Author: Luke@CapitalCityBourbon

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Luke’s Pick – Chattanooga Bottled in Bond Vintage Series (2018

Typically, as the weather starts to get cooler, I find myself gravitating more to rye whiskeys or higher-rye bourbons. However, now that Fall has officially set in here in North Florida, I’ve found that I have been reaching for higher-malt mash bills more and more. And when I think of malt, Chattanooga Whiskey is the first distillery to come to mind.

Chattanooga is known for their experimentation with malting different grains to different levels, and employing a variety of mash bills, and I personally think they are putting out some of the best craft whiskey available. It should come as no surprise then, that my pick for the month of October is coming straight out of Tennessee. Say hello to the Chattanooga Whiskey Bottled in Bond 2018 Vintage!

This 100 proof, 4+ year-old whiskey is made from a blend of the following proprietary bourbon mash bills: 30% SB091 (yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley, honey malted barley), 30% B002 (yellow corn, hardwood smoked malted barley, caramel malted barley, caramel malted, honey malted barley), 20% B005 (yellow corn, malted wheat, oak smoked malted wheat, caramel malted wheat), and 20% R18098 (yellow corn, pale malted barley, naked malted oats, double roasted caramel malted barley, peated malted barley, cherrywoood smoked malted barley, chocolate malt, de-husked chocolate malt). If that mash bill doesn’t impress you, I don’t know what will!

So what does all that malting do? Well, you will find out as soon as you pop this bottle! But I will give you some thoughts. On the nose I found warm oatmeal with a huge scoop of brown sugar, a slightly herbaceous green apple note, and a nutty aroma of freshly roasted coffee bean developing. If you’ve ever been to a good coffee roaster this will resonate with you! On the palate, this whiskey has an above-average viscosity and that coffee note is present with some added sweetness (think milk chocolate covered coffee bean), along with more toasted cereal grain and some caramel apple. The finish is long, with a slight smokiness developing. That nutty flavor also tapers off slightly, revealing a more sweet and subtle note of toasted coconut and some oak tannins to create a mild astringency.

This is a delicious whiskey that provides a truly unique experience, especially if you enjoy malted grains. I don’t know how Chattanooga came up with these individual mash bills and this blend, and frankly, I don’t care! It works, and at an extremely favorable price no less. Grab yourself a pour and enjoy some of this beautiful North Florida Fall weather!

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Jon’s Pick – Evan Williams 1783

Boy, do I have a pleasant October surprise for you! Bourbon drinkers…you can scrounge around in your cushions and sock drawer for enough change to pick up a bottle Evan Williams 1783 bourbon! MSL is fortunate to have a good supply of the older (86 proof) and the newer 90 proof offering. Spoiler alert, both are very good pours. Here’s the kicker – the 86 proof is $18. The 90 proof is $20. You can’t beat that!

The nose on each portends the taste. You’ll pick up the charred caramel with vanilla and maple. The 90 proof being slightly more robust. When you taste the 86 you get the full experience with a bonus of a slight citrus rind mouthfeel on the finish. The finish is short so you need to pause before diving back in.

The newer 90 proof sports a more modern bottle and it brings a little more mid range and bass fullness to the table. Imagine a vanilla-bourbon muffin with a pleasant caramel top crust. Imagine a rum cake. Now substitute bourbon! That’s it. Nothing more complicated than that.

Introducing someone to bourbon? This is a good one to have on the bar.

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As always, grab yourself these bottles if you haven’t tried them, enjoy a few pours, and then come find us on the porch. Cheers and Happy Halloween, Y’all!

The post MSL Monthly Picks – October 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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It’s the start of another month, and it just happens to be Bourbon Heritage Month, so John and I have some new picks from distilleries that certainly have played important roles in the history of whiskey in the U.S. Without further adieu, here the are…

Luke’s Pick – Wild Turkey Rare Breed (2021 Release – 116.8 Proof)

The post MSL Monthly Picks – September 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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Time for some more delicious whiskey picks! Here’s what we’ve been drinking…

Luke’s Pick

Back in 2020, Buffalo Trace threw the whiskey world a curveball and decided to revamp one of its bottom shelf bottles into a whole new lineup of whiskeys. McAfee’s Benchmark went from being a go-to bottom shelf pour to a lineup of five whiskeys: Top Floor, Small Batch, Single Barrel, Bonded, and Full Proof. So what do we know about the whiskey? Not much, other than this whiskey presumably comes from mash bill #1, is aged for a significantly shorter period of time than other Buffalo Trace products, and all of these iterations come in at the $20-$25 price point.

Now if you know anything about my preferences, it should be no surprise that I immediately grabbed the Full Proof release. Bottled at entry proof of 125, Full Proof is the highest proof whiskey in this lineup, and in my opinion, delivers the best sipping experience.

On the nose this whiskey is a butterscotch bomb! In addition to the rich butterscotch, there is just a touch of ethanol with hints of vanilla, spice, and barrel char. On the palate, the higher proof is immediately noticeable, not just because of a heavier ethanol punch, but also because of the thick mouthfeel and bold flavors. The spice hits quickly mid-palate  along with plenty of brown sugar, milk chocolate and baking spice…just like a chocolate chip butter crunch cookie! The finish is medium-long with some lingering spice, plenty of those rich sweet notes, and some subtle oak.

This is a bold and flavorful sipping whiskey that comes in at the perfect price point. Don’t be afraid of that screw top bottle…the whiskey inside is worthy of your time. Grab yourself a bottle of this release, or any of the newer Benchmark releases, and come join us on the porch.

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Jon’s Pick

Old Grand-dad is, in my opinion, one of the Jim Beam Distillery’s home runs. Take all those Beam products, line ‘em up, and there’s a better than even chance that I’d go for the OGD 114. I like any good pour neat and this one certainly fits the bill. But the 114 proof upfront spiciness really pops over ice. 

How does it taste? It pops on the palate with high proof spice. Hold on for 4-5 seconds and it magically melts into bourbon vanillas and caramels, and a bit of cinnamon. It finishes long, finally fading…but it’s not over. You’ve prepped your palate for OGD. Your next taste is melodic!

This guy should be on every bar. Make it a go-to in your cocktails. It has more punch for the buck than a wide array of higher priced offerings. When someone says take your best shot, don’t hesitate to pour the Old Grand-dad 114. Cheers!

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As always, stop by the original Market Square Liquors on Timberlane Road in Tallahassee to pick up these bottles, and then come find us on the porch!

Cheers y’all!

The post MSL Monthly Picks – August 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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You know what time it is…

The start of a new month means two new delicious bottles of whiskey you need to try!

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Luke’s Pick – Michter’s US1 Rye

Michter’s is a staple in my household so I had no problem selecting this great value rye whiskey as my pick for the month of July. The nose on this rye has a more subtle rye spice than many products on the market, and provides a bouquet of soft oak, caramel, vanilla candies, citrus, and the slightest touch of mint. On the palate, there is an above-average mouthfeel with a slight alcohol punch, a grassy note, and plenty of spice developing mid-palate. The spice continues to intensify on the finish, ushering in more citrus peel, vanilla, toffee, and some slightly tannic oak.

At the roughly $50 price point, this rye is a great easy sipper that delivers just the right amount of flavor, but it also works wonderfully in a cocktail. Don’t believe me? Stop by the Lounge at Market Square and asked Adam to work his magic!

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Jon’s Pick – Rabbit Hole Heigold Bourbon

Luke and I recently spent some time tasting some offerings from this Louisville distillery that has burst onto the scene in a big way. I was drawn to the uniqueness of their mash bill as both the barley and German Rye is malted. The result is a softer and sweeter ryed bourbon. They also put a lot of emphasis on the toasting and charring process and the resulting taste is nicely noticeable. Tasting neat, the first impression is all great bourbon flavors with no over proofed blast. It finishes with a nice rye (not overbearing) aftertaste and leaves you ready for more. Don’t hesitate to share with friends. This is a crowd pleaser.

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As always, stop by the original Market Square Liquors on Timberlane Road in Tallahassee to get your hands on these bottles, and then come find us on the porch and let us know what you think. Cheers y’all!

The post MSL Monthly Picks – July 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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Luke’s Pick – Calumet 15-Year Bourbon

My pick this month comes in at a slightly higher price point than my prior picks, but even at $150 this bourbon is still a good value in the current bourbon market. This 15-year bourbon was distilled in Kentucky from a mash bill of 74% corn, 18% rye, and 8% malted barley (you can guess the distillery) and the blend was made from only 19 select barrels. It is bottled at 105 proof (52.5% abv).

The nose on this bourbon is well-balanced and consists of layers of traditional bourbon aromas of vanilla, toffee, dark cherry, and oak. On the palate, this bourbon delivers a rich bouquet of dark cherry and tobacco, with an intensifying spice mid-palate that is complimented by a musty oak char, a product of that additional aging time. The peppery spice lingers on the finish along with milk chocolate, toffee, more cherry, a hint of citrus peel, and some slightly tannic oak that leaves a somewhat dry mouthfeel.

Don’t look at that price tag, just grab this bottle and pour a few fingers. I promise you won’t be worried about it in a few minutes!

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Jon’s Pick – Ology Bourbon and/or Rye

I keep a precious few bottles open for occasional sipping. Ever since the folks at Ology – right here in Tallahassee – unveiled their private barrel selections, I have been hooked. I have the rye on my kitchen counter and the Tallahassee Whiskey Society bourbon open in the garage retreat. If you can get your hands on any of their releases to date, including the small batch bourbon and rye .. do it! The single barrels are perfectly aged, nicely balanced, and as delicious as any you’ll find. The small batch bourbon and rye are also nicely blended and provide a smooth and flavorful sipping experience. Soooo enjoyable. Always neat. Always slow. And always with a Luxardo Cherry!

Go ahead. Treat yourself to a local treasure.

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As always, you can find these monthly picks at the original Market Square Liquors on Timberland Road. Give them a try and then come find us on the porch and let us know what you think!

Cheers y’all!

The post MSL Monthly Whiskey Picks – June 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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The Blood Oath Bourbon series began back in 2015 when food scientist and Master Blender/Distiller John Rempe released his first secretive blend of aged bourbon under this new Luxco label. Since that time, the series has gained a massive following and Rempe has released six more pacts, each consisting of masterful blends of aged whiskey and one or more unique finishing processes.

In March 2022, Luxco announced the release of Pact No. 8, a blend  of 14-year ryed bourbon, 11-year ryed bourbon, and 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks from the Normandy region of France. This blend is bottled at 98.6 proof (49.3% abv) and retails for $119.99.

*Disclaimer – this sample was provided to me free of charge by the distillery; however, this did not impact my review of this product.

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Tasting:

Appearance – Orange amber.

Nose – Slight ethanol initially blends with traditional notes of oak char, vanilla, and buttery caramel to create a simple, but pleasant aroma. However, as this whiskey breathes the Calvados finishing imparts an intensifying green apple aroma that blends nicely with the balanced bourbon notes. Think green apple slices tossed in cinnamon and sugar (a childhood favorite). The nose wasn’t spectacular, but it definitely gets the job done.

Palate – You know you’re drinking a blend of aged whiskey here because the strong oak influence is noticeable almost immediately. The rye influence then kicks in and you’re greeted with plenty of spice and just a bit more heat than expected at 98.6 proof. More of that cinnamon/spiced green apple flavor is present with a heavier oak char, along with some traditional caramel and vanilla. Much to my surprise, I didn’t find a lot of influence from the finishing.

Finish – The finish is long and the rye character continues to dominate, providing plenty of spice and once again, more heat than you may expect at this proof. That green apple note is present, along with cinnamon, clove, and brown butter. It is literally like you’re drinking raw apple pie filling! There is also a nice oak influence, but the finish is not overly dry or tannic, so you’re left with a rich mouthfeel that draws you in to the next sip.

Overall – This is a quality blend of aged, ryed bourbon that shows a very minor influence from the cask finishing, at least compared to many finished products available in the market. It should not be a surprise then, that I thoroughly enjoyed this whiskey! From start to finish, you get to taste a great blend of whiskey that shows its rye influence, and the finishing here actually complements that profile. I am certainly not a Calvados expert, but after my first tasting I actually cracked a bottle of 27-year-old Calvados and I started to develop a fond appreciation for the subtle complexity that it imparts in this blend. In my opinion, this blend represents what a quality finished whiskey can be!

As always, try it for yourself and let me know what you think. Cheers y’all!

The post Tasting Notes: Blood Oath Pact No. 8 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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Well, the start of a new month means its time for another set of monthly whiskey picks at the original Market Square Liquors on Timberlane Road. This month, Jon and I had no trouble coming up with our individual picks because we both found ourselves repeatedly enjoying these bottles over the past several weeks.

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Luke’s Pick – Old Forester 1920

There is a lot of whiskey on the shelves these days, and it seems that the price point on most of these newer offerings keeps going higher and higher. Fortunately, there are still some absolutely delicious bottles of whiskey that are readily available and that won’t break the bank! That brings me to my pick for the month of May: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style.

This 115 proof expression, which is the third release in Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series, is a celebration of the brand’s continued production during prohibition. On the nose, this whiskey presents a nice bouquet of dark fruit, plenty of spice, oak, and some brûléed banana. The richness of the nose transitions to the palate with a somewhat sweet start, revealing notes of dark fruit, vanilla, and milk chocolate. However, that higher proof really packs a punch of heat and a fairly sharp spice begins to develop mid-palate. The finish is medium-long with plenty of lingering spice, chocolate covered peanuts, and a subtle note of citrus, all of which is pulled together with just the right amount of oak.

For me, Old Forester 1920 is one of the best value, daily sipping whiskeys available in the market today. The rich profile and higher proof make for an absolutely delicious sip that is really unmatched at the $60-$70 price point.

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Jon’s Pick – Four Roses Small Batch Select

One of my favorite every day pours is Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon. It’s a blend that combines all of the Four Roses flavor notes: spice, floral, fruity, and the typical caramel and burnt sugar notes. However, my pick this month is Four Roses Small Batch SELECT! It’s Small Batch with an attitude! Weighing in at 105 proof, this is a true sipper. Imagine a banana bread with a double dose of cinnamon and toasted cherries and dates. Bake it in a bourbon barrel oven at 375 and serve it with only a Luxardo cherry! Settle back & take your own sweet time! Enjoy.

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If you’re not familiar with these bottles, I recommend that you head over to Market Square Liquors and add these to your collection. Once you’ve had a chance to give them a try, come find us on the porch and tell us what you think!

Cheers y’all!

The post MSL Monthly Whiskey Picks – May 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

The hosts of the Capital City Bourbon Show are thrilled to be teaming up with the gentlemen at the original Market Square Liquors in Tallahassee to offer monthly whiskey picks! Each month, Jon and I will each be selecting a bottle of whiskey to feature on this page. These picks may be barrel picks from Market Square, special releases, or just standard releases that we happen to be enjoying at the time. During that month, you can find these bottles at a special location inside Market Square Liquors at 1415 Timberlane Road in Tallahassee. Just look for the Capital City Bourbon sign and check out our monthly picks!

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Luke’s Pick: MSL Woodford Reserve the Four Musketeers

What happens when only four members of the barrel team show up for a barrel pick, but all four members agree that Woodford gave you one damn fine barrel of whiskey? Well, you take that barrel and name it accordingly!

This Woodford single barrel is particularly unique and departs from the typical sweet Woodford profile that many of us know and some of us love. There is plenty of that classic Woodford vanilla and sweetness present, especially on the nose, but this barrel picked up a particularly spicy characteristic that really sets it apart from all the other barrels we tasted. This barrel is also heavier on the oak, which balances nicely with the spice and makes this pick a little bit more challenging on the palate. I’ve also found that this barrel works nicely in some cocktails that I would usually prefer with a rye character or a heavier oak presence, like a Manhattan.

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Jon’s Pick: Wild Turkey 101

Wild Turkey 101 is an easy choice for my first Capital City Bourbon feature. You won’t find a more balanced and complete bourbon for twice the price. I’ve tasted it side-by-side with other bourbons many times. It never fails to rate at or near the top.

Wild Turkey 101 hits all the right notes and it presents as a bourbon at it’ peak of maturity. I enjoy it neat as a sipper with a perfectly complimenting Luxardo cherry. Ahhh, but there’s more! It finishes long and warm. Enjoy!

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The post MSL Monthly Whiskey Picks – April 2022 appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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Is there a more appropriate pour of bourbon for St. Patrick’s Day? Perhaps not!

Kentucky Owl decided to change things up a little bit in 2022 with a holiday-inspired release, a somewhat surprising departure from their typical premium releases of bourbon and rye whiskey for the “Wise Man.” This blend represents a collaboration between Kentucky Owl Master Blender John Rhea and Louise McGuane, “Ireland’s first modern whiskey bonder and founder of J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey.”

According to Kentucky Owl:

Rhea and McGuane blind tasted individual cask samples, then again through multiple blending variations. The result features Kentucky straight bourbons aged 4 to 11 years, with some rich caramel notes and vanilla from rare older bourbons; spice and fruit from higher rye bourbons; and sweetness and citrus from wheated bourbons.

We don’t know much about the actual whiskey that comprises this blend, but we know it is a four grain blend since the company mentioned that the blend consists of high-rye bourbon and wheated bourbon. The blend is bottled at 100 proof (50% abv) and retails for $135.

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Tasting:

Appearance – Light copper. 

Nose – Slight ethanol gives way to a fairly sweet nose comprised of baking spice, vanilla custard, a hint of stewed green apple, and some green oak. The ethanol does begin to taper off but the nose remains primarily sweet and not terribly complex.

Palate – There is an initial note of cereal grain up front but the sweetness quickly intensifies with a blend of muted green apple, honey, vanilla, and a very mild, floral citrus note, reminiscent of orange blossom. Some spice does begin to develop on the back of the palate, revealing some cinnamon and anise, but this whiskey is predominantly sweet and fruity.

Finish – The finish is medium with an average mouth feel. The sweet notes carry over from the palate with just a touch of milk chocolate, creamy citrus and green apple. However, the spice finally starts to pick up with prominent notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, along with a pronounced note of candied ginger that provides a nice peppery kick. There is also a very mild green oak presence, but the spice really dominates the finish and reveals some bold rye character. 

Finish – What a fun pour for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration! Kentucky Owl put together a beautiful package with an interesting collaboration at the perfect time to celebrate the most important of holidays.

There are definitely some great things about this whiskey. It is a little sweet for my taste, but it’s definitely smooth and it does deliver a nice bouquet of flavors, particularly if you are a fan of Irish whiskey. However, I really didn’t find much depth or complexity in this whiskey, and I continually found myself looking for more with each sip.

My primarily issue with this bottle is the same issue I have with most (if not all) Kentucky Owl products: that price! I would love this bottle if it was marked in the $50-$60 range, but at $135 I would much rather spend a St. Patrick’s Day evening with any number of Irish whiskeys that come in at a much more favorable price point.

As always, try it for yourself and let me know what you think. Cheers y’all!

The post Tasting Notes: Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Edition appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.

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A new release from Heaven Hill? I know I have your attention, so I will keep this short…

In June of this year, along with the re-opening of the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience, the Distillery announced the release of a new bourbon to pay homage to the five Shapira brothers who originally founded the Distillery in 1935. This whiskey is a blend of traditional Heaven Hill bourbon (78/12/10) that was aged from 5 to 9 years, 1 year for each of the five brothers. It is bottled at 90 proof, a nod to the original proof point of Heaven Hill whiskey in the 1930s, and will only be available at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience and at select retailers in Kentucky for $60.

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Tasting:

Appearance – Orange amber.

Nose – The nose is quite soft and subtle at first, revealing some toasted grain, brown sugar, and oak. With time, I began to find more complex baking spice (emphasis on cinnamon), vanilla, dried apple, and some spiced cherry.

Palate – The mouthfeel is average and right up front I was greeted with oak and some honey roasted peanuts. The sweetness intensifies throughout the sip, revealing heavier notes of caramel apple, vanilla, and cocoa, but there is also a mild bouquet a spice (cinnamon and nutmeg) along with a touch of rye spice that begins to develop on the back of the tongue.

Finish – The finish is medium-long and predominantly sweet, revealing peanut brittle and some maple syrup. There is also some baking spice and dried citrus that gives way to a note of freshly shelled peanut and some oak tannins that leave a slightly bitter note toward the end.

Overall – I applaud Heaven Hill for creating a new release in honor of its founders and for using a blend of aged bourbons that is not common for the Distillery. I think Heaven Hill has created a very approachable bourbon with a great back story that makes for a fine collector’s items at $60.

However, this bottle did leave me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. Its a nice blend of whiskey that showcases some of the more traditional Heaven Hill flavors, but in the end I felt that the character and flavor was slightly muted, particularly on the finish. Perhaps I have grown accustomed to higher proof Heaven Hill releases, but this whiskey lacked the depth and intensity that I usually hope for in a Heaven Hill product.

As always, if you’ve tried this product, let me know what you think. Cheers y’all!

The post Tasting Notes: Five Brothers Bourbon appeared first on The Capital City Bourbon Blog.