Category: Bourbon Whiskey

Very Old Barton 90 Proof

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Very Old Barton 90 Proof Review:

reviewed 03-September-2023

VERY OLD BARTON 90 PROOF BOURBON REVIEW:

Very Old Barton 90 Proof Bourbon (VOB 90) offers a simple aroma profile of faint ethanol, delicate fruit tree blossoms, herbal and vegetal notes, and a touch of citrus zest. While the initial sip feels warm and slightly harsh, subsequent sips reveal faint grains, fruitiness, and hints of bitter citrus, dark fruit, and spices. The texture is smooth and creamy, and the bourbon forms fine droplets on the glass. And while the finish is quite warm and notably long, the pour is a straightforward without being overly compelling or rewarding.

VERY OLD BARTON 90 PROOF VITAL STATS:
Very Old Barton 90 Proof

Category: Budget Bourbon
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky
Distillery: Barton
Parent Company: Sazarac
Mash Bill: unpublished; older internet reviews report 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley
Barrel Char: #3.5
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas
ABV: 45% (90 Proof)
Fair Price: $21.16 (BoozApp, August 2023)
Paid: $25.65 (Montana, 2022)
No other batch or bottle number identifiers

Note: While several internet sources indicate Very Old Barton is produced at Barton Distillery, parented by Sazarac, neither site offers brand information.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

On day 3 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge, about four ounces was poured into a Glencairn from a newly opened bottle. The liquid rested for about 30 minutes before the first sip was taken.

VERY OLD BARTON 90 PROOF NOSE:

The aromas of VOB 90 are relatively simple. I sense faint ethanol along with delicate fruit tree blossoms. As I nose on, the scents become herbal and vegetal, accompanied by the essence of tart apples and apricots. A bit of citrus zest adds freshness, while allspice, ginger, nutmeg, and rye provide a foundation of warmth. Simple syrup and faint brown sugar offer sweetness, and the presence of pecan, light and dry oak along with hazy barrel char adds depth to the pour.

VERY OLD BARTON 90 PROOF PALATE:

The first sip of VOB 90 is quite warm, even for a 90 Proof bourbon. The taste is a bit harsh at first, but as it unfolds, I detect faint fruit tree blossoms along with field corn and dusty grain. Further sips bring bitter citrus zest and dried dark fruit leather which contribute complexity while cinnamon, ginger, and rye add spiciness. As I sip on, simple syrup fades in light, dry oak to be complemented by the subtle influence of barrel char. But in the end, this is a simple bourbon.

Very Old Barton 90 Proof

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
The few aromas and flavors in VOB 90 are in reasonable balance. Its smooth, creaminess is remarkably easy to hold as the liquid coats the palate. As the glass is tipped for each sip, an inverted crown of delicately clinging droplets break into thin, fast-falling long legs which cascade the dregs back to the russet-colored pool.

VERY OLD BARTON 90 PROOF FINISH

The finish of Very Old Barton 90 Proof Bourbon is quite long, yet few flavors linger on the palate. I do get some pleasant throat warmth and a touch of alcohol burn which offer a bit of intrigue but not much else. Herbal notes do persist throughout the experience and they are accompanied by the gentle spiciness of ginger and rye. And dry oak and barrel char continue to impart their presence as well but in the end, simplicity prevails. The empty Glencairn mirrors the overall aromatic and flavor experience … there’s just not much here to make me want more.

MY RATING: 84/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? NO
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 84/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click Barton Distillery.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Very Old Barton 90 Proof
Very Old Barton 90 Proof

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Four Roses Small Batch Select

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Four Roses Small Batch Select Review:

reviewed 01-September-2023

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT BOURBON REVIEW:

Four Roses Small Batch Select (Four Roses Select) offers a balanced aroma and flavor profile of fruit, spice, sweet, and wood. On the first draw, my nose found fruit blossoms, roasted sweet corn, and hints of mint, followed by a medley of fruits, spices, and sweet elements. Most of these aromas pass along  to the palate. Even at 104 Proof, this bourbon offers a silky mouthfeel with only a slight tongue tickle. The finish is long-lasting, and has a mix of dark fruits, spices, along with a touch of sweetness, and fades away on vanilla, caramel, and seasoned oak.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT VITAL STATS:
Four Roses Small Batch Select

Category: Limited Release Small Batch Bourbon
Region: Lawrenceburg, KY
Distillery: Four Roses
Recipe Blend: OBSV (adds delicate fruit and rye); OBSK (adds rye and baking spice); OBSF (adds delicate rye and mint); OESV (adds delicate fruit and caramel); OESK (adds baking spice; OESF (adds light grain and mint)
Yeast Strains: V (adds delicate fruit notes); K (adds slight spiciness); F (adds herbal notes)
Mash Bill B: 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley
Mash Bill E: 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas (said to be about 6-7 years)
Filtration: Non-chill-filtered
ABV: 52% (104 Proof)
Fair Price: $75.47 (BoozApp, August 2023)
Paid: $62.45 (Oregon, Summer 2023)

THE FOUR ROSES RECIPES DEFINED

Each recipe name is composed of four letters (I.e. OBSV) identifying its production facility, mash bill, distillation process and yeast strain.

The Recipes

O – The first letter is always O, designating the distillation at Four Roses Distillery
B, E – This letter designates the mash bill. Each has a different ratio of corn, rye, and malted barley
S – The third letter is always S, designated it as straight whiskey
F, K, O, Q, V – This letter identifies the proprietary yeast strain. Each creates unique flavors.

Learn more at Four Roses Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

A pour of about four ounces, was made into my Glencairn. The liquid rested for about 30 minutes before the first sip was taken. The pour was made on Day 1 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT NOSE:

Four Roses Select has an expansive aroma profile to entice the senses. At first inhale, after the nip of alcohol subsides, my nose was greeted with a bit of barrel tannin then fruit tree blossoms came in to create an inviting and fragrant lightness. I sensed roasted sweet corn and a hint of mint along with ripe red raspberry, fresh cut tart apple, cherry and a bit of apricot. As the fruity aromas mingle, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg sprinkled with white pepper and rye counter the sweetness. Then comes vanilla, followed by simple syrup and caramelized sugar and honey. Beneath this sweetness lies a subtle undercurrent of pineyness and toasted oak, along with the freshness of petricor which adds welcome earthy tones.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT PALATE:

Many of the aromas sensed on the nose pass through to the palate. Four Roses Select starts dry and warm as herbal dusty grain blends with sweet apple flavored pipe tobacco. The fruit train continues, as red berries, soft apples, apricots, and orange marmalade welcome cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and rye. The spices contribute a gentle, tingling heat and help blend in vanilla, brown sugar caramel rich and soft honey. I taste subtle pinenuts and lightly toasted oak which gives each sip woody depth. The fruity undertones, and touch of spice along with the woody sweetness makes this a truly satisfying sip.

Four Roses Small Batch Select

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Four Roses Select is solid, well blended and nicely balanced. Initial sips are a bit prickly but easy to hold as the liquid feels silky in my mouth and makes me salivate. When swirled in the glass, a thin crown forms yet after each sip extremely long clinging legs stretch from the rim of the glass all the way to the auburn colored pool.

FOUR ROSES SMALL BATCH SELECT FINISH

Four Roses Small Batch Select offers an extremely long and warming finish. Again, I sense barrel tannins, dark fruits along with the same cinnamon, black pepper, and rye. As the sensations fade, the memory of light vanilla, dark caramel, honey blend into roasted pecans, seasoned oak, toasted wood, apple pipe tobacco, and old, dry leather. And when the last dram is downed, sweet buttery vanilla caramel, and dry seasoned oak waft from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 92/00

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
When found on store shelves at retail, this is a recommended BUY.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 92/100 to access other whiskies given this score.
To see other reviews from this brand, click Four Roses Distillery.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Four Roses Small Batch Select
Four Roses Small Batch Select

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Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon Review:

reviewed 02-September-2023

MICHTER’S TOASTED BARREL BOURBON REVIEW:

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon (Michter’s TB) offers an inviting taste experience. On the nose, it reveals dry barrel tannins, herbal roasted corn, and dusty grains, along with dark berries and a medley of cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. The palate follows with a similarly dry warmth, well-balanced dried fruit, and a pleasing blend of spices, enhanced by hints of burnt caramel and toasted almond toffee. The finish is medium-long and dry, with those same tannins, complex spiciness, and smokiness, while the mouthfeel is viscous and oily. Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon leaves a lasting impression, making it a delightful choice for bourbon enthusiasts.

MICHTER’S TOASTED BARREL BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Category: Small Batch, Limited
Region: Kentucky
Distillery: Kentuck Bourbon Distillers
Mash Bill: 79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley
Barrel Char: #3 plus Secondary Toasted Barrels
First Barrel: Fire-charred, new American white oak barrels Second Barrel: Toasted barrel made from 18-month air-dried wood
Barrel entry proof: 103
Age: nas
ABV: 47.5% (91.4 Proof)
Batch #: 21G2064
NABCA CSC #: 26618
Fair Price: $175.66 (BoozApp, August 2023)
Paid: $69.95 (Illinois, Summer, 2022)

US☆1 TOASTED BARREL FINISH BOURBON

First introduced to great acclaim in the Fall of 2014, Michter’s US1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon is a groundbreaking whiskey expression. It is made by taking Michter’s US1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon and then aging it for an additional period in a second custom made barrel. This second barrel is assembled from 18-month air-dried wood and then toasted but not charred. The truly unique and delicious taste of Michter’s US1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon represents a remarkable achievement given that it is Kentucky Straight Bourbon with nothing extra added or done except placement in a second toasted barrel.

Learn more at Michter’s Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternating pours to equate about four ounces, were made into two Glencairns. I shared one of the glasses with my daughter, and I let the liquid in my glass rest for about 30 minutes before taking the first sip. These pours were made on Day 2 of the 2023 30 Bourbons in 30 Days Challenge.

MICHTER’S TOASTED BARREL BOURBON NOSE:

The first draw of Michter’s TB surprised me. I was unable to find any indication of alcohol which (in my opinion) allows other elements to shine. I sense the dry barrel tannins of aged oak, along with herbal roasted corn and dusty grains. Continued nosing exposes a dark nectar of blueberry, cherries, currants, raisins, and prunes. As I navigate around our Whiskey Traits and Flavor Wheel, it prompts me to sense cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, white pepper, and subtle notes of gingerbread. Additional sweetness comes in as light vanilla, maple sugar and syrup, brown sugar, and toasted almond toffee as dry oak sawdust provides a woody backdrop. With prolonged nosing, charred wood builds to a nice campfire smokiness before this too, fades into a memory of musty wet leather, which adds an intriguing dimension.

MICHTER’S TOASTED BARREL BOURBON PALATE:

Michter’s TB offers a delightful and inviting flavor profile. Upon taking my first sip, the dry warmth of mild alcohol greets me. As on the nose, barrel tannins contribute subtle structure while complementing dusty grain and herbal notes. With sip, the flavors continue to unfold as a medley of dried fruits, including tart Montmorency cherries, currants, and figs provide dark undertones. I also taste a hint of fresh lemon zest which adds brightness, before the spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, and pepper, enhanced by the rye, treats the palate. In the following sips the nearly burnt caramel of dark roasted walnut toffee add balance to heavily seasoned oak as hazy, toasted wood, and its smoky essence, lingers on my tongue. As the flavors fade, the taste of leather peeks in, before it too drifts away in this satisfying bourbon.

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Michter’s TB is well-balanced as its aroma and flavor elements complement one another to leave a lasting impression on the palate. Its mouthfeel is viscous and oily, and when sips are held, only an ever-so-slight tickle dances on the tongue. As the glass is swirled, a thick inverted crown with many droplets forms, before thin, fast falling, medium-long legs drain the liquid back to the mahogany colored pool.

MICHTER’S TOASTED BARREL BOURBON FINISH

The finish of Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon is medium-long and offers a dry and warming sensation in the throat while tannins from the aging process add a subtle herbal quality to the palate after each swallow. After each new sip, flavors of berry nectar, dark fruits, and figs blend together, accompanied by hints of cloves, ginger, and rye spice, creating a complex spiciness that settles on my palate. Furthermore, the finish evolves with bittersweet chocolate, woody caramel, and dark toffee to provide a satisfyingly sweet contrast. Moreover, a touch of bitter walnut adds depth to the heavy oak which combines char, smokiness, and damp potting soil to leave a lasting impression in the mouth and throat. And finally, when the last dram is downed, the empty Glencairn smells of sweet, sugared cinnamon, dusted over old barrel staves. What a nice bourbon.

MY RATING: 90/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Michter’s puts out GREAT product and I’m always on the lookout for hard-to-find limited releases.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 90/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click Michter’s.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon
Michter’s Toasted Barrel Bourbon

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