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If you've heard the phrase "bivvy" before, you probably already know what a bivouac is. For the uninitiated this fancy word, pronounced 'biv-oo-ack', is a temporary camp or sleeping arrangement you might use when you don't have access to a full tent or more robust shelter. If you've ever slept out under the stars in nothing but a sleeping bag like I have many times, you've set up a bivouac. Hirsch further describes their intentions with this release, stating: It alludes to a way of travel only meant for those who want to truly immerse themselves in nature. HIRSCH The Bivouac honors those adventurous spirits who are brave enough to take the road less traveled. The Bivouac combines two straight bourbons distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky - the world capital of Bourbon. Our custom mashbill is inspired by A.H. Hirsch Reserve 16-year-old legendary whiskey, providing balance to our make. You may already know about my love for Hirsch Selected Whiskeys and their associations with great distillates. I've been a big fan of their releases to date, and had the opportunity to try this release when it first came out back in October of 2022. It was ultimately good enough of a first impression for me to buy a bottle for my shelf. Now that we've had some time to let the excitement of a new release die down a little, where does this pour land? Let's dive in and find out. Company on Label: Hirsch Distillers Bardstown Kentucky Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of two mash bills 95% proportion: 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% Malted Barley 5% proportion: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: 3 years (blend of 95% 3 year, 2 month and 5% 8 year whiskey) Further identification: This orange label Selected Whiskey from Hirsch comes at a more approachable price and proof than some of their previous releases; it was first introduced in 2022 and comes bearing a cork strip similar to old tax strips that shows the batch number "AHH0822" which comes from a run of about 160 barrels Nose: Sweet corn and hay jump out of the glass prominently. Coffee gone cold in the mug is well reminiscent of a true camping experience. Oily caramel and soft chocolate dominate the simple nose-feel. As I dig deeper subtle cherry skins can be found. Some youthful sawdust can be found at times, but it is fairly well covered by enjoyable aromas. Let's move into a sip from here. Coming back to the nose I find more honey sweetness and light oak. Deep inhales produce notes of light graham cracker. A swirl of the glass unlocks much stronger aromas of black peppercorn, cinnamon cereal, rye bread, and bright grapefruit. I find the nose to be quite solid here - all pleasant aromas, but not overly complex. The oak is decently well developed and I think if I was in a rush to get another release out the door, I'd agree with the blenders that this was just about at its minimum ready state. I don't think it picked up very much from the 5% proportion of the same mash bill that was used in a previous release. The empty glass smells of pancake batter and soft pixie stick sweetness. Palate: Wow, what an incredible softness here, even at 100 proof. If you told me this was 80 proof I'd probably believe you. As the liquid slides across the tongue, I find a soft linen doily introduces vanilla for a brief moment on a bright stoneware plate. Another sip builds in soft, oily caramel chews. I'm really amazed at how soft this drinks; it's like the feeling you get when you skydive through a layer of clouds with moist air being forced into your mouth in an exhilarating moment of complete focus. As I continue to explore through the depths of this pour, I do find the flavors begin to build on the palate. Buttercream frosting and graham cracker begin to undulate in waves of intensity. As I get near the bottom of the glass more cereal tones indicative of grains not yet matured away begin to surface. They are subtle, and only a seasoned palate will probably pick up on them. If you'd call yourself more of an average whiskey drinker, I think you'll find this pour to be unequivocally smooth. My last sip is again fairly straight forward with hints of raisin, caramel and oily coffee bean. The linger is short and sweet. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Hirsch has created a fantastic crowd-pleasing blend with this one, and ultimately pulled off a miracle with the input liquid specifications presented. It's ultimately not going to wow any whiskey connoisseurs, but the price-point should have been a good indication of that. I'm certainly not disappointed to own a bottle, and I'd like to remind everyone that a 3 is not a bad score on my rating scale. Ultimately scores should follow a bell curve, and this is a solid middle-of-the-road whiskey that I think many folks will enjoy.

This is a special sample that was shared with me thanks to my good friend Barrett. One of these days I'll be remotely caught up on all the great stuff folks have shared with me through the years. Nulu seems to be gaining more and more buzz these days, so I had to do some tasting for myself to see what the talk is about. Let's dive in on this straight bourbon! Company on Label: Prohibition Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 119° Age: 5 years Further identification: This was a Justin's House of Bourbon single barrel selection; it was distilled in Indiana and comes from cask B157 which was selected in 2021 Nose: My goodness, you could tell me this is honey finished and I’d believe you. Black bread, molasses and browned butter sizzle softly. Suddenly the nose turns quite bright with black pepper and sharp oak. Late in the glass linen, vanilla and nondescript baking spice tickles the buzzing nose-feel. Finally subtle fruit merges with cold coffee. Palate: My first sip is zesty with bright cherry, raspberry and expressed lemon peel. The background texture is silky and oily. Another sip builds in good heft behind the same creamy fruit parfait. Simple, easy, awesome. My last sip is right in line with raisin, plum and lemon zest. Yum! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) How could you go wrong with this? This barrel is a shining example of sweet MGP distillate. This tasting confirmed my suspicion that PCS is sourcing some of the best out there. Cheers!

There's a new wheated bourbon on the scene. This distillery was previously an unknown to me until Heather from Southern Distilling Company reached out wondering if I'd like to try one of their most exciting offerings. I wandered through the pedigree listed for the whiskey mentioned and saw 'cask strength' and 'wheated bourbon' and knew I didn't really need to read any further. I still persisted & was happy to see that it didn't come with some embarrassingly low age statement (kudos!), and was also delighted to learn about a growing award list that this had already garnered. Heather told me this expression "just won double gold at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 2022 for Best in Class and Best Overall, and was recently named one of the Best Bourbon Whiskeys of 2022 by Uproxx. The bottle also recently won gold at the ‘22 SIP awards, and platinum at the ‘22 Ascot Awards." Now let's see where I'd rank it! Company on Label: Southern Distilling Company Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley Proof: 113.3° Age: NAS (minimum 4 years) Further identification: Barrel No 00360, distilled in Statesville, North Carolina Nose: Toasted marshmallow, molasses and brown sugar jump out of the glass first. Dusty oak and peach flambé introduce a trove of baking spice; cinnamon, brown sugar and allspice are the most dominant aromas. Overall it’s a warm nose-feel reminiscent of browned butter and bright, rustic French bread. Candied cherry tried to push through a solid wall of oak unsuccessfully. Oooh - late in the glass an espresso infused butterscotch cookie graces my nostrils. Sweetness persists through to the end. There are subtle layers of chocolate alongside the coffee aromas. Palate: On first sip I find a big, swinging sweetness. At 113.3 proof it’s quite potent with cherry skins, cinnamon and hearty black bread encrusted in caraway. Another sip shows off lovely vanilla barrel influence. This sweetness meets in a confluence of black coffee and molasses. As I work through this glass I find more to love. Late in the glass caramel swings in almost creamy, if it weren’t a little proofy. My last sip is quite delicious with raisin, plum, apricot jelly, and gingerbread. The finish is medium with toasted oak nuances. Bold but not spicy. Creamy, but not quite dessert. This hangs in the balance between two worlds. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This is a solid sipping bourbon. My only complaint is that the proof delivers a little too potent to really let the nuance of the glass shine; the big flavors hit hard though, and as such I think many folks will be able to taste along to these notes well - no expert taste buds needed. I’d like to thank Southern Distilling for providing this bottle for review with no strings attached. Cheers!

The Exceptional Series from Rare Character will be sweeping across the whiskey world like wildfire here soon. Based on what I am seeing in the community, I'd expect demand to far exceed the limited supply available on these. With barrels ranging from 8-14 years getting ready to hit glasses across the US, I can't help but be thankful for the time spent picking barrels with Pablo Moix and Peter Nevenglosky where we locked down 5 incredible barrels for Mass Bourbon Alliance & Liquor Junction. Two of those barrels came from the Exceptional Series - hand selected barrels of exceeding quality that Pete and Pablo want to share with the world. The 95/5 rye that preceded this release is completely sold through, further testament to the growing hype and demand around this brand. Partnering and picking barrels with Rare Character was a no-brainer for Mass Bourbon Alliance; our mission statement is to bring exceptional whiskey to our friends here in Massachusetts. The Exceptional Series completely embodies that mission, so when two 14 year malt whiskeys presented as 'Staggy' first hit our palates, I don't think we could cough out 'yes' fast enough. Rare Character self describes these releases on their website, saying: The Exceptional Series from Rare Character exemplifies the driving mission of our brand: to release the most distinguished and highest quality whiskeys we can possibly source. While our Single Barrel Series is focused on customization and creativity, this new series is focused on curation and exceptional craftsmanship. These spirits are truly unique; they’re even older and more scarcely available than the rest of our offerings. Every bottle released through this series is at least 9 years old, and is of exceptionally Rare Character. You may have actually already seen some incredible reviews of this barrel. This was in fact the exact barrel that ranked up at #2 on the UPROXX 30 best American whiskeys list for 2022, only getting beat out by the 4 thousand dollar Drew Mayville Last Drop blend. This really is an incredible feat in an interesting new market as an insatiable horde of whiskey enthusiasts continue to want to explore new flavors, but take with them incredibly high expectations from the bourbon world. I'm sure the bourbon purists may turn their nose at the idea of trying a 65% malt, but I have to say this really does drink a lot like a bourbon. Perhaps it is the barrel of choice as well as aging location, or Pablo is just the great filter that only lets high quality through to end glasses. More on that later... I know details are incredibly important for the analytical types like myself. I'm always searching for correlations and knowledge that help inform in future reviews. Rare Character has been amazing on that front, being as transparent as they can with barrel details. As for the source of this whiskey - we may never know. As the bottle only says distilled and aged in Kentucky we can't narrow down by town or county and I'm sure there are agreements or NDAs in place that disallow the sharing of certain information which is fairly commonplace in the whiskey sourcing business. As an enthusiast with a yearning for being absolutely complete in everything that I do, I took a look around for this interesting 65% malt, 35% corn mash bill. The only thing I could turn up happened to be the Parker's Heritage Malt whiskey mash bill. Since I never got to try that 2015 release I'll only be able to speculate myself, but it's an interesting parallel. Heaven Hill is located in Kentucky... and those timelines roughly add up (2015 release 8 year malt would have had to be distilled in 2007, just one year prior to the barrel before us today). Regardless of the source, Rare Character manages to bring a little bit of Portugal sunshine to snowy Massachusetts at a time when I'm daily dreaming of my next trip to Kentucky. Despite having picked this barrel myself, I will always try to speak honestly about whiskey and my experiences with it. Now let's stop rambling and start tasting already! Company on Label: Rare Character Whiskey Co. Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 65% Malt, 35% Corn Proof: 134.88° Age: 14 years Further identification: Barrel E-M14-54 has a distilled in Kentucky age statement, an aged in Kentucky statement, an aged in new charred oak statement (important for bourbon drinkers), and Rare Character is listed as the bottling company; this whiskey was distilled in May of 2008 and bottled in December of 2022; expect this to land at Liquor Junction in very limited numbers soon as most of the barrel was presold Nose: Prevalent sweetness could be smelled from afar as I carried this glass to my desk. Upon first dipping my nose into the glencairn before me I find beautiful, crystal clear, creamy tiramisu. I instantly am aware of a new hunger in my stomach because of this aroma. Graham cracker, baker's chocolate and gourmet patisserie notes come through clear and delicious. Molasses, caramel and butterscotch all blend mercilessly in the chef's mixing bowl ready to cast its golden glow over some rich dessert. I'm tortured by the delicate confections at work these aromas; everything presented thus far has exuded elegance and delectability. A hint of linen among all the creamy, buttery tones reminds me of 2020 George T Stagg. Disturbing the well-rested glass with a light swirl unleashes lovely new tones of baking spice: black pepper, crushed cinnamon stick and a spike of clove poked into tart, fleeting plum. A funky floral bouquet blooms in the background. The markings of plain oak are nowhere to be found, though the byproducts of exceptional age are there in leather and marshmallow. The continuous undertone present all throughout is an incredibly creamy and fluffy vanilla frosting. Let's jump into a sip. Returning from a sip adds some further complexity to the chocolate tones from earlier. I now find some darker ground coffee bean and earthy tones like macadamia nut and patchouli. The earthy tones start steering things a little more savory than before; the tiramisu evolving into something more like sea salt modjeskas. It's still quite delicious all throughout and I again am keenly aware of a strong hunger brewing. The indomitable will of this glass never lets the volume knob slip here as delicious aromas continue to pour out of the opening of my glencairn. At times this slightly woody, slightly earthy creamy marshmallow seems to be a 'one trick pony' as it often settles back on this profile, but I'd be remiss if I allowed myself to understate just how delicious and unique that aroma is. Deep inhales show off sharper and darker notes of cola as the glass begins to wane towards empty. The now whiskey-less glass smells like a charcoal barbecue from afar, honey mousse, gingersnap cookie, gunmetal, and rich cheesecake. Palate: My first sip is an incredible explosion of zesty fruit that were completely hidden on the early nose. Juicy plum and raspberry tart set the stage before orange peel crashes through into cherry skins in a cacophony of beauty and might. Cinnamon sizzles on the top of the tongue as sultry red wine soaks up any possible discomfort. Another sip amplifies the red fruit, increasing the stock of crushed red grapes and building in darker fig notes. A longer sip and swish produces lovely vanilla flavors up front before a berry parfait settles comfortably on the tongue. As the glass sits longer an exceptional evolution occurs as nuances of some ultra-aged Armagnac sneak onto my senses. Pecan and praline ebb in at times. Every sip hangs on the tongue like a full feature film. Lemondrops show off a really interesting citrus side that although seems out of place with the other flavors, ultimately come in at a welcome time as this evolves like a steeping and cooling cup of tea. I could sit with this glass all day. Later in the pour the sinusoidal undulations of a complete evolution swing me back to a world of baking spice as tarragon, caraway, nutmeg and allspice culminate in an excellently layered medley carried off by fluffy pound cake. My last sip is right in line with the rest of the glass: penultimately delicious. Both thoroughly worthy of savoring and impossibly approachable given the proof... I'm sent off with a beautiful array of stone fruit and honey that lingers long into overtime leaving me longing for more. Rating: Drool-worthy This is just divine. 'Staggy' is somehow an understatement for this barrel as I find more unique yet exceptional characteristics than even that release can produce. I really hope you get the chance to try this one for yourself. Rare Character manages to bring an eclectic energy to the table here and ultimately delivers a whiskey for the record books. Tasting back through this I am even more impressed than when I first sipped the sample with Pete and Pablo. This one is definitely going to leave an indelible mark on the whiskey world for a long time. For those who may be new to the site, I try my best to never let bias creep into my reviews. In an effort to stay on top of that I elect to not give my typical numerical score to anything that I personally had a hand in selecting. For scoring this release in particular, I'll let other experts chime in... Though you can probably imagine what my score might be! @bourbonboot mentions in his review: There is no world where this does not make my top whiskey list for 2023. It could very well be the number one spot, and it's only April. If you like to explore the world of whiskey and what different flavor profiles are out there, you need to have this on your shelf. A snippet from the UPROXX article by Zach Johnston is pictured above. https://uproxx.com/life/30-best-american-whiskey-2022-ranked/ I hope this review captured some amount of information that you were looking for. If it did, make sure to drop me a comment down below as I always look forward to connecting with folks in the whiskey world. Cheers!

Today's review covers a shining example of the wave of barrels taking the whiskey world by storm from Pete and Pablo of Rare Character. I've previously had the great pleasure of selecting some of their finest stocks, but as an engineer, I know it's always good to gather more data. When another good connection in the whiskey world offered a chance to try this Liquor Barn barrel I jumped all over it. Let's dive into a quick look at what one can expect out of a "RIO" single barrel... Recently Pete shared some interesting background facts on this run of barrels that Rare Character picked up: 6 Year 7 Month Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Distilled in Indiana, Aged in Kentucky - 75% corn / 21% rye / 4% malted barley mash bill - Aged in a stone warehouse in Kentucky built in 1887 - It has a honeyed sweetness quality Pablo notes: - The aging process on this particular group of barrels brought out a lot of spice; it's a heavy and complex whiskey beyond just being sweet - Low tone spice, very dynamic, very "its own" because of its warehouse - Notes of apricot pits vs the flesh (pure pits) - Compare to and drink alongside Old Forester 1920 Well if this can hang alongside the likes of a classic in Old Forester 1920, I'm probably going to be a fan. While all single barrels are going to have some nuances, a 'run' of barrels means a string of whiskey that may have been distilled in a particular fashion and/or aged all together in a particular location. Think of it as a kind of whiskey family; where each individual is allowed to have their own characteristics, but there's a deeper bond that creates common ground as well. Let's dive in! Company on Label: Rare Character Whiskey Co. Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 116.30° Age: 5 years and 7 months Further identification: This rare release is a single barrel selected be Liquor Barn; it was distilled in Indiana, aged in Kentucky and bottled by Rare Character Nose: Lemon zest jumps out first at me similar to how modern Willett rye lands. Creamy buttercream frosting, sugar cookie and leather well beyond the bottles age might suggest are prevalent and pleasant aromas. The glass continues to be potent & delicious with desserts popping up at every corner. Wax paper, candy buttons and crème fraîche land ahead of nutmeg and coffee bean. Lovely layers all throughout here. Yum! Palate: At first sip I’m immediately impressed, giving off an audible “mmm”. Vanilla angel food cake, glazed donut and a mighty sweet lemon tea medley sits creamy in the mouth. Another sip reveals a delicious 'Adventurefuls' girl scout cookie profile. A longer sip and swish builds up vanilla bean ice cream, soft marshmallow and sweet frangelico. The overall mouthfeel is a silky bakery delight - an instant classic. Soft bread notes introduce a funky brown sugar finish. The linger is medium, but quite sweet and I’m not sore about the duration in the least here. My last sip is like a lemon parfait perfected - lemon pudding, cookie crumb and whipped cream layered with care. The linger slowly fades from a peak of sweet vanilla. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) This is the realness; another data point in my spreadsheet that says “Pablo knows best”. These RIO barrels are liquid dessert with a hint of complex spice & that just hit the spot for me today! Cheers.

The Spirit Animal Society is back at it again - making picking whiskey barrels more accessible to the community! Thank you so much to the picking team on this one. We involved more people than we ever have before and it resulted in an absolute gem. As a reminder for those who might be new to the site, I try to never give numerical scores to things that I had a hand in picking, but the tasting notes are pure honesty - so feel free to read between the lines some! Company on Label: Barrell Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Finished Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed blend of Kentucky and Indiana whiskeys Proof: 121.24° Age: NAS Further identification: Blend # CQ63; Bottle # 012 - This is the pick that a group of Spirit Animal Society members got to join the founders in picking! Nose: Woah! Funky fruit jump out potent on first nosing. I find lemon meringue pie, vanilla cream biscoff cookie and a faint hibiscus note. This glass is very much a buck from the norm of bourbon sweetness & it has taken on a lot of interesting characteristics I struggle to decipher from the armagnac cask. Nosing deeper I find troves of effervescence; it's like a tingling sweet that reminds me of a fruit forward cocktail in a dark speakeasy with high leather chairs. The sizzling zesty funk that permeates this glass is like no other. Walnut, raisin and rich soil elevate the complexity. Let's jump into a sip! Returning from a sip of this liquid gold I find the glass has opened up some to softer notes of dusty barrel boogers (IYKYK), flan, and classic hallmarks of exceptional cooperages at work. Sweet, level oak is prevalent all throughout the cool, creamy nose-feel. Late in the glass I find bright linen has butted up against the darker leather tones. Sweet Spring florals build subtly in lovely, delicate wisps. The empty glass smells of green tea, tobacco, soft campfire smoke, and light oak. Palate: Pow! That'll wake up your taste buds. Boozy limoncello strikes first before a creamy cherry garcia smoothie soothes the soul. Another sip and swish produces marvelous fruit tones. It is quite warming in the chest, so this will tickle the barrel proof fan's fancy. I find I lovely citrus tingle up front like expressed lemon peel, long undulations of sweet, light tea notes, and a long finish carrying barrel funk for days. Fans of Willett's rye distillate will find this right up their alley. As I continue to work through this pour, I find it is most notably lovely on the linger. Dusty caramel, vanilla and light citrus tones scream 'vintage whiskey' - the proof that swings behind it does not agree with the low barrel entry proof of old though. Another sip and swish reveals buttercream frosting, pressed flower petals, grenadine, and subtle campari. Expressed orange peel graces the continuous flow of flavor inherent in the linger that hangs on long after a sip. The mouthfeel builds after several subsequent sips, ultimately culminating in a lovely oily texture similar to some Irish whiskeys. My last sip is potently sweet with European aperitifs around every corner. The glass winks goodbye with a delicious honeysuckle and elderflower liqueur note. Yum! Rating: This one's a winner! Barrell continues to manage to outdo themselves with their blending prowess on full display here. The Spirit Animal Society is clearly a group of great palates, as they chose a winner with this pick! Thanks for reading folks. Cheers.

The Battle of the Roses is here! It’s a 10 recipe showdown in the Amongst household, but I'll be taking my time with this one. Take a look at how the bracket is set up below; I've 'seeded' based on recipe number that Four Roses lists on their website. Firstly, to make sure I am being fair... @amongstthefernsco will be helping me to blind each pour. Each night over the 12 (or is it 13?) days of this bracket, I’ll be diving deep on all things Four Roses barrel strength single barrel. Now I know this will inherently have some skewed results towards the stores which perhaps know how to pick a good barrel, but that’s also part of the fun. There’s a lot of great Massachusetts retailers in here, but I'm not here to promote any of them. There's also a few out of state picks and a gift shop release as well which should spice things up. I purchased each and every one of these Four Roses with my own money and did not have a hand in personally picking any of them. This is primarily for my own understanding, as I've admittedly had disproportionately low experience with Four Roses in general compared to some other distilleries. Doing these tastings blind will remove any bias I might currently carry towards or away from any specific retailer (this is for science, damnit!); something I try to always do in my reviews anyway. In order to not unfairly eliminate a good recipe or pick in the first round due to a close matchup, there will also be a first loser recycling rule in effect so every recipe will get at least two blind head to heads. For those newer to Four Roses, I'll describe the 10 recipes a bit more. The basic gist of it is that there are two different mash bills which get described in the 2nd letter slot of the O_S_ puzzle. There are then 5 further modifiers which correspond to the input yeast strain that the original mash was fermented with; this is the fourth letter slot of the O_S_ descriptor. When you multiply the 2 mash bill options out by the 5 yeast variations, you get 10 different possible combinations. These combinations are as follows, with general flavor profiles given by Four Roses: OBSV - Delicate fruit and rye OBSK - Rye and baking spice OBSO - Rich fruit OBSQ - Rye and light floral character OBSF - Delicate rye and mint OESV - Delicate fruit and caramel OESK - Baking spice OESO - Rich fruit and vanilla OESQ - Delicate grains and light floral character OESF - Herbs and mint Now that the stage is set, let’s have some fun with this. If you want to see some really silly videos alongside each of these matchups, make sure to click the link in the header of each section. I will be updating this post daily with each new matchup result as well as tasting notes. Scroll on to see which one of these 10 recipes ends up being my favorite! Company on Label: Four Roses Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: "B" mash bill: 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley "E" mash bill: 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Proof: Varies by barrel, and typically by floor (also called tier) between Age: Varies by barrel, but typically 9-11 years Further identification: The recipe for each barrel can be found on the side label of the bottle The Contenders: OBSV aged 10 years, 3 months in warehouse SN, barrel 87-2I; 111.2 proof & picked by: Julio's Liquors OBSK aged 9 years, 10 months in warehouse QN, barrel 10-2H; 109.8 proof & selected by: Grape & Grain Exchange OBSO aged 10 years, 5 months in warehouse PN, barrel 29-2M; 110.8 proof & selected by: One Stop Liquors OBSQ aged 10 years in warehouse RS, barrel 24-6V; 129.4 proof & selected by: Kappy's Fine Wine & Spirits OBSF aged 9 years, 5 months in warehouse UN, barrel 37-1O; 106.6 proof & selected by: Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors OESV aged 10 years, 5 months in warehouse PN, barrel 8-6D; 124.2 proof & selected by: Gordon's Fine Wines & Liquors OESK aged 10 years, 5 months in warehouse QN, barrel 51-4A; 118.6 proof & selected by: Brett Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller (Gift shop release) OESO aged 11 years, 5 months in warehouse MW, barrel 25-1H; 109.8 proof & selected by: Julio's Liquors OESQ aged 10 years, 9 months in warehouse TS, barrel 85-2D; 112.2 proof & selected by: Liquor Junction OESF aged 10 years, 6 months in warehouse RS, barrel 79-4K; 121.42 proof & picked by: Shores Liquors Recipe Matchups & Tasting Notes Round 1 - OESF vs OBSV OESF aged 10 years, 6 months in barrel 79-4K; 121.42 proof & picked by @shoresliquor Nose: Dusty clay, vanilla & leather up front. Subtle, old & brooding as you relax your guard. Deep inhales are impossibly soft with traces of warm waffle, brown sugar and baking bread. Confectioners sugar builds in the rested glass. Marvelously delicious in the nose. Palate: Woah, big volume up front here with exceptionally aged oak showing the strongest. Leather, tobacco and damp earth all create a very dark and ominous sip. Black pepper isn’t quite sharp, but it creates a bitter mouthfeel I don’t quite like. Another sip layers in a really unique medley of cherry skins, honey and prevalent tree bark. Overall it is a touch unsettling. 🆚 OBSV aged 10 years, 3 months in barrel 87-2I; 111.2 proof & picked by @juliosliquors Nose: Bright floral sun rays beam from the glass. Sawdust creeps into the glass here as darker tones build. Molasses swings in with a tinge of honey sweetness in tow. Faint marshmallow swings in before ultimately settling back into a floral bouquet. Palate: Funky red fruit burst forth here. Cherry is dominant before fading to plum, raisin, and raspberry. Another sip is soft like a sip of tea with a touch of lemon and honey. Lovely! 🤔 Comparisons: These are quite different altogether. One is dark and brooding while the other dances lovingly in the sun. It’s an easy choice to advance OBSV here. Yum! Round 2 - OBSK vs OESQ OBSK aged 9 years, 10 months in barrel 10-2H; 109.8 proof & selected by @grapeandgrainexchange Nose: Big baking spice and oily caramel jump out at me. Light, nondescript fruit lollygag in the background. This has a lovely creamy nose-feel. Palate: Woah. Quite zesty as both orange peel and lemon peel meet in a boozy cocktail concoction on my tongue. Another sip shows off more jumbled fruit, sprawled messy across a wood floor. This glass is quite bright and lively and it leaves a tingling effervescence on the tongue for a long while. It’s not necessarily a delicious medley, but certainly quite an interesting one. A final sip shows off creamy black forest cake and raspberry jam. I can’t shake the impressive heft this one carries. 🆚 OESQ aged 10 years, 9 months in barrel 85-2D; 112.2 proof & selected by @liquorjunction Nose: Linen & bountiful well aged oak are dominant on first inhale. Stone and earth invade the senses. Funky bunches of oats & clay comes across old. Hints of coffee bean and chocolate can be found in the depths. The glass finishes leather forward with a balanced exuberance and age. Palate: Sherry bursts forth lightly, but is held back by delicate floral tones bordering on a sweet perfume level of intoxicating elegance. Another sip adds in plum, light bitters, stewed apricot, and dense concentrated grape. My last sip is funky with dark red fruit shimmering alongside black bread and honeysuckle. 🤔 Comparisons: This one is very close in terms of quality, but quite different in terms of flavor. One glass feels very classic & one really bucks the norm. I think I have to give a nod to the really unique profile of OBSK despite it not necessarily drilling home flavors I’m accustomed to loving. The wow factor from first sip (which was actually tasted after the other release) pointed to a level of deliciousness I can’t let slip into the losers bracket slot. OBSK MOVES ON! Round 3 - OESO vs OBSO OESO aged 11 years, 5 months in barrel 25-1H; 109.8 proof & selected by @juliosliquors Nose: Classic but light bourbon tones: caramel, oak and a hint of molasses. Impossibly light in the nose... Nearly zero volume up front. After some coaxing and warming of the glass I find some hints of rye bread. Not much going on here. Palate: Black pepper, tannic grape skins and leather jump out at me first. It’s funky and spiced like a mulled wine with little in the way of fruit. Drying oak is prevalent before a sizzling linger of blackberry sits uneasily in the stomach. At last taste I find a citrus forward start before everything crashes into cardboard and far too much oak. 🆚️ OBSO aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 29-2M; 110.8 proof & selected by @onestopliquors_ Nose: Leather, baking spice and finally a wave of soft stone fruit. Barbecue aromas swirl in the glass faintly. Hints of banana and cream can be dug up. Fairly muted overall. Palate: Viscous caramel and butterscotch coat the mouth before a big plop of cherry bursts forth. It’s simple yet quite effective like the classic red, white & blue rocket popsicle on a hot day. The banana hints from the nose translate to the linger distinctly. A touch too much oak for my personal preference, but still enjoyable. My last sip carries a hint of menthol that doesn’t quite have a place in the rest of the profile here, but the glass finishes strong with dried apricot and crunchy walnuts. 🤔 Comparisons: Both of these had pretty lackluster noses, though flashes of fun came to both at interesting times. This yeast strain is really interesting. Given the slightly off-putting final sip of OESO, OBSO will be moving on for me! Round 4 - OESK vs OBSQ OESK aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 51-4A; 118.6 proof & selected by Brett Elliott, Master Distiller of @fourrosesbourbon Nose: Bright butterscotch in the nose up front. Rich leather stained with cherry juice. Exceptional level oak. Simple, yet potent and lovely. Palate: Lemon zest zaps the tongue first before hard candy sweetness sinks in. Plum pie swings in with a good bit of cinnamon spice that tingles in the chest. Another sip improves on the red fruit side as raspberry bursts forth before settling into an interesting medley of elderberry and vermouth. My last sip is everything I love about bourbon. Mandarin orange is juicy and refreshing & a creamy marshmallow sits behind it, gentle & soft. Lovely. 🆚️ OBSQ aged 10 years in barrel 24-6V; 129.4 proof & selected by @kappysliquors_medford Nose: Flan & buttery pancakes jump out at me first. Deeper inhales show off light vanilla, cotton, and white lily. A prevalent barrel funk lurks in the depths. Palate: On first sip I’m impressed by orange creamsicle, hefty boozy amaretto and a ball of baking spices you might drop into a batch of Swedish Glögg. Another sip and swish shows this to be perhaps just a touch overoaked, but it’s saved by lovely notes of maraschino cherry and Angostura bitters. The last taste here is incredible with cherry, raspberry and plum tantalizing my tongue. It’s delicious, but a touch darker than my ideal sweetness. 🤔 Comparisons: OESK clearly had the more elegant classic bourbon aroma between the two glasses. The palate was nearly impossible to decide between though & I’d expect the loser here to do well when it gets recycled into the remaining portion of the bracket. Ultimately the juicy orange flavors advance OESK! Round 5 - OESV vs OBSF OESV aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 8-6D; 124.2 proof & selected by @thewhiskyguys Nose: Dark chocolate, wheat bread and honey jump out of this glass in volumes if elegance. It’s all funkytown in here with molasses, creamy marshmallow and stewed plum. Delicious and exquisite nose-feel. Palate: Immediately a thick mouth coating of caramel, molasses, chocolate and blackberry cobbler fill my mouth. The linger is rich, decadent and tastes expensive. Another sip and swish adds in a funky raspberry sweetness like a good red wine alongside layers of rich tobacco. At last sip I’m left satisfied as black pepper, plum and dark grapes bombard the taste buds before trailing off. 🆚️ OBSF aged 9 years, 5 months in barrel 37-1O; 106.6 proof & also selected by @thewhiskyguys Nose: Bright up front with floral-toned vanilla. Shortly after your usual barrel influence suspects set in as rich caramel and toffee make a scene. Subtle hints of cinnamon, rose petals and ciabatta bread hang in delicate balance. Palate: Ooh soft cherry is prevalent and delicious on first sip with a linger that is long and smoldering. Another sip shows off bright bakery tones & bountiful fruit. I find a squeeze of juicy lemon juice atop a sugar cookie. My last sip is almost perfumed with lovely sweet floral tones zigging and zagging all over the mouth. 🤔 Comparisons: Woah, two bangers here. They were both delicious for very different reasons, but when I think about where my palate lands today, I have to lean on the OESV profile for the win! Complex & quite delicious - well done! Recycle Round 6 - OESQ vs OESF OESQ aged 10 years, 9 months in barrel 85-2D; 112.3 proof & selected by @ljwhiskeyfamily Nose: Vanilla bean forward on the nose. Very funky and malty with black treacle. Troves of oak present well aged. Palate: Ahhh, that’s a satisfying sensation. Cooling mint mixes with lemon zest and Earl gray tea. My last sip is vaguely fruity with an overall satisfactory shimmering linger. 🆚️ OESF aged 10 years, 6 months in barrel 79-4K; 121.42 proof & selected by @shoresliquor Nose: Bright Spring florals held down by heavy oak. Simple but effective caramel and baking bread aromas. Funky and odd. Palate: Sharp, drying oak up front. Eugh. Too oaked for me with allspice, anise and a touch of sandalwood. My last sip solidifies my distaste for what’s in this glass. 🤔 Comparisons: This was again no competition, as was round 1 where the OESF just does not land for my palate. There’s a possibility of a TCA infection going on there and I’m glad to be done with that barrel for this bracket. OESQ moves on in a second chance for glory! Recycle Round 7 - OESO vs OBSQ OESO aged 11 years, 5 months in barrel 25-1H; 109.8 proof & selected by @whiskyjourneyman Nose: Mmm. Spice, caramel and crème brûlée right away demonstrates classic, well aged bourbon. Linen blows in a warm Summer breeze across the glass. Black pepper jumps out & then suddenly it becomes quite light in the nose. Palate: At first sip I find plenty of stone fruit sitting lazily by a bed of flowers. Another taste layers in orange peel, cherry hots and a sizzling linger of cinnamon and allspice. Mmm. Returning I find more orange creamsicle flavors that land well, but in low volume. My last sip is simple and tasty with raspberry, plum and blackberry culminating in a boozy parfait. 🆚️ OBSQ aged 10 years in barrel 24-6V; 129.4 proof & selected by @kappysliquors_medford Nose: Vanilla, tart berry and hints of metallic noted create a startling opener. Deep inhales show off leather, dark earth and deep oak. Woah, this is a funky one with plenty of barrel time. Palate: Oh, that’s delicate and delicious up front with soft rose water up front fading into strawberry sweetness. Suddenly in the linger a boozy lemon frosting rises up in a cacophony of flavor. What a journey that sip is! Creamy tea notes dance in the long, layered linger. My last sip is sweet, balanced and delicious. 🤔 Comparisons: Both glasses definitely were solid tonight, but the OBSQ recipe really shines in complexity, depth and purely enjoyable flavors. OBSQ gets a second chance & OESO is out of here! Quarter Finals - OBSK vs OBSV OBSK aged 9 years, 10 months in barrel 10-2H; 109.8 proof & selected by @grapeandgrainexchange Nose: Classic creamy crème brûlée jumps out of the glass with class. Confectioners sugar and vanilla build a strong base of aroma. Cherry skins and subtle fruit parfait round out a solid dessert nose. Palate: On first taste I find a lot of that oily butterscotch I love to find. Caramel and all the confectioner’s delights you can imagine abound in this glass. Yum, yum, yum. Light plum, raspberry and amaretto sink in beautifully on the tongue. Elegant and lovely through and through. My last sip is the perfect balance between stone fruit and baking spice that lingers in everlasting ocean waves. 🆚️ OBSV aged 10 years, 3 months in barrel 87-2I; 111.2 proof & selected by @juliosliquors Nose: Fresh sawn oak hits first before tobacco and gunpowder swing in in interesting contrasts. Hints of dried flowers hide in the background. The nose finally settles into a nondescript funky comfort. Palate: Light orange zest and buttercream frosting hit the palate delicately. Another sip springs forth maraschino cherry, Peychaud’s bitters and a sugary sweet linger. This drinks like a lovely old fashioned. At last taste I find leather, clay and plenty of rick house magic. 🤔 Comparisons: OBSK clearly had the better nose, appealing to all my favorite aromas to find on any bourbon. I reset and let the palate speak for itself & while OBSV tugged at the heartstrings with a wonderful cocktail profile, OBSK clearly stole my heart & will be moving on! Quarter Finals - OESK vs OBSO OESK aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 51-4A; 118.6 proof & selected by Brent Elliott, @fourrosesbourbon Master Distiller Nose: Light lemon frosting and Earl gray tea jump out at me first. Plenty of oak is backstopped by a robust floral bouquet. Hints of chocolate give this glass interesting subtleties. Brown sugar and baking spice sizzle in the background. Palate: Punchy cherry is what first explodes onto the palate before shimmering sweet plum and baking spice take over in the simple yet enjoyable linger. Another sip amplifies the tasty fruit with dark, sticky raspberry syrup building well. My last sip is endearing with raspberry tart eliciting comfortable pie crust flavors. The proof catches up in the linger where the back of the throat begins to singe a little. Overall quite a solid sip. 🆚️ OBSO aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 29-2M; 110.8 proof & selected by @onestopliquors_ Nose: Level oak introduces vanilla, lemon zest and gorgeous pastry sweetness. I could sit and smell this glass for hours. Palate: On first taste I’m greeted with wonderful effervescence. Lemon drop candy just sizzles and zips across the tongue with zero evidence of proof. Another sip reveals great depth as black treacle, allspice and a hint of anise culminate in a swirling elegance of age. The background note that isn’t too perceptible is a perfect marshmallow sweetness. Overall the glass is bright & lively and I can see myself sipping on this in any season of the year. 🤔 Comparisons: Both glasses are quite delicious, but the lemon beats out the raspberry for my palate today. This one was really a headscratcher on quality; both are just gorgeous. One glass seems like the bolder pour for a weathered party palate, but the elegance of OBSO means it will be advancing today! I’m a bit surprised by the result here, but blind tasting never lies! Quarter Finals - OESQ vs OESV OESQ aged 10 years, 9 months in barrel 85-2D; 112.2 proof & selected by @ljwhiskeyfamily Nose: Rich vanilla, butterscotch and bready tones abound on first sniff. Confectioners sugar and bakery chocolate come across creamy and light. Bits of black bread and honey can be found amid moderate barrel funk. Palate: Oooh punchy cherry hots leap onto the tongue. It carries a pervasive mouth coating of syrupy plum and candied cinnamon. Another sip shows off balance and depth as blood orange and fig excite the taste buds. As the glass empties I find cherry Jolly Rancher, strawberry parfait and light breakfast cereals. Yum! 🆚️ OESV aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 8-6D; 124.2 proof & selected by @thewhiskyguys Nose: Molasses and dark earthiness greet me in this glass. It’s light with a prickly black pepper nose-feel. Longer rests produce nice marshmallow tones. Palate: At first glance this has lovely juicy orange flavors up front. The mouth feel is light, coating and effervescent. Another sip shows off all the zippy, zesty fruit one mouth could ask for. Whew! At long last the glass finishes quite proofy with raisin, raspberry and dark oily caramel wrapping everything up. 🤔 Comparisons: The pre-sip nose was a flat-out tie between these two. Both solid & enjoyable aromas. After sipping there was finally some light between these two beauties. I loved all the candy tones of OESQ, but the crazy depth of OESV and power of the extra proof really drove that one home. OESV moves on! Quarterfinals - OBSQ vs OBSF OBSQ aged 10 years in barrel 24-6V; 129.4 proof & selected by @kappysliquors_medford Nose: Caramel dominates the first inhale. It’s creamy and warm throughout as lovely notes of crème brûlée, graham cracker and crunchy dinner rolls lift off the surface of the glass. Classic bourbon. Palate: Woah, stewed apricot, plum and a magnificent cinnamon spice sizzle dazzles the tongue. A big chest hug linger carries leather, raisin, and extra spiced cherry hots. Oh wow, chips ahoy chocolate chip cookies just clearly jumped out at me. The final taste says “boozy and delicious!” 🆚️ OBSF aged 9 years, 5 months in barrel 37-1O; 106.6 proof & selected by @thewhiskyguys Nose: Light linen and synthetic sleeping bags jump out at me. I feel like I’m off camping in a tent with this glass for whatever reason. Deep inhales reveal hints of cherry skins and subtle grape. Palate: At first sip I’m quite impressed with the volume level despite the rather muted nose. It’s beautiful with bold maraschino cherry up front before the linger of honey and pressed flower petals sinks in. Another sip is again punchy but with prevalent sweetness. Glazed cinnamon buns hang out softly in the background. My last sip is subtle with honeysuckle, raspberry iced tea and a hint of expressed lemon peel. 🤔 Comparisons: Well, that was a pretty lackluster start on the nose, but everything ramped up quickly once the sips began. I was bordering on thinking OBSQ was too hot, but ultimately it was right in range for a big, flavorful experience I’m always looking for out of Four Roses. OBSQ squeaks into the final 4! Semifinals - OBSK vs OBSO OBSK aged 9 years, 10 months in barrel 10-2H; 109.8 proof & selected by @grapeandgrainexchange Nose: Caramel, banana custard with lovely brûlée, and graham cracker jump out at me. Overall creamy & oily in the nose. Simple woodshop aromas build well alongside vanilla, black pepper and dried plum. Palate: Wow. That has amazing softness & approachability while still delivering full volume notes like maraschino cherry, raspberry parfait and boozy custard. The proof swings back in strong on the 2nd sip as cherry hots sizzle and pop on the way down to my stomach. It’s just gorgeous to sip on; my ideal level of sweetness for a barrel proof bourbon right here. Last sip says, “I’m here for dessert”. Take a bow. 🆚️ OBSO aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 29-2M; 110.8 proof & selected by @onestopliquors_ Nose: Effervescent strawberries and cream aromas dance in the nose. I love it already. Lemon frosting, vanilla angel food cake and a hint of sweet, warm bread build well in elegant complexity. Subtle campfire smoke sits in the glass late. Palate: Zesty lemon zips across the tongue on first sip. A big wave of cinnamon and nutmeg roll down into the chest with manageable heft. Another sip shows off dark yet still sweet raspberry and plum. It’s a bit moody and the proof is landing in fiery bursts, but overall a great sip. My last taste confirms this is quite delicious with rose petal, hibiscus and subtle stone fruit notes proliferating in the glass. 🤔 Comparisons: The nose on OBSO was really my jam from the getgo. But wow.. did OBSK come out swinging on the sips. Overall OBSO was made to feel a little bland in this comparison somehow. Both are gorgeous examples of Four Roses, but I prefer that liquid dessert profile, so OBSK moves on! Semifinals - OBSQ vs OESV OBSQ aged 10 years in barrel 24-6V; 129.4 proof & selected by @kappysliquors_medford Nose: Bright linen bursts forth first before dry vanilla bean and copious oak swings through the glass. Barrel funk for days. Later in the glass flashes of molasses, caramel and butterscotch adorn an earthy base. Palate: Punchy and powerful up front this lets cherry hots just proliferate and multiply. The mouth feel is syrupy and thick with stewed plum, raspberry and fig. It’s almost like a more decadent & creamy Fig Newton bar, yum. The linger carries a long undulation between lemon peel heft and stone fruit sweetness. Lovely complexity. At last sip I find an approachable (read: smooth) old fashioned cocktail. The chest hug is infinite here; I’m in love. 🆚️ OESV aged 10 years, 5 months in barrel 8-6D; 124.2 proof & selected by @thewhiskyguys Nose: Hints of fruit alongside waffle cone & pecan-rich praline ice cream. Decadent elegance and depth on the nose-feel. Palate: Wow, that candied fruit is just everywhere in my mouth. Rich, robust caramel layers in against leather which slides over the top of a sweet tobacco medley. A box of nerdz meets a handful of skittles. Yowzah! That’s unique & very sexy to sip on. My last sip is a powerhouse of flavor as a darker fruit salad medley tumultuously tumbles over my taste buds. Hot damn. 🤔 Comparisons: OESV absolutely crushes the nosing at the start of the matchup. If I was picking based on first whiff, I’d go OESV all day - but whiskey is meant to be drank so... All hell breaks loose once the sipping begins and both of these pours end up being DIVINE! This took a lot of mental back and forth, but OBSQ takes the cake today for me because of the syrupy sweetness, long linger, and infinite complexity. See you in the final matchup; stay tuned! Final Matchup - OBSQ vs OBSK OBSQ aged 10 years in barrel 24-6V; 129.4 proof & selected by @kappysliquors_medford Nose: Rich pecan, leather, molasses, and deep funk are all over this glass. Linen, oak, and black pepper are savory & potent. Brown sugar, butter and candied walnuts boast exceptional complexity. This glass is rich, deep, dark, and decadent. Stone fruit are prevalent behind bright, dusty warehouse wood aromas. The nose is a touch too hot to be enjoyed fully tonight, but it's still a perfect example of how I would describe my ideal bourbon. Palate: From the get-go this glass embodies classic, delicious bourbon with caramel and cherry garcia just dancing on my tongue. Wonderful effervescence carries forth plum, fig and blackberry in an infinite smoldering linger. Punchy cherry returns hotter than before with cinnamon, allspice and a hint of clove. Before anything else can occur, an explosion of jammy fruit swings in a boatload of baking spices. That is just a marvelous bourbon. Yum. This drinks like a warm Summer night with a grand view. Just a hint of salinity creeps kisses the caramel and butterscotch loaded vanilla ice cream in my hand. I'm sitting looking at a gorgeous Boston city skyline without a care in the world. Dark, savory, comfortable, and forlorn; this glass embodies the fickle & fragile existence we live. It's the ephemeral perfection captured once in a memory, never to be repeated in exactly the same way. I love this pour, and I'm nearly moved to tears knowing it is as finite as I am, carrying with it a natural beginning & end. I'll certainly be savoring this one amongst close friends and family for as long as possible! 🆚️ OBSK aged 9 years, 10 months in barrel 10-2H; 109.8 proof & selected by @grapeandgrainexchange Nose: Light butterscotch, breadcrumbs and bright vanilla jump out early here. Crème brûlée, biscoff cookie, and confectioners sugar pave the way for lemon buttercream frosting, tart raspberry and dark grape notes. What a fun evolution. Deep inhales are light and lovely in the nose. Peaches and praline sit lovingly in the glass. Lemon hard candy captures my heart. Palate: At first sip I find strawberry pie, cinnamon bun and confectioners sugar all globbed together in a heap of dessert goodness. Hints of lemon undulate under a soft blanket of cotton and tea leaves. The linger is hefty with zest. Wow, on returning to this glass more of that lemon sweetness has come to stay. This is like a comfortable visit from some close family: easy, inviting and good for the soul. At last sip I'm possibly heaven-bound as this delicious marshmallow & honey ladened nectar slips on to nothingness. Just incredible. Truly a divine sip, and perhaps one of my favorite whiskeys of all time. 🤔 Comparisons: If I didn't have to (if this weren't a bracket), I'd just call this one even. I'm not a big fractional scorer, as I don't think really subtle nuances can be accurately rated with a score without the use of blind head to heads. As this is in fact a blind head to head, I do have a winner, though 'eliminating' one of these legitimately hurts my soul. Both are actually quite different, which is surprising, so I could easily see myself favoring a different recipe on a different night. Ultimately the classic bourbon profile, exceptional quality, crazy nostalgia and gorgeous finish puts me in the OBSQ camp for my favorite recipe of the 2023 Battle of the Roses blind bracket. Let me know down in the comments if you'd like to see me revisit this in the future with new contenders. I plan to see if I can try all 10 recipes at once to emulate a proper Four Roses barrel picking experience and see if I still pick the same recipe or not sometime soon. Make sure to subscribe to see when that update comes about! Bracket Results: OBSQ is the favorite recipe! Talk about an underdog story for OBSQ... OESK clearly deserves an honorary mention and is worthy of at least one follow-up post because OBSQ was actually a first round elimination that ended up winning it all. Either I wasn't in a high proof mood that night, or OESK is just that close that I had to flip a coin, because one does not simply go from zero to hero for no reason! This is so much fun. Thank you for following along!

Well, I'm a little late after St. Paddy's day getting this posted up. I did some teasing on my Instagram earlier, but I've just been flat out with the ol' day job lately. Rectifying this wrong now.... Here are the results of a 16 Irish Whiskey blind tasting bracket (all of these were poured ahead of time by the lovely @amongstthefernsco). Let's go! Included in this year's bracket in randomized order is: Green Spot, Redbreast 21, Tyrconnell 10 Year Madeira Cask, Teeling Single Grain, Redbreast 12, Redbreast Small Batch Cask Strength, Gold Spot, Red Spot, Redbreast PX, Yellow Spot, Bushmill's Prohibition Recipe, Northcross Triple Wood, Redbreast Lustau, Glendalough 13 Year Mizunara Cask, Redbreast 27, and Blue Spot. If you want a visual of what these 16 beauties look like on the counter, check out my introduction reel. The filled in, unblinded bracket is shown below. Let me know what you think of the matchups we got! I found it super interesting that Redbreast Lustau, a great whiskey no doubt, managed to sneak to the top of this bracket this year. Despite an early elimination for me last year, I want to note that my bottle of Lustau is very old & likely quite oxidized. I've had it for the better part of probably 4-5 years and it's below half full. I re-tasted it again later and was surprised to find that almost all of the Sherry influence is completely gone from that bottle now, and the end result is something that tastes like it has incredible age. So put a really big asterix on that top spot, and hope you can recreate its greatness with oxidation on your end too! I will definitely be leaving it out of any future brackets given the stark change in flavor (though I believe it was for the better), given that it's not representative of what most people might be able to taste when they pick up a new bottle off the shelf. What pours stood out for me though, and may have gotten tough matchups? Top 3: Redbreast Lustau, Redbreast PX and Redbreast 27 Year There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Redbreast 27 and Redbreast PX Edition are worth their weight in gold. I had handwritten notes on my bracket that the matchups of both Lustau vs PX and Lustau vs 27 were impossible for me to choose. My palate was pretty weathered by that many sips, so ultimately the ranking was a bit of a coin flip. This is always so much fun every year, and I'd argue more fun than science for me. Normally I would prefer to do individual head to head tastings, or a smaller blind flight, but this is a fun little get together I like to do with good company (who also do their own blind brackets which often varies from mine). Taste is quite subjective, so let me know if you have done your own blind matchups of some of your favorite Irish whiskeys. One thing is for sure: I love Redbreast!

This isn't your modern Pappy. Woah. This whiskey came at me fast. I was recently sharing a few good pours with a new friend & suddenly I got a picture on my phone a few days later. It was a picture of Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year wheated bourbon sitting next to my sample jar... I looked long at the photo before responding with something like... "for me?!" Yes, it was for me, and a sample jar landed on my desk a few days after that. Big thank you to Dave Vershum for making this review possible! Now, what does one do with an ounce and a half of 2008 Stitzel-Weller distillate, the same whiskey that scored the near perfect 99/100 at every tasting competition ever, you ask? Get it in a glass and drink it of course! I've never personally had any Stitzel-Weller distillate outside the minutia sliver that remains in the solera tanks of Blade and Bow whiskey, so this will be a fun exploration for me. If you're interested in a little extra background history on the Stitzel-Weller distillery, I'd recommend this article for some light reading. The modern bottlings of the ultra-aged Pappy Van Winkle line (those both distilled and bottled by Buffalo Trace today) have thus far been a strong disappointment for me... but this is the stuff that the hype was created from. This is the original high scorer / overachiever blend of barrels that captured the world's attention. Will it exude all the elegance of a perfectly crafted whiskey? Will it set a new bar for what I currently consider exceptional whiskey? Read on & let's explore a true rarity together. Company on Label: Stitzel-Weller Distillery (Bottled by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery) Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 20% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley Proof: 90.4° Age: 20 years Further identification: This is a 2008 release of Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve; backdating from this bottling day tells us this was produced in 1988/1989, prior to the closing of the Stitzel-Weller distillery in 1992; Buffalo Trace had begun bottling this product at this time and the bottle would feature a laser code beginning with a K Nose: Lemon peel and butterscotch leap out of the glass first for me. Soft, delicate floral tones belie the sweetness brewing below. Light in volume overall, but certainly showing off some low barrel entry proof citrus tones I also find on pre-fire Elijah Craig 23 year. Oooh, now things are starting to build in the glass. A deep inhale shows off notes of cherry skins before bursting forth into a deeper amaretto sweetness. Dry clay and leather mix interestingly and elegantly. So far this glass has been very reserved, keeping most of its secrets to itself for now. I've rested this quite a while, but I will continue to take my time as I always do with my reviews. Perhaps a sip might help. Returning after a sip builds on all the caramel you could ask for on a bourbon - it bumps up against the butterscotch note in a comfortable gathering of warm friends. Cherry Garcia jumps forth from dessert exemplified. Black pepper impossibly intermingled with vanilla tingles and cools the nostrils. A soft pie crust ties everything together. Lavender flashes up before making way for strawberry cereal, confectioners sugar and yogurt. Every time I think I'm done with the nose and I'm ready for a sip something new shows up to capture my attention. On the left nostril notes of light confections abound. On the right nostril I find the more earthy aromas and leather tones to be prominent. Coming back to both nostrils I find most of the volume to have faded, insisting on another sip. Late in the glass bits of chocolate mix in well alongside hints of graham cracker. A honey-like softness permeates this glass making it easy to nose on and on. The empty glass smells of roasted pecans, vanilla custard, milk chocolate and honey wheat black bread. Amazing. Palate: Cherry skins transfer perfectly from the nose here. Holy shit. Then the wave of vanilla bean ice cream bursts into every corner of my mouth leaving a creamy marshmallow linger everywhere it touched. Lemon cake with a soft buttercream frosting sits in the linger. I hate to admit it, but this might be love at first taste. Another sip builds out the rest of the cherry experience; it's juicy, sweet and delicious. As the distinct cherry fades more obscure notes of sherry and dates swing through with an air of lavender around them. A bigger sip and swish resuscitates the citrus tones from the early nose and puts them back out on center stage. With the spotlight burning on exposed lemon peel, the pour does well to maintain a mellow demeanor. With the troves of butterscotch and vanilla from the nose, the palate does well to not enter a cloying space. My last sip is an effervescent cherry bomb. Cinnamon tingles on the surface of the tongue without producing any heat or true spice, just the shimmering brilliance of starlight captured in a glass. The linger is impossibly long with creamy tiramisu, warm biscuits, cashews and praline ice cream. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Well, that stuff was certainly worth the price of admission (which was totally free, thank you Dave!). Where the heck was I in 2008? This whiskey is absolutely irreproducible, and that is a damn shame because it is quite good. That said, I do think the rest of my 5/5 category can absolutely hang with this pour. I find the 99/100 or 9.345/10.000 style scales to be pretty disingenuous, unless they are truly informed by blind head to heads. I don't think this is worldview bending or life altering by any means. I could easily sip a 2022 Four Roses Limited Edition alongside this & not have it be outclassed. I do think this is incredibly unique, as the only parallels I can draw are to Elijah Craig 23 year or Michter's 20 year. Ultra-aged whiskey, especially that of great origin and care, can be really exceptional and this is testament to that. There are plenty of bad examples out there too, but hopefully few of those hit your glass, my well-learned reader. I can definitely tell you this is some pinnacle of the whiskey world that I'm sure few will get to try, but if you can, do it. I'm thoroughly satisfied here. If you can't find it or afford it, don't sweat it - there are budget pinnacles out there too. I'd love to be able to try some higher proof examples next, but I certainly won't hold my breath!

It's day 2 of Irish Week. All this week I will be running a giveaway on my Instagram where you will have the chance to win a bottle of Green Spot Irish whiskey or 4x 2oz samples of 4 bottles of your choosing that I drink this week! There will be 5 days of nothing but Irish whiskey reviews from me! If you want a boatload of bonus entries make sure to drop a comment on this webpage with your Instagram handle and your favorite Irish whiskey you want to see reviewed! As a special thank you to my website subscribers, each of these comments are worth 10x more than an Instagram tag! Also feel free to drop a comment on all of my previous Irish reviews below: Bushmills Black Bush High N' Wicked - The Wild Rover Redbreast Lustau Edition Red Spot and Redbreast Lustau Head to Head Redbreast PX Sherry Finish On the 17th @amongstthefernsco and I will be tasting through just about everything we have, so stay tuned for a big finale. Now, let's see how this glass is doing tonight! Company on Label: Mitchell & Son (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley (being a single pot still Irish whiskey) Proof: 117.4° Age: 7 years Further identification: This 2021 release is a rare example of cask strength Irish whiskey. It is finished in bourbon barrels, sherry butts and Portuguese madeira casks; it is non-chill filtered stated Well - I had a significant body of text here before. But my website host managed to lose my post. The cliff notes that I remember were that the Blue Spot was a little messy with a lot of great flavors but they flashed in and out at odd times; it was ultimately not cohesive. These findings were confirmed when I finally got around to re-tasting this here, nearly a year later! Cheers!

Cask strength and aged at least 7 years in bourbon barrels, sherry butts and madeira casks makes for an exhilarating and flavorful IrIsh whiskey release. I'm clearly not new to this bottle, if you notice the fill level on mine, so I'm well calibrated to what I think on this bottle already. Unfortunately the last time I sat down to do full tasting notes on this, my site host lost all the words I had drafted. I was too dejected that night to do everything over again, so I passed the buck for a full year to today! The 'Spot' line is in reference to the paint spots that get placed on barrels to signify their age potential. There are currently 5 editions: Green Spot, Blue Spot, Gold Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot. Some of the colors also have unique finishes that highlight a great appetite for innovation within the brand. I for one have loved all of the Spots for very different reasons, but found Red to be my favorite thus far. The Spot Whiskey website tells us a little backstory, saying: Under the hustle and bustle of cobbled Dublin streets in the early 1900s, a rare whiskey was quietly making a name for itself. The simple act of marking barrels with spots of coloured paint would not only signify their age potential, but would become the namesake for this coveted whiskey, bonded and bottled by The Mitchells – a seventh generation family business. If you're interested in learning more about the history of this brand, you can read more on their website here. Now let's dive in and get this Spot over with! Company on Label: Mitchell & Son (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Finished Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley (being a single pot still Irish whiskey) Proof: 117.4° Age: 7 years Further identification: This 2021 release is a rare example of cask strength Irish whiskey; it is finished in bourbon barrels, sherry butts and Portuguese madeira casks; it is non-chill filtered stated Nose: Rich vanilla and marshmallow forward oak jump out at me upon first dipping my nose into the glass. I forgot this is bottled at cask strength and was immediately reminded at overstepping the nostril proximity limit of 117.4 proof. A more reasonable approach results in butterscotch, sugary plum skins and dark, earthy barrel funk. For an Irish whiskey, this sure smells an awful lot like a bourbon... Let's jump into a sip. Notes of soft clay can be found in the glass after coming back from a sip. Big notes of black pepper, leather and more prevalent oak continue to add to the bourbon-y profile here. After a long rest in the glass more caramel builds like a creamy Werther's treat. Now more soft, the sugary notes are smoothed into a confectionary delight. After pulling off this soft blanket from the surface of the glass, the funky barrel tones return with a vengeance for being ignored. The empty glass smells of shiny copper, grape skins and dried blackberries. Palate: Right away a zesty punch tingles on the tip of the tongue as lemon peel and nerds candy jump out front. In a swift 'swoosh' a creamy scoop of vanilla bean ice cream washes those flavors to the rear and replaces them with caramel, malt and buttercream frosting. The proof is quite imbalanced as I find most cask strength Irish whiskey releases to do. For whatever reason, Irish doesn't quite carry higher proofs as well as their bourbon, rye or American single malt counterparts do. Another sip builds in lovely red fruit very clearly from the madeira casks and sherry butts, but these tasty flavors are overshadowed again by ethanol. I do enjoy what can be found in between the waves of heat and pain as lemon pudding, cream-filled white chocolate and crystal sugar sticks elicit an Easter candy experience. Vanilla and sweet wine continue to dominate the palate as the glass weathers on. Late in the glass, the proof reaches a tumultuous crescendo as fire brews in the belly. The glass finishes an unapologetic mess, not worthy of a second glass to attempt to redeem itself. The barrel finishes clash in an eclectic potpourri blend of flavors that never quite tell a cohesive story. My last sip is a gratifying end to the pandemonium that is happening in my mouth. The mouth feel is quite thick and lingering with notes of raspberry, dark chocolate and dates. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) I could easily see why this might do well in a blind head to head, but evaluated on its own, the flavor turned up to 11 experience is just too much for me. I really don't think Irish whiskey was meant to be drank up at these proofs. I'm sure some will still love this release, given the proof-hound bold-flavored-bourbon mentality that is prevalent today, but to me it's just not an exceptional Irish whiskey. Hope this review helps! Cheers.

Fresh off the press & ready for your glass - there's a new Irish whiskey in town. I'm a big Irish whiskey fan and love getting into a week full of Irish-centric reviews around St. Patrick's day every year. I will certainly be including this one in my usual blind bracket I run as well! My whiskey journey started long ago with Irish whiskey, before the wider whiskey world caught my eye and taste buds. Having a good bit of experience tasting through this style of spirit, I definitely think it is an area folks should spend more time appreciating. In a recent PR announcement, this new release is described with some interesting extra detail: Triple Wood, the first expression from Northcross, is made from a blend of whiskies, distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon barrels, Oloroso Sherry casks and virgin American Oak. Located in the city of Dundalk in County Louth, The Great Northern Distillery is situated about halfway between Dublin and Belfast, just south of the border with Northern Ireland. Northcross is crafted using high-quality grain and some of the purest water in the country from the nearby Cooley Mountains. For those uninitiated on the Great Northern Distillery - this distillery is owned by John Teeling, a name well established in the world of Irish whiskey. They have pot stills and column stills capable of a 17 million liter capacity, making it the largest independent distillery in Ireland. I'll certainly be looking at more of the Irish whiskeys on my shelf to see where they were distilled moving forward. You should be able to find this bottle at most liquor stores in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Now let's get into it and find out if this release is worth picking up! Latitude Beverage Co. was kind enough to offer me this bottle at no cost and with no strings attached; I thank them for the opportunity to give this a fair and honest review! Company on Label: Crafted & matured at the Great Northern Distillery, bottled by Latitude Beverage Whiskey Type: Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 86° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a brand new release to the whiskey market landing in select states in March of 2023; the triple wood finishing combines bourbon, sherry & American oak barrels on this non-chill filtered whiskey Nose: Raising this glass to my nose I find a distinct earthy funk that really gives off a strong Scotch vibe. Anise, clove and black tea wafts up in soft waves. The typical creamy sugar cookie notes I'd expect are fairly malt forward here. Dark cacao and heavily roasted coffee bean sits heavy in the background. The earthy tones can't be understated here and really is the overarching aroma that sticks in the nose. Deep inhales produce hints of cilantro. Let's jump into a sip. Returning to the nose after a sip I find aromas of light cotton bedsheets, stale beer and light florals. I can't help but notice just a spritz or a mist of vinegar overlaid on some of the other aromas which is very interesting. Late in the glass everything turns quite bright, easy, sweet, simple and enjoyable. I can't quite find any significant or distinct aromas, but I'm not displeased with what was inhaled at all. The empty glass smells of salt water and Necco wafers. Palate: My first sip is soft up front with honeysuckle and shawarma bread lightly dancing across the tongue with minimal volume. Another sip builds in the earthy tones that the nose was strongly conveying. I find it to be something like a savory chocolate that's fallen onto a bed of moist moss & rich soil. Tasting further I find minimal evidence of any of the three casks highlighted by the triple wood finishing as the base malt grains appear to pop forward first. A larger sip and swish produces sweeter tones of light corn syrup and agave. The mouthfeel is quite thin overall, but that makes it quite easy to sip and that would do well on ice on a hot day. My last sip is once again creamy with hints of marshmallow and tiramisu slowly lingering off into distant floral fields. The finish is short and sweet leaving the sipper ready for anything. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Definitely don't write this one off at one glass - explore this with patience and you will be rewarded. Air seems to have done this bottle well as this warms up to me. I do think one really has to be in the mood for Irish whiskey for this release to land. In my 3 separate tastings of this release, something I do to ensure I am giving everything a fair chance, I had 3 very different experiences. On my first tasting I was surprised by how unique this is compared to other Irish whiskeys that are on my shelf with it distinctly missing some of the characteristics that I have come to expect from Irish whiskey. On my 2nd tasting I was simply not in the mood for Irish whiskey and as such I ended up pouring this out to replace it with a bourbon... but today it landed pretty well with me. It's certainly not one of the more complex Irish whiskeys I've had, but it will definitely do well as a budget sipper for folks who aren't as crazy in-depth in the whiskey world as I am. What I mean to say above, in way fewer words, is that I think this will be a solid crowd-pleasing whiskey. Let me know if you get to try this down in the comments. Cheers!