whiskeyfortheages, Author at Whiskey for the Ages

Booker’s 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review

Posted on 07-November-202127-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Booker’s 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review

Original review written November 3, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Bardstown Batch ticks all the boxes for me, and I am quite happy to have it in the bunker. Rich, deep, oily, fruity – yes, please and thank you! 94/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 6 yrs., 5 months, and 0 days
– Mash Bill: Corn=77%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.75% (125.5 proof)
– Price: $89.95 USD in Idaho

– From Master Distiller’s Notes: Bardstown Batch is made up of barrels that were aged in 5 different locations/warehouses (WH)… Breakdown is as follows:
27%: 5th floor of 9-story WH H
24%: 6th floor of 9-story WH D
19%: 5th floor of 7-story WH I
11%: 8th floor of 9-story WH J
11%: 5th floor of 7-story WH Z
8%: 2nd floor of 9-story WH H

Find more information at bookersbourbon.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This bourbon begs to be enjoyed with some Italian, French, or even just garlic bread. Pour out some olive oil, sprinkle in some ground pepper and peppercorns and enjoy. I can imagine everything would complement and only make the other better. (Trust me, I’ll be creating an opportunity to try this.)

Photo by Frédéric Paulussen on Unsplash

NOSE:

This is very caramelly and vanilla-y on the first inhale, with plenty of depth and richness to immediately take note of. I catch some acidic plums, currants, and cinnamon. There is also a nutty earthiness, but I don’t think I could properly pin down the exact nut. For wood, I think barrel char is the most powerful, but gentler oaky notes can be found in this glass too. I can get corn as well, but I would say it works more as a base for the other, more pronounced flavors, rather than being a main contributor. The alcohol isn’t as offensively strong as I was anticipating – in fact, it’s relatively gentle and just gives a tickle more than anything else.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: First and lasting impression: Oily, oily, oily, and oily. Absolutely love it for this bourbon.
– Balance: The flavors all stick out independent of one another, but together, they make for a quite solid blend.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, I don’t find too many legs, but there is a defined ring that clings to the glass for some time.

– Taste: I can hold it at the front of my palate for a good long while before I feel any kind of alcohol burn. However, the spice is certainly quite forward and noticeable. I find black pepper, rye, and cinnamon, but there is some fruity sweetness present as well. Especially after holding it on the palate, I can taste cherry juice, plums, and baked apples. It’s a wonderful medley that works well with all of the spice. Dark vanilla custard and some barrel char finish off the pronounced flavors, and it truly does taste just sinful.

The alcohol, as stated, isn’t unbearable, but it’s a burn I already know has the potential to hug if you’re not careful. When I do a Kentucky chew, the alcohol isn’t as intense as I was expecting, but there are definite needles-in-tongue sensations. But they are tiny, and they wake up some oak and more cherry juice, which is just delectable.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium-long. The warmth certainly lingers, and I even get a bit of aftertaste, but neither are intense as I would have imagined them to be.
– Between Sips: Cherries, and apples can be found here between sips. They lift up the end of each sip, and prime the palate for the next.

– No More: The sweetness continues to grow the further into the glass I get. There is also a growing grassy element as well. It provides a pleasant extra tickle of texture and brightens up the darkness of the glass quite well.

The empty Glencairn is sweet and oaky, and even contains a bit of honey. I really love this.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

– This section written on November 6, 2021 –

Booker’s 2021-03 Bardstown Batch Review: Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of Booker’s Bardstown Batch to detect any potential differences:

Two drops of water knock back a lot of the heat, and by doing so, it actually makes the pour smoother overall while not compromising the oily mouth feel too much. I find more cherries and caramel. There is also a greater sense of oak with the water drops, and it contributes greatly to the overall balance of this pour. It’s become a richer foundation in this bourbon and makes this overall, an even deeper whiskey. I’m enjoying this quite a lot, and I see myself being tempted again to add water to Bardstown Batch at times. The finish remains warm and rich. (RATING: 94/100)

Cherries are still prominent with four drops, and now I also find brown sugar. The wood has weakened, and the alcohol has mellowed out even more. It’s still smooth, and it has surprisingly retained some significant texture. I think this is still quite good, and if I hadn’t known this had water in it, I’d think this was a very decent bourbon neat. Do I think it’s worth adding four drops of water to, for extra oakiness, a loss of some of the complexity, and the weakened alcohol? No. But I’m not disappointed in having to finish this pour. (RATING: 90/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

$90 is a big ask, but likely, if you’re already into Booker’s products, you’re wanting to give it a try. Out of the three released in the year 2021, this one sits right with Tagalong Batch, so if you enjoyed that one, and can find this one on the shelves, give it a try! And if you are looking to get into Booker’s, I do think this is a great one to whet your palate on, without feeling like you’re gambling too hard with a near $100 purchase.

BOOKER’S 2021-03 BARDSTOWN BATCH REVIEW RATING: 94/100

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Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey

Posted on 02-November-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey Review:

reviewed 30-October-2021

OLD OVERHOLT STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY REVIEW:

Old Overholt Straight Rye Whiskey (Old Overholt) is an interesting rye. The whiskey has pleasant aromas and flavors: sweetness founded in wood, but these do not dominant. Rather, they pair to provide a solid foundation for the spice and fruit to shine. This is a good whiskey, one I will reach for again.

OLD OVERHOLT STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY VITAL STATS:

Category: Straight Rye
Region: Clermont, KY
Company: Beam Suntory
Distillery: Jim Beam Distillery/A. Overholt & Co.
Mash Bill: unpublished
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: 3 Years
ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
Price: $18.95 (Idaho 2021)

_{“The oldest, continually produced and maintained rye whisky brand in America.”}
^{— Beam-Suntory}

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, alternate amounts to achieve review portions of about four ounces were poured into two Glencairns from a newly opened bottle. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

OLD OVERHOLT STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY NOSE:

Wafts of Old Overholt are dry with just a slight nip of alcohol. As I sniff, the pour gives up fruit tree blossoms and herbal notes of dusty grain. Then come aromas of soft apple-raisin-cinnamon compote in a light vanilla infused rye pastry. The sweetness continues as brown sugar fades to light molasses with a cashew-like nuttiness. Dryness continues as I draw faint oak, a bit of barrel aroma and a touch of leather from the glass before taking the first sip.

OLD OVERHOLT STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY PALATE:

Old Overholt’s herbal aromas pass to the palate as do the soft baking apples. There aren’t many flavors but they do stand out. I get rye bread, faint cloves and pepper which pair nicely with notes of cocoa, vanilla, some light brown sugar and refined molasses. I also taste roasted nuts, and light and dry toasted oak. The flavors make this an earthy pour.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Old Overholt is a simple and gentle rye. The liquid is viscous and oily and there is no alcohol to contend with owing to low 86 proof. After each sip, the wash breaks into irregularly spaced long clinging legs to return the liquid to the russet colored pool. And left behind is a thin crown with few clinging droplets.

OLD OVERHOLT STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FINISH:

Old Overholt Rye has a dry, medium and warm finish. Like sensed on the nose and palate, the finish is herbal with a bit of dusty grain. As each sip is swallowed there is a an aftertaste of soft apples, toasted nuts and faint, almost burnt sawdust. I also feel a sensation of bitter citrus, a dash of powdered ginger, the memory of rye bread and some bittersweet chocolate as the finish fades. And when the last drops are downed, the empty Glencairn smells of dried pollen and summer leaves drying along the sides of a winding back-woods dirt road.

MY OLD OVERHOLT STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY RATING: 85/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
This rye could very well be a calibration pour or even a final dram when just a bit more is needed at the end of the night.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Old Overholt Rye Review

Posted on 02-November-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Old Overholt Rye Review

Original review written October 30, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Entertaining back-and-forth balance, easy to sip, and with a character I’d say is distinct and enjoyable. I’ll look to keep Old Overholt around the bunker. 88/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Beam Suntory Distillery
– Classification: Straight Rye Whiskey
– Age: 3 yrs.
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 43% (86 proof)
– Price: $18.95 USD in Idaho (2021)

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this rye here!

SETTING:

I think Old Overholt would make for a good companion on a winding dirt road. Idly sip as you walk and take in the scenery with the fresh air almost burning your lungs with its purity. The earthy savory will match your walk, and the sweet will easily keep each step lively.

Photo by Trevor Wilson on Unsplash

NOSE:

Dusty grain, particularly corn, and vanilla bloom from the glass first followed by light brown sugar and leather. There’s some caramel wood tones along with some berry nectar. There also seems to be a nutty, salted toffee element that is both sweet and simultaneously outdoorsy. It seems for everything savory on this nose, there is something quick to pair with it that falls under a sweeter variety. So far, the balance just on the nose is decent. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily complex, and it certainly isn’t strong. However, it’s easy and palatable. The alcohol is nonexistent, but at only 86 proof, I’d be shocked if it was noticeable at all.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Pleasant. Nothing remarkable, but it is nice all the same.
– Balance: I find the play of sweet and savory from the nose, carried over to the palate, and I do find myself liking the back and forth trading.
– Visual: Honey in color, the ring of a crown stays thick around the glass, but gives way to equally thick, slow-dropping legs.

– Taste: It’s easy to hold on the palate, with some bittersweet chocolate mixing with the dusty grains from the nose. I also find maple sweetness at the back of the palate mingling with oaky richness. There are buttery walnuts back with the toffee, but the toffee isn’t quite as strong here as it was on the palate. Even on the spice, the savory/sweetness pairs continue with the trend. I can certainly identify the rye, but it’s not as bright and fresh as it is in other ryes. It provides texture and it goes with some white pepper which acts similarly to the rye. There aren’t too many fruits here, aside from the essence of perhaps a fruit leather of a stone fruit.

The alcohol is still entirely nonexistent, but for whatever reason, I’m not too bothered by this. A Kentucky chew lasts forever, with the alcohol tickling and leaving behind a subtle flavor of cherry and oak. Not a bad combination at all.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. I wouldn’t say the warmth sticks around much at all, but I do get some aftertaste.
– Between Sips: I find the oak to be the most prominent between sips, backed up by a hint of vanilla. While I’m not usually a big fan of a dominant oak, I find this to be an enjoyable pause all the same.

– No More: This stays consistent as I go through the glass, and I’m enjoying it thoroughly. It’s just solid.

The empty Glencairn is a warm oak with just a little bit of spice. I would have loved to try that spice out more on the palate, but I’m still not disappointed at all in what Old Overholt had to offer.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $20, I’m quite impressed with this offering. It’s decent, with a fun balance, and just seems solid all around. I’ll consider keeping it around quite strongly, given its price.

OLD OVERHOLT RYE REVIEW RATING: 88/100

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