Nose: Strong cinnamon bark | Red Hots candies | Vegetative | Light dry oak | Funky yet interesting combination of scents

Palate: Malted grain | Rye spice | Smoky grain | Youthful grain | Vanilla | Light Cinnamon | Layers of various grains blended with spice

Finish: Oak | Leather | Cinnamon bark | Rye spice | Dry baking chocolate | Dry oak and spice slowly fade

Fireside seems to have created a rye lover's bourbon in large part due to its low corn and high rye nature, and the fact that the label states they’re using chocolate barley malt. Part of the company's single barrel selects series, the resulting whiskey is a rye forward bourbon that makes its uniqueness known throughout. It starts with a funky nose that makes you unprepared for the flavorful and nuanced sip that follows. Highlighting grains and spice, the palate and finish deliver flavors that typically aren’t associated with a bourbon. While the whiskey has slight youthful traits, it will be very interesting to see how more time in the barrel treats it. If you’re a fan of funkier high-rye bourbons, this is one to watch out for.

The bottle being reviewed is from barrel #17f12 .br .3

Nose: Chocolate malt balls | Juicy Fruit gum | Eucalyptus | Fresh mint | Aloe | A touch of youth but lively

Palate: Roasted nut | Coffee | Mild rye spice | Light baking spice | Cinnamon

Finish: Roasted nut | Bittersweet chocolate | Chocolate malt balls | Lingering roasted nut aftertaste

A little malted chocolate rye can go a long way, and Fireside Straight Rye certainly gets its mileage from it. Like chocolate malted barley, it gets its name more from its color than it tasting exactly like a chocolate bar. That said, because of its heavy roasting, it does tend to give off a nutty and at times, dark chocolate flavor. It can be polarizing, but for the adventurous, it can often provide complexity and texture to a whiskey. Mile High Spirits was wise to play with the devil so to speak, because you may think you know what to expect from a 3 year old rye, but Fireside Rye will prove you wrong. Bold, a bit overpowering, yet approachable, it's a unique tasting rye that will take you on a journey if you’re willing to buy the ticket and take the ride.

Nose: Oak | Light brown sugar | White peppercorn | Crushed grain | Light marshmellow | Light raisin | Leather | Familiar Tennessee bourbon composition of scents

Palate: Dried raisins | Vanilla | Oak | Leather | White peaches | Dab of spice | Light creamy caramel | Spiced green apples | Flavors are nuanced and layered

Finish: Light brown sugar | Caramel | Vanilla | Oak | Leather | Simmering spice | Earthy grounded flavors linger on top of spice

Schoonover Straight Bourbon is a 14 year old sourced single barrel bourbon that is uncut and unfiltered. Sourced, higher aged Tennessee whiskey has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and it’s easy to assume where Schoonover Straight Bourbon is sourced from based on its overall flavor profile. That said, it’s not often that you see high aged, single barrel, barrel proof Tennessee bourbon hit the market. While the price is high, the resulting bourbon delivers a sip that is full of nuanced flavors throughout. With a proof that comes in just over 100, the bourbon itself can be easily appreciated by bourbon drinkers of all levels, however it comes at a steep asking price that will turn many people away. If you’re a fan of Tennessee bourbon, and are willing to pay its asking price, Schoonover Straight Bourbon Whiskey is sure to please.

The bottle being reviewed is from barrel #369.

Nose: Summer fruits | Hay | Light oak & vanilla | Youthful & fruity

Palate: Vanilla | Oak | Leather | Light honey | Hints of brown sugar | Straightforward with a lighter mouthfeel

Finish: Quick burst of summer fruit | Leather | Dry oak | Light spice | New oak | Short and to the point

Rectified Bourbon is a no nonsense bourbon that isn’t trying to hide what it is. As stated on the company’s website: “There are no embellished stories on our label. It's Bourbon. Rectified in Vermont. We source barrels of whiskey, carbon-treat them for smoothness, and blend for consistency.” The bourbon itself delivers an enticing fruity nose with an approachable palate, but it’s unfortunately just a little short on the finish, showcasing the need for more time in the barrel. That said, at the price I can easily see this being integrated into a summertime cocktail or for those looking for a light easy sipper.

Nose: Oak | Raisins | Dry leather | Crushed black grapes | Rye spice | Light cinnamon spice | A spicy juiciness conveys its proof and barrel finish

Palate: Tannic oak | Leather | Bold cinnamon spice | Rye spice | Spiced raisins | A mixture of spice with drier earthy flavors

Finish: Aged dry oak | Dry leather | Sharp tannic bite | Light cinnamon bark | Simmering Spice | Lingering dry spice

The moment you pour Black Button Single Barrel Finished in Port Casks, you’ll notice its extremely deep color and you're instantly made aware that this is a finished bourbon. The resulting sip is very complex yet unfortunately also flawed. While the nose kicks things off with rich complex flavors and the palate is full of spice (almost to a fault), the finish is tannic and dry, ending what could have been a great sip on a disappointing note. That said, if you can look past the finish, this is one of the more complex port finished bourbons I’ve encountered, and also one of the few cask strength ones at that.

The bottle being reviewed comes from barrel #406

Nose: Rye grain | Bold spice | Hints of baking spice | Light peppercorn | Caramel | Vanilla | Oak | Ethanol | Spice forward and not shy about embracing its proof

Palate: Rye spice | Baking spice | Oak | Leather | Dried apple | Caramel | Candied orange | Rich and spicy

Finish: Light caramel | Dashes of vanilla | Dried oak | Leather | White peppercorn | Long lingering heat

Saint Cloud is promoted as a premium bourbon, and bottles are priced accordingly. The company positions the product to have an upscale feel, coming in a black silk bag, and bottled in a sleek looking bottle. Additionally, the bottle comes with a second cork that is topped with a copper colored icarus holding a fleur-de-li, which is a nice nod to the fact that it’s Kentucky bourbon.

That said, packaging aside, $150 is a very steep asking price for a 7 year old single barrel bourbon, even if it is barrel proof. The bourbon itself has a lot of flavor, delivering a bold sip that isn’t shy about owning up to its high proof. It’s full of rich spicy flavors, sometimes to a fault, but overall is very good pour. While it’s always a gamble for single barrels at this price point, if you’re willing to pay the price of admission, Saint Cloud 7 Year Single Barrel will please.

The bottle being reviewed is from the “Icarus” barrel and is number 76.

Nose: Robust oak | Maple syrup | Burnt butter | Dark caramel | Cider | Very rich and unique

Palate: Dark fruits | Dried fruits | Charred oak | Blackberries | Vanilla | Touch of uniqueness that’s hard to pinpoint

Finish: Hazelnut | Nutmeg | Touch of tobacco | Slight dryness

Maker’s Mark’s first 2021 limited release, FAE-01, uses an American oak stave that is seared on one side and left raw on the other. Maker’s has doubled down on their staves finishing to differentiate their limited release products from other companies. Instead of releasing a brand new Maker’s Mark bourbon, they continually alter their existing product. Not everyone is a fan of stave finishing, but the company has shown over the last few years the dramatic impact it can have on a whiskey, especially one as familiar and mainstream as Maker’s Mark.  

FAE-01 is another win for Maker’s Finishing Series. It thankfully doesn’t venture into the double oaked category and instead enhances what you already love about Maker’s Mark Bourbon. This comes in the form of more potent dark and dried fruits, but also wide ranging scents and flavors in the form of burnt butter on the nose, blackberries on the palate, and hazelnut on the finish. It’s not revolutionary, but perhaps a window into what Maker’s could be. Some may find this stave finishing gimmicky or in a way, artificial, but in the end, it is a solid drinker and brings a unique sip to your glass.  

Nose: Rye spice | Light oak | Vanilla | Light leather | Spice rests on light and airy scents

Palate: Summer fruits | Vanilla | Rye spice | Cinnamon spice | Oak | Tobacco leaf | Leather | Nice mix of sweet, spicy, and earthy flavors

Finish: Oak | Bold spice | Vanilla | Earthy undertones | Leather | Lingering dry spice

Medicinal Whiskey is a pending 503c Non Profit that has a mission of fighting childhood illness with the power and passion of whiskey enthusiasts. The organization is composed of approximately 120 doctors who raise funds from the barrels they pick to help sponsor the organizations two core charities: Duke Children’s and UNC Health Children’s. The goal is for the organization to benefit a different children’s hospital each quarter, with UVA Children’s being targeted for this April to June.

For their latest release, the group chose a single barrel of Four Roses with an OBSK recipe. Like their past barrel picks, this is a solid representation of a good Four Roses single barrel pick. The sip is approachable, and the fact that each bottle is benefiting a good cause, makes the sip that much better.

The bottle being reviewed comes from warehouse number KE barrel #63-3I.

Nose: Aged oak | Leather | Caramel | Graham cracker | Heat

Palate: Toffee | Brown sugar | Tobacco | Cocoa | Light oak | Rush of black pepper spice

Finish: Tapering spice | Leather | Toasted marshmallow | Lingering heat

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has earned its place as a consistently high quality barrel proof bourbon. At 12 years old it dabbles in aged oak notes, but maintains a well-rounded flavor profile with each batch. A121, which means the first batch of the year released in January, 2021, is generally on par with previous releases. However, while it offers a nice balance of flavors, it doesn’t quite have the wow factor some of the past batches, such as B520, had. But don’t let that stop you from purchasing a bottle, as it’s a solid deal regardless.

Nose: Tropical fruit | Peppery spice | Buttered cornbread | Zippy

Palate: Apricot | Dried fruit | Aged oak | Mineral note | Robust with punchy spice on the backend

Finish: Cinnamon bark | Peppery spice | Seasoned oak | Long

Despite each batch being unique and spanning a range of distilleries going into each batch, Barrell Bourbon has proven to be reliable, demonstrating high quality with each batch. Batch 028 zeroes in on a tighter age range than many other batches, including just 10 and 11 year old barrels. The higher age shows through, with evidence of oak and balance throughout. It drinks on the spicier side, with complimentary fruit notes adding balance to the blend. While it may not offer the complexity of Batch 027, it will surely please Barrell fans seeking out a spicy, fruity, and well-aged sip.

Nose: Fruit cocktail | Light rye grain | Peaches | Vanilla bean | Light creme brulee | Underpinning of oak | Sweet and fruity notes dominate

Palate: Oak | Brown sugar | Vanilla | Light leather | Creme brulee | Flashes of summer fruits | Dark raisins | Well balanced

Finish: Underlying rye spice | Light grain | Baking spice | Oak | Vanilla | Light long dry spice

Pinhook Tiz Rye Time 5 Year is the second bottle in the brand’s vertical rye series and follows the inaugural launch of the 4 year in 2020. With an additional year of aging and 6 proof points higher, it is fascinating to see how the flavor profile changes. While a lot of the same base notes are still present, the fruit notes of the rye, especially in the nose, are nicely amplified. It’s a fruit-forward rye that is layered in with nuanced sweet notes throughout the sip. The end result is a well balanced sip that allows for easy distinguishment of its flavors. This vertical series is shaping up to be really fun to follow along with, and is worth the reasonable cost of admission to partake in.

Nose: Rhubarb | Berry jam | Ripe strawberries | Toasted sugars | Light oak | Baked pie crust | A deconstructed fruit pie

Palate: Malt | Light leather | Berries | Light toasted marshmallow | Toasted sugars | Light syrup | Dried raisins |  Earthy with a dash of sweet

Finish: Oak | Baking spice | Dash of baking chocolate | Leather | Dried raisins & berries | Green peppercorn | Earthy and lingering

Chattanooga Whiskey Tawny Port Cask Finish is part of the company's limited edition finishing series, which focuses on whiskeys crafted from a combination of unique bourbon mashbills, all containing over 25% specialty malt. The Tawny Port Cask release is crafted from a custom blend of six signature Tennessee High Malt mashbills: B001, B005, SB055, R18025, R18016, and R17113. The company states that these mashbills were selected for their fruity wine-like flavors and aromas. The finishing casks were sourced from the eastern most edge of the Douro Valley bordering Spain, known as Douro Superior. The whiskey is stated to be aged for greater than 3 years with an additional finishing time of more than 6 months.  

The time spent in the port barrels is evident throughout. The sip opens with a lush fruit-filled nose that is reminiscent of a deconstructed fruit pie. Surprisingly from there, the rest of the sip transitions to more earthy tones focused on more sweeter darker and drier flavors. It’s a combination that is full of nuanced flavors and one that makes you take your time to pick out all of its intricate layers. For those who love a port finished whiskey, or just a complex whiskey in general, Chattanooga Whiskey Tawny Port Finish is one to seek out.