Tag: Brian Dawson

Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey Review:

reviewed 19-April-2022

ROSSVILLE STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY REVIEW:

Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey (Rossville Rye) is one I intend to have shelved and ready for summer. For those who know me, I’m not one to enjoy my whiskey on the rocks – but may make an exception here. This one reminds me of desert … a whiskey to enjoy after a fine meal, surrounded by the laughter of friends and family, while sitting out on the porch as the evening turns to dusk.

ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY VITAL STATS:
Rossville Union Straight Rye

Category: Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey
Region: Lawrenceburg, IN
Distillery: DSP-IN-15016/23, Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP’s Consumer Facing Brand)
Mash Bill: unpublished
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: A blend of 4, 5 and 6 year old rye whiskies
# of Barrels Used for this Batch: 159
ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 26942
Price: $36.95 (Idaho, Spring 2022)

PERFECTING THE CRAFT SINCE 1847
It began in 1847 with a bold, satisfying taste that would make Indiana the rye capital of the world. For nearly 200 years, Lawrenceburg’s master distillers and blenders have been perfecting the original handcrafted rye blends in one of America’s last Prohibition-era distilleries. Rossville Union is a return to the golden age of rye with an authentic taste that could only come from Whiskey City.
— Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey

Learn more at Rossville Distillery.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the rye neat for this review.

Check out her review for this rye here!

ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY NOSE:

Rossville Rye offers no alcohol to the nose. I sense dusty grain and fresh but subtle grape and white peach. The spices of powdered ginger, rye and allspice are faint as are the sweets of light vanilla, simple syrup and the aroma of sugar as it caramelizes. And while I do not get almond, I smell sweet white almond bark. The wood is faint here as well, and comes to my nose as light and dry oak. Yet this is earthy, like the freshness of a warm sidewalk with drops of new fallen rain. For me, this is quintessential rye.

ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY PALATE:

The taste of Rossville Rye follows the aroma but with more complexity. It gives the mouth and tongue a little bite of warmth. The whiskey is herbal with dusty grain, some citrus zest and the flavors of nearly flat lemon-lime soda with peach. But something else too … I had to dig hard into my past until memories Muscat Canalli wine came forward. There is a little warmth from powdered ginger and sweetness from simple syrup but this is desert in a glass. I want more. Like on the nose, the influence of wood is faint as light dry toasted oak enhances the fresh petricor as it fades into the next sip.

Rossville Union Straight Rye

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Rossville Rye is one of the most well balanced ryes I have had the pleasure to enjoy. It is at once smooth, smooth, simple and gentle, easy to hold, yet can give the mouth a tickling reminder of its 47 ABV. As I peer into the glass after each sip, a thick curtain of liquid falls to the russet colored pool, leaving behind many long lasting droplets.

ROSSVILLE UNION STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY FINISH:

Rossville Union Straight Rye Whiskey offers a short to medium long warm finish. There are a few faint floral notes and citrus flavors which remind me of Muscat wine, but the ginger and rye spice sensed on the nose and palate are but a fleeting memory. There is a touch of dry toasted oak here, but this rye’s freshness wins me over. And when the last drops downed, the empty Glencairn smells of sweet, fresh cut oak.

MY RATING: 88/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Rossville Union Straight Rye
Rossville Union Straight Rye

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Maker’s 46 Cask Strength

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Maker’s 46 Cask Strength Review:

reviewed on 12-April-2022

MAKER’S 46 CASK STRENGTH BOURBON REVIEW:

Maker’s 46 Cask Strength (Maker’s 46 CS) is a fine bourbon and one I hope Maker’s Mark decides to continue marketing. Well balanced aromas and flavors of barrel tannins, fruit, spice, and woody caramel, with seasoned toasted oak and leather pass to the finish. This is good stuff.

MAKER’S 46 CASK STRENGTH VITAL STATS:
Maker's 46 Cask Strength

Category: Wheated Bourbon
Company: Beam Suntory
Region: Loretto, KY
Distiller: Maker’s Mark
Mashbill: 70% corn; 16% soft red winter wheat; 14% malted barley
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel Entry Proof: 110 (lower than most whiskies to prevent alcohol from overwhelming the taste.)
Age: nas (believed to be 5-7 years)
ABV: 54.8% (109.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 19481
Price: $59.95 (2022 in Idaho, purchased in 2021)

Learn more at Maker’s Mark 46®.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

MAKER’S 46 CASK STRENGTH NOSE:

The first whiff of Maker’s 46 CS gives my nose an alcohol bite along with some faint barrel tannin. I sense a potpourri of herbal dried blossoms, some sweet corn, and a distinct wheatiness. Then comes apricot nectar, fresh apples, plums, and an unusual aroma of yeasty orange marmalade mixed in light cinnamon and faint crushed clove. The sweets first come in as vanilla custard, then as simple syrup, woody caramel, and pinenuts drizzled with dark honey. I also smell light seasoned dry oak, hazy toasted wood, and smoky-sweet old leather.

MAKER’S 46 CASK STRENGTH PALATE:

The first sip of Maker’s 46 CS is full of alcohol warmth and like the sensed on the nose, I experience the barrel tannins. The liquid is herbal and wheaty and I taste fresh but faint apple cider, currants, and raisins along with some bitter citrus here too. Blended in each sip, spices of black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, mix with cookie dough and rich vanilla. These warm flavors serve and enhance the sweet brown sugar, woody caramel, dark honey, and some dark chocolate covered toffee. And while there is not a lot of woodiness in each sip, I do get air-dried seasoned oak and hazy barrel char bound by faint leather.

Maker's 46 Cask Strength

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Maker’s 46 CS is creamy, viscous, and easy to hold. It does give the tongue a little tingle, but this is a well balanced bourbon as many of the flavors pass from the nose to the palate and on through the finish. As I take each sip, long clinging legs give way to fat droplets, returning the liquid back to the auburn pool leaving behind a distinct crown.

MAKER’S 46 CASK STRENGTH FINISH:

Maker’s 46 Cask Strength offers a medium long and warm finish. My mouth feels the influence of the barrel as flavors of currant, raisin and pepper fades. The cookie dough, now with chocolate nibs, and a sliver of wheat toast, peeks in then fades into burnt sugar, woody caramel, some seasoned oak, toasted wood, and barrel char. When the last drops are gone, the empty Glencairn smells of warm vanilla, moist sawdust and soft leather.

MY RATING: 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 89/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this distillery, click Maker’s Mark.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Maker's 46 Cask Strength
Maker's 46 Cask Strength

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Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Review:

reviewed 05-April-2022

DAVIESS COUNTY STRAIGHT BOURBON REVIEW:

Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Daviess County) is a textbook pour. It is just complex enough to entertain the seasoned drinker, and yet approachable for the novice.

At 96 proof, its smooth and buttery mouthfeel easily calms the heat and there are many aromas and fruity flavors fading in and out to tempt as well. This bourbon certainly will not wow someone who regularly drinks higher proof offerings, but for the person not into heat, I think Daviess County has its place. In my opinion this is a fine bottle and there will be an open bottle in my bunker for those evenings when contemplative whiskey discussions are not on the agenda.

DAVIESS COUNTY STRAIGHT BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Daviess County Straight Bourbon

Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky
Distillery*: undisclosed
Producer: Lux Row Distillers
Company: Luxco, MPGI
Master Distiller/Master Blender: John Rempe
Mash Bill: blend of ryed and wheated mashbills (specifics undisclosed)
Barrel Char: undisclosed
Barrel entry proof: undisclosed
Age: nas
ABV: 48% (96 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 17630
Price: $49.95 (March 2022, Idaho)
*Bottle label notes: “Distilled and aged in Kentucky. Bottled for Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown, KY”

With a heritage dating back to 1874, Daviess County Distilling Company was one of the first great bourbon distilleries of Kentucky. It also paved the way for more than a dozen other distilleries that opened in Daviess County pre-Prohibition.

Now, in honor of the county’s rich history, we are reintroducing Daviess County Bourbon to the world. Featuring a unique blend of ryed and wheated mashbills, it’s a masterpiece unmatched in both flavor and heritage.

Welcome back, old friend.
— Daviess County Bourbon

Learn more at Daviess County Bourbon.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

DAVIESS COUNTY STRAIGHT BOURBON NOSE:

When first brought to my nose, herbal notes of dry roasted corn and dusty wheat come to mind. But there are dried fruits here as well. I get a pleasing blend of dried cherry and apricot, and a hint of faint banana in a shallow bath of acidic and pulpy apple juice. As I continue to nose, nutmeg and white pepper mix with an almost yeasty wheat apple pastry infused with light vanilla. I also smell honey cut with simple syrup drizzled over slivered almonds. As I enjoy Daviess County’s dessert sensations, fresh cut piney woodiness and gentle smokey sweet aromas waft in and out.

DAVIESS COUNTY STRAIGHT BOURBON PALATE:

The first sip of Daviess County is warm with notes of corn and soft wheat. I feel the acidity of fresh apple juice and taste soft plump juicy raisins, some cinnamon and pepper, light vanilla, simple syrup and honey. And as on the nose, there is also a hint of faint almonds and some hazy BBQ applewood smoke in the flavors as well.

Daviess County Straight Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Each sip of Daviess County is extremely easy to hold. It is smooth and buttery and the longer I swish it around, the softer the liquid becomes. This mouthfeel is unexpected as I feel my mouth adding saliva to the many balanced flavors. After taking a sip, thin legs form inside the glass from the liquid veil, then break into fast falling drops, which transfer the whiskey back to the tawny colored pool.

DAVIESS COUNTY STRAIGHT BOURBON FINISH:

Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon has a medium long, warm finish. I get the suggestion of corn and wheat found on the palate. I feel apricot nectar, raisin juice and apple acidity along with some newfound citrus zest in my throat as each sip is swallowed. These sensations pair nicely with fleeting cinnamon and pepper along with the light vanilla, sweet simple syrup and honey as light oak and hazy BBQ smoke fade away. And when the last drops are downed, vanilla taffy and old wood planks left in the sun to dry, waft from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 87/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To see other whiskies from this brand, click Daviess County.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Daviess County Straight Bourbon
Daviess County Straight Bourbon

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