proof to 104, and delivers the bourbon non-chill filtered.

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Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon
Crafted from Six Unique Bourbons
104 Proof
Non-Chill Filtered
MSRP $59.99

Please enjoy my Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Review!

What is Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon?

Four Roses Small Batch Select is the newest addition to Four Roses’ main lineup. It was first introduced back in 2019 with limited availability, but now is significantly more widely available. At around twice the price of the Small Batch, Four Roses gives us 6 recipes instead of four, boosts the proof to 104, and delivers the bourbon non-chill filtered.

How is Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Made?

Like the Four Roses Small Batch, the Small Batch Select is made by mingling together some of Four Roses recipes once they have reached full maturity at a minimum of 6-7 years of age. In this case, 6 of the recipes are used, as opposed to 4 of the recipes for Small Batch. Both bourbons share in common using both of Four Roses mashbills, B & E, and both use the K yeast strain. However, Four Roses Small Batch Select uses the V & F yeast strains, whereas Small Batch uses O. These six recipes are said to have the following flavor characteristics:

OBSV: Delicate Fruit and Rye
OESV: Delicate Fruit and Caramel
OBSK: Rye and Baking Spice
OESK: Baking Spice
OBSF: Delicate Rye and Mint
OESF: Herbs and Mint

So, when combined with the higher proof and non-chill filtering, this should have quite a different flavor profile than the Small Batch.

  • Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Front Label
    Front Label
  • Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Neck Ring
    Neck Ring
  • Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Back Label
    Back Label
Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Baking spices, butterscotch, vanilla, honey, pine; there’s also some sweet fruit flavors, like grape lollipop and apple; moderate alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Baking spices, oak, butterscotch, honey, vanilla; full mouthfeel
👉🏻Finish: Sweetness, vanilla and oak continue into the finish which is fairly long with a moderate burn

Summary

Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon has the rich flavors I expect from Four Roses. Not quite a Limited Edition, but the flavor profile has some similarities, at least to the latest 2021 release. That one is in a league of its own, and I’m still looking for a bottle, but I have tasted it 3 or 4 times now and love it. But I digress, although not really. If those are the kind of flavors you enjoy, then this bourbon should be right up your alley, and much easier to find than the Limited Edition. It must be the combination of mash bills and the higher proof that brings out flavors that are not found in the regular Small Batch.

But wait, there’s more!

I hope you enjoyed my Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Review! If you would like to read some more, check out my Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review and my post: Four Roses Bourbon Recipes – The Basics. Cheers!🥃

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Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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Four Roses Bourbon Recipes – The Basics

Four Roses is a unique distillery. They make all of their bourbons from 10 different recipes. They can use one recipe to make a single barrel, or multiple recipes to make a small batch. So, today I thought I would just start with the Four Roses basics, and review the 10 Four Roses recipes used to make all of their bourbons.

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Four Roses is a unique distillery. They make all of their bourbons from 10 different recipes. They can use one recipe to make a single barrel, or multiple recipes to make a small batch. So, today I thought I would just start with the Four Roses basics, and review the 10 Four Roses bourbon recipes that they use to make all of their bourbons.

Four Roses Distillery

Fist let’s start with the distillery itself. We have a full write up about touring the Four Roses Distillery and the Four Roses Bottling facility (although it may be a little different now during COVID, and they recently opened a new Visitor Center that we haven’t yet, well, visited😊 ), but you can still check it out to get a feel for what a visit is like. Four Roses Distillery uses cypress fermenters, which is cool, but what really makes them unique for a large distillery, is their single story rick houses. On our tour we were taken into one, Warehouse C, which holds 24,000 barrels, all in a single story! Thats a lot of barrels!

Four Roses Bourbon – The Recipes

Four Roses crafts their bourbons using 2 different mashbills and 5 different yeast strains to yield a total of 10 different Four Roses Bourbon recipes. Each recipe is designated by a series of 4 letters. The O in the first position stands for being made at the Four Roses Distillery, and the S in the 3rd position means Straight Whiskey, and they never change (as far as I know), so you can ignore those. The second position is either B or E and indicates the mashbill. B is 60% Corn, 35% Rye and 5% Malted Barley, whereas E is 75% Corn, 20% Rye and 5% malted barley. The 4th position letter can be V, K, O, Q or F and indicates which yeast strain is used. Each yeast strain has different flavor characteristics. The Four Roses website describes them as:

V: Delicate Fruit
K: Slight Spice
O: Rich Fruit
Q: Floral Essence
F: Herbal Notes

Small Batch and Single Barrels

By utilizing the various combinations of Four Roses Bourbon recipes and yeast strains, and adding in other factors such as age, rickhouse, tier (what level in the rick the barrel ages on), proof, proportion of each recipe and the number of recipes blended, Four Roses can create an essentially unlimited array of small batch bourbons. Or, they can pick just one barrel, which is just a single recipe, and bottle that too! Those are readily available at 100 proof using the OBSV recipe; but if you are lucky you may be able to find a bottle of single barrel barrel strength bourbon. Regardless which Four Roses Bourbon recipe they use,I have found them all to be fantastic!

Check out some Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon reviews

Do you want to see these Four Roses Bourbon recipes put to work? Check out my Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon review and Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon review. While those two bourbons differ only slightly in name, they differ quite substantially in taste. Are you a Four Roses Bourbon fan? What’s your favorite – Four Roses Bourbon, Small Batch, Small Batch Select, Single Barrel or one of the others? Cheers!🥃

Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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The post Four Roses Bourbon Recipes – The Basics appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is one of the bourbons in Four Roses main lineup. The others being Four Roses Bourbon, Four Roses Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch Select. It is made by mingling together 4 of Four Roses 10 recipes after they have aged a minimum of 6-7 years, and it is bottled at 90 proof. According to Four Roses, those recipes “have been expertly selected by our Master Distiller at the peak of maturation to create this very mellow and perfectly balanced Bourbon.”

The post Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Four Roses Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Crafted from Four Select Bourbons
90 proof
$27.99 – $31.99 at Total Wine and More

Please enjoy my Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review

What is Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon?

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon is one of the bourbons in Four Roses main lineup. The others being Four Roses Bourbon, Four Roses Single Barrel and Four Roses Small Batch Select. It is made by mingling together 4 of Four Roses 10 recipes after they have aged a minimum of 6-7 years, and it is bottled at 90 proof. According to Four Roses, those recipes “have been expertly selected by our Master Distiller at the peak of maturation to create this very mellow and perfectly balanced Bourbon.” 

The Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Recipes

I explain Four Roses recipes in detail in my post: Four Rose Bourbon Recipes – The Basics, so I will just mention them briefly here. The recipes that comprise Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon use both of Four Roses mashbills (B & E), and two of their yeast strains, K & O. Four Roses Distillery says that each of these recipes has the following characteristics:

OBSK: Rye and Baking Spices
OBSO: Rich Fruit
OESK: Baking Spice
OESO: Rich Fruit and Vanilla

Knowing that, you may have some idea how these bourbons might taste. But first…

  • Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Front Label
    Front Label
  • Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Neck Tag
    Neck Ring
  • Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Back Label
    Back Label
Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Baking spices, cedar, some citrus, like oranges, also subtle sweetness and sweet cherry candy, subtle butterscotch & vanilla; relatively light alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Baking slices, light honey sweetness, black tea, butterscotch, oak, vanilla
👉🏻Finish: Some butterscotch and vanilla become more pronounced; there’s a hint of cedar and some oak, and barrel char grows; short to medium length finish with a moderate burn

Summary

There’s a bit of a subtlety to Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon, and that probably has to do with it being 90 proof. The rye flavors are definitely present, which is no surprise given the high rye content of the Four Roses mash bills. There are some nice flavors in here, although they are a little toned down in magnitude. This is definitely a great bourbon for people who enjoy their whiskey in the 90 proof range and also a great one for those starting out. It provides some nice flavors without being overpowering.

I hope you enjoyed my Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon Review. If you would like to learn about its higher proof sibling, check out my Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon Review.

Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review

There isn’t much information out there about Rowan’s Creek Bourbon. According to the label, the bourbon takes its name from Rowan’s Creek, which runs through Willett Distillery. In reality, the creek is down the hill from the distillery, but we’re all friends here, so that’s close enough.😊 It seems that at one time in the not too distant past Rowan’s Creek Bourbon bore a 12 year age statement; but alas, those days are gone.

The origins of this bourbon and its mash bill(s) are also a mystery, although that mystery has been partially solved. Originally, Rowan’s Creek was made from sourced bourbon, as were all of Willett’s bourbons. The label now does state that it is distilled, aged and bottled by Willett Distillery, so the origin is no longer a mystery. The bottle I am reviewing however only says that it was “Bottled by Rowan’s Creek Distilling” (a Willett dba), so whether it was distilled all, or in part, or not at all, at Willett is unknown.

The post Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Rowan’s Creek
Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
100.1 proof
Distilled in Kentucky
Bottled by Rowan’s Creek Distillery
DSP-78, Batch 18-33
Non-age Stated
$43.99 at Total Wine
Review

Please enjoy my Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review!

About Rowan’s Creek Bourbon

There isn’t much information out there about Rowan’s Creek Bourbon. According to the label, the bourbon takes its name from Rowan’s Creek, which runs through Willett Distillery. In reality, the creek is down the hill from the distillery, but we’re all friends here, so that’s close enough.😊 It seems that at one time in the not too distant past Rowan’s Creek Bourbon bore a 12 year age statement; but alas, those days are gone.

The origins of this bourbon and its mash bill(s) are also a mystery, although that mystery has been partially solved. Originally, Rowan’s Creek was made from sourced bourbon, as were all of Willett’s bourbons. The label now states that Rowan’s Creek is distilled, aged and bottled by Willett Distillery, so the origin is no longer a mystery. The bottle I am reviewing however only says that it was “Bottled by Rowan’s Creek Distilling” (a Willett dba), so whether it was distilled all, or in part, or not at all, at Willett is unknown.

  • Rowan's Creek Bourbon Review (By Willett)
    Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review
  • Rowan's Creek Front Label
    Front Label
  • Rowan's Creek Bourbon Small Front Label
    Small Front Label
  • Rowan's Creek Bourbon Back Label
    Back Label
  • Rowan's Creek Bourbon Batch Number
    Batch Number
Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Relatively light with apple, pear, oak, cedar & brown sugar; moderate alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Fairly sweet with flavors of honey & sweet tea; light oak and char
👉🏻Finish: The flavors continue into the finish and fade as some char and tannin build; moderately long with a mild burn

Rowan’s Creek Bourbon is quite different from the Noah’s Mill that I have previously reviewed. I’m honestly not sure how I could get them confused all these years. The packaging is similar, and there is something familiar about them, but they are very different bourbons.

Summary

Rowan’s Creek Bourbon is relatively easy to drink for its proof, with some fruit in the nose and quite a bit of sweetness in the taste. Those who might be hesitant of moving to this from something in the 80-90 proof range should not be concerned. For whatever reason the alcohol is surprisingly noticeable in the nose, but no so much elsewhere.

I hope you enjoyed my Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review! If you would like to read about its higher proof sibling, check out my Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review! Cheers!🥃

Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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The post Rowan’s Creek Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review

Willett Distillery is perhaps best known for its highly sought after Willett Family Estate whiskeys, but there are many, many more brands also produced at this distillery. In fact, the Willett Family Estate is just a small percentage of the whiskey produced by Willett. One of these other brands is Noah’s Mill Bourbon.

There is not much information out there about Noah’s Mill, other than that it once bore a 15 year old age statement, as recently as the early 2010’s. It now may or may not be a blend of bourbons aged anywhere from 4-20 years and both wheated and rye bourbon recipes. That is purely conjecture, but info found all over the web.

The post Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Noah’s Mill
Genuine Bourbon Whiskey
114.3 proof
Distilled in Kentucky
Bottled By Noah’s Mill Distilling Company
DSP-78, Batch 19-22

Please enjoy my Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review!

Willett Distillery

Willett Distillery is perhaps best known for its highly sought after Willett Family Estate whiskeys, but there are many, many more brands also produced at this distillery. In fact, the Willett Family Estate is just a small percentage of the whiskey produced by Willett. One of these other brands is Noah’s Mill Bourbon.

About Noah’s Milll Bourbon

There is not much information out there about Noah’s Mill Bourbon, other than that it once bore a 15 year old age statement, as recently as the early 2010’s. It now may or may not be a blend of bourbons aged anywhere from 4-20 years using both wheated and rye bourbon recipes. That is purely conjecture, but info found all over the web.

For transparency’s sake, there may be some differences in the bottle I am reviewing here vs. the latest releases. This bottle may or may not contain some or all sourced bourbon. Whereas, the bottle label has since changed to state that Noah’s Mill is entirely distilled, aged and bottled at Willett Distillery.

  • Noah's Mill Bourbon Review
    Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review
  • Noah's Mill Front Label
    Front Label
  • Noah's Mill Bourbon Back Label
    Back Label
  • Noah's Mill Bourbon Batch Number
    Noah’s Mill Bourbon Batch Number
Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 20 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Oak, cinnamon, cedar, chocolate on a background of subtle brown sugar; moderate alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Brown sugar, oak, cinnamon, chocolate
👉🏻Finish: Oak with rapidly blooming tannins and lingering char and cedar. Some tobacco, too. Long with a moderate burn.

Summary

Noah’s Mill Bourbon is one of those unusual bourbons that tastes almost exactly as it smells, something that I would have thought would be more common. The nose is quite distinctive and one that is familiar across many in the Willett line. The same goes for the taste and finish. This is not at all an overly sweet bourbon, so a good choice for those who prefer something on the drier side. The flavors are complex and difficult to dissect, yet eerily addictive. Over time this bourbon has really grown on me and has become something that I go to often. It reminds me of the flavors of the 6-7 year old Willett Family Estates, yet in those bourbons the flavors are bolder still, and the proof often higher.

I hope you enjoyed my Noah’s Mill Bourbon Review! Have you had Noah’s Mill Bourbon? Are you a fan? Cheers!🥃

Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon Review

Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon is the distillery’s latest release. This limited edition bourbon was available for purchase at their holiday open house, and it is part of their cancer series.

The folks at Wilderness Trail Distillery have had prior releases to support families impacted by cancer, notably the F*ck Cancer bottles which had included the famous 15 year old Willett Bourbon purchased at the Bourbon Crusaders’ American Cancer Society benefit in 2018 and then aged another year at Wilderness Trail. There were other whiskeys also released in this series.

The post Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Wilderness Trail Distillery
Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey
6 Year Old
Cask Strength
110 Proof
Pink Label
$250 (with all proceeds going to Wilderness Trail Distillery’s cancer fund)

Please enjoy my Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon Review!

Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon & The “Cancer Series”

Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon is the distillery’s latest release. This limited edition bourbon was available for purchase at their holiday open house, and it is part of their cancer series.

The folks at Wilderness Trail Distillery have had prior releases to support families impacted by cancer, notably the F*ck Cancer bottles which had included the famous 15 year old Willett Bourbon purchased at the Bourbon Crusaders’ American Cancer Society benefit in 2018 and then aged another year at Wilderness Trail. There were other whiskeys also released in this series.

Why a Four Grain Bourbon?

Like many things in bourbon, this was not planned. Back in 2015, when the distillery was changing over from their rye bourbon mash bill to their wheated bourbon mash bill, they found themselves with only enough rye left to make half a batch. So instead of using the usual 24% rye in the mash bill, this one uses 12% of each rye and wheat for a mash bill of 64% corn, 12% rye, 12% wheat and 12% malted barley. The Four Grain Bourbon was barreled at 110 proof and bottled at cask strength, which is also coincidentally 110 proof. This represents the first barrel ever made of a four grain whiskey from Wilderness Trail Distillery.

  • Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon Review
    Four Grain Bourbon
  • Front Label
  • Neck Ring
  • Side Label
  • Back Label
Tasting Notes

So what’s it like? Well, I found it the Four Grain Bourbon a bit different from the bourbons made from their usual mash bills. The nose has lots of fruit – tangerine and dark stone fruits like plums; brown sugar, oak, & a bit of raisin. The taste is a bit drier than one would expect, but there’s honey sweetness, some graininess, toast and raisin and a long finish with oak, char and lingering raisin.

Closing Facts

The Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon bottle features a pink label and neck band and is priced at $250. All proceeds will go to Wilderness Trail’s cancer charity fund. Right now this bourbon is in very limited supply, but don’t worry. More barrels of four grain whiskey are currently aging and will be available in a few years. So mark your calendars!😁 Are you a fan of Wilderness Trail’s whiskeys? Cheers!🥃

Bourbon Obsessed Glencairns are available right here. Get yours today!😊

I hope you enjoyed my Wilderness Trail Four Grain Bourbon Review!

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Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon Review

If you’ll recall from my last post, this is one of the bourbons that is only available at the You Do Bourbon Experience. It is made from Heaven Hill’s standard bourbon mash bill (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley), aged at least 8 years on the 6th floor of their warehouses, and is a small batch of 10 barrels. It’s bottled at barrel proof. In contrast to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, the same mash bill is used, but aging is for at least 12 years on the 5th floor and batch size is around 16 barrels. One can not help but notice the similarities of the packaging to William Heavenhill; ignoring the fact that my wonderful wife 😍 had a few issues with filling in and placing the label.😊 It may sound silly, but it’s more difficult than it looks – check out the photos to see some of the outtakes by me!

The post Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon
129.6 Proof
Aged 8 years
$124.99
Bourbon Review

I hope you enjoy our Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon review!

So what is Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon?

If you’ll recall from my last post, this is one of the bourbons that is only available at the You Do Bourbon Experience at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, in Bardstown, Kentucky. It is made from Heaven Hill’s standard bourbon mash bill (78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley), aged at least 8 years on the 6th floor of their warehouses, and is a small batch of 10 barrels. It’s bottled at barrel proof.

In contrast to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, the same mash bill is used, but aging is for at least 12 years on the 5th floor and batch size is around 16 barrels. One can not help but notice the similarities of the packaging to William Heavenhill; ignoring the fact that my wonderful wife 😍 had a few issues with filling in and placing the label.😊 It may sound silly, but it’s more difficult than it looks – check out the photos to see some of the outtakes by me!

Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Crème brûlée, caramel, brown sugar, oak; baking spices like clove & nutmeg, touch of cherry; alcohol is present, but not overbearing
👉🏻Taste: Fairly sweet, burnt caramel, brown sugar, oak
👉🏻Finish: Flavors continue into the long finish; there is noticeable and increasing heat, with a nice hug like you can only get in Kentucky. Some oak hangs on and barrel char builds and lingers, and a little sweetness remains, too.

A fantastic bourbon

I had no doubt this Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon would be a fantastic bourbon, and it did not let me down. Honestly, Heaven Hill seldom, if ever, does. The flavors are rich and savory; the mouthfeel full and the finish long. There are many similarities to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, but the weird thing is this one tastes the same age or older, even though its age statement is 4 years younger. Now it could have older barrels in it; that we don’t know. This one also has a more “pastry” overtone to it.

Get yours today!

So, with 13 of 15 people in my You Do Bourbon session picking this one, and only maybe 2 barrels left (as of December 4, 2021), if you were planning a trip to Kentucky – take it now! If you live here, run don’t walk, and get yourself a bottle. I’m sure it will be replaced with something also stellar, but when this one is gone, it is gone. Cheers!🥃

I hope you enjoyed our Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Bourbon review! Would you like to learn more? Check out our post about Heaven Hill’s You Do Bourbon Experience!

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Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

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Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Review

I hope you enjoy my Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Review! This is an excellent rye. There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that can’t be denied. How the fruit flavors linger through the very long finish and at this crazy high proof for a rye is just a mystery. But a mystery I have no desire to solve. Let’s just let Jack be Jack and enjoy what they give us. As they say, “…if you know Jack, you’ll know Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye.” Maybe one day we’ll get down there again and have a little of the mystery unveiled…or maybe not.

The post Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Jack Daniel’s
Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye
2020 Special Release
133.6 proof
(range from 125-140)
SRP: $64.99

I hope you enjoy my Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Review!

So who knew Jack Daniel’s made a rye? OK. it really hasn’t been a secret. But who knew they made a Barrel Strength Single Barrel rye? I know that most of you knew that, too. But read on; hopefully you don’t already know everything that I am going to say.

History of Jack Daniel’s Rye

Jack Daniel’s rye has apparently undergone its evolution to its current iterations beginning in 2012, with the release of Unaged Rye. This was followed in 2014 by Rested Rye (a 2 year old rye), then by Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye in 2016, presumably a 4 year old rye. The Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye on the market today was introduced in 2017 and comes in at 90 proof. The latest addition is this one, with by far the longest name, Jack Daniels Single Barrel Special Release Barrel Proof Rye released in late 2020. There was also a Barrel Strength rye in the Tennessee Tasters’ series.

All of these Jack Daniel’s ryes have something in common. They all share the same mash bill, which is 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley. The all undergo Jack Daniel’s charcoal mellowing (aka the Lincoln County Process), and they all use the spring water from Jack Daniel’s spring, Cave Spring Hollow (which, BTW is very cool (as in “wow!” as well as in temperature – a constant 56F), if you’ve ever been there).

  • Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye Front
    Front Label
  • Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye Neck Band
    Neck Band
  • Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye Tag
    Neck Tag

Tasting Notes

So let’s taste Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Caramel, baking spices with , what’s that? Juicy fruit gum and chocolate?! There’s some honey and oak, too; moderate alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Fairly dry, with some char up front, but loads of caramel and some banana in the back; there’s a hint of spearmint, too; full, warm, mouthfeel
👉🏻Finish: Dryness and char continue into the finish which then gets dominated by white pepper. The flavors continue throughout, and even at the end there is somehow still lingering juicy fruit gum and banana and some spearmint. Long finish. Healthy Tennessee hug.

Summary

Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye is an excellent rye. There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that can’t be denied. How the fruit flavors linger through the very long finish and at this crazy high proof for a rye is just a mystery. But a mystery I have no desire to solve. Let’s just let Jack be Jack and enjoy what they give us. As they say, “…if you know Jack, you’ll know Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye.” Maybe one day we’ll get down there again and have a little of the mystery unveiled…or maybe not.

Another Great Barrel Strength Rye

I hope you enjoyed my Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Review! If you would like to read about another great barrel strength rye from Jack Daniel’s parent company, Brown-Forman, check out my Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye review! Cheers!🥃

Buy Bourbon Obsessed Hats & Glencairns

Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

The post Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof Rye Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review

Please enjoy my Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review! It seems like eons ago, but Old Forester introduced their first rye in 2019. It is a Kentucky rye, which generally has a much lower percentage of rye in the mash bill than the classic Indiana 95/5 rye that we all know and love. Often the rye content is very close to 51%, which is the legal minimum. Old Forester took a bit of a different approach, using a bit more rye, and then quite a bit of malted barley, giving its rye a unique character.

The post Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .

Old Forester
Single Barrel
Rye Barrel Strength
128.4 proof
$75-80 in Lexington

Please enjoy my Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review!

Introduction to Old Forester Rye

It seems like eons ago, but Old Forester introduced their first rye in 2019. It is a Kentucky rye, which generally has a much lower percentage of rye in the mash bill than the classic Indiana 95/5 rye that we all know and love. Often the rye content is very close to 51%, which is the legal minimum. Old Forester took a bit of a different approach, using a bit more rye, and then quite a bit of malted barley, giving its rye a unique character.

Mash bill: 65% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, and 15% Corn

Just like they had for Old Forester Bourbon, fans were clamoring for a barrel strength version. So here it is. An unfiltered single barrel version at barrel strength. Since it is a single barrel, your results may vary.

Tasting Notes

Let’s taste our Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye:

🛏 Rested for 20 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Baking spices, with clove foremost and maybe some light nutmeg and cinnamon; sweet and fruity with banana, caramel, honey, some oak, wintergreen & anise; noticeable alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Oak, banana, sugary sweetness, caramel, cinnamon; full warming mouthfeel.
👉🏻Finish: The flavors continue into the long finish. Some cherry and woodiness are added. There some barrel char and black pepper at the end, leaving me with lingering spiciness that lasts a looong time with a nice Kentucky Hug.

This rye is like a supercharged version of the 100 proof Old Forester Rye. It doesn’t have the bite of the classic 95/5 nor the strong citrus that can be present. It’s definitely more of a Kentucky rye, and it actually has a higher percentage of rye than I would have guessed. Maybe it’s the high malted barley content, too, but there is much more fruitiness than I usually get in a rye.

Availability

The only drawback to Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye is availability. While it is a permanent addition to the Old Forester line, according to the website, it is said to be “extremely limited”. I believe that to be true since I live a little more than an hour from the distillery and didn’t see a bottle of this rye until late November, and it was announced way back in June. According to their press release there were 75 barrels for the year, so if you do the math, there aren’t enough bottles for everyone who might want one. Old Forester says demand for their 100 proof rye was higher than expected, and although production was ramped up, there won’t be an increased supply until it comes of age in 2023. So for now, if you see this one, grab it!

Summary

I often notice a combination of natural and synthetic banana flavors in many Old Forester’s whiskeys, and this one is no exception. Some days it is much more noticeable to me than others. So you might not get the rye flavors you are expecting, but if you are in the mood for a rye that’s a little different, or if you are a fan of the regular OF rye, then give it a try! Have you had the Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

I hope you enjoyed my Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review!

Are you interested in learning more about individual distilleries? Do you need information to help you plan your own distillery visits? If so, we can help. At BourbonObsessed.com we have an interactive map of ALL of the Kentucky distilleries, as well as useful information for planning your visits. Check us out today!

Buy Bourbon Obsessed Hats & Glencairns

The post Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review appeared first on Bourbon Obsessed℠ .