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Heaven’s Door Exploration Series 1 Review

A quick small of this whiskey, and there’s no question about how it was finished. The nose is stuffed full of juicy apples. The Calvados barrel influence is big and bold without overdoing things. The juicy apple is mixed with brown sugar, caramel, and oak, resulting in a well-based aroma…

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Produced by Heaven's Door. The distiller is undisclosed.
MASH BILL: Undisclosed Tennessee straight bourbon whiskey finished in Calvados brandy casks from Normandy, France, with the addition of medium-heavy toasted French oak staves. (Kosher Certified)
AGE: No less than 5 years
YEAR: 2024
PROOF: 108 (54% ABV)
MSRP: $79.99
BUY ONLINE: Heaven's Door Website

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: Folks who enjoy exploring finished whiskeys, those who enjoy brandy, and bourbon drinkers looking to diversify their home bar without spending $100+ on yet another new expression.

WORTH THE PRICE: It's a tad overprice for my palate/value equation but compared to most new releases these days it seems to be in good company.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar / Bottle – Split decision for me. I wouldn't mind having a bottle or two at home to drink and share with guests, but $79.99 is about $20 too high for my value equation to buy without trying at a bar first. For others who normally spend $100+ to try something new, this one is a steal.

OVERALL: A quick small of this whiskey, and there's no question about how it was finished. The nose is stuffed full of juicy apples. The Calvados barrel influence is big and bold without overdoing things. The juicy apple is mixed with brown sugar, caramel, and oak, resulting in a well-based aroma that is incredibly inviting.

The mouthfeel is oily and heavy, delivering a flavor combination of cooked apples, brown sugar, and caramel, followed by big oak notes that amazingly avoided becoming too tannic and bitter. The finish sees the sweet notes return with a caramel apple fade to dusty, dry oak. Simple and tasty.

Overall, I enjoyed this whiskey, and as stated above, I wouldn't mind having a bottle or two available at home. But it's just a bit too expensive for what it is compared to other offerings at this price point. That said, I'm not the biggest fan of finished bourbons. If finished bourbons is one of our favorite styles, I could understand you grabbing a few bottles and basking in the price point compared to others on the market.

BRAND NOTES

NOSE: The fine-grained Petraea oak contributes excellent aroma, medium ellagitannins, and high oxygen permeability.

PALATE: Heavy toast that enhances the baking notes commonly linked with apples, including brown sugar, pastry, caramel, and biscuits.

The new Exploration Series from Heaven’s Door continues to push boundaries for crafting premium, small-batch whiskey. Led by Master Distiller Ken Pierce, and Master Blender Alex Moore, our team explores new finishing methods for the unique collection of limited-time offerings, enriching the whiskey experience.

Annually, the Exploration Series will unveil two unique expressions, each a testament to our dedication to breaking new ground in the whiskey world. Fueled by the restless and uncompromising spirit of our founder, Bob Dylan, we take inspiration from his ethos to continually challenge the status quo with new whiskeys, finishes, and staves.

The series’ debut is deeply rooted in French influence, with carefully incorporated elements of product, wood, and technique. Its foundation is comprised of Heaven’s Door’s award-winning Tennessee Straight Bourbon whiskey finished inside freshly dumped Calvados Brandy casks. We then introduce an additional layer of complexity through medium-heavy toasted French oak staves.

Calvados, an apple brandy from Normandy, France, matures for at least two years in the French oak casks before being filled with our Tennessee Bourbon. This imparts sought-after characteristics like fresh apple cider and baked apple brandy. Our new, medium heavy toasted French oak staves, sourced from Quercus Petraea trees, offer excellent aroma, medium ellagitannins, and high oxygen permeability. The heavy toast enhances baking notes associated with apples, including brown sugar, pastry, caramel, and biscuits.

The Exploration Series’ inaugural expression is aged for no less than 5 years, bottled at 108 proof, and has a $79.99 suggested retail price point, with an expected shipping date in December 2023.

Learn more about Exploration Series 1.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Storywood Anejo and Reposado Tequila Reviews

Doubtless, some will like these gentle sippers, but they’re too gentle for my preference. They lack the backbone a barrel can provide and the magical flavors great oxidization deliver to dazzle.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Produced by Storywood and distilled at NOM 1137 La Cofradia
MASH BILL: 100% Blue Webber Agave
AGE: Reposado, 7 Months in ex-Scotch casks, Anejo, 14 Months in ex-Scotch casks
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 80 (40% ABV)
MSRP: Reposado, $50.77, Anejo, $85
BUY ONLINE: Out of Stock Online

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: People who like soft, aged tequilas.

WORTH THE PRICE: No. There's better out there for less.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar.

OVERALL: Here's why I chose to review two tequilas from Storywood in one review: The differences between them is just 7 months in a used Scotch cask from Speyside. The reposado aged 7 months; the anejo 14 months. Hard but paying work kept me from the volunteer duty of reviewing, so I've had these bottles for several months. The benefit of that is I got to taste them both many times before sitting down to the actual reviewing. What intrigued me all along was their similarities in the glass.

The reposado leads with some rawer, greener, vegetal aromas that more intriguing than unpleasant. The older anjeo is much sweeter, bearing a cotton candy note that's a signature aroma on Casa Noble tequilas, the distillery's flagship brand. None offers any aromas of a Scotch-cask rest, but who knows how many times that Scotch cask was used and reused, or whether its charred innards were chipped out, a common practice in tequila.

These less-pronounced notes carry over to the liquid. Both present a super soft mouthfeel, which is pleasant, but the flavors of cooked agave are faint, which is interesting given the press-release's claim 10-year-old agaves were used and, as I assume, slow roasted in La Cofradia's brick ovens for depth and complexity. But there's just not much going on in either expression. There's some positive black pepper and cinnamon influence in the finish, but I was hoping for more depth and complexity.

Doubtless, some will like these gentle sippers, but they're too gentle for my preference. They lack the backbone a barrel can provide and the magical flavors great oxidization deliver to dazzle.

BRAND NOTES

Both Storywood Reposado and Añejo tequilas begin with 10-year-old mature 100% blue Weber agave, harvested from the lowland region of Jalisco then married with the natural spring water from Volcan de Tequila that flows down from the mountains. The tequila is produced by master distiller Carlos Hernandez Ramos from La Cofradia then aged in the finest of oak casks from Speyside, Scotland.

“We’re excited to bring the Storywood Tequila cultural partnership between Mexico and Scotland to people in the U.S.,” says Storywood Tequila Founder, Michael Ballantyne, a native of Scotland. “We’ve already seen tremendous excitement for this innovative tequila from both whiskey and tequila aficionados.”

The Añejo Speyside 14 is aged for 14 months in medium char single malt Scotch whisky barrels from Dufftown, Scotland. The oak aging enhances the earthy, herbal notes and layers in toasted oak, roasted nuts, and treacle toffee flavors. Reposado Speyside 7 has notes of caramel, subtly oaky with hints of vanilla and honey on an earthly, lowland agave base, and is aged over 7 months in Scotch Speyside whisky barrels.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

George Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years Review

The price point is nearly disqualifying. And I thought about it for quite a while. But it is an enjoyable older bourbon, and if you can manage to score a half ounce at whatever bar these end up at, it’s worth a try, if only to see what Dickel thinks deserves this price tag.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Cascade Hollow Distillery
MASH BILL: 84% Corn | 8% Rye | 8% Malted Barley
AGE: 18 years old
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 90 proof
MSRP: $510 (for a 700ml bottle)

DREW'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Those who still swear old bourbon is better bourbon. Unicorn chasers who've had everything else. Your dentist.

WORTH THE PRICE: I will tell anyone who listens that George Dickel 15 Years Old and the 13-year-old Bottled in Bond releases are two of the best values in American whiskey. This is the opposite of that bottle. Sure, it's old enough to vote and supposed to be more bourbon-ey than Dickel's classic Tennessee whiskey, but a bottle of entirely respectable 8-year-old Dickel Bourbon costs all of $30. Couldn't we have gotten a 10-year-old for $60 or a 12-year-old for $100 before skyrocketing all the way to this? We whiskey lovers need to be romanced a little before we drop a car payment or two on a 90-proof bourbon that, while well-made, is clearly targeted at only the wealthiest or most financially irresponsible among us.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar. The price point is nearly disqualifying. And I thought about it for quite a while. But it is an enjoyable older bourbon, and if you can manage to score a half ounce at whatever bar these end up at, it's worth a try, if only to see what Dickel thinks deserves this price tag.

OVERALL: I respect the hell out of what Nicole Austin has done at Cascade Hollow, and I get the need to hitch the Dickel wagon to the super-premium bourbon boom. With mostly value bottlings, the brand's heritage Tennessee whiskey line is a harder place to premiumize with the exception of the 17-year-old Reserve which somehow costs three times what the 15-year-old fetches. I suppose I'm seeing a trend here.

The marketing surrounding the introduction of George Dickel Bourbon was already a little patronizing to consumers. They get to just decide what's bourbon and what's Tennessee whiskey? Apparently.

That was easy enough to ignore when the product was a solid value, and I assumed that success would give the brand room to finesse its story and expand the age-stated lineup incrementally. But going from zero to unicorn in one product cycle leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

While we're on the topic of taste, I should probably stop complaining about the price and talk about the bourbon itself because it is actually pretty good. The oak profile dominates the aroma, delivering deep, damp notes of old basement and barn doors that almost come across even older than the age-statement if not for a welcome mix of cinnamon candies and orange creamsicle that add richness and impressive contrast to all that oak. Despite this being a bourbon on paper, I'm still getting the dark maple candies, barrel char, and slight minerality of Dickel's non-bourbon brethren, albeit with all that oak adding plenty of old furniture and leather to the mix. It's light, as you would expect from a 90-proofer, but there's still quite a bit of flavor packed into the sip with a full, round finish of well-cooked butterscotch, black cherry, and baking spice.

There is another nit to pick with this one, and I'll let you get on with your life. Dickel Bourbon 18 Years Old comes packaged in an international-friendly 700ml, meaning you're getting 1/15th less in the bottle for all those Benjamins. There's far less well-aged bourbon available outside of the US, so some of that steep admission price may be a calculation for consumers beyond our borders, which sucks.

BRAND NOTES

The new Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years is a bourbon that has been aged in charred oak barrels and blended to perfection. Hailing from the quiet hills of Cascade Hollow, the long aging process in our single-story rickhouses imparted Dickel Bourbon 18 Year Old with mellow yet complex flavors including deep notes of crème brulée and stone fruit.

Nose: Creme brûlée leading into stone fruit

Finish: Long lasting, boasting almond, toffee, and oak

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey Review

A quick whiff of the nose, and there’s no denying this is a rye whiskey reporting for duty. It has all the classic hallmarks of a high rye mash bill rye whiskey from MGP–candied fruit, bright rye spice, caramel and juicy fruit.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Bottled and distributed by Brother's Bond Distilling Company. The whiskey is sourced from MGP.
MASH BILL: A four-grain blended rye whiskey with a final mash bill of 77% Rye, 16% corn, and 7% wheat and barley.
AGE: Aged in new, deep-charred oak barrels for at least four years. 70 to 170 barrels per batch.
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 95 Proof (47.5% ABV)
MSRP: $48.00
BUY ONLINE: Reserve Bar

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: This one is clearly for folks who enjoy rye whiskey. People on the fence need not bother with this one.

WORTH THE PRICE: Maybe? It's priced within an acceptable range for rye whiskey sourced from MGP but falls short of what my palate expects from a $48 rye whiskey.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: I highly recommend trying this at a bar before purchasing an entire bottle. You're not going to dump it out, but you might wish you had invested the same amount in a different rye whiskey after tasting it. But then again, it might fit your palate better than mine.

OVERALL: A quick whiff of the nose, and there's no denying this is a rye whiskey reporting for duty. It has all the classic hallmarks of a high rye mash bill rye whiskey from MGP–candied fruit, bright rye spice, caramel and juicy fruit. The palate adds some herbal notes, brown sugar, and cinnamon with an abrupt finish that leaves a slight unexpected bitterness. The mouthfeel is also a bit thinner than I expected based on the whiskey's rich aroma.

I found the nose of this rye whiskey to be quite lovely. Based on that, I expected a much more robust and satisfying whiskey on the palate. Unfortunately, it never delivered what I was expecting. Ultimately, it was a bit thin on the palate, with an unexpected finish gone in the blink of an eye.

This is the third Brother's Bond whiskey I've reviewed (straight bourbon and cask strength bourbon), and each one has fallen short of my expectations despite all three being sourced from MGP, one of my favorite bulk whiskey providers. For me, the four-year age of these whiskeys is the major issue. My palate loves MGP whiskeys that are at least 6 years if not 8 years of age. MGP whiskey just tastes better to me when it has a few more years in the barrel. So, given time, I believe my palate will better receive these expressions.

However, the brand's pricing strategy is clearly designed to target their owner's celebrity fan base, who likely have little to no baseline for the price of the product compared to equal or better-tasting products in the market. As such, I doubt these expressions will ever receive a "Bottle" rating from me as I'm sure the price will go up dramatically if they were to be released with a 50 to 100% increase in age. Time will tell.

BRAND NOTES

A remarkable aromatic and flavorful American blended rye whiskey. This rye recipe combines Brother's Bond signature bourbon blended with a distinctive straight rye whiskey full of robust flavors with a full-bodied mouthfeel and extra-long finish.

Brother's Bond™, created by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, known as "The Salvatore Brothers" from the famed TV series, "The Vampire Diaries." The true bonds of their friendship strengthened over drinking bourbon, both on and off-screen, for over a decade.

The brand name is a nod to their on-screen characters, their shared love for great bourbon, and a reflection of the sense of brotherhood they have formed over the years.

Aged a minimum of 4 years, at 95 proof with 77% rye content, Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye is a well-rounded, nostalgic and robust spirit.

Every sip leaves the palate full of bold, spicy aromas and flavors in perfect balance.

To all the rye enthusiasts and whiskey lovers, it's time to bond.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Brother’s Bond Original Cask Strength Bourbon Review

Pour this one for those who care about their bourbon but not their budget. The nose, taste and finish are classic MGP, which longtime bourbon drinkers will enjoy immensely.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Bottled and distributed by Brother's Bond Distilling Company. Bourbon is sourced from MGP.
MASH BILL: A four-grain, high-rye straight bourbon whiskey with a mash bill of 65% corn, 22% rye, and 13% wheat and barley.
AGE: Aged min 4 years in virgin American oak, barrel staves #4 char, barrel heads #2 char.
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 114.08 Proof (57.04% ABV)
MSRP: $84.99
BUY ONLINE: Reserve Bar

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: Pour this one for those who care about their bourbon but not their budget. The nose, taste and finish are classic MGP at four years of age.

WORTH THE PRICE: I'm afraid not. Good bourbon. Bad price point.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar to see if you agree on my value judgement.

OVERALL: What a difference proof makes. I recently reviewed Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottled at 80 proof and found it lacking in the bold flavors I prefer from my bourbon. This cask-strength version is more in line with my preferred flavor profile. It has a solid nose filled with caramel, cocoa, dried fruit and walnuts (and Red Hot cinnamon candy once you've had a few sips.)

Each sip combines traditional bourbon flavors laced with leather, tobacco and more dried fruit. The mouthfeel is a bit thinner than I anticipated from an unfiltered bourbon, but the long finish makes up for it a bit. The brand claims a "2-minute long" finish, but who drinks bourbon with a stopwatch? Let's call it a long finish with a light Kentucky hug.

So far so good, right? Where this bourbon falls short is its age, or more precisely, its lack of age and high price. At four years of age, this MGP-sourced bourbon is right on track to eventually mature into a fabulous bourbon with all of the classic hallmarks that come with an 8+-year-old MGP whiskey. But today, it's just an "meh" bottle of bourbon. Put this one at $40 (the SRP of their 80-proof version), and I would give it a "Bottle" rating. However, at an SRP of $85, I can't even get close to recommending this to anyone outside of a bar scenario. There are too many other MGP-sourced bottlings that have a combination of better flavor, more age, and a lower price to add this one to my collection. This is clearly an example of folks trying to jack up the price simply because they can call it "cask strength." Give it another four years to mature and bolster the proof north and we can revisit to see how it's improved. For now, most folks should focus their purchasing power elsewhere.

BRAND NOTES

The brand name is a nod to their on-screen characters, their shared love for great bourbon, and a reflection of the sense of brotherhood they have formed over the years. Ian and Paul hand-selected 70 of the finest Brother's Bond Bourbon barrels to create this limited release for bourbon lovers.

Savor each sip and enjoy each moment. Time to bond. Cheers, Ian & Paul

Our award-winning limited releases of the original cask strength expression showcase Brother's Bond Bourbon in its undiluted form, unfiltered and uncut. Proof ranging from 115.1 to 115.8. Each release is a four-grain, high rye bourbon, with a mash bill of 65% Corn, 22% Rye, Wheat, and Barley making up the rest. Copper column and copper pot-doubler distillation. Aged min 4 years in virgin American oak, barrel staves #4 char, barrel heads #2 char.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Brother’s Bond Straight Bourbon Review

There’s nothing wrong with drinking low-proof bourbon. It’s just not my thing. But if I were to consume bourbon at the minimum bottle entry proof allowed, Brother’s Bond flavor profile would be more than acceptable– even if the price is not.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Bottled and distributed by Brother's Bond Distilling Company. Bourbon is sourced from MGP.
MASH BILL: A four-grain, high-rye straight bourbon whiskey with a mash bill of 65% corn, 22% rye, 13%wheat and barley. 135 barrels per batch.
AGE: Minimum of 4 years old.
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 80 Proof (40% ABV)
MSRP: $44
BUY ONLINE: Reserve Bar

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: Folks that prefer something on the lighter side of bourbon and have money to burn.

WORTH THE PRICE: Not even close. It's a solid bourbon for those who like lower-proof bourbons that go easy on the taste buds, but it's way overpriced compared to what you can get on the market for less money.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Folks who dislike big, bold bourbons will enjoy this 80-proof expression, but at $40 a bottle, you better try it at a bar first. Those who prefer to drink 100 proof and above to get a bolder bourbon flavor experience should skip this one entirely.

OVERALL: I can't recall the last time I drank an 80-proof bourbon. So you can imagine my surprise when I took my first sip of Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon bottled at 80 proof. (Did I mention that I didn't even look at the label before I tried it?)

If someone had been watching me, I'm sure they would have described my face as confused and concerned, as I was not expecting it to be at such low proof. My bad for the lack of preparation.

That said, there's nothing wrong with drinking low-proof bourbon. It's just not my thing anymore. I gravitate toward higher-proof offerings that deliver a bolder flavor experience. But if I were to consume bourbon at the minimum bottle entry proof allowed, Brother's Bond flavor profile would be more than acceptable– even if the price is not.

The nose is soft and sweet, with layers of corn, honey, and baked bread. There's a nice punch of rye spice to keep it from being too sweet, and some oak spice and nuttiness further balance out the combination. The palate brings more of the same with the addition of dried fruits and black tea on the finish. It's a nicely balanced bourbon that goes extremely easy on the palate.

I would love to add this to my list of recommendations for those who have just started getting into bourbon, but I can't do it at $40 a bottle. You'd be better off buying a lower-priced bourbon with higher proof and adding some water to bring the proof down to a similar level.

BRAND NOTES

The dawn of your new bourbon has arrived. Brother's Bond, created by Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, known as "The Salvatore Brothers" from the famed TV series, "The Vampire Diaries." The true bonds of their friendship strengthened over drinking bourbon, both on and off-screen, for over a decade.

The brand name is a nod to their on-screen characters, their shared love for great bourbon, and a reflection of the sense of brotherhood they have formed over the years. They crafted this hand-selected batch, distilled and aged in the tradition of all great bourbons. Time to bond. Cheers, Ian & Paul.

A four-grain, high rye bourbon whiskey; 68% corn, 22% rye, wheat and barley is our secret. Copper column and copper pot-doubler distillation. Aged a minimum of 4 years in virgin American oak; barrel staves #4 char; barrel heads #2 char.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Still Austin Blue Corn Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Review

What’s most intriguing about this bourbon is its lack of sweetness. A glance at the mash bill shows it’s limited to 51% corn, which explains a lot of it since it’s roughly 25% lower than most bourbons on the market. I can’t decide whether I like that reduced sweetness, but it’s got my attention.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Still Austin Whiskey Co.
MASH BILL: 26% Blue Corn | 25% White Corn | 44% Rye | 5% Malted Barley
AGE: At least 4 years, bottled-in-bond
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 100 (50% ABV)
MSRP: $79.99
BUY ONLINE: Still Austin's Website

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: All bourbon fans, especially those harboring doubts about Texas bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE: $80 is a bit high compared to larger distillery BIBs, but it's craft whiskey, and sometimes you gotta pay a bit more for it. And if you don't, it may sell out before you can try it, which happened with this one.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar, mostly because it may be all you ever see.

OVERALL: This is Release No. 3 in a Still Austin bottled-in-bond series that includes a Red Corn Bourbon and a High Rye Bourbon. Since both were well regarded by the Bourbon & Banter team, we were happy to receive samples late last year.

On this one, the nose is a little muted for me: a balance of spring flowers and rye with a bit of oak in the background. You have to be patient to coax out some obscurities like white icing on gingerbread and Bottle Caps cola flavor. Some rye bread dough comes on with time.

The palate is equally subtle, a softie, frankly, and it takes some concentration to identify its virtues. Cooked corn, rye and dried lemon peel lead the way with back notes of eucalyptus (think a faint hum of Ricola throat lozenges) bringing up the rear. The finish is medium-length, herbal and warming. (I don't focus too much on finishes, but medium length and heat from a good 100-proof finish can be a treat, and this one is.)

What's most intriguing about this bourbon is its lack of sweetness. A glance at the mash bill shows it's limited to 51% corn, which explains a lot of it since it's roughly 25% lower than most bourbons on the market. I can't decide whether I like that reduced sweetness, but it's got my attention. What I do like about it is the distiller's desire to go a little against the typical bourbon grain bill.

What's also intriguing is the monster rye portion (44%) of the mashbill. I don't recall seeing such a high rye bourbon ever, not even in Still Austin's own High Rye Bourbon (which is only 25%.) But, strangely enough, the rye doesn't come in roaring with spice notes like you might assume. In fact, I've triple-checked that mashbill to ensure 44% isn't a typo, but the math doesn't lie. So where is that rye punch in the face I expected?

When sweetness falls short in a traditionally sweet bourbon, what do you do? I make an old fashioned with it to see if bitters, demerara syrup and some dilution will bring it to life. It did, and unexpectedly, its oak notes came to the fore along with some baking spice. While I expect to sip this neat a few times more, I'm betting Still Austin Blue Corn BIB Bourbon will serve better in some upcoming cocktails.

BRAND NOTES

“As a distiller, I've always wanted to push the boundaries with the amount of rye in a bourbon mash-bill," said John Schrepel, head distiller at Still Austin. "With blue corn being such a sweet variety of corn, it was the perfect fit to achieve 44% rye in this bourbon blend. This is my personal favorite spirit that we've ever produced.”

Nose: The spirit boasts notes of cream soda and malted milk, with a hint of spiced plum and country apple cider.
Palate: With the first sip, the palate is greeted with a velvety texture, with intricate notes of dark-chocolate candied citrus, followed by the sweetness of carrot cake and buttercream frosting. Hints of crème de menthe, nougat, and Manuka honey elevate the flavor of this bourbon.
Finish: The finish is well-balanced with chewy notes of dark sherry and crème brûlée, with lingering notes of eucalyptus, oak spice, and black tea.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Milam & Greene Batch 3 Castle Hill Bourbon Review

I’ve never been a fan of the children’s vitamin note common to whiskeys made there, and I assumed this would bring more of the same. It didn’t. This is a delicious whiskey with unique virtues appreciated in its aromas and flavors.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Produced by Milam & Green from an undisclosed Tennessee distillery
MASH BILL: 84% Corn | 8% Rye |8% Malted Barley
AGE: 15 years, 6 months
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 114.5 (57.25% ABV)
MSRP: $199.99
BUY ONLINE: Shop Milam & Green

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any bourbon fan, especially anyone skeptical about bourbons aged in Tennessee.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes, since this is about the average rate for a 15-year bourbon.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar. If you like it, hunt for a bottle. You won't be disappointed.

OVERALL: I didn't want to like this bottle because of its obvious George Dickel lineage (though M&G did not mention that distillery's name). I've never been a fan of the children's vitamin note common to whiskeys made there, and I assumed this would bring more of the same. It didn't. This is a delicious whiskey with unique virtues appreciated in its aromas and flavors.

The nose starts off with a mixture of tobacco barn, ground almonds, dried peach and wild flowers–totally unexpected attributes in a whiskey of this age. (The Dickel note is there, but barely.) The whiskey has a creamy mouthfeel quickly invigorated by black pepper and a heavy dose of baking spice, which strengthens appreciably with every sip. Soon enough, you're visiting a patisserie where everything seems accented by cinnamon, sweet pastry and melted milk chocolate. Step away from it for several minutes, and the spice notes linger. A sniff on return reveals Luxardo cherry and burnt orange notes, followed by a sip that turns up Nutella and ripe banana–again, neat little surprises. The finish is long, warm and luxuriant: exactly what great long-aged whiskey should deliver.

For fans of the details: This bourbon aged in Tennessee for 15 years and one month, and the final five months of aging occurred in Blanco, Texas, home to Milam & Green. Specifically, these 20 barrels were ricked in Rickhouse 2, row 1. According to master blender Heather Greene, Texas's summer climate nudged the whiskey to blending readiness.

The average yield from each barrel was 17.5 gallons, computing to an angels' share of 67 percent. That limits the yield to 144 9-liter cases.

BRAND NOTES

The Castle Hill Batch Three 15-Year-Old Bourbon has a deep amber color and warm scents of cinnamon, maple syrup, cooked apples, and brown sugar. It is a hearty pour resplendent with dark chocolate and oak along with hints of sweet fig and rich dates that linger and then soften to a velvety finish.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Vol. V Review

I might recommend making this your only pour of the night or at least your first. It’s a bourbon unlike most anything else on the shelves and requires, dare I say, deserves, some devoted attention.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Heaven's Door Distillery
MASH BILL: Undisclosed straight bourbon finished in Spanish sweet vermouth casks
AGE: 18 years old
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 114
MSRP: $600
BUY ONLINE: Heaven's Door Online Shop

DREW'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Spendy people, Bob Dylan superfans, and friends who love a good Manhattan cocktail.

WORTH THE PRICE: 2023 was a big year for $500+ bourbons with lots of brands making their way further and further upmarket. Heaven's Door's Bootleg Series has been at the pricey end of their lineup for five years now, yet even they felt compelled to raise the going rate on this one. I personally would not spend $600 on this bottle or even half that, but for the well-heeled bourbon collector/Bob Dylan lover who has everything else, this one won't disappoint on the quality or uniqueness front.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar all the way. The Bootleg Series continues to be a showcase for some of the better finishing experiments from Heaven's Door, making it worth the splurge on an ounce at your favorite overstocked whiskey saloon or luxury hotel bar. I might recommend making this your only pour of the night or at least your first. It's a bourbon unlike most anything else on the shelves and requires, dare I say, deserves, some devoted attention.

OVERALL: As with the four Bootleg Series releases that came before this one, we don't get a lot of backstory on this whiskey outside of age and finishing cask. While I don't necessarily need to know the nuances of the specific vermouth and the duration of finishing time, at this price, I feel like drinkers might deserve that information. Regardless, this is a pretty unique whiskey. Vermouth cask finishes are a rarity (Dad's Hat Rye Vermouth Finish is the only other one that comes immediately to mind), and without even really researching the statement, I'm going to say this is the oldest out there. The goal here, of course, is not to make a large format Manhattan but to enhance and complement the underlying bourbon. And in that Heaven's Door has succeeded admirably.

On the nose, the winey characteristics of the vermouth aren't overpowering, but they lend a nice dryness and a layer of oxidized fruit notes that work exceedingly well with the bold oak and baking spice notes of the well-aged bourbon at its core. On the palate, that balance is even more apparent, delivering high tone red fruits and roasted walnuts to offset sweeter, richer praline and cinnamon sugar notes. Even at 114 proof, it's as approachable as any well-built cocktail from the first warming sip to the long, lingering finish accented by notes of lemon-kissed black tea, raw honey, and allspice.

BRAND NOTES

Heaven’s Door is pleased to announce the highly-anticipated annual Bootleg Series release for 2023. Bootleg Volume V is an exceptional 18-year-old straight bourbon whiskey secondarily finished in Spanish vermouth rouge casks.

The Bootleg Series offers rare and unreleased whiskeys with special blends and barrel finishes that showcase Heaven’s Door’s innovative approach to whiskey making. Each bottle is adorned with one of Dylan's original paintings on a hand-crafted ceramic bottle and presented in a bespoke leather journal.

Nose: Rich, complex aroma with dark fruit notes, hints of allspice, and subtle vanilla undertones.

Palate: Delicate notes of caramel, honey, and vanilla, resulting in a clean, pleasant, and lingering finish that leaves a lasting impression.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon Review

Perhaps the big question for most is whether the whiskey is noticeably influenced by its journey to and rest in England. For me, at least, the answer is no. It tastes like a 6-year-old bourbon should–like any bourbon aged here for six years would taste.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Produced by Never Say Die. However, the distillery behind the liquid is vaguely disclosed as "in Danville, Ky.," while mentioning that Pat Heist and Shane Baker are cofounders of this brand. In other words, Wilderness Trail Distillery.
MASH BILL: 75% Corn | 21% Rye | 4% Malted Barley
AGE: 6 years
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 95 (47.5 ABV)
MSRP: $75
BUY ONLINE: Only available through online stores in England.

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan curious about what a trans-Atlantic voyage and year's stay in England won't do to a barreled bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE: Nope.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar.

OVERALL: The nose is highly approachable: fruity aromas of canned peach, cherry syrup, cooked corn, a little oak and black pepper. The palate is more of the same, with a good mouthfeel and a long, warm finish. There's nothing to dislike about this bourbon, but for $75 a bottle, I'm not racing off to get one.

The only thing I don't like about this whiskey is the press release introducing it. For starters, it's six pages long, and in that English way, punctuation is both strange and optional. It's a fulsome pitch loaded with bunk such as this:

"... Never Say Die Bourbon made its maiden voyage from Kentucky to Derbyshire’s White Peaks Distillery, landing on English shores in July 2022 – to the acclaim of critics and bourbon-lovers alike."

Oh, the drama ... something akin to McArthur's soggy booted return to the Philippines!

"... further matured in England, at Derbyshire’s White Peak Distillery."

So? It aged at a distillery as opposed to No. 10 Downing St.?

It doesn't matter where you stash it in England; it's perpetually cool. At least Jefferson's Ocean travels into widely varying temperature zones. A straight shot 'cross the pond doesn't compare.

It’s a unique journey with three distinct climatic conditions (Where? Inside the ship, outside the ship and on the ground in England?) that not only accelerates the aging process but also leads to unique variations in each small-batchrun-on due to factors like the timing of the ocean voyage, and length of time resting at White Peak.

Firstly, wow, that's an impressive run-on sentence! Secondly, ten years of aging in England is like ten months of aging in Kentucky. You can haul that whiskey there, but it ain't changing in a year's rest.

And I still don't buy the argument that the ocean's jostling changes whiskey appreciably. If the liquid is merely bumping against the barrel's charred inner surfaces, perhaps its color will be darker. But it's widely known that most barrel flavor is gained from deep within the wood, not on the surface. A jolly-good jostling on the way to England isn't forcing that liquid deeper into the barrel's staves.

But it's the Never Say Die name origin story that I wish would just, well, die. How many goofy bourbon-and-horse stories are on Kentucky whiskey labels already? And what makes this crew think theirs is interesting or believable? And did no one read this and say, "Hmm. If this brand's story includes a horse race, how about we limit the time it takes to read this release to the time it takes to run a horse race?" But that never happened. And as a result, the whole is a doozy ... because of such entries as this:

"In 1951, on Hamburg Farm in Lexington, KY, a foal had a rough birth and its life was in danger due to poor breathing. Legendary horseman John A. Bell III was on site and poured a shot of whiskey down the throat of the struggling foal. During the night, the young horse made a dramatic recovery and was aptly named Never Say Die."

Given the current state of American racehorse management, it's more likely that "during the night" the foal got a shot of a now-banned substance. But let's use our imaginations and muse a bit: Perhaps the whiskey was something dreadful and akin to Fireball, and it made the horse cough and start gasping for air, breathe deeply and thus revive.

Yeah, that sounds like a parody of "All Creatures Great and Small," or just another bad bourbon and horse story. In the end, the horse was named, Never Say Die. But keep reading, 'cause this contrivance isn't even flagging.

Download the full press release and read it yourself...if you have time to kill.

Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon Press Release

Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon Press Release.pdf

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According to the press release, when Never Say Die won the 1954 Epsom Derby in an upset, a woman named Mona Best, a resident of Liverpool, England, pawned her jewelry and bet it all on the swift-hoofed Yankee steed. When Best's bet saw her make a killing on a horse named with immortality in mind, she did what all the newly minted rich do: buy an historic Victorian home and convert it into a music venue in which her son, Peter Best, would play.

If you know your rock and roll history, you're likely ahead of me on this: Best was hired to drum for The Quarrymen, a group later renamed The Beatles. But in the end, Best's best wasn't good enough, and John, Paul and George replaced him with Ringo as the drummer.

No lie! They really included this story in a release about bourbon!

And in case you forgot, I wrote that Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon is good. Not worth $75, but good nonetheless.

BRAND NOTES

Our flagship product, with a mash bill using 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. Considered a “High Rye” Bourbon, this offering has spicy notes characteristic of a rye, but with the complexity of a Bourbon whiskey, which can be enjoyed neat, on ice or in your favorite cocktail.

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.