Category: Big Chief

Calumet Farm 16yr bourbon whiskey

How long is to long for bourbon to stay in the barrel? On this weeks podcast episode we sip on Calumet Bourbon,Calumet Farm 16yr, and discuss the age of this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey . This bottle is named for the legendary American thoroughbred race horse Citation, who is the eighth winner of the American

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How long is to long for bourbon to stay in the barrel?

On this weeks podcast episode we sip on Calumet Bourbon,Calumet Farm 16yr, and discuss the age of this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey .

This bottle is named for the legendary American thoroughbred race horse Citation, who is the eighth winner of the American Triple Crown. He won 16 consecutive stakes races and was the first horse in history to win 1 million dollars.

Calumet Farm is a 762-acre Thoroughbred breeding and training farm established in 1924 in Lexington, Kentucky.

We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.  Be sure to listen in to the podcast episode, on your favorite platform, for more information.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Calumet Farm 16yr bourbon whiskey

Vital Stats: This Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has been aged 16 years and is a batch of 19 barrels. It has a mash bill of 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley. It is 106 proof and has an MSRP of $150.

Appearance:  Wine bottle with golden amber bourbon whiskey inside.

Nose: A dusty scent with some honey cinnamon butter. It’s not aggressive. Dr Pepper spice with peanuts. Lots of oak and leather.

Palate: Black liquorish with oak. An absence of sweetness, with baker’s chocolate or coco powder. Surprisingly there isn’t a lot of spice. It does open up after a while and gives us some Christmas fruit cake.

Finish: Medium with a slight Kentucky hug.

Overall: This might have stayed in the barrel to long. For those that enjoy an older bourbon that has those oak notes this would be a buy. We wouldn’t buy it again but will certainly enjoy this bottle. Cheers

 

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Willett 8yr Wheated

What’s your favorite Willett Distillery expression? Willett Distillery has a cult following of their Willett purple top bottles but have been missing a wheated bourbon . Luckily for the Wheated King of Kentucky they have finally added a purple top wheater . To say Big Chief was excited when our great friend Adam Boothby handed

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What’s your favorite Willett Distillery expression?

Willett Distillery has a cult following of their Willett purple top bottles but have been missing a wheated bourbon .

Luckily for the Wheated King of Kentucky they have finally added a purple top wheater . To say Big Chief was excited when our great friend Adam Boothby handed him a bottle for his birthday is an understatement.

The Willett Distilling Company has remained under family ownership and operation at the same location since it was created in 1936.

Over the years the company has bottled whiskeys that range from 2 years of aging maturity up to 28 years and has been called “the big daddy of bourbon and rye bottling”.

We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.   Be sure to listen in to the podcast episode on your favorite platform for more information. Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Willett 8yr Wheated

Vital Stats: This Willett wheated Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has been aged 8 years in #4 new American oak barrels. It has a mash bill of 65% corn, 20% wheat and 15% malted barley. It is 108 proof and has an MSRP of $259.

Appearance: Black whiskey style bottle with gold text. The whiskey is dark golden honey. We usually don’t like these bottles that you can’t see the goodness inside but we love this one. It’s like they made this for royalty .

Nose: A waft of chocolate with some Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It has dried fruits and sweet perfumes that makes it very floral. The proof makes it strong. Very little oak.

Palate: Balanced and not aggressive with a beautiful barrel spice. Cinnamon Toast Crunch with sprinkles of chocolate and milk in a glass. The dried fruits carry over and give you that surprisingly subtle sweetness.

Finish: Long with a nice wildcat Kentucky Hug that won’t overpower you.

Overall: This is an amazing bottle of bourbon that shouldn’t be passed on if you can afford it. It’s a buy for us and will be sipped on for special occasions. Cheers

 

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Knob Creek 18 year Bourbon

What’s your favorite Knob Creek expression? There is a lot of debate on this subject and the recently release of the Knob Creek 18year has only added more to the discussion. James B. Beam Distilling Co.released the first Knob Creek in 1992 and named it after Knob Creek Farm which was the boyhood home of

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What’s your favorite Knob Creek expression?

There is a lot of debate on this subject and the recently release of the Knob Creek 18year has only added more to the discussion.

James B. Beam Distilling Co.released the first Knob Creek in 1992 and named it after Knob Creek Farm which was the boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln. 

It was quickly regarded as one of the first premium aged small batch bourbons by many and has received many awards over the years.

Knob Creek was aged for nine years until late 2016, when Beam Suntory removed the age statement from the label due to tight inventory that could not be guaranteed to be aged the full nine years. 

In mid 2019 Beam Suntory announced the age statement would return to bottle labels sometime in 2020 and has since released a 9 year, 12 year, 15 year and now an 18 year

We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.   Be sure to listen to the podcast episode on your favorite platform for more information.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Knob Creek 18year

Vital Stats: The Knob Creek 18yr Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. It is 100 proof and has an MSRP of $150.00.

Appearance:  Standard knob creek bottle with dark red amber bourbon inside.

Nose: Drunken cherries with lots of oak as would be expected. Some caramel and vanilla along with a toasted smoke. Some underlying mint freshness and cereals.

Palate: Lots of caramel with oak. It’s not overly sweet and has a tad bit of tart apple. We vary on it a little because of the proof. The cherry and honey Cheerios are very pleasant making it a nice sipping whiskey.

Finish: Medium with a beautiful Kentucky hug that won’t overpower you.

Overall: This is a porch sitting, grab a glass on a long fall day and think about life while enjoying this nice Kentucky bourbon. It’s a buy for both of us. Cheers

 

 

 

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Old Line American Single Malt Whiskey

There are two things that we know, military service and whiskey. So when a bottle of American single malt whiskey from two Navy veterans at Old Line Spirits was handed to us we had to give it a try. Mark McLaughlin and Arch Watkins met in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers. After more than a

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There are two things that we know, military service and whiskey.

So when a bottle of American single malt whiskey from two Navy veterans at Old Line Spirits was handed to us we had to give it a try.

Mark McLaughlin and Arch Watkins met in the Navy flying EA-6B Prowlers. After more than a decade of flying off of aircraft carriers, they independently decided to settle down in the mid-Atlantic to focus on family, but ended up in the same Navy reserve Prowler squadron.

With a healthy stint of travel and adventure behind them, sitting still in their new civilian desk jobs just wasn’t enough. Their shared love of whiskey and, at the time, a dearth of craft distilleries in Maryland led them to their true calling: starting their own distillery .

We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.   Be sure to download the podcast episode on your favorite platform to learn more.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Old Line American Single Malt Whiskey

Vital Stats: This American single malt cask strength whisky was distilled at Middle West Spirits by Mark and Arch. It is non age stated and it is an American single malt. We assume that it’s 100% barley. This expression is 124.4 proof and has an MSRP of $64.99.

Appearance: Tall whiskey bottle with dark red amber bourbon inside.

Nose: Pears and plums with a caramel waft. Horehound candy syrup with its spice that gives it a medicinal note.

Palate: Lots of caramel and vanilla with the horehound. Lots of oak with a mouth coating spice. The sweetness disappears and that oak dries out at the end. Your left with A&W root beer candy. Lots of barrel influence on this.

Finish: Medium to long with a mighty hug straight from the sea.

Overall:  This is a very pleasant American Single Malt that is a conversation whiskey.  It is very easy to fall in love with and it’s a buy for us. Bravo Zulu Mark and Arch on a delicious single malt whisky . Cheers

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922

Have you ever sipped on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof ? If you haven’t your missing out.  Heaven Hill Distillery sent us a bottle of their newest release of the highly coveted bourbon ECBP C922 and on this week’s bourbon review episode we let you know our thoughts. Reverend Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher, an

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Have you ever sipped on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof ?

If you haven’t your missing out.  Heaven Hill Distillery sent us a bottle of their newest release of the highly coveted bourbon ECBP C922 and on this week’s bourbon review episode we let you know our thoughts.

Reverend Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher, an educator, and an entrepreneur who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky. However, for all his industries, it was his gift as a distiller and an innovator that brought him his greatest acclaim. Building his distillery in 1789 in what today is Woodford County.

The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof began in 2013 with three batches released every year. The batch number on the label provides specific information about each batch. The first letter indicates the order of the release for that year, starting with “A.” The first number represents the month of the release. The third and fourth digits indicate the year.

We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.  Be sure to listen to the podcast episode on your favorite platform for more information.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922

Vital Stats: This is a 12 year old bourbon whiskey and we believe the mashbill to be 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley. This expression is 124.8 proof and has an MSRP of $69.99.

Appearance: The standard Elijah Craig bottle with dark amber bourbon inside.

Nose: Dark, rich with sorghum molasses and tobacco. A little cow tail candy with chocolate and cream. Light oak and caramel sweetness and cherries without the vanilla. We are sure there is a bourbon soaked pecan in there.

Palate: Wow, there is a Kentucky wildcat trapped in this bottle letting you feel it’s power with its spice. Fried cherry pie with heavy cinnamon. A little dryer than other releases. It’s got a lot of oak with some earthiness and candied pecans. There’s some ginger snap cookie with its tingling spice.

Finish: Long with a Kentucky Wildcat hug.

Overall: This is an amazing barrel proof bourbon that needs to be sipped on slowly.  It’s Bold with a complexity that can appreciated by the fire in the depths of winter. It’s a buy for us all day long. Cheers

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Thee Cord Tennessee Straight Whiskey

What does a bourbon podcast do for its 300th podcast episode ? Well of course we review a Tennessee Whiskey which is technically just a bourbon . There we said it! We recently bumped into the guys from Three Chord Bourbon and they handed us a bottle of their Tennessee straight whiskey . This isn’t

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What does a bourbon podcast do for its 300th podcast episode ?

Well of course we review a Tennessee Whiskey which is technically just a bourbon . There we said it!

We recently bumped into the guys from Three Chord Bourbon and they handed us a bottle of their Tennessee straight whiskey . This isn’t our first trip down The Bourbon Road with Three Cord bourbon or their delicious whiskey from Neil Giraldo.

Tasting Notes:  Thee Cord Tennessee Straight Whiskey

Vital Stats: This straight Tennessee whiskey has been aged for a minimum of 36 months and has a mash bill of 80% corn, 10% rye, and 10% malted barley with an MSRP of $35. Its 85 proof.

Appearance:  A change from there standard bottle, makes sense with the glass shortage with honey golden whiskey inside. We much prefer this bottle for pours.

Nose: southern sweet tea with a zest of lemon and some minerals. Just a hint of caramel and a light spice from the lemon.

Palate: Flintstone vitamin minerals with that southern sweet tea matches the nose. There is a little bit of bitterness on the back end. The citrus gives it a little spice. A little sorghum molasses and caramel.

Finish: Medium with a slight Tennessee hug

Overall: A nice Tennessee whiskey that can stand on its own. We certainly could have one good whiskey session with it. The price point is not going to break you so this is a buy for us. Sip on this with some friends and listen to some Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo. We guarantee you will enjoy both.

 

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Red Line Single Barrel Cast Strength Bourbon

Do you like toasted bourbon ? We love it, so when found out that Red Line bourbon had a single barrel cask strength expression, we just had to have a bottle. With every barrel comes a signature line. This “Red Line” is a caramelized layer of sugars that develops just beneath the char. The Morley’s,

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Do you like toasted bourbon ?

We love it, so when found out that Red Line bourbon had a single barrel cask strength expression, we just had to have a bottle.

With every barrel comes a signature line. This “Red Line” is a caramelized layer of sugars that develops just beneath the char.

The Morley’s, a father and son duo with over 30 years of experience in the spirits world launched Red Line Whiskey in 2021 that began as a passion and a dream. They only produce single barrel expressions.

We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.   Be sure to listen in to the podcast episode on your favorite platform for more information.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes:  Red Line Single Barrel Cast Strength Bourbon

Vital Stats:   This is a 6 year old Indiana bourbon with a mashbill of 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley that has been finished in a toasted barrel. Our bottle is 118 proof and has an MSRP of $79.99.

Appearance: Almost a wine bottle with red mahogany whiskey inside.

Nose: Different right off the start with a pleasant sweetness. Lots of spice with some dark fruit. Light oak and spiced apple rings.

Palate: A full bodied aggressive whiskey. It’s pop rocks dancing across your tongue. Toasted marshmallow with allspice and a hint of liquorice. Some dried tangerine and Atomic fireball spice that will leave your lips numb.

Finish: Medium with a beautiful hug.

Overall: This is a great single barrel toasted bourbon at cask Strength that can compete with the giants of the whiskey industry. It’s a buy for us all day long. Keep doing what your doing Taylor, we thank you for sharing a bottle with us. Cheers

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Mythology Hell Bear

Hot summer days go well with a soft whiskey that you can sip on. The latest whiskey up for review is Mythology Distillery’s expression called Hell Bear . Mythology distillery is based in city of Denver and have some very unique blends. Hell Bear has a story to along with the mythological name.   A Colorado

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Hot summer days go well with a soft whiskey that you can sip on.

The latest whiskey up for review is Mythology Distillery’s expression called Hell Bear . Mythology distillery is based in city of Denver and have some very unique blends.

Hell Bear has a story to along with the mythological name.   A Colorado prospector ventured into darkness. In the mine, he heard a loud snap– then he was falling! In a daze, in pitch black, he awoke, face-to-face with a unique creature– part bear, part badger. Resolved that today wouldn’t be his last, he rose and followed the glow of the creature’s eyes. The Hell Bear guided the explorer to the surface, then vanished back into the mine.

You can listen to the podcast for more information, by downloading the Bourbon Road Podcast and episode from your favorite platform.   We have you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Mythology Hell Bear

Vital Stats: This is a blend of three different whiskeys with mash bills of a 2 to 3yr Rye: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley, a 4yr Bourbon: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley and a 5yr Bourbon: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley. It is 90 proof and an MSRP of $50.

Appearance: Old elk style with golden honey whiskey inside.

Nose: Sweetcorn and big league chewing gum with it’s starch. Fresh picked peach and starburst candy sweetness.

Palate: Light as a feather with some honeysuckle flower dancing on the tongue, along with some creamed corn sweetness. With just a hint of spice, this is like drinking a orange citrus zest tea.

Finish: Short to medium with little to no Colorado hug.

Overall: This is a great spring and summer sipping whiskey that is a buy for. We like that Mythology Distillery thought outside the box on this one. Cheers

 

 

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Old Elk Double Wheat Review

Can whiskey have two much wheat in it? If anyone is going to find out it is Greg Metze from Old Elk Bourbon. This year he worked his magic again with what he calls a double wheat . You can hear more about Old Elk Double Wheat on The Bourbon Road Podcast, downloaded from your

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Can whiskey have two much wheat in it?

If anyone is going to find out it is Greg Metze from Old Elk Bourbon. This year he worked his magic again with what he calls a double wheat .

You can hear more about Old Elk Double Wheat on The Bourbon Road Podcast, downloaded from your favorite platform.  We hope you enjoy Jim and Mike’s review.  Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Old Elk Double Wheat

Vital Stats: This is a blend of Old Elk wheated bourbon with a mashbill of 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, and 5% Malted Barley and their wheated whiskey with a mashbill of 71.5% Wheat, 25% Corn, 3.5% Malted Barley.   All the barrels selected where between 6-8 years old. It is 107 proof and an MSRP of $100

Appearance: Standard old elk bottle dark honey whiskey inside.

Nose: Buttery roll with craker jacks coved in peanuts and toasted caramel. A peppery velvet bite.

Palate: Oily craker jack with warm buttery sweetness. The black pepper spice, leather and tobacco remind you that this has some bourbon in it. The burnt caramel and chocolate coffee is very complex. The floral from the wheat is not overpowering.

Finish: Long medium with that wild elk hug inside.

Overall: We both have loved this expression of Old Elk so it’s a buy for us. Cheers

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Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well

Do you know where James B. Beam Distilling Co. really started? On Harden’s Creek ,in 1795, is where Jacob Beam would dug a well.  He sourced limestone filtered water from that very well to make his whiskey . Today Jim Beam is paying tribute to the watershed and the man with Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well

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Do you know where James B. Beam Distilling Co. really started?

On Harden’s Creek ,in 1795, is where Jacob Beam would dug a well.  He sourced limestone filtered water from that very well to make his whiskey . Today Jim Beam is paying tribute to the watershed and the man with Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey .

Where you aware that this is not the first time that Jim Beam released a Jacob’s Well bourbon?   Jim Beam first released a Jacobs Well Bourbon that was a 84 month (7 years), 84 proof.

Jim and Mike give us their review and they hope that you listen in to the podcast, on your favorite platform, for more information. 

We would like to thank James B. Beam Distilling for sending us a sample to try.    Cheers!

Tasting Notes: Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well

Vital Stats: This bourbon is 184 months old or 15 years and 4 months. The mash bill is undisclosed, but we know Jacob’s Well is a blend of two ultra-aged expressions: one 16-year-old traditional bourbon and one 15-year-old high-rye bourbon. It has an MSRP of $150 and it is 108 proof.

Appearance: This is a new bottle design for Jim Beam. It’s actually a really beautiful, well thought out bottle with lots of transparency about the whiskey. The whiskey inside is a dark red mahogany.

Nose: Old rick house with oils and leather. Lots of char with some fruit hiding in there. The leather and oak is very heavy with hints of burnt caramel. It’s a nose that you would expect from an older bourbon whiskey.

Palate: Lots of oak and char right up front with bitter sweet caramel and hints of black walnut. The age of this whiskey gives you all the old notes you want with leather, tobacco, and oak. There is a little unsweetened cherry hidden in there deep. The spice will coat your mouth ensuring that you know this is a sipping whiskey that must be understood for its age. It’s almost like someone dropped an old fashioned horehound candy in there.

Finish: It has a long with a super nice Kentucky hug, giving us that warm feeling.

Overall: We want you to understand that this is an ultra-aged bourbon that isn’t for everyone. If you enjoy bourbons of this age don’t blink if you see it because someone else will grab it as these are limited.  This bourbon is a buy for both of us, as we appreciate the age and its complexity. Cheers Freddie Booker Noe IV.

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