American Blend - BourbonSphere

Michter’s Coming Soon With New Bomberger’s And Shenk’s

Just in time for America’s 248th Birthday, Michter’s Distillery will be releasing its Legacy Series this July. Comprised of Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey and Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon, this special release is vintage-dated with the year of the bottling, in this case 2024. Each release of Shenk’s and each release of Bomberger’s …

Each release of Shenk’s and each release of Bomberger’s has differed from those of previous years. “While there is some continuity from year to year, our production team makes creative adjustments to each edition of these whiskeys,” observed Michter’s President Joseph J. Magliocco.

In 1753, Swiss Mennonite farmer John Shenk founded Shenk’s distillery in Pennsylvania. This distillery was later renamed Bomberger’s Distillery in the 1800s before its name changed again to Michter’s Distillery in the mid-20th Century. It is this heritage that the Michter’s Legacy Series honors.

Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee said, “In the 2024 Shenk’s release, we used rye, malted rye, and for the first time caramel malt, which offers a nice creaminess to complement the whiskey’s herbaceous qualities and notes of spice.” Some of the barrels used in the production of Shenk’s include oak sourced from the Vosges region of France, which is air dried and seasoned for 24 months before being toasted to Michter’s exacting specifications.

Like Shenk’s, the 2024 release of Bomberger’s has some malted rye in its recipe. “This year’s release of Shenk’s and Bomberger’s is a reflection of the passion the team has for making exciting whiskeys with a thoughtful touch of exploration,” commented Michter’s Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson. “The 2024 edition of Bomberger’s continues the use of some Chinquapin (Quercus muehlenbergii) oak to accentuate the dark chocolate and stewed fruit notes in this big whiskey that are then complemented by the spice notes offering a bold, rich, balanced complexity and a long lingering warm finish for your drinking indulgence.” This year’s Chinquapin oak was air dried and seasoned outdoors for 36 months before toasting and charring.

Shenk’s is 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV) and has a U.S. suggested retail price of $110. Bomberger’s is 108 proof (54% ABV) and has a U.S. suggested retail price of $120.

In late October 2023, whiskey history was made when the UK-based publication Drinks International announced the results of a poll of an Academy of independent global whisky experts, journalists, bartenders, and drinks buyers from more than 20 countries. An American whiskey (Michter’s) was finally voted the World’s Most Admired Whiskey. Michter’s has a rich and long legacy of offering traditional American whiskeys of uncompromising quality. With each of its limited production offerings aged to its peak maturity, Michter’s highly acclaimed portfolio includes bourbon, rye, sour mash whiskey, and American whiskey. For more information about Michter’s, please visit michters.com, and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and X.

Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: B O’Shaughnessy Distilling Company has certainly stirred up much buzz since getting started. While many new American distillers have procured the services of a master distiller from a big whiskey company, those are usually 1) retired and starting a second career as a consultant; and 2) American. Poaching such a person …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon
*(Credit: Richard Thomas)*

O’Shaughnessy Distilling Company has certainly stirred up much buzz since getting started. While many new American distillers have procured the services of a master distiller from a big whiskey company, those are usually 1) retired and starting a second career as a consultant; and 2) American. Poaching such a person away from a major foreign company is unheard of, but that is exactly what O’Shaugnessy did when they acquired the services of Brian Nation. Previously the Master Distiller for New Midleton, Nation had spent almost 23 years working for Irish Distillers, 7 1/2 of them as Master Distiller. He had spent a decade under the tutelage of the legendary Barry Crockett, so his departure for Minnesota caused quite the stir.

Actually, there has been a bit of a migration from Irish Distillers to O’Shaughnessy. Those of us who travel in whiskey circles have grown very fond of Ger Garland, a real gent and former brand ambassador manager at Irish Distillers. He has since moved over to O’Shaughnessy as well, and has made such an impression at the new job that I heard tourists at Town Branch Distillery in Lexington singing his praises.

The brand best associated with this very Irish crew up in Minnesota is Keeper’s Heart. That brand is best known for importing Irish Whiskey, either for sale as such or for blending with American-made whiskeys. This kind of international hybrid is a thing, but not a common one. Probably the best known example are Virginia Distilling Company’s hybrids of Scotch Whisky with their in-house malts.

The Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon is a 92 proof blend of a four year old-plus single pot still whiskey, a four year old-plus grain whiskey and a four year old-plus bourbon, all sourced. That sourcing is undisclosed, but MGP is a good guess for the bourbon, since they have stock with the 75% corn mash bill. As for the Irish whiskeys, you can count on one hand the number of options for the grain whiskey and single pot still whiskey, and you don’t need all your fingers to do it.

The Whiskey
Reflecting what has been blended into this hybrid, the pour has a dull gold coloring. The nose is light, but fragrant, and smacks of caramel, malty honey and a touch of non-descript citrus. On the palate, the caramel and honey pick up a nutty note, with some traces of cookie spices and garden herbs in the background. The finish opens with a quick wave of leaf tobacco spilling out, followed hard a fast by the cookie spices, oak and a little cocoa.

For the most part, Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon is a tasty, if simple whiskey. Where things get interesting is on the finish, which closes the show in style. What makes the bottle a winner and something all fans of whiskey from around the world and/or hybrids should acquire, however, is the price tag. See below.

The Price
Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon goes for $35 a bottle. It’s a serious bargain.

Weller Adds Ultra-Aged, Pricey Wheated Blend

Buffalo Trace Distillery has announced that it is taking the Weller brand of wheated bourbons up a step, introducing Weller Millennium. Billed as an ultra-aged expression, Weller Millennium is not actually a wheated bourbon. Instead, it is a blend of wheated bourbon and wheat whiskey. The constituent whiskeys were distilled near the turn of the …

A blend of vintage straight bourbon and wheat whiskeys distilled in 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006, Weller Millennium highlights the impact wheat has on the whiskey’s flavor: the softness imparted by the wheat creates a smoother, sweeter, more approachable expression. By marrying these exceptional spirits, the whiskeys further integrate and harmonize with each other, creating a cohesive, balanced final product that is greater than the sum of its parts.

In a presentation befitting the liquid inside, Weller Millennium is held in a 750ml handcrafted crystal decanter with a custom-made crystal topper hand-etched with W.L. Weller’s original “W” stamp of quality. An illuminated display envelopes the 99-proof bottling with exactly 99 bursts while sharing the percentages of each vintage spirit inside the bottle.

Weller Millenium will be released in limited quantities through United States and global distributor networks, which will ship to retailers, bars and restaurants as of June 2024 at a suggested retail price of $7,500 (750ml); taxes will vary by market. It joins the Weller portfolio including Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12-Year-Old, Weller Full Proof, Weller C.Y.P.B. (“Craft Your Perfect Bourbon”) and Weller Single Barrel; Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat, from its experimental line; and William Larue Weller, which is released each fall as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection.

Old Elk Infinity Blend 2023 Whiskey Review

By Kenrick Thurston Wilcox Rating: B+ If anyone has wanted to try their hand at being a blender, infinity bottles are an interesting way for consumers to do so, with many articles on websites how to start your own at home blend. With its roots in the wine world via the solera aging system, the …

By Kenrick Thurston Wilcox

Rating: B+

Old Elk Infinity Bottle 2023
(Credit: Old Elk Distillery)

If anyone has wanted to try their hand at being a blender, infinity bottles are an interesting way for consumers to do so, with many articles on websites how to start your own at home blend. With its roots in the wine world via the solera aging system, the process sees consumers taking what whiskey they have available and over time creating their own uniquely personal blend.

Some whiskey companies, such as Old Elk, are aware of this trend and have gone a step further by creating infinity barrels, projects that see producers filling a barrel or tank, then draining a portion of the liquid, and topping it off with different products, creating an ever-evolving whiskey. Started in 2013 by entrepreneur Curt Richardson, founder and ex-CEO of OtterBox, and with Greg Metze at the helm as master distiller. Before coming over to Old Elk, Metze had an illustrious career as head distiller at MGP, where he worked for 38 years.

This is the third iteration of Old Elk’s Infinity Blend, which contains 15.3% of last years infinity blend, 40% of their unique high malted bourbon aged for 8 years, 43.2% wheat whiskey aged for 7 years and 1.5% wheat whiskey aged for 10 years and is bottled at 57.575% ABV.

The Whiskey
Once poured the whiskey is amber in color. The nose is is full, nutty and malty, with notes of toffee, coffee beans, chocolate and a slight leather scent.

On the palate the malt and wheat become more prominent though the liquid still retains the corn sweetness and thickness typical of a bourbon. Some notes of orange citrus come through along with some smoke, with the coffee bean notes fading far into the background.

The finish stays for a long time though is lacking in complexity tasting only of coffee. Adding a couple drops of water I noticed some black pepper on the nose, some leather on the the palate with more of the coffee flavor coming back, and the finish now having notes of chocolate, coffee and black licorice, although the time it lasted was shortened. This dram is great both on neat or on the rocks.

The Price
A bottle will should set you back $150 for a 750ml, but some online retailers have it listed for somewhat higher.

Glyph Spice Spirit Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: C- As the craft whiskey boom really took off in the early 2010s, many small producers were on the look out for techniques to reduce maturation time or bypass it all together. The classic was to age in small or tiny barrels. The best examples of this tailored their production process …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: C-

Glyph Spice
(Credit: Richard Thomas)

As the craft whiskey boom really took off in the early 2010s, many small producers were on the look out for techniques to reduce maturation time or bypass it all together. The classic was to age in small or tiny barrels. The best examples of this tailored their production process to make a better new make, something that would be drinkable after a mere several months in a cask that was 10 gallons or less. Many did not, giving rise to the whole “craft whiskey sucks” meme that is still kicking around to this day. Others used the small barrel concept and took it a step further, such as Defiant using spiral oak cuts (maximizing surface area) and dropping those into the whiskey, with decidedly mixed results.

The most interesting have been attempts to take a more high-tech approach, such as the ultrasonic TerrePure process. Again, when one takes in the gambit of these more laboratory-oriented methods, some achieve results worth further exploration and others come as as being mere gimmicks. Cleveland Whiskey attempted to circumvent maturation by using pressurization, with notoriously bad results. Yet some, like Bespoken Spirits, show some promise.

Glyph Spirits says they “[craft whiskey] ‘note by note’ in less than 24 hours using flavor and aroma molecules extracted from more efficient sources in nature.” By that, they mean they extract flavors directly from “plants and yeasts” and then add this to neutral grain alcohol (corn vodka, basically).

That is all very interesting, but the label is somewhat more substantive, because it must be approved by the TTB and meet certain legal requirements. Glyph Spice is a “spirit whiskey with natural flavors,” and spirits whiskey is a blend of the aforementioned neutral spirits with 5% to 20% whiskey. Spirit whiskey was a creation of the Great Whiskey Bust of the 1970s, as big distillers scrambled to create lighter products that they felt the vodka, wine and lite beer drinking Boomers of the day wanted. So, this is a little actually whiskey of some kind, corn vodka and added flavoring. Glyph is also keen on calling attention to how environmentally friendly their process is, using less water and energy than traditional distilling.

The Whiskey
The pour has a dull copper look to it, and a nose that is light, but has a slight bite to it, despite being only 40% ABV. The scents are of pine needles and canned fruit medley. The flavor delivers more pine attached to allspice. This is a simple enough drink, and it might make for a good mixer in the right company.

The Price
One thing Glyph Spice has going for it is that it is pretty cheap. I’ve seen it listed with online retailers in the $16 to $22 range.

Woodford Reserve Releases Latest Distillery Series, Toasted Oak Four Grain Blend

Woodford Reserve has released a new limited-edition bottle as part of its continuing Distillery Series, Toasted Oak Four Grain. This new release is a blend of Woodford Reserve’s Bourbon, Rye, Wheat and Malt whiskeys. The whiskey was first aged in a standard new oak barrel, and was then finished in heavily toasted new oak barrels. …

Woodford Reserve has released a new limited-edition bottle as part of its continuing Distillery Series, Toasted Oak Four Grain.

This new release is a blend of Woodford Reserve’s Bourbon, Rye, Wheat and Malt whiskeys. The whiskey was first aged in a standard new oak barrel, and was then finished in heavily toasted new oak barrels. So, this isn’t a four grain bourbon and shouldn’t be confused as one; it is instead a blended whiskey, with the “four grain” part coming from the lead grain for each constituent part. The proportions are not listed.

The result is a whiskey with a beautiful baked pecan color and a toasted oak flavor with wood spiced and a hint of maple syrup and butterscotch.

This is the first Woodford Reserve release to have Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall’s name on the label. McCall took over the role of Master Distiller from Chris Morris, who now serves as Master Distiller Emeritus, in January of 2023.

“I am thrilled for Toasted Oak Four Grain to be the first Woodford Reserve release with my name on it as Master Distiller,” said McCall. “Experimenting and creating new products is one of the most exciting parts of my job, allowing us to explore new flavors. This is the first of many special releases we have planned in the coming years.”

Toasted Oak Four Gain is part of Woodford Reserve’s Distillery Series, which was created to push Woodford Reserve’s creative boundaries and introduce new whiskeys to the market. This selection was masterminded by McCall and is available for purchase in limited quantities at the Woodford Reserve Distillery and limited Kentucky retailers. Toasted Oak Four Grain is available in 375ml bottles at 90.4 Proof. It is available for an SRP of $59.99.

Sneak Peek: Kings County Coffee Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: B- A few years ago, FEW Spirits introduced a novel spin on their bourbon by cutting it with cold brew coffee instead of water. They were followed by a Jameson cold brew whiskey and a few cold brew whiskeys introduced by small distillers around the country. Now Kings County in Brooklyn …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B-

Kings County Distillery

A few years ago, FEW Spirits introduced a novel spin on their bourbon by cutting it with cold brew coffee instead of water. They were followed by a Jameson cold brew whiskey and a few cold brew whiskeys introduced by small distillers around the country. Now Kings County in Brooklyn has joined the cold brew party, partnering with Parlor Coffee.

Cold brew coffee is used in these concoctions because it’s less acidic than the standard coffee brew, and that acidity is prone to foul the taste of the whiskey. This particular version of caffeinated whiskey is said to have 14mg of caffeine per shot (1.5 oz), and the whiskey side of it is a blend of Kings County’s bourbon and corn whiskey. The regular cup of joe packs 16.5 mg into the same volume. Kings County shipped Coffee Whiskey in mid-April, and this entry comes in 750 ml bottles at 40% ABV.

The Bourbon
This pour has a dark coloring that takes it beyond amber to nut brown. That underscores the theme here. I’ve only tried two of these things, but FEW named theirs “FEW Bourbon With Cold Brew Coffee,” while Kings County went with “Coffee Whiskey.” The relative emphasis is right there in the name.

The nose is syrupy, leading with a half-and-half of Hershey’s chocolate and vanilla syrups, with a modest note of tannic coffee grinds underneath. That thick, sweet character continues on into the palate. Kings County compares it with Italian amari, and they have good reason to do so, especially the thicker style of amari. I couldn’t find the signature of the corn whiskey at all, subsumed by the cold brew, which leads the flavor profile by half a foot. The finish sees the sweet, chocolatey side of the coffee swap with the bitter aspect, and that swap takes the bourbon with it.

My confession here is that I’m not a coffee drinker, although I appreciate similar flavors appearing in things like stout and ice cream. I appreciated FEW’s cold brew effort so much because it remained bourbon first and foremost; the coffee was a distinct layer inserted into it. King County’s effort has the two elements of whiskey and coffee as peers, and if one of them is out in front, it’s the coffee.

The Price
Expect to pay about $45 for this caffeinated whiskey.

Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Whiskey Review

By Richard Thomas Rating: B- Following their branding and custom, California’s Redwood Empire named their blend of whiskeys after a very old, very tall redwood tree. The tallest coastal redwood, Lost Monarch the tree is 157 feet high and found in Jedediah Smith State Park. Lost Monarch the whiskey is a blend of (presumably MGP-sourced) …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B-

Redwood Empire Lost Monarch Blend of Whiskeys
(Credit: Redwood Empire)

Following their branding and custom, California’s Redwood Empire named their blend of whiskeys after a very old, very tall redwood tree. The tallest coastal redwood, Lost Monarch the tree is 157 feet high and found in Jedediah Smith State Park.

Lost Monarch the whiskey is a blend of (presumably MGP-sourced) bourbon and rye. I think it is folly to automatically assume every 95% rye, 5% malted barley whiskey comes from MGP these days, because there are several distillers using that mash bill, and Redwood Empire is drawing on it here for 40% of the formulation. What makes me suspect it is MGP is the 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley bourbon in the blend, which comprises 60%. The former is said to draw on 3 to 5 year old stock, and the later 4 to 12 years old. Crossing the two major types of whiskey makes it a Hybrid, but technically it’s an American Blend. Lost Monarch is bottled at 90 proof.

The Whiskey
The pour had a dull copper look in the glass. The nose was herbal, a current of Bigelow Constant Comment tea with the orange zest, clove and cinnamon, plus a strong note of dill and a teaspoon of vanilla stirred in. This sweet, herbal character develops on the palate, with the citrus holding firm and joined by caramel on the sweet side. The herbal side goes to pepper and juniper, taking a decidedly gin-like turn. From there, the whiskey finishes as a sliver of mildly spicy wood.

The Price
Lost Monarch fetches between $30 and $35 with a sampling of online retailers, making it quite reasonably priced.

High West Campfire Whiskey Review (2022)

By Richard Thomas Rating: B+ A decade ago, Utah’s High West was a fan favorite, instantly earning a reputation for transparency at a time when a handful of whiskey bloggers led an often trollish obsession among enthusiasts with the sometimes shady marketing employed by non-distiller producers. High West was unusual in not only did they …

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B+

The revamped High West Campfire
(Credit: Richard Thomas)

A decade ago, Utah’s High West was a fan favorite, instantly earning a reputation for transparency at a time when a handful of whiskey bloggers led an often trollish obsession among enthusiasts with the sometimes shady marketing employed by non-distiller producers. High West was unusual in not only did they frankly admit that their whiskeys were sourced, but they even specified from who and what their blending proportions were.

Campfire was not just an example of a transparently sourced American whiskey, but also an early example of a whiskey that blended multiple types of whiskey together, or hybrid. In this instance, it’s a mixture of bourbon, rye and Scottish malts. As Padre John wrote in our 2015 review, “According to David Perkins, founder of High West Distillery, the Campfire saga all began at the Bruichladdich Distillery B & B. He and his wife were served an unusual combination of fresh melon and sweet smoke. He believed it a very unforgettable experience, and the idea struck him to recreate this marvelous experience only with a bourbon as the base.”

High West discontinued Campfire for a brief spell, but has resurrected it this year, albeit with a new formulation. This version draws on stocks of the ubiquitous MGP-made 95% rye, 5% malt rye whiskey; High West’s own in-house rye whiskey; the 75% corn mash bourbon made by MGP; and a blend of malts from Scotland, sourced from undisclosed distilleries. This Campfire 2022 is bottled at 92 proof.

The Whiskey
I’ve never actually found campfire to have the nose of a campfire, which is perhaps a good thing: American whiskeys have no business aping the peatiest beasts of Scotland. This new formulation has a candied core at the scent, smacking of vanilla, honey and butterscotch, tinged with cookie spices and pine needles. The flavor follows almost exactly in this vein, differing only in the addition of a touch of ash, making it everything anyone could ask for from an Scots-American hybrid whiskey. That ash firmly establishes its feet in both identities, and in a way that doesn’t clash. The finish rolls on woody and spicy, but mildly so.

The Price
Officially, Campfire now goes for $79.99

Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail Whiskey Review (2022)

By Randall H. Borkus Rating: A Barrell Craft Spirits launched Dovetail, a blend of bourbon and whiskey expressing the company’s favorite sources and flavors, in 2018. For 2022, they have released an ultra-premium Gray Label expression using the same blending. Here Barrell Craft Spirits chose older and rarer barrels with some of the spirits aged …

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: A

Barrell Craft Spirits Dovetail 2022
(Credit: Barrell Craft Spirits)

Barrell Craft Spirits launched Dovetail, a blend of bourbon and whiskey expressing the company’s favorite sources and flavors, in 2018. For 2022, they have released an ultra-premium Gray Label expression using the same blending. Here Barrell Craft Spirits chose older and rarer barrels with some of the spirits aged up to 20 years. This limited Gray Label Dovetail is finished in rum, port, and Dunn Vineyards Cabernet barrels. The bourbon whiskey is sourced from Indiana, Tennessee and Canada and bottled in Kentucky. Barrell Craft Spirits Gray Label Dovetail is a stout and complex expression.

The 2022 Dovetail release is bottled at a 131.54 proof with no age statement is a combination of whiskeys finished in rum casks, Port pipes, and Dunn Vinyards Cabernet casks.

Barrell Craft Spirits describes this spirit: “This is an ester-forward bourbon with the brooding depth of cabernet and port casks. The varied distillates and casks come together into a complex palate that showcases the cola notes of whiskey that’s spent many years in oak.”

The Bourbon
The whiskey dances in my Glencairn glass and hosts a bright golden hue. The spirit exhibits serious thick legs rolling down the sides of my glass. The nose is full of caramel, molasses, and sweet crushed cane wrapped in fresh cut leather rose cigar tobacco.

The front palate shows up oily with flavors of sweetened molasses and berry preserves. The mid palate is invitingly warm with a splashes of ginger, cinnamon and chocolate sugar wrapped in a Caramel-prune covered tobacco leaf sprinkled with a hint of black pepper. The finish is bold and complex with crushed candied fruits, brown sugar, sweet spice with a syrupy earthy mineral quality. The finish lasts forever resting a satisfying sugared ginger holding on to my taste buds.

This Gray Label Dovetail is elegant and bold. I really enjoyed each sip and longed for more when the bottle was empty. For those who are comfortable with buying a $249 bottle you will enjoy this! This is a damn good whiskey, and I would seek out another pour in one of my favorite watering holes in Chicago if lucky enough to find it.

The Price
The 2022 Gray Label Dovetail retails for $249 a bottle and expect it to become hard to find quickly.