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Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 101° Age: NAS (~6 years?) Further identification: Purchased early 2021 before the label/bottle change Allspice, cloves and caramel form a perfect base on the nose. Light chocolate, almonds and pepper dance in. Palate is creamy molasses forward with a rich, ripe dark cherry. Anise and warm stewed herbs mix in late. Still very rich caramel and molasses all the way through it. A touch of old linen late in the glass on the nose. Citrus zest is layering in on the impressively long finish. This is the perfect proof point for this. A solid offering I will always have on hand! Rating: 4/5

It's that time again! After a one year hiatus, Michter's 10 year bourbon is back. The reason for the delay? Michter's didn't think they had enough barrels properly aged to warrant the release. Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson commented: Bourbon enthusiasts often tell us how much they love our 10 Year Bourbon for its depth and complexity. While we know our Michter's supporters will be disappointed, just know we are continuing to stay true to our philosophies of who we are as a company and as a brand by always delivering extraordinary whiskey to those who are willing to wait. With the 2023 release, clearly something clicked, as there are finally bottles hitting local liquor store shelves, albeit in very low numbers. I was lucky enough to secure one bottle after trying a sip at a friends house. That one sip was all I needed to know this was going to be something special. I am an analytical engineer at heart though, and as you can see - I've triangulated my thoughts well with several tastings of this prior to sitting down for the review you have before you today. Keep in mind this is a single barrel style release, so your bottle & mileage may vary depending on what's listed on the neck sticker. I have barrel # 23A0043 here, but if you have a different barrel let me know down in the comments if you think it follows suit. The back label of the bottle still carries the statement of "Bottled by Michter's Distillery", which typically means it is sourced from another distillery whether by contract distillation or barrel brokerage deals. This makes sense given the timeline of Michter's reintroduction to distilling in 2015; you can deduce that they wouldn't have anything old enough for this label as of 2023. If you have the wonderfully lucky chance of seeing this available for purchase at MSRP, do not hesitate. This has been a fan favorite release from Michter's since the earliest days when it was rumored to be Stitzel Weller distillate. I'm nearly certain today's release would not be any holdovers from that gone-by era, but I do know that the Michter's team clearly has an eye towards quality with releases of this caliber. Now let's dive into some tasting notes together! Company on Label: Michter's Distillery Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 years (though often claimed to be older) Further identification: Barrel No 23A0043 is listed on the label wrapped around the front of the neck of the bottle Nose: Soft citrus and deep, earthy clay jump out at me right away. This is like a modern day dusty! Vintage linen, old growth wood, and cherry pipe tobacco bursts out of the glass for this low of a proof. Sweet tart, funky cinnamon and plum undulate in the background. As the glass opens up, the whole profile turns toward a delicious buttercream frosting note that’s really sitting nicely in the nose. Freshly squeezed orange juice can be made out on deep inhales. Rich tobacco flashes up at times. This is funky and delightful at every corner; a thorough evolution on the nose, let’s hope the palate follows suit. The dark red berries return late in the glass in high class. The now empty glass smells of dusty oak and marshmallow amidst a camping tent vibe. Palate: On first sip I’m greeted by an array of dried fruit. Plum, raisin and raspberry are pronounced up front before a tingling wave of grapefruit and pomegranate swings through in the thin, gripping mouth coating. Another sip builds in wonderful power as lemon frosting and heavy cream permeate all of my taste buds. Leather layers in interestingly to the medley. A longer sip and swish elicits an audible “mmmh”. I get notes similar to Anderson Club 15 year all throughout this and I am so here for it. As the glass gets low I’m still ooh-ing and ah-ing at every sip; the citrus and clay from the early nose are prevalent in a mouthfeel that comes across like the texture of cheesecake. Just wonderfully made whiskey here through and through. My last sip is an absolute delight highlighting Chantilly cream. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) I'm thoroughly impressed by this one; it's put on one of my favorite flavor profiles I've had in a many months. Early on in my exploration of this bottle I called it a "modern dusty" and I stand by that statement today. It has characteristics that remind me of whiskeys that were on the market in the late 80s and early 90s when lower barrel entry proofs were more common. This may or may not be the case for this release, but it does a damn good job at transporting me back to experiences I've had with some of those old bottlings most won't get the chance to try today.

Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (presumed sourced) Proof: 94.4° Age: 10 Years Further identification: Barrel No 20F1287 Nose: Citrus and smooth - not tannic - wine nose. Herbal hay note. Wow; nose is exceptional. Earthy grass & caramel/marshmallow marriage. As it opens it turns into a candied fruit medley like I sometimes will get out of a Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel. Big anise notes show up late. Palate: Candy sweets! Cinnamon red hots, cherry syrup, and the drying presence of those smarties. Hmmm; molasses and syrupy stewed herbs. Very interesting. Oaky for sure, but balanced with a sweetness that keeps it from becoming drying past the gums. Leaning heavily on the lemongrass freight train, this doesn't evolve as rapidly as the other glass. It takes it's time, weaving a sweet and slow story together that is certainly meant to be savored. The finish is long and slow, building up from molasses and pears into a rye spice crescendo that leaves you looking forward to the next sweet sip. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.)

Today we have a fun one for Amongst the Whiskey - a Japanese malt whisky! While I've primarily reviewed Irish whiskey, bourbon and rye previously, there has been a lot of buzz on malt lately. I have explored a few Japanese whiskies in my past, but none stood out to me as particularly convincing to enjoy on any consistent basis moving forward. I am however always open to new things, and even more eager to have my perceptions changed by new experiences, so I will be going in here with an open mind. This is a relatively new distillery, and from what I've gathered from some of my fine friends on the web, a vision of owner Kimio Yonezawa that's been a long time coming from a family rich in the history of brewing and distilling. If you're interested in learning more about the origin story here, I'd recommend reading this article from nomunication.jp. It's a great read on the history of the brand as well as some of the intricate details I know you whiskey nerds (like me) will love. I'd like to thank Hatozaki Whisky who were kind enough to send this along for a review with no strings attached. Now let's have a taste! Company on Label: Kaikyo Distillery (Akashi Sake Brewery) Whiskey Type: Japanese Blended Malt Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted Barley Proof: 92° Age: 12 years Further identification: This small batch product was primarily aged 12 years in American oak casks before spending 6 months in barrels that previously held Umeshu liqueur, which is produced from small plums called ume Nose: I smell soft grape soda from a distance as I move this glass closer towards me. Oily, bright, decadent plum presents powerfully from below my beard as the glass gets closer to nose height. Diving fully in I begin to find light milk chocolate, sugar cookie and coffee bean aromas. It's viscous and oily in the nose-feel like many well-aged Irish whiskies tend to have. Everything presents delicate, fruity and easy on the nose. A deep inhale builds in just a hint of slightly savory sea salt and olive oil. Returning my nose to the glass from a sip adds in light hints of amaretto, dragonfruit, and pomegranate. Overall this glass continues to be exquisitely delicate and fun to explore. Hints of anise, sweet tarts and bright florals can be found late in the glass. The now empty bulb of my glencairn smells like light charred oak, ambrosia perfume and raisin. Palate: On first sip I'm greeted with fig jam, funky earth and marsala wine - undoubtedly a parallel to the Umeshu liqueur which is unfortunately lost on me due to the lack of personal experience with the spirit. Like the nose, this once again reminds me of Irish whiskey, particularly ones that are sherry finished. I can tell already that I would probably be a fan of ume based on these comparative notes. Another sip shows off more zest now with expressed lemon peel and grapefruit coming through. Chewing a bit elicits a comfortable wave of earthiness amidst a creamy mouth coating of thin caramel sauce. The linger has a touch of sassafras and root beer that I dig. Further sips refine away complexity at this point, but approachability remains high. My last sip tastes of caraway seed, granola and earthy graham cracker. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This is the perfect introduction to the Japanese whisky scene for an Irish whiskey lover to explore; the parallels to some of my favorite whiskeys from Midleton are prevalent all throughout. I am definitely also interested in trying Umeshu liqueur now, because there were a lot of similarities to sherry or madeira that I was finding. Ultimately this was a really fun whisky to sit with and explore; the whole experience is thoroughly interesting and enjoyable if you're good at dissecting low proof whiskies. While this might not be something I venture into regularly still, I'd definitely recommend trying this one for yourself. Between three tastings, I had two very positive experiences and one slightly lackluster tasting. This may not be one for a late night or a 2nd pour of the day, but it truly shines on a fresh palate. Let me know down in the comment section if these tasting notes sound up your alley or not!

Jack Daniel's throws us a curveball alongside the 10 year batch 2 release; I've seen a lot more buzz on the 12 year, but I was more excited about the 10 year personally. I've had a few exploration drams of this bottle now and I'm ready to offer my well-triangulated thoughts to you, my dear reader. I am admittedly up against a short window of review time, so I'll get right into tasting and keep todays intro short. Let's get into the whiskey! Company on Label: Jack Daniel Distillery Whiskey Type: Tennessee Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 107° Age: 12 years Further identification: Batch 01 is displayed on the front label of this release which was first made available in March of 2023 alongside the 10 year Batch 2 Nose: Up front the nose is dark, viscous and clearly well-aged. Diving deeper caramel, dusty oak and molasses brood in the heavy nose-feel. Heavy black pepper, anise and rough linen bombard the senses. The glass is overall almost too bright to nose and I'm pushed nearly to the point of a sneeze. Faint hints of cherry skins can be made out from the heavy blanket of barrel influence. Let's dive into a sip and see if this will open up a bit more. Coming back from a sip shows off a reformed glass; delicate vanilla bean and marshmallow now undulate slowly off the surface. The aromas of the glass have become much softer and I'm reminded of a well-worked woodshop now. A touch of minerality can be found in the late, weathered glass. Barrel funk continues to be the driving force of the remaining liquid. The empty glass smells of maple sugar, molasses and a hint of barbecue smoke. Palate: At first sip I'm greeted by soft caramel chews, sherry and nilla wafers. The linger is soft and lovely as it sits long on the tongue like the afterglow of a bite of lemon meringue pie. Another sip accelerates particles of cherry blossom, honeysuckle and freshly buttered toast onto my taste buds. The flavors present cohesive, approachable and well-refined here. As I continue to work through the glass my enjoyment grows, but some of the luster fades. What was exceptionally unique for a moment is now fairly consistent with normality. Vanilla and oak dominate late in the glass as layers are shed and true colors are shone. My final sip is a delicate, bready confectioners delight; soft crépe meets butter and a drizzle of caramel completes an easy sip. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Now that I am not tasting the 10 year and the 12 year alongside each other, I am finding way more similarities between the two. Many of the notes from the 10 year review are shining through in incredible detail. I'm happy to say I'm damn glad to sip either of them and beyond blessed to have both of them on my shelf. The 10 year smells like I'm back at the distillery, so maybe there is a nostalgia factor there for me. The 12 year is deeper and offers more for you to chew on, for better or worse. The 10 year is more unique, the 12 year is more 'classic good' in my opinion. On my level playing field of quality, I still prefer the overall profile of the 10 year, batch 2, but only by a hair. As such - this still gets my lustrous 4/5 score, but will fall out of favor on the "Keep Amongst the Whiskey" distinction. All in all - this is damn good whiskey from the fine folks at Jack Daniel Distillery. I am certain this is going to be another crowd pleaser.

I've had this bottle for quite some time before I opened it. I try not to review neck pours too often, but this is going to be one! I've always had a harder time finding the ryes than the bourbons; it must have lower distribution numbers. Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 92.8° Age: 10 years Further identification: Barrel No 20E949 Nose: Elegant sweet perfume notes; surprising for a rye. Greeted by a bright bouquet of florals and an anise-laced oak. Dry white pepper and a hint of vanilla. A signature Michter's cherry, but tinged with all sorts of new uniqueness for me. Something between paper & cotton, but it's definitely dry and light. Low in humidity & absolutely no funk, this nose shines primarily in its uniqueness & intrigue instead of one standout vibe. It's bright and almost inspiring; like nothing but good things can happen on a sun shining, lofty, wispy-cloudy day. Later in the glass the baking spices begin to work in. Black pepper, anise and herbals mix in well. Noses a little hot at times, but when you approach it from the right distance, you are rewarded with sweet vanilla and an oak bowl of cereal. Fun notes all through this. Palate: So sweet and syrupy but in a thin candy way. That cherry note is fantastic. The mouth feel is super oily, but it doesn't stick around to bog down your taste buds. Strawberry, citrus, chocolate and molasses are all left lingering after the sip. A good chew can get the caramel rolling and it kicks out flashes of hot black pepper, light cinnamon and strawberry cream. Herbals stick to the back, but create a complex backdrop for the perpetual sweet maraschino cherry to shine. The finish is a wonderful highlight reel of everything I enjoyed about all of my sips. So nice I'm going to have another! Rating: 4/5

A nice alignment to Michter's Monday on Day 8 of the #12DaysofWhiskeyExchange that @bourbondipity_ put together. This pour was added courtesy of Josh Parent. I've previously reviewed the 2020 and 2021 releases, but never the 2019! Excited to try this one as I've always enjoyed Michter's 10 Year releases to date. Forgive the old picture, I didn't grab a shot of the sample bottle. Let's see how this older release stacks up! Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 92.8° Age: 10 years Further identification: Barrel No 19F954 Nose: Yummy citrus zest with a creamy nose feel. It's lemon twist with a kick of light florals! Level oak presents soft and sweet. Faint pepper alongside vanilla bean. Very, very mellow in the glass early on. It's tough to get any reasonable volume of aroma to waft out of this glass - it seems like one that may need some time to open up. Faint clove and tangerine marmalade. Again very floral, where I'm used to Michter's releases presenting with more candied sweetness. Wow, after a sip some hints of citrus Pinesol notes are faint, but pulling at my heart strings. Later in the glass things take on a more traditional rye profile with allspice, pine boughs and flashes of sweet wintergreen. Caramel and molasses layer in with lovely complexity. Dry dusty oak returns with a boatload of more molasses. The empty glass smells of milk chocolate, oak and a malty orange peel. Palate: Wow, the palate is much more full of flavor than I was expecting! There's a rich syrupy plum, charred vanilla, red grape, maraschino cherry and raisin abound in this. Lovely sweetness as always to this. Orange peel, malted chocolate, herbal baking spices, and touches of floral funk builds well on another sip. Cinnamon spice builds and leaves a dry nutmeg, ginger snaps and mace. My last sip is incredible with a ton of orange sweetness and cherry pie. Rating: 4/5

It's time for a little Michter's Monday action, even if I'm starting late... This will likely me my only pour for today, so I thought I'd make it a good one! I'm still swamped with house projects surrounding a recent move which has me in a bit of a change of scenery. It's been an awesome journey so far and the best is yet to come with some whiskey study plans starting to come together. Stay tuned for that on my Instagram. Now let's get into a thorough review of a pour I've already had the pleasure of sharing in good company! Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 92.8° Age: 10 years Further identification: Barrel No 21E1567 Nose: Sweet nerdz candy forward on first nosing. Slightly chalky, but fading into mature, tight-grain red oak. Dried plum and apricot. Lemongrass and slight vanilla smoke. Very light and approachable nose, which isn't too surprising at 92.8 proof. Something like Charleston Chews now - fluffy vanilla and milk chocolate. Syrupy sweetness starting to take over now - a hallmark sign of a good Michter's product. A touch of lavender perfume makes me feel a bit sleepy. More of the chocolate and vanilla undertones continue to push this glass forward, quite consistently enjoyable throughout. There is not much of an evolution with this, but what it does - it does very well. There's a distinct cotton now that just swung through. With a little swirl there is oak sawdust, dry pepper, and black tea. I guess I spoke too soon on the evolution... A touch of copper-tinged molasses can be found near the bottom of the glass. The empty glass smells of pepper, tea leaves, and other earthy botanicals. Palate: Instant lovely mix of red cherry, orange creamsicle and chocolate soak over my tongue. Delicious first presentation here. This is very similar to what I remember from my singular tasting I've done on the 2020 release of the 10 year rye. Yum - some floral notes give depth to the fruity sweetness. This tastes like early Spring in full bloom. The linger is long with light allspice, walnuts and chocolate. There is a richer wood feel to this than oak I can't quite place. More fruit sweetness, now it has transitioned towards more of a strawberry mix. So sweet and tasty, yet so fleeting, this is a great example of a pour that always leaves you longing for another sip. The finish has changed over to be a bit shorter now. On a larger chew waves of cherry are like drinking straight out of the cherry jar; unbelievably potent here and so delicious. There is certainly quite a bit of oak influence to this at 10 years, but it's not nearly as drying as it could be given the vitals. The last sip gives just a small wave of creamy orange juice and a metallic molasses. Rating: 4/5

Another batched product coming out of Heaven Hill?! With the wild success of Elijah Craig barrel proof, I can't say I'd blame them. I've never been one for Larceny barrel proof personally, so I'm a little worried this might be another that doesn't quite jive with my palate. I will certainly go in with open eyes, as I always do when I review a new whiskey. I've had 3 prior tastings of this before today to ensure I am triangulating on the truth and not an unfortunate alignment to a Daniel Powter song. Heaven Hill describes their strategy with this release, departing from the 3-per-year cadence of their other two batched barrel proof products: The first letter of the batch number indicates which of that year's releases the bottle was a part of starting with "A," while the second digit is a number that determines the month of the year the bottle was released. The third and fourth digits indicate the year. The full list of batches and their respective proofs will be available below upon each release. For those newer to the world of whiskey, the label stating this as a Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey means that it has at least 51% wheat in the mash bill, it was aged at least two years in charred new oak, and it was made within a single state (Kentucky in this case). It does still carry 37% corn, which puts it out of the running for being called a bourbon (minimum 51% corn) but does leave some possible similarities on the table. Wondering if this release is worth picking up? I'll leave that for you to decide, but here's my take on what I'm tasting to help inform that decision. Company on Label: Bernheim Distillery (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Wheat Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 51% Wheat, 37% Corn, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 118.8° Age: NAS (7-9 year old barrels are used for these blends) Further identification: Batch A223 is the first ever release of Bernheim barrel proof, which will release twice a year and follow the rules on the batch labeling strategy laid out above (A = first release, 2 = February launch, and 23 = 2023) Nose: Caramel is pronounced up front. On another deep dive of the nose, I can assure you this was definitely aged in oak. Molasses and dry, non-sweet brown sugar coat the glass in an impedimentary wall of flavor. Dusty, dry, funky oak is everywhere in the glass after a swirl. Overall very light, classic, but unfortunately pretty one-noted. Let's dive into a sip and see if this can open up a bit. Returning from a sipping session doesn't introduce anything new, but soothes and smoothes the easy medley of oak, caramel and molasses. This is just a classic aged whiskey aroma; the soft red winter wheat may have been a little too soft on the mash bill. The empty glass smells of honey, airy vanilla wafers and a hint of peanut brittle. Palate: At first sip I find a singular sweet cherry that quickly dries out into a wrinkled skin of what came before. Dry, chalky oak layers over the tongue in an extremely tannic linger. Another sip builds in a strong wave of molasses and wild mint. The tingle after a sip carries a bitter dark chocolate note alongside cinnamon and dry earth. The combination of the wild mint and earthiness is certainly a nostalgic profile for me, having picked my fair share on old hiking trails twenty-odd years ago, but it doesn't really resonate with me on a flavor basis here. Continuing to sip through this I find a touch of honeysuckle, but it keeps falling back on that solid trifecta of molasses, oak and mint. The finish and linger do improve over time, as I find myself satisfied with a solid wave of caramel. A larger sip and swish reveal a touch more cinnamon than before, but little in the way of complexity. Nondescript spice may push this out of the realm of an 'easy sipper' for some. I'm always surprised by how spice forward Heaven Hill's wheat mash can be... looking at you Old Fitzgerald. My last sip is soft and mellow with subtleties of cola, raisin and allspice. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Unfortunately my initial suspicions seem to have been confirmed today. This is quite a bit too simple for me to be excited about, but it certainly doesn't land in a place that is off-putting. This solidly gets my middle of the road score, where a majority of whiskeys should land if I am reviewing anything and everything under the sun, and whiskey quality is normally distributed. Now that's not distributed in the liquor world sense, that's my engineering world shining through. This might benefit from more air time. I will revisit this again in another couple months and update this post if anything changes. Maybe the blending team just "had a bad day" with this one, but I expect more from that talent rich company personally. Cheers until next time my faithful reader!

Jack Daniel's 10 Year is back for a version 2 of the same release that I reviewed in November of 2021. As a reminder, this label is a new product for today's distillery, but a rekindling of a label they last used over a century ago. A whiskey enthusiast at the end of their first release might be wondering how batch 02 fairs - and why they moved the batch number from the back of the bottle, formerly saying "Batch No 10-001", to the new standard on the front of the bottle - simply "Batch 02". Perhaps their master distiller Chris Fletcher is more proud of this batch? Choosing to prominently display the batch this time is a good idea in my mind, as it certainly makes it stand out as something new. There's almost zero risk of this getting mixed up on a shelf somewhere, as I'm fairly certain all the previous bottles of this 10 year release are sold through by now... One would hope. For those curious about the comparison to the previous batch, I will do a small side by side at the end of this review. For now, settle in - I've got some tasting notes for you. Company on Label: Jack Daniel Distillery Whiskey Type: Tennessee Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 80% Corn, 8% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 97° Age: 10 years Further identification: Batch 02 is displayed on the front label of this release which was first made available in March of 2023; the perforated neck plastic that covers the cork saw a major upgrade this year with perforations going down the side of the neck and then along the entire perimeter for clean removal - a pain point I specifically had with my bottle of Batch 1 Nose: On lifting the glass to my nose I'm immediately greeted with warm caramel chews and a distinct sweet bakery bread aroma. Another dive of the nose brings in fruit skins; plum, grape and cherry dominate the medley. Deeper inhales exhibit soft molasses leaning more towards sweet than savory. Dusty oak puts forth a touch of texture to an otherwise incredibly creamy nose-feel; black pepper and subtle cinnamon definitely suggest this has been through many warm Summers in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Let's taste some before we continue and give this some time to continue to evolve, which it's done pretty well on already in my opinion. Returning my nose to the glass after sipping through a bit shows a wonderful vibrance, delicacy and balance. Every time I nestle my nose in I find something new. The glass rotates between a handful of really impressive aromas: at times vanilla and marshmallow sweetness bellow up, other times oak and molasses, and for some of my favorite undulations: a wave of stone fruit sizzles alongside subtle baking spice. Hints of chocolate can be teased out of long inhales. The nose continues to be exceptional late into the glass. Warm apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream pushes me into a state of adoration for this glass I cannot understate. Smoky oak presents a subtle backbone late in the glass that was imperceptible behind all of the other fun aromas that have circulated my glencairn. The empty glass smells of honey, vanilla and graham cracker. Just wonderful overall. Palate: Oooh, creamy caramel jumps right out at me first in great volume for a lower proof such as this. The creamy texture oozes down the tongue slowly before making way for cherry cola, vanilla pipe tobacco and a tingling tannic finish. Raisin and dry port wine hover harmoniously above the deliciously creamy coating of the mouthfeel. A larger sip and swish produces so much more to love without tipping over the heat scale. A soft balance between crème brûlée and flan tantalizes the tongue; it can't quite decide if it wants to be soft, creamy and custard forward or brittle, sweet and seared... I'm so here for either choice. I try to never go into a pour with expectations as it relates to a review, but I can solidly say I am surprised by the quality of everything I am tasting here. Soft sherry sweetness presents lovingly between waves of vanilla bean and butterscotch. My last sip is a fond farewell to a friend. Vanilla bean, marshmallow, cherry skins and wonderful, dry, sweet wine parallels shine on the tongue in a strong linger. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) For what it's worth, this is probably the closest a review has ever gotten to a 5 score without actually achieving it. As such, it wholeheartedly earns the 'Keep Amongst the Whiskey' designation because I'm quite enamored, but not fully wowed just yet. This is one of the best noses on a whiskey I've experienced this year. Sipping is only slightly less impressive as this pour grows and evolves with every sip. I give top marks for complexity and kudos to Chris and the blending team for crafting a marvelous whiskey with this one. Jack Daniel Distillery has managed to carve out a specialty release that can easily appeal to the modern day whiskey enthusiast looking for some of the best of the best from a brand with a long legacy of great products. I'm beyond thrilled to have the rest of this 700mL to share and enjoy with friends and family. Bonus Batch 1 vs Batch 2 Comparison Revisiting batch 1, I find the nose has much more nondescript citrus that 2 didn't show off. It also carries more of a dusty paper or linen style of oak, whereas batch 2 presented quite creamy. Deep inhales of batch 1 lacks the volume, elegance and layers of batch 2. I like both for different reasons, but would definitely give the nod to batch 2 on the nose. Quick taste. Woah, apple crisp is much more pronounced on batch 1 - it lands first thing on the palate rather than the dominant note of caramel being the batch 2 highlight. There seems to be more dry tannins on batch 1 as well with raisin delivering a touch hotter and more bitter than batch 2. There's also the classic JD banana note that sneaks into batch 1. I know that can be a bit polarizing in the whiskey community, but I could not find any of that note in batch 2 for better or for worse; I for one love that flavor, but certainly don't miss it in the vast complexity of batch 2. Ranking: Batch 2 > Batch 1 This is a no-brainer; Jack Daniel's managed to elevate the game significantly with batch 2, blowing past an already-awesome release with ease. The bar has officially been set for those already starting to noodle on when batch 3 might show up. Make sure you subscribe down below to stay in the know when that release starts to hit shelves! I do this for free, for fun, and for honest feedback on what's what in the whiskey world. If you can appreciate that, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments down below here, or on my Instagram. Cheers my friends!

There's another Booker's batch on the inbound track. The first release for 2023 is well in swing by this point, but I haven't seen many reviews for it. Are folks growing tired of the 4 releases per year format? It certainly doesn't lend itself to being done with the previous batch before the new one comes out, so the collectors may have this one just to look at. Well, I for one think this stuff is meant to be drank, so I've got mine open. Pull up a chair and have a read on what Fred Noe & co are up to these days. On the Booker's website the inspiration of this release is listed saying: The first release of the Booker’s® Bourbon 2023 Collection is Booker’s Batch 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch.” This batch is named in honor of Charlie Hutchens, the craftsman behind the signature wooden boxes that each bottle of Booker’s Bourbon comes in. He is also a longtime family friend and former employee of my dad, Booker Noe. Charlie started his career working at the Booker Noe Distillery. He was quite the storyteller and would entertain others with his tall tales throughout the workday. He was also one to pay close attention to the details, doing something over and over again until it was perfect – just like Dad was with his whiskey. It’s not hard to see why they got on so well. After several years, Charlie left the business to open his own cabinet shop with his brother. Charlie handcrafted the very first Booker’s Bourbon wooden boxes in his garage, and he’s created every box for us since. He and his brother have expanded their business to create other fine wood products for different brands and projects in the Beam family, including supplying custom furniture to the new Fred B. Noe Distillery – where Booker’s Bourbon is now distilled. Charlie still lives near our Booker Noe Distillery and enjoys fishing and vacationing with his family in South Carolina. One of these days, my son Freddie and I hope to get out there to fish with him. Our whole family is so grateful for Charlie as he was one of the first people to help us make Booker’s Bourbon a recognizable brand. Charlie is a very worthy recipient of his own batch, and we are excited to honor him. Fun stories are one thing, good bourbon is another - though they often go hand in hand. Let's find out where the liquid inside this bottle lands. Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 126.6° Age: 7 years (1 months, 8 days) Further identification: 2023-01 Charlie's Batch comes bearing an orange label in a wooden box with a batch information card Nose: Caramel and peanut brittle jump out at me first in unsurprising hallmarks of Booker's bourbon. Fruit skins like plum and raspberry introduce a much thicker, viscous aroma that oozes out of the glass like luxardo cherry juice. A platter of oak lifts up molasses and leather. Overall the nose is bright and dry once the initial wave of fruit passes on. Dusty oak, black pepper and vanilla begin to dominate as nondescript spices sizzle in a mess in the background. Let's have a sip, shall we? Coming back to the nose I find a dry pie crust and lovely cinnamon raisin bread has developed in the glass. Picking further through, the glass returns to a more plain medley of molasses and oak. The nose continues to be quite simple, but enjoyable. The empty glass smells of honey roasted plum ice cream and nearly imperceptible smoke. Palate: From the get-go I taste dark plum, blackberry and raspberry pie. Creamy caramel and sugar cookie proliferate on another sip. A churro with a dash of sweet cinnamon and brown sugar graces the palate on the linger. Finally on the third go I find some real heft and proof, as one would expect out of a barrel proof bourbon. Overall the glass dances along a hairy edge between overly dry and creamy fruit. It's ultimately an easy sipper with fun nuance. Late in the glass I begin to find a tootsie roll sweetness that I really adore, as it reminds me of having my fill during the Plymouth, MA 4th of July parades I used to march in for my dad's local Carpenters Union long before his inevitable retirement. I was supposed to be handing them out to parade supporters of course, but what's a little hourly wage for some hard work? What, you thought only Booker's could sling stories alongside their whiskey? See one, play one my friends! As I get back to the tasting notes you might be able to actually understand, my patient reader, I begin to find just a touch of roasted peanuts, softened well by hints of distant cherry sweetness. The salinity of the lightly seasoned nuts delivers squarely on the tongue while the free air molecules not occupied by teeth or tissue exude that sweet air of stone fruit. My last sip is once again creamy with vanilla bean ice cream introducing a strong melting wave of cinnamon, nutmeg and tarragon. Damn, that last delivery just leveled up this pour. Patience will be your friend with this one! Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) Taking this glass from quite cool to a warm room temperature elicits a wonderful evolution on the nose. I would like to highlight the fact that I did have an early pour of this bottle that I thoroughly disliked, but considering I have had two other tastings that were similar to the experience I write about here, I think that tough experience was a bit of a palate anomaly. This is why I always tell people never to write anything off at one taste - you'd be surprised how much having an off day can throw off your perception of whiskey! This batch manages to just slide into my high quality Beam category with those subtle fruit layers that were admittedly a little fickle, but ultimately delicious. Bonus Booker's reviews I'd recommend checking out: 2016-05 Off Your Rocker (4/5) 2017-02 Blue Knights Batch (4/5) 2019-03 Country Ham (5/5) 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits (4/5) 2020-01 Granny's Batch (4/5) 2021-01 Donohoe's Batch (4/5) 2021-02 Tagalong Batch (4/5) 2021-03 Bardstown Batch (4/5) 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch (3/5) 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch (4/5) 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch (4/5)

I didn't see this release ever really get much attention. I've been mixing cocktails with it for a bit now and realized I first reviewed this on my instagram but never shared any thoughts here. It's hard to believe this was first introduced in 2019 and I'm just getting around to writing down my thoughts now. Well, better late than never, right? Barely legal ryes can certainly be hit or miss for me. Let's dive in on a quick review of Heaven Hill's shelfer rye, joining the likes of Pikesville and Rittenhouse. Company on Label: Elijah Craig (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Straight Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 35% Corn, 51% Rye, 14% Barley Proof: 94° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a shelfer release from Heaven Hill that has been readily available since 2019 Nose: Bright, bubbly, lovely citrus and floral rye just dances in the nose. It's a beautiful contrast to simple, musty bourbons that typically come in around this same proof. There's a subtle lemon peel and bubblegum mixture that does well to not overstimulate the nose. Where the nose is a bit light in complexity - the palate shines. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, charcoal and a well seasoned grill grate. Palate: Upfront this pour is bright and zesty. Lemon peel and cardamom tingle on the tongue. Light caramel and butterscotch fade into a nondescript bready medley. Hints of cinnamon and allspice sneak in on the back end. The linger is surprisingly long with vanilla dominating. Sugar cookie can be teased out as I nod my head in enjoyment. The mouthfeel is buttery as bakery delights get introduced in a whirlwind meeting of new friends. Late in the glass grilled street corn begins to take shape and my enjoyment grows. Complex contrasts of raspberry, sweet chili aioli, and level oak provide a really interesting neat sip. Though those notes together sound odd, they present more like a carousel - not quite mixing together, but their own distinct experiences capable of being pulled from at will. Drizzles of honey can be found amongst the stone fruit and Summer citrus medley. My last sip is like a Summer cookout; light effervescence of a can of Sprite mixes well with a slightly savory suggestion of barbecue chips. Mmm. There's so much that can be done here! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) My review purely rates the neat pour. Where you might draw more value from this whiskey is when you consider its price point. This is a huge value whiskey that makes exquisite cocktails. If you are going to mix a drink with this, I would suggest trying to keep your creation spirit-forward, as watering this down too far will mute this rye too much for peak enjoyment. This does surprisingly well neat, and may benefit well from a touch of oxidation given I've had this bottle on my shelf for quite some time now. I hope this review helps! Let me know down in the comments what you think of Elijah Craig Rye.