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Ahh, the elusive purple top. While I've owned and enjoyed many supposed incognito Willett bourbons, enjoyed Rowan's Creek and Noah's Mill thoroughly, this bottle has been impossible to put on my shelf... For good reason. They don't make a ton of this stuff. It's only the whiskey that is deemed worthy of bearing the Willett family crest. The motto listed below the crest reads 'God and my work'. I was excited enough to get to try this one that I didn't bother waiting for some kind of special occasion, so you are getting the notes from two of the first two pours I've experienced on this one. Company on Label: Willett Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 79% Corn, 7% Rye, 14% Malted Barley Proof: 134° Age: 8 years Further identification: This is the High Corn single barrel from the New Hampshire Liquor Outlet, barrel # 5227 which released in April 2022 Nose: Distinct flashy tannic oak upfront on my first nosing. Great maple syrup funk that shows off some deep barrel character. Sweet vanilla gives a viscous coating to the surface of a sweet maraschino cherry. There's a lovely marshmallow characteristic that reminds me of the type of influence that sour mash or toasted barrel influences tend to add. Plum, anise, white pepper and cinnamon flash up. The nose on this is quite unique and the high corn mash bill definitely doesn't do the distinct Willett rye citrus experience I am used to enjoying and loving. The overall aroma reminds me a bit of Parker's Heritage wheat whiskey, interestingly. There's a creamy molasses note on long inhales after a soft swirl of the glass. The base aroma is again one that leans on a oily, viscous oak nose. The oily characteristic reminds me of the smell of unground coffee beans and a dust seems to cover everything including a tiny bit of lemon peel zest. Time for a sip! Coming back to the nose I find distinct toffee, sweet tart and a faint orange marmalade. Cherry skins and nut-forward chocolate grace the glass which should certainly smell hotter than it does, but I have no problem leaving my nose in this glass. The empty glass smells of clear smoke, sharp oak, creamy caramel, and rich nutmeg. Palate: My first sip is an absolute nuke on a fresh palate. Cherry hots and cinnamon zap every taste bud in my mouth at the start. It quickly settles into a similar flavor profile as the nose was putting off: incredibly oily, viscous and rich oak leans towards a toasted marshmallow flavor. Another sip is just as flavorful and explosive with deep raisin flavors. It's quite musty upfront - it's got a really unique flavor profile that has a lot of parallels but never any direct equivalents. There's smoky malt, dark walnut, leather and then suddenly the fruit show up. The incredibly delicious cranberry and raspberry blend takes me to the Carver bogs just beginning to float. There's definitely some tannic grape flavors lingering in the background too. The mouth feel is very slightly minty and the cooling effect of that is definitely felt up in my gums. My last sip is nutty and tart with a long linger of nutmeg and yummy craisins. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on this.) While this was a really delicious pour, my Willett bar is set pretty high. Given my love for the straight rye releases and the Wheated mash bill that I've tried previously, I have some background in tasting through their fantastic distillate. The high corn mash bill here slightly missed the mark to become an exceptional whiskey, in my book something I also found in the last high corn mash bill that I tried (barrel 2071). The company I was with when I opened the bottle thoroughly enjoyed the glass I poured for them, so that's a win in my book. Let me know if you've opened and tried this one yet in the comments!

Back in May of 2022 we had the great pleasure of visiting Starlight Distillery as part of a collaboration between the group that @bourbondipity_ and I run for our local community in Massachusetts called Mass Bourbon Alliance. We collaborated with a great local store that is expanding and thriving here in MA: Liquor Junction. We went in with low/no expectations and left amazed with 4 barrels - the first barrels to ever hit MA! I'll drop a synopsis of each here, but wouldn't feel comfortable honestly reviewing these without some level of bias being at play, so I won't be attaching a score to these. I hope you find the notes helpful! "Mass #1 - Sweet Tart" Starlight Bourbon Barrel No. 18-0247 114.4 Proof - Aged 4 Years This is one of their flagship bourbons that will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. We picked this one for its rich candied fruit, vanilla and baking spice profile coming from a great Spirit Premium barrel by Canton cooperage. The unfinished bourbons have seriously been growing on me lately. I have a bottle from Liquor Depot in CT that I was incredibly impressed by as well. Our barrel definitely brings a bit more fruit complexity to an already delicious, viscous, oily, rich mouth coating whiskey. Nose: Goodness that's delectable - prominent vanilla, tiramisu, cherry syrup and rich chocolate present bold & complete. Continuously soft and delectable to inhale throughout the glass, it finishes with notes of crème brûlée and woodshop aromas. Palate: Big bready tones flash up first followed by that signature fruity sweet tart profile. I find cherry skins, plum and thick raspberry jam. It's oily, jammy and altogether a crushable explosion of rich flavors. Another sip produces more pot still oily tones as well as buttercream frosting and rich oak. The linger is thoroughly satisfying with flavors of strawberries and crêpes. My last sip is just as delicious as the first with a trove of fruit notes bombarding the palate. This glass is sweet beyond measure without becoming cloying. Yum. "Starry Night" Starlight Double Oaked Bourbon Batch 22-2080-1 112.6 Proof - Aged 4.5 Years This double oaked bourbon whiskey was an absolute must-have for Derek who frequently reminded the pick team that the 2nd half of this sip truly has 'something special' He's so damn right too! It comes from a Spirit Legacy by Canton cooperage featuring 5 year American staves with 4 year Hungarian heads. The barrel was air seasoned 60 months. We tasted a lot of things this day, but this one clearly stood out with the other Canton barrels, producing marvelous toasted vanilla notes. Sip this one while you relax to some Don McLean. Nose: Banana foster jumps out on the nose followed by rich toasted marshmallow. Plenty of charred oak aromas are here as well giving this the illusion of age beyond its statement. It's creamy in the nose which is definite treat. The end of the glass smells of molasses, troves of oak, and Pillsbury dinner rolls. Palate: Punchier than the straight bourbon - this release throws orange peel, plum, apricot and hefty molasses at the palate with both elegance and vigor. The linger is impossibly long and full of confectioners sugar, caramel, dark chocolate and wave after wave of sweet amaretto. My last sip is loaded with beautiful coffee bean flavors that shimmer long into a creamy delight. "Lakeside" Starlight VDN Finished Rye Barrel No. 21-2298-2 106.2 Proof - Aged 4.5 Years One sip of this and you will know what the name means! This VDN (Vino de Naranja) finished rye brings just a squeeze of that orange wine to the table, building on a lovely sweet mash rye that has no equal. This zesty citrus forward rye is what all Summer whiskeys try to be - refreshing, bright and deliciously sweet. It reminds me a lot of the kind of profile that Willett rye blends give off. Given how distinct & unique this barrel finish is - this may not be a crowd pleaser, but it is unforgettable to the whiskey curious. Get this one on hand for the best enjoyment you'll find this Summer! Nose: Fruity florals burst out of this glass. Lemon tea and orange sherbet merge wonderfully. Cardamom, pine boughs, dusty oak and clay give this great depth. Chocolate undertones complete the well layered nose. Palate: Oh. My. Goodness! If you thought the Sweet Tart bourbon was sweet - this is an orange creamsicle embodied perfectly. It's sweet like a big bite of a juicy orange plus it has the vanilla forward profile that provides a creamy blanket over everything. The undertones are fun with herbal and floral subtleties that most will miss but aficionados will rejoice in. Lindt Intense Orange chocolate bars produce rather proofy, but it's a welcome zest. Marbled rye bread sits in the medium linger. My last sip is fruity with a few late surprises of sweet skittles. "Fireside" Starlight Port Finished Rye Barrel No. 21-2126-3 This one is a dreamy sister barrel to Lakeside, but it would serve best enjoyed in the opposite season. A port finished wine has been done a few times by now, but not all are created equal. The port wine cask used and the final product are often really dependent on the quality of the wine. We're well covered here as the Hubers actually started in wine before whiskey, so they have an incredible supply of plenty of great casks. If you're bummed about not being able to find A Midwinter Night's Dram bottle, or just want to sip on a similar profile for a good bit cheaper - this bottle is for you. The beautiful port sweetness adds just enough to an already exceptional rye without going overboard into the tannic wine territory. You'll love this as your new snow shoveling whiskey for any blustery Winter month. Nose: My my, the sheer volume of chocolate and sweet port aromas is mind bending. Plum and rich, dark grape aromas fill my nose with the warmth of a warm mulled wine. Fig, amaretto and rich raspberry aromas really push this into the exceptional category. It smells just like some of the best Midwinter Night's Dram releases I've tried. The volume somehow surpasses the 11 setting that the double oaked release achieved, and I'm left dumbfounded in fruit heaven. This glass is incredibly consistent, and I find it doesn't slouch, amplify nor undulate. It's just solid straight through and has shown no signs of being affected by oxidation on my way through the bottle. The empty glass smells of chocolate covered raisins and beautiful plum pudding. Palate: Creamy tiramisu hits first with beautiful espresso soaked ladyfingers. This creamy punch is followed by beautiful coffee bean flavors mixed with subtle fruit tones. This glass is a touch bready, but in a way that reminds me of Pirouline wafers. As the snow falls outside my window, I find this to be the perfect glass for today, though I know holistically - having tried this release many times now - that it falls just behind my general personal preference towards the unfinished bourbon. My last sip is like a carnival ferris wheel - a solid experience from start to finish with grandiose views without any real inherent risk. Any sip produces about as much happiness as your first kiss when you think nobody can see you at the top of the ride... In two words: Just. Delicious. My last sip is like a milky way with pure class, delicious creaminess and a finish that keeps you wishing for more. Just fantastic. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up In an effort to continuously bring Amongst the Whiskey readers honest reviews, I don't feel comfortable doing numerical ratings on picks I was involved with. For further clarity - I don't get anything (except for great experiences) as part of my involvement with picking barrels with this store. My normal rating scale can be found here. My Personal Ranking: Sweet Tart > Fireside = Lakeside > Starry Night (Straight Bourbon > Port Finished Rye = VDN Finished Rye > Double Oaked Bourbon) Starlight Distillery is making some of the best whiskeys out there - evidenced by their latest Ascot Awards achievement, being recognized as the 2022 craft distillery of the year. Within this lineup there are no losers, though they are very different whiskeys individually. I'd urge anyone trying all 4 of these to savor them each on their own, as attempting to compare and contrast will leave you with a really wild array of flavors stuck on your palate. The double oaked in particular can be a little overpowering for the other releases & as such tends to be most people's favorite when they do try all 4 together. I think this is more of a factor of total flavor volume rather than a difference in quality personally, but everyone drinks differently. The Fireside will surely drink better if you happen to sample in the Winter and the Lakeside is a perfect Summer sipper - so those are a bit situational. If any of these releases sound like hits to you - I'd urge you to pop into any Liquor Junction store in MA and grab as many as you can carry!

Coming in hot from the same mash bill as Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17 year, this bottom shelf beauty is the object of much discussion when folks in the whiskey world talk about value. This isn't something I often talk about on my site, as everyone's buying power is different - so I stick to the whiskey experience mostly. I do talk about value occasionally on my Instagram, chatting with other enthusiasts about more generalities, but ultimately the experience everyone really wants to know about is how enjoyable the whiskey is. Knowing that allows you, the venerable reader, to make your own choice on worth or value. Sometimes a brand just shows so much inherent value that they begin to form a bit of a cult following (looking at you Wild Turkey 101). But don't take my word for it... Here are some of the responses I got on Instagram when I asked my followers what they thought of J.T.S. Brown bourbon: @loveofdramsanddrinks says, "It’s hard to find anything better for the price." @moonstavern glady announces, "That's my jam!" @jerryiniraq posits, "Hands down my favorite thrifty bourbon. And my go to cold/flu Hot Toddy elixir… hot tea, honey, lemon, and JTS Brown… Sweet relief!!" @egilbert09 venerates, "I had this last night and was just thinking about how great it is for the price!" And the astute @m_goldsberry describes the pour saying, "Brown sugar budget and caramel goodness" Quite a few people hadn't tried it, which is a valuable proposition for the needfulness of today's review. Without knowing this is one of the cheapest bourbons out there, would you enjoy a glass? Let's find out. Company on Label: J.T.S. Brown's Son Company (Distilled by Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley Proof: 100° Age: NAS, but a minimum of 4 years are required for the Bottled in Bond statement Further identification: This is a bottle I purchased from my last trip to Louisville, KY in late 2021; it can be found in both KY and IN as far as I am aware Nose: Brown sugar and caramel jump out of the glass first. Deep vanilla barrel char, a hallmark of Heaven Hill bourbon, is woven deeply into the fabric of the glass. The nose is bright, potent and incredibly sweet with confectioners sugar and almond extract. A tinge of barrel funk suggests the whiskey spent plenty of time pushing in and out of the barrel staves. Just a hint of nuttiness can be perceived on the back end of a deep inhale. Black pepper, elderflower and cranberry aromas give subtle complexity here. Time for a sip. Returning from a sip I continue to find lovely, classic bourbon barrel aromas. The aromas embodied above are a fine example of approachable whiskey that a beginner enthusiast could have a good time picking apart. The empty glass smells of roasted almonds, oily cashews and savory tomato paste. Palate: On first tasting this I am surprised at how low-volume the flavors are compared to the nose. Where the aromas were bursting from the glass, the liquid passes over the tongue with a wink and slight nod. Walnut and vanilla are the simplest flavors that can be gleaned from two sips. Slight hints of peanut shells and dried cherry skins can be attested if not by a figment of imagined flavors in the vacuum of space that sits before me. In an effort to build more flavor, I take a larger sip. Soft vanilla, a hint of peanut brittle and a cushioned landing in a bed of toffee is wholly unremarkable outside of a slight flash of cinnamon that swoops in briefly at the end. Again contrasting to the nose - I find no hallmarks of exceptional aging present outside of the much lighter gradient of brown sugar that the nose divulged. My last sip is enjoyably more complex with citrus tea, banana bread and plenty of caramel to go around. The linger is short and thin, but not displeasing. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) This is just solid. I don't think it's some crazy exceptional sipper that is an absolute steal on the shelf by any means. Ultimately it leans out of the level of quality that excites me that I would find myself reaching for regularly, so ultimately this will probably be the only bottle I ever enjoy personally. Hope this review helps! Cheers!

It's Starlight Sunday once again in the Amongst household and I found myself reaching for something sweet as the last throes of Summer are upon us. Immediately the honey rye label caught my eye and I knew that is what I was going to be reviewing today. I'm looking forward to seeing if I made the right choice with this one! Let's get into it. Company on Label: Starlight Distillery Whiskey Type: Finished Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: A possible blend of both their 85% rye & 15% malted barley and/or their 90% rye & 10% malted barley mash bills Proof: 106.6° Age: 4 (and a half) years Further identification: Barrel FB232 is a gift shop release selected by master distiller T. Huber that was finished in an ex-bourbon barrel that has been aged with honey for an additional 3-8 months Nose: Floral, citrus sweetness emanates from the glass. Chocolate tones present lively. The glass is bright and excitable upfront. Taking a deeper dive with the nose presents green flower stems, sweet smoke and just a hint of the honey sweetness you might expect to find. It's cheerfully perfumed & juicy sweet throughout in a way that delivers delectable piquancy. This glass is not a roulette wheel of flavors constantly evolving by any means, but a set rhythm of a head-bobbing beat of bright rye. I find bright molasses soaked oak on deep inhales that feels to me like a great level of maturity for a rye. Time for a sip! Returning I find a slew of new herbal notes: clove, lemongrass, thyme and cardamom. Deep inhales reveal cacao nibs and airy oats as the glass thins out towards the bottom. Overall the glass continues to feel green and funky. Grassy notes hang out in the corners. The empty glass smells of funky espresso-soaked ladyfingers, caramelized nuts, and Betadine. Palate: How interesting is that! The palate exhibits none of the same characteristics as the nose was putting off. My first sip is so oily, heavy and viscous with a molasses note running about the consistency of lemon pudding, Where the pre-sip nose was floral, the palate has turned things quite herbal. Another sip and swish reveals funky chocolate malts, heavy cinnamon bread, and butter. The linger is where the honey really starts to show up; it tingles softly before fading fast. I find subsequent sips to be like replays more than an evolution as the glass seems to maintain a level of sweet, delicious simplicity. My last sip is finally where the honey seems to crescendo. I find green tea subtly enhanced by the sweetness of a big spoonful of honey. The linger is the longest on a big sip with the bready, chocolate flavors sitting atop the tongue. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) All in all this was not exactly the pour that I was looking for today, but from an honest review perspective it still delivered something interesting & quite crushable for me. I wouldn't say this has the hallmarks of a complex whiskey, but the few punches it is able to throw were all quite enjoyable. I can definitely see this being a crowd-pleasing easy sipper that could certainly get you out over your ski tips as you reach for another glass as the most logical follow up to finishing your last. It is tasty enough that I'm going in for another sip. I'd recommend you give this one a try for yourself to see what you think. I'm sure there are other honey finished ryes or bourbons from Starlight out there that taste different than this one. Bottle update - January 15, 2023: As you go beyond halfway through the fill level to this, oxidation does wonders to this bottle. The subtle notes I disliked about this review above are all gone, and my post-rating notes were prophesized to perfection. My father and I am absolutely crushing through this bottle on a beautiful snowy Starlight Sunday. I'd consider the post-oxidation review of this bottle to be more akin to a 4/5 rating, though your mileage may vary. I just wanted to update this, as this release has certainly found a new place in my heart. Cheers!

This @josamagnus private barrel is one of the earliest examples of their product that graced my shelf. I've slowly sipped and managed to savor this over the course of a few years without too much volume going missing to worry too much about oxidation. Now that I am getting back into it I will definitely start to think about drinking through the rest of it in good company! If you don't already know Liquor Junction - they have one of the most epic barrel programs just about anywhere at this point. The quality has consistently improved through the years and their store has come to be one of my main shopping points in Massachusetts now. Undoubtedly a collaboration between one of my favorite brands and one of my favorite stores is bound to be a hit - but let's dive into some specifics on this one. Company on Label: Jos. A. Magnus & Co Whiskey Type: Finished Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed Indiana Mash Bill Proof: 104° Age: NAS Further identification: This exclusive bottling of a hand selected private barrel of Joseph Magnus comes from the Liquor Junction team; I am reviewing bottle 25/105 which has a distilled in Indiana statement on the label which also says it was bottled in Washington, DC Nose: Creamy tones surround bright, white florals on first lifting the glass to my nose. Black pepper, leather and barrel funk permeate the glass. I almost get a tingly citrus like one might find out of distillate hailing Bardstown, KY - though it's likely attributable to the cognac side of things, not any mishaps on the labeling front. Let's have a sip! Returning from a sip I find wet clay, rattan and a light varnish characteristic. Late in the glass heavy anise layers build. Overall things continue to be funk-dominant. The empty glass smells of vanilla bean ice cream and old leather books. Palate: Punchy citrus and wicker flavors are a funky, unique surprise here. I forgot how different this one is compared to anything else you might find out of Indiana. Another sip is bright and sweet with floral tea notes proliferating alongside pear, grapefruit and creamy peach cobbler. Orange marmalade sits syrupy in the linger. My last sip is zesty on the tongue and in the gums with sweet orange peel, angostura bitters, and a big plop of plum that swings in a wave of cinnamon spice late. Rating: 3/5 (Decent. I can go either way on it.) The best part of this pour was the addition of the cognac finish, which ultimately felt like a band aid over a non-descript underlying bourbon. Though the flavors I did find were fun and unique, ultimately this just didn't achieve a level I'd consider remarkable. It's still a decent pour that is enjoyable, but not one I am going to clamor for another (non-existent bottle) of. I guess I can see why I still have this one on my shelf! Not every pick can be a winner and it's best to remember that. I still wholeheartedly trust Liquor Junction to do great picks today - with or without my help! The score I gave this is much more fair and honest than some others who have reviewed similar picks, clearly tasted things they didn't like in their palate & finish sections, yet they still rated it a 7.X/10 which corresponds to "great" or "well above average". I am wholeheartedly against all the every-decimal-that's-close-to-ten rating scales and hope you enjoy my scale which puts the middle of the road whiskeys right where they belong - in the middle of the rating range. As always - honesty is the best policy. Cheers!

I am really stoked to get (back) into this batch 16 after scoring one during the first wave of its release. I opened it immediately to see how it stacks up to previous batches, and as a welcome reprieve from my batch 13 I'm struggling to desire a pour from lately. I explored a bit of this bottle last night with a cigar pairing (not a regular thing for me), and have definitely found a few overarching themes I'll try to touch on, as bottles will evolve a bit over time with oxidation. I try to give most things a fair shake when I can, but some things get reviewed at different fill levels. The picture attached to the post is usually a good indication of where I am. Now, let's see how this Stagg Jr is tasting this evening! Company on Label: Buffalo Trace Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 130.9° Age: NAS (~8 years) Further identification: Batch 16 (Summer 2021) Nose: Syrupy sweet plum and raisin forward to start., Dusty, herbal citrus laced oak follows. Vanilla bean. Peppercorn and a bit of anise. Waves of malted caramel. Somewhat salty and nutty too with traces of almonds. Caramel crusted popcorn. All of those fun departures circle back to a dry vanilla that serves as a wonderful base for one of the softest & approachable batches of Stagg Jr my nose has dipped towards. There's a bit of charcoal that slides under the rest of the flavors attempting to go unnoticed. A touch of bitter dark chocolate. Time for a sip! Afterwards, more of the sweet stone fruit take over; primarily the spicier cherry with a bit of cinnamon hots alongside it. The rich older oak notes now start to appear as well. I know the going rate (rumor) is that these are ~8 years, but this one noses up there maybe closer to 10 years. It hasn't yet found the George T. mature notes of leather yet, but it produces much of the same enjoyment. Some newspaper notes and toffee shavings settle in now. There's oddly something that reminds me of the cold produce section of the grocery store here too. I think it's a light clove and something earthy and akin to a root-vegetable. The glass has finally returned to a dusty oak plank with cherry and vanilla intermingled. A little smoked butter presents slightly oily late in the glass. The empty glass has multitudes of lovely brown sugar, molasses and more vanilla! Palate: Boom. That is a vanilla bomb! Beautiful cherry and cinnamon similar to Batch 14 explode with effervescence across my tongue. As these flavors dance and fade, an infinitely long wave continues to form that just builds and builds flavors of pure raw vanilla. Flashes of anise, hibiscus and copper metallics are really interesting layers here. There is an incredibly long chest hug that let's the rest of your body know your tongue was fooled on the proof of this one. It is very easy to sip on this one, but if you're brave enough for a larger chew, amazing flavors get kicked up: red starburst sweetness, red grape, allspice, and plum. These all coat the entirety of my mouth marvelously. The finish leans a little towards the tannic side. Larger sips are oh-so-sweet. Really delicious, but it carries a slightly drying mouth feel. Apricot and nectarine are refreshing yet weathering a bit on the palate. These nuances are all very low in intensity which is a surprise for me from Stagg Jr. When I think of my go-to pour (batch 14), I am expecting things to be a little more punchy. This batch, much like batch 15 I believe, has been selected and crafted to be approachable to more folks than the die hard barrel proof fans. It loses a bit of some things in that effort, but I can certainly understand it. The overarching feel of this pour is definitely centered around the flashes of sweet fruit that dart around a wonderful river of vanilla. The last sip includes waves of all the stone fruit of the pour, more dusty, dry vanilla and a long hug goodbye of warm winter hearth allspice bakery notes. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.)

From the bottle label: Are you sure That we are awake? It seems to me That yet we sleep, we dream. - Demetrius, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 4, Scene 1 - Wm. Shakespeare Company on Label: High West Whiskey Type: A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed proportions of 95% Rye, 5% Barley and 80% Rye, 20% Malted Rye Proof: 98.6° Age: NAS (mix of 5-6 year MGP and 4-9 year at High West) Further identification: Act 9 Scene 1 is High West Rendezvous Rye finished in French oak port barrels; this is the Fall 2021 release Nose: Creamy nose feel with a very jammy fig forward sweetness greeting me gently. Crème brûlée that is only lightly seared; very sweet and sugary. Citrus and oak marry well. Lovely complexity already on only a few breaths in. Slight hints of clove, nestled under a fir bough. Roasted almonds and chocolate now. Hearty clusters of raisins, plums and prunes. All the delicious dark fruit you could ask for. After a sip things turn markedly more oaky here, which in this case is a good thing as it is still creamy rather than dusty in texture, likely due to the finishing casks. A bit of green moss and smoke layer in later in the glass. Peach preserve tingles a bit and then settles back into a creamy vanilla. The empty glass smells of vanilla and dates. Palate: First sip is like a strip of fruit silk. Vanilla parfait, loaded with plums and more of that fig jam. Lovely syrupy mouth feel coats the tongue, but doesn't stick to your teeth like a sweet wine does. Bits of cinnamon tingle here and there as orange marmalade, blackberries and slight floral notes dance. Slight hints of a candied kind of mint layers over the fruit at times. Such a robust and evolving bouquet of fruits at all times, this one never lets your taste buds settle on just one thing. Cherry now dominates more-so late in the glass. The last sip is as smooth as butter and yields a dark, syrupy cherry with waves of pepper, molasses, mint, and raisin that lingers long. Swish and savor this pour and it will be good to you! Rating: 4/5 This is just begging for a cherry pie pairing. I love this pour every year, with Act 7 stealing my heart the most... But this Act 9 might give it a good run if I do a head to head soon. If you are still sleeping on this pour - I hope you are now awake! Share this pour with friends and family this Winter. May your hearth be warm. Cheers.

I love Noah's Mill. This and Rowan's Creek were a few of the first bourbons I ever tried and since then I've never had a batch I didn't like. I will be resetting my expectations of this bottle a bit here and seeing if it has stood the test of time as I've explored hundreds if not thousands of other whiskeys since those early days of learning. Question: Would you consider this bottle a 'shelfer' due to its availability, or is it just out of the price range for that qualification? Let me know in the comments. Now it's review time. Let's go! Company on Label: Willett Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed, but I assume it to be a majority OG mash (by taste): 72% Corn, 13% Rye, 15% Malted Barley Proof: 114.3° Age: NAS Further identification: This is one of the flagship products of Willett distillery that they work hard to blend into quantities that can satisfy the huge demand for Willett bourbon; it is the slightly higher in proof and cost sister label of Rowan's Creek Nose: Mmm. Punchy cherry upfront with a hint of cola. Big funky barrel influence all throughout; it smells old, rich and inviting. Cinnamon hots tickle the nostrils as the air rushes through. Plum, raisin and incredibly dusty pepper jump into the glass in an explosion of proofy heft. Soft leather and cooking oil aromas rise to the surface. There's a ton of citrus zest bursting at the seams but not taking center stage just yet. The richness of the caramel and molasses is definitely not to be understated here - it comes across almost savory. Impressively powerful in all regards for aroma with no sharp edges. This noses like an incredibly well crafted whiskey. On deep inhales there is a sugary tiramisu characteristic. Time for a sip! Mmm. It has that Willett magic on the nose - usually attributable to the rye side of their profile for me. I find star fruit, juicy pear and lychee that borders on a tannic quality without the bitter characteristic. The nose is distinctly dusty layered on the oak aromas like most 10+ year bourbons will deliver. Beautiful floral sweetness bubbles up on deep inhales. The blend here (assuming it is a blend) is coherent and incredibly well crafted; I don't find any messy layers, flavors or aromas that don't wholeheartedly jive. The empty glass smells of hibiscus, honeysuckle and faint campfire ash. Palate: Oh wow. That is delicious. Cherry hots definitely hit first. It's followed by a nutmeg spiced hot chocolate and tiramisu creaminess that balances the initial flash of heat well. On a follow up sip that beautiful citrus pop I love drops in for a visit; yum! Raspberry sherbert, plum and cherry skins bring in just the right amount of fruit sweetness here. Light jackfruit gives off a slightly tropical vibe. The fruit bombardment does not let up as I find blood orange, blackcurrant and grapefruit. Cherry continues to be the shining beacon of homely comfort all throughout. Blackberry peach cobbler comes across dark and delicious. There's just a hint of the smoke that the cast iron Dutch oven protected the dessert from. My last sip is well worth savoring as dark cherries, plum, black raspberries and figgy jam sit atop a strip of well oiled leather. The finish is delectable as it fades into a long linger of breakfast jam on rye toast. Rating: 5/5 (Just wow. One of my favorites.) This bottle rekindles the feeling you get when you're just starting to explore the wide world of whiskey... The baffling volume of new flavors & aromas and finding that certain profile that just matches your palate perfectly. Whatever Willett was doing in 2020 with this release I hope has been the norm for the subsequent years because this is one of my favorite profiles. Cheers!

I've long been more of a critic than a believer in these barrel proof single barrels. I was excited at first when I found out they would be releasing one of my favorite products (94 proof store pick single barrels) at their straight-from-the-barrel proof. What I'd find later on was disappointment after disappointment where the single barrel products just couldn't live up to their 12 year age-stated batched product counterparts. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 just recently rocked my world and earned my top mark. So what gives? Only recently did I start coming back around to these releases when I found a few stores actually doing really great barrels. First, Liquor Junction did a barrel that was one of the earliest as far as I know. I crushed two of those at a spectacular price point. Then I was invited down to Kentucky to help pick another barrel from Heaven Hill. While it was far from the coolest barrel picking experience I've been on, there's nothing better than the smell of the inside of a rickhouse. Hammering out the bung on a few barrels that could be yours and sipping your way through nuances to find the one that is just right is more challenging than you would think. You've got to form a consensus across a few palates and then also consider what your average consumer is going to be looking for as well. When I pick a barrel I have to have the following conditions met for me to be willing to put my name on it: I have to love the whiskey enough to be willing to buy a minimum of 6 bottles of it for myself It has to do something unique; I don't want a barrel that tastes exactly like the shelf option - people ultimately need a reason to choose your barrel pick versus someone else's It can't be too weird... being unique just for the sake of being unique is more detrimental than fitting in Stores who keep these things in mind and have a core group of good palates end up putting out consistently good picks, building repertoire with their customers, and elevating the entire whiskey experience for the community. Finding these stores is more difficult than you might think. Everyone wants to do barrel picks these days - but that doesn't mean everyone should. Today's review comes from a store that is definitely starting to earn my respect. From the surprise Willett purple top barrel to a sleeper of a value bourbon, I've been impressed thus far. Will this Elijah Craig pick sing or flop? Let's find out! Company on Label: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 125.1° Age: 8 years Further identification: Barrel serial no: 6688127 was picked by the Dion's team Nose: Sugary tones immediately jump out of the glass. Peanut brittle, toffee and classic Heaven Hill vanilla are omnipresent aromas as I inhale off the surface of the glass. Almond starts out simple before blooming into the smell of a sweet amaretto. A tinge of linen creeps up next to rich oak and caramel popcorn. Overall the glass feels dark, earthy and funky in all the right ways. Rich barrel influence gives this a sturdy backbone. Let's jump in for a sip. Coming back more traditional vanilla and dark woodshop tones are dispersed through the glass. Overall this smells like a solid, well-aged bourbon with black pepper and leather just starting to come around. Bright red peppers provide a little heat on deep inhales on a well rested glass. Swirling things around produces more notes of the lovely medley of vanilla and black pepper that tickles the nostrils. The disturbed liquid below has upset the balance of the glass and an angry proof wall guards the surface from supplanting any aromas. Brown sugar and funky rum sweetness linger near the bottom of the glass. Lavender calms the glass from doozy to dozy. The empty glass smells of buttercream frosting, nectarine and silky smooth oatmilk. Palate: A small sip to open the palate up is ladened with dark cherry, plum, orange peel, and a thick mouth coating of caramel. Another sip is again fruity with new layers of heft and spice reminiscent of the first bite into a hot tamale. Light tarragon leans more towards the sweet side of bittersweet and introduces a nice wave of lemongrass and honeysuckle. Sugar cookie evolves into a cherry tart. This doesn't have a ton of depth, but it makes up for that in high quality flavors. Raspberry scones sit towards the back of the tongue while lemon Italian shaved ice tingles on the tip. Mmm-mm! The linger is distinctly warm and buttery as if there was some in a pan getting ready to receive a drizzle of pancake batter. My last sip is delicate, creamy and well put together like a strawberries and cream waffle spread. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) Overall this is incredibly far from a flop. It doesn't quite sing enough for me to personally say I would pick it or buy a case, but I'd definitely put this at an approachable tie to many of the batched products I've come to know and love. There are unique layers and vast similarities to the traditional Elijah Craig profiles that one might expect. This is another solid pick from the Dion's team.Where this would shine is in a blind lineup of several releases in order to have fun picking apart the subtle nuances. Let me know in the comments where you'd rank some of the single barrels you've tried. Cheers!

I've enjoyed this release for quite some time (much more than it's equal-rarity-counterpart Sweet Wheat). This is now my 2nd bottle I've opened, which I've had probably 4 glasses out of thus far. I waited til now so I wouldn't have reviewed a highly oxidized bottle like my previous one was. Twelve Year is harder to get than most of the other shelfer options, but if you go looking it's not impossible. I seem to see these anywhere from 80 to 100 bucks around Mass at certain times of the year now. The Barton 1792 distillery has a long and interesting history that is not often talked about for whatever reason. They seem to just silently keep plugging (or chugging?) away at making a ton of great whiskey these days, even offering that as their explanation for why they stopped doing facility tours in June of 2022. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Situated in heart of bourbon country on 196 acres, the Distillery boasts 29 barrel aging warehouses, 22 other buildings including an impressive still house, and the legendary Tom Moore Spring. Barton 1792 Distillery is named in honor of the year Kentucky joined the United States. The brand website also describes the some of the background of this release: Twelve years is a long time to wait, but patience has its rewards. Starting with our signature "high rye" recipe, this impeccable bourbon whiskey is the satisfying result of maturing for more than a decade in the finest charred American white oak barrels. This one is usually solid for me. Let's see how it tastes today! Company on Label: Barton 1792 Distillery Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Undisclosed (but assumed to be 74-75% Corn, 15-18% Rye, and 8-10% Malted Barley) Proof: 96.6° Age: 12 years Further identification: This one of the rarer releases of the flagship line from the 1792 series; it features the light gray neck tag and the distinct gold 'UFO' topper Nose: Right away there are tingles of caramel, cherry skins and bright, sugary laffy taffy tones. The glass is loaded with butterscotch, gingerbread cookie and crème brûlée. It's balanced, approachable and steeped with bakery tones that bring comfort on every inhale. Distinct age comes across rich and decadent in the quality of the caramel with a strong but not overpowering leather and oak backbone. Let's jump into a sip. Returning to the nose I find the sweetness is joined by plenty of floral tones now. Cedar shakes, black pepper, corn fritters and cherry-soaked Spring florals all jive incredibly well. Everything is subtle, nuanced, bountiful, yet somehow balanced. Bravo to the blending team on this one. Hints of earthy iron embolden a well layered experience. The empty glass smells of soft honey and jasmine flower petals. Palate: My first sip is cherry forward - skins, juice, pit and all. The mouth feel is tingling as angostura bitters, chamomile tea and candied plum undulate to and fro. Each sip is distinctly soft yet flavorful with prevalent stone fruit jiving up front before lemon frosting and other soft creamy treats smooth over the taste buds. There's an inherent elegance to the creamy mouth feel reminiscent of a decadent mouthful of dessert being savored. Vanilla icing like you'd find drizzled over a warm cinnamon bun coats the tongue. Another sip and swish produces more of the bread tones that were lying deeper in the glass before. Ciabatta bread comes across with tiny inklings of rosemary, sage and thyme that never quite materialize fully. Later in the glass things return to the sweet and complete cherry experience. There are a lot of whiskeys that produce cherry notes, but none as well rounded as this. The consistent deliciousness of this experience of biting into a fresh cherry is quite impressive. On larger sips just a hint of cinnamon can be found in the slightly tannic delivery. This one doesn't have infinite depth, but just the right amount for an approachable but fun-to-explore pour. My last sip is distinctly sweet with the obvious cherry we started with, plum, slightly minty blackberry and a creamy tiramisu mouth coating. The linger is medium to short with all the sweets sticking in the corners of my mouth. Rating: 4/5 (Really good. I want one of these on my shelf.) This is just solid bourbon. This pour doesn't try to do anything too flashy or unique, but instead leans in on a traditional profile with magical completeness in the ways it nuances distinctly recognizable flavors and aromas. This is one of those bottles that always seems to tantalize you into having another glass. I won't be without one of these on my shelf. Cheers!

It's time for a fresh Booker's batch review! In my journey to try as many as I can, I can't sleep on the modern releases. This is the latest I have - I haven't found 2022-04 just yet, despite us being in the 2023 calendar year at the time of writing. On the Booker's website Fred Noe describes the inspiration of this release saying: While some may flavor their water with tea leaves, my dad, Booker Noe, loved to flavor his water with bourbon – something he called Kentucky Tea. As you can imagine, Dad loved the flavor of bourbon, especially his Booker’s Bourbon. Since Booker’s is over 100 proof, the flavor still pulls through when added to water. So, he’d take one part bourbon and four parts water and enjoy his drink. One night, when a reporter was at Dad’s house for supper, he asked why Dad drank Kentucky Tea. Dad quickly replied, “Why would I flavor my water with tea leaves when I can flavor my water with bourbon?” It was that simple - Kentucky Tea was Dad’s drink. He would drink it with a country ham or fish dinner and would say you need to sip the right proportion of Kentucky Tea to really appreciate the food. As you sip this batch, add a taste of it to your water so you can try Dad’s Kentucky Tea with “Kentucky Tea Batch.” I know that’s how he would’ve liked it. Cheers! Now let's dive into a quick review of what's in the bottle! Company on Label: James B. Beam Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 126.5° Age: 7 years (4 months, 14 days) Further identification: 2022-03 Kentucky Tea Batch comes bearing a light pink label in a wooden box with a batch information card Nose: Bright vanilla and hefty oak permeate the glass upon first lifting it to my nose. The wood tones are prevalent, sticky and invasive. It's like the inescapable smell of a woodshop in full production mode: the planers, band saws and mills all generating chips, chunks and dust. Inklings of banana peel can be separated from the deep, prevalent oak. A dusty earthiness begs my nose to sneeze. Rather simple on the nose, I find myself shying from digging too deep with the bright dustiness being rather dry and harsh in the airways. A swirl of the glass unlocks better layers of tannic grape skins and bright florals. Sharp vanilla returns in droves. Time for a sip. Returning from a sip mellows the aromas out drastically. Typical barrel funk indicative of well-aged bourbon persuades me to keep digging. Aromas of rose, strawberry cereal and white pepper tantalize now. Heavy leather clashes against molasses. Towards the bottom of the glass synthetic deodorant aromas begin to form. Black pepper and subtle sweat against a warm sweater are further odd aromas that have me thoroughly perplexed. The empty glass smells of sea salt, grass and chocolate cake. Palate: My first sip is noticeably chocolate forward with fruit and floral undertones. I was not expecting that level of complexity based on the nose! The mouth feel is syrupy like a slightly watered down honey would feel. The linger is prevalent and cooling similar to the feeling of just had a sip of mint tea. That flavor mixed with the chocolate does very well for me to tonight. Another larger sip and swish shows this to be really distinctly floral and minty. It clashes awkwardly on the tongue and leaves me wishing for a sip of water. Perhaps Fred's recommendation to drink this batch with water is rooted in sage advice! As I continue down my neat pour exploration, I continue to find flavors at odds with each other. Zesty orange peel intermingles with old leather. Dry raspberry abuts clove and way too much star anise for my personal preference. It's quite bitter at times and zesty similar to some MGP releases at best other times. Overall, this is a stark departure from what I know and love about Booker's bourbon. Sipping near the bottom of the glass I find more red fruit mixed with citrus characteristics. The linger continues to be bright and minty with distinct proof imbalance. Every sip leaves me further unsettled & I am longing for this glass to be through. My last sip is small and satisfyingly muted. Rating: 2/5 (Not good... Doesn't please my palate.) I have to admit I thoroughly disliked my first ever taste of this bottle which was prior to tonight. I tried to think of that as a one off fluke on a bad day, but revisiting tonight seems to have confirmed that first tasting for me. Tonight was better, but I still think this is incredibly off-profile for Booker's. I'm thoroughly surprised and disappointed to have to rate one of my favorite batched bourbon releases in existence this low, but I honestly think this one is a distinct miss. I hope this batch does actually make a decent "Kentucky Tea" because I can't envision myself sipping this neat again. For the sake of being thorough - I did try the prescribed Kentucky Tea recipe. 4 parts water to 1 part bourbon. It certainly makes this palatable! The citrus characteristic is enjoyable and the mint backbone is mostly gone. It still makes me shudder as black licorice sits in the linger. Eugh. Here's to hoping 2022-04 is better! Cheers. Historical Booker's reviews I'd recommend checking out: 2016-05 Off Your Rocker (4/5) 2017-02 Blue Knights Batch (4/5) 2019-03 Country Ham (5/5) 2019-04 Beaten Biscuits (4/5) 2020-01 Granny's Batch (4/5) 2021-01 Donohoe's Batch (4/5) 2021-02 Tagalong Batch (4/5) 2021-03 Bardstown Batch (4/5) 2021-04 Noe Strangers Batch (3/5) 2022-01 Ronnie's Batch (4/5) 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch (4/5) I think that's a pretty good summary of historical greatness. The average score of all the Booker's batches I have reviewed so far is 3.833/5.000. I've also done reviews on all the Little Book releases. Those can be hit or miss too with Chapter 6 being a distinct flub in my book. Chapter 2 is my personal favorite if you can still find it. I hope this extra context helps. Let me know what you think!

This sample comes to me from the absolutely epic shelf of my good friend @ra1nmannn. I thank him for providing it to me for review! This is another one of those crazy rare releases that few will try. You might be wondering if it's worth chasing this down... or dare I say... opening one of your own? This stuff is meant to be shared & Eric knows and exercises that adage better than most I know. So... What's the deal with Warehouse C? The mythos is built and described well on Buffalo Trace's website. They state: This ten-year-old Bottled in Bond bourbon was aged in Warehouse C, built by Col. Taylor in 1885, and the barrel warehouse he was most proud of – the final piece in his “model distillery.” Like some of the previous releases, this one-time-only bottling of E.H. Taylor, Jr Warehouse C Bourbon is very limited. The barrels in the E.H. Taylor Jr. Warehouse C release were all aged for ten years in the center of Warehouse C, with half of them coming from the 2nd floor and the other half from the 5th floor. The second floor is an outstanding aging floor for older barrels. The ricks are very tight, making it slow and difficult to put in new barrels. The floor is very dry, making it ideal for 10 to 15-year-old products. The fifth floor of Warehouse C is a well-rounded aging floor with windows all the way around, providing excellent air flow throughout the floor. There is ample sunlight through these windows which helps heat up the warehouse and the aging process. The ideal aging locations for these barrels led to a wonderful flavor combination, with a nose of cherry cobbler with rum sauce and a hint of oak; a palate of cherry cola, vanilla bean and toasted oak; and a finish that is long and lingering with a hint of spearmint, coffee, raisin bread and anise. Okay, so. if I'm allowed to paraphrase a little.. It's limited. The barrels used were all from a single rack house called Warehouse C A particular well-aged profile was targeted All this sounds like a recipe for something great, but does it live up to the hype when you actually find it, open it and drink it? Let's dive into a review & find out. Company on Label: Old Fashioned Copper Distillery (Buffalo Trace) Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1 (Low Rye < 10%) Proof: 100° Age: 10 years Further identification: Warehouse C is a one time release (alongside the Tornado Surviving modifier) that came around in 2021 Nose: Up front there is thick cherry pie filling, apple dump cobbler and and oodles of sweet cinnamon mixed with brown sugar. The sweetness of the glass can be smelled from several feet away and exudes the feeling of being in a dessert bakery. Hefty oak comes across like a charcuterie board platter loaded with plums, blackberries, dark raspberries and assorted chocolates. Hints of smooth black pepper slide through the nostrils like a wisp of smoke from a freshly extinguished candle. Clay, leather and crushed stone give this a dry, slightly earthy backbone. After a swirl of the glass distinct barrel funk comes across heavy, dark and brooding. I long for it to settle back into the sweet profile this glass started with. Let's get into a sip. Coming back from a sip I begin to find classic well-aged bourbon notes of funky oak, caramel and tobacco. As the glass settles again it begins to form a cooling sensation in the nose. Vanilla bean becomes bright and creamy like a thin coating of frosting on angel food cake. The proximity of the sponge cake aroma returns me to the bakery with strawberries and cream notes proliferating in the glass. What a treat. I find myself stalling another sip as the nose here makes me close my eyes and dream. I let the dream take me somewhere. Deep inhales bring me to a warm, sun-filled storefront by the sea; moisturizers and lotions line the tables. As I snap back to reality - I am still quite impressed by the nose here. It's got a surprising depth and elegance unlike anything else I have tried. Everything that I smell is such a treat & the nose feel is one of the softest out there while still delivering strong aromas. There's something for everyone to love here. The empty glass smells of cherry skins, raspberry scones, grape jelly and ladyfingers covered in confectioner's sugar. Later in the empty glass I also find dark amaretto, delectable scones and rich cappuccino aromas. Palate: Hefty for 100 proof at first, this almost instantly soothes into beautiful cherry pie with a side of strawberry shortcake. It's short, simple and sweet on first taste, but the quality of the cherry and strawberry flavor is distinct & elegant. Another small sip reveals subtle layers of lemon peel, prevalent oak and a creamy nutmeg-loaded cappuccino. After a long hiatus with my nose nestled in the glass, I come back to find tannic plum has joined the nutmeg jamboree. There's an interesting layer of confectioners sugar throughout this that gives the sip a funky, one-of-a-kind mouthfeel texture. The linger is medium with very soft notes of tarragon and botanicals like rose & lavender. What this does differently than most Taylor releases is that it layers in much more fun baking spices and floral tones to the traditional sweet factory that Taylor fans know and love. It's distinctly less like the pure skittles candy that some can be and layers in a distinct extra layer of age most Taylor doesn't exhibit. My last sip is a satisfying medley of fruit salad and herbal tea. Rating: 4/5 (Really good; I want one of these on my shelf.) That nose was just something else... Even the empty glass was the gift that kept on giving. Overall I'd say this tastes like a really unique riff on Taylor Single Barrel. While this is a blend, I don't think the concept strays too far from reality. It's really quite delicious as most of the Taylor lineup is. I'd definitely drink this regularly if I could. If you made me rank them, I'd put this just a tiny notch above Single Barrel. This release is at the point where you get pretty far out to the right on the cost / quality curve before you fall off the collectable cliff. Though everyone's cost scale is different, and quality is also subjective to the individual palate... we can definitely still make informed decisions. Check out this awesome plot of the phenomenon I am describing below from commadot.com. There are many other accessible alternatives at this score, so if you can't find this one - don't fret. Sipping on this surely won't change your life, though it is damn fun to explore! Thanks for reading & thanks again to Eric for being such a generous soul. Cheers!