Back in late 2018, I was visiting the Jim Beam Distillery for the Booker’s 30th release. We toured the distillery and the distilling team mentioned that they were running Booker’s that day. After asking a…
Back in late 2018, I was visiting the Jim Beam Distillery for the Booker’s 30th release. We toured the distillery and the distilling team mentioned that they were running Booker’s that day. After asking a few questions I found out that there are actually different production processes for most of the Beam bourbons. How did I not know this?!
Initially, Jim Beam Distillery only made two bourbons. A high-rye bourbon and a low-rye bourbon. After tasting, Beam would appropriate the different barrels to their different brands. Then Beam started to incorporate wood management. Meaning, they would place certain brands in different parts of the warehouse. I.e. I’ve heard it rumored that Baker’s often comes from higher in the warehouse while Booker’s is pulled from the center. Around 2008 (according to this Chuck Cowdery post) Beam began to adjust the production process for each bourbon. It gets a little confusing. I created this chart to help.
This makes me love Booker’s even more! It comes off the still, into the barrel and into the bottle without a drop of water.
Blended Malt 25 yo 1993/2018 (47.1%, The Whisky Fair, sherry wood) – Secret Highland 31 yo 1987/2019 (49.6%, Whisky Nerds, hogshead, cask #27, 167 bottles) – Vega 22 yo (43.9%, North Star Spirits, blended malt, 1205 bottles, 2019) – Sirius 31 yo (43.1%…
Blended Malt 25 yo 1993/2018 (47.1%, The Whisky Fair, sherry wood) - Secret Highland 31 yo 1987/2019 (49.6%, Whisky Nerds, hogshead, cask #27, 167 bottles) - Vega 22 yo (43.9%, North Star Spirits, blended malt, 1205 bottles, 2019) - Sirius 31 yo (43.1%, North Star Spirits, blended malt, first fill bourbon barrel, 3582 bottles, 2019) - Prime Malt 15 yo ?Selection No.1? (45.7%, Munro Watson Co., 75cl, +/-1980) - Secret Blended Malt 18 yo 2001/2019 (46.4%, The Nectar and The Whisky Agency, sherry butt)
Caol Ila 12 yo 2006/2018 (51.8%, The Whisky Mercenary, bourbon barrel) – Caol Ila 2000/2019 (52.7%, Malts of Scotland, sherry hogshead, cask #MoS 19012, 220 bottles) – Caol Ila 14 yo 2005/2019 (54.5%, Gordon MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice for 20th Anni…
Caol Ila 12 yo 2006/2018 (51.8%, The Whisky Mercenary, bourbon barrel) - Caol Ila 2000/2019 (52.7%, Malts of Scotland, sherry hogshead, cask #MoS 19012, 220 bottles) - Caol Ila 14 yo 2005/2019 (54.5%, Gordon MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice for 20th Anniversary of The Whisky Exchange, refill sherry hogshead, cask #19/51, 142 bottles) - Caol Ila 11 yo 2008/2019 ?Reserve Cask? (48%, Elixir Distillers, Single Malts of Scotland, hogsheads) - Caol Ila 15 yo 2003/2019 (55.9%, La Maison du Whisky, Artist #9, hogshead, cask #302464, 290 bottles) - Caol Ila 16 yo 1969 (40%, Gordon MacPhail, Connoisseurs Choice, old brown label, +/-1985) - Caol Ila 25 yo 1975/2000 (46%, The Prestonfield, cask #466, 320 bottles) - Caol Ila 1991/2008 (54.8%, Scotch Single Malt Circle, bourbon, cask #8195, 270 bottles)
Islay 11 yo 2008/2019 (53.1%, Liquor Library) – Caol Ila 12 yo (59.3%, Single Cask Nation, bourbon hogshead, cask #510, 2019) – Caol Ila 9 yo 2009/2019 (51.8%, North Star Spirits, PX finish, 378 bottles) – Caol Ila 12 yo 2006/2018 (51.6%, The Whisky Fa…
Islay 11 yo 2008/2019 (53.1%, Liquor Library) - Caol Ila 12 yo (59.3%, Single Cask Nation, bourbon hogshead, cask #510, 2019) - Caol Ila 9 yo 2009/2019 (51.8%, North Star Spirits, PX finish, 378 bottles) - Caol Ila 12 yo 2006/2018 (51.6%, The Whisky Fair, bourbon hogshead, 322 bottles) - Caol Ila 2010/2018 (58.3%, Or Sileis, Legends, oloroso hogshead, cask #HL16888, 292 bottles) - Caol Ila 9 yo 2009/2019 (58.7%, Elixir Distillers ?Magic Of The Cask?, cask #316103, refill Gonzalez Byass sherry, 308 bottles) - Caol Ila 9 yo 2009/2019 (46%, James Eadie, 1100 bottles) - Caol Ila 37 yo 1982/2019 (56.3%, Kingsbury for Club Qing Hong Kong, butt, cask #700)
Welcome to the 2019 Bourbonr Year in review. I’ll dive into my favorite three bourbons a little later. For now, let’s recap what all went on this year. Probably the biggest story of 2019 is…
Welcome to the 2019 Bourbonr Year in review. I’ll dive into my favorite three bourbons a little later. For now, let’s recap what all went on this year.
Probably the biggest story of 2019 is the crackdown on the bourbon secondary market. Pappy has long dominated bourbon headlines. It’s the most notable bourbon brand in the world. When the Van Winkles stated that they spent millions to have the Facebook bourbon groups taken down it sent a shockwave through the bourbon world. No matter how you feel about the issue, this was huge.
Have I been wrong about Old Forester this whole time? I’ve often been critical of Old Forester products. I never understood why people loved Woodford. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon took a slide in quality after 2013. I wasn’t a fan of the first Whiskey Row Series release. Then all that started to change! I loved the 1920 release. It was followed by an even better 1910 release. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon increased the proof to 105 proof and it was my favorite OFBB in years. King of Kentucky was fantastic. Old Forester Straight Rye may be the best value on the market today. Old Forester is the distillery I’m most excited about heading into 2020. Especially, after they announced their new barrel program.
Smaller producers are only getting better. I have a vested interest in this category with Seelbach’s. But, we’re starting to see new(ish) distillers compete on quality, and sometimes quantity, the big boys. There’s still no reason to overpay for bourbon. If you’d like to try a craft distiller, here are a few of my favorite craft bourbons. You can find them here, here and here.
Now, let’s get to the rankings. These are my top 3 bourbons of 2019. I’ve ranked them based on an algorithm of taste, uniqueness, availability, and value. I must say, this was a great year for bourbon. I could have easily filled a top 7 or top 10 list. There were new widely available bottles. We saw several good options released at $30 less. Special releases were on point.
I did receive samples on some of these releases. However, all tasting notes listed below are from the bottles I purchased. Here’s the list:
Little Book Chapter 3
I’m a huge Booker fan. I love the idea and story behind the brand. Although the first two releases didn’t quite do it for me. That changed with Chapter 3! Chapter 3 is a blend 9-year-old Knob Creek, 9-year-old Basil Hayden’s, 11-year-old Booker’s, and 12-year-old Baker’s. It is uncut at 122.6 proof. The blend includes 11-year Booker’s and 12-year Baker’s?!
Most Bourbonr’s (at least I didn’t until last year) probably didn’t know that these different bourbons have a different production method. Knob Creek uses the standard Beam mash bill and comes off of the still at 130 proof. The bourbon is proofed down and enters the barrel at 125 proof. Booker’s and Baker’s share the same mash bill as Knob Creek. But, they come off of the still at 125 proof and go straight into the barrel. Basil Hayden’s is a different animal. It has a higher rye mash bill and comes off of the still at 127 proof. The bourbon is proofed down to enter the barrel at 125 proof.
This bourbon has everything I love. There is heat from the high proof. The distinctive Beam funk is there. There are notes of vanilla, caramel, mint and black pepper. The taste is full of dark and roasted notes.
W.B. Saffell
This is the third release from Wild Turkey’s Whiskey Barron’s select. The first two (Old Rippy and Bond & Lillard) were decent. I felt like they were overpriced. Because of that, I was a little late to the “Saffell” party. W.B. Saffell is a blend of 6, 8, 10, and 12-year bourbon. Once I finally tried Saffell I found out what the fuss was all about! The nose is fruit cobbler. There are notes of cinnamon, clove, brown sugar and buttered toast. The taste is rounded with caramel and some nice herbal notes. I get a little bit of pepper and cedar on the finish. It continues for a while with more honey and vanilla.
I’ve selected this release because of its uniqueness, historical importance, taste, and availability. I started the year by ignoring the release. I finished the year by grabbing every bottle I can find.
Maker’s Mark RC6
This is my final choice for my favorite whiskeys of 2019. This release is the first national limited edition release. I’ve long been a fan of the Maker’s Mark private barrels. They allow a unique experience to taste through the effects staves have on a bourbon. Maker’s Mark RC6 didn’t disappoint! There are tons of chocolate, dark cherry, and caramel notes. The proof balances nicely with the sweetness. The taste fades from sweet to a structured tannic note. The finish is long and oaky.
Why aren’t more people paying attention to this wheated bourbon? For as much craziness surrounds other wheated bourbons I don’t understand why Maker’s is often snubbed. This is a fantastic bourbon that is offered at a reasonable price. At least as we define “reasonable” in today’s bourbon world.
A lot changed in 2019. The good news is there are more distillers making good whiskey. The older distilleries are making more whiskey at a record pace. This keeps me hopeful of Bourbon’s future.
Company: Barton 1792Vol: 46.85%Age: No Age StatementClassification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon WhiskeyBreakdown: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barleyPrice: c. £45-50Preamble First published in September 2016, this was only our third ever review on the s…
Company: Barton 1792 Vol: 46.85% Age: No Age Statement Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Breakdown: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley Price: c. £45-50
Preamble
First published in September 2016, this was only our third ever review on the site. It’s short, succinct but, as always, true and honest. The History section was so short, Mr Pie must have written this before he was introduced to Google.
The Gents are both the perfect customers (victims) that bourbon marketers love to attract. The bottle shape & design is aesthetically pleasing and draws us into wanting to love this bourbon. The nose continues to deliver sweet candy, caramel fudge qualities and is reminiscent of childhood memories from your favourite sweet shop. From then on, it’s a helter-skelter ride of descent into a very average bourbon palate and finish.
Our lower than average score is supported by the fact that the bottle you see in the picture is still lurking around Mav’s home bar. On the upside, since the review, Mav has moved home twice and didn’t leave it behind. We would have loved to have tasted its previous incarnation, the 1792 Ridgemont Reserve. That is the original 8-year-old version and not the much-lamented no age statement version. The 1792 Limited Edition offerings continue to flourish and are added to regularly. Alongside the Single Barrel, Full Proof (Jim Murray’s 2020 World Whiskey of the Year), Sweet Wheat and Port Finish, there is now available a Bottled In Bond, High Rye and the most recently released (2019), Aged Twelve Years. It’s great to see 1792 introducing a now relatively uncommon 12-year-old bourbon, and its one we look forward to trying in the future.
Review Updated - January 2020
History
This bourbon was originally called 1792 Ridgewood Reserve. 1792 comes from the year in which the state of Kentucky joined the United States. In 2004 Brown Forman successfully sued Barton’s to change the name as they argued customers would confuse it with Woodford Reserve. It was then changed to 1792 Ridgemont Reserve, and sometime in 2015, the words Ridgemont Reserve were dropped and replaced with Small Batch! There are 4 other limited release bed fellows to the 1792 collection. They are Single Barrel, Full Proof, Sweet Wheat, and Port Finish. The Barton 1792 distillery has been around since 1879 and is the oldest fully operating distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.
The Review
For this review we drank it neat in a Glencairn glass
Nose
What we got - Sweet, caramel, fudge, like being in a sweet/candy shop, marshmallow (Mav), gentle and smooth.
What they say we should get - A palate of sweet honey and vanilla tones is balanced with orange and spice, hinting at the relatively high rye content. A few minutes in the glass lets the nose open up nicely. A distinct woodiness sits in the background
Palate
What we got - Spice & peppery, that's all we get! We tried, honestly we did
What they say we should get - Quite tannic and fairly peppery, with a heavily woody flavour profile. A hint of maple is noticeable, but more than anything, what stands out is the dry, tongue-coating mouthfeel
Finish
What we got – A hint of the sweet/candy comes back, leaves a dry woody taste in the mouth, very warm
What they say we should get - Oak predominates on a long, but drying, nearly hot finish. Some vanilla also peeks through
Summary
Palate loses the sweet candyness of the nose. Both Gents longed this one to taste as good as it smelt. On the nose it’s a sweet shop in a glass but all of that vanishes on tongue and is replaced by a hot peppery spice. In Jim Murray’s whisky bible 2010 he writes that if this bourbon was in a herd of 30 bourbons it would stand out by the nose alone! He’s not wrong, although we're not sure that a herd is the collective term for a gathering of bourbons? Feel free to hit us up on twitter or in the comments if you have a better suggestion.
We also found it very dry and you can tell this spent a lot of time in the barrel. We added a splash of water (after the scoring) to see if we could get any of the creaminess that the experts got, but personally we still didn’t experience that, if anything the water kills the taste completely.
We are already, unbelievably, on our 4th iteration of this Top 10 and as you can imagine it has been a very lively debate. We’ve been locked away in Bourbon Gents Headquarters with only shelves of bourbons to quench our thirst as we try to pick our fav…
We are already, unbelievably, on our 4th iteration of this Top 10 and as you can imagine it has been a very lively debate. We’ve been locked away in Bourbon Gents Headquarters with only shelves of bourbons to quench our thirst as we try to pick our favourite bourbons of 2019.
As per usual, the debate has been recorded, so if you wish you can listen in on what goes on behind the scenes and see how we’ve made these tough decisions – click here to listen.
For those of you who don’t want to hear the Bourbon Gents raw and unedited, then the full list can be found below.
But… before you dive in, here is a reminder of the rules that govern our choices for bourbons of the year;
The Rules
The list is open to any bourbon, no matter when it was released or when we tasted it. i.e. It is NOT exclusive to bourbons from 2019 or that we have tried in 2019.
Either Mav or Mr Pie must have actually tasted the bourbon for it to be in consideration.
The list does not have to reflect the Gents previous review scores.
This list is our list. You don't have to like it.
Number 10
Parker’s Heritage Finished in Orange Curacao Barrels (NE)
Sometimes the fates align and the Gents get very very lucky. This was one of those times as Mav was gifted this amazing bourbon and we had our first visit to the Parker’s Heritage Heaven Hill collection. It certainly wasn’t a disappointment.
Released in September 2018, this bourbon is between 7-8 years of age and bottled at 55% ABV then finished in Orange Curacao barrels. It did take us a while to really get into this one as the nose is, as you can probably imagine, way off the norm with huge amounts of chocolate orange overwhelming the bourbon notes. However, what awaits you on the palate is an absolute belter. Gone are the Orange flavours and instead, you get that well-known bourbon combo of oak, caramel and spice. This is a masterful display in craftmanship and we are at a loss as to how it was done. We can only stand and admire the art and salute them with a dram. Cheers!
Number 9
E. H. Taylor Small Batch (4)
The small batch is still the only E.H. Taylor entry in our Top 10. From start to finish, this is an absolute joy. There is a huge amount of complexity with this bourbon, tons of apple on the nose and a lovely baked hot apple pie aroma. Our review recommends stopping reading the review immediately and go and find a bottle now, nothing has changed, so seriously what are you waiting for? Go!
Number 8
Noah’s Mill (5)
It is still here! Hanging on by a thread. If its current trajectory continues, Noah’s Mill will be out of the Top 10 in year 5. It is now the only bourbon which has made a showing in all of our Bourbon of the Year lists. The nose on this bourbon is to die for with a multitude of aromas fighting to reach your nostrils first. Toffee, caramel, raisins, chocolate and cashew are all in the mix. Each year, Mav fights to the bitter end to get this in the Top 10.
There are times when Mr Pie thinks he is sponsored by the Kentucky Bourbons Distillers to keep fighting its cause or could it be that it is just damned fine bourbon?
Number 7
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (68%) (NE)
Our 2nd new entry this year, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is not for the fainthearted. Move over everyday bourbons, this is uncut, unfiltered, and a straight from the barrel powerhouse bourbon. There are 3 releases each calendar year, the one which gets into our Top 10 is from September 2016 and is rich with butterscotch, dark chocolate and coffee and if you happen to be wearing any socks when trying it, they will soon be blown off. There is a very apt quote from Jim Murray on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, “this is bourbon for bourbon lovers with hairy chests, male or female”.
Number 6
Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel (3)
Retains its place in the Top 10 but drops down 3 places. Officially listed as our 2018 nose of the year for the Gents, the nose is full of buttered corn, mint, brown sugar, apple and tons of oak and it continues to be a favourite. A tad over 50% ABV but is such an easy everyday sipping bourbon for you to enjoy. Mr Pie most definitely was the flag-waver in keeping this in the Top 10 and even provided a 6-word review in our full version – Nose, tick! Palate, tick! Finish!
Number 5
Maker’s Mark Private Select (Whisky Shop No.2) (NE)
This is a very limited edition single barrel bourbon from Maker’s Mark exclusive to the Whisky Shop (UK) and uses a similar process that is used for the making of Maker’s 46. The whisky is finished in barrels containing a selection of flavoured staves. The staves used for this private select offering are listed as:
Seared French Cuvee
Maker’s 46
Roasted French Mocha
Toasted French Spice
We have a full review of this coming out very soon but to enter straight in the Top 5 of this list, you can guess what we thought of it. If you love chocolate caramel and coffee this is for you. When we say limited release, we mean it. There were only ever 252 bottles available of this but if you’re quick there are still a handful left in the country. Good luck!
Number 4
Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel (NE)
Soaring into the Top 10 at number 4 (on another day it could have easily gone higher); this was always going to be a contender from the first time this bourbon hit our taste buds. This is our first and probably only bourbon that we have reviewed which comes with a money-back guarantee! That’s right if you buy this and don’t love it, we will return your money in full*
This Blanton’s hits that unique balance right between sweet and spice, between the corn and the rye. This is the one, from the first sniff to the first sip and then that super long finish it just oozes class. It’s complex, it’s beautiful, it’s rich, and it sticks around for so long that you can take your time in between each sip and just savour it.
*We won’t actually do this.
Number 3
Wild Turkey Decades (2)
Mr Pie had to go and have a lay down after realising that Wild Turkey Decades had actually fallen one place from last year. However, staying in the Top 3 is still a very impressive achievement. Hand-selected barrels between 10 and 20 years of age, provides the whiskey which offers all the unmistakable notes that Wild Turkey brings to the glass, the way it walks the line between sweet and spice is sublime, the Gents can only applaud this show of skill and craftsmanship. Wild Turkey, the Gents salute you!
Number 2
Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 (NE)
They say never meet your heroes because they’re sure to disappoint you, well this is the exception to the rule!
Henry McKenna Single Barrel has been on our wish list since 2017 and Mr Pie had long forgotten about signing up to be notified when this became available to buy again in the UK. One dark November evening, it happened, the email came in and all hell broke loose at Bourbon Gents HQ. A bourbon purists delight, it is bottled in bond, single barrel and 10 years of age. It ticks all the right boxes, what is there not to like here? With regards to the tasting notes (full review coming soon), there are caramel notes throughout with a near-perfect hit of rye grain spice. We’ve been following the hype with this whiskey for a long time now and we are absolutely delighted to have been able to join the party.
Number 1
George T. Stagg (2016)
It’s happened again, for the third consecutive year Stagg takes the coveted number 1 spot.
Each year we start again with everything on a clean slate, we try as many different whiskies as we can (and our wallets allow) and endeavour to give each whiskey that we try a fair crack of the whip and judge them all equally. George T Stagg seems to unbeatable in our eyes and more importantly in our mouths.
The viscosity of the liquid in the bottle has to be seen to be believed and leaves treacle-like legs in the glass when swirled around. It has probably the finest nose the Gents have ever experienced and the sheer numbers of descriptors are almost infinite.
George T Stagg is the complete American Whiskey experience, and not that we need to justify its achievement, but it has achieved the highest combined score on our website and has also been awarded our first-ever (and so far only) 10 out of 10 score. Congratulations to Buffalo Trace, our hats are well and truly doffed.
We’re back! Well sort of…This is the yearly raw unedited recording of Mav and Mr Pie sitting down trying to work out their top ten bourbons of the year and, of course, pick the all-important winner to be crowned our BOTY (Bourbon Of The Year). We just …
We’re back!
Well sort of…
This is the yearly raw unedited recording of Mav and Mr Pie sitting down trying to work out their top ten bourbons of the year and, of course, pick the all-important winner to be crowned our BOTY (Bourbon Of The Year).
We just hit record and then set about discussing the list, so don’t complain about the sound quality or the number of times Mav says ‘erm’ or when Mr Pie bangs the mic. You have been warned.
If you're still with us after that warning, and want to see behind the scenes of how the Gents come to their decision, then grab a dram, settle in a comfy seat, and listen along to 2 guys spending over an hour creating a list.
