West Cork IPA Cask Blended Irish Whiskey
Brilliant, medium copper color. The nose is fresh and vibrant with the scents of citrus with ripe and baked orchard and tropical fruits, along with accents of toffee and vanilla bean. The palate fully concurs with the nose delivering a lush but vibrant grain-driven core with layers of ripe orchard fruits, honey, sweet malt, and caramel. Medium to full-bodied with a lush grain and fruit core foiled by refreshing citrus notes. This Whiskey is a 75/25 blend of Irish wheat and malted Irish barley. The final blend spends six months in casks that had held Blacks of Kinsale’s IPA. $32.99 – 4.5 Stars
King of Kentucky Barrel No. 3 — 2020 14 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant deep amber color. The nose is alluring and complex with notes of sweet fruit cake, caramel, vanilla bean, and orange peel with accents of candied ginger, and maple. The palate echoes the nose delivering a dense, baked cherry and maple core with waves of brown baking spices, herbal liqueur, and sweet, charred oak. 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 fewer than 2,000 bottles available. $250 – 4.5 Stars
Michter's Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose is seductively layered with rich toffee, toasted oak, brown butter, caramel, and maple with accents of brown baking spices and vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose with caramel, roasted nuts, and charred oak in the lead supported by waves of cinnamon, maple fudge, and nutmeg. Full-bodied and ideally balanced with a generous dose of acidity and firm oak accents that linger on the long finish. Absolutely gorgeous and a candidate for the Spirits of the year. $130 – 5 Stars
Michter's Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is beautifully complex with decadent, dark caramel, roasted nuts, butterscotch, dried black fruits, charred oak, brown baking spices, and vanilla. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush, caramel-soaked rye core with generous notes of clove, oak, allspice, vanilla, black pepper, and orange peel. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with a beautiful intensity that ideally marries sweet cereal, caramel, and exotic spices. $160 – 5 Stars
Frey Ranch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Brilliant amber and deep copper color. The nose is filled with the scents of toasted grains, baked orchard fruit, caramel, charred oak, and vanilla with hints of mocha. The palate confirms the nose delivering a lush fruit and grain driven core with flanking notes of brown spice, milk chocolate, vanilla, and caramel with hints of fresh mint. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced with loads of bright acidity that better allow the complex spirit to shine with wood as an accent rather than a dominating force. Made with a mashbill that included corn, rye, wheat, and barley all estate-grown, distilled, and bottled. A true American farm Whiskey. $49.99 – 5 Stars
Uncle Bob's Root Beer Flavored Whisk(e)y
Brilliant, deep amber color. At first nosing it's clear that root beer is in charge filling the nose with scents of a spiked root beer float. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a viscous and sweet, root beer focused core with a faint accent of American Whiskey (or perhaps that's just imagined). Assertively sweet with a moderate alcohol feel. This spirit is far more reminiscent of a Liqueur or Schnapps than a flavored Whiskey. $19.99 – 2.5 Stars
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
