Cedar Ridge Wheat Whiskey
Brilliant, pale golden color. The aromatics are quite delicate offering scents of steeped grains, butterscotch, toffee, and subtle baked orchard fruits. The palate confirms the nose being a bit drier than expected with a grassy core and assertive notes of green tea emerging on the finish. Medium-bodied with bright grain and green notes that become astringent on the finish. $42 – 3 Stars
Cedar Ridge Iowa Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant copper color. The nose is complex and subtle for a Bourbon with scents of grain, brown baking spices, and oak, with accents of dried herbs, fresh mint, and hints of toffee. The palate echoes the nose delivering a a dry and slightly astringent fruit and caramel core with flanking notes of baking spices, pepper, and toasted grain. Medium-bodied with ideal balance thanks to a bright dose of acidity and dry spices. $39 – 3.5 Stars
Clyde May's Non-Chill Filtered 5 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekVery deep amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of sweet grains, caramel, brown sugar, vanilla bean, and baked orchard fruits with flanking notes of brown baking spices and charred oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a fruit-forward core with waves of exotic spices, vanilla, and sweet barrel notes with hints of black pepper and leather. Full-bodied with rich and bright fruit while maintaining an ideal balance thanks to a bright dose of acidity and generous spice accents. $39.99 – 4 Stars
William Wolf Frisky Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant bronze color. The nose is filled with the sweet scent of caramel, butterscotch, and cashew brittle with accents of brown sugar. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a very sweet, caramel-forward core with flanking notes of toffee. Medium-bodied with sweet caramel and Liqueur proportions. $24.99 – 3 Stars
William Wolf Coffee Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant mahogany color. The nose is filled with the scent of roasted coffee beans, toasted mixed nuts, and black patent malt with hints of caramel and brown sugar. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright coffee/espresso-core with flanking notes of brown sugar that transition to drier finish that for the first time shows this spirit's Whiskey base. Medium-bodied with vibrant coffee notes with the sugar well in check with a dose of acidity and dry Whiskey notes. $24.99 – 4 Stars
Booker's Batch 2016-03 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly complex and subtle in some respects with rich vanilla and brown baking spices supported by waves of fruit, toasted oak, and brown butter with caramel. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush and silky vanilla-driven core with generous fruit, brown baking spices, and rich caramel notes that linger for minutes. Full-bodied and so incredibly silky and lush while also showing balance and restraint. $59.99 – 5 Stars
Booker's Big Time Batch Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nosing at full strength shows dense fruit and spice notes with sweet caramel but a big blast of alcohol as well. With the addition of water it really blossoms revealing nuanced scents of banana bread, rich caramel with allspice, black pepper, cloves, ginger, orange peel, vanilla bean, and star anise. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and powerful core of fruit and spice with countess barrel notes and a long, trailing finish that becomes drier as it fades. Full-bodied and quite aggressive with its nearly 70% abv but it does become a more gentle giant with the addition of water. $299.99 – 5 Stars
Knob Creek Limited Edition – Batch 1 2001 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics offered by this Bourbon are so rich and seductive that it's hard to stop nosing. The dense toffee, caramel, and baked fruit notes are perfectly married and jump from the glass (especially after a water dose). Supporting notes of charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose with a decadent, sweet fruit, caramel and nut core supported by brown spices and pepper that become drier and more wood forward on the finish. Full-bodied with the rich baked fruits and spices carrying the higher proof with ease and style. $129.99 – 4.5 Stars
RE:FIND Batch No. 3 Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is unmistakably rye with loads of brown baking spices delivered at near parity and hints of vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose delivering a round, slightly viscous sweet grain core with loads of baking spices and the vanilla found on the nose taking a bigger role while it mingles with caramel. Full-bodied with a prominent sense of alcohol due to the over-proof bottling strength. $60 – 3.5 Stars
Old Tahoe Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is quite subtle offering scents of honey, butterscotch, brown baking spices, and secondary notes of vanilla and caramel. The palate confirms the nose delivering soft, sweet barrel notes with a rich butterscotch core and little to no spice that one would associate with Rye Whiskey. Medium-bodied and soft in style and texture. $38 – 3.5 Stars
