Hannah Dawson Whiskey Reviews Archives – Page 4 of 10

Elijah Craig Straight Rye Review

Posted on 05-September-202205-September-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Straight Rye Review

Original review written July 12, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A solid rye that I have been looking forward to tasting. It’s deep, rich, and sweet, and almost doesn’t drink like a rye. Nevertheless, a great buy, and one I will keep around most certainly. 89/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Bardstown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Straight Rye
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Rye=51%; Corn=35%; Malted Barley=14%
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 47% (94 proof)
– Price: $32.95 USD in Idaho 2022

Visit elijahcraig.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this rye here!

SETTING:

I imagine sitting on a stool with Elijah Craig Straight Rye in one hand, and a big bowl of chocolate in the other. Decorate the chocolate with various fruits and colors, and I think this rye has met its partner. I think the sweetness of each will play off of one another well, emphasizing bitterness in the right places and exacerbating warmth in others. The rye and chocolate create a pleasant hug of sweetness and comfort, and the two together only would make each other shine all the more.

Photo by American Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash

NOSE:

This meets the nose as a dark rye with plenty of malt and a thick toffee acting as a foundation, complete with hazelnuts and toasted coconut and even a tart, citrus zest. The wood is formidable as well, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s fresh. Rather, it has a musty element, making it seem water-logged with the plant/vegetation aspect incredibly strong. Despite this, I can still find a freshness in this nose, with the smell of rain (petrichor) absolutely bursting from the glass mixing with a bite of cinnamon to sweeten.

For this being an Elijah Craig product, I’m not surprised to sense black pepper; however, I am surprised to note how little black pepper there is. This rye is earthy and deep and teems with age (for a rye at least). The alcohol is even softer with the rye than how it is with its Small Batch Bourbon counterpart. Nevertheless, this is still a complex and intriguing rye, and I am ready to sip.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: It’s slightly more watery than I was anticipating, but it does grow in texture and warmth with more sips.
– Balance: Heavy on the sugary sweetness, this still has a wood base and earthy tone that make everything else taste that much livelier.
– Visual: Carrot in color, there are many, thick legs that fall from clinging droplets. The droplets turn to a solid ring, and this also lingers for a good deal of time.

– Taste: I can let this sit on my palate almost indefinitely without feeling much of a burn, and also not a great deal of flavor. When a bit more aggravated, a dark brown sugar emerges with molasses and a sweet praline trails them. A sweeter nut, like peanuts, resides in this praline as opposed to the bitter hazelnuts from the nose. There’s honeycomb, candied apples, melted chocolate and even a bit of maple. This whole glass radiates dark sweetness, touched by the slightest amount of black pepper to make everything bite a little.

It’s a rye that, frankly, is hard to forcibly interact with. The temptation to just sit with it and let the warmth grow is tremendous. It grows in complexity also the longer it sits on the tongue, with the sugar elements turning into pure sugar crystals and the depth intensifying into something that tastes older and older. There aren’t many fruits aside from the occasional raisin and aforementioned apples. All the same, this is a sheer joy to sip. The alcohol is mild, but it does escalate in warmth the further into the glass I get. A Kentucky chew provokes chocolate and buttery walnuts, and the warmth is excellent.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. At times, the heat lingers and punches even after the sip is gone; however, most often it dwindles and settles without incident.
– Between Sips: Caramel and chocolate – like a candy bar – can be found between sips, but otherwise, the flavor does fade somewhat quickly.

– No More: This grows in complexity the longer I sit with it, and as mentioned in the palate, the alcohol grows as well, becoming warmer, and somehow, even richer.

The empty Glencairn is a light oak with bits of honey and vanilla mixed in – unaggressive, but certainly soft and smooth. I wish it was a little punchier, but this rye has held true to its sweetness until the very end.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Just over $30, and an Elijah Craig and a rye from their distilleries at last – absolutely it’s worth the price. This rye is a great value, and it’s one that I intend to keep around in the bunker given the chance.

ELIJAH CRAIG STRAIGHT RYE REVIEW RATING: 89/100

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Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Review

Posted on 04-July-202204-July-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Review

Original review written June 29, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Maybe heavier on the earth and wood than other Larceny Barrel Proof’s, this one is still worth the buy – just treat it entirely as a new experience. 91/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Wheated Bourbon
– Age: nas (Heaven Hill states batches will contain six- to eight-year-old bourbon)
– Mash Bill: Corn=68%; Wheat=20%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 62.2% (124.4 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho in May 2022

For more information, visit heavenhill.com

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:

This bourbon screams autumn to me – with the leaves found on the nose to the simply rich and earthy darkness of the overall palate. It’s something I imagine enjoying when the weather turns, and it’s misty outside with the raked leaves soaking in the moisture. The bourbon exacerbates the clean that comes from a changing season, while digging deep into the earth to reflect the fall season. Being almost 125 proof, this keeps you warm in that crisp air all the while.

Photo by Daniel Frank on Unsplash

NOSE:

Roasted grain, caramel, and cinnamon cross the nose first, hitting all sorts of flavor profiles. There’re also sweet marshmallows just on the verge of burning to a bitterness. Strangely, there’s a musty, earthy quality here as well, like a soaked pile of leaves in the fall. It’s a bit dirty, but it’s simultaneously fresh. Oak sawdust and a warm alcohol tingle, act as a solid foundation, but otherwise, this nose isn’t particularly complex. It’s dark with sweet, earthy tones – unlike other Larceny Barrel Proof’s I’ve had, but this one is still intriguing all the same.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Viscous. There’s texture here, but it swirls around on the palate pleasantly.
– Balance: Unexpected. Not necessarily bad, but this is heavy on the earth and wood tones, with only a little fruit and sugar to brighten it. I don’t mind it, though I am used to better balances coming from Larceny BP’s.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, this falls from a faint crown in long, evenly spaced legs. Once gone, that faint crown lingers and lingers.

– Taste: Grain and straw offer something to chew on the first sip with soaked wood chips and apricots following behind. The apricot is pureed into almost a jam consistency with sugar included. It makes for a sweeter, yet more diluted apricot flavor overall. Mixed with the stone fruit is honey, sweetening it further while also providing a different, yet equally appropriate kind of base, to the traditional oak. Despite these sugary flavors, this bourbon is actually quite musty and earthy. It’s dark in the way that I can taste the influence of the char on not just the barrel, but also the wheat. It has age on it, which imparts a richness and dare I say – a self-awareness. This bourbon just has character.

The alcohol is present, but I don’t find it overly aggressive. The heat sits primarily at the back of the palate and doesn’t seem inclined to hug – just hang out. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the alcohol remains mild, poking a bit more. It allows me to find some darker fruits here like cherries, but they are fleeting. Overall, the chew is a fun exercise to this bourbon.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. It’s been several minutes since I’ve had a sip, yet the warmth continues to sit at the back of my throat, and I do have some aftertaste lingering for a while as well.
– Between Sips: The wheat grain is the most distinguishable between sips, being musty like the rest of the palate while also acting as a grounding point overall for the bourbon.

– No More: This stays consistent throughout the glass, with the finish growing longer and longer after each sip. It’s decent, but it is unlike any of the other Larceny Barrel Proof’s we have had to date. I’m excited for the newness and simultaneously missing the characteristics I’ve come to define Larceny BP’s with.

The empty Glencairn is the warmest aspect of this nose, with the oak being fresh and punchy. And I can even find the grain here as well, proving this bourbon to be consistent all through to the end.

WORTH THE PRICE?

When it comes to anything barrel proof, I’ll always step up to buy and try. If you like the other Larceny’s and still want to hunt for this one, I think it’s worth the price of $60, but don’t expect the fruits that you may have tasted in the other offerings. A122 has its own story, and it’s best to let it stretch its legs without putting expectations on it, beyond having a richer, deeper “How-is-this-Larceny” profile. I’d buy again, but I’d sooner buy another batch of Larceny BP if available. (Remember – I like my fruits.)

LARCENY BARREL PROOF A122 REVIEW RATING: 91/100

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Cream of Kentucky Rye Review

Posted on 27-June-202227-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Cream of Kentucky Rye Review

Original review written June 21, 2022

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Unique and original full of rye bread punchiness and even raisins and bran like the cereal *wink wink*. Happy to have it, and I know I’ll never have another rye like it again. 91/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Middletown, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Kentucky Artisan Distillery
– Classification: Bottled-in-Bond Rye
– Age: 4yrs (minimum)
– Mash Bill: 100% Rymin Rye
– Casks: unpublished char
– Barrel Entry Proof: unpublished
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $80.45 USD in Idaho in 2022

“The Cream of Kentucky brand was originally introduced in 1888 by I. Trager & Co. of Cincinnati, Ohio. Just prior to the end of Prohibition, the brand was acquired by the famed Schenley Company and subsequently re-introduced in 1934. Through the 1930s and 1940s, Cream of Kentucky grew to becomes on the leading bourbon brands, with renowned artist Norman Rockwell provid[ing] much of the award-winning artwork for the brand during its heyday.”

Visit www.jwrutledge.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review of this rye here!

And find Elora’s thoughts here!

SETTING:

This one is nostalgic for me in a way that makes me want to pour a glass of this with a bowl of raisin bran cereal. It’s rich, dense, with hints of sweetness mingling throughout. The rye bread of the pour will pair well, and the acidity of the grain will likewise lift the depth of the cereal. It’s homey, and it’s something I can really see myself settling into when I am just looking for a day of simplicity and comfort.

Photo by Cristine Despares on Unsplash

NOSE:

This certainly does smell creamy on the first inhale – an absolute rye bread explosion – as well as incredibly (I cannot stress this enough) nutty. Walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, even cashews abound. Surrounding them in a light drizzle of a dark caramel and a bit of banana. I can find bran (like a cereal), which makes the whole nose smell outwardly quite healthy – not a common trait in a whiskey, but I’ll take it. There are some dark fruits here in a fruit leather variety, but they are very subtle, and certainly not a berry kind of fruit. They seem to be much more like prunes and perhaps dates and figs.

With the bread and nuts being so dominant, it’s difficult to find wood (but there is a malt-type of foundation) and quite difficult to find an alcohol burn also. It’s an enjoyable, unique nose that I know I have not had the likes of before. Definitely intrigued by what I will find on the palate.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Believe it or not, but creamy is an appropriate description here. There’s depth and oiliness that just eases the rye around the palate without needing any kind of aggravation.
– Balance: Heavy on bread and earthy tones, so perhaps not the most balanced. However, if you like those flavors, I don’t think you’ll be too bothered here (I am not).
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, this falls in one great sheet before leaving a thin ring and the occasional small droplet behind.

– Taste: After the (admitted) shock value of this palate being so different from what I was expecting, raisin bran cereal absolutely captures my taste buds. It’s as if I’m having the cereal in front of me now, and I’m getting ready for school. (I always like healthier, grain cereals as opposed to something sweet with artificial fruit flavor, chocolate, or marshmallows.) As such, this rye is drinking in a very nostalgic way, right off the bat. When I dig around in the palate, I find spice like nutmeg, many of the nuts listed above, and sweetness like simple syrup to add complexity to the rye grain and cereal. There are other dried fruits here also, like the prunes and dates from the nose, and now currants as well.

All the while, the alcohol gives a little nip now and then, as if peeking out from behind a corner sheepishly. It’s not aggressive when it does bite, hearkening, again, back to a bashful attempt at getting attention. It’s playful. It combines with the rye in a way that makes the already established complexity, that much more multidimensional. I still cannot find much wood here, but the strong presence of the rye bread/raisin cereal are such a good foundation. I can forgive the lack of wood. There’s even a soda bread component to go with the rye that creates a bit of needed acidity to lighten up the dark, malty flavors.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium-Long. The aftertaste certainly perpetuates and there is a noticeable warmth that sits just at the top of the throat – not burning, but hovering.
– Between Sips: Raisin and the rye bread is constant throughout the pour, including here between sips. I’m grateful for the consistency. There are not many whiskeys that stay so true to that first inhale on the nose.

– No More: As stated – consistent as I go through the glass. The bran element grows in intensity, making me feel as though I could actually chew on this whiskey. (Note: When I did partake in a Kentucky chew, that alcohol woke up. It bit hard with rye bread before backing off again to that familiar dark, dried, fruity goodness.)

The empty Glencairn is dirty sawdust. It’s been trampled down and beaten badly, but at the end of the day, it’s still warm and as welcoming as ever.

WORTH THE PRICE?

$80 makes for a pricey bottle, but the originality and the nostalgia it’s brought up for me, makes it worth the price. I’ve never had a whiskey like this before. If I’d tried this in my early years of whiskey adventuring, I don’t think I’d like it. It’s complex and it’s even quite affronting. If you’re experienced with ryes and bourbons, and like grain forward pours, give this a try and swallow the price tag. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

CREAM OF KENTUCKY RYE REVIEW RATING: 91/100

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