Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekDeep copper color. The nose is filled with the classic scents of an American Rye as it offers complex spice notes with sweet, honey-soaked grains, and hints of brown baking spices and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a complex caramel and spice-driven core with accents of mandarin orange, caramel, allspice, and cinnamon. Full-bodied with great length and ideal balance and bright acidity. Made with 95% Rye with 5% malted barley. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Egan's Centenary Blended Irish Whiskey
Brilliant, pale straw color. The nose is extremely expressive being very floral with ripe peach, honey, ginger biscuits, and soft citrus accents. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, honey-filled core with bright accents of ginger heat, lemon zest, nutmeg, vanilla cream, and anise. Full-bodied while being perfectly balanced and quite vibrant thanks to the pronounced ginger and citrus notes. $100 – 4.5 Stars
Knob Creek Quarter Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose if filled with the scents of charred oak supported by notes of dark caramel, fruit cake, brown baking spices, and sweet vanilla. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a sweet fruit and spice-driven core with assertive accents of charred oak. Full-bodied with a dense core of fruit and an unshakable essence of charred oak. $49.99 – 4 Stars
Downslope Distilling Double Diamond American Whiskey
Brilliant amber color. The nose is incredibly complex and luxurious with waves of ripe red fruits, sweet malt, dried apples and apricots, loads of brown baking spices, and subtle citrus accents. The palate echoes the nose delivering a robust and silky fruit and malt-driven core with flanking notes of caramel, vanilla, and Sherry. Medium-bodied and ideally balanced with fruit, grains, and oak in perfect harmony. The Downslope Double Diamond proves that age is just a number. What this Whiskey lacks in age statement it more than makes up for with mature spirit flavors on the palate. A lovely American Whiskey. $34.99 – 4.5 Stars
Old Forester Birthday - 2019 11 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep golden color with a hint of orange. The nose is incredibly expressive offering scents of rich maple, toffee, and butterscotch with waves of baked pear, corn pudding, and charred oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and robust fruit and caramel and maple-centric core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, roasted nuts, and black fruits. Full-bodied and intense with a sharp black pepper notes that rises on the finish. The 2019 Birthday Bourbon was born on May 15, 2008 with 120 barrels produced and rested for this bottling. $99.99 – 4 Stars
King of Kentucky Barrel No. 8 15 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant, deep, cherry wood color. The nose is amazingly harmonious, sweet, and complex even before a water addition. (It's better after a splash of water.) The nose is filled with scents of charred oak, baked apples and pears, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, and roasted nuts. The palate echoes the nose delivering a dense baked fruit and vanilla cream focused core with generous waves of brown baking spices, toasted coconut, black pepper, and honey. Full-bodied with a complex and dense palate that greatly evolves with water and aeration. Sip slowly as it's not cheap and there are just over 2,000 bottles available. $250 – 4.5 Stars
Bib & Tucker American White Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are reminiscent of stepping into a large feed warehouse (I love that smell) with waves of raw grains filling the nose supported by accents of grass, wild herbs, and bread dough. The palate confirms the nose delivering a dense, grain-focused core with waves of spice, dried herbs, and sweet sap accents. Medium-bodied with lush grains and vibrant edges thanks to a dose of bright acidity. $40 – 3 Stars
Heaven's Door Tennessee Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep bronze color. The nose is vibrant with generous notes of sweet grains, banana bread, butterscotch, and honey with hints of toffee, beeswax, nutmeg, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a sweet, honeyed grain-driven core with spicy rye accents with hints of earth and toasted oak. Full-bodied with a lush, sweet core while balanced with a bright dose of acidity. Aged in new American oak for a minimum of seven years. $49.99 – 4 Stars
Tyrconnell Single Malt Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Bright copper color. The nose offers a very pretty marriage of apples and pears, grain, and spice with accents of oak, honey, and citrus. The palate echoes the nose offering a balance between creamy malt and peppery notes. Citrus flavors abound on the finish as this dram becomes dry and crisp. $45 – 3.5 Stars
Bushmills Red Bush Blended Irish Whiskey
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose is quite floral with bright notes of honey with accents of vanilla, grain, and spice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a light but sweet grain and honey-centric core with waves of spice and oak as it finishes short and dry. Medium-bodied with bright acidity but it does lack depth on the palate. The Bushmills Red is made from Whiskey aged exclusively in ex-Bourbon casks. $21 – 3 Stars
