Bourbon Whiskey Reviews - BourbonSphere

Pinhook Vertical Series Rye 8-Year Review

Upon arrival, the proofs of those 32 barrels were 125. Near that modest body of water and behind the rickhouse’s brick walls, they’ve steadily lost proof down to 108, which is pure magic in whiskey aging.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Ross & Squibb Distillery (formerly Midwest Grain Products)
MASH BILL: 95% Rye | 5% Malted Barley
AGE: 8 years
YEAR: 2024
PROOF: 108.4 (54.2% ABV)
MSRP: $84.99
BUY ONLINE: Pinhook Bourbon Website

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any and all rye whiskey lovers and bourbon lovers who aren't yet sold on rye.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yes, but I'm partial not only to rye, but also to Pinhook's stable of great and increasingly well-aged ryes.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle, but at $85, but who could blame you if you sought out a bar pour first?

OVERALL: So many whiskey stories are pure hokum, but the tale behind the Pinhook is great. Some of its partners actually work in the horse industry–two are pinhookers, meaning they spy ability and talent early on in a colt's life; and they also maintain horse racing bloodstock for well-heeled buyers. The story also points to the partners' ability to pick good, young barrels required to launch the brand almost a decade ago. It's always nice to see a story's realism and symbolism blend this nicely.

Sean Josephs, Pinhook's master blender and cofounder, operated two whiskey-centric restaurants in New York City, and one in New Orleans, well before bourbon fully boomed. Unlike some Level 2 sommeliers, he wasn't wedded only to wine. He understood and loved American whiskey, saw its star rising and wanted to surf that amber wave as a blender and owner. He now spends more time in Kentucky's horse country than ever anticipated, tasting Pinhook's original sourced MGP stocks and whiskeys distilled for the brand at Castle & Key Distillery since 2017. Coincidentally, that distillery is almost equidistant between Keeneland Racecourse and Churchill Downs, two legendary horse racing venues if you're unfamiliar with the sport.

I've spent several hours with Josephs watching him taste, eliminate and combine whiskey samples into blends that become Pinhook releases. The process has always been strategic and transparent, yet still baffling to me despite his patient explanations. No matter, though, because however he does it, it comes out terrific.

So many Pinhook releases are much younger than this 8-year-old, but their complexity belies their youth. Pinhook whiskeys often get too little credit for demonstrating how great younger whiskey can be when it's well-managed and blended skillfully.

Upon arrival, those 32 barrels' proofs were 125. Near that modest body of water and behind the rickhouse's brick walls, they've steadily lost proof down to 108, which is pure magic in whiskey aging.

For readers who've been to Castle & Key, you know of the ancient, 538-foot long rickhouse positioned near the flat bank of Glenn's Creek. That's where these MGP barrels have aged since their rehoming in 2015. Upon arrival, those 32 barrels' proofs were 125. Near that modest body of water and behind the rickhouse's brick walls, they've steadily lost proof down to 108, which is pure magic in whiskey aging.

The result of that lazy and luxurious rest is a rye whose nose is flush with green apples, mint, black pepper, anise and dark caramel. (Josephs describes the nose as "a walk through the forest during autumn.") On the palate, it's even more inviting: a Demerara-syrup-like body invigorated by black pepper, baking spice–clove in particular–bruleed sugar, charred oak, white chocolate and mint.

This is a seriously good rye, and using this in a proper mint julep would be decadent. But hey, the Kentucky Derby is 9 days away as I write this, so that drink is likely entrenched in my subconscious right now. Because of this review, my sample is gone. Time to find a bottle.

BRAND NOTES

This is the fifth release in Pinhook’s award-winning Vertical Series as well as the debut of newly designed packaging that perfectly blends tradition and modernity. Blended from just 32 barrels and bottled unfiltered at cask strength, the 8 Year offers a bright nose of orange zest, green apple, caramel, and cinnamon; leading to an intricate palate of licorice, burnt sugar, cedar, and clove.

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.

Whiskey JYPSI Explorer Series Release #1 Review

The fact that they’ve brought this to market at just under $70 should be a warning shot to others in the industry who have insisted that a quality sourced and blended product has to command a price point over $100.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Blended and bottled by Whiskey JYPS using bourbon sourced from KY and IN.
MASH BILL: A combined mash bill of 66% corn, 30% rye and 4% malted barley (a low rye bourbon from KY and a high-rye bourbon from Indiana)
AGE: 6 Years – A blend of two six-year-old bourbons.
YEAR: 2024
PROOF: 103 Proof (51.5% ABV)
MSRP: $69.99
BUY ONLINE: Whiskey JYPSI Website

POPS' NOTES

SHARE WITH: This bottle is best shared with those willing to spend some time with the bourbon and appreciate the results of the blending effort. Avoid sharing with bourbon drinkers who prefer to stick with high-proof, super-rich flavor profiles. Those who appreciate subtlety will enjoy this one the most.

WORTH THE PRICE: At $70, there are plenty of other daily drinking bourbons I stocked up on for far less money. That said, $70 for a blend that adds up to more than the sum of its parts makes it worth buying a bottle to spend some time with it and appreciate the effort of everyone behind the bottle.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: BOTTLE—Grab a bottle to learn that celebrity whiskeys don't have to be dull or just a simple repackage of another distillery's product. It may not become a daily drinker but it's a bottle that will make you appreciate the "art of the possible" when it comes to blending American whiskey.

OVERALL: If you remember my review of the brand's initial release, Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 001, you'll recall how surprised I was upon tasting it. Based on that positive experience, my expectations for the Explorer Series were much higher than when I first tried Legacy Batch 001. However, I still felt a bit apprehensive about the "celebrity whiskey" status of the Explorer Series and its price point, which was more than half that of Legacy Batch 001.

How good could it be if they are charging $130 less per bottle, right?

Up front, it's immediately clear that the Explorer Series release is a different whiskey than Legacy Batch 001. Both share a big floral nose, but the Explorer Series has a brighter nose filled with top notes of fruity notes of crisp apples, pears, and oranges. Below the top notes, you'll find creamy notes of vanilla, caramel and baking spices. All of this is wrapped up in a base layer of leather and oak. A lovely nose filled with things to discover, but it's a softer nose compared to Legacy Batch 001, requiring a bit more effort to suss out all the aromas it has to offer.

On the palate, it has a silky mouthfeel that is a pure pleasure sip after sip. Based on the wood finishing of this bourbon, it will come as no surprise that the palate is very oak-forward. I normally find this a bit too much for my preference, but in this case, the oak notes are balanced out by floral notes with an undercurrent of vanilla and maple. The end result is you get to taste the wood influence without it being overly tannic and bitter. In fact, the vanilla and maple provide a sweetness that helps transition the wood notes into more fruit (apples and pears) on the palate along with a bit of baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar.) There's a lot going on, but as with the nose, it's a bit muted, requiring more effort to appreciate the whiskey. It's time well spent in my opinion.

If you're sensing a theme in my tasting notes at this point it's best described as "subtle". There's a lot going on in this bourbon but it requires some time and effort to appreciate it. So when it came time to comment on the finish I was a bit shocked. I expected a short to medium finish on this one but to my surprise, the finish kept going, and going, and going. Even better is the fact that the sweeter flavor notes of vanilla and maple take the lead on the finish with baking spices and oak providing backup vocals. Eventually, there's a bit of dryness from the finish, but nothing that pushes the bourbon out of balance.

With this Explorer Series Release #1, the Whiskey JYPSI team has once again shown that when it comes to blending American whiskey, 1+1 can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts.

With this Explorer Series Release #1, the Whiskey JYPSI team has once again shown that when it comes to blending American whiskey, 1+1 can indeed be greater than the sum of its parts. The fact that they've brought this to market at just under $70 should be a warning shot to others in the industry who insist that a quality sourced and blended product be priced at $100+.

Keep up the good work, fellas, and let me know when you're ready to get together in person to enjoy some bourbon and banter.

BRAND NOTES

The Explorer Series is based on the harmony of unparalleled six-year aged whiskeys and unique finishing woods from around the globe. Perfectly paired to showcase the impact of the woods on the whiskey — from premium versions of common woods to the exotic — and beautifully marries our passion for whiskey with our spirit of exploration.

The inaugural Explorer release starts with a blend of two six-year-old bourbons — a low rye distilled in Kentucky and selected for its sweetness and an Indiana high rye chosen for its spice. The combined mash bill of 66% corn, 30% rye and 4% malted barley is then slowly reduced to 103 proof and finished using two oak varietals — French Oak from France’s famed Forest of Tronçais and American Oak from the Appalachian Mountains. Each of these woods was chosen for its ability to accentuate the sweetness and spice of the blend.

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 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.

Frey Ranch Farm Strength Cut Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

This is an entertaining pour that punches, ducks and dodges around the mouth, delivering sharp blows of spice to keep you on your toes.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Frey Ranch Distillery
MASH BILL: 66.6% Corn | 10% Winter Wheat | 11.4% Winter Rye | 12% Two-Row Malted Barley
AGE: 5 years
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 122.28 (61.14% ABV)
MSRP: $79
BUY ONLINE: Shop Frey Ranch

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan, especially fans of higher proofs.

WORTH THE PRICE: Indeed it is.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle. But since it's not available everywhere, bar if you can find it.

OVERALL: The nose on this is akin to opening every baking spice jar in your kitchen drawer: nutmeg, clove, cinnamon–lots of cinnamon–whole allspice ... you name it. Wait a bit and star anise and, strangely enough, limoncello join in. Its aromas beg for tasting this with an oatmeal, ginger or molasses cookie.

And speaking of molasses and ginger, both race out of the gate on the first sip followed by a hum of unsweetened cocoa, oak and stewed stone fruits. If you let it linger in your mouth—no mean feat given the proof—you'll be rewarded with even darker dried fruits like fig and raisin.

This is an entertaining pour that punches, ducks and dodges around the mouth, delivering sharp blows of spice to keep you on your toes. I haven't made a cocktail with this yet, but it'll be fun to let it wrestle some rich demerara into submission. This a bourbon with a bellicose character; an MMA fighter in a glass. I like it a lot!

BRAND NOTES

Every time we blend a small batch of our flagship four-grain bourbon, we taste it at cask strength before we “proof it down” to our signature 90 proof. We always fall in love with the uncut flavor, now you can too with the addition of this “Farm Strength” version of our flagship bourbon. Each batch will now feature both our signature 90 proof and this “uncut” expression. We named it “Farm Strength”, inspired by how we like to enjoy our whiskey on the ranch. As with all our whiskeys, this one is made from 100% grains grown on the Frey Ranch. Try them side-by-side for the best tasting experience!

Tasting Notes: Robust notes of caramelized bruleé, with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate, the whiskey opens with birthday cake frosting, glazed butter cake, cloves, orange creamsicle, and dried stone fruit. The finish delivers a sublime yet subtle hint of smoke and black cherry.

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.

Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey

In this age of “high proof only,” it’s easy to overlook 90 proof whiskey and the sensibility of its virtues. It’s lush and delicate, fruity and appropriately woody for its age. It needs no ice or water or cocktail; just take it straight.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Frey Ranch Distillery
MASH BILL: 66.6% Corn | 10% Winter Wheat | 11.4% Winter Rye | 12% Two-Row Malted Barley
AGE: 5 years old
YEAR: 2023
PROOF: 90 proof (45% ABV)
MSRP: $52.99
BUY ONLINE: Shop Frey Ranch

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey lover.

WORTH THE PRICE: Most definitely.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle.

OVERALL: There's a lot of corn goodness going on in the nose: creamed corn, caramel corn and, hate it or not, candy corn. Despite their small portions of the mashbill, rye and wheat push through firmly. (Anyone who's been to a grain silo operation can relate to this rush of grain notes.) I don't know what Frey Ranch does to its barrels, but the wood gives this whiskey such pleasant notes of creme caramel and butterscotch.

Corn, caramel and rye come immediately to center palate before trailing off into sweet and biscuity notes of wheat and barley. In this age of "high proof only," it's easy to overlook 90 proof whiskey and the sensibility of its virtues. It's lush and delicate, fruity and appropriately woody for its age. It needs no ice or water or cocktail; just take it straight.

The finish is pristinely clean and bereft of dryness, which makes this so easy to drink. I sometimes hear the word "sessionable" lifted from beer circles by whiskey drinkers, and it's appropriate here. This is delicious enough to maintain a drinker's interest while low enough in proof to maintain one's wits over a long evening of careful sipping.

BRAND NOTES

Frey Ranch Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey is 100% sustainably grown, malted, distilled, matured, and bottled on the Frey Ranch in Fallon, Nevada for consistently high quality as a point of pride. Aged for an average of five years, this 90-proof bourbon is smooth yet complex with oak and citrus aromas followed by vanilla, caramel, banana chips, and dried hay on the palate. With a mash bill of non-GMO corn, winter cereal rye, winter wheat, and two-row barley-malted on-site, this is a flavorful bourbon that can easily be enjoyed on its own, yet also holds up in any whiskey-based 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.

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.

Old Forester 1924 Bourbon Review

Old Forester’s longstanding mashbill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley. But the mashbill chosen for 1924 is 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley. It also was fermented with a unique yeast strain.

BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Brown-Forman
MASH BILL: 79% Corn | 11% Rye | 10% Malted Barley
AGE: 10 years
YEAR: 2024
PROOF: 100
MSRP: $115
BUY ONLINE: Old Forester Shop

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan.

WORTH THE PRICE: Yep, especially since this appears to be an increasingly common price for a high-quality 10-year-old bourbon.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle.

OVERALL: Nobody plays the history-by-the-numbers-on-the-label game as consistently as Old Forester. Its Whiskey Row Series includes the 1870 (Old Forester's founding), 1897 (the creation of the Bottled-In-Bond Act), 1910 (when a distillery fire necessitated some whiskey be barreled a second time in new charred oak), and 1920 (the start of Prohibition). The fifth addition to the lineup is 1924, which marks a period when, as a whiskey maker with a medicinal spirits permit, Old Forester legally acquired loads of barrels from other distilleries and bottled them as Old Fo'. Eventually, those barrels filled tens of millions of medicinal prescriptions for Americans who were sick of just one thing: Prohibition.

Since Old Forester had yet to build its own distillery, sourcing was nothing new. What intrigued Brown-Forman master distiller Chris Morris and the brand team most, though, were two things: 1. whose whiskeys the brand sourced during Prohibition, and 2. what mashbills were used to make those whiskeys.

Old Forester's longstanding mashbill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley. But the mashbill chosen for 1924 is 79% corn, 11% rye and 10% malted barley. It also was fermented with a unique yeast strain. At a press event in early January, Morris was asked whose Prohibition-era mashbill was used to create 1924. His answer: Contractual obligations forbid sharing it. That answer that leads to at least two assumptions:

Whatever distillery that used that mashbill shut down during Prohibition, later came back and doesn't want that secret revealed.
Or, Brown-Forman, which is legendarily tight-lipped about its own contract clients, just doesn't want to say who.

While you decide on which assumption you like, I'll start describing Old Forester 1924 Bourbon. Unsurprisingly for a 10-year-old whiskey aged in a heat-cycled warehouse, the color is deep copper. Swirling it the glass shows off a supple yet weighty body.

The nose is redolent of the usual Old Forester goodies such as baking spice, dark fruits, fresh peaches and that ever-present and always welcome acetone-and-bubblegum note. Where 1924 breaks with traditional Old Fo' is by contributing notes of almond paste, Nutella, chocolate cake, graham cracker and a little ginger.

Its mouthfeel delivers on the visual promise of a full-bodied bourbon. Letting it roll around your mouth is an indulgent exercise that scatters sparks of cinnamon and bits of graham cracker all around. Some black pepper and maple notes emerge shortly afterward. From a fresh-cracked bottle, it's not overly complex, but it's so rich and satisfying that, well, mind-bending depth isn't required. My bet is that as this whiskey is poured out and air replaces it, complexity will kick in.

The finish is slightly drying but clean, warm and long, just as you'd expect from a bourbon of this age–I'll describe it as "Old Forester Birthday-esque." It is delicious in every respect, and I'm grateful that the brand team had the foresight to create this 10 years ago.

BRAND NOTES

During Prohibition, more than 200 distilleries in Kentucky alone were forced to close. Old Forester, however, continued operations because the federal government issued it one of six permits to bottle existing whiskey stocks as medicine. In 1924, Old Forester acquired barrels from closed distillers, with different mash bills, and bottled that liquid as Old Forester. This special release commemorates that moment in time.

This release honors the 100^th anniversary of that whiskey innovation. Old Forester is the only bourbon brand produced before, during and after Prohibition.

“We are honored to commemorate this historical milestone with a new featured mashbill and a beautiful 10-year age statement," master taster Melissa Rift said. “It allows whisky lovers to taste just how dynamic our brand can be while staying rooted in our rich history."

Color: Dark graham cracker.

Aroma: Soft notes of fudge, cocoa, marzipan, and cured tobacco layered over hints of rich oak and warm cinnamon.

Flavor: Chocolate-covered graham cracker dusted with cinnamon.

Finish: Hints of spice and graham cracker crumbles.

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

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. 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.