whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

Rebel Yell 10 YR Single Barrel Review

Posted on 31-January-202009-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Rebel Yell 10 YR Single Barrel Review

Original review written January 28, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

I always seem to forget about this one, but it really shouldn’t be glossed over. The blend is wonderful and there are elements of every flavor profile to thoroughly enjoy. Read my Rebel Yell 10 YR Single Barrel Review here! 92/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Single Barrel
– Age: 10 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Visit luxco.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

Wispy clouds dress a blue sky as you stand amidst a tall, brown field grass. A rustic windmill shines and glimmers as an afternoon sun hits it just right. You can’t help but smile at the simplicity and easy warmth that fills you right up. Everything just looks better and beautiful.

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

NOSE:

I get a quick nip of caramel alcohol with black pepper and cloves. The overall character, however, remains bright and fresh with a tang of citrus zest and a very subtle grass or hay component too. The oak is light, maybe even mixing with a touch of eucalyptus that assists in the brightening. Sugars contribute to a simple syrup, which really only seems to enhance the other flavors I’m getting.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Big and gritty, enticing me always to always to chew it.
– Balance: Very solid. Many different flavors all blending well together.
– Visual: Tawny in color, I’m left with only an uneven crown and thick legs in the glass.

– Taste: Bourbon warmth explodes on the tongue in the initial sip along with a grassy, earthy feel that instantly makes me want to chew it. (I’m refraining … for now.) The freshness is still there too, created by a slightly herbal or minty element, which I quite enjoy, and of course, the citrus component which is still mostly zest, I would say.

I get a little bit of white pepper for the spice indicated by the hint of sweetness included. That sweetness is coupled with a light sugar, caramelly syrup.

The alcohol is unassuming, acting as a carrier and supporter of the other flavors. Readers and followers will know from my other reviews that I always love and prefer when the alcohol functions in this capacity.

The oak is here too, but it has taken a back seat, providing a decent foundation for the other sensations to bounce off of. Again, I greatly favor whiskeys where there is a noticeable foundation like this, so I’m quite pleased.

When I finally partake in the Kentucky chew, caramel and a pop of maraschino cherries come out, leaving me very happy.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. The warmth is all over the place along with a very pleasant aftertaste.
– Between Sips: I’m left with vanilla, mint and grass. The vanilla may seem odd, but it is light enough that the flavors work very well together.

– No More: The flavors stay the same throughout the glass, but the grassy component seems to grow in intensity, and I’m not mad at it.

The empty Glencairn is a sugary, sweet oak with just enough bite to keep it interesting.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$60 is a lot to ask, certainly, but once you get into it, you’re glad you’ve got it. I’m in the market for another.

RATING: 92/100

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Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review

Posted on 28-January-202009-May-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review

Batch 70 Z; Bottle #4110

Original review written January 25, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

I’ve been quite excited to try this, but I come away a little disappointed with this slightly bitter offering. I’m hoping my disappointment is limited to this batch and bottle, and that our other purchased bottle will be an improvement. Read my full Angel’s Envy Whiskey Review for Batch 70 Z here! 82/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Angel’s Envy Distillery
– Classification: Special port barrel finish Kentucky Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=72%; Rye=18%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Special Finish: Finished in port barrels, then hand-blended in batches of 8-12 barrels at a time*
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 43.3% (96.6 proof)
– Price: $46.95 USD in Idaho

*Visit angelsenvy.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the whiskey neat from a Glencairn with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this whiskey here!

SETTING:

The air is a bitter cold with wind and snowflakes swirling around you as you run to take cover in a snow-dusted, red barn. The color of the structure alone is enough to pressure your legs and feet to a faster and more urgent pace, the promise of warmth and shelter looming ahead.

Photo by James Ahlberg on Unsplash

NOSE:

There is a mix of black pepper, brown sugar, and also barrel char that is the most obvious on the initial inhales. It makes for a spicy feel overall, with leather and the wine/port element keeping the undertones very rich and earthy. The wine/port also adds a subtle bit of sweetness, along with baked blackberries.

Deep inhales flaunt the alcohol, but it’s quite gentle – not to be confused with the aforementioned spiciness and newfound allspice. In the same deep inhales, there’s a nutty flavor that comes forward, like buttered pecans perhaps. Aside from the sweet, yet spicy, barrel char, specific wood is unrecognizable.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: A little watery, but still quite soft. Not the worst I’ve had, but not the best either.
– Balance: It seems a little confused – wanting to be sweet, but it’s also bitter.
– Visual: A hazy/smoky auburn in color, there is a broken crown of droplets and legs, but there are mostly clinging droplets.

– Taste: Wine grapes come forward on the first sip, but there’s a smoky or perhaps dusty rye that reminds me that this is still a whiskey at the end of the day. There are raisins here too, keeping with the grape theme.

The nut from the nose seems to be more like hazelnuts, as there is a bitterness that is coupled with the sweetness of the grapes. I can’t decide whether I like it or not.

There’s maybe a toffee here too, but it’s also on the bitter side, as though something got burned in the cooking process.

Some cherries and rye peek out with a Kentucky chew, but the overall taste still seems slightly bitter in nature. It isn’t awful, or even bad, but knowing that there are less bitter offerings at this same price point is something I can’t help but consider.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. There is no warmth left over, but the aftertaste is quite proficient at lingering.
– Between Sips: A strange bitter (again) flavor, but I also taste a grape-y essence between sips, and it is quite good at persisting for a long time. I taste it the most at the back of my tongue, but no matter how hard I try, I cannot get it to go away. Despite other issues with this whiskey, the aftertaste is where I’m struggling the most… It’s just not great.

– No More: I suppose I can find some wood; however, again, it is indistinct. It’s hazy, but it’s also chewy. This could be the source of the bitterness, so I don’t think it’s oak. As my father suggests in his review of this Angel’s Envy batch, it could be be the port barrel and therefore, potentially not the whiskey barrel. Along with the possible wood, the cherry sneaks out more, which is nice.

The empty Glencairn is very oaky and it is not bitter at all. I would have loved to get those flavors in the palate, but here’s to hoping other batches and bottles prove more enjoyable, and I do sincerely look forward to experimenting more with batches.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I’ll have to take a look at our other bottle’s batch offering; however, at is stands, I’m not sure that this is quite worth the price. Still, this isn’t awful, and I will look forward to seeing what our other bottle offers.

RATING: 82/100

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Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review

Posted on 27-January-202019-March-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Larceny Bourbon Review:

original review 19-December-2017; updated 18-January-2020
S01E02 Podcast Review 11-March-2023

LARCENY KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON REVIEW:

Early in my bourbon journey, I actively sought out wheated whiskeys as I felt they fit my novice flavor profile best. When I got to Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it left me a bit underwhelmed. As I reviewed those early notes in preparation of new posts, I realized the brand needed to be given another chance. I’m happy to share good news. While my palate has matured and there are many better whiskeys, Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Larceny) from Heaven Hill at about $25 USD is a solid value. Consider reserving a space in the bunker for a bottle to share when new-to-whiskey friends drop by for a dram.

LARCENY BOURBON VITAL STATS:

– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Heaven Hill
– Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Barley
– Barrel Char: #3
– Age: nas (believed to be 4-5 years old)
– Barrel Proof: 125
– ABV: 46% (92 Proof)
– Price: $23.95 USD in Idaho

Learn more at https://heavenhill.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the updated evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

LARCENY NOSE:

Larceny has a rich bourbon aroma and greets the nose light floral fruit blossoms, sweet corn and wheat. Even with long inhaling there is little to no alcohol on the nose. Additional nosing can detect ripe berries, sweet cherries and faint traces of banana and a single fresh peeled orange. Its spices of ginger and white pepper are nearly masked in scents of sweet bread. This is a simple and gentle bourbon but its caramelized sugar, woody caramel, and maple sugar blend nicely with faint aromas of hazy and faint barrel char.

LARCENY PALATE:

Upon taking in the first sip there is quite a bite; and an unexpected burn which feels hotter than a 92 proof dram should provide … but it subsides to a nice warmth in the throat in short order. Sipping with intent I detect sweet corn and a nice wheatiness which blends nicely with sweet dried dark cherries as the mouth is treated to both black and white pepper. Sweetness comes as caramelized sugar and buttery caramel. While simple there is a slightly earthy depth with a hint of peanuts and pleasant seasoned old oak.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Larceny’s flavors are well blended. In the mouth it is smooth, viscous and oily while being a just a touch rough on the edges. When swished in the Glencairn, an ill-defined crown forms for a moment before the clinging liquid returns in sheets to the mahogany and henna colored pool.

LARCENY FINISH:

Larceny offers a long finish with a lingering warmth for the throat. Owing to its mashbill it is wheaty with finishing notes of dark dried cherries, pepper and simple syrup. This is an earthy dram and finishes nicely at the end of the evening as sweet dry oak sawdust fills the nose when drawn from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
But it won’t be a must have in the bunker.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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To access other whiskies from this brand, click Larceny.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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