Author: Gus

Tuesday Tidbit: TerrePURE, Terressentia and OZ Tyler

So what’s TerrePURE and what does it have to do with bourbon? Well, the TerrePURE process was developed by the Terressentia Corporation back around 2007. The process purifies alcoholic beverages using ultrasonic energy and oxidation. Few details have been revealed except to say that it could remove unwanted congeners (byproducts of fermentation) as well as convert some fatty acids to more flavorful esters. This process would overall “purify” a spirit and make it more flavorful.

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Are you familiar with TerrePURE, OZ Tyler and Terressentia? If not, then read on!

So, what is TerrePURE?

So what’s TerrePURE and what does it have to do with bourbon? Well, the Terressentia Corporation developed the TerrePURE process back around 2007. The process purifies alcoholic beverages using ultrasonic energy and oxidation. Unfortunately, Terressentia revealed few details of the process except to say that it could remove unwanted congeners (byproducts of fermentation) as well as convert some fatty acids to more flavorful esters. This process would overall “purify” a spirit and make it more flavorful.

TerrePURE has been applied to many spirits, include vodka, which may have been its initial use. It was also used to produce flavored spirits because the molecular motion caused by the ultrasonic energy was said to create a superior mixing environment where flavors would not come out of solution in the bottle.

1 Year Old Whiskey Tastes Like It Is 4 Years Old With The TerrePURE Process

The company line was that a 1 year old whiskey could be made to taste like a 4 year old whiskey simply by undergoing the 8 hour long TerrePURE process. Skeptical? So was I, and we’ll get to how it tastes in a moment.

O.Z. Tyler Bourbon is Born

Back in 2014, Terressentia purchased the Charles Medley Distillery in Owensboro, KY. Then, they reopened it as the O.Z. Tyler Distillery. O.Z. Tyler mashed and distlled their bourbon distillate similarly to other distilleries. Then, they aged it in new charred oak barrels for 1 year and 1 day. Why 1 year and 1 day? Well, because that is the minimum aging time (in Kentucky) needed to call a bourbon a Kentucky Bourbon. Finally, the aged bourbon underwent the TerrePURE process and was bottled.

Tasting Notes – O.Z. Tyler Rye

So, let’s taste it! Well, actually, let’s not. I tasted the whole line of O.Z. Tyler’s whiskeys back in the day, and it is the only flight in the history of me drinking whiskey where I didn’t finish a single sample. Four year old bourbon and rye it was not. Google some reviews and you will find similar sentiments.

A Pre-O.Z. Tyler Whiskey; O.Z. Tyler Rye

The interesting thing is that this bottle, which I just found the other day, pre-dates the O.Z. Tyler Distillery in KY. This rye was produced using the TerrePURE process at their plant in SC, presumably from MGP bourbon. It bears an age statement of “Aged a minimum of 6 months in new oak”. Perhaps it is better that what I tried? I’m not sure I’m ever going to find out…

OZ Tyler Rye is made using the TerrePURE process.
OZ Tyler Rye is made by TerrePURE Spirits in North Charleston, SC.
O.Z. Tyler Rebranded – Good Bye TerrePURE!

After a few years, O.Z. Tyler rebranded as Green River Distilling and Green River Spirits Company. Likewise, they abandoned the TerrePURE process for their own whiskeys. However, they may still use the process for some of their clients’ brands. Recently, the Bardstown Bourbon Company purchased Green River Distilling.

Have you tried any O.Z. Tyler whiskeys made with the TerrePURE process? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

If you would like to learn more about Green River Distilling, check out our Green River Distilling Co. Virtual Tour (Video)!

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Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?🙂 If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!

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Boone County Distilling Co Review

Boone County Distilling Co has a unique niche in the continuously expanding Kentucky bourbon market; its products are “Made By Ghosts.” This ominous sounding tag line in reality is the company’s homage to those now little known nineteenth century characters in Boone County, Kentucky, who forged an enormous distilling pathway.

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Boone County Distilling Co

Boone County Distilling Co has a unique niche in the continuously expanding Kentucky bourbon market; its products are “Made By Ghosts.”  This ominous sounding tag line in reality is the company’s homage to those now little known nineteenth century characters in Boone County, Kentucky, who forged an enormous distilling pathway.  So much so, that by the later part of the century, the distillery was the largest producer of whiskey in the entire state. The 21st century Boone County Distilling Co was resurrected in 2015 and although its location is not the same as the original, Boone County remains home to Boone County Distilling.  The distillery’s current location can be found in northern Kentucky, just inside of the Boone County line in the small town of Independence about a mile east of I-75.

Review - Boone County Distilling Co
Review – Boone County Distilling Co
Boone County Distilling Co Whiskeys

Boone County Distilling produces an ever expanding line of spirits, but I’ll focus on the whiskey. Their original bourbon was sourced from MGP, which is just a few short miles away, as the crow flies. It was released as 10-12 year old small batches and 12-13 year old barrel strength single barrels, if memory serves me. Unfortunately, the one pictured is the only one of those single barrels that I have left. They were fantastic! There have been occasional releases of this older bourbon since, but the “Eighteen 33” line of bourbons is essentially extinct.

The current Boone County line up is also largely sourced from MGP and now includes the Small Batch Bourbon, which I believe is a blend of older and younger bourbons; a single barrel wheated bourbon, which is 6-8 years old, and a rye which comes in small batch and cask strength single barrel varieties. There is also an Oloroso Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon, which has been released as first through third fill batches over the past 3 years. In Fall 2021 they released their 5 year old Boone County Pot Still Bourbon which was distilled in house!

We toured the distillery back in mid 2020, and we stop by occasionally to see what’s been happening. Check out our full Boone County Distilling Company Tour Review and our Boone County Pot Still Bourbon Review to learn more! Cheers!🥃

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Check out our review of the Boone County Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon!

Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?🙂 If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!

Originally published December 20, 2020. Post updated May 16, 2022.

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Old Forester 1920 Bourbon Review

I thought it was time to revisit the Old Forester 1920 Bourbon, given that it seems to be a favorite of many. According to the Old Forester website, this bourbon is the third expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series, and aims to replicate the barrel proof of the bourbon distilled during prohibition under Old Forester’s medicinal license.

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Old Forester 1920
Prohibition Style
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
115 Proof
$52.99+
Review

Please enjoy our Old Forester 1920 Bourbon Review!

The Old Forester Whiskey Row Series

I thought it was time to revisit the Old Forester 1920 Bourbon, given that it seems to be a favorite of many. According to the Old Forester website, this bourbon is the third expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series, and aims to replicate the barrel proof of the bourbon distilled during prohibition under Old Forester’s medicinal license. The four Bourbons that make up the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series each bear a date representing a year of significance in the history of Old Forester. In addition to Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, the other whiskeys in the Whiskey Row series are 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond and 1910 Old Fine Whisky.

Whiskey vs Whisky

Note that Old Forester is one of only a few Kentucky Bourbon Distilleries which spells Whisky without the “e”. The general rule of thumb is that if a country has an “e” in its name, then whiskey from that country is spelled as “whiskey”, and vice versa. Bonus question: Do you know the other heritage distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail which also spells whisky without the “e”? (Answer: Maker’s Mark Distillery)

Tasting Notes

Let’s Taste Old Forester 1920 Bourbon!

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Banana, cherry candy, caramel, toast & brown sugar sweetness; light spearmint, cinnamon & cedar in the background; noticeable alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Caramel and simple syrup sweetness up front; oak & barrel char behind; fruits are subtle
👉🏻Finish: Flavors continue into the very long finish; banana and cherry become more noticeable again and are joined by black pepper and char which build and linger for a long time; noticeable burn (Kentucky Hug)

Summary

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon has some unique characteristics. Other than single barrels and some special releases, it is Old Forester’s highest proof bourbon. It has some fruit up front, including the banana that I often get from Old Forester whiskeys, but also some noticeable cherry. The many additional flavors add a nice complexity, and it is all on a background of caramel that continues throughout. Spiciness develops in the finish, which is not surprising given the proof.

I like the Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon, and by all rights it should be my favorite of the series. That’s because I generally prefer higher proof bourbons. In fact, when I did a tasting of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series, plus Statesman, a while back, the 1920 was my favorite. So why do I often gravitate to the 1910? Maybe because it was playing hard to get for a while? Hopefully that will not repeat itself as it seems pretty available these days. It’s probably because I like the caramel, vanilla and butterscotch of the 1910, similar to it’s Brown-Forman cousin, Woodford Double (and Double Double) Oaked. But this 1920 is really good, too! I guess I’ll just have to accept that I like them both! Cheers!

I hope you enjoyed our Old Forester 1920 Bourbon Review! Would you like to read about another Old Forester Whisky? Check out our Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye Review!

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Would you like to learn more about distilleries and bourbon? Are you planning a trip to Kentucky Distilleries? Maybe you would like to live the bourbon life vicariously through us?🙂 If any of these are true, then check out BourbonObsessed.com today!

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Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review

Please enjoy my Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review! There are a lot of store brand whiskeys out there. But what’s interesting about this Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon from Costco is that it says the name of the distillery where it was made, Barton 1792 Distillery, right on the label.

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Kirkland Signature (Costco)
Bottled-In-Bond
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Barton 1792 Master Distillers
DSP-KY-12
100 proof
At least 4 years old
$34 at Costco for a Liter

Please enjoy my Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review!

There are a lot of store brand whiskeys out there. But what’s interesting about this Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon from Costco is that it says the name of the distillery where it was made, Barton 1792 Distillery, right on the label. Now, the thing is, this is a bottled in bond bourbon so it does have to say somewhere where it is distilled. Many of the other store brands use some random distillery name, which I assume is registered under a dba for a big distillery like Barton, and then they use the big distillery’s DSP number on their label. So you can always figure out where the bourbon was made, but they make you work for it a little.

Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 10 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Apple, cherry, honey, caramel, oak, rye spices; moderate alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Fairly sweet black tea, oak, light char, simple syrup
👉🏻Finish: Light sweetness continues, char builds. Moderately long finish.

This is not at all a complex bourbon. It has the flavors I would expect from Barton; classic flavors, with a bit more oak than I would have expected. It’s non-aged stated, but for the price I am assuming it is not much older than the required 4 years, but you never know.

Summary

This is an enjoyable bourbon. At $34 it is not quite a value Bottled in Bond, but it is pretty close since you do get a liter. It’s impossible to not want to compare this to 1792 Bottled in Bond. I coincidentally have this Lincoln Road Package Store pick to do a little comparison to, and there are certainly some similarities. The nose is quite similar, but there is way more fullness and caramel in the Lincoln Road pick. In the taste the Lincoln Road has less sweetness, although similar flavors, and what I perceive as more maturity. However, the Lincoln Road Bottled in Bond was $45 for a 750ml, so considerably more expensive, but still reasonable. This wasn’t meant to be a comparison post, though; that territory belongs to my friend @whiskey_vs_whiskey, but I would have been remiss were I not to do so.

Have you had the Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond bourbon from Costco? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

I hope you enjoyed my Kirkland Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review! Would you like to read a review about another bourbon from Barton 1792 Distillery? Check out my 1792 225th Anniversary 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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Benchmark Bonded Bourbon Review

Please enjoy my Benchmark Bonded Bourbon review! Have you seen the “new” additions to the Benchmark bourbon line? They are: Top Floor, Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bonded and Full Proof. Today we will look at the Benchmark Bonded Bourbon. The only information available is what is on the bottle: “The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 set strict standards for bonded whiskey. This 100 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged four years to meet those standards. Enjoy the rich flavor and long smooth finish.”

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McAfee Brothers Benchmark
Bonded
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
DSP-KY-113
$19.99 at TW

Please enjoy my Benchmark Bonded Bourbon Review!

Have you seen the “new” additions to the Benchmark bourbon line from Buffalo Trace Distillery? They are: Top Floor, Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bonded and Full Proof. I put “new” in quotes because I don’t really understand the way that these bourbons were introduced. They were all released simultaneous around a year and a half ago, apparently only in Indiana. Then, over a year later, they started showing up elsewhere, including in Kentucky. Since I have a great FOMO, I had to drive to Indiana to get them back in 2020. What can I say?🤷🏻‍♂️ I’m sure someone else did that too – am I right?

Today we will look at the Benchmark Bonded Bourbon. The only information available is what is on the bottle: “The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 set strict standards for bonded whiskey. This 100 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged four years to meet those standards. Enjoy the rich flavor and long smooth finish.”

Tasting Notes

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Apple, caramel, rye spices, honey, brown sugar, a bit of oak; light alcohol
👉🏻Taste: Honey, caramel, light char and oak, hint of chocolate ; fairly sweet
👉🏻Finish: Flavors continue into the finish. Honey is joined by some brown sugar; the char and oak grow later on and linger, with some black pepper spice developing; moderately long finish; medium alcohol burn

Summary

Benchmark Bonded bourbon is a very easy to drink enjoyable bourbon, and is a nice addition to the value Bottled in Bond family. The flavors are far from complex, but they are fairly classic, if a bit on the sweet side. What’s interesting is that there is more oak presence than I would have expected. The bottle states that the bourbon is aged four years. Since it is a bottled in bond bourbon, there can’t be any older bourbon blended in (it has to be the product of one distilling season), so the woodiness is a bit surprising for its age.

Have you tried the Benchmark Bonded Bourbon? What did you think? Check out my Benchmark Top Floor Bourbon review if you’re interested in learning about another bourbon from the Benchmark family. Cheers!🥃

I hope you enjoyed my Benchmark Bonded Bourbon Review!

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