Bourbon – Straight

August 2024 Bourbon Women’s Collector’s Trinity Tasting

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August 31, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

It is hard to believe that two weeks have passed since Wayne and I were attending the Bourbon Women SIPosium in Louisville. One of the events of the weekend was an ongoing auction. Thrilled that we won four auctions. This tasting wraps up the final auction of bottles that was won. This set has a connection to Missouri.

For the other auction item tastings:
Aug 2024 Leiper’s Fork & High n’ Wicked Tasting
Aug 2024 J.T.Meleck Rice Whiskey Tasting

For more about the conference:
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 1
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 2
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 3

Selected for this Tasting

The Collector’s Trinity: Exclusive Whiskey Experience Description: A trio of exceptional whiskeys that epitomize craftsmanship and rarity. Each bottle in this curated collection is a testament to the art of distillation, featuring unique finishes and signatures from the masterminds behind these spirits. 

Planters Whiskey Single Barrel Reserve: (By Nobletons Distilling House) This single barrel reserve is personally signed by the head distiller, Demetrius Cain, and engraved with #BWSIP24. It’s a bold and robust whiskey, perfect for those who appreciate high-proof spirits with depth and character. (Union, Missouri)


Investment KY Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks: This cask strength single barrel bourbon is finished in Madeira casks, adding a layer of sweet, fortified wine complexity to the robust bourbon base. Signed by founder Michael Steinkamp, this bottle offers a unique tasting experience that is both rare and exquisite.  (St. Louis, Missouri)

Barrel King Knighted Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Finished in rare ex-bourbon barrels, this straight bourbon whiskey embodies richness and complexity. The unique finishing process imparts nuanced flavors that elevate the traditional bourbon profile, making it a regal addition to any collection. (Bourbon, Missouri)

Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Planters Whiskey Single Barrel Reserve

Mashbill – 51% malted corn, 22% malted wheat, 22% Canadian rye, 5% malted barley
Age – 6+ years
Proof – 115.56
Other – Batch: Last Watch; Bottle: 095
Price Paid – $67 (average of total auction price of $200; MSRP $69.99)

Color – Honey 

Aroma – Honey, caramel, a light spice baking spice, tea, perhaps a berry note.

Tasted Neat – Cinnamon, orange, honey, and there is chili spice.

Finish – It is fairly long with cinnamon, orange zest, a hint of barrel char, and a dryness from the wood tannins.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This brought forward the spice as well as the orange as well.

Tasted with a pecan – The woodiness comes forward, with cinnamon, a dark chocolate note, and oranges – reminiscent of those chocolate covered orange slices.

Tasted with dark chocolate – An earthiness with wood and a muted finish. It is creamy with a nuttiness.

General Thoughts – It drinks pretty hot. There is an interesting combination of sweetness and spice. The orange component adds a fascinating twist. Also, the spice is different, such as a chili pepper or perhaps red pepper. Not a daily drinker but very different with notes that do not appear often.

Investment KY Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Madeira Casks

Mashbill – Unknown four-grain.
Age – 5 years before the finishing.
Proof – 109.4
Other – Sweet mash, pot-stilled bourbon made with a four-grain mash and aged for five years in a traditional barrel rickhouse in Kentucky, before being moved to a madeira wine barrel, where it was aged for an additional 16 weeks. 
Price Paid – $67 (average of total auction price of $200; MSRP $99.95)

Color – A beautiful mahogany.

Aroma – Oh my! This smells so good! There is a spiced pear note with brown sugar and baking spices. The madeira wine is also present.

Tasted Neat –  It is a party on your tongue! Dark wine, brown sugar, baking spices, pears, and apples … like a spiced apple and pear pie with a buttery crust. It is a great taste profile for us.

Finish – The finish is medium but what it has is very pleasant. The madeira wine remains present and there is a peppery spice that lingers.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This pushed the fruitiness to the back but also made it sweeter on the front of the palate … such as confectionary sugar, cotton candy, or bubblegum. The finish was diminished and was less spicy.

Tasted with a pecan – The pecan brought the spicy notes to the front. Interestingly, the fruit became a dark, spicy cherry surrounded by wood notes.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Very creamy and smooth with cinnamon. While the finish was muted, it remains a really good sip.

General Thoughts – This is an outstanding finished bourbon. It is a perfect marriage of wine and bourbon. The artist behind this did a spectacular job by bringing a fantastic balance – we could smell this glass all evening long and not tire of it.

Barrel King Knighted Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – Unknown (MGP often uses 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley)
Finished – Straight Bourbon Finished in EC18
Age – 6-year-old MGP bourbon
Proof – 114
Other – Batch: WBSI; Bottle: 175
Price Paid – $67 (average of total auction price of $200; MSRP Membership-driven, $100 a month for locals)

Color – Light Copper

Aroma – Sweet with caramel and brown sugar. There are orange notes and baking spices.

Tasted Neat –  There is a spiciness on the front as well as sweetness like powdered sugar. There are other notes such as orange, vanilla, and honey. There are baking spices, especially cinnamon and nutmeg.

Finish – The finish is very dry dry and woody with an earthiness that leads to leather. However, there is a nice sweetness of cherry that lingers with cinnamon and it is a nice medium to long finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This made it really tart and dry at the same time. It also took the finish away.

Tasted with a pecan – Very little sweetness and mostly cinnamon with not much of a finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Similar to the pecan except that it has a creamy mouthfeel with mostly a cinnamon taste and sensation. It is better than with the pecan, not bad, but not great either.

General Thoughts – This was a very interesting pour. We might have been spoiled by the second taste with the madeira finish. Any other day, this one would likely be much more appreciated as it is solid and has a nice level of complexity with a flavor profile that we enjoy.

Discussion and Final Notes


On the Nose: Planters had the light honey, caramel, tea, a hint of berry, and baking spices. Investment blew us away with its spiced pear, brown sugar, baking spices, and madeira wine. Meanwhile, Barrel King was somewhat classic with the sweetness of caramel and brown sugar as well as orange and baking spices. On any given day, any of these would have a winning nose. However, in this lineup, the Investment Madeira Finish stole the show!

Taste and Finish: There were no “losers” or “bad pours” in this grouping. Planters was fascinating with the cinnamon, orange, honey, and there is chili spice and it had a fairly long finish. Like the nose, the Investment just blue us away. Dark wine, brown sugar, baking spices, pears, and apples … like a spiced apple and pear pie with a buttery crust and with a lingering peppery finish. Again, Barrel King was terrific with a spiciness on the front as well as sweetness like powdered sugar as well as notes such as orange, vanilla, and honey, plus cinnamon and nutmeg. Again, with a nice medium to long finish. Once again, if we could only select one, it would have to be the Investment Madeira Finish.

After researching, we learned the Investment was distilled, finished, and bottled by Neeley Family Distillery. We are glad we did not know before tasting as it may have influenced us since we love what Royce Neeley does! That said, we were not surprised and, in our discussion, we noted that it reminded us of their Jett Brothers Madeira Finish!

This was a fantastic tasting experience and we are happy to have won this auction so we could taste and enjoy each special bottle. We look forward to enjoying them again!

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Straight Bourbon Whiskey Requirements

Straight Bourbon Whiskey Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: The whiskeys in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

August 2024 Leiper’s Fork & High N’ Wicked Tasting

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August 23, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

It is hard to believe that last week at this time Wayne and I were attending the Bourbon Women SIPosium in Louisville. One of the events of the weekend was an ongoing auction. Thrilled that, together, we won four auctions. This tasting from a basket that was won.

For more about the conference:
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 1
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 2
2024 Bourbon Women SIPosium Day 3

Selected for this Tasting

Peacock Leiper’s Fork Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey: 100% Local: Mashed, Fermented, Distilled, Aged and Bottled by Leiper’s Fork Distillery. It is made with local non-GMO Grains (Corn Grown on their Chief Distiller’s Farm), with the use of Toasted Barley Malt for Deeper Complexity. Also, it is Non-Chill Filtered for a Robust Profile and Mouthfeel, Pot Distilled for a Pre-Prohibition Style that is Full Bodied, has a Low Distillation Proof of 137* for Depth of Flavor, Low Barrel Entry Proof at 110* for a rounded Palette and is a Limited Release.

Single Barrel High N’ Wicked Rye Whiskey Women Peacock Preferred Pick: This 4-year-old rye is 114.4 proof and has a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted rye. 5 Year Aged Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, Distilled by New Riff Distilling. All Aging in seasoned medium toast new #4 char American white oak barrels. Non Chill Filtered. No additives.

Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Peacock Leiper’s Fork Distillery Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – 70% Corn, 15% Wheat & 15% Toasted Barley Malt
Age – 5 years
Proof – 109.6 (cask strength)
Other – Non-Chill Filtered for a Robust Profile and Mouthfeel, Pot Distilled for a Pre-Prohibition Style that is Full Bodied, has a Low Distillation Proof of 137* for Depth of Flavor, Low Barrel Entry Proof at 110* for a rounded Palette and is a Limited Release.
Specifics – Barrel 452; Bottle 149 of 201

Price Paid – $105 (average of total auction price of $210; MSRP $85)

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Very inviting with caramel, vanilla, toffee, a light butterscotch with a hint of smokiness and cherry.

Tasted Neat – Similar to the nose with note of butterscotch, caramel, baking spices, cinnamon, and a hint of dark cherry.

Finish – Pleasant and lasting with baking spices, cinnamon, and notes of wood that linger in a great way.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This muted most of the great flavors and eliminated the sweetness. The baking spices remained and there is an addition of black pepper on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – Very nice as the butterscotch returned with the addition of a very nice dark chocolate. The finish has more wood and oak flavor that previously.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate really increased the spice notes but not in a bad way. It also added a creaminess that was pleasant.

High N’ Wicked Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Single Barrel

Mashbill – 95% Rye, 5% Malted Rye
Age – 4 years
Proof – 114.4
Other – Bourbon Women Peacock Preferred Pick
Price Paid – $105 (average of total auction price of $210; MSRP $80)

Color – Amber hue

Aroma – Rye grass, brown sugar, pears, and mint tea.

Tasted Neat –  Rye grass spices and cinnamon greet you with the first sip. Great mouth feel and there is a sweetness of pears and then a hint of oak and a slight smokiness.

Finish – The finish is very similar in that it begins spicy then leads into the pear and a bit of caramel and finally with a slight coolness of mint coupled by a sweet but smoky oakiness. Great finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Surprising as it created a rather sour note and the spices and rye grass way back. Not unpleasant but not great either.

Tasted with a pecan – As sometimes happens, the pecan amplified the spices and brought a lot of black pepper forward. The finish was very short as well.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Not very flavorful with the dark chocolate. It was creamy and with black pepper on the finish.

Discussion and Final Notes

Leiper’s Fork is undeniably exceptional. The outstanding taste and aroma make it a bottle worth savoring. The enticing nose draws you in, making you want to savor every drop. It’s truly a remarkable single barrel and its fantastic qualities leave a lasting impression. Once again, Leiper’s Fork has left us thoroughly impressed.

We were not familiar with High n’ Wicked at first, but after trying it, we were impressed by its quality. This rye whiskey truly stands out for its solid and enjoyable character. In fact, its high rye mashbill adds a unique touch and flavor profile. With its rich and diverse flavors, it offers an elegant and enjoyable rye experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who appreciates a fine whiskey.

Happy to have won this auction so we could taste and enjoy each special bottle.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey Requirements

Straight Bourbon Whiskey Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

Rye Whiskey Basic Requirements – Rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye. It must be distilled at 160 proof or less.  It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a proof of 125 or below. Straight rye whiskey is a subcategory of rye whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in new, charred oak barrels and doesn’t contain any additives. If aged less than four years, the label must include an age statement. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Rye Whiskey.

NOTE: The whiskeys in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.

Old Louisville Whiskey Co Visit & Tasting

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July 16, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Wayne and I visited Old Louisville Whiskey Co as our last stop of a fantastic three-day bourbon experience in the Frankfort, KY area and what a terrific capstone that visit was for our weekend. It was Wayne’s birthday weekend (Feb 22-24) and we had kicked things off with a Bourbon Session at the Ripy Mansion featuring Revival Vintage Spirits. The next day we visited Wild Turkey, where we were able to meet Jimmy Russell. We also made rather quick stops at Lawrenceburg Bourbon Co, Four Roses, Woodford, and Castle & Key. We also enjoyed a private experience with David Meier at Glenns Creek Distilling and a bourbon thieving/blending experience at J. Mattingly 1845. Yes, we were a bit tired but excited about our visit because it had come so highly recommended.

As the name indicates, it is located in Old Louisville. As summarized from their Our Story page, the Old Louisville Whiskey Co. was founded by a husband-and-wife duo, Amine and Beth Karaoud, who are passionate about whiskey and their historic Louisville neighborhood. They sold properties including Red Castle Liquors to invest in their own Kentucky whiskey company. The brand is a labor of love, honoring the neighborhood’s rich history and Kentucky bourbon making tradition. Aged for a minimum of 7 years, their small-batch bourbon is a testament to their commitment to quality over quantity. Each bottle pays tribute to the historic neighborhood, celebrating tradition, history, and family. Supporting this local family-owned business means enjoying a drink that honors tradition and history.

Our Private Tour Experience

They currently offer one tour option – a private tour – described as: Come join us for a one of a kind bourbon tour experience.  We will evaluate how bourbons are made and aged and how some are finished to create a one of a kind product.  We will experience five different bourbons or whiskeys that we thief straight from the barrel.  We will lastly offer the opportunity to bottle your own single barrel bourbon and each bottle will be hand labeled, giving your bourbon our personal touch.

As we followed the GPS, we weren’t sure where it was taking us. As we parked, we knew we were in the correct place based on the door design. We were the only car in the parking lot just before noon on a Saturday morning. We entered and it was quiet and we didn’t see anyone. A moment later, a very nice gentleman came out front to introduce himself. It was Amine, the owner. He apologized for keeping us waiting (it was less than a minute) and said they had quite a private event there the night before. We laughed and shared that we knew something about it from the Facebook posts of one of the Scotchy Bourbon Boys. That seemed to truly break the ice and Amine guided us to the back room. We were chatting and I did not take any pictures to start, but bellow are pictures from their website.

Photo by Old Louisville Whiskey Co
Photo by Old Louisville Whiskey Co

Amine explained the process. They source their whiskey and then focus on time and wood. How long does it need to marry with the wood to have the ideal maturation? Which wood will provide the most unique flavor profile? Should it be aged in one barrel and then finished in another? The options and combinations are endless.

Next, Amine shared the story behind each barrel. One by one we learned about the journey of the whiskey and the barrel(s), and then he thieved a sample for us to experience. This was repeated several times and we enjoyed each one. He even pulled samples from barrels “not quite ready” so we could see the difference. We had a great conversation throughout and could easily see his heart for this process and what was being created.

Ultimately, we selected whiskey from four barrels to be bottled. Amine thieved each one into their bottle and hand-wrote the label and/or details on the bottle. He also signed each bottle for us. It was a wonderful way to wrap up a fabulous three days and we are so grateful that we made the decision to experience Old Louisville Whiskey Co and get to know Amine.

Great experience and now friends – Rebecca, Amine, and Wayne

Comparison Tasting of Four Cask Strength Bottles

Bottle 1Bottle 2Bottle 3Bottle 4
Mashbill: Unknown
Mashbill: 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% BarleyMashbill: 51% Corn, 49% BarleyMashbill: 75% Corn,
21% Rye, 4% Barley
Proof: 119Proof: 116.6Proof: 114.2Proof: 101
Age: NAS (typically at least 7 years)
Age: Barreled 04/2017, Bottled 02/2024
Age: NAS (typically at least 7 years)
Age: NAS (typically at least 7 years)
Columbian Oak
Nose:
Wayne > vanilla, caramel, smokey
Rebecca > caramel, vanilla, pie cruse, baking spice		Nose:
Wayne > wheat, bread like
Rebecca > caramel, nuts, cherry, baking spices		Nose:
Wayne > nutty, honey
Rebecca > vanilla, oats, brown sugar

Nose:
Wayne > vanilla cream, butterscotch, ginger
Rebecca > caramel, cherry, marshmallow, cinnamon
Nose Rank:
Wayne > 3
Rebecca > 4		Nose Rank: *Preferred*
Wayne > 2
Rebecca > 2		Nose Rank:
Wayne > 1
Rebecca > 3		Nose Rank:
Wayne > 4
Rebecca > 1
Tasted Neat:
Wayne > brown sugar, cinnamon; finish cinnamon and leather
Rebecca > caramel, vanilla, pie cruse, baking spice, and oak; finish medium with cinnamon and black pepper		Tasted Neat:
Wayne > wheat, cherry, baking spices; finish baking spices and pepper
Rebecca > vanilla cream, hazelnut, cherry; finish medium with cinnamon
Tasted Neat:
Wayne > nutty, honey, cinnamon; finish black pepper
Rebecca > oatmeal with brown sugar, heavy cream, and a touch of cinnamon; finish medium cinnamon and pecan		Tasted Neat:
Wayne > smokey, wood, cinnamon; finish light black pepper
Rebecca > butterscotch, toasted marshmallow, plum; finish short with oak and nutmeg
Taste Rank:
Wayne > 2
Rebecca > 3		Taste Rank:
Wayne > 3
Rebecca > 2		Taste Rank: *Preferred*
Wayne > 1
Rebecca > 1		Taste Rank:
Wayne > 4
Rebecca > 4
Other Notes:
Great bottle much like many bourbons that we enjoy.


Other Notes:
Being wheated, a bit more time might really enhance it.


Other Notes:
Very unique taste profile due to the 49% barley.


Other Notes:
Perhaps it is the “lower” proof that kept this one from ranking higher. Still a great pour.

Discussion and Final Notes

As with any tasting, it is strictly opinion on a particular day. We each struggled with determining a ranking because there was something in each batch that we really enjoyed. Ultimately, it came down to what we enjoyed “most” at that moment in time. We could do this again next week or next month and have somewhat different results. This is one of the things that we truly appreciate about bourbon.

After the tasting, we headed to the patio for a cigar. Wayne selected Bottle 3 (51% Corn, 49% Barley) and a La Palina cigar. I selected Bottle 4 (75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Barley in Columbian Oak) and an Isla del Sol cigar. We each enjoyed our selections and felt they paired nicely.

Rebecca: Bottle 4 with an Isla del Sol
Wayne: Bottle 3 with a La Palina

We really enjoyed spending the original time with Old Louisville Whiskey Co in February and revisiting “virtually” this past weekend through reminiscing and tasting the Straight Bourbon Whiskey that we purchased. We cannot say enough great things about Amine and what he and his wife are doing in this historic Louisville neighborhood. When you have an opportunity, taste what they are doing – better yet – plan a visit!

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer (unless otherwise indicated)

Make the trip to Old Louisville Whiskey Co. 7.5 miles, less than 15 mins, from downtown Louisville, and a few miles from the Louisville International Airport.

Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Bourbon Whiskey – Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4). For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

The bourbons in this review were purchased by us. We were not compensated by the spirit producers for this review. This is simply our opinion based on what we tasted on this day. Please drink responsibly.