Category: Bourbon Whiskey

Willet Pot Still Reserve Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Willet Pot Still Reserve Review

written on 17-December-2018

WILLET POT STILL RESERVE REVIEW:

Willett Pot Still Reserve bourbon, bottled by Kentucky Bourbon Distillers is a good, middle of the road bourbon. I found it to be less sweet than what my taste buds prefer, but refreshing none the less. Although it doesn’t have any wow-factor to set it apart from the pack, like many have said before me, “If I could only give points for the bottle.”

WILLETT POT STILL RESERVE VITAL STATS:
Willet Pot Still Reserve Review

– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Sourced and unpublished (Bottled by KBD/Willett)
– Classification: Straight, Small Batch Bourbon
– Mashbill: Unknown (sourced bourbon)
– Cask: New charred oak
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: nas (no age statement on bottle)
– Batch No. 18C02
– ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho

https://kentuckybourbonwhiskey.com/

NOTE:

Recent releases of Willett Pot Still Reserve bourbon are small batch expressions (although years ago it began as a single barrel expression) and for now, the bourbon is sourced from other Kentucky distilleries. It would be logical to assume Willett’s own bourbon will eventually make its way into their namesake.

FOR THE REVIEW:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass.

WILLET POT STILL RESERVE NOSE:

The nose on this bottle (Batch No. 18C02) of Willett Pot Still Reserve was bright, with fragrances of lemon citrus and orange blossom honey backed by notes of dried cedar.

WILLET POT STILL RESERVE PALATE:

My palate was greeted with warmth and the citrus detected on the nose blends into fresh sliced Granny Smith apples with a hint of cashew nuttiness. There is no bourbon sweetness here. The dram continues with a subtle spiciness, as one might find in a dash of white pepper as it finishes with a quick tingling burn in the throat.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Long, stringy legs drip into the tawny medium copper brown bowl of the Glencairn. There is a good balance of light citrusy flavors, full and light pepperiness but no oily or coating mouth feel.

WILLET POT STILL RESERVE FINISH:

The light citrus sensed in the aroma and on the tongue along with a light pepper spiciness carries through to the end. The finish of is quite dry and medium in length.

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.

Click 86/100 to review other whiskeys with awarded this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Willett.

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Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Review

originally reviewed 19-December-2017, amended August-2019

WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLER’S SELECT REVIEW:

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select is a consistently fine bourbon. Each glass never fails to satisfy, even though subsequent tastings have subtle nuances; after all this a batched bourbon (as well noted on the bottle).

WOODFORD RESERVE DISTILLER’S SELECT VITAL STATS:
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Review

– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Company: Brown-Forman
– Distillery: Woodford Reserve Distillery / Brown-Forman Distillers
– Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
– Cask: New charred oak
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: nas
– Label Batch: 3530
– Bottle Number: 1992
– ABV: 45.2% (90.4 Proof)
– Price: $36.95 USD in Idaho

https://brown-forman.com/

Said to be distilled primarily in copper pot stills and 100-year-old cypress wood fermenters, and aged in stone warehouses to better control the maturation process spending about 7 years in new, charred, American oak barrels. After aging, the pot and column still whiskeys are blended prior to bottling.

FOR THE REVIEW

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass with daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Hannah.

Check our her review of this bourbon here!

NOSE:

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select is a subtle bourbon. Taking time to coax out its aromas, one can be rewarded with floral notes, combined with the slight sweetness of orange citrus and field corn. Careful consideration yields caramel, toffee, then freshly baked banana bread and yellow cake.

PALATE:

On the tongue and in the mouth, this bourbon is smooth and warming. The banana bread is there along with its blanched walnuts, but ever so subtlety. Caramel apple sneaks in then fades into simple cinnamon baking spice bliss.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
While light, creamy, and balanced; there is a soft spicy-smooth contrast. But make note: Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select has no fiery bite what so ever. As the dram is consumed, short legs cling to the Glencairn between each sip and fall back into the reddish gold gloss of a well-loved Irish setter.

FINISH:

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select finishes with as it began: subtle and with an elegantly soft floral finish, without burn (satisfyingly so), albeit only for a few moments as its slight woodiness lingers as if in memory.

MY RATING: 87/100

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

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Woodford Reserve.

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Yellowstone Select Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Yellowstone Select Review

written on 25-September-2019

YELLOWSTONE SELECT REVIEW:

Yellowstone Select is a good bourbon. Internet searches reveal “Luxco sources bourbon from other distilleries in Kentucky. In 2015 Luxco took a 50% stake in the Limestone Branch Distillery.” I do not recall tasting a bourbon similar to this, however as it is likely several bourbons were blended for this batch, that is to be expected. For the price, there are better bourbons available.

YELLOWSTONE SELECT VITAL STATS:
Yellowstone Select Review

– Region: Kentucky, USA
– Producer: Limestone Branch / Luxco (Sourced)
– Mash Bill: unknown
– Cask: New charred oak
– Barrel Entry Proof: unknown
– Barrel Char Level: unknown
– Age: Not Stated (Internet sources indicate Yellowstone Select is blended from sourced four and seven year old Kentucky bourbons.)
– ABV: 46.5% (93 Proof)
– Batch: 2018
– Price: $39.95 USD in Idaho
– Availability: Limited Geographical Distribution

https://limestonebranch.com/

FOR THE REVIEW:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass with daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:

Upon first nosing, Yellowstone Select presents with a slight ethanol bite and a fair amount of alcohol. Careful and extended nosing brings out a potpourri of tree blossoms in spring along with hints of apple stands in the orchard at harvest time. There is plenty of fresh peeled tangerines, bananas and an essence of orange blossom honey as well. Its spiciness is limited to rye which couples nicely with pie crust-like pastry, a trace of vanilla, and a simple syrup made from light brown sugar. While there seems to be a lot going on, I would still say this is a simple bourbon with only a little fresh cut piney woodiness.

PALATE:

When the amber liquid first touches the tongue, its ethanol bite is both dry and warm. There are bitter (but not unpleasant) herbal notes of dusty corn, grain and hay and a prickly spiciness of black pepper and rye. Yellowstone Select’s sweetness is masked in dark figs, bittersweet baking cocoa, and dark molasses. It is an earthy bourbon with a faint bitterness of hazelnuts, barrel char and spice. As the dram disappears, faint oak lightly dances on the tongue.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This bourbon has an even balance, a medium body and a creamy mouthfeel. There is also a slight tickle in the throat which can run a bit hot if care is not taken. Yellowstone Select offers long clinging legs which drop back into the Glencairn’s orangish caramel coloured bowl.

FINISH:

Yellowstone Select has a long warm and herbal finish of hay, black pepper and rye. As noted on the palate, there is a little tickle in the throat which accompanies its earthy barrel char. Any sweetness detected on the nose and palate has disappeared and only when the dram is gone do scents of oak finally waft from the 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.

Click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

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