Bourbon Whiskey Archives – Page 61 of 78

Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Review

Posted on 08-December-201929-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Review

Original review written December 6, 2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

If sampling, buy a 375 ml bottle, not the tiny shot bottles you find in baskets at check-out. While the bottled version is simple and a little disappointing, the small plastic offering provides flavors similar to gasoline, in my opinion. Read my Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon Review here! 79/100

VITALS:

– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Wild Turkey/Austin, Nichols Distilling Company
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas (believed to be a blend of a 6, 7, and 8 year old bourbon)
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: New charred oak; Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 114
– ABV: 50.5% (101 proof)
– Price: $23.95 USD in Idaho

Visit wildturkeybourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I picture sitting on an old porch of a run-down house, ceiling fan spinning on a rapid course to combat the humidity of an Alabama afternoon. This spirit is a refreshing breath within the thick, wet air of a hot day.

Photo by Evgeny Dzhumaev on Unsplash

NOSE:

Sweetness comes to the nose immediately, with caramel being dominant. As the spirit warms, the rye inches forward, and it is a welcome addition, as I’m not the sugary-bourbon type. Even still, the caramel seems a little sickly, but I’m not turned off completely yet. I’m looking for a depth of richness, and I just can’t get anything. At 101 proof, I’m looking for more.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Creamy. This is my favorite aspect of this bourbon, for sure.
– Balance: It’s blended for sure, but it’s simple, so it’s a little disappointing.
– Visual: Russet muscat in color, with a very pretty crown that has evenly spaced legs and droplets; very reminiscent of Christmas lights.

– Taste: There is a classic bourbon feel and taste from this … almost to the point of being plain. With a little more digging, I find a vanilla element that makes the mouth feel that much more creamy. I’m hunting for other flavors, but I’m struggling. There is one flavor that I can only hold onto for a moment, but it isn’t long enough to say definitively what the flavor is.

There isn’t an overwhelming alcohol burn that I’ve had from other bourbons of equal, or even less proof (e.g. Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch and Blanton’s Single Barrel…). That being said, Wild Turkey 101 is readily available (as opposed to Taylor and much cheaper than Blanton’s). Does that make up for the lackluster performance thus far? … No, I don’t think it does.

With a Kentucky chew, that hidden flavor comes back briefly. It’s a little chocolate-y and a little fruity.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. There’s warmth left over, but it’s contained only to the mouth.
– Between Sips: The only thing I can get is a sickly sweet sensation.

– No More: The oak from the barrel is coming through the further into the glass I get. I’ve decided my mystery flavor could be dates, but that’s as fruity as this bourbon gets. The caramel is still there, but it seems to be improving. As it continues to improve, I find a bitter rose petal to chew on, but it’s somewhat enjoyable.

The empty Glencairn smells equally sweet as the other aspects of this bourbon with only a hint of oak.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I suppose. Overall, this is an okay bourbon at a fair price. It’s a right of passage bourbon, so experiment away!

RATING: 79/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 79/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Wild Turkey.

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1792 Twelve Year Old Review

Posted on 05-December-201910-October-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s 1792 Twelve Year Old Review

written on 04-December-2019

1792 TWELVE YEAR OLD REVIEW:

Barton’s 1792 Twelve Year Old (1792-12YO) is a fine bourbon. It is not overly complex, but offers up just enough treats for the senses to keep things interesting. While not a sweet bourbon, all the flavors are well blended and on the finish the juice closes with nice citrus notes.

1792 TWELVE YEAR OLD VITAL STATS:

– Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Barton 1792 Distillery
– Mash Bill: Unknown
(The mash bill for 1792 12 Year Old is undisclosed however the website* indicates it is their signature “high rye” recipe (possibly a mix of 75% corn, 15% rye and 10% barley)
– Cask: New-Charred Oak
– Barrel Char Level: #3.5
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: 12 years old
– ABV: 48.3% (96.6 Proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Find more information at 1792bourbon.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the 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!

NOSE:

When first brought to the nose 1792-12YO has a distinct freshness. There is a quick alcohol burn, maybe even a tickle, but it’s nice and natural. The freshness continues with wafts of roasted corn, apples and gourmet raisins. The spices are few and subtle: powdered ginger and white pepper which compliment the subdued scents of fresh baked apple pie, light vanilla, simple syrup and honey. The subtlety to the nose continue with faint hints of hazy and lightly toasted oak.

PALATE:

At first sip, 1792-12YO has a warm bite and with additional draws, can grow quite hot on the tongue when held in the mouth. There are hints of candied citrus and figs and of currents and plums, which blend well with a faint background of herbal grassiness. The juice’s spiciness comes as cinnamon, black pepper and rye. While not exactly sweet, there is a component of nearly burnt sugar … and it fits nicely with this simple and earthy whiskey. Prolonged sipping can coax out elements of leather and a faint peanutiness which fades into a soft sensation of seasoned old oak.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This is a simple but pleasant amber-polished mahogany colored liquid. It is solid and well blended and coats the mouth with a silken coppery tickle. When swished in the Glencairn, long clinging legs give way to tight clinging droplets.

FINISH:

1792-12YO has a medium-to-long fresh finish. There are two distinct components of wood: seasoned old oak and that of a caramel coated tongue depressor. A bit of corn peeks in as well, and a hint of grassiness remains, but fresh orange rinds win the day. In the end, pepper is there to coat the back of the tongue and give the throat a nice warm parting.

MY RATING: 87/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

To access other whiskeys with this score, click 87/100.
Click 1792 Barton to see other whiskies from this distillery.

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Baker’s Bourbon Batch B-90-001 Review

Posted on 05-December-201927-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Baker’s Bourbon Batch B-90-001 Review

review written on 08-May-2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

NOTE: The review below is for the old style bottling. Click Baker’s Single Barrel Bourbon to go to the more recent bottling.

In this Baker’s Bourbon Batch B-90-001 review, read on to discover how this premium Beam-Suntory offering stands up to similarly priced whiskeys, While Baker’s is a less expensive alternative to Booker’s, for me, I’ll opt for the big brother when it is available. But make no mistake, Baker’s is good, it just doesn’t cover the bases for me the way other similarly priced bourbons do.

BAKER’S B-90-001 WHISKEY INFORMATION:

– Category: Small Batch – Batch B-90-001
– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Jim Beam, Master Distiller Booker Noe
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Mash bill: 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
– Casks: New Charred Oak
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– Like other Jim Beam Small Batch bourbons, Baker’s is sourced from rickhouse center racks, never from the top or bottom.
– Age: 7 Years (Age Stated)
– Non-Chill Filtered
– ABV: 53.5% (107 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

https://www.beamsuntory.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass.

NOSE:

Baker’s Bourbon Batch B-90-001 offers a well balanced nose. There is a lot going on here as I sensed the dry wine-like qualities of a brandy or sherry. Light floral fruit notes mix with roasted corn, then give way to red berries and yellow gourmet raisins. Sweet baked goods like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal and sponge cake easily punch through after extended nosing. More careful nosing can coax out white chocolate, vanilla custard, toasted marshmallows and butterscotch candy, and there is some nice buttery caramel, Macadamia nuts, toasted wood, and fresh sawdust as well.

PALATE:

I delayed reviewing Baker’s for several days as the first dram went down the throat extremely hot. After exposing air to the liquid in the bottle, the juice remained dry, with only a quick burn and bite; the initial fieriness of the first glass was greatly subdued. Still, the wine tannins sensed on the nose came through as did the ripe berries and gourmet raisins. Baker’s rye spice and pepper build a solid foundation for its sweet vanilla, caramelized sugar and dark toffee, then give way to subtle earthiness, new leather, and toasted pecans. Its woodiness comes in as sweet and wet fresh-cut oak.

Balance, Body, Look and Feel:
Baker’s nose and flavours are well blended, with a nice balance of fruit, spice, sweet and oak. Its large clinging droplets give way long fat clinging legs which drop into the mahogany and henna tinted bowl if the Glencairn. This bourbon is silky-smooth in the mouth and is full, pleasant and mellow.

FINISH:

Baker’s finish is short, peppery and clean and its seasoned earthy oak drifts to sweet sherry wine.

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.}

To access other whiskies with this score, click 86/100.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Baker’s.

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