Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Split Rock Distilling
Distillery: Split Rock Distilling
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 88
Age: Minimum of 2 years in 30 gallon barrels (Website states current age is 3 years)
Mashbill: 60% Corn, 20% Wheat, 15% Barley, 5% Rye
Color: Amber
MSRP: $65 (2020)
Nose: Cereal grain | Corn | Cedar | Cinnamon | Vanilla | Light but expressive, yet grain-forward
Palate: Minerals | Grain | Malt | Caramel | Faint smokiness | Thin mouthfeel
Finish: Grain | Toffee | Oak | Slight burn
I like the path this bourbon took me down as it nicely showcased its four grains throughout its sip, but its lack of time in the barrel is much too evident. It features a nice clean delivery of flavors, but additional aging will help develop these flavors more. I respect the effort the team at Split Rock is putting into this bourbon as it's a true organic grain-to-glass process using sustainable practices to create their product. There aren't many distilleries doing what they’re doing, and in some time I expect them to adequately fine-tune this unique product.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Lux Row Distillers
Distillery: Sourced (From undisclosed distillery[ies])
Release Date: February 2020
Proof: 96
Age: NAS
Mashbill: Undisclosed (Blend of wheated and ryed bourbon mashbills)
Color: Light Copper
MSRP: $40 (2020)
Nose: Orange zest | Honey lozenge | Slight Oak | Hint of ethanol | Pleasant opening
Palate: Oak | Honey | Pepper spice | Vanilla | Orange rinde
Finish: Green peppercorn | Vanilla | Dry Oak | Cigar box
Daviess County Straight Bourbon whiskey is a blend of wheated and rye bourbon mashbills. This combination shows throughout the sip, with sweeter notes starting things off and eventually ending on a slightly drier note. While not overly deep, these flavors are easy to appreciate. Daviess County Straight Bourbon Whiskey is ultimately an average run-of-the-mill bourbon that is sure to please many, especially at the proof and price point.
Classification: Wheat Whiskey
Company: Breuckelen Distilling Company
Distillery: Breuckelen Distilling Company
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 90
Age: 655 Days (~1.7 years)
Mashbill: 100% Wheat
Color: Light Amber
MSRP: $40 (2020)
Nose: Honey | Maple sugar candy | Caramel | Soft & sweet
Palate: Honey | Toffee | Caramel chews | Fresh baked banana bread | Delicate & sweet
Finish: Confectioners sugar | Honey | Milk chocolate | Sweet notes linger
Wow what an impressive whiskey from Breuckelen Distilling! This delicate and sweet wheat whiskey showcases a dessert-themed flavor profile that is shockingly developed given its age. Like the company’s other products, this New York Wheat whiskey is unlike most of the other products you will find on the shelf. With a tidal wave of sweet flavors, I can only imagine how good it tastes at barrel proof.
Classification: A Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys Finished in Used Bourbon Barrels
Company: Kooper Family Whiskey Co.
Distillery: 3 year old rye is from MGP and 5 year old rye is from an undisclosed distillery in Tennessee
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 90
Age: Blend of 3 & 5 year old straight ryes
Mashbill: 3 Year Rye : 95% Rye, 5% Malt; 5 Year Rye: 51% Rye, 36% Corn, 13% Malt
Color: Copper
MSRP: $40 (2020)
Nose: Custard | Creme brulee | Vanilla | Raisins | Seasoned oak | Delicious rich nose
Palate: Creme brulee | Caramel | Cinnamon | Butter | Soft fruit | Incredibly rich bakery scents
Finish: Rye spice | Syrupy vanilla | Baking spice | Seasoned oak
I guess when you source whiskey you technically own it, however their label definitely gives the impression that they distilled it by saying “our” multiple times when referring to the whiskey used in the blend. Despite this, Kooper Family Rye is a winner. It’s an incredibly rich tasting rye that is filled with delicious bakery-type flavors. Interestingly, their bottle and website doesn’t make reference to this being finished in used bourbon barrels to achieve this, but you can’t disagree with the results. This is an amazing tasting whiskey that you should buy right now.
Classification: Rye Whiskey
Company: Heritage Spirits
Distillery: Stoll & Wolfe Distillery
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 90
Age: 4 Years
Mashbill: 65% Rye, 25% Corn, 10% Malt
Color: Light Bronze
MSRP: $53 (2020)
Nose: Fiery cinnamon | Sweet vanilla | Charred oak | Earthy
Palate: Baking spice | Vanilla | Oak | Light sweet citrus | Touch of leather
Finish: Dash of rye spice | Light grain | Oak | Dry leather | Lingering
The last time I tasted Stoll & Wolfe Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey was when the whiskey was 18 months old. At the time, I thought the rye showed a ton of potential for such a young whiskey. Additional time in the barrel continues to impress and shows off Dick Stolle’s expertise. This is an easy to drink rye that has developed more nuanced flavors, specifically in the more oaky and leathery spectrum. I look forward to seeing the progression of this rye in the next two to three years.
Classification: Straight Malt Whiskey and Hop Flavored Whiskey
Company: Charbay Distillery
Distillery: Charbay Distillery
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 90
Age: NAS (Website states blend of 4 year straight malt whiskey [50%], 8 year stout whiskey [30%], and 4 year pilsner whiskey [20%])
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Light Gold
MSRP: $50 (2020)
Nose: Apples | Cinnamon | Summer fruit | Baking spices | Light & interesting
Palate: Nutmeg | Clove | Malty | Pilsner beer | Pop of spice
Finish: Cinnamon | Clove | Beer | Lingering baking spices
An interesting blend of malt, stout, and pilsner whiskeys, this combination allows the unique flavors brought forth by the beer distillates to show through without entirely overpowering the sip. It has fantastic balance with a lively, but developed flavor profile. While there isn’t a hint of oak, the time spent in barrels and overall blend keeps the flavors in check, allowing the components to shine without any one overdoing it. Quite unique and delicious overall.
Classification: Straight Rye
Company: MGP
Distillery: MGP
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 112.6
Age: NAS (Company website states 5 and 6 years old)
Mashbill: Blend of MGP’s 51% Rye, 45% Corn, 4% Malted Barley and 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley mashbills
Color: Copper
MSRP: $70 (2020)
Nose: Rye spice | Straw | Hint of citrus | Summer fruits | Bold and straightforward
Palate: Rye grain | Fresh baked bread | Candied summer fruit | Apricot | Spicy with a gentle sweetness
Finish: Rye spice | Vanilla | Oak | Leather | Twinge of pure alcohol | Lingering mild anise aftertaste
At 112.6 this is understandably bold, but not to the degree I thought it would be. And that’s a good thing. This is a fruit-forward, sweet and savory rye that drinks well. It also features a unique flavor agent that I had a hard time pinning down, unsure if it’s yeasty, herbal, floral, or just anise note intensifying during its finish. Regardless, this is an enjoyable barrel proof rye that packs punch, but doesn't gut punch you like some high proof rye whiskeys often do.
Classification: Malt Whiskey
Company: Balcones Distilling
Distillery: Balcones Distilling
Release Date: March 2020 (Annual Release)
Proof: 112.2
Age: Aged at least 36 months
Mashbill: 100% Malt
Color: Hay
MSRP: $80
Nose: Toasted oak | Light smoke | Chocolate bark | Ripe summer fruits | Hard butterscotch candies | Soft and inviting
Palate: Grape skin | Grilled peaches | Light leather | Earthy | Charred wood | Vanilla | Light butterscotch | Full of subtle flavors
Finish: Light oak | Dry vanilla | Light tobacco | Light leather | Light and lingering
Balcones Mirador is an annual release that uses a blend of malt whiskeys aged in used barrels. This imparts less dominant oak flavors than you’d see with new charred oak barrel aging, instead allowing the whiskey to develop more nuanced flavors. This is Texas in a glass, instantly transporting me to a field on a hot summer Texas day. It’s easy drinking for the proof, and each sip allows you to pull out more flavors. The bottle being reviewed is from Batch MIR 20-1 with what looks like a (faded) stated date of 3.9.20.
Classification: Rye
Company: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC
Distillery: Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, LLC
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 116
Age: NAS
Mashbill: 100% Rye
Color: Dark Copper
MSRP: $90 (2020)
Nose: Rye spice | Distillate | Lemon | Punchy
Palate: Lemon zest | Anise | Unaged distillate | Vanilla extract | Punchy and youthful
Finish: Summer fruits | Lemon | Rye spice | White peppercorns | Youthful
Nicely refreshing and clean, Catoctin Creek’s Roundstone Rye Cask Proof whiskey is released twice year per year in single barrel form. Notably distilled onsite, this rye is also not labelled as straight, which suggests it’s aged less than two years. While the taste of the distillate is present throughout the sip, and the label should probably carry an age statement, it shows exceptional promise and I can’t wait to taste this whiskey at a higher age.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Coppercraft Distillery
Distillery: Sourced (from undisclosed distillery[ies])
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 97
Age: NAS (Blend of 4+ and 11+ year old bourbons per company website)
Mashbill: Undisclosed
Color: Straw
MSRP: $50 (2020)
Nose: Corn | Grain | Vanilla | Lemon | Granny apples | Light oak | Quite timid and lacking ample character
Palate: Grain | Citrus | Custard | Mild oak | Light in both flavor and consistency
Finish: Mild spearmint | Cereal grain | Honey | Touch of cinnamon | Short finish
The company isn’t shy about declaring this sourced bourbon from their website, but their bottle gives a drastically different impression. Despite the company being established in 2012 and featuring an 11 year old bourbon, I didn’t expect this to taste so young and grain-forward. I get the sense that a splash of older bourbon was used to round off some of the 4 year old bourbon’s more youthful drawbacks. Apparently they didn’t use enough though, as this is underdeveloped and overpriced for what it offers. Cheers to their amazing bottle design though.
Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished in Ruby Port Casks
Company: Woodinville Whiskey Company
Distillery: Woodinville Whiskey Company
Release Date: Early 2020 (Limited to Washington State)
Proof: 90
Age: NAS (Website states 5 years with 6 additional months of finishing)
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 22% Rye, 6% Malted Barley
Color: Mahogany
MSRP: $70 (2020)
Nose: Juicy grape | Dark fruit | Vanilla | Rich oak | Enjoyable intensity
Palate: Mix of light and dark fruit | Caramel | Oak | Nice presentation of sweet and dry flavors
Finish: Fleeting grape | Dry oak | Slight tannic | Lingering dry mouthfeel
The standard Woodinville Bourbon already sports a sweet fruity flavor profile, so the addition of port cask finishing nicely complements it. In fact it helps introduce a darker fruit element to the whiskey that adds a lot of dimension to the sip. Unfortunately the standard Woodinville finish was already dry and the additional finishing time only added to its dry aftertaste.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Dry Fly Distilling
Distillery: Dry Fly Distilling
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 101
Age: 4 Years
Mashbill: 55% Corn, 45% Triticale
Color: Light Gold
MSRP: $40 (2020)
Nose: Light vanilla | Touch of oak | Soft grain | Hint of peaches & cream
Palate: Youthful oak | Vanilla | Pepper spice | Sharp flavors
Finish: Pepper spice | Sharp oak | Hint of leather | Lingering spice
Dry Fly Bourbon 101 takes an extremely unique route for their mashbill, being made with triticale grain. This grain is a hybrid of wheat and rye first bred in laboratories during the late 19th century in Scotland and Germany. The result is a bourbon that takes on the qualities of both grains with softer flavors being punched around by more dominating spicy ones.
Classification: Straight Bourbon Finished in Unused Seguin Moreau Vanilla Toast Barrels
Company: Starlight Distillery
Distillery: Starlight Distillery
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 96
Age: 4 Years (Finished for an additional 8 months)
Mashbill: Blend of 60% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley and 51% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, 9% Wheat
Color: Mahogany
MSRP: $60 (2020)
Nose: Rich vanilla | Cherry | Apple | Butterscotch | Enjoyable intensity
Palate: Vanilla | Baking spice | Cinnamon | Apple pie | Oak | Thin mouthfeel contrasted by rich flavors
Finish: Oak | Leather | Overly dry
With the standard Starlight Carl T. Huber’s Small Batch Bourbon already leaning towards an oaky flavor profile, I wouldn’t have expected the company to then double barrel it. It seemed like a risky endeavor, but to my surprise, it made for a better product. It’s still very oaky, but the double barrel brings forward much more baking-related flavors and a surprise robustness in flavor. Despite a twinge of youthfulness, it’s still a solid sipper.
Classification: Rye
Company: Corsair Artisan Distillery
Distillery: Corsair Artisan Distillery
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 85
Age: 8 Months
Mashbill: 61% Malted Rye, 4% Malted Chocolate Rye, 35% Malted Barley
Color: Dark Copper
MSRP: $45
Nose: New charred oak | Wet grain | Barley | Fresh malt | Hint of chocolate | Light and intriguing
Palate: Rich baking chocolate | New oak | Light rye spice | Caramelized sugar | Baking spice | Dark rich sweet flavors
Finish: Sweet chocolate | Light oak | Rye grain | Hint of brown sugar | Nicely balanced
Corsair Dark Rye is a malted rye that is made without the use of any corn and aged for only 8 months in 15 gallon barrels. This results in a sip that doesn’t taste like a typical rye, and while its nose is lighter, the rest of the sip presents a nice balance of dark, rich flavors. It delivers just the right combination of intrigue and drinkability. For traditional rye lovers looking to branch out in the world of rye, this is worth the journey. The bottle being reviewed is number 670/840.
Classification: Straight Rye Finished in Vosges Oak Barrels
Company: Heaven’s Door Spirits
Distillery: Sourced
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 92
Age: NAS (According to the company website, the rye is aged for approximately 6 years before finishing for about 1 year in Vosges oak barrels)
Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Color: Medium Amber
MSRP: $80 (2020)
Nose: Vanilla custard | Allspice | Pepper | Rye spice | Caramel | Aged oak | Light and inviting
Palate: Graham cracker | Aged oak | Rye spice | Brown sugar
Finish: Surge of rye spice | Toasted marshmallow | Vanilla | Medium length with a shift from spice to sweet
Vosges refers to French oak, originating from the Quercus Petraea species which has a looser wood grain than the more common Quercus Robur species, allowing additional flavor to be imparted more quickly. Heaven’s Door uses cigar barrels for the finishing process, which results in faster evaporation than standard 53 gallon barrels. All of this is worth it, as the resulting flavor profile is very good, highlighting both the high rye composition and bringing a balance of sweet notes into the mix.
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: The Family Jones
Distillery: The Family Jones
Release Date: Ongoing
Proof: 94
Age: 2 Years
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 15% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Color: Medium Copper
MSRP: $45 (2020)
Nose: Summer fruit | Apricot | Citrus | Anise | Youthful | Light & approachable
Palate: Pear | Peach | Vanilla | Cornbread | Pop of rye spice
Finish: Rye spice | Cherries | Light oak | Caramel | Medium length with tapering sweetness
From milling to distilling, aging, and bottling, Ella Jones Bourbon is entirely created by The Family Jones in Denver, Colorado. The bourbon is on the sweeter, fruitier side, with a mix of summer fruits presented throughout the sip. A hint of youthfulness comes into play, notably on the nose, yet echoes throughout. Despite this, the end result is still nicely developed, presenting a flavor profile that many will appreciate.