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Undisclosed (likely an MGP mash bill) Proof: 114.2° Age: 10 year Further identification: This is a single perfect caramel note you hope for in every bourbon alongside a toasted marshmallow, and a touch of salted

Prohibition Craft Spirits Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley Proof: 119° Age: 5 years Further identification: This was a Justin's House of Bourbon single

Rating: 3/5 With any single barrel or individual store pick offerings, the notes and rating in this review

Here comes another single barrel collaboration! Undisclosed Buffalo Trace "Wheated Mash Bill" Proof: 114° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a future single beautiful butterscotch aroma that has formed that I've only ever experienced like this before on a Weller Single Plum, cherry skins and a zesty tingle of nutmeg are a lovely farewell to the glass.

Company on Label: Old Forester Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 70% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 127.6° Age: NAS Further identification: Warehouse K, Floor 6, Barrel 6618. This is a collaboration pick that Mass Bourbon Alliance was invited to taste alongside the Liquor Junction team. I was joined by Derek Laverriere and Justin Fillip for this pick; it will be releasing at all the LJ stores in the coming months under the name of "LJ/MBA Strawberry Krunch" through the punch program Nose: Bubbly, bright, and fruit forward on first raising the glass to my nose. Definitely some heat as I went in a bit too overconfident. Lovely brown sugar, molasses and walnut. Roasted pecans. A decently large oak note comes through with a floral sweet back end. Wow... The creamy vanilla and toffee is suddenly quite potent and lovely. Really great nose-feel. This reminds me of everything that got me hooked on bourbon in the first place. Deeper inhales show off pepper, baking spice and a darker earthiness that feels so rich. Strands of oily leather are ever present. Time for a sip. Coming back to the nose, the strawberry fruit is very apparent. There's more floral tones and a rich honey note jumps out at me. The leather, oak and bright Spring bloom notes are really hitting the spot for me on this 80 degree New England day. Later in the glass you can be a little more brash with the depth of your nosing as I find lemon peel, shortbread cookie, and Nilla wafers. The empty glass smells of butter cream, pear and light florals. Palate: Whew! First sip of the day and it is a good one! Cherry and cinnamon hots lead the way on my first sip. The sizzle on the palate is not overpowering and it quickly evolves into a silky strawberry sweetness. There's a rice or cornflake cereal background note that ties this together nicely. I am reminded of why we landed on the name 'Strawberry Krunch' on this one almost immediately. Another sip shows off the honey sweetness as well as a supremely crushable, floral-laced caramel cream. The mouth feel is buttery with a touch of tart lemon effervescence that sticks in the gums. Nearing the bottom of the glass I swear this could be finished in a honey barrel; it's so sweet and enjoyable. Touches of grenadine, faint Aperol and fig really take the glass full circle if you are patient. My last sip is a larger sip and swish. It brings a potent lemon frosting forward while producing a slightly drying molasses pop on the center of my tongue. The linger is medium in length and carries lovely creamy vanilla notes all throughout. Rating: Two Thumbs Way Up I really didn't expect to like this as much as I did, as I haven't historically been a big Old Forester fan. It very well may become one of my favorites once the bottles come in, but I have to leave it at today's assessment. Yes, I had a hand in selecting it... but I'm giving this one a fair shake today. This is a re-review of the liquid several days after we selected the barrel already. I truly believe this is a special barrel that not many will get to experience. I am definitely going to want a few of these for myself, but I'm also glad to share it with all of you in the MA whiskey community. Cheers!

This particular single barrel was the one that Robert Simonson preferred and selected to bear his name York Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Pedersen Field Race rye from Seneca Falls, 16% corn, 12% malted

As you can tell from the bottle fill level left at the time of review, this was a staple pour of mine for quite some time before sitting down for a formal review. Company on Label: Wild Turkey Whiskey Type: Bourbon Mash Bill Percentages: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Barley Proof: 110° Age: 8 years Further identification: Rapid Liquors store pick Barrel 20-0164. Distilled 09/19/11, dumped 03/31/20, bottled 05/21/20 from Warehouse E, Floor 4. Nose: One of my favorite caramel specific note noses to date. Touched with pepper and funky oak. Oily goodness provides a rich, thick base. Cherry sits into a leather couch, not getting up for anyone. Sweet bakery confection, but also heavy like brown sugar sticky buns. Vanilla glaze definitely helps sell this experience. Explosive in the scents that jump out of the glass without any ethanol punch. Noses more like a 12 year old barrel at closer to 10 years aged in actuality. Such creamy goodness, noses up there with some really heavy hitters. Vanilla turning lighter than the beginning glaze texture now, making way for a hint of bright florals. Lemongrass citrus note is also an unbelievable addition late; where did this complexity come from? A linen note I've only specifically experienced in George T Stagg before. Yuuuum. Ugh. I have maybe two pours left of this and the nose is just exceptional. It smells like everything a bourbon should be, and what made me fall for this brand of spirit in the first place. Palate: Much of the same expressiveness on the palate; cherry and a lovely menthol lead the way. Way more herbal here on palate without the creamy caramel and brown sugar holding down the lighter notes. There is still a sweet & spicy brown sugar on the tip of the tongue but its effect is reduced on the overall blend of flavor. Perfect mouth feel, not too drying. The nose rising experience of a good sip and chew is lovely. No sting but linen & molasses rise strongly. Later in the pour things definitely transition to that sweet citrus side of things. Enjoyable oakiness where I would normally prefer other flavors works very well here. This one is definitely staying on my shelf as long as I can keep it there. May be one of the best Russell's picks out of MA. I am truly sad this is the only bottle that I have. Rating: 5/5

, 18% Rye, 10% Barley Proof: 127.8° Age: NAS Further identification: This is a Warehouse H, Floor 4 single

York Rye Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages: 72% Pedersen Field Race rye from Seneca Falls, 16% corn, 12% malted Another sip offers hints of Northern terroir with the malt characteristics offering a bit of a Hebridean The mouthfeel is slightly oily with the lingering feeling of a piece of melted chocolate in the mouth should definitely also check out my review of Chapter 2.2 which I liked just a touch more than this single

It comes from a Spirit Legacy by Canton cooperage featuring 5 year American staves with 4 year Hungarian

aged to perfection in the Hudson Valley, New York" Further identification: Bottled on 7/27/2021; This single

A single barrel of whiskey and the journey that unfolds. The opportunity to dive deeply into a distillery by tasting a series of single barrels is often seen Or so is the hope of this single barrel, as this is a tier 6 (highest in the warehouse). I'm ready. Distillery Whiskey Type:  Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mash Bill Percentages:   75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Deeper in the glass reveals melted butter in a cask iron skillet, oodles of vanilla cream, and sticky