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Mass Bourbon Alliance & Liquor Junction weren't just blessed with one 14 year Exceptional Series from our last meeting with Pete and Pablo of Rare Character, we actually said yes to both 14 year malt whiskeys that were presented to us. Barrel 47 really had its own characteristics that set it apart from its sister barrel, but I'll defer most of the details to my last post on barrel 54 if you're itching for more information. So much goes into producing a whiskey like this. Obviously the original distillery had a vision for what they wanted this to be. Perhaps some of the barrels that were originally filled found a market fit prior to this. All that matters now is that Pablo had a vision for this barrel, and ultimately that led it right into my arms. If these bottles or their original barrels could talk... I'd love to hear the stories they overheard through the years. The people in the whiskey community are really what I find myself celebrating today. Read on to find out what makes this whiskey exceptional! Company on Label: Rare Character Whiskey Co. Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 65% Malt, 35% Corn Proof: 133.8° Age: 14 years Further identification: Barrel E-M14-47 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: Upon first raising the glass to my nose I find white linen and bright crushed seashells by the edge of a sandy beach. Immediately I get incredible tropical vibes from this glass with pineapple, lychee and coconut shavings delicately blowing by on a soft breeze. Overall the nose presents funky, zesty and bright; it tingles in the sinuses. Werther's, leather, black pepper and allspice merge in a potent mixture for the nostrils. The nose-feel is thick, warm and inviting like a comfortable sunny Summers day. Deep lumberyard piles of wood and bark seep into every corner of the glass. All the notes here are oily, creamy and heavy. I'd say it's time for a sip. Returning to the glass, I find that quality hangs in the air and doesn't let your senses relax as complex waves of intense crème brûlée build. The glass continues to be bright, oaky, and funkadelic. As the pour gets lower the creamy vanilla tones from the palate sink in. The nose continues to be quite bright and it may warrant a sneeze if you continuously dive its depths. White linen and various dried fruit skins sprinkle in late. Beautiful barrel funk continues to waft up warm notes of leather, mahogany and the aroma of the inside of a cigar box. The empty glass smells of chocolate dipped strawberries, sweet tobacco and old books. Palate: Pow! This immediately slaps you with a huge wave of flavor and a long, comfortable hug. Right away this offers up a big punch of strawberry flambé atop creamy crepes. There's lemon frosting, fluffy whipped cream, tingling vanilla extract, and thick raspberry simple syrup hanging in delicate balance. A stone fruit parfait sits perfectly on the tongue with little heat. The mouth feel is most notable high up in the gums where sorghum and sugar stings the sweet tooth nearby. A sweet rum cocktail profile sits in the medium linger. Expressed lemon peel gets stuck within an oozing trail of thick molasses. Finishing the last sip of the glass is bittersweet as cherry hots sting just the tip of the tongue. The liquid experience slides impossibly slow towards the back of the mouth as red raspberry, red velvet cake, almonds and blackberry pie slowly trail off into a linger of dried fruit and elegant perfume. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up There's so much to love here. Barrel 47 does well to give more instant gratification of flavor, which might be a welcome difference for the more traditional whiskey enthusiast looking for prominent signs of age. The finish here is shorter compared to the sister barrel, but that translates to a higher crushability factor. This is the pour I could see folks sipping on with dinner before moving onto the dessert that is barrel 54. As a reminder, I try my best to never let bias creep into my reviews. In an effort to stay on top of that I've elected not to give my typical numerical score on this barrel that I personally had a hand in selecting. Do with this information as you will, but this barrel is already getting a lot of buzz! @abandonbourbon gives this a score of 94, saying back in January in a sneak peak: Not even the end of the first month and we already have a Whiskey of the Year contender? The nose is beautiful butterscotch, dense vanilla coated red fruits, sweet honey glazed spices, well extracted espresso, and tons of leather. The palate is deep, soaked in sugar sweetness of brown sugar and vanilla like an old school George T. Stagg but with the mouthfeel of William Larue Weller. Beautiful milk chocolate, leather, espresso, and dark cherry notes with the creamiest linger of oak and sweetness in harmony. The linger is perfumed and complex with spices not all unlike amburana but with a musty nutty funk like Turkey or Beam. This is buttery, sweet, nearly perfect whiskey. This @liquorjunction @massbourbonalliance pick gets a score of 94. Can’t wait to try more of these. Keep up the great work Rare Character. Cheers!

Mass Bourbon Alliance is back at it again with Liquor Junction bringing accessible barrels to our Massachusetts friends. This one comes out of Vermont with a crazy 100% rye mash bill distilled on pot stills, aged in American oak barrels, and released as a single barrel at cask strength. This is not your typical PiggyBack shelf release. WhistlePig describes the single barrel innovation on the back label of the bottle, saying: We believe anything worth doing is worth doing 100%. Distilled from 100% rye, PiggyBack is an uninhibited tribute to the grain, bringing 100% of its signature style with big, bold spice notes. It ages in American oak barrels for no less than 6 years before finishing its journey as a limited edition single barrel - straight to the bottle. No two are alike, so enjoy, mix and share accordingly. You can read a little more over at WhistlePig's website. Surprisingly when Derek, Laura, Kent, the Liquor Junction team, and I picked this barrel we were all surprised by how little it drank like a traditional rye. As such, we expect this one is going to be a hit for whiskey drinkers of all skill levels and predilection. We ended up naming this one "To Rye For" in joyous celebration of the 1995 Nicole Kidman movie as well as the delicious uniqueness it produced. To further bolster the epic saga surrounding this 100% rye, WhistlePig goes on to describe how this kind of experiment came from their farm to your glass as one of Dave Pickerell's final contributions to the world before his passing in 2018: WhistlePig is the world’s most awarded Rye Whiskey and for good reason. We took an unloved grain, falling out of favor post-Prohibition, and added a dedicated band of Rye enthusiasts to bring it back to life. With a clear vision to reinvent Rye Whiskey, we went off the grid, to build whiskey our own way in Shoreham, Vermont, USA. This is whiskey for a new age. Legendary distiller Dave Pickerell created his dream playground for experimental whiskey, then left it to the youngest, most restless and rebellious team in the industry. We’ll never stop fighting the good fight for Rye, breaking down boundaries in American whiskey, and drinking our mistakes along the way. Now you wouldn't be here if you already had a bottle in your hand, would you? Read on and see if this release might be the one for you! Company on Label: WhistlePig Whiskey Co. Whiskey Type: Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Rye Proof: 109.7° Age: 6 years Further identification: This comes from barrel 6165; it is a collaboration pick between Mass Bourbon Alliance and Liquor Junction; the back label states that it was distilled in VT and bottled by WhistlePig in Mineville, NY - their remote barrel storage and bottling location Nose: Sweet cotton candy up front. There are aromas of hard lemon candy, wheat bread, butterscotch, and rich toffee. All over super viscous & buttery nose texture. Digging deeper I find an approachably light linen, old dining room wood and porcelain accoutrements. Amazingly, as ryes can often surprise, this feels aged to completion at 6 years. Bountiful sweet oak gently cradles the delicate fruit and sweet candy tones that still linger strongly in the glass. Later in the glass smoky charcoal builds, only slightly brooding. Deep inhales show off graham cracker and rattan. The empty glass produces notes of candied cherry, milk chocolate and fields of bramble. Palate: Citrus and stone fruit burst forth here well. Lavender and rich cherry vibrate excitedly across the tongue. The finish is strong and long with raspberry, creamy caramel and blackberry tart. Another sip improves the raspberry tones to a level unmatched by another whiskey. Hints of chocolate dance through this pour like a contagious laugh. A slight salinity creeps in late in the glass, offering a slightly savory contrast to the pervasive fruit tones. My last sip is creamy and filled with the delicious explosions of lemon frosting, Easter candy, and tarragon that ruminates on a subtle spice backbone. Rating: Two Thumbs Up (I don't assign numerical scores to whiskeys I personally selected.) I'm a big fan of this one (obviously, or I wouldn't put my name on it). I think there are aspects of this pour that can appeal to drinkers of all walks of life. Irish whiskey fans can appreciate the creamy mouthfeel that the pot still imparts, rye drinkers will find those zesty & effervescent tones, and bourbon drinkers will find bountiful fruit for a satisfied sweet tooth. This has me keen to explore some more WhistlePig releases. Let me know if you've ever had something similar to this down in the comments. Cheers!

This is what happens when the picking gets good! Mass Bourbon Alliance has once again teamed up with Liquor Junction to deliver some of the best whiskey in the world to our great local community here in MA. Found North does their single barrel program a little different than most. They took a blend of some exceptionally aged whiskeys and filled that blend into 18 different finishing casks. We were able to select from a handful of options but ultimately settled on this Calvados finish for its beautiful depth, sweetness and complexity. Found North describes their process on their website, saying: Our single barrel program captures the precision inherent in blending Canadian whisky and the magic of selecting and bottling single barrels. We use well-aged whiskies to create an initial blend. We then re-cask that blend into a variety of different barrels, using different oak types and different char levels to create varying flavor profiles and a distinct style for each single barrel. Our program therefore allows us to be particular about the starting point of our single barrels, while also creating distinctiveness and individuality from barrel to barrel. They also further describe the base whisky makeup of Season 1 prior to finishing: We blended and married Season 1 in December, 2021 and re-casked it in January, 2022 into 18 barrels. We used three different whiskies to create a blend optimized for re-casking. We maximized the rye spice and bright fruits, while layering in a viscous foundation. The younger rye provided a primed canvas with zesty citrus, verdant straw and herbaceous spice. We mixed in the older rye aged in Speyside scotch casks, which developed richer fruit notes of green apple, sugar-coated strawberries and cantaloupe. Lastly, we mixed in an old corn component that saw 13 years of ex-bourbon and a further 8+ years of new American oak. This provided an oily depth to the palate and had a rounding effect on the lively younger rye. The resulting blend was bright, floral and hefty with lots of room for wood spice, wood sugars and tannin, a perfect starting point for further maturation. The whole project sounded like a prime example of some amazing whiskey nerds applying themselves wholeheartedly to a passion project. The end result is truly a masterpiece with this Calvados finish and I tip my hat to Zach and Nick Taylor for their exquisite blending skills. It sure makes my job easy! Now let's dive into a review! Company on Label: Found North Whisky Whiskey Type: Canadian Rye Whisky Mash Bill Percentages: 66% Rye, 30% Corn, 4% Barley Proof: 117.4° Age: 12 years (a blend of 50% 12 year rye, 20% 19 year rye, and 30% 21 year corn whiskies) Further identification: This comes from Season 1, Barrel 010; it is a collaboration pick between Mass Bourbon Alliance and Liquor Junction Nose: Bright butterscotch and oak upfront. It is so damn buttery on the nose. White, sweet florals dance well. An inherent French characteristic that is hard to pinpoint is woven into the fabric of this delicious whiskey blend. A light lemon squeeze layers in on top of creamy tea with milk. A swirl of the glass releases aromas of an "appletini". Orange peel, plum and juicy apricots are delectable treats on long inhales. Milk chocolate, toffee and rich apple cider donut aromas give this exceptional complexity. I can't find anything I dislike and it's constantly evolving in the glass. The empty glass smells of applejack, pop rocks candy, and silky strawberry syrup. Palate: My first sip is laced with lovely orange peel zest. Brown sugar, molasses, demerara sugar, Angostura bitters, and deep cherry sweetness coat the tongue. Like the nose I'm transported to France with the elegance of this delicate apricot and cider influence. The finishing barrel has imparted exactly the right amount of flavor while letting the base whiskey still shine. Another sip is silky smooth with bold flavors still getting served up on a silver platter. Honeysuckle, candied orange, and peach flambé combined with the brown sugar, mascarpone and linen undertones make this a yummy, layered dessert pour. Not too sweet, not too savory. Just right. Mmm. My last sip shows off the lovely barrel funk that this pour has picked up in it's extra large surface area barrel. The finish is medium with just the right amount of crushable, sweet deliciousness that will keep you sipping at a dangerous pace if you're not being careful! Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up* *Since I was involved with selecting this single barrel, I feel that it would be intellectually dishonest to give it a numerical score at this time. I think you know where it would land though, this stuff is truly drool worthy. It opens up marvelously over time with air as well. My 750 mL sample bottle did not last long. This pick is now available at Liquor Junction for purchase. Get some before it's gone! In the group page discussions for Mass Bourbon Alliance, I made the following comments which I still stand by today: This one has truly been a delight. Every glass I've pulled out of this sample bottle has been like liquid gold. I tasted quite a few great things yesterday (including William Larue Weller) and this was the highlight of my day & easily the best tasting dram I had. Yes, I honestly think this pick was higher quality than 2021 WLW. Hope this review is helpful! Cheers.

I never would have thought to review this today if I wasn't vigorously popping the cork on my 2021 Old Rip Van Winkle today for a fun reel I did on Instagram. I have previously tried it with my old man and @amongstthefernsco around Christmas time and haven't touched it much since then. I remember it tasting sweeter & better than the 2020 when we first tried it. I also recall exclaiming that it reminded me a lot of a E.H. Taylor Single Barrel. Let's see how I feel about this ORVW today! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Wheated Mash Bill Proof: 107° Age: 10 years Further identification: This is a 2021 release (laser code L21xxx...) that I purchased in December of that year Nose: Very distinct candied cherry sweetness permeates the glass as soon as I touch my nose to it. There's a creamy nose-feel that carries caramel, walnut, and confectioners sugar. Silky, creamy, candy sweetness all through this glass... It's really quite lovely. After a bit of time in the glass I find ripe pear, white linen and milk chocolate. It's so, so bright and quite permeating. It breaths into the chest like a cool breeze. On deeper inhales a touch of pepper, leather and oak can definitely be found but they are subtle. On finding no further complexities, I believe it is time for a sip! Returning to the nose I find everything about where I left it. It doesn't have as good of a nose as I'd hoped, but I also have a touch of Spring allergies affecting my sinuses for what it's worth. Coming back to the glass after a long break where I left the glencairn covered I'm delighted to be welcomed back with more cherry, blackberry and light herbal tea notes. Black tea, linen and skittles sweetness continue to make this an enjoyable aroma. It definitely feels a bit lacking in nuanced complexity if that is what you are looking for out of an older release. The empty glass smells of cherry skins, raisins and faint vanilla char. Palate: My first sip is tart with cherry skins leading the way. Almost instantly the linger turns to chocolate briefly and then a deep fruity sweetness. There's plum, a rich fig and strawberry jam that sits on the tongue for a nice, long linger. There's a sweet tart candy background that sticks around in the mouth coating until you really try to work it away. This release is definitely a sweet tooth's delight. On another sip I find a soft and dry cinnamon stick note that doesn't seem to have any spice to it - just the flavor. A larger sip and swish reveals a dark, leather-bound book note that I dig. The mouth feel isn't quite what drives the linger on and on; it's more of a smoky vapor that hangs in the back of the mouth and continues to drop little raindrops of sweet candied fruit onto your taste buds from just out of reach. After a good while in the glass I find the pour has turned slightly more tannic than it started with raspberry and grape popping nicely onto the scene. It starts soft and then builds in intensity - like a cayenne spice would - but with sweet fruit here. I really love all the sweet fruit this one shows off. There is almost a brandy flavor profile to this as well that I am enjoying. While picking apart flavor profiles is always fun for me, I really feel like this is a pour better suited to just sitting back and enjoying. Yummy pour, but I probably get the same amount of enjoyment out of a Taylor Single Barrel or maybe even Small Batch. My last sip is a lovely sugary melting pot of red fruit. The linger is long and loving without being overpowering. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf) While this is definitely exceptionally sweeter and softer than the 2020 release I remember, it definitely doesn't have any added complexity that I feel would catapult it into a new score realm. So the trusty 4 will have to do here. All in all, I like it for sure - but you won't find me going crazy trying to get multiples of it with how hard it is to procure. I'm glad I still have some 2020 left that will hopefully stick around until 2022's release when I may do a fun head to head! That's still a long ways away.... So back on the shelf this one goes. Cheers!

Old Rip Van Winkle... AKA "ORVW"... A classic! A dang tater classic! This 10 year wheated bourbon is now being distilled and bottled by Buffalo Trace, not the same distillate that created the original "Pappy craze". Regardless, I typically enjoy this mash bill from them (same as the Weller line). Today I received some good news which means the 'good stuff' is available for pouring. The first bottle that came to mind was this, and as such, I'll be giving it a proper review. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Wheated Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Wheated Mash Bill Proof: 107° Age: 10 years Further identification: This is a 2020 release Nose: Cinnamon, syrupy cherry, candied apple & caramel all immediately present themselves after pouring. Dark oak wafts warmly into the nose from anywhere. Nutmeg and sweet whipped cream paint a wonderful cappuccino portrait. Plum and cherry are now the predominant sweetness. A tiny hint of milk chocolate is hanging around in the back of the glass. Raisin and stewed plums mm give me wicked pie vibes. Is this November in a glass? Dreaming of Fall already. Noses much like Weller Antique does, but definitely has a little more character tonight compared to previous pours. Settling in to a very smooth delivery; the vanilla notes are so perfectly married to the desk oak that floats through. While I'd love to keep funding new notes, this glass seems to have run out of new tricks. I love all the notes I found so far through and can definitely appreciate some of the hype on this one for people who want big flavor with no bite. Palate: Peppery nutmeg & cinnamon pop! Spicy cherry washes all the sharpness of the first sip down. Whipped heavy cream and caramel settle things into a solid base. Creamy mouth feel continues, but is accompanied with the high flying citrus zest tied to the cherry. Hints of the herbal side of things dare to dart out in between waves of varying cherry profiles. The vanilla sticks in the peripherals of the mouth, adding up to the overall flavor experience over time. I love a pour that builds. In previous tastings I may not have let this come into it's true form on it's own. Yum! Rating: 4/5

Four Roses Limited Edition is always an exciting release every year. The creativity in the blends is always interesting & I love to see some of their high aged barrels going to a blend when traditionally they do a lot of single barrel products. What’s your favorite @fourrosesbourbon release? From information gathered from the Four Roses website, a blend of this nature might combine the delicate fruit and rye of OBSV with extra rye & light floral character of OBSQ while layering in baking spice, more fruit and caramel from OESK and OESV. The back of the bottle shows off the master distiller's intention of the blend saying: The Four Bourbons in this beautifully layered Limited Edition release present delicate sweet aromas of ripe berries, light floral notes and hints of rich, warm oak. Bright fruit flavors of plum and orange peel, and delicate spice lead to a finish that is long and smooth with lingering touches of vanilla cream and dark chocolate. Savor every sip. The embossed cluster of four roses on the front of the glass along with the proud shoulders of the bottle shape give this wonderful distinction on the shelf. I waited in an arduously long line in excruciatingly cold weather at Julio's Liquors in MA in order to turn in a hold card for the right to purchase this at a fair cost of around $150 sometime in early 2021. I've been diving back into this frequently now that I have a 2022 release on hand, which I have since reviewed as of March 2023. For now let's dive into some of the deeper specifics of the 2021 release & make sure to keep on scrolling for my tasting notes. Company on Label: Four Roses Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of both the B and E mash bills; if we assume equal parts of each mash bill were used (B being 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley & E being 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley) we would arrive at something like 67.5% Corn, 27.5% Rye, and 5% Malted Barley Proof: 114.2° Age: NAS on the bottle (but it is listed as a blend of 12-16 year bourbons) Further identification: The 2021 limited edition blend consists of 16-year-old Bourbon from the OBSV recipe, a 14-year-old OBSQ, a 12-year-old OESK, and a 16-year-old OESV; the back of the bottle shows off the bottle number 12,356 of 14,880 Nose: The nose has lovely effervescence right away. Tingling lemon peel, vanilla frosting and cardamom greet me in a delightfully exuberant wave of aroma. Interesting bits of coriander, cumin and brown sugar meet in a funky, old-timey bourbon profile. The barrel influence is certainly present with all those highly aged ingredients; leather and dark oak are brooding yet inviting. After pulling off some of the heft at the start of the rested glass I begin to find more creamy tones. Floral tones begin to creep out of the depths as the more delicate aromas can be dug up. Vanilla orchids meet ponderosa pine in a silky nose-feel. Time for a sip! Returning to the glass after a sip I find a punnet full of fruit. Plum, raisin and blackberry jump out at me. Perfumed florals and a distant chocolatier hard at work give this fantastic depth. This continues to be extremely delicate yet voluptuous and just a fine example of what bourbons in this age range can accomplish. It's like a berries and cream parfait that I'm sure almost anyone could enjoy. I absolutely adore this nose. The empty glass smells of chocolate, raspberry and old leather-bound books. Palate: Well that drinks like silk! My first sip is soft, delicate and inviting like a warm cup of Earl gray tea. A squeeze of lemon sinks in behind it as some of the heft makes itself known. It's simple yet seductive as plum and allspice mix delicately with vanilla buttercream frosting. Another sip is simpler still as soft caramel and oak melt on the center of the tongue. With a swirl of the glass plum pie comes in incredibly bright and bubbly. This glass goes through interesting undulations throughout, never straying anywhere near inbalance or distaste. I find an interesting medley that reminds me of a Choco Taco. My last sip is a perfect balance of creamy citrus & floral funk. Lavender and lemongrass sit long on the linger. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) I won't make any exceptions on ranking nose over palate, but if I did have to rate this on just nose alone it would easily be a 5 for me. Everything is so expertly layered on this blend. The palate unfortunately just fell a little short in my book, though it is certainly an incredibly easy sipper. I know a whole slew of drinkers who would prefer this over many other rare barrel proof whiskeys just due to its approachability. This is a release that a lot of folks might not try or even get to see. If you do get the chance - I hope this review is helpful to you!

Four Roses is back at it again with another bold age-statement of 14-20 year bourbons from 4 different mash bills. This blend runs 'E' heavy on the mash bill for those who prefer the lower rye content. You can see the recipes used below, and if you have trouble deciphering the code words shown you can use this chart from Four Roses here. The 2021 edition of this release had an exceptional nose and a delicious palate, but ultimately fell short of my top mark: the illustrious 5/5. With the age creeping higher on this release, and more of the E mash bill taking center stage, this one might have the opportunity to soar to new heights. We won't know until we try it though will we? I have tasted this twice now before today as I also managed to score one of my good friends a bottle, which we shared together. My prior experiences have both been fairly amazing, though that can often happen in more of a social setting where expectations tend to manifest into reality. Regardless of the outcome of today's review, I'm always grateful for memorable experiences sharing whiskey in good company, and Four Roses often elevates those kinds of experiences. Now let's switch into analytical mode and pick apart this glass. Strap in; this is going to be a fun one for sure. Company on Label: Four Roses Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: A blend of both the B and E mash bills; B being 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley & E being 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Proof: 109° Age: NAS on the bottle (but it is listed as a blend of 14-20 year bourbons) Further identification: The 2022 limited edition blend consists of 20 year old OBSV, 15 year old OESK, 14 year old OESF, and 14 year old OESV bourbon; I am enjoying bottle 3,952/15,600 Nose: Lifting the glass to my nose I find funky molasses, butterscotch and praline. Another whiff wafts out heavy bread and dark, damp lumberyard aromas. It's immediately apparent that this has some serious age to it as potent oak tingles in the nose and chest. Allspice, soft black pepper cooled by vanilla frosting, and Adventurefuls Girl Scout cookies deepen the complexity of the aromatic experience. Flashes of well oiled leather, bright metal and general cleanliness remind me of a car showroom here. Overall the nose presents like a dulled down ultra-aged armagnac finished bourbon. There are hints of dark chocolate and linen. Ah, wow! Suddenly on a long inhale sweet plum begins to shine through. What a lovely transition that was. Cardamom, lavender and bright, earthy moss create a pleasant aura of an early Spring. The excitement fades as the glass returns to a simple wood forward array. Let's jump into a sip from here. Returning from a sip there is a glorious unleashing of sweet aromas that were hidden previously. Honeysuckle dominates now as the delicate sweetness of a strawberry purée slides like silk into the nose. Where this glass was soft and funky to begin with it is now bold & proudly producing beautiful fruit and floral tones only slightly jarred by a hint of cinnamon. On the empty glass I find notes of smoked chocolate bread pudding, raspberry scones, and a hint of crème brûlée. Palate: Mmm, where the beginning of the nose was lacking in fruit, the palate does not miss. Strawberry, cherry and raisin sit lazily on the tongue. There's incredible approachability here with zero evidence of any of the 109 proof points amid the sweet fruit parfait. Prune and plum can be found in the delicate linger, softened by a chewy vanilla cookie. The first sip emanates elegance like an exquisite bakery delight. Another sip offers more promising flavors: the strawberry punch is present again, followed by orange blossom, rhum agricole sweetness, and delicious lychee. There is a faint hint of coconut shavings sitting in the long linger noticeable during an exhale. Color me impressed thus far; these are some of the most delicious flavors I've had on a whiskey in a long time. A larger sip and swish poses the possibility of a sharp spice punch which instead fizzles out into a soft citrus zest. Flashes of creamy tea can be found between the more prominent fruit notes. Nerds rope is a fun surprise later in the glass as candied cherry and raspberry come together. As we work towards the bottom of my pour, I begin to find myself yearning to slow down even slower than my typical snail's pace and savor every drop of this. The cherry note is so crystal clear and delicious; I can feel myself biting through the skin, a juicy pop of sweetness hitting my tongue, and the pit being captured between my teeth in order to not get swallowed up with rest of the succulent fruit. It's just perfect. My last sip is indulgent and bittersweet. I find chocolate covered raisins, maraschino cherry, angostura bitters and black forest cake. The linger is impossibly long with strawberry sherbet, Earl gray tea, and expressed orange peel. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This is an incredible whiskey I am not soon to forget. Brent Elliott and the Four Roses team hit an absolute home run with this blend in my opinion. Comparing it head to head with the 2021 release, I definitely prefer the 2022 release personally. This years blend managed to take what was an already amazing whiskey and crank up the volume without getting too messy. Both batches have exceptional qualities that whiskey enthusiasts near and far can enjoy. I know I am going to be going back for more of this soon. Let me know if you agree with the 2021 vs 2022 comparisons down in the comments. Cheers!

If you don't already know about Parker's Heritage Collection, it's likely attributable mostly to its rarity. Very few bottles get released annually as we crest Heaven Hill's 16th year of honoring their late master distiller Parker Beam. Parker was taken from the Heaven Hill team after 56 years of service, ultimately succumbing to a 7 year battle with ALS. As such, in tribute of the incredible contributions he made to the distillery, a portion of every Parker's Heritage Collection bottle sold now goes to ALS research and patient care. For a little more backstory on this legacy, Heaven Hill's website states: Each year as part of the Parker's Heritage Collection, we select a special whiskey to be released in the name of our late Master Distiller Parker Beam. The barrels selected for this series include Bourbon, Rye, and Wheat Whiskeys, among others, and are some of the finest and most diverse American Whiskeys ever produced. They are a fitting tribute to the expertise of Parker Beam. In addition, the back of the bottle lists some extra information about this specific release, stating: The 16th edition of the Parker’s Heritage Collection consists of 67% 13-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that has been double barreled and then blended post aging with 33% 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The 13-year-old Bourbon was aged on floors 5 - 7 of Rickhouse Q and was then re-barreled in new American white oak barrels with a level 3 char for 4 weeks. Then, it was blended with 15-year-old Bourbon aged on floors 2 and 5 of Rickhouse II. The double barreling of the 13-year-old Bourbon helped to bring out even more oak and spice notes from the barrel, while later blending it with older Bourbon helped to create a unique, bold and balanced flavor profile. At bottling, the liquid was uncut and non-chill filtered to preserve the complex flavors of this truly unique Bourbon. With the previous releases of the Heavy Char 10 year bourbon and the wheat whiskey under my belt, I'm excited for what I'm expecting will be another rollercoaster ride of flavors. So before we lose you, patient reader, let's get into the review. Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 132.2° Age: 13 years (though it lists a breakdown of 67% 13 year and 33% 15 year bourbons in the blend) Further identification: The PHC 16th edition released in the Fall of 2022 Nose: Bountiful barrel funk emanates powerfully from the glass upon lifting it to my nose. Caramel, molasses, worn leather and aromas of a well-stocked woodshed rush into the airways at full steam. Soft hints of peanut brittle can be found behind subtle vanilla cupcake. Every evolution of oak can be perceived here from leaf to bark to grain to earth. The extra oak from the secondary barrel isn't too overbearing (though definitely present) given the average age is something around 13.66 years. Sugar cookie and buttery fried breading can be found later in the resting glass. Thus far solid, but unexceptional to my nose before jumping into a sip. Let's do that now! Returning to the nose I find the barrel funk has returned but with a lot of great company. Confectioners sugar, vanilla, browned toasted marshmallow and exceptionally sweet cherry skins. This has all the hallmarks of well-aged bourbon as leather seeps into my nostrils on a long inhale. A softness creeps into the glass as the remaining volume draws low; thick butterscotch sauce trails off before materializing too clearly. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, smoke, leather, old linens, and a hint of sweet licorice. Palate: This certainly doesn't try to hide the fact it is sitting up at 132.2 proof. Cask strength lovers are in for a rich wave of dark fruit and spice like a well made mulled wine on first sip. Raspberry, plum, clove and allspice meet in a pretty lovely concoction. The mouthfeel is thick and jammy which leaves a sticky, long, tart-sweet linger sitting heavy on the tongue. Another sip is again fruit forward with cherry skins, tannic red grape and fig undulating softly. A sharper spice swings in after the fruit and tingles the tongue with a shimmer of tarragon, cardamom and nutmeg. A touch of salted cashew gives an interesting complexity that undulates between a thick, oily mouthfeel and the shock of a sprinkle of salinity. There are great meanderings between bakery sweets and the fruit concoctions all throughout this glass. A larger sip and swish certainly turns up the heat to a point where this would likely not be approachable to all, but it should be well in hand for an experienced whiskey drinker. Triangulating between the three pillars of this pour I taste through the backbone of this pour: solid, funky oak, typical Heaven Hill vanilla and the mulled wine fruit notes all culminate in a very tasty dram. My last sip has the big wave of raspberry again, nuanced slightly with blackberry and fig. It's big, bold and delicious. The linger is dark and moody with plum pudding, sticky honey and slightly savory baking spices. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) As always, honesty is the best policy. While this is an exceptionally delicious whiskey - it doesn't have the wow factor to earn my top mark. I am still incredibly glad that I won the rights to purchase this one at this years Rapid Liquor whiskey raffle & will be savoring (and sharing) every bit of this bottle. Have you tried this one? Let me know what you think of it in the comments.

I have actually already reviewed this previously; I forgot that, and reviewed it again anyway! Funny enough - I reviewed it for the same reason I did last time... I had it open for preparing a sample! I've shared more of this bottle than I've enjoyed it myself. It seems to be one people ask for a lot when they see it on my shelf. I'm grateful to have one to share, but try to reach for it sparingly to keep that opportunity alive. Let's see if my thoughts have changed much with a little air time on this? Company on Label: Heaven Hill Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 120° Age: 10 years Further identification: 2020 raffle win Nose: Malt & chocolate. Dusty Heaven Hill vanilla forward. Light clove and anise. Vaguely reminds me of a smoother Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye, oddly. Baking spices flourish throughout this glass. Slightly dry & metallic. Definitely that unique Heaven Hill vanilla is the dominant note early in the glass. After a bit of jostling and a swirl some faint stone fruit come out to play. Some great nuttiness to this too; roasted peanuts with a bit of salt. Olive oil & touches of parsley. Lovely complexity here. 120 proof is a bit of a nose scorcher if you get too close. A continued dry yet creamy vanilla continues to be the predominant smell. Wow, fine cut saw dust now. This thing just keeps evolving... Some caramelized sugar now alongside a bright white paper note. The empty glass smells of wet pavement, axe-split red oak, and a medley of baking spice. Palate: Syrupy mouthfeel with an immediate flavor bomb that explodes across the tongue. Cinnamon hots, heavy oak, pepper and peanut shells are at the forefront of my first sip. That definitely came off quite intense, so be ready for this pour! Thick, unbelievably rich mouth feel. Plum, apricot, dusty oak and vanilla are a bombardment of flavors that starts syrupy that then fades into a long, drying finish. I'm kind of amazed at how nutty this is remaining throughout. The nose has evolved drastically but the palate has stayed mainly on the same course. Hints of mint are trying to claw out from the back end of the glass, while a grapefruit citrus bubbles across my tongue. This is one of those pours that 'breathes' with you a bit, which I love. A lovely mellow popcorn shell and buttery pecans are a nice surprise near the bottom of the glass. I fear I am entering the phase I usually end up on this pour - it turns most incredible right at the end of the glass. Ohhh yes, lovely plum sweetness with a strong vanilla backbone has returned. It's now incredibly robust without being too hot. My last sip was swishes and savored long with pie crust, walnuts, cherry hots rising late, and then long lingers of toasted oak, vanilla dust and peanut brittle. Delicious finish! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Actually, very close to some of the notes from the previous review... I think I enjoyed it a bit more tonight than my last review, but not enough to move the score. I still wholeheartedly agree that the nose far surpasses the palate on this one.

The legendary release from Michter's Distillery is back for 2022! We have to admit that rarity sometimes catches a lot of attention. The 2022 release of Michter's 20 year epitomizes that phenomenon with only 592 bottles available for the world. Quality, in my opinion, should always be judged by what is in the bottle, but ultimately packaging can have an effect on your overall experience. I have a portion of that removed presently for this review given I am pouring out of a sample jar (which does not seem to have tainted the whiskey in any way). Regardless I'll do my best to be honest based on what I taste. I normally like to try something 2-3 times before I offer my thoughts to you, oh wonderful reader, but that won't be possible on this one. I hope you understand... As for how I came by this epic opportunity to taste a ridiculously rare release, my good friend Jordan managed to score one of those bottles and without batting an eye, graciously shared a sample with me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to dive into this one with no strings attached & the warm and fuzzies of a wonderful whiskey community that truly makes me feel like I stand on the shoulders of giants at times. Michter's describes their process for finding barrels fit for this release, saying: While we regularly sample all our Michter’s barrels to see how our whiskey is aging, we pay even extra special attention to our barrels once they are over 17 years old. At Michter’s we consider 17 to 20 years the “Fork In The Road Point” when certain barrels of whiskey can achieve an extraordinary level of quality. It is these particular barrels that our Master Distiller Dan McKee personally selects for our very limited bottling of Michter’s 20 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Now let's see how it tastes. Is the juice worth the $1,200 squeeze? I'll leave that for you to decide, but hopefully these tasting notes help you in that regard. Company on Label: Michter's Whiskey Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Proof: 114.2° Age: 20 years (minimum, but Michter's has been known to use older stocks than what's on the label) Further identification: Batch No 22H2517, Bottle 237 of 592 Nose: Rich & inviting from a distance. Lemon forward citrus tones & white lily are both delicate on initially inhaling the air sitting undisturbed in my glencairn. There's a beautiful brightness to the nose here like some vintage pre fire Heaven Hill releases have demonstrated to me. It has that light clay characteristic that screams low barrel entry proof. Cardamom, allspice and creamy vanilla takes me on a sudden ride. Let's have a sip! Coming back I find funky evergreen sap, cedar, old spice aftershave and a trove of leather clippings. This is such an interesting medley of aromas you just don't find on high volume whiskey production today & not a profile I think I'll ever see replicated again. Nearing the bottom of the glass star fruit and anise begin to bubble up out of the depths of the glass. Old newspapers crumpled up for lighting the cast iron wood stove settle things down. Deep inhales now produce bountiful charred wood like the end of a spent match. The empty glass smells of white linens on a Summers clothesline & strong, fresh tea steaming up into my nostrils. Wow. Palate: Buttercream frosting and lemon cake jump out at me first. Boozy amaretto and hot chocolate follow, a staple Winter warmer in the Amongst household. Another sip ratchets up the surprisingly subtle oak and spice, bringing in cherry skins, pomegranate and peach preserves. A larger sip and swish produces a nice array of black pepper, pie crust, plum and fig. The linger is fleeting but it does roll in a big Indiana Jones boulder from the tip of the tongue down through the chest with great weight and volume. My last sip is a delicate one as subtle notes of lemon peel, black tea, curry powder and vanilla extract undulate into the annals of my memory. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Just exceptional whiskey. A delicate yet powerfully moving blend that I'm not soon to forget. Now I just wish I could get my hands on a bottle! Cheers folks.

New England Barrel Company continues their world tour in 2023! What started as me meeting up with James Saunders at some of the first stores to get single barrel picks (Redstone Liquors and Gordon's) has quickly snowballed into a company with some serious fans. I've had the great pleasure of selecting two barrels myself for Mass Bourbon Alliance, but the magic really lies in generating blends that can satisfy a seemingly insatiable demand for good bourbon that exists today. Enter small batch select. Blending a few barrels to be able to achieve a cohesive final product is actually much harder than it sounds. Talented tasters will have a field day experimenting in this space, but not everyone really has a knack for it. There are fantastic examples of good blenders out there, but many more examples of blends that just don't quite land. Today's review features one of the more recent installments of the blending prowess of James. Now let's dive right in to the whiskey itself. Company on Label: New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley Proof: 118.36° Age: 4 years Further identification: Batch 2021-04 comes with a distilled in Kentucky statement which means it was distilled by Green River Nose: Funky caramel and molasses jump out of the glass upon first lifting it to the nose. Bright sugary tones provide a layer of effervescence in the nose-feel. Crème brûlée and distinct lemon peel layer in over a subtle tea backbone. I love what's going on here so far. Deepening my dive I find my left nostril finding more of those citrus tones as orange zest and light grapefruit join the hot toddy medley. My right nostril harbors most of the spice where cinnamon and sweet bread meet powerfully. Let's jump into a sip. Returning from a sip I find a volume of funky oak that would easily fool me if I were to try to guess the age on this blind. Much of the same classic caramel and vanilla can be found unevolved here. Consistency can certainly be key for some, but I find this a little unexciting on the nose personally. Late in the glass some great barrel funk returns, nearly touching upon some of the same characteristics that dusty releases quadruple this age statement would elicit. Hints of leather and linen can be found between the creamy vanilla that has settled back into the glass. My now empty glencairn smells of leather, mahogany and a tropical beach. There's a fresh pot of coffee not far away. Palate: Right away things feel turned up to 11 on the flavor knob. Lemon scone and raspberry tart punch forth before a buttery dinner roll calms the riotous show down. Another sip allows me to dissect much further as coffee bean meets plum and fig in an interesting shimmering standoff of flavors a bit at odds with each other. The linger sits heavy but short in a creamy wave of buttercream frosting, vanilla bean ice cream and pot-still sugar cookie. Fans of Irish whiskey will be right at home with this profile, and there's plenty of corn sweetness to appease the bourbon drinkers as well. This flavor profile is altogether quite unique to this distillate. It's chocolate forward in a way that borders hot espresso, but it ultimately lands closer to tiramisu without as much creaminess. Raspberry skins and amaretto build well late in the glass. The prevalent flavor I can't seem to shake now continues to be that coffee bean from earlier. I wish the glass maintained the lemon forward characteristics it started with, but I'm ultimately still not disappointed in this bottle. My last sip is much of the same with decent cherry heft up front, followed by a wave of caramel & cream, and ultimately finishing in the realm of Irish coffee served on ice. It's a fun profile that I think bucks the norm of modern whiskey, giving a subtle and tasty nod back to distilling days gone by. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Adding a little water to another ounce post-review has unlocked significantly more wood tones on the nose and amplified the caramel and cream flavors. The linger has extended and is now filled with jammy fruit notes. James knows best in this space - it's always fun to experiment with whiskey. These blends are testament to that innovative spirit and I think New England Barrel Company has pulled off some pretty impressive blends with an eclectic array of inputs. If you ever see batch 21-03 just buy it and thank me later. 2021-04 is also a strong hit for the lineup, but not my personal favorite of them all. Hope this review helped. Cheers!

New England Barrel Company is an awesome new start up out of New England who are taking a new spin on sourcing great whiskey. I was excited to see a new local label on the shelf. The lighthouse definitely caught my eye as something new. I have previously tasted my way through their 21-02 batch which I jumped a little too hastily into reviewing early on. The bottle ended up being pretty great and I crushed it with a few family members out on a trip. I have since found the 21-01 label and thought I'd give this one another fair shake. Let's see how this tastes! Company on Label: New England Barrel Company Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 21% Rye, 9% Malted Barley Proof: 117.4° Age: 3.25 years Further identification: From conversations with the founder, James, he informed me this batch (21-01) is sourced from Green River Distilling, formerly the OZ Tyler Distillery out of Owensboro, KY Nose: Floral caramel candy. Nice chocolate rye spice. Wax paper with a light black pepper sprinkled over it. Rye grain nestled well into a savory oak. Dark cherry skin presents very light and needs to be pulled out quickly and aggressively. Light allspice. Impressive almost murky layers to this. Almost as though I am smelling through a thick fog. The air in the glass feels heavy and rich. Meaty funk like pulled pork; occasionally kicked into another gear by lemon and an earthy grass. The meaty notes are so pronounced here... This is really fun/interesting. Such a clear, unique chocolate and pepper combination too. Great pre-sip nose. Post sip nose turned a bit creamier, and with it came some metallic notes. It feels like I'm over a vat or by a still with this nose; like I'm part of the creation of this somehow. Creamy vanilla is now translating into more sweetness which is nice. Eventually there is enough sweetness where it starts smelling more like a marshmallow late in the glass. Deep inhales characterize the overall feel of this glass to be very caramel and spice forward. Some light molasses funk and a tad bit of nuttiness like a pistachio. Later this turns more into a standard peanut smell. Empty glass shows off a light milk chocolate. Good layers all the way through. Palate: Whew! Big spice tingle to start, followed by the creamy caramel and vanilla. The cherry skin from the nose has popped and it is so syrupy with some cinnamon hots running through the cracks in the cherry. Definitely some cooking herbals starting to stew in the bottom of an oily pan. A spicy rise exudes a good amount of proof on the back end of the flavor. Things have mellowed into more sweetness now with a salty raisin note and smoky, charred oak. When I say smoky it's not like a heavy fire smoke, but like if someone were smoking a vanilla tobacco out of a pipe the next room over kind of feel. Cherry is turning quite hot near the end, but it has a great syrupy texture to it that is really yummy. The finish is really the only place the oak shows up on this one. The texture and taste of the oak note on the finish is the only place I had any evidence of this being under 4 years. I think it definitely drinks above it's age, at least to the 4 year mark, which is usually very hard to do against my palate. Last sip of the glass is enjoyable and warming, with a dark cherry hug goodbye. Rating: 4/5 Color me impressed on this one! I think this definitely tasted better than the 21-02 batch I tried, but for 3.25 years, which would normally almost always be a turn away point for me (or so I thought), this bourbon does great things. It just goes to show that there really no hard and fast rules in the world of whiskey. If you were on the fence about this one and like spicier bourbons: give this a shot!