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Karthik Sudhir at Phenomenal Spirits is back at it again! The RY3 project has been a hit across the world with rum cask finishes, toasted barrels, and now madeira cask finishes all spreading to whiskey enthusiasts fortunate enough to try the brand. The one constant across these 3 releases is the base blend. The Ry3 title is a reference to the clever combination of 3 base whiskeys: Indiana rye, Alberta rye, and light whiskey. The madeira cask that was offered to Spirit Animal Society and Liquor Junction is probably the most light whiskey forward blend I've tasted to date. As part of this pick we were offered 3 different options. The picking team chose incredibly well; big thank you to the Spirit Animal picking team that was selected to help me make this choice: @barrettimbibes @bourbonman81 @fatheatklein @_LostNemo_ @luckytimmy13 @suburban_ontherocks @whiskey_thief_dude and @witwhiskeyandworkouts We asked for some extra aging on this cask after we had selected it and our wish was granted. The end result is a whiskey that I think evolved even further beyond the exceptional finish we tasted at time of sampling. Now let's get into how it tastes today! Company on Label: Phenomenal Spirits Whiskey Type: Finished Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of 3 mash bills: 95% Rye / 5% Malted Barley (MGP), 100% Rye (Alberta), and a 99% Corn / 1% Malted Barley (Seagrams/MGP) Proof: 122.4° Age: Undisclosed proportions of ~4 year MGP rye, ~5 year Alberta rye, and ~15 year Light Whiskey Further identification: This is a single barrel pick that Liquor Junction picked up in collaboration with Spirit Animal Society Nose: Beautiful funk up front mixed with just the right amount of sweetness to be both intriguing and enticing. Deep inhales produce notes of honeysuckle, Spring flowers and succulent peach. Stewed apricots, plum, fig and toffee culminate in an exceptionally layered dessert for the nose. Aromas of crêpes flambé, roasted walnut and a new layer of funk that reminds me of a well-aged armagnac continue to evolve. Let's jump into a sip. Coming back from a sip I've found the profile to have been maintained well, but now with more volume. This thing is cranked up to 11 in the aroma volume department. It fits the "MAD RY3" tasting team's craziness well. More stewed fruits continue to build up alongside the prevalent oak. Hints of leather, black pepper and salted caramel provide exceptional complexity for the more experienced whiskey drinker. To me this noses mostly like a light whiskey and almost nothing like your typical rye. What an exceptional blend. Interestingly, late in the glass almost all of the funk that was present in the glass earlier subsides, and I'm left with a return to the lovely soft profile of a honey-laden tea being enjoyed in the early morning sun of a late Spring day. To shorten that prose - it's beautiful. Hints of salinity can be found near the bottom of the glass. Deep inhales elicit the smells of vanilla frosting emanating from a Parisian Patisserie. A real macaron can nearly be plucked from the glass. From the empty glass I find notes of savory pub grub (think ketchup / barbecue sauce, but fleeting) and plum skins. Just unreal through and through. Palate: Oooh - a punchy, flavorful wave hits first with none of the burn you might expect to come along with it. In that wave I find deep tones of orange peel, peach jelly and crème brûlée. The mouthfeel is syrupy without being cloying; mostly reminiscent of a well made grape jam or a raspberry parfait. I'm torn between leaning towards the jam on toast profile or the creamy yogurt mixed with fruit idea. Both seem to be open to interpretation here as you dig through this delicious dram. Another sip produces more strawberry and cherry tones more typical of a great bourbon profile - I think this will appeal well to all sorts of drinkers. It's just delicious. Honey nut bars can be found in the simmering, easy linger. This drinks so, so far below it's proof, yet never lacks in the flavor department. Wow, as the glass gets lower the red grape flavors begin to amplify and I begin to grow happier (I swear I poured a normal volume for this review). These sweet flavors are again balanced perfectly by a subtle walnut, fig and toasted almonds. Wow; every sip seems to build in intensity as blackberry, plum and cacao start to envelop the taste buds. Nearly imperceptible layers of a well-made cup of coffee usher me towards another sip. I haven't had something this flavorful and head turning in a long, long time. Late in the glass the raspberry, plum and fig tones come back strong. The overall feel of the glass is that of a well crafted fruit dessert. It's comfortable, thoroughly enjoyable and one of the most balanced cask strength whiskeys I can think of. My last sip is thoroughly delicious with a repeat of the raspberry and plum flavors, but this time we get an exciting addition of sugar cookie and kouign amann. The linger is long with tart fruit hanging out at the back of the tongue as light citrus tones and creamy tea rise out from the chest. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up If this review was a little too wordy for you, don't fret. This section is for you: this is the best RY3 release I've had to date. While I am going to stick to my policy of not rating anything that I personally had a hand in selecting, I can tell you that I'm being as honest as I can be when I say this is one of my new favorite whiskeys for this year. I'd put this in line with some really exceptional releases I've also reviewed such as Elijah Craig C922, Redbreast PX edition, and Starlight PX Sherry finish. Get over to Liquor Junction and grab one of these as soon as you can.

Black Brier is one of the newest additions to a growing product line from Nelson's Green Brier Distillery. The brand has a long and fun history that I definitely suggest you explore. I got into their whiskeys early on and learned that the company certainly knows whiskey; sourcing and blending some of my favorite releases to date. Charlie can probably tell you the story in the most fun way, but Andy is a great wealth of whiskey knowledge too. If you missed the Spirit Animal Society live interview with Charlie, you're certainly missing out! Photo: Whiskey University To sum up their incredible story in too few words to do it justice, the aforementioned brothers resurrected their great-great-great grandfather's family distillery that originated in 1860. They're now making, blending and bottling whiskey that they believe honors their family's distilling legacy - a legacy you can continue to read about over on their website. It's well worth your time. Now back to the release! Given the few clues we have from the bottle labeling, I think we can assume this is a blend of some of their older remaining sourced stock as well as their own bourbon. The front label reads "a blend of straight bourbon whiskeys" and the back label reads "Bottled by Nelson's Green Brier Distillery". Without a 'distilled in' statement, we'll perhaps never know - so do with this little information what you will. I already know and love stout finished bourbons as a category, so this release is going to have a pretty high bar to clear for me. As I sit with this glass in front of me, I'm growing impatient to re-experience this... So let's get on with the review! Company on Label: Nelson's Green Brier Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed bourbon mash bill Proof: 109.8° Age: NAS Further identification: This Nashville distillery only release debuted in early 2023 at the Nelson's Green Brier Distillery gift shop; according to Charlie - the finishing barrel held a Blackstone Brewery Imperial Stout for about a year before getting dumped and then the bourbon blend spent another 11 months aging in that beer-soaked barrel before bottling; I have bottle 1851, so this seems to have been quite the blending undertaking Nose: Upon lifting the glass to my nose I find a comforting array of dark chocolate, cinnamon toasted oats and walnut bread. It's soft and inviting in the creamy nose-feel highlighted by bananas foster. Nutmeg and cashew sit in the undisturbed pool of liquid honey. As a stout lover, the influence is light here for such a long finish, but certainly present. Cacao nibs and syrupy vanilla come across almost like a root beer float with a big scoop of ice cream. A swirl of the glass reveals a well aged bourbon set aside for long enough to be noticeably oak-forward before deep inhales produce the lovely cherry tones I adore. Darker hints of raspberries begin to form in the glass before unveiling brighter tones again. Lemongrass and orange peel are nice additions to a complex array of aromas. Let's jump in to a sip from here. Returning from a sip I find a really unique caramel mixture that leans more towards a smoky butterscotch - if that's a thing. Overall the nose is bright with caramel, nougat and linen tones. Deep inhales produce soft notes of black pepper amid confectioners sugar. There's plenty of barrel funk for lovers of that style of whiskey. Rich oiled mahogany and hints of tobacco can be found near the bottom of the glass as the senses hone in on the experience presented. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, cherry skins and raspberry tea. Palate: On first sipping this I'm greeted with a delicious blackberry peach cobbler profile. The background notes are distinctly fruit forward - not buried by a huge wave of beer influence - which is what I loved about the previous iteration of their stout finished bourbon, Black Belle. Another sip amplifies the chocolate tones as mousse, tart raspberry and grape soda culminate in a fun, funky fresh flavor profile. Orange sherbet meets Irish coffee. Plum meets bark. Pecan meets fig. Everything about this is really interesting to explore, but the delivery is a touch messy in the way that it flip-flops. It still works pretty well here with enjoyable flavors all throughout. The highlight for me is how well the raspberry and the chocolate tones work together. As I sit pondering the feeling I get after the medium linger fades, I find that I love this glass, but I'm not in love with it. Black forest cake sits beautifully in the linger as waves of flavor continue to permeate from the exhaled air post-sip. The chest rise is elegant at this proof. My last sip has that wonderful effervescence that Black Belle did with sweet plum and cherry leading the way before a crème-filled chocolate imparts decadence on the tongue. The linger is long now with tootsie roll sweetness, sugar cookie and raisin. Yum! Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Just a delicious whiskey to enjoy on any occasion. I'm a sucker for stout finished bourbon and this one checks all the boxes of a delicious whiskey. I personally would have preferred a little more volume and finishing barrel influence when I compare it to the 113.3 proof cask 6499 Black Belle release I have alongside it post-review. While it didn't transcend into my top score (which is quite exclusive), it's still a whiskey I'm beyond thrilled to have on my shelf. As such - it easily earns my "Keep Amongst the Whiskey" distinction. If you can't get Black Belle (which it's fair to say you probably can't) - this is the next best thing. Props to the NGB team on another great release! Cheers.

Belle Meade is an oft overlooked brand (at least in my state) where I was amazed to find another bottle of the since-discontinued 'Cask Strength' version of the Reserve release still sitting on a shelf just last week. I purchased the bottle I am drinking in early 2020 and mainly left it alone after the first pour didn't knock my socks off and I had a lot of other open bottles at the time. I then promptly worked through half the bottle the next time I opened it and realized how good it is. I then left it alone for a long time again, knowing I may never get another of these cask strength versions with the new 108.3 proof release starting to take over NGB's production capacity. The standardization is likely great for consistency. I will definitely be reviewing the 108.3 proof Reserve release soon as well, but for now it's time to see how this Cask Strength holds up against my palate today. This has a distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN statement on the back of the bottle that tells us it is sourced from MGP. The mash bill is self-proclaimed as high-rye, but isn't the highest rye bourbon mash bill that MGP runs. Smoke Wagon is 36% for perspective. I'm really excited to revisit this so let's get into it already! Company on Label: Nelson's Green Brier Distillery (Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 64% Corn, 30% Rye and 6% Malted Barley Proof: 112° Age: NAS ("Aged to Perfection", 7-11+ years) Further identification: Batch No. 20-02, Bottle No. 1740; I purchased this in early 2020 Nose: Rich toffee and molasses forward profile on first nosing. Baking spice rises to the occasion swiftly but softly. Vanilla, dried apricot, allspice and bright oak dance in the glass. Hints of chocolate, leather, and syrupy plum build in well. A hefty wave of bergamot gives this a really nice profile that certainly sets it apart from other MGP releases I've had. Now with some air time things are definitely taking on some of the sweeter fruity tones but are brought back level and soft by flashes of lightly browned marshmallow. So far this is hitting all of my favorite notes. There's a touch of smoke alongside a dark raisin and walnut shells. A swirl subdues some of the citrus zest to expose soft pepper, allspice and old, earthy barn wood. Time for a sip. Wow, I didn't think I could like it more, but after a sip the nose is even better. Caramel has developed in well, the marshmallow is even softer & sweeter, and everything is just creamy soft. It gives me the feeling of falling asleep in a really comfortable chair or bed. It makes me want to close my eyes, just breath in and enjoy. Some of this softness may be due to oxidation at this point, with this bottle being around for so long and at an unfortunately lower-than-full fill level. The overarching note on the nose is definitely a comforting vanilla. There's a touch of lavender that surely helps this pour achieve a calming sensation. The empty glass smells of charcoal, sugar cookie, honey-soaked leather and white marble floors. Palate: My first sip is indulgent with syrupy plum, maraschino cherry, and a long caramel linger. I can tell already this is going to be a sweet tooth's delight. I'm admittedly not that person, but I can appreciate a well crafted assortment of flavors nonetheless. Another sip builds in the stone fruit intensity and adds in touches of leather, cinnamon and a heavy char that produces a syrupy vanilla mouth feel. Prunes, dried pear, and a mellow Sichuan peppercorn mouth-tingle all mingle incredibly to outperform some of the best mouthfeels I have experienced. It has that slightly numbing, slightly effervescent tingle that I know a lot of people love. And every sip reminds you of the fruit sweetness that launched this whole experience as well. If you're drinking along at home with this one, there's no way you can miss those red fruit; they are delicious. Ever so slight hints of banana peel can be found in the background of the linger if you filter out the incredibly sweet stuff that is happening in the foreground. Subtle touches of maple syrup, pie crust and cedar give this incredible depth. My last sip is once again soft and delectable with punchy surprises of raisin, dark cherry skins, caramel, plum, nutmeg and cinnamon. The finish is long with sweet fruit rolling over the tongue as your gums tingle with glee. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Absolutely delicious pour! After telling myself I was only going to have one pour tonight, I think I will make an exception for this bottle. Yum.

The top of the line; Redbreast 27 year is presented here under the Batch 3 bottling. I have just started to see Batch 4 coming around in MA, so hopefully I'll have a chance to give that a try too at some point. This bottle in particular was an amazing gift from my friend Eric - another stalwart example of how great the generous whiskey community can be. Many thanks to him for making this an easy choice to have open and share amongst friends in the Whiskey Study. The Redbreast lineup consists of quite a few exceptional bottlings: they have the 12 year, Lustau, PX Sherry, Kentucky Oak, 12 year cask strength, 15 year, 21 year and this 27 year. There also was an obscure 19 year release that had a very limited run. I have sampled all of these listed except for the 19 year and they do range in quality from release to release. Without fail though, a Redbreast release has always dominated my yearly Irish whiskey bracket. While I am clearly a fan of the 12 year and PX edition releases, not every release has been a hit. So you might be wondering... Is this thing worth 500 bucks? Let's find out. Company on Label: Pernod Ricard (Distilled at Midleton Distillery) Whiskey Type: Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 100% Malted and Unmalted Barley Proof: 106.2° Age: 27 Years Further identification: This Batch 3 edition of Redbreast 27 year comes in a stunning wooden box with metal inlays and a magnetic wooden latch that keeps the nigh 500 dollar bottle comfortably contained within its bounds Nose: Upon lifting the glass to my nose I find a thick wave of crème brûlée. Deep vanilla bean sweetness carries much more heft than your typical 80-90 proof Irish whiskey. Nougat, anise, leather and black treacle ooze rich barrel influence across the senses. The hallmark sugar cookie note is distinct yet missing its typical oily backbone. Rich oak and syrupy bakery sweets emanate elegance and comfort. Frosted vanilla cupcake aromas breath softly. Let's jump into a sip, where this glass usually shines. Coming back after a few sips I find that the glass has settled into the backdrop of a quaint, old woodworking shop. I find myself set into the countryside of pine boughs and cranberry bogs in early Spring. Deep inhales continue to produce cool waves of infinitely sweet vanilla. Swirling the glass wakes up the darker, brooding, warm tones of dusty cigar box, dark grape, and the damp dinge of the forest floor. As the glass gets low more fruit come forward on the nose; I find mulberry, prune and blackberry predominantly. The empty glass smells of sangria, tea and smoky honey. Delicious. Palate: Right away you can tell this is going to be a full-volume pour. Punchy citrus tones accentuate a juicy array of red fruit on the first sip. The mouthfeel is thick, oily and viscous - a staple of a good Irish whiskey in my mind. Buttercream frosting, soft & chewy vanilla cookies, and creamy banana cheesecake with a hint of lemon produce a sumptuous linger. Another sip and swish confirms the tenacity of the spinning flavor wheel. Lemon pudding comes across lightly textured with a layer of granulated sugar. There's so much sweetness up front that it can be easy to overlook some of the nuanced layers hiding behind that first punch. Tart raspberry is tantamount to the fruit itself; it reveals itself in a near holy way where I could clearly envision the fruit shrouded in a bright light as the flavor bounced off my gustatory cortex. Lemon glazed scones produce an irresistible sweetness that keeps me coming back for more. As I exhale after a sip I find notes of freshly brewed coffee, black forest cake and chocolate covered raspberries rising up from the chest. Excellent layers come together cohesively on my last sip. I find macerated cherry, plum, creamy vanilla, and ground espresso bean settles perfectly in the middle of the tongue for a medium to long linger that maintains poise and volume well. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Overall this is an exceptional Irish whiskey bottled at its peak performance. This would make an excellent addition to any whiskey enthusiast's bar. I am despondent every time I finish a glass from this bottle as I know it's not an easy one to keep stocked. I've been thoroughly impressed by every tasting I have had from this so far (this is my fourth try) and tonight is no different than previously. When I first opened this one I actually did a head to head comparison to the 21 year, and on that night the 27 year blew the 21 out of the water. Since I have some extra time and it's a Saturday with no further plans, I'll add a small comparison to the 21 year here below. While the 21 year is quite a bit more oily, it's also distinctly more boozy despite being lower in proof. It lacks the fruity balance of the 27 year release, but does shine in a completely different way as notes of sweet cereal, smoke and earthiness flesh out a very different final product. I could certainly see folks being a bit divided between the two based on personal preferences. I definitely find myself gravitating towards the fruit and bakery sweets that the 27 year showed off. The 21 feels quite simple in comparison, but it does share that freshly brewed coffee quality across both releases. While there are things to love about both I definitely still agree with former me that the 27 year shines quite bright and is a perfect example of the high quality whiskey coming out of Redbreast these days. Cheers!

Let's spend Sunday with the Reverend, shall we? While I'm recently coming off one of the more modern releases of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, I thought it would be a great idea to throw it back to one of the batches that first got me hooked on the brand. Each of the 2020 batches were quite special in their own way and I remember blinding them six ways from Sunday throughout that interesting year. While I often talked about it with friends and other enthusiasts - I wasn't writing down my thoughts for you, oh well-versed ATW reader just yet. In an effort to retroactively correct that, I will be exploring some of the older batches that I still have bottles of (which is most of them from Elijah Craig). I'm expecting you know the brand well if you're looking into one of the labels with a little layer of dust on it, so let's dive right into the review. Company on Label: Elijah Craig (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 132.8° Age: 12 years Further identification: Batch C920 was the 3rd and final release of the 2020 calendar year Nose: Caramel and molasses burst out of the glass upon raising it to my nose. Aromas of butterscotch, vanilla pudding and classic cream puffs come off in delectable waves. Prevalent but fresh oak permeates this glass, eliciting the feeling of camping in a damp, thriving forest. Confectioners sugar and crème brûlée make my eyes roll back in bliss. Everything comes together beautifully in a cohesive story here. The glass tells the tale of the first introduction of char to oak; creamy vanilla tones can be found in every corner. Before things can reach the precipice of sweet, sugary marshmallow - I find myself impatient to see how this tastes, given how delicious everything on the nose has been thus far. Let's have a taste. Returning to the nose I find signs of extended aging such as leather and vanilla pipe tobacco. Raspberry tart and sugared plum dance in the senses. It's unbelievable to me that this is 132.8 proof, as there is little evidence of that to the senses. As soft and approachable as a beignet - this embodies how exceptionally well certain barrel proof whiskeys can come across even more approachable than some of their lower proof counterparts. The empty glass smells of potent leather, Hilliards caramel filled chocolate bars, and the funny pages of the Sunday morning newspaper. Palate: Up front this glass delivers just the right heft, thoroughly flexing each of its proof points to deliver an exquisitely layered experience. As the liquid slides like silk past the taste buds, I find a treasure trove of milk chocolate, vanilla ice cream, white linen and wedding cake. The mouth feel is oily and creamy similar to the remnant coating a large sip of a well-brewed cappuccino will leave. Subsequent sips continue to be quite potent in volume without being damaging or harsh. Strawberry mixes in well to the sweet bakery flavors. I find almond and vanilla bean scone to be the dominant and delicious profile. Every sip is hefty yet balanced and never sloughs off. Plum pudding and walnut pie meet in a welcome reunion of family long missed. Nondescript comfort foods of the Thanksgiving dinner table & dessert line can be found throughout this layered, complex pour. Nilla wafers, black pepper, tiramisu and an infinite simmering effervescence of crushed almonds put this into a category of its own, completely impossible to reproduce. Hints of cherry lean towards an amaretto profile late in the glass. My last sip is like a perfect bite sized dessert treat. Yum. The finish is long and nuanced with coffee bean, plum and buttered croissant. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) While my mind's nostalgia may have been pushing me towards giving this one a 5, ultimately it pales in comparison to the greatness of C922. If you put both glasses side by side with each other it is plain to see the contrast. From some of the aforementioned blinds, I remember A120 was my favorite batch of the 2020 releases, and I forecasted B520 to be the approachable fan-favorite. I'd like to get to those some time to soon to see how that feeling has held up. For now I leave you with this! Hope this review helped. Cheers!

Somehow I've fallen off the Elijah Craig barrel proof train - I think it was when every store in the state of Massachusetts started getting single barrel picks. The excitement was there for about a month when the first few trickled in, but then they were absolutely everywhere. There was magic in the 3 release per year strategy, and honestly the blends are typically significantly better than the single barrels. There will always been exception, but the Elijah Craig barrel proof I fell in love with were the 2020 batches. Now notwithstanding all the high bars hanging around, I feel obligated to give the latest batch a fair shake today. I haven't found the time (nor made it a priority) to get ahead of these batches, but at least take the most relevant batch to a shelf near you for a spin today. Just looking at the glass is getting me a little amped up; I don't normally discuss color, but this pour has a really unique red tinge in the edges of the dark amber liquid. Let's get into it! Company on Label: Elijah Craig (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 124.8° Age: 12 years Further identification: Batch C922 is the third and final release of the 2022 calendar year Nose: On first lifting the glass sweet bread pudding, confectioners sugar, and the rest of a proper patisserie rise to meet the nose deftly. Vanilla married in molasses coats the tight-grained oak cutting board in front of me. Visions come to mind of honey drizzles over a charcuterie board of sharp cheeses (not present in the aromas, just a mental proximity). There's just a hint of something savory lingering in the background. Soft black pepper gently contrasts a silky graham cracker cream pie. A swirl of the glass turns everything bright; white pepper vanilla bean, and funky Spring florals jump out at me. I keep running into a fairly solid wall of well-aged oak, so I'll have a sip to see if we can't find some more at play here. Returning to the nose I find the barrel influence has been cranked up to 11 and it's old, leathery & delicious in the nose. Aromas of dates and figs battle at times where sweet meets savory. It's both a delicate & robust balance of flavor and finesse. The empty glass smells of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, and pure, silky vanilla perfume. Mmm. Palate: My first sip is delectable. Buttercream frosting, eggnog and vanilla ice cream dance on the tongue before a burst of creamy cherry hots slides down the chest. I've got to admit - it's love at first sip here. There is a thick mouth coating of dark chocolate mixed with caramel and peanut M&M's that is prevalent everywhere that the liquid passed by. Another sip is heftier but still balanced and approachable. I find milk duds, maraschino cherry ice cream, caramel milk shake and buttery crescent rolls. I'm loving all the dessert flavors that are being stirred up here. A larger sip and swish does elicit some of the latent spice, but it's still all baked-in, not a dominant characteristic. Overall this is a creamy, dreamy, delicious pour. My last sip is a treat again after a sip of water. The buttery bakery tones return incredibly strong & leave me with an impossibly long linger of a Danish pastry with just a touch of raspberry. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) Well, the blending team at Heaven Hill have really outdone themselves again. This is very reminiscent of the quality of the 2020 batches I know and love. I'd take this over countless other much rarer, allocated releases. I think this one has rekindled my love for this brand. Elijah baby, we're back. Cheers!

Another triannual edition of the long acclaimed Elijah Craig Barrel Proof lineup is here! The Heaven Hill Distillery team certainly had their work cut out for them after putting on a true blending clinic that was on full display with the previous release. So unfortunately for A123... The C922 release is going to be quite the hard act to follow. I've long enjoyed just about everything that has come under the Elijah Craig label. Often called 'The Father of Bourbon' - this brand harkens back to the 250 year old legacy of the innovative Baptist Preacher who changed the face of bourbon with the addition of charring of the oak barrels before beginning the aging process. If you are interested in further understanding the history of the brand, I'd recommend you check out the Elijah Craig website. As for my experience with the brand, I've thoroughly enjoyed the 94 proof shelf offering, the lower proof single barrel store picks, the 18 year old editions, and have even picked my own single barrel of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. I personally have found that the batched product tend to be much more consistently good than many of the single barrels I have explored, but your mileage may vary there (and there are absolutely no hard truths in whiskey). Perhaps I enjoy a couple extra years of aging that the single barrels don't get, or perhaps the blending skill of the team at Heaven Hill is really exceptional. Either way, I know when I reach for a bottle of this batched product, I'm in for a good time. Now let's not delay any longer before getting to the good part: the whiskey! Will A123 ride the coattails of the previous release, or earn a new spot amongst the highest echelons of whiskeys reviewed on this site? Let's dive in. Company on Label: Elijah Craig (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 125.6° Age: 12 years Further identification: Batch A123 is the first of three releases for 2023 Nose: Soft pottery clay, dry vanilla bean and hints of leather begin a mysteriously light array of aromas. Peanut brittle, confectioners sugar and sugar cookie sits delicately in the airy nose-feel. Deep inhales produce slightly oily tones with level oak and well-aged leather. Black pepper and anise begin to wake from a deep slumber as the glass is agitated slightly. Cacao sits lazily in the multitude of cracks of a richly aged slab of oak. Buttercream frosted cupcake aromas provide a nice sweet complexity before I find myself entrapped in a cacophony of barrel influence. Time for a sip. Coming back after a few sips doesn't show off much evolution in the glass, but it does bring me back to my favorite aroma from before, which was the buttercream frosted cupcake. A swirl of the glass unleashes orange peel zest and plenty of stinging black pepper. The faint aroma of warm cinnamon toast can be found near the bottom of the glass. On the empty glass I smell cinnamon, red licorice and milk chocolate. Palate: Excellent new additions to the nose include flavors of fig and red berry jam upon first sipping this glass. Cherry skins and dark grape juice come across slightly tannic. The mouth feel is rather thin and ladened with bountiful oak. The linger is quite long despite the texture with a lot of the peanut brittle from the nose coming through well. Another sip does well to layer in some new surprises such as raspberry and Christmas fruit cake. This brings a multitude of messy layers of apricot, orange peel, nutmeg, cardamom, clove and brown sugar to the linger. As the glass gets lower, things get even messier. Menthol has now crept into the stonefruit in a way that doesn't quite jive. As the glass wanes, the complexity shrinks with the remaining volume of liquid. My last sip is solidly fruit forward with cherry, plum and raspberry predominantly coming through. The finish carries a soft and sweet mix of floral and fruit flavors. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) Well, it doesn't seem like this batch could live up to the legendary batches of old in my memory - such as all 3 of the batches that released in 2020 and especially the fresh in the mind C922. While A123 doesn't push the boundaries of the brand, it certainly continues the legacy of consistency and quality. Ultimately I found this one to be a bit over-oaked on the palate personally, but I am sure there will be folks who enjoy this batch thoroughly. As an easily available sipper, it's just fine and I'm happy to have a bottle of it.

Elijah Craig 18! Ultra-aged Kentucky bourbon is no stranger to Heaven Hill. This is a fairly standard release for them at this point. Is there any difference since the label changed in flavor? This head to head aims to find out. Company on Label: Elijah Craig (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 90° Age: 18 years Further identification: On the left of the picture is the "old label", on the right of the picture is the "new label"; the newer batch being bottled 9/14/2018 from Barrel 4502; the old label could not be identified further from the person who provided the sample Old label Flash Review: This is even dustier. Smells older. Spicier nose, herbal deep 'dank' waves of layers on the nose that just go on and on. Aggressive. Warm summer citrus. Thin with zero proof. Bright, floral. Nose is so much better than the palate here, but I fear this bottle may have suffered from a good bit of evaporation. I could have sat and smelled this one forever. New label Flash Review: Wow okay this is some musty, bright oak. Dark and creamy nose. Balanced. Both creamy & tannic citrus. Oily rising feel that carries funky herbs. Chocolate leather. Sweet late. Final Ranking: Old Label > New Label on grounds of impressive complexity and depth For some reason the palate on the "Old Label" felt very muted. The bottle had been stored pretty close to empty for probably a bit too long which may have led to excessive oxidation. The nose was evidence enough to me on this one though.

It's the first batch without the 'Jr' on the label! Much like Y2K, I'm sure this cataclysmic event will rock the quality of this biannual release from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Or will it? Well, that's why we taste these things... So you, oh wise consumer, can decide if this batch is worth chasing down. Perhaps the symbolism of it's 18th occurrence and the parallel that carries to 'coming of age' made sense, but honestly I like the Junior for clarity sake. I've always been a big Stagg Jr fan (yes I'll probably still call it this for a few more batches at least) since first trying batch 12. I've since loved some batches more than others; I'll link what I've done for reviews thus far below. Batch 14 - Summer 2020 Batch 15 - Winter 2020 Batch 16 - Summer 2021 Batch 17 - Winter 2021 And now batch 18 seems to contradict that biannual statement, it being 2023 and all with no word of a batch 19... So we'll call it the Summer 2022 release, when the first reviews started popping up on the West coast. I do intend to compare some of these batches soon, so make sure to enter your email at the bottom of this page so you can see when that happens! Now let's jump into the whiskey part. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 131° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 18 was first released in Summer 2022, though its distribution is kind of crazy since it still has not arrived in Massachusetts at the time of writing Nose: Buttercream frosting, Irish cream and troves of vanilla form a cohesive, obviously creamy base as I first lift the glass to my nose. Digging further I find brown sugar, cinnamon walnut coffee cake, and plenty of barrel influence. Dusty oak, rich leather and a tingling smoky sensation in the nostrils lead me to believe this might be older than my estimate above. Distinct tobacco funk dances with effervescent heft. Caramel, nougat, and more bright vanilla coat my nostrils. I haven't found any evidence there is a high proof whiskey in this glass yet. Let's jump into a sip and see what's happening there. Returning from a sip I find much more candied fruit sweetness. It's got a thick viscosity in the nose now; when I inhale deeply I get a similar smell to having cherry chapstick on your lips. The glass continues to be rich, delectable and incredibly well crafted. This may be the Buffalo Trace team's finest work to date. The tobacco smokiness behind the cherry is a delectable reminder of enjoying a puff of Captain Black cherry pipe tobacco. Tingling plum, prune and juicy apricot give this just enough depth without becoming messy. Late in the glass all the savory, syrupy desserts culminate in a warm, brooding, sweet mélange. I find myself really savoring this glass - not wanting these aromas to be gone from my senses. The (unfortunately) empty glass smells of an interesting rose & cherry combination, honeysuckle, and caramel butter bars. Palate: On first sip I find a beautiful cherry slushy profile. I'm immediately transported to the middle of a childhood Summer with that delicious flavor sitting perfectly enjoyable in the middle of my tongue. It's bright, zesty and it bursts with huge flavor volume. Cherry always hits first here with cinnamon hots, caramel drizzles and chocolate nibbles swooping in behind. First sip impressions - I'm in love. It reminds me of everything I enjoyed about Batch 14 in particular. Another sip changes things a little bit with candied apple, dark bread, and molasses sneaking in now with a confectioners sugar sweet backbone that bolsters an already delicious medley of flavors. As I work down closer towards the bottom of the glass the consistency of the cherry flavor is maintained and I am here for it. There are some slight almond, cinnamon and rose layers that sit in the linger which is just long enough for me to be satisfied, but it leaves me salivating for another sip. Honey sweetness abounds in the finish. This is delicious. My last sip is powerful with vanilla, marshmallow and bright Earl Gray tea up front before the slow falling leaf of the linger reveals hints of cardamom, caramel monkey bread and a savory brown sugar slip into functional completeness. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This excels in its approachability - something I think the more senior release of George T. Stagg also does well. What an incredible follow up to batch 17 - this is the first batch to officially earn my top mark. I find a lot of parallels in this glass to batch 12, 14 and 17. This took things to another level for me personally. I wasn't as crazy on my first two glasses of this bottle, but today it is absolutely hitting this spot. Where 14 definitely came across boozy and with more strawberry, this batch is approachable & complete. Where 17 had a strange addition of mint, this one maintained a solid, layered profile that told a good story. I will leave the comparison to batch 12 for another day, since I haven't published my thoughts on that just yet. This may have just set a new bar for how good these batches can be.

I have to thank @egilbert09 for this pour as he graciously gifted me the rest of his bottle! I didn't have one open right now, but have been yearning for the day of getting back to this one (I have previously drank through one already). I am currently struggling to enjoy my way through a Batch 13. I have future intentions of lining up Batch 12-15, or maybe even 16 now, in a blind head to head to find my true favorite. I love seeing that everyone has a preference on these and there is no clear winner across the board. I know many people have been digging the sweeter strawberry cereal flavors off Batch 15, but 14 has always been solid for me. Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 130.2° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 14 (Summer 2020) Nose: Sweet, syrupy vanilla can be smelled from quite a large distance from the glass. Some immediate newspaper heat and pepper spice punch the nostrils on first approach. Cinnamon candy smells lovely and tingles the lungs. Caramel and cherry mingle well as the underside of the punchier flavors. Allspice, leather and a slight anise give this great depth. It's punchy and powerful on the nose - exactly what I want out of a barrel proof offering. Sweet campfire ash is fairly strong now, followed by a thinner molasses drizzle. Some lemon zest rolls over that and evolves into a lemon meringue pie that is mostly comprised of flaky crust. Finally things are returning to the sweeter cherry profile that tells me this glass is ready for a sip. Much more of the leather is present now after a sip; a rich undertone that gives this pour some serious class. I can smell that syrupy consistency; it's like a tea loaded down with a bunch of honey. Just gets better and better with time in the glass. A slight grassy earth note is present late in the glass, but fleeting as it returns to its base oak aroma. Vanilla & molasses return at the last sip and are a sweet farewell that actually brings a bit of a smile to my face. Palate: As a first sip of the day, this is unbelievably approachable. It's not until several seconds after a sip that the wave of cinnamon hots gives the chest a little hug. The cherry flavor is perfectly laced with a touch of anise and the rich, old oak that got this bourbon to where it is. A thorough chew results in explosions of maple syrup, black pepper, allspice, leather, and a hint of dried tobacco leaf. Crazy layers to this now and the anise is coming on stronger than ever, but still subtle. Reminds me a bit of a particular Sazerac cocktail I had last night which is still fresh on my mind; this is definitely less anise than that Absinthe explosion. Explosive in so many ways, but shifting, changing and evolving with every sip. This is a pour that you could easily do with a rich food pairing and the flavors would continue to hold up. The mouth coating is intensely rich and almost slightly numbing. Try having a bite of something bland after this and you're going to have a tough time finding anything with this much flavor. Last sip highlights the syrupy cherry and cinnamon hots that I'd say are definitely the overarching experience of this pour. The last linger is long with a highlight reel of the rest of the glass. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This batch is a clear step up from (currently un-reviewed, sorry) Batch 13 for me. It maintains high intensity and complexity without being overly punishing. Solid pour - grab it if you still can!

I'm back on the Willett train again tonight - quite fitting for the trendy #WillettWednesday movement on Instagram. I've previously tasted this one on the fresh crack but I'm here to revisit and offer some deeper thoughts than some front porch ramblings. Speaking of ramblings... I think I'll just get right into the whiskey now. Let's go! Company on Label: Willett Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 119.2° Age: 8 years Further identification: This is a Dion's single barrel #8147 that I purchased in August of 2022; one of the store managers told me that this is an OG mash bill; this barrel yielded 208 bottles and I am drinking from my lucky number bottle #9 Nose: Funky, heavy caramel greets my nose first and foremost. Bright oak, paper and vanilla mingle gently on a deeper inhale. It noses light like the proof point might suggest. Mmm, a deeper dive of the nose produces candied cherry, plum and creamy, viscous grape clafoutis. Wow, a big shockwave of oak just emanated from the glass. Now I get much more dusty tones, ground black pepper, green pepper, saffron and cardamom. There are hints of chocolate throughout and always the sumptuous fruit we started with as the glass opened to an inquisitive nose. Time to go in for a sip! Returning my nose to the glass I begin to find graham cracker and quite the big wave of impassable dusty vanilla. I continue to beat my nose against this wall of dusty, bright characteristics but it keeps turning me nose-blind at every attempt. Thanksgiving cooking herbs begin to settle in alongside the black pepper notes later in the glass. Think parsley, thyme, rosemary and sage in an intricate introductory wave as if you've just stepped in the door to a home that is cooking, making you keenly aware of the presence of good food. Wow, this funky fun just keeps on producing; now I'm onto a creamy gingerbread with a butterscotch sauce. It's buttery and delectable now. I wasn't quite hooked until now... but now I certainly am. A deep inhale as the glass nears empty shows off more of the funky barrel influence that comes out of nowhere other than Bardstown, Kentucky. It's the oak, but it's also a unique blend of citrus and clove. The empty glass smells of open plains, milk chocolate, soft cornfields, and just a hint of pleasant rubber. Palate: Whew, where the nose started light, this starts with a bang! Cherry hots sizzle on the top of the tongue as a soft, juicy pear and grapefruit co-mingle in the background. Another sip builds in a touch of lemon peel, tingling bright vanilla and sweet kiwi frozen yogurt. Overall I get a similar herbal mouth feel to a sip of cooled tea. A good sip and swish produces a great cherry sweetness that is quickly laden with clove, molasses, raisin and a heavy red raspberry jam. This is truly a delight to sip on; the sweet fruit mingle perfectly as a well aged barrel should. I find a brief zing of lemon and ginger that darts across my tongue. It at times has the spice and heft of whiskeys beyond its age and proof. As I sip towards the bottom of the glass the cherry turns a touch darker now ditching the candied cherry facade for a rich, ripe black cherry. There is a slightly tannic linger up in the gums. It's as if you've had a bottle of red wine with dinner and you're just now aware that your teeth may be stained as you search nervously with your tongue. My last sip of the glass produces a big wave of plum, raisin, blackberries and caramel. The mouth feel is thicker now more than ever as the sips build upon each other. The linger is medium with a soft draw down from a slightly earthy caramel bar. Rating: 5/5 Though this one falls just short of a true 'wow' factor whiskey for me, I did completely enjoy every moment of this glass. While I wouldn't put this in my top 5: this definitely earns a 'Keep Amongst the Whiskey' rating from me, and I am very glad to have plenty more to share with guests, as well as a backup bottle that I am going to be sharing with Spirit Animal Society Patreons. I really tossed and turned between the 5 rating here, writing it and scribbling it out in digital form with the backspace key countless times. Because I couldn't quite place why it doesn't deserve a 5, I inevitably settled on that score here. This distillate, these flavors, and the pours that also have previously ranked at a 5 are all present. I was also willing to pour another 2 small sips after finishing my review to settle the score, so this is definitely an enjoyable whiskey through and through. Based on my experience I would anticipate that this whiskey will drink even better come Winter in New England. Cheers to a great pick Dion's & cheers to the great distillate and skill coming out of Willett Distillery.

I'm warming up my palate for an epic blind tasting tonight including the following whiskeys: 8 year OG Mash WFE Bourbon 4 Year WFE Rye Noah's Mill Old Bardstown 101 proof All of these will be tasted blind by members of the Spirit Animal Society patreon! After a lackluster performance by barrel 5227 which also came out of NH, I was hesitant to dive into this one. These things have pretty steep price points today, so being informed on your single barrel selections is as important as ever. Let's dive right in and see how this barrel does. Company on Label: Willett Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 131.8° Age: 8 years Further identification: This is New Hampshire Liquor and Wine Outlet single barrel from barrel 6735 - an OG mash bill per the WFE pocket app; this is bottle 57/143 Nose: Cinnamon and nutmeg upfront on first dipping my nose in the glass. Oak, tea leaves and coffee filters follow. A touch of lemon peel zest tingles the nostrils. Silky vanilla weaves its way through the glass. Soft mango, lychee and papaya sweetness dances to a lofi beat in a cooling wave. A swirl of the glass builds out rich black pepper, tarragon and graham cracker. An interesting medley so far - I think I will go for a sip. Returning I find the nose has settled into a delectable fruit parfait with whipped cream on top. Funky, moist woodshop oak can be found on deep inhales. Traditional Willett citrus from the rye portion of the mash bill rings true here, though very low in intensity. Linen hangs in the balance. I really like the nose here with the tropical fruits from earlier returning. There's a slight vinegar note when I inhale deeply with just the left nostril. My right nostril finds synthetic leather and coffee bean. Overall very approachable with patience being rewarded well here. The empty glass smells of caramelized sugar and a thin, wispy air that suggests someone is cooking nearby. Palate: I'm immediately shocked by how soft this drinks for 131.8 proof. The first sip linger is where most of the flavor rises up from in a big chest wave with cherry hots, graham cracker and thick molasses. Another sip and swish shows off juniper berries and plum. Cinnamon is a big proportion of the flavor here. This one is surprisingly drinking quite muted, and I've given it plenty of time to open up. My last sip is creamy, metallic and spicy all at once. I find a touch of sandalwood and clove in the linger. The finish is medium as all the flavors of Autumn spice fall down like a rockslide on a steep slope, crashing messily below. Rating: 3/5 This is very traditional Willett, but turned way down. I don't find anything that screams this is exceptional whiskey to my palate as I navigated the messy array of flavors, but I still love the consistency this distillery brings to their whiskey. I've never had a single distillery produce so many single barrels that taste incredibly alike before. This one in particular may be a 'crowd pleaser' in that it's incredibly approachable, but I find that to be a detraction in quality on a pour of this caliber. Let me know if you've tried this one. I will be revisiting this one myself for sure. Cheers!