Horse Soldier Reserve Review

Hannah’s Horse Soldier Reserve Review

Original review written September 12, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

An emotional story for bourbon, I don’t think Horse Soldier forfeited the craft and quality a drink of this stature demanded. This exceeded my personal expectations without a doubt. 93/100

VITALS:
Horse Soldier Reserve Review

– Made In: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
– Distiller: American Freedom Distillery
Distilled by and stored in Ohio at Middle West Spirits
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=70%; Soft red winter wheat=20%; Malted barley=10%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 61% (122 proof)
– Price: $65.85 USD in Montana 2022

“Immediately following the [9/11] attacks on our nation, the USA responded with a daring insertion of small teams of Green Berets into northern Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance successfully overthrew Masar-i-Sharif, a Taliban stronghold, with the support of these brave men. This region’s inhospitable, mountainous terrain made efforts and enemy engagements on wild Afghan horses a necessity for the Special Operations team (ODA595). Nicknamed the “Horse Soldiers”, all these brave men are honored today by American’s Response Monument overlooking ‘Ground Zero’ in New York City. [In addition], our bottles … are molded with World Trade Center steel.” – American Freedom Distillery

Visit horsesoldierbourbon.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with sister and reviewer, Elora, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages editor, Brian.

Check out Elora’s thoughts here and Brian’s here!

SETTING:

This bourbon calls for rusticity; there’s a desire to walk onto a patch of farmed earth and break off a stalk of wheat – the bloom of America’s dinner table. Pair it with a homemade apple pie with chunky, ungraceful pie crust designs (it’s made with love and butter), and the Horse’s Soldier is finally able to dismount. Time to come home.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

NOSE:

Burnt wheat, dark caramel and candied apples all but attack the nose even on the first inhale, remaining surprisingly distinct from one another despite these flavors being quite bold, even on their own. Regardless of the bold, subtle notes can be found underneath with only a little coaxing, such as a faint vanilla, mixed together with a fresh herb rosemary as well as light vanilla and yeast.

There is a dark fruit here as well, like plum, but it comes in such a heavily reduced form, it’s almost become a syrup. It’s hard to tell if this plum is burnt, and if it’s not, then it is certainly close to that point. It’s as though it’s meant to be painted within the confines of pastry, but bitterness of the near-burnt quality prevents it from seeming too indulgent.

I can’t find too much oak on the nose, but with the assortment of the other aromas, I’m not too bothered. A surprising gentle alcohol burn makes these flavors both approachable and discoverable.

PALATE:
Horse Soldier Reserve Review

– Mouth Feel: Heavy and oily. It sinks into the palate in a way that both grips the taste buds while simultaneously feeling slippery.
– Balance: Excellent. I can detect grain, sugars, fruits and alcohol heat in each sip in equal proportion.
– Visual: Flame in color, this leaves behind a thick ring with droplets clinging just under the rim.

– Taste: For being 122 proof, it’s a bourbon that I can hold in my mouth for a significantly long time before I feel pressured to move it around. When I do, caramel-esque candies – from the hard butterscotch to the chewy cubes of caramel themselves – are all presented. There’s a bitter wheat element that comes with this sweetness, but it grounds the flavors from becoming overbearing. It sits heavy on the palate as well, much like the aforementioned plummy gooeyness on the nose. The heat of the alcohol finally kicks in at the back of the palate in a single rush, but it doesn’t burn – just wants to be acknowledged.

In the midst of the caramel and warmth, are poached figs and pears, doused in another light caramel. Again, there’s some bitterness, but the accompanying warmth makes it all seem purposeful. There are even cherries to chase back the fig and pear. A Kentucky chew absolutely burns the palate, awakening cinnamon and black pepper, with the cherry as well as an alligator-charred oak. Exquisite.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. I can feel the heat at the back of my palate linger long after the sip is gone. It’s certainly another enjoyable aspect of this bourbon.
– Between Sips: I can find a hint of cherries between sips; however, the predominant flavor comes from wood chips, soaked in water and incredibly chewy.

– No More: This grows in depth and complexity the further into the glass I get. Each sip brings out more darkness in flavors, especially the sugars. It’s truly a treat to the palate that is looking for a rich texture of sweetness.

The empty Glencairn is a spicy oak with more of that black pepper and cinnamon from the palate. A great finish to a pretty great bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I like to think I remained objective in my review and kept the story to the back of my mind, as it is an emotionally driven bourbon with its marketing. Nevertheless, I find that Horse Soldier offers a wide variety of flavors. At least one is sure to impress any preferred flavor profile. It’s a wheater that stands apart from the crowd, whether you’re talking about proof or distillery (Heaven Hill’s Larceny Barrel Proof’s are perhaps the most analogous at this time). Do I think it’s worth $65? All day. If I lived in Montana, this would be a bottle I’d endeavor to keep in the bunker at all times.

HORSE SOLDIER RESERVE REVIEW RATING: 93/100

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Blood Oath Pact 8 Review

Hannah’s Blood Oath Pact 8 Review

Original review written September 5, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Soft with apples and light caramels and syrups, this is a welcome bottle in our collection. It’s unique while being familiar in its roots of bourbon warmth, albeit a little simple. I’m glad to have it. 84/100

VITALS:
Blood Oath Pact 8 Review

– Made In: Sourced from undisclosed distilleries in Kentucky
– Distiller: Lux Row Distillers
– Blender: John E. Rempe
– Classification: Special Finish – Calvados casks
– Age: nas (includes one 14-year-old bourbon, one 11-year-old, and one 8-year-old bourbon)
– Mash Bill: unpublished
– Casks: ex-Calvados; unknown char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 49.3% (98.6 proof)
– Price: $99.95 USD in Idaho in 2022

“A masterful union of three well-bred bourbon. One, a 14-year ryed bourbon. Two, an 11-year ryed bourbon. And three, an 8-year ryed bourbon finished in Calvados casks from the Normandy region of France to impart slight apple on the nose with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. With each sip, feel transported to Northern France by way of Kentucky.”

Visit bloodoathblood.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I’d love to sit in the middle of a poppy field with Pact 8, hearing the wind play through the grass and making the whole horizon dance and sing with color. It’s a simple bourbon, but I imagine that sitting in such a field would prevent even the breath feeling bland.

Photo by Luismi Sánchez on Unsplash

NOSE:

While apple from the Calvados casks is here, contributing a soft sweetness, I can still easily detect the ryed bourbon foundation. Simple and golden syrups with oak, plus a mix of darker fruits meet the nose without a burn. It certainly smells deep with that oak at the base and the grain constituting the bourbon add an additional layer of sweet and spice simultaneously. The longer I nose the glass, the more I find a sugary, yet hot cinnamon as well – almost like a red-hot gummy candy. Overall, the nose is inviting and definitely warming, matching the proof of the pour just so.

PALATE:
Blood Oath Pact 8 Review

– Mouth Feel: Soft, yet textured. It really is as though I’m chewing on a slice of soft apple.
– Balance: It’s heavier on sugars, down to the grain component, but it doesn’t taste sickeningly sweet at all. It translates more as a gentle wave of warmth than anything else.
– Visual: Mahogany in color, this leaves a thick ring with clinging droplets that stagger their way back down into the glass.

– Taste: I can hold this on the palate for a considerable time before feeling the need to aggravate it for flavors. It sits light on the tongue with tickles like pop rocks only kicking in after almost a minute of just holding it. Once I move it, a light caramel emerges and while not heavy in flavor, it does suddenly develop a depth in weight. It feels as though it’s seeping into my taste buds and making everything in my mouth warm. Golden delicious apples offer not only their juice, but also the texture of apple flesh – soft with just the hint of grip. With the fruit of the apple are accompanying apple tree blossoms.

Grain from corn offers its own syrupy contribution, adding to the thickness and depth while not overpowering the other flavors. In fact, where oak usually acts as the binding agent between flavors in a bourbon, I am finding that in Pact 8, it’s this gentle corn syrup. It even enhances the alcohol warmth, which as hinted at earlier, isn’t particularly aggressive. A Kentucky chew makes the palate pop, but the burn isn’t painful, rather it coaxes out more caramel and subtler golden syrup.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short. I can’t find a great deal of warmth after the sip is gone, but there is a mild bourbon presence all the same at the back of the palate.
– Between Sips: Overripe apples that have been baked free of their raw flavors sit between sips. It’s like an apple pie without the spice, gluey syrup or pastry crust. Still decent, but not my favorite aspect of this bourbon.

– No More: This stays consistent in its flavors; however, the warmth does grow considerably the further into the glass I get. It sits in the chest but doesn’t expand far, feeling more like a pearl of heat. I wish that this had moved from being so simple into something more complex, but it’s not a bad pour.

The empty Glencairn is pure oaky sawdust in a way that the rest of the glass hadn’t been. I wish that I’d had some of that oak from the nose move into the palate.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$100 is, as I always say, a big ask. I do think Pact 7 is superior, but I won’t lie and say that I’m upset to have bought a second bottle. I don’t know if I’d go out of my way to buy another bottle, as it does feel a little simpler on the palate than I’d like for a bottle of this price. However, do bear in mind that it takes a near perfect bottle (and with more proof if I’m honest) for me to continuously reach for it at this price.

BLOOD OATH PACT 8 REVIEW RATING: 84/100

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Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review

Hannah’s Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review

Original review written on August 29, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

If you ever see this dark flame of a fruit gem, buy it, and then buy a spare. Complex, rich, deep, fruit, warmth. This is what bourbon should be, full stop. 97/100

VITALS:
Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review

– Made In: New Richmond, WI
– Distiller: DSP-WI-15005, 45th Parallel Distillery
– Classification: Small Batch Bourbon
– Age: nas (but 5 years minimum)
– Mash Bill: Corn=62%; Rye=12%; Wheat=12%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 117 proof
– ABV: 60% (120 proof)
– Prince: $59.99 USD in Wisconsin (at 45th Parallel)

“In 2007, 45th Parallel became one of the only 50 Craft Distilleries in the United States.

45th Parallel’s process is a full circle local production and begins when we pick up grain from Rusmar farm. We then mill, mash, ferment and distill it all within our facility. Afterwards, the grain is shipped to another local farm where it is used as feed for livestock. Naturally, the livestock turn the grain into fertilizer for next year’s crops.”

Visit 45thparalleldistillery.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from Glencairn glass with sister, Elora, as well as father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out Brian’s review of this bourbon here!
Check out Elora’s review of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine sitting under a pergola with this bourbon, sun trickling in but not feeling overbearing. Add in some misters along the edges of your shelter, and any heat around you, melts solely into the glass. The world is giving you a gentle hug – rather like an arm casually wrapped around a shoulder. It doesn’t feel invasive – simply making you feel included and warm. Border Bourbon, in fact, erases borders of any kind.

Photo by zekkotek on Unsplash

NOSE:

Warm caramel greets the nose with campfire marshmallow, but the sugary sweetness is quickly met with dark fruits that seem just shy of overripe. I can’t pin down the exact fruit, but even the nose, it feels as though I’ve had a blackberry or cherry burst in my fingers from too much pressure. Deep floral tones are present here also, contributing a softness like a petal to the aroma. I can find oak, but like much of the remaining nose, it’s a sweet oak. It melds with the rest of the sweetness almost too perfectly (but you won’t catch me complaining).

PALATE:
Border Bourbon Cask Strength Review

– Mouth Feel: Oily, oily, viscous, and oily. This coats everything in the palate in a film of warmth and sweet.
– Balance: Though the sweet is heavy, everything feels balanced between it and the sugar and fruit.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, exceptionally long legs cling to the side of the glass, and they simply will not disappear.

– Taste: While I can let this sit on my tongue for some time without feeling aggravated by the alcohol, the sheer warmth makes me want to move along with the sip to get to the next part of it all. The sweetness is a molten caramel that seeps into the palate and makes everything feel alive. A rich rose follows along with a sinfully sweet pomegranate. The seedy fruit is overripe, removing the tartness and only creating deep sweetness. Ripe blackberries chase the flavors to the back of the palate, sweeping all of the flavors together into one brand of warmth and juice.

This bourbon does not need any enhancing, but the temptation to provoke it with a Kentucky chew overwhelms. The sting of heat absolutely burns the tip of the tongue, but it evokes more fruit juice that seems to coat everything on the palate in a fruit syrup. An oak foundation only makes every bit of the burn and flavor last longer.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Exceptionally long. It’s been minutes since I’ve taken a sip, and I still know that I’ve recently had this bourbon on my palate.
– Between Sips: Oak is most prevalent here between sips. giving something to chew on while pausing. The heat never leaves either, hugging each corner of the palate and making the oak and a little bit of fruit, stay alive.

– No More: This only grows in intensity the further into the glass I get. At this point, I’d rather just set this review aside and enjoy the rest of my glass. It’s just hot bourbon packed with darkness and fruit – what’s not to love?

The empty Glencairn is a surprising, clean oak. The warmth that was on the palate isn’t as forward here at the bottom of the dram, but I’m actually not too bothered by this. It gave its everything to the actual sip, and that’s how it should be. That’s not to say there isn’t oak, or even a hint of sudden spice present, but this tulip glass did bloom exclusively for the consumable pour.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $60, buy, buy, buy. What an absolute steal for a bourbon that hits so much higher than its price. This easily falls into one of the best values of its price category without me even having to think about it. If I lived in an area where I could readily purchase this, I would never be without. Ever. For those who may struggle finding this bottle (our local friends), imagine an even more elevated Old Forester 1920.

BORDER BOURBON CASK STRENGTH REVIEW RATING: 97/100

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