Bourbon Whiskey Archives – Page 34 of 78

Wild Turkey Rare Breed

Posted on 05-September-202129-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Wild Turkey Rare Breed Review:

reviewed 01-September 2021

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED BOURBON REVIEW:

Wild Turkey RB is a good bourbon but not one I need to have as a regular on my shelves. I am not quite sure about Austin Nichols products; they don’t quite tick my bourbon profile boxes. But as expected, it is better than Wild Turkey 101, but there are many bourbons I enjoy more.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Wild Turkey / Austin Nichols Distilling Co
Mash Bill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 114
Age: 6-, 8-, and 12-year blend
ABV: 58.4% (116.8 Proof)
Price: $44.95 (2021 in Idaho)

To learn more click Rare Breed | Wild Turkey Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, alternate pours to achieve review amounts were added to Glencairns from a newly opened bottle. The bourbon was then enjoyed neat with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED NOSE:

At first Wild Turkey RB offers the nose a light ethanol burn but in subsequent wafts I get herbal cigar tobacco and notes of faint sweet cherries. Then come allspice, cloves, ginger, and rye along with simple syrup and woody caramel poured over roasted nuts. But most prevalent is strong dry oak, hazy toasted barrel char and earthy old leather.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED PALATE:

Wild Turkey RB offers faint roasted corn, rich tobacco and traces of faint dark cherry. These scant flavors are almost hidden under black pepper and rye, some dark chocolate, burnt sugar, dark molasses and dark toffee over roasted bitter walnut. Like on the nose I get strong dry oak, hazy toasted barrel char, and earthy notes of cigar and leather.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Wild Turkey RB gives the tongue and mouth a rough tickle when first held. It quickly turns warm and oily the longer it is held in the mouth. In the Glencairn, long clinging legs return liquid to the tawny pool leaving behind a near dropless ring. While not unbalanced, it is unexpected and wood dominate. Frankly, I expected much more from a “premiere” Austin Nichols product.

WILD TURKEY RARE BREED FINISH:

Wild Turkey RB finishes long and warm, with the lingering flavors and aromas of faint cigar tobacco, strong dry oak and hazy toasted barrel char. There are also subtle notes of pepper and rye, a little burnt sugar over roasted bitter walnut which fade into earthy old leather. All in all the finish mirrors what I tasted and sensed on the nose.

MY RATING: 86/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? No
While Wild Turkey RB is a good bourbon at a good price, it doesn’t quite fit my profile. I would reach around it to grab many others. So if I’m reaching for something else, I won’t need another bottle in the bunker.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Wild Turkey.

WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Four Roses Single Barrel Review

Posted on 04-September-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Four Roses Single Barrel Review

Original review written September 2, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

It’s a solid pour and easy sipper with enough complexity to be fun, but enough mellowness that just sitting with it is perfectly enjoyable. 89/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Four Roses Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Single Barrel
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=60%; Rye=35%; Malted Barley=5%
– Casks: Char#3/#4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 120
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Warehouse: RN
– Barrel: 12-5M
– Price: $45.95 USD in Idaho

Visit fourrosesbourbon.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 of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I picture sitting at the edge of a swamp with Four Roses Single Barrel. The weather is warm, the air clings loosely around your frame and grass waves back and forth as wind and water move through it. It’s relaxing, and it is utterly peaceful and fulfilling, and exactly what you need at the end of a long day.

Photo by Jon L on Unsplash

NOSE:

This smells of roasted corn on the first draw with new leather and some black pepper. There is some sweetness that comes from a bit of vanilla custard and maybe a little caramel and brown sugar. The corn definitely seems like the hero here. Floral notes are here but they are dark and seem like a dark fruit more than anything. Currants and raisins and even a blueberry preserve/jam pop and make the whole nose unique to other bourbons I have had. Otherwise, the nose is quite gentle with little alcoholic burn and just enough oak to assist in mellowing it out even more.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Oily and very soft all throughout the palate. It is the definition of an easy sipper with no surprises.
– Balance: Solid. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily wowed, but it is certainly well-blended and just works.
– Visual: Honey in color, I find a broken crown and no legs.

– Taste: The palate is quite soft with some of the dark fruits from the nose coming through at first, only to be softened even more by dusty corn. Additional sweetness comes from a bit of graham cracker and some light vanilla. It all gets slightly brighter with some citrus zest which also makes it a touch bitter, but not offensively so. There could also be some hazelnuts and floral herbs that contribute to the slight bitterness, but they are very subdued behind the citrus zest. I can’t find much in the way of spice beyond some rye and general brininess that makes the mouth water.

The wood is very mild as is the alcohol, which is impressive for a 100 proof. I can let this sit on my palate and let the wood grow into a little more than sawdust and the alcohol mellow to almost nothing. When I aggravate the whiskey with a Kentucky chew, raisins come through with some bitter hazelnuts, and still a very mild alcohol punch. It’s certainly original and intriguing to the point that I’m repeating the process a few times.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. I get a tickle of heat at the back of the palate and a bit of flavor coating the throat but it doesn’t linger terribly long.
– Between Sips: A simple syrup with some sweet oak sit between sips with a hint of floral rose.

– No More: An herbal quality is starting to emerge the further I get into the glass, taking over the bitter component, but still letting the sweetness talk. I find this additional complexity refreshing and welcome, and look forward to how it continues to grow as I continue to sip.

The empty Glencairn is a rich and seasoned oak, that is a perfect finish to this four. Very happy.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Do I think there are better bourbons at this price? Yes. Do I think this is still worth $45? Also yes. I don’t know if I’d call this a great value bourbon, but I do think it is solidly priced, and you get exactly what you paid for. This is the kind of bourbon to have an experience with and/or just sit with in some peace and quiet. Finding a whiskey that can do both is always a win, and at $45, you can’t go wrong.

FOUR ROSES SINGLE BARREL REVIEW RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 89/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Four Roses.

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Knob Creek 12 Year Review

Posted on 30-August-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Knob Creek 12 Year Review

Original review written August 24, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

12 Year is an easy sipper through and through. It’s warm, with unique sweet tones and pleasant earthy-woodiness to complement. Spice is sprinkled throughout the pour, and makes for a very decent dram. 87/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Clermont, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%, Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Vintage Year: 2009
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Visit knobcreek.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine enjoying Knob Creek 12 Yr at a bakery with the bourbon in one hand and a croissant in the other. There may be a million different aromas surrounding you, but the warmth of the bourbon permeates it all, and the taste pairs with any pastry you could possibly want.

Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash

NOSE:

This nose presents as spicy, but in a baking spice sense. Immediately, I find allspice with heavy nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. The cinnamon is reminiscent of red hot candies with a peppery sprinkle, but it still fits well with these natural baking spices too. The corn grain is also here, but it almost seems more like the corn husks after they’ve been dried out a bit (note: not completely dried out). There is a vanilla custard, soft oak, and toffee element also that blend quite well together, with none of the flavors seeming overbearing. If I really look, I can detect a dark berry, but it is hard to place exactly which one it is – it may even be dried, like a cranberry or maybe a lightly seasoned raisin.

Alcohol is definitely here on the nose, and can sting on deep inhales if you aren’t careful. Considering this is only 100 proof, I’m quite surprised at this feature, but all the same, very intrigued. Overall, this smells amazing, and I can’t wait to dig in.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: This is very smooth and oily, while still being light and easy to sip.
– Balance: Very well-blended. There is a bit of everything in this pour, but none of it overrides the other flavors to nonexistence while still allowing the woody-earthiness to be the hero.
– Visual: Auburn in color, this drops in sheets before quickly giving way to many long legs while leaving behind a distinct crown.

– Taste: Wood comes across the palate first, but it’s peppery in nature. It’s almost less like oak, and perhaps more like grilling hickory briquettes (maybe even cherry too?). Corn comes in the next wave, roasted but still dusty. With it comes leather and some of the other spices from the nose, though these have become much more subtle. Sweetness still remains, but it is less aggressive with its vanillas and toffees. Instead, it is almost pastry-like, flaky and buttery while being slightly dry – in a good way. In it is a seedy, chunky, but delicious fruit spread, like a peach or a similar stone fruit. There could be some toasted almonds thrown in for a mild sweetness also that just complements everything nicely.

The alcohol is incredibly mild in this pour. I can taste it with a bit of warmth, but otherwise, it is inoffensive and a very easy dram to sip. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, I find green grapes, oak, and some unsweetened syrup to accompany the fruit component. The heat kicks up, obviously, but it falls back quick enough.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-Medium. I get a tickle of lingering warmth and a hint of flavors but none of it strong.
– Between Sips: The aforementioned almonds appear between sips, along with roasted corn and the slightest hint of cherry, but it is very faint.

– No More: The empty Glencairn is straight up oak and barrel char, almost to the point of sweetness. It’s warm and rich and everything I could hope for at the end of a good glass.

WORTH THE PRICE?

For $60, I will admit, I have had whiskeys I enjoy more, but I do not think this is a bad value at all. It’s warm, it’s woody, it’s fruity, it’s spicy… it ticks all the boxes for me. And I would definitely pour myself another glass. I enjoy it a lot, and if you have the opportunity to try, and want a really well-blended bourbon with no aggressiveness, this is it.

KNOB CREEK 12 YEAR REVIEW RATING: 87/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 87/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Knob Creek.

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