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Karthik Sudhir at Phenomenal Spirits is back at it again! The madeira cask that was offered to Spirit Animal Society and Liquor Junction is probably the most light The picking team chose incredibly well; big thank you to the Spirit Animal picking team that was selected Company on Label: Phenomenal Spirits Whiskey Type: Finished Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Further identification: This is a single barrel pick that Liquor Junction picked up in collaboration with Spirit

This is a staple Wild Turkey product for me. I tend to reach for another one of these before I go for a Rare Breed. With both Jimmy and Eddie Russell's names on the bottle, I know I'm in good hands. Plus it says it was "selected for the bourbon connoisseur". What could go wrong? Keep in mind this is a single barrel product and your glass/bottle/barrel may vary from mine! Let's taste what I've got below. Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 101° Age: NAS (~8-9 years) Further identification: Bottled 07/06/20 from barrel no 1516, stored in Warehouse A on Rick no 40 Nose: Rich, ripe, syrupy cherries and peanut brittle to start. Potent molasses has a kind of strength to it that says it's not going away. Vanilla perfume. Light un-cracked peppercorn. Confectionery caramel with a light whipped cream. Paper birch wood and some lofty allspice exhibits some unique barrel interactions. All of the confectionery sugar you could ask for I feel like I'm at a bakery in this glass. Oddly enough an aroma that vaguely reminded me of my old dentist's office, who recently retired. There is a really unique citrus to this I haven't found in anything else. It's a good aroma and gives this a nice complexity past the sweet vanilla explosion it is most of the rest of the time. Woah, suddenly the stone fruit come rushing in to save this pour just when I was about to think it was finished. Slightly tart plum and grape jelly are here now. Nice evolution on this glass. I love how Wild Turkey products can consistently deliver big flavors at such approachable proofs. Palate: Silky, creamy first sip of all vanilla. It lingers unbelievably long and eventually some of the peanut brittle sneaks in (like 4-5 minutes after my sip). Delicious first sip of the day choice right here! Another sip elicits more of the peanut aromas, but now they are more like actual salted peanuts; a small handful for a quick evening snack. The mouth coating is on the thinner side and larger sips do prove to be quite drying. Now that the stone fruit came back the last sip of this glass is both easy and satisfying with long, drippy cherry juice. At times both simple and complex - I'd recommend this product to someone who either hasn't tried Booker's Bourbon yet and wants to know if the price will be worth it, or someone who likes Booker's and needs a more affordable daily sipper. Rating: 4/5 I am quite tired today after a long day of home construction work, and this pour was just what I was looking for. I think I'll have another before settling in a little early tonight!

Excited to see if there are any fun nuances between the two picks while I still have the other fresh Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 114° Age: NAS Further identification: 2021 release from Burlington Wine & Spirits

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 116.8° Age: NAS Further identification: 2019/early 2020 purchase Kentucky Spirit Late nose after resting turns much creamier, with other notes of butter and soup herbs. Only lacks in finish; but has a more experienced palate than the Kentucky Spirit. Final Ranking: Rare Breed > Kentucky Spirit

Michter's describes the Shenk's story on their website, saying: Shenk's Homestead Distillery Sour Mash It is made in Kentucky according to the traditional Sour Mash process whereby a portion of the previously Shenk’s is a Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey made with a substantial amount of rye. Additionally, for its maturation we utilized two different and quite special barrel profiles: a portion I'm impressed with how this evolved drastically between two short sips.

Punchy vanilla legs along with an oak that really doesn't taste like a "minimum of two years" but more Maybe there is something to this sour mash recipe that does well to mask its flaws; I certainly can't

With two special releases also adorning shelves at your local haunt, you might be wondering if these For this Kentucky sour mash whiskey, the answer likely lies in the use of different oak than new, charred Company on Label:  Michter's Distillery Whiskey Type:  Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages

I don't normally suggest Sour Mash, but after this review I might start to given the notes I found. I don't know what it is about sour mash offerings but they always drink above their age to me.

Based on this change in experiences I would definitely recommend everyone give this at least two tries

:  Follows the same conventions as rye whiskey, with extra clauses: must not be blended with other spirits They partnered with local spirits writers Aaron Goldfarb and Robert Simonson to pick two barrels they ABV: 50% // MSRP: $69.99 15: Two Souls Spirits "Wisconsin Waffles" Straight Rye Whiskey from Wollersheim Distillery The only independent bottler to make the top rye whiskey list, Two Souls has been solidly ABV: 50% // MSRP: $49.95 10: Liberty Pole Spirits Old Monongahela Full Proof Pennsylvania Straight Rye

I love budget finds - I've been trying to review a lot more of them lately, but if you have ever seen my whiskey study, you'll know I have a lot of options on any given day. My love for Willett has grown as I've tasted through many of their 4 year rye 'Family Estate' products, tried all the shelfers, and even picked a barrel of OG mash bourbon. Today we go after another that many would consider a shelfer - though I find distribution a little wonky / sparse in Massachusetts on this one. Though I typically leave price out in how I review and rate whiskeys - I do still personally enjoy a high value product at a reasonable cost, as I'm sure most do. As everyone's budget is different, I like to just tell the whiskeys story on this site without the powerful convolution that money imbues. I'll leave the 'worth' decision to the reader. Now, sweet reader, let's get into this glass! Company on Label: Willett Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed, but I sense a good bit of the Willett rye influence on this glass Proof: 101° Age: NAS (minimum 4 years) Further identification: This is one of the flagship products of Willett distillery that they work hard to blend into quantities that can satisfy the huge demand for Willett bourbon; it comes in as one of their cheapest offerings well below the cost Noah's Mill or Rowan's Creek Nose: Bright citrus pop - I get that Pinesol-esque candied sweetness that I know and love from the Willett rye line. Star fruit effervescence dances in the nostrils. Light paper, sharp pepper and sassafras show off poignantly. Sharp lemon peel and ginger continue to produce a tingly nose-feel. Time for a sip. Returning I find more barrel influence of dusty oak, breadcrumbs and hints of caramel. Dark, dry pepper returns as a soft root beer note undulates in the background. I find a unique clove oil aroma all throughout this that took me quite some time to pinpoint. Good sweetness is balanced by an earthy clay. Soft florals weave into the glass at times. The empty glass smells of chocolate, marbled rye, and a treasure trove of honey I can't believe I missed earlier. Palate: Immediately I am greeted with sweet flavors of candied cherry, fig, and chocolate covered almonds. The palate is cooled by a soft linger of creamy lemon frosting. Another sip builds in a fine balance between creamy and zesty. It reminds me of shaved lemon Italian ice. It's a touch messy as a slew of flavors crash into the palate (usually a sure sign of a blend consisting of many individual parts), but the overall delivery is still quite enjoyable to sit and relax with. There is a soft cooling sensation in the gums, again, much like Willett rye does. Faint bits of sweet strawberry shortcake and trident gum add to the interesting array of flavors. A larger sip and swish produces another big wave of that citrus and bubblegum followed by a much more tart & tannic red grape and blackberry. The linger is long with the pervading lemon peel zest tingling all throughout my mouth. My last sip is sensibly smaller producing strawberry banana, candied mint, orange sherbert and just a kiss of cinnamon. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This ranks very high in the uniqueness category for me; I like it a lot personally for its parallels to Willett Family Estate ryes. If you are a fan of that line I am certain you will also enjoy this pour. There definitely is a lot going on with this pour and it doesn't quite tell a cohesive story, much to my chagrin, as I think this otherwise could possibly reach top marks for me. Regardless - a damn fine pour I would definitely suggest you at least try! I know this distillate can be a little polarizing at times, so this is a great introduction to wade into.

Michter's Sour Mash Small Batch Whiskey Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: American Whiskey Mash Shenk's Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey Review: Butterscotch, citrus & heavy leather nose. Sour & toasty. Rich marshmallow nose with some citrus hints. Caramel. A clear step above the other two glasses. Michter's Small Batch Bourbon Review: Peanut nose... Final Ranking: Shenks > Sour Mash > Bourbon