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I'm always trying to find a way to make the most of samples people give me; I'm always so grateful to be able to try something new that I like to really take my time with the 1 or 2 oz I have to work with. I never suck a few of them down in any one sitting and as such it takes me quite a long time to get to some folks stuff! This 14 year sample is courtesy of the great @Ra1nmannn, who's name should look quite familiar on this page by now. The 11 year I won in a raffle from being part of the 1940 Barrel Society at Kappy's. I felt inspired to go for these pours for some reason today. I've never had the 11 year before now, but I have tried (and very much liked) the 14 year already. I will try to reset myself from that prior experience and see how this glass treats me today. The glencairns have been resting a while... Let's get into this! Old Fitzgerald BiB - 11 Year (Fall 2021) Company on Label: Old Fitzgerald Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley Proof: 100° Age: 11 years Further identification: This is the Fall release from 2021, the most current at the time of this review Old Fitzgerald BiB - 14 Year (Fall 2020) Company on Label: Old Fitzgerald Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley Proof: 100° Age: 14 years Further identification: This is from the Fall release of 2020; it was provided to me in a 2oz sample from a friend's open bottle Old Fitzgerald 11 Year Review Nose: Releasing the cover that was over the top of the glass showed off a proofy malt / molasses profile on first nosing. There is star anise and a heavily burnt oak now nosing a bit further. Pepper and vanilla are a bit high flying still and sting my nostrils when getting too close. Coming back to this after a little more air time has led this glass towards a light plum, singed cacao and something closer to cardboard. Oooh, some really interesting citrus characteristics are starting to float through this glass now. It presents like a lemon scented geranium. Very interesting - this glass just completely transformed from a heavy, malty fireball of a nosing experience to an exquisite flower. All the notes now are softer and easier to find. Thin honey, cherry, chocolate curls and nutmeg melt and meld mellowly. Time for a sip! Slightly herbal after a sip, and I'm still surprised how little fruit I get on the nose for how much is on the palate. There's a candied apple aroma settling in to what feels like quite a busy nose. There's more anise now and some iron or steel metallic notes that flashed up alongside it. Pie baking spices flash up in darts here and there. Late in the glass there's some evidence of the wheat grains influence with some soft breadiness. The empty glass smells of chocolate, raspberry, earthy herbs and dry vanilla. Palate: The first sip is incredibly approachable here. Orange starts out sweet, like the making of a good old fashioned, before turning a bit zesty and bringing with it cherry, honey and a creamy rum-like texture. Christmas cookies, vanilla frosting, and a really tasty oak note I'm digging a lot. I'm nodding my head to this one quite a bit and not coming up with words other than 'yum' for the most part. Some sweet tea floats up now and coats the top of my tongue well. Honey sweetness continues to help this pour achieve a satisfying arc. Still quite fruit sweet with strawberry preserves and plum. Slightly drying mouth feel on subsequent sips; it feels very similar to a freshly baked, soft gingerbread cookie. Late in the glass things are taking on a touch of raspberry tartness. The zesty orange notes continue to make this a tremendous fruit-rich profile, but I would have liked to see this pour do a bit more with regard to complexity. My last sip is filled with orange peel, tart plum, rich molasses, drying oak, and cinnamon spice that lingers impossibly long on the top of my tongue. Rating: 4/5 Old Fitzgerald 14 Year Review Nose: Indulgent, creamy caramel forward first nosing. Balanced well by vanilla bean, chocolate and mint. The mint was a wholesome surprise at the end of a long inhale. It reminded me of toothpaste a little bit. The glass then returns to its level caramel with leather, pepper and Heaven Hill paper I have certainly smelled before out of other offerings like their flagship 7 year bottled in bond offering. More heavy leather notes keep this glass sitting quite neat in the bottom of the glencairn. Time for a swirl. Sugar cookie breaks through the oak base now with dark, red grape and something dusty that reminds me of the Christmas ornament box at my dad's house (it's been around a while). Boom - big, bright vanilla rings out clear and strong on this - truly delicious smelling. There's coffee bean in the background of this with a creamy pot still nose-feel as well. Woah, suddenly a peanut note just flipped out from under the chocolate I was just experiencing. It's like the hammock just suddenly flipped over and dumped out what it was holding. That makes me like this even more. Time for a sip! After a sip this pour loses some of its softness and picks up in the power department. The aromas feel bigger and bolder, but haven't changed much. Wow! That butterscotch is incredible coming back to this glass. Creamy molasses and all the soft, velvety bourbon aromas you could imagine. It felt like I was inhaling something more materially solid than air with my nostrils. This developed marvelously late in the glass. The empty glass smells of powerful vanilla, creamy caramel laced oak, toasting bread (specifically the toast I ate in Berlin, Germany many years ago for some reason...), and sweet honey. Palate: The first sip of this glass is fruit forward again with a lot more oak tannin present for sure. There's that wine-like mouth feel that starts to form at these higher age statements and if you are an oak lover - this has it! This one dances much more in the spice territory with allspice and cloves present, but subtle. The mouth coating and linger is very long but low in intensity. The nuttiness I experienced late in the nose before my sip is definitely also noticeable in this linger. Cherry hots do that awesome 'pop' experience where it starts very condensed in one spot and then spreads across your tongue with some effervescence. This has a perfect level of heat to it at 100 proof; any higher and I think this one would be quite a spice bomb. For now it's a sweet medley of plum jam, grape jelly, caramel squares and light toffee. Ever sip starts off much the same, but the linger that follows it is different every time. This one had a smooth vanilla coffee bean rise up alongside roasted almonds. My last sip is a bittersweet farewell, with light chocolate shavings, orange sherbert, level oak, coffee bean, and a creamy caramel linger. Rating: 4/5 Final Ranking: Old Fitz 14 > Old Fitz 11 The 14 year release was really close to earning a 5/5 from me tonight, but the palate just didn't have the wow factor some of my 5's have exhibited. I really love both of these pours and hope you enjoy yours if you get to taste them!

The Spring 2022 release of Old Fitzgerald brought us a bold 17 year age statement, a first for the line since its inception in 2018. This wheated bourbon from Heaven Hill has always been a bit fickle for me; some releases are tremendous, others land just a bit lackluster. I admittedly may not be the biggest fan of Heaven Hill's wheated mash bill in general, having not found many Larceny or Bernheim releases that I've enjoyed historically. The Bernheim is also actually a wheat whiskey using 51% wheat rather than the dominant 51%+ required to be labeled a bourbon. I do love their regular bourbon releases, however... looking at you Elijah Craig. I won't let these preconceived notions get in the way of a proper tasting though, so let's dive in on this! Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley Proof: 100° Age: 17 years Further identification: This is the Spring 2022 Release of Old Fitzgerald which comes in a fanciful decanter style bottle bearing a green label Nose: My first smell off this well rested glass is the prevalent barrel influence. 17 years is no short window of time to be pushing in and out of white oak. Peanut brittle dominates the nose, likely a strong interaction between the post-fire Beam yeast and this mash bill. Chocolate layers in forming an enjoyable Reese's peanut butter cup profile. Overall the nose is quite punchy and bright which makes it hard to find the right depth for my nostrils with respect to the glass. Dusty linen notes can be found on deep inhales. Returning to the nose from a sip amplifies notes of leather, dark earth, cigar box and vanilla. Popped corn can be found on deep inhales. The empty glass smells of smoldering tobacco, herbal funk and mascarpone. Palate: My first sip is warm and inviting. I find cherry skins, peach flambé and an oily caramel mouth coating right away. Another sip is candied sweet with sweet tarts and skittles tantalizing the tongue. The mouth coating is creamy and pervasive and I can experience it everywhere, almost like I'm surrounded by it as in a rick house. This is a wonderful departure from some of the spicier wheated bourbon releases I've tried previously. Oooh - wonderful plum, maraschino cherry and Hershey's strawberry syrup notes all cohesively land as I continue to explore this glass. A longer sip and swish reveals wonderful balance and depth. I hesitate to celebrate complexity here, as it has mainly just been soft variations of the same base profile which is perfectly fine given it is extremely delicious. Somehow this manages to drink under 100 proof, but there is still plenty of flavor volume. Raisin and chocolate cake sit in the infinitely long linger. As the cherry notes pop I find a quick cinnamon sizzle before a river of raspberry jam washes everything away. My last sip hosts a wonderful array of flavors. Vanilla bean, angel food cake and prune notes slowly ebb and flow like the slow receding of the outgoing tide. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This is a great example of what Heaven Hill can do with this mash bill. I certainly won't be making any general statements about this release like I did in the introduction moving forward! This takes what I enjoyed about the 11 year and 14 year releases and manages to elevate it to another level. The balance this shows off really puts it into the stratosphere of an exceptionally elegant whiskey. For that reason it gets my "Keep Amongst the Whiskey" distinction.

What do you mean you haven't heard of KO Distilling yet? This distillery out of Manassas, Virginia boasts the statement that they are Virginia grown, Virginia made, and grain to glass. I know everyone wants to use great buzz words in their marketing, but this one fits the bill. I've been trying to celebrate and explore many of the craft distilleries from around the country lately, especially the ones that are making great whiskey. After getting tasted on the entire line from KO, I knew I had to do a write up on at least one as time has allowed. One tidbit from their website says: KO is proud to be one of more than 1200 craft distilleries in the US and one of only 50 in Virginia. The distillery attracts visitors seeking locally crafted spirits. Most folks are here to read about if they whiskey tastes any good, so I am going to opt to skip over the distillery history on this one, and we'll jump right into a review. I'd like to thank Luke Farley from KO Distillery for giving me this bottle so that I can give it an honest review with no strings attached. Company on Label: KO Distilling Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Rye Proof: 100° Age: 4 years Further identification: Single Barrel # 19-0279, bottle #26 selected by the Prestige Ledroit Distributing Company Nose: Whew - funky maple syrup jumps out the glass with emphasis. It's bold, dark and sweet before transitioning into caramel and floral tones. This is wonderfully expressive right from the get-go. Brown sugar, tobacco and white lily perfumery aromas put on a wonderfully impressive show. It's got vintage funk and an oily nose-feel. What more could you ask for? Nosing deeper I find sweet coffee bean, mace and vanilla extract. A swirl of the glass unleashes a silky wave of maple cinnamon pudding. Hints of well-crafted bread show off a quality mash that has been aged out of widespread recognition by what feels like good cooperage. Subtle hints of barbecue begin to trail off as I yearn for a sip. Let's go! My goodness coming back to the nose is such a treat. Honeysuckle has amplified drastically, but the same wonderful funk is still there. I get a sweet lemon Haribo gummy bear note that I'm loving & certainly haven't found in any other whiskey before. I could leave my nose in this glass all day. The overall highlight is an aroma of tobacco, anise, caramel, toffee and horse barn. It reminds me of that first whiff of a nice cigar out of the humidor. The empty glass smells of cassis, orange blossom and split stone. Exceptionally fun to explore from start to finish. Palate: My first sip shows off a cacophony of lemon pudding, Earl Gray tea and honey fondant. There's no heat through the mouth or chest as this as I chew through a honey-ladened granola bar. Another sip and swish reveals a wonderful fruit bowl filled with blueberry, black cherry, chia seeds, and fresh cut strawberries. Sipping lower in the glass reveals slightly sugary tones with a slowly building backbone of creamy fruit. What it lacks in overall depth it makes up for in quality with exquisite effervescence. For a spirit and grain well known for delivering spice, this just sings in lemon zest, raisin and bready vibrato. My last sip is such a treat. It delivers maraschino cherry, plum, raisin, and a long, shimmering finish of steeped bergamot. The palate didn't offer as much nuance and variation as the nose did, but I am thoroughly satisfied with this glass through and through. TL;DR: Wonderful rye whiskey that drinks exceptionally delicate and sweet Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) This is great whiskey. If you haven't heard of this distillery yet, you're in for a treat. Their rye really sings. I've had plenty of tastes of this bottle to know it is absolutely the real deal. I'd compare it readily to many well-aged Kentucky rye stocks such as Michter's 10 year rye, and it absolutely holds up. It did really well in a blind flight as well. I can't wait to see what this distillery does in the future as their whiskey continues to get older. As always I welcome any feedback in the comments. Cheers!

Good things come to those who wait. At least that's what I told myself back in August of 2022, when I had just finished waxing poetic about how much I loved the 2020 special release rye to Lexie Phillips during our barrel picking experience. I was begging both her and their head of innovation for more rye releases. She smiled and nodded in appreciation and hidden delight for the projects to come. The Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release series highlights an annual limited innovation from the Jack Daniel Distillery and this year’s release is a twist on the original - Heritage Barrel. Twice Barreled Heritage Barrel Rye is a celebration of the whiskey-making traditions of our distillery and the barrel-making expertise of our cooperage. The 2023 Jack Daniel’s Special Release is a one-of-a-kind experience crafted from 70% rye, 18% corn, and 12% malted barley and twice barreled for a complex taste. What has 2023 brought us? Single barrel barrel proof rye and this wonderful heritage barrel release that I got a sneak peak of thanks to my good pal Frank Dobbins. Wondering if it's any good? Let's dive into a proper Amongst the Whiskey review. Company on Label: Jack Daniel Distillery Whiskey Type: Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Rye, 18% Corn, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: NAS, but based on the barrel dates on the neck tag it spent 5.5 years in its first fill barrel and 2.5 years in its second fill toasted oak barrel, resulting in a total time duration of about 8 years of aging Further identification: This 2023 limited edition release is Tennessee rye whiskey finished in toasted oak barrels; it comes in the square 700mL special release bottle format bearing the dates of fill & it retails for $75 MSRP Nose: Sweet lemon suckers and cotton candy jump out of the glass first for me. The nose-feel is bright and effervescent, like a refreshing glass of iced down ginger lemonade on a clear Summer day. Diving my nose back in reveals maple sugar, bacon bits and bountiful level oak. Deep inhales are quite approachable at this proof as molasses and cardamom aromas proliferate in the bulb of my glencairn. Zesty flashes of citrus, sage and saffron rise off the surface of the whiskey. My, my... If you really dig you can find this wonderful balance between light and dark. The dark yin of the 5.5 years aging in charred american oak brings in the maple, brown sugar and caramel tones while the light yang of the toasted oak layers in marshmallow, delicate florals and soft fruit. They come together beautifully on the nose here, testament to the care and attention to detail that was given to this release. Overall this smells like a classic American rye whiskey profile that many should enjoy. Time for a sip. Honey and a hint of smoke builds well into the already complex profile as my nose takes a cursory pass back over the glass. Wow. Strong aromas of date, raisin and plum have snowballed in the well-rested glass. Near the bottom of the glass wonderfully nostalgic aromas of freshly sawn wood compliment the vanilla notes that whisper sweet nothings to the patient observer. The maple tones cannot be understated here. Overall the glass is elegantly creamy and well put together, completely bucking the presumptuous notion that Jack Daniels is for college kids and hillbillies. The empty glass smells of sweet charcoal smoke, cinnamon, coriander and clove. The empty glass aroma smells just like Christmas time. Mmm. Palate: Wetting the whistle with this whiskey first and foremost shows the oily, slightly tannic profile that typically comes with toasted barrel finishes done right. It's unfamiliar at first to the those used to traditional aging, with the toasted barrel characteristics definitely coming off pronounced. Subsequent sips mellow out this contrast and the unified liquid gives off notes of honeysuckle, Earl Gray tea and freshly squeezed lemon juice. A longer sip and swish reveals delicious nutmeg, maple syrup, lemon biscotti and a thick, viscous mouth coating of mascarpone frosting. For not being barrel proof, this release suffers no indifference from me; full, rich flavor sits in every crevice of this glass. Sipping down near the bottom of the glass shows off a well developed medley of right where this glass started. Maple, molasses and creamy citrus tones swirl in a wonderfully sweet and complete sip. My last sip reminds me of a coffee roll on a slow Sunday morning. TL;DR: Rich citrus on a distinctly different wavelength than the norm Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Well damn. Nicely done Chris Fletcher. Take a bow. This is definitely a release I am going to be savoring, so it rightfully earns a nod ahead of my other 4/5 ratings with the Keep Amongst the Whiskey designation. I don't think it quite crests my appreciation for the single barrel barrel proof we locked down for MA, nor the 2020 limited edition rye release, but it delivers an exceptionally 'different' profile for those looking to really explore the vastness of the wide whiskey world & can appreciate when something just works out for the best.

Oh the places you'll go, the barrels you'll pick! When Derek and I set out to start picking barrels together for the state of Massachusetts, we had no idea we'd be doing this many every year. This one was another fun one for me, as I'm a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to Old Forester barrel proof picks. More often than not they come off too hot to me. I've explored plenty of samples from a multitude of stores at this point, so I know what works and what doesn't. Let's dive in and find out why we chose to pick this barrel! Company on Label: Old Forester Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 127.8° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a Warehouse H, Floor 4 single barrel pick that I personally selected with Mass Bourbon Alliance in collaboration with Liquor Junction Nose: Cherry hots leap from the glass with emphasis. Notes of strawberry parfait, creamed corn and vanilla frosting build on layers of sweets. Deep inhales show off loads of macerated fruit skins; I find cherry, plum and blackberry. Below those notes sits a wonderful birthday cake aroma. Returning ones nose to the glass after a few sips reveals linen, white chocolate and bright oak. Red berries swing back in strong late in the glass. The empty glass smells of a multitude of bakery sweets. Palate: Right away this presents fruit forward with quite a punch. Think cherry with loads of cinnamon behind it. Most of these picks come off pretty hot, so make sure you’re in a good place for one of these heaters. Diving back in shows off layers of fresh bakery bread, black pepper and quite a bit more complex oak than I’m used to from Old Forester; it kind of reminds me of an older, cask strength version of 1920 with raspberry, dark chocolate and rich caramel tones. A longer sip and swish undulates hefty waves of raspberry, Necco wafer, Biscoff cookie, and leather. The finish is on the shorter end, but it’s not unwelcome for a pour with this much heat. At last sip the sweet tart flavors really pop while a touch of rye sits in the linger. TL;DR: Deep, rich flavor with plenty of heft to carry it through - not for the squeamish! Rating: YUM! Reminder that I never give numerical scores to whiskey that I personally had a hand in selecting, as I feel it wouldn't be possible to go in unbiased. I will say that this is a solid pick that I'm glad to share with our Massachusetts whiskey community. I've enjoyed it with a few folks already who have had glowing feedback. If you're in MA, get over to Liquor Junction to grab one of these today & let me know down in the comments if you get to try it!

Old Forester barrel proof picks can be hit or miss for me. This is a release that frequently runs too hot for comfort and drinks a little younger than I typically prefer despite aging in heat cycled warehouses. That said, every once in a while one of these really surprises me. Given this is a flash review and I'm short on time, I'll let some of my previous Old Forester write ups give you a better picture of the brand backstory. Let's jump into this! Company on Label: Old Forester Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 128.5° Age: NAS (well known to typically run in the 4-6 year range) Further identification: This is a Warehouse I, Floor 1 single barrel pick done by Curtis Liquors in Massachusetts Nose: Molasses, caramel and vanilla jumps out of the glass first and foremost. Red berry notes fill in the holes where the heavier aromas are pulled off the surface into my nostrils. Plum, raspberry and raisin build well over time. Maple and walnut tones grace the near empty glass. Palate: On my first sip I find plenty of candied cherry, plum and sugary spice. The mouthfeel is thick, coating and sweet with red raspberries bubbling on the surface. Another sip continues to build upon the fruit forward base with a dash of bitters, orange peel and bright florals. It's quite the powerhouse of flavor, but the lower floor enabled this to be quite drinkable even at 128.5 proof. Sipping down near the bottom of the glass shows off caramel chews, cherry skins and peach rings. My last sip is a satisfying closeout to what would surely make a killer old fashioned. TL;DR: A fruit sweet expression that surprisingly doesn't bust the palate Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Well, this one didn't miss, but I can't get over the fact that it's ultimately too simple for me to really get excited for. Comparing this to a Depot Liquors Warehouse I, Floor 8 pick that rang in at 136 proof, this is a walk in the park & so much better than that liquid magma. Consider this completely passable & enjoyable, but not something the whiskey nerd needs multiples of.

The concept with In Retrospect was to reuse and reimagine some of the components that went into previous Chapters. You might be wondering where the 7th component comes from if there's only been 6 previous releases. According to Jonah Flicker from Robb Report, this would be a component that is influenced by the 80% rye and 20% malted rye mash bill that was historically produced in Pennsylvania - one of the birthplaces of some of the most legendary whiskey in history. A little background digging turns up this recipe may be getting resurrected by the Stoll & Wolfe Distillery, a legendary meeting of the minds between Erik Wolfe and Dick Stoll - one of the most prolific master distillers of all time. You've probably heard stories about the legendary whiskeys bottled under the old A.H. Hirsch name. I've had the grand fortune of drinking some of that whiskey. I'll save the rest of this complex whiskey story for another day, as there are a lot of other subcomponents built into this blend. The Little Book website describes Chapter 7's release saying: Little Book Chapter 7, “In Retrospect,” is the seventh chapter in the Little Book Whiskey series. “In Retrospect” offers any curious whiskey drinker a chance to explore where American Whiskey can go by looking back to where it’s been. Now, with six chapters written, the seventh chapter of Little Book pushes the story ahead, building on what’s come before in ways not yet seen. Little Book Chapter 7 is a blend of seven different liquid streams, blending one liquid from each of the previous chapters, then adding a record seventh. “In Retrospect” is a nod to the past but also sets the course for what’s next, not only for Little Book, but Freddie’s continued journey as Eighth Generation Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery. “Hopefully over the course of this journey, we’ve intrigued somebody enough to try something different”. Now let's see what the liquid in the bottle offers as far as quality and complexity. As always, I've given this 3 fair tastings on days I'm not tired or intoxicated to make sure this gets my honest analysis. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Blended Straight Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of bourbon, rye and malt whiskey mash bills Proof: 118.1° Age: 4 years (a blend of whiskeys ranging from 4 to 18 years) Further identification: This 2023 release is a blend of 18, 17, 9 & 4 year old Kentucky straight bourbon, 10 and 4 year Kentucky straight rye, and a 5 year straight malt whiskey finished in applewood smoked barrels; it is available now at an MSRP of $150 Nose: Praline ice cream jumps out of the glass upon first dipping my nose to the rim. Big, creamy vanilla aromas generate an intrigued eyebrow raise from me. Mmm. Beautiful hyper-aged barrel funk comes around after a few inhales. Bright and sweet floral tones proliferate in a distinctly cooling nose-feel, perhaps partly to do with the fact the temperatures in my house have been plummeting with the onset of Fall. Like the impending change of seasons, this glass comes across ominously sweet for what's to come on a sip. Big toffee tones scream 'Beam!' from the burnished bronze liquid below. Deep inhales show off some distinct corn and almond butter. As the liquid in my glass warms in my hand I find massive waves of floral tones with a robust spice backbone. Mace, allspice and vanilla bean dominate a lovely, complex body of aromas. Bursts of lemon frosting undulate in and out of perception. Returning my nose to the glass after a few sips shows a whiskey still very much ready to be enjoyed. Hints of tobacco, lavender and apricot has my nose in love. This is the type of glass that you can just sit with and nose for hours. Hints of malt can be found throughout this, but it still retains a primarily bourbon-forward profile. Late in the glass I find a fun note of Hot Tamales that reminds me of Willett bourbon distillate quite a bit. As my allotted volume of whiskey nearly expires, I'm impressed by the depth of wood tones still jumping out of this glass as rich caramel begins to dominate. The empty glass smells of raisin, plum and frothed milk destined for a cappuccino. Yum. Palate: At first sip a sweet custard base coats the tongue. Touches of plum dance in the tingling mouthfeel. Another sip hits upon a beautiful fresh cherry note; it reminds me of popping that first cherry into your mouth and it's crisp from just being rinsed under cold water. Without any sharp edges this whiskey is able to sing out notes of meringue, flan and and rich toffee. Thick gobs of malt Later in the glass earthy notes begin to amplify with more distinct wood and spice starting to build in on subsequent sips. The persistent backbone is a sweet vanilla linger that refuses to let the taste buds and salivary glands relax. Mmm - every sip has something to offer here. The overall experience is definitely classic, well-aged Kentucky bourbon shining in the forefront while some minor characters provide some background entertainment. My last sip is a wonderful scoop of vanilla bean ice cream over a wafer-style ice cream cone. The finish is medium with creamy tones abound. I am thoroughly satisfied with this glass. TL;DR: A wonderful return to classic bourbon notes with plenty of vanilla to go around Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) Freddie Noe, take a bow! That nose is incredible. I'm so excited that I can look forward to this release again. After the incredibly disappointing whiskey that was released under Chapter 6, I am glad to see a more traditional profile being blended here. Experimentation is grand, but you're not supposed to try to sell the failures. Despite being an exercise in blending, this release proves Freddie definitely has the chops to be called master distiller at the Fred B. Noe Distillery. I'm always willing to give folks another chance, and I'm certainly glad I picked up a bottle of this release to do just that. Comparing this to previous batches I'd say this batch is most reminiscent of Chapter 3. Chapter 3 also produced a lot of those really big vanilla style notes, but it also layered in a bit of extra nougat which was nice. Many would probably regard Chapter 3 as the best blend of the line, but I will continue to make the case for Chapter 2 that delivered some incredible citrus notes due to that hyper-aged Canadian stock. I would put Chapter 7 ahead of Chapter 3 due to the extra floral and spice complexity. The closest other comparison for the new blend here would be Chapter 5. Revisiting 5 shows a whiskey that has more citrus than the new batch. Chapter 4 has much more stone fruit and doesn't share many other parallels. Chapter 1 is unfortunately still boring, 2 is still the best, and 6 is still pretty bad. In Chapter 7 I do manage to taste something from everything prior, and I thoroughly enjoy which components have been highlighted on the final product. All in all "In Retrospect" proves its name with Freddie likely looking back on past successes and failures, and this sets a new bar for Freddie to try to clear next year. Little Book Chapter 1 Through 7 Ranking: Chapter 2 > 7 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 1 > 6

We've got a double header! This Atlanta, Georgia distillery is just starting to come of age and make a splash in the whiskey world. When my good friend Matt (@the_whiskey_fly) invited me out to his home state to pick barrels with him, I couldn't say no. We managed to assemble an epic picking team for the occasion. I'd like to thank Whit (@_whitskey_) for showing us a fantastic time. It was incredibly fun exploring a distillery that I had honestly never heard of before, and you might be in the same boat. Let this be your introduction. ASW began distilling in 2016. Presently their master distiller Justin Manglitz and distiller Whit Hagemann are clearly having too (two?) much fun with their jobs. Regardless of personal perception, it's been a refreshing change of pace from the rest of the industry to follow along with their journey. You, my dear reader, have an incredibly unique opportunity to experience ASW distillate; make sure to follow @the_whiskey_fly on instagram for some more information on when these two barrels will be available for retail purchase from Shared Pour. Without further ado, let's get on with the whiskey. Fiddler Soloist Straight Bourbon Whiskey Company on Label: ASW Distillery Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 56% Corn, 14% Wheat Malt, 10% Rye Malt, 10% Munich Malt Barley, 7% Rauch Smoked Malt Barley, 3% Chocolate Rye Malt Proof: 115.2° Age: 5 years Further identification: While ASW does house some sourced whiskey, this barrel was filled with all their own distillate; this was also a long term experiment for the distillery where they used a barrel which was spiral cut on the inside to increase surface area interactions Resurgens Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Casks Company on Label: ASW Distillery Whiskey Type: Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Rye Proof: 114.6° Age: 4.5 years (2 years, 5 months in new oak & 2 years, 1 month in a port cask) Further identification: This too is all ASW distillate and one of the first ever releases of this style of whiskey outside of the distillery shop; it is one of 4 barrels in this style in the ASW warehouse Fiddler Soloist Spiral Cut Barrel Notes Nose: Holy chocolate batman! It's thick and pervasive with sweet milk dud notes. Nosing further I find classic, level oak, demerara sugar tones and funky malt. Leathery funky textile tones soon sweep into the glass in an act that has never before been seen in whiskey. Gunpowder and cast iron notes produce an inquisitive, upturned eyebrow. Let's sip. Coming back to the nose I find dank aromas the might turn up in an old horse barn. Brown sugar, maple bacon and black pepper are fun finds. Deep inhales show off the many intricacies of wood here. The empty glass smells of banana bread, toffee and an old knick knack store with handmade candles. Palate: My my, that's a funky bunch of coconuts; particularly husky, this whiskey presents incredibly unique. Another sip shows off dark bread, cinnamon powder, leather and savory dried peach. Malted milk balls are the most dominant flavor here with subtle background tones of black coffee and heavily toasted wheat bread. My last sip highlights sawdust, ash, damp soil, and spent coffee grounds. This doesn't drink like anything you've had before, so be ready for that. TL;DR: Incredibly unique, earthy breakfast funk Port Finished Resurgens Rye Notes Nose: Chocolate, malt and waffle cone jump out at me first on this. Deep inhales layer in vanilla bean, fig and almonds. All of this comes together to remind me of an ice cold Choco Taco. A swirl of the glass unleashed some of the barrel funk and rye spice that was lurking under this sweet factory. Raisin, yogurt, raspberry jam, and a hint of black pepper form a lovely, creamy nose-feel. The juicy red berries, chocolate and vanilla tones can't be understated here. Let's have a sip! Returning my nose to the glass reveals more Summer berry trifle tones that make me smile. Patchouli aromas give off a deep, rich muskiness to this dram. The empty glass smells of nilla wafers, oiled wood and camping in a pine forest. Palate: My first sip is an explosive medley of roasted chestnut, tobacco and smoked maple syrup. This is certainly an incredibly unique sip as I cock my head in curious exploration. Going back for another sip layers in the deep raisin, fig and milk dud candy. As I continue to explore this glass some of the funk from the start begins to fade away, leaving behind crème fraîche, caramel and hints of rye softened gently by many years in oak. My last sip shows off a hefty punch of funky grape skins, anise and allspice. Overall I'm impressed by the heavy funk all throughout this balanced by the youthful exuberance of a the old Maryland/Pennsylvania style of whiskey made in the modern era. TL;DR: Choco taco nose, funkadelic milk dud palate Rating: Two natural born winners, but the Resurgens Rye shines That Resurgens rye barrel is a real treat through and through. I'd recommend the Soloist pick for folks who enjoy Chattanooga Whiskey, Maker's 46, and Old Elk Bourbon. Fans of A Midwinter Night's Dram and Joseph Magnus will find the Resurgens Rye to be up their alley. Shout out again to @the_whiskey_fly for inviting me and cheers to our picking team for putting in the work to find a winner: @thebourbonwhiskeylibrary @buckheadbourbon @brisket_babe & of course @mrs_fly958 Links to grab yours off Shared Pour: Fiddler Soloist Spiral Cut Barrel Port Finished Resurgens Rye

I don't think I've ever opened a bottle faster than this one... I knew I wanted to get into this fun new blend from the Booker's experimental division right away. I first posted this review to my Instagram, but I gave it another try to make sure my notes were good and my rating was accurate. Let me know if you have tried this one and what you thought of it! Do our notes agree? Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Blended Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 117.4° Age: 4 years (a blend of 4-5 year whiskeys) Further identification: This 2022 release is a blend of 4 year straight malt whiskey finished with cherrywood staves, 4 year straight malt whiskey finished in applewood smoked barrels, 4 year straight malt whiskey finished in hickory smoked barrels, 4 year straight malt whiskey finished with maplewood staves, and 5 year Kentucky straight bourbon; it is listed as recipe 063 and it was commingled by Freddie Noe Nose: Caramel and breaded banana foster. Funk, malt and light savory spice. Fig shows up lightly with cream. Oh wow, after it opens up a little bit the young oak really starts to show up. I get a rubber characteristic like latex gloves too. With a little resting the nose returns to a malty caramel. Faint maple spice dances. I get a lot of Cleveland Whiskey vibes from this. Gingerbread is an awesome late addition to the aromas on the glass. Wow the smoke from the palate comes through clear as day as the glass nears empty. The empty glass smells of chocolate, railroad ties and Ovaltine malt candies. Palate: Banana transfers well upfront with smoldering plum spice. I find youthful oak, lemongrass and mint. The mint is tied to a chocolate note like a thin mint; bright wintergreen cools the tongue. Hints of nuttiness and a persistent smoke linger on the tongue. Funky spices. I dig the profile overall when you evaluate it on its own. As soon as you compare it to another whiskey though, that luster fades quickly. The finish is medium with banana, pear and Chardonnay sweetness; yummy at times! The youthful banana is ever present from the high malt characteristic (similar to younger Old Elk bourbons) which just cannot be shaken once you find it. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) This pour benefits from time and patience & I’d definitely want people to give it a few tries before jumping on the “it’s too young” train here! Admittedly even though I initially didn't think it tasted young, on my second pour of it I definitely do now; it actually manages to drink below its age for me. This pour definitely started a bit underwhelming, but it ended up quite complex and unique. I would not suggest you drink this after having some higher proof offerings or higher age statement whiskeys. For some extra perspective to the other Little Book releases, I'd probably put this somewhere on-par with Chapter 1. Actually - I still have Chapter 1.... Let me decide that here and now. Hmm. Yeah - Chapter 1 comes off as a nice reprieve from 6. I get some nice bubblegum flavors that are sweet, refined and conditioned compared to Chapter 6. My official ranking is thus (slipping in 5 I just revisited offline): Chapter 2 > 3 > 4 > 5 > 1 > 6 I typically leave out the relationship to cost in all my reviews when possible, so I will leave that up for you to decide based on the flavor profiles I laid out above. It is definitely a uniquely crafted offering and I will let the rest of the whiskey world debate over the price / value of this as a separate discussion. Cheers!

One could stay busy all year long as a whiskey reviewer with how many unique releases Heaven Hill puts out... The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases are the ones that I try to never miss out on. They have historically agreed with my palate in general and I think their blending team is absolutely fantastic at what they do. They definitely still have duds every once in a while, so I'm here to make sure you know which ones those are! Let's cut to the chase. Company on Label: Elijah Craig (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 124.2° Age: 11 years & 5 months Further identification: Batch B523 is the second release of 2023 and it is the first batch to drop the typical 12 year age statement for this release Nose: Bright cherry jumps out of the glass first amongst deep leather tones. Strawberry pie and heaps of whipped cream create a deeply inviting aroma. I can't resist an early sip here. Coming back I find vanilla bean ice cream and level oak have created a creamy fog atop the glass. Deep woodshop aromas and pungent graham cracker tones proliferate late in the glass. The nose is rather simple and easy, but the aromas it does produce are so, so delectable. The empty glass smells of classic well-aged Kentucky bourbon: leather, butterscotch, cherry, caramel and black pepper all culminate in a wonderfully complete blend of aromas. While nosing this is fun, where this glass really shines is on the palate. Palate: My first sip is delectable with Hershey's strawberry milk. The profile on this glass is incredibly vanilla forward - a fairly typical dominant flavor for Heaven Hill. It reminds me a touch of creamy horchata. Talk about crushable... This one just begs for another sip with the perfect level of sweetness. Indulging, I find the same creamy vanilla profile coats every surface of the mouth in a long, slightly effervescent linger. Touches of praline, graham cracker and Easter candy give just enough depth for this to be worthy of savoring. Mmm. Suddenly the faint candied nut flavors that were hiding in the background become the star of the show. Candied pecans with that rich, buttery texture swing in before soft cocktail cherry notes trail off slowly. A longer sip and swish produce great heft with no heat; cinnamon raisin bread and peanut brittle arm wrestle a bit before the big brother of vanilla swoops in to break things up. Everything about this glass is playful, lighthearted and delicious. It feels as welcoming as the friendliest home, delivering that bread-in-the-oven comfort of a homemade meal to come. My last sip is liquid dessert. Cherry pie, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and infinite undulations of scrumptious praline leave me longing for any other whiskey that can produce that array of flavor. The finish is long, smoldering and sweet. Just lovely. TL;DR: Very on-brand for Heaven Hill & extremely crushable Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Dropping the 12 year age statement? I couldn't care less - it's 11 years, 5 months. If the blenders call this close enough & it still tastes good then let's book that win. I'm just glad they still ventured on the side of clarity; I would certainly be more up in arms if there was no age statement. One has to worry if this is a slippery slope for the future though. Will the age statement be dropped altogether in 2024? Regardless of age, one has to ask... did they put crack in this release? It's incredible how much this one makes you want to keep sipping. If you can't tell by the fill level on this bottle (I had help), I've clearly been victimized by the deliciousness of this batch. It's not quite exceptional whiskey - not grand enough to earn my 5 score, but it certainly has a place on my shelf for the foreseeable future. As such, it's earned my 'Keep Amongst the Whiskey' distinction which sort of functions like a +0.5 to the final rating if you want to read it that way. I originally intended it to be something that (regardless of score) meant that I wanted to always have a bottle of it on hand, but I think the addition to the base score is totally fair and something I am considering incorporating into my standard moving forward. Let me know down in the comments if you agree or disagree with this strategy, or feel free to join the discussion on IG. Cheers!

If you read my first Southern Star review on a cask strength wheated bourbon coming out of Statesville, North Carolina then you HAVE heard of Southern Distilling Company. When I found out this distillery also had a rye, I knew I had to reach out and see if I could try it. With the wheated bourbon shining as bright as it did, I had high hopes that their team and their stills were up for the extra challenge of figuring out how to do rye whiskey right. Southern Distilling Company was kind enough to provide me with this bottle at no cost to me so that I could review it with no strings attached. My evaluation methods always put honesty first & I don't ever let gifts impact my final ratings. Let's dive in on the Southern Star Double Rye notes. Company on Label: Southern Distilling Company Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Assumed to be 51% Rye, 39% Corn, and 10% Malted Barley Proof: 88° Age: NAS (therefore a minimum 4 years) Further identification: This is release number 009 that was distilled and produced by Southern Distilling Company; this bottle carries an MSRP of $34 Nose: Mmm, my favorite style of rye jumps right out of the glass; this pour is quite citrus forward. Juicy lemon, grapefruit and strawberry banana smoothie notes are soft yet powerful up front. Deeper inhales produce deeper complexities of cardamom, black pepper and just a hint of clove. As the sweeter citrus tones get consumed by my searching inhales, delicate layers of Werther's caramel and the woody-metallic combination of aromas the exterior of a whiskey barrel can produce rise to the nose. As I continue to nose through the glass I find things have taken on a simple 'clean' feel. Let's have a sip before moving on. As I arrive back with my nose in the glass after a few sips I find the barrel influence to have been amplified. To me it smells like a woodshop hard at work: planing, chopping, shaving, drilling and other woodworking activities all producing shavings and dust. It smells like quality wood, not general construction lumber. Working through those layers I find touches of lavender and fresh beeswax. This glass is just right to be able to stick your nose all the way in and not get burned. The overall profile is generally quite sweet and constantly evolving. I can't find anything I don't like in this glass. The (sadly) empty glass now smells of delicate rose, light bread and salted caramel brittle. Palate: Just like the nose - this immediately elicits a 'mmmh' from me. Lemon peel, cardamom and grapefruit translate perfectly from the aroma to the palate - it's as if you took a carbon copy of the ester calculus and layered it onto a dissolvable strip on my tongue. Another sip introduces bright, cool and sweet tones. Honeysuckle and juicy white grape flavors paint the picture of a perfect Summer sip. As I sip down lower in the glass I find a silky, creamy mouthfeel that pops with a flash of citrus zest before settling down slowly like a balloon with a pinhole leak. The finish is long and fruity with a wide array of tropical and citrus flavors. Sipping through this leaves the whole mouth coated in a beautifully delicious, oily film. My last sip is a doozy with lemon peel and light pepper dancing on the tongue before raspberry, plum and prosecco notes produce an effervescent, long finish. Delicious. TL;DR: Well crafted whiskey with plenty of citrus tones Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I'm once again incredibly pleased with how well this North Carolina whiskey drinks; it seems evident to me that they've got all of the important pieces of making good whiskey figured out. They must have a great water source, climate, a cooperage willing to do things right (long outdoor dry aging periods to remove tannins), and a wonderful distillation process. This double rye is beyond thoroughly satisfying and I look forward to trying their Hunting Creek rye next if this is any indication of how good their whiskey is.

It's time for another Stagg (Jr) batch! This one is a bit of a head scratcher, coming onto the scene in early 2023 bearing the label "22A"... This comes significantly later than the bottle labeled 22B, and was almost immediately followed up with a 23A batch that has started to circulate as well. If the batches have your head spinning, here is a table with all the batch information I have, the proof of the release and the approximate release date. Alright, let's dive in on 22A and see if this batch is a little more impressive than 22B was. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 132.2° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 22A shows no new bottle or label design changes Nose: Brown sugar, leather and browned butter proliferate in a rich nose-feel that jumps right out of the glass. Savory-sweet confectioner's delights abound as delicious aromas of crème brûlée and maple candied bacon continue to pour out of my glencairn. Touches of smoke and black pepper suggest a heavy oak influence to come. Let's have a sip before we keep going. Coming back to the glass I find bountiful molasses, graham cracker and more brown sugar than the glass started with. A lovely note of cinnamon and warm apple pie cannot be shaken once found. The nose is wonderfully approachable straight through to the end. The empty glass smells of smoky and earthy honey. Palate: From my first sip I find classic Stagg notes: cherry hots, cinnamon and rich oak. The heft is not shy with this one. It does everything barrel proof Kentucky bourbon should do: it's big & bold, it sizzles in the mouth, and it gives a wonderful chest hug on the way down. Subtle tones of sweet candied apple sit in the linger. Easing back in for another sip shows off leather, plum and raisin. The mouthfeel is a bit drying as all 132.2 proof points creep across the taste buds like black treacle. Late in the glass I find that the heft subsides, but the long linger remains. Browned butter and cinnamon are still the main hallmarks of this fairly reputable profile. As the glass mixes with oxygen over time I find creamy vanilla tones start to layer in. My last sip is loaded with oak and cherry skins. It sinks through me like liquid warmth highlighting raspberry and simple syrup. Overall I'm left feeling like this is a solid sipper, but not overly remarkable. TL;DR: Crushable, classic Buffalo Trace bourbon Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) This is probably the first Stagg batch that I would really call "crushable". Batch 16 was close - though it came across simple, but this has plenty of flavor without getting too hot. I've shared this with a few friends already and it's been nothing but good feedback.