Old Forester Birthday 2017 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep amber color. The complex aromatics certainly go to 11! It features generous scents of oak, dark chocolate, dried orchard fruits, orange zest, black pepper, toffee, dried herbs and flowers, with loads of brown baking spices. The palate echoes the nose delivering pepper and oak with lush and spicy fruit, caramel core, and dark chocolate with rising accents of allspice and clove. This is a full-throttle Bourbon that marries intensity with complexity. $79.99 – 4.5 Stars
Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose is beautifully complex while also straightforward offering scents of caramel, orange zest, wild honey, and cinnamon dusted tea biscuits with accents of cocoa, oak, and ginger. The palate echoes the nose delivering a caramel and citrus-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, ginger snaps, dark chocolate, and oak. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced offering a rich core with very nimble flavors, which is quite a feat considering the strength. $22.99 – 4.5 Stars
Palm Ridge Reserve American Whiskey
Brilliant, deep copper color. The aromatics leap from the glass offering scents of baked orchard fruits with supporting notes of caramel, honey, and roasted nuts with accents of orange peel and nutmeg. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich fruit and caramel core with flanking vibrant spice notes with hints of black pepper and toasted oak. Full-bodied with a dense grain center that never feels cloying thanks to a bright dose of fresh acidity. $55 – 4 Stars
Palm Ridge Reserve Rye Whiskey
Brilliant, deep copper color. The aromatics are quite intense with waves of rich, malted rye with supporting notes of baked peach and apple with accents of caramel and brown baking spices. The palate fully confirms the nose delivering a grain-driven core with generous notes of wood and spice with accents of orange peel and allspice. Full-bodied with a dense grain center that never feels cloying thanks to a bright dose of fresh acidity. $53 – 4.5 Stars
Booker's Batch 2017-01 6 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, crystal clear with a deep mahogany color. The aromatics are wonderfully complex and bold, dense vanilla fudge, gooey caramel, and brown baking spices supported by waves of baked fruit, toasted oak, and brown butter. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and velvet-like caramel and oak-driven core with generous fruit and assertive spice notes that rise on the finish. Full-bodied and so incredibly silky and lush while also showing balance and restraint. $71.99 – 5 Stars
West Cork Sherry Cask 12 Years Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Brilliant, deep copper color. The aromatics are complex and delicate with malted barley and grain notes in the lead supported by accents of spring flowers, orange peel, toasted almonds, and dried apricot with subtle hints of the Sherry cask. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush and round malt and grain core with flanking notes of citrus, honey, nutmeg, and oak with the rich Sherry notes riding on the finish enveloping the toasted malt. Medium to full-bodied with layers of grains and fruit presented in perfect proportions with a bright dose of acidity as well. $64.99 – 4.5 Stars
West Cork Rum Cask 12 Years Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Brilliant, deep bronze color. The nose is filled with toasted grains soaked in honey with waves of marzipan, sweet floral notes, toffee, toasted coconut, and unmistakable Rum accents with dried fruits. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a fruit-driven core with loads of nutmeg, black pepper, and citrus zest to add interest while finishing with a sweet marriage of honey and malt. Medium to full-bodied with a lush, nearly chewy core while offering enough vibrant citrus notes to maintain balance. $64.99 – 4 Stars
West Cork Port Cask 12 Years Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Brilliant. deep amber color. The nose reveals a classic West Cork profile of rich, malted barely and grains supported by accents of toffee, floral notes, fruit, and honey with the Port cask offering a sweet, vinous character. The palate fully concurs wit the nose delivering a lush but vibrant grain-driven core with layers of ripe orchard fruits, honey, red berries, and oak. Full-bodied with a lush grain and fruit core foiled by ripe orchard fruits and red berries with a bright dose of acidity that provides balance and structure. $64.99 – 5 Stars
Trail's End Batch No. 2, 8 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Brilliant, deep amber color. The aromatics are quite complex and intense with waves of sweet grains with wild mint, spring flowers, fruitcake, toasted nuts, and cigar box with pine resin and oak. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich, dense mélange of fruit, oak, spice, and grain with accents of dark chocolate, cigar, and assertive oak rising on the finish. Full-bodied with dense waves of whiskey, fruit, and very assertive oak that knocks it a bit out of balance. $49.95 – 3.5 Stars
McCarthy's Oregon Single Malt American Whiskey
Brilliant, deep copper color. The nose is quite assertive with bright fruit nearly equaling the peat and campfire notes flowing to supporting scents of pine cone, caramel malt, and oak. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, sweet malt core that is soaked in peat smoke, pine resin, and rich toffee accents with oak rising on the finish. Full-bodied with dense malt and peat notes balanced by wood tannins and a bright dose of acidity. $54.95 – 4.5 Stars
