Russell’s Reserve 13-Year is arguably the most sought-after expression in today’s Wild Turkey catalog. But when it comes to flavor profile, are all bottles created equal? Batch Bitchin’ At this point, you’ve probably heard of three Russell’s 13 b…
Russell’s Reserve 13-Year is arguably the most sought-after expression in today’s Wild Turkey catalog. But when it comes to flavor profile, are all bottles created equal? Batch Bitchin’ At this point, you’ve probably heard of three Russell’s 13 bottlings: April and December 2021, and May 2022. Many whiskey enthusiasts refer to these as batches (1, […]
The post Russell’s Reserve 13 (Dec 2021) appeared first on Rare Bird 101.
There are so many shady, sourced, whiskeys out there it’s tough to keep track, but that’s also why I’m all about honest whiskeys like the Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021. They distill it, it’s labeled as “straight” and they give you most of the deets on the site. This is how whiskey should be. I don’t […]
The post Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.
There are so many shady, sourced, whiskeys out there it’s tough to keep track, but that’s also why I’m all about honest whiskeys like the Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021. They distill it, it’s labeled as “straight” and they give you most of the deets on the site. This is how whiskey should be.
I don’t know why people feel like they have to make up a bunch of BS, or hide what they’re doing, to sell whiskey. I imagine, like most things, it boils down to insecurities that run deep in our psyche. But that’s not an excuse and this is a whiskey that’s quite secure in what it is because the people behind are secure in what they’re creating.
Let’s get to drinkin’
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: American Whiskey (Straight)
Region: Wyoming, USA
Distiller: Wyoming Whiskey
Mash Bill: Whiskey 1 = 48% Winter Rye, 40% Corn, 12% Malted Barley | Whiskey 2 = 68% Corn, 20% Winter Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: NAS (~5 Years)
ABV: 50%
Batch: 2021
Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 Price: $70
Wyoming Whiskey Eclipse
Wyoming Whiskey Batch 37
Wyoming Whiskey Double Cask
Wyoming Whiskey Outryder First Release
Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel
EYE
Medium caramel
NOSE
Cereal sweetness, oak, spiced apples, caramel, graham crackers and a slight bit of vanilla.
What’s there is nice and fresh, but it’s super light. Much lighter than the previous Outryders I’ve had.
PALATE
Grainy sweetness, candy sweetness, oak, cinnamon, dried fruit and a subtle toffee and vanilla.
Woah, this is kind of weird. The spice starts light, but builds till it starts battling the sweetness yet remains balanced.
FINISH
Medium -> Grainy-candy sweetness, cinnamon and vanilla fade out oaky.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Balanced, medium body and a warm soft feel.
The oak truly shows up on the finish where it started under the sweetness but continued on long after the sweetness faded out. This is a more nuanced Outryder than previous versions, but it’s far from being spineless or weak.
It’s fascinating to think about how far WW has come. The first edition I reviewed from them was… awful. Just awful. Over releases, they got better and better to where, now, they put out whiskey that’s consistently good and varied. Building diversity while maintaining quality in releases like this Wyoming Whiskey Outryder 2021 isn’t easy, but they’re doing it quite well these days.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)
*Disclosure: The bottle for this whiskey review was graciously sent to me by the company without obligation. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
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A brief change of direction … Back in September, I had the pleasure of selecting a Westland American Single Malt Whiskey cask in collaboration with Malt Review and friends. It was an exciting tasting, with three distinct casks to consider. The first, c…
A brief change of direction … Back in September, I had the pleasure of selecting a Westland American Single Malt Whiskey cask in collaboration with Malt Review and friends. It was an exciting tasting, with three distinct casks to consider. The first, cask no. 4121, was the standard Westland five-malt recipe, though aged entirely in […]
The post Going West appeared first on Rare Bird 101.
Earlier this week, I came to the realization that I’ve yet to undertake a comparison of whiskeys aged at each of Wild Turkey’s maturation campuses: Tyrone, Camp Nelson, and McBrayer. Considering I have newly acquired Kentucky Spirit bottles from each (…
Earlier this week, I came to the realization that I’ve yet to undertake a comparison of whiskeys aged at each of Wild Turkey’s maturation campuses: Tyrone, Camp Nelson, and McBrayer. Considering I have newly acquired Kentucky Spirit bottles from each (two are private selections), I figured, why not give it a go? Three birds with […]
The post Wild Turkey Campus Comparison appeared first on Rare Bird 101.
Here we are again, the end of a year, and with that has come an avalanche of “top” and “best” lists – which I always find to be silly from a terminology perspective. Top, best, etc. are all subjective to the taste of the author… or the brand sponsoring the post/list. This subjectivity of taste […]
The post TWJ’s Favorite Whiskeys of 2021 appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.
Here we are again, the end of a year, and with that has come an avalanche of “top” and “best” lists – which I always find to be silly from a terminology perspective. Top, best, etc. are all subjective to the taste of the author… or the brand sponsoring the post/list.
This subjectivity of taste and personal preference is why each year, that I have the time to put my list together, I just release it as a list of my favorite whiskies that year. They never have to be released that year, just reviewed that year.
They also don’t have to be the best rated of the year, look at the “winner” from 2020. Instead, these posts are just a list of whiskies that stood out to me over the course of 2021. Though this year I’m going to try something a bit different and pick out a few for some made-up “Awards”. Which is another topic I have problems with (shocker).
But before we get to the “awards”, let’s take a look at some of the most notable whiskeys reviewed this year.
Frey Ranch Bourbon: This one seriously blew me away. I was expecting a woody crafty crappy whiskey and instead got a rich, warm and mature bourbon. Well done Freys!
A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength 10 Years: I’ve enjoyed Bowman, but never have I been rendered speechless by one before. This was a killer.
Cascade Moon Edition 2: I’m as surprised as you are that I loved a long-aged Dickel. I mean, who could have ever imagined that? ;)
Redemption 10 Year Barrel Proof High Rye Bourbon: The 10 yo Redemption High Rye is just consistently a great whiskey and, compared to the rest of the market, really well priced.
Sagamore Spirit Double Oak: Don’t just take my word for it, the SCWC enjoyed it too in our blind whiskey tasting.
Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana: I love the original Peat Monster, but there is something about the Arcana that kept me coming back long after the review.
Laphroaig 16: First taste I thought “huh, that’s interesting”, but by the third tasting every sip became an exclamation of joy.
GlenDronach Port Wood: Working with port is difficult, the field is littered with examples of port done poorly and few done well. This is done fairly well.
Benromach 10 Years: I was instantly a re-fan of its easy, laid-back, profile. This is an easy sippin’ scotch.
Old Pulteney 15 Years: Having long been an Old Pulteney fan I was unsure of this replacement for the 17, but to my surprise, it ended up being awesome.
Bushmills 23 Years Crystal Malt Whiskey: It’s such a shame this isn’t available to buy because, damn, it was incredible.
Paul John Christmas Edition 2021: Every year this whisky is good, it’s almost guaranteed to make my list.
Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye: I’m as surprised as you to see a Canadian on this list, but here we are and I can’t recommend it enough!
Amrut Cask Strength Indian Single Malt: This is delicious malty goodness. If you’ve been curious about Amrut, start here!
Penderyn Rich Oak Single Malt: There is nothing Penderyn has put out that I’ve hated, but this one definitely rises to the top of their releases and the category for overall flavor delivery.
Teeling Revival Volume IV Muscat Cask 15 Years: I felt bad for including the Bushmills because you literally can’t get it, so I’m adding this Teeling. It ain’t cheap, but it’s stellar and can at least be found.
What is an award anyway? It’s just someone saying something is good or worthy of praise and then giving the maker/owner/creator/doer something that signifies that it’s good. Awards can also be bought.
They can be categorized into gold, double gold, platinum and so on with the categories so microscopically categorized that everyone who pays-to-play wins. In this way, awards can also be incredibly deceptive.
To avoid any of that, I’m looking at my made-up categories as a whole and no one has paid anything to be entered. You can also see all of the competitors by simply scrolling through this year’s reviews.
Fully transparent and set, here we go with the awards for my favorite of the favorites of 2021. The whiskeys that specifically stood out to me for one reason or another and have become whiskies I highly recommend getting at least a taste of.
Jim Beam Lineage Bourbon: This is hands down one of the best bourbons Jim Beam has ever released and it cause quite a stir at the tasting I put it in. It was almost killed in one night!
George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Rye: I was more than prepared for this to suck, but it’s the exact opposite of a sucky whiskey. No, not kcus, though it did make me say goddamn, it’s good. Ridiculously good.
Westland Garryana Edition 6: This solid, insanely tasty, single malt blew me away and sent me scouring whiskey stores to find a bottle. One of the best versions of this I’ve had to date.
Compass Box No Name 2: There were a lot of great entries into the peated category this year, including two in the last days of the year, but this CBNN2 was a true work of art.
Tomatin 14 Years Port Casks: Proof that peer-pressure works. I’ve low-key dismissed Tomatin for years, but after several friendly suggestions I picked this up. The fact that the bottle was empty 3 months after being bought should be proof enough that I enjoyed this whisky.
The Busker Pot Still: I’ve begun recommending this whiskey to everyone looking for a cheap alternative to Redbreast 12 that still tastes great and it delivers on all fronts.
Barrell Seagrass: You want to make your whiskey cocktails more flavorful, more complex and pack more of a punch? Use this and watch your guest’s expressions.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Value is subjective, but this whiskey packs a ton of complex flavor into a sub $60 bottle.
Four Roses Rye Whiskey: Since I cover vintage spirits here, I thought it would be fun to highlight a standout. Think of this as the post-humous/lifetime achievement award.
Wild Turkey Master’s Keep One: This award was a tie between the No Name 2 and the Lineage, but this late entry settled the matter easily. Though it did knock the Bowman out of the Banging Bourbon spot and the Laphroaig 16 out of the Peat Beast spot. Who in turn knocked the Evan Williams 1783 and the wine-cask Caol Ila out of their respective categories. This whiskey caused quite the commotion here at TWJ HQ, but it was worth it.
And that’s a wrap on 2021. I kinda like this favorite and “awards” format, but what are your thoughts? Did you like this format and the “awards”? Do you have ideas for other “awards” to add? Was it informative, interesting, or at least amusing?
Let me know in the comments below and I’ll start thinking about what to do next year. I also promise at least 25% less salt in the copy since my thoughts and feelings on the matter of “best” and “award” have now been dutifully covered.
Thank you for reading, I’m grateful for you all and I hope you have a Happy New Year. Cheers!
The post TWJ’s Favorite Whiskeys of 2021 appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.
Anheuser-Busch is helping everybody ring in the new year with a video depicting their Clydesdale mascot going from early days to maturity, with the positive messaging of, “Here’s to a new year, and a future with more cheers.”
Anheuser-Busch is helping everybody ring in the new year with a video depicting their Clydesdale mascot going from early days to maturity, with the positive messaging of, “Here’s to a new year, and a future with more cheers.”
The Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez immediately makes me think of the Laphroaig Triple Wood; not because of how it tastes, but because of how it’s made… and a tiny bit in how it tastes. This year’s Cairdeas is a small, but significant, twist on a Laphroaig classic that was featured at cask strength as […]
The post Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.
The Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez immediately makes me think of the Laphroaig Triple Wood; not because of how it tastes, but because of how it’s made… and a tiny bit in how it tastes. This year’s Cairdeas is a small, but significant, twist on a Laphroaig classic that was featured at cask strength as the 2019 Cairdeas release.
Like the L3W, the 2021 Cairdeas started life in ex-Bourbon casks, basically the standard Laphroaig, then moved into quarter casks, aka the Laphroaig Quarter Cask, and then it spent some time finishing in PX casks instead of Oloroso casks. This is a PX version of the L3W; bottled at cask strength of course.
You know… if you had a Laphroaig Cask Strength, a 2017 Cairdeas (Quarter Cask) and a Laphroaig PX (travel retail), you could set up a semi-deconstructed, evolutionary, tasting for yourself. And before you other nerds chime in, yes, I know L10CS is almost 2x older than LQC, but hopefully, you can see what I’m getting at by working with what’s available in the market.
We covered a lot of ground up here and I’m getting thirsty. So let’s get to drinkin’ and sip into this whisky.
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Laphroaig
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon, ex-Quarter Cask, ex-PX
Age: NAS
ABV: 58.9%
Batch: 2021
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez Price: $90
2019 Laphroaig Cairdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 Cask Strength Quarter Cask
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2020 Port & Wine Casks
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2018 Fino Cask
Laphroaig Cairdeas 2013 Port Wood
EYE
Blood red
NOSE
Smoke, coppery dried dark fruit (plum heavy), herbal, malty, cocoa, nutty with a slight vegetal note.
Not bad, not bad at all. Not my favorite Laphroaig Cairdeas nose, but not bad.
PALATE
Coppery dried dark fruit (blackberry heavy), smoke, herbal, malty, nutty, cocoa, freeze-dried strawberries, with slight vegetal and menthol notes.
It’s a bold, brute force, flavor profile.
FINISH
Long -> Smoke, dried dark fruit and malty sweetness fades out to smoky cocoa, menthol and copper.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Ok balanced, full body and a heavy oily feel.
Like with all the Cairdeas releases it’s good. In relative quality, it lands under the Amontillado Cairdeas for me. It’s punchy, it’s rowdy it’s bold, but it lacks elegance and I’m missing some of that classic Laphroaig profile. It’s all force, no finesse and that’s coming from someone whose favorite Scotch profile is peat n’ sweet with a dash of sulfur.
Adding water brings out a subtle BBQ sweetness and some leathery notes, but it doesn’t right the ship and I end up searching a bit for the Laphroaig profile. Still, the Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez is good and I’ll happily work my way through this bottle, but it might take me a bit longer than others.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)
Summary
It’s good, it’s a PX sherried Laphroaig, and while I don’t think PX and Laphroaig work all that well together, this one strikes a decent balance.
The post Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 Pedro Ximenez Review appeared first on The Whiskey Jug.
New York City-based Dominique Ansel Bakery has collaborated with Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur and created a cocktail for the holiday season – the Bailey’s Swirl – Ansel’s recipe for hot chocolate incorporating the liqueur. Bailey’s Irish Cream – made in Ireland – is made with Irish whiskey, cream and cocoa and the Bailey’s Swirl Hot […]
New York City-based Dominique Ansel Bakery has collaborated with Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur and created a cocktail for the holiday season – the Bailey’s Swirl – Ansel’s recipe for hot chocolate incorporating the liqueur.
Bailey’s Irish Cream – made in Ireland – is made with Irish whiskey, cream and cocoa and the Bailey’s Swirl Hot Chocolate Kit is being made available at Ansel’s website – DominiqueAnselOnline.com.
Dominique Ansel Bakery specializes in French treats and is also planning to open a West Coast location at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in summer 2022.
American musician Bob Dylan’s whiskey brand – Heaven’s Door – has released Bootleg Series Vol. III as an addition to the whiskey blend series. Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Vol. III is a 13-year-old cask strength Kentucky Bourbon, finished in Spanish orange wine, bottled at 60.6% alcohol by volume (121.2 proof) and is said to contain […]
American musician Bob Dylan’s whiskey brand – Heaven’s Door – has released Bootleg Series Vol. III as an addition to the whiskey blend series.
Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Vol. III is a 13-year-old cask strength Kentucky Bourbon, finished in Spanish orange wine, bottled at 60.6% alcohol by volume (121.2 proof) and is said to contain notes of black pepper, cherry and, of course, orange.
Only 3,949 bottles of Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Vol. III are being made available for $545 per bottle.
WhiskyCritic recently had the opportunity to try a few drops of J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 – a whisky blend from Vienna, Austria. J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa began life as a Poland-based company – hence, the name translating to “monopoly” in Polish – but long ago was taken over by Austrian interests and, in fact, promotes […]
WhiskyCritic recently had the opportunity to try a few drops of J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 – a whisky blend from Vienna, Austria.
J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa began life as a Poland-based company – hence, the name translating to “monopoly” in Polish – but long ago was taken over by Austrian interests and, in fact, promotes itself as the “the purveyor to the Imperial Austrian and Royal Hungarian Court since 1810” on the label and is mostly known for their other products, primarily their vodka.
J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 is purported to be an original blend of whiskies aged in oak casks for an undetermined amount of years – and based on WC’s tasting, that number likely is not too high – that was bottled at 43% alcohol by volume [86 proof].
Upon being released from its whisky cap, J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa 1782 brazenly assaults the nose with immediate and strong medicinal, somewhat peaty, aroma flows that never really settle down over time and exposure to air while resting in a glass. However, what begins rather harshly, is not followed up in the taste buds where J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 is much smoother than anticipated [by the aroma, anyway] and eventually gives way to notes of oak and perhaps a hint of honey, depending upon an individual’s taste buds. Essentially, J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 has more bark [aroma] than bite [taste] – but that is a good thing.
Overall, J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 is a decidedly average whisky – and that is reflected in the price range [roughly, $20-25 for a 750ml bottle] – which is also a good thing, the whisky is not overpriced.
WC awards a score of 73 out of 100 to J.A. Baczewski Monopolowa Whisky 1782 – it is not a whisky which will knock your socks off with taste – either bad or good – but it will also not bankrupt your bank account. It could be a good secondary whisky to have in your liquor cabinet when your primary whisky supply is unexpectedly depleted.
