Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

August 2024 Shenk’s & Bomberger’s Tasting

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August 11, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

It is hard to believe that this time last week Wayne and I had just returned from our amazing Louisville, Chocolate, and Bourbon – Oh My! weekend. Our typical trips to Louisville are event-driven. It might be a dinner, a specific distillery experience, or even a bottle release. Last weekend was different. The trip was focused on seeing a long-time friend who would be there for the weekend. It was about friendship, sharing our passion for bourbon, exploring new things, and reconnecting with great friends from afar as well as in the local area. While not on a “bottle hunt” we are always open when a situation presents itself.

The Michter’s Shenk’s and Bomberger’s are typically very challenging to acquire as so few are made each year. While in Louisville, we wanted to share The Bar at Michter’s with our friends. We walked into Michter’s at 4:30 PM on Friday afternoon and I noticed the combination package sitting on the counter. I inquired if they were for sale and the person said, yes, and they are the last ones we have today. Well, there you go. You just never know and it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask!

Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey is a limited edition release celebrating Kentucky’s whiskey-making heritage and part of Michter’s Legacy Series. Founded by John Shenk in 1753, the distillery became known as Michter’s in the 20th Century. This small-batch, full-bodied whiskey is made using traditional sour mash methods in Kentucky, with a significant amount of rye and aged in toasted French oak barrels from the Vosges region, imparting a unique finish and rich mouthfeel.

Bomberger’s Declaration Distillery Bourbon pays tribute to the former Bomberger’s distillery from the 1800s and later as Michter’s in the 20th Century. This 2023 release is a small batch 108 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, continuing the tradition of offering a bold and beautiful 108 proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It features a rich and complex flavor due to aging a portion of the bourbon in Chinquapin oak. The oak was seasoned for three years, toasted, and charred to exact specifications. Malted rye was also used in the production of this bourbon.

Wayne and I were excited to taste these side-by-side. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey by Michter’s

Mashbill – Undisclosed but with “significant” rye.
Age – NAS (at least 4 years)
Other – 2023 Release; Batch 23D1490; Bottle 911 of 2836
Proof – 91.2
Price Paid – $119 (plus tax)

Appearance – Dark amber.

Aroma – Toffee, vanilla, light butterscotch, spices, a hint of smoke.

Tasted Neat – Very smooth and creamy and different from what was experienced on the nose as it is less sweet and more savory. There is a coffee note with dark chocolate and burnt caramel. The wood from the barrel is present as is a smooth spiciness and a hint of honey.

Finish – Like the palate, the finish is smooth and savory with black pepper and baking chocolate.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry brightened the otherwise deep, dark notes of Shenk’s. There is additional spice and some zesty notes that were very refreshing, although a completely different experience.

Tasted with a pecan – As often happens, the pecan brought forward even more wood and dark notes. The chocolate is dark and inviting with a nice white pepper and oak finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – This option brought the coffee forward with chocolate, caramel, and black pepper. It is incredibly creamy and with a nice finish as well.

Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey by Michter’s

Mashbill – Undisclosed but some malted rye was used
Age – NAS (at least 4 years)
Other – 2023 Release; Batch #23E1948; Bottle 427 of 2386
Proof – 108
Price Paid – $129 (plus tax)

Appearance – Rich mahogany 

Aroma – A lot of wood influence with vanilla cream, burnt caramel, honeysuckle, stewed cherries, baking spices, and a hint of nuttiness.

Tasted Neat – First, there is a terrific mouthfeel that is creamy and truly coats the palate. Sweet notes of butterscotch, toffee, molasses, and cherries greet the palate. Cardamon, dark chocolate, graham crackers, and a hint of mint are welcoming mid-palate. As it reaches the back of the palate, the cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, and tobacco join the journey.

Finish – Medium to long finish with warm backing spices, coffee, oak, mint, and barrel char.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry really changed it to a tartness of lemon zest with a finish of white pepper.

Tasted with a pecan – Again, the pecan brought the wood forward and a strong cinnamon finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – This was tasty and very creamy with coffee and chocolate followed by cinnamon and white pepper on the finish.

Discussion and Final Notes

This is somewhat difficult to select which we enjoyed the most as each has something special to offer.

The Shenk’s Homestead 2023 Release boasts a dark amber color and offers a delightful tasting experience. Aromas of toffee, vanilla, light butterscotch, and a hint of smoke lead to a smooth and creamy texture with rich notes of coffee, dark chocolate, burnt caramel, and a velvety spiciness. The finish is smooth and savory, with hints of black pepper and baking chocolate.

The Bomberger’s Declaration 2023 Release has a mahogany color and offers a rich tasting experience with aromas of wood, vanilla cream, burnt caramel, honeysuckle, cherries, baking spices, and a subtle nuttiness. The palate is coated with creamy sweetness and welcomes notes of butterscotch, toffee, molasses, and cherries, as well as hints of cardamom, dark chocolate, graham crackers, and mint. The finish is marked by warm baking spices, coffee, oak, mint, and barrel char.

As always, it all comes down to your personal taste preferences and what resonates with you on any given day. When it comes to Shenk’s and Bomberger’s, the experience is truly remarkable. However, the depth and consistency of Bomberger’s simply resonates with us on a whole other level. From the captivating nose to the lingering finish, every sip is a journey. Being bourbon enthusiasts, Bomberger’s exquisitely crafted flavors nudge it ahead in our book. That being said, we wholeheartedly recommend trying both, and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to savor future releases.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Sour mash is a process in distillation that involves using material from an older batch to start fermenting a new batch of mash. It is very similar to the process of making sourdough bread with a starter. Using sour mash has the benefit of consistency between batches. It also reduces the possibility of unwanted bacterial growth. For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Four Stages of Making Spirits.

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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. 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.

July 2024 Bardstown Collection BBC Tasting

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08/01/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Last weekend, Wayne and I each selected a bottle not-yet-opened that we wanted to taste. Wayne selected the Evan Williams 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I selected the 2024 Bardstown Bourbon Collection by Bardstown Bourbon Company that we were able to acquire at their Louisville location on June 14th, National Bourbon Day.

In 2023, we splurged and booked a two-day Mint Julep VIP Tour that included amazing experiences at the six participating Bardstown Bourbon Collection distilleries. We were able to acquire two of each expression for the 2023 collection. We were not able to do that for 2024 and really didn’t expect to purchase any of the seven 2024 collection. However, we were thrilled when we walked into the Bardstown Bourbon Co’s Louisville Tasting room and saw it available!

There isn’t a lot written about this specific releasee. Some of the particulars, such the age and mashbill of the barrels selected for blending, I was able to glean while listening to a couple brief interviews with Steve Nally, their Master Distiller.

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

Bardstown Bourbon Company’s 2024 Bardstown Bourbon Collection – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – Blend of two sourced bourbons:
(1) 72% of a 9-10 year old that is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% Malted Barley;
(2) 28% of a 14 year old that is 78% Corn, 13% Rye, and 9% Malted Barley.

Age – Blend (see above), at least 9 years old.

Finish – Each aged individually for an additional 3.5 months in new toasted oak barrels prior to blending.

Other – Bottle #73

Proof – 119.4

Price Paid – $199.99 (plus tax)

Color – Dark amber and with terrific legs on the glass. 

Aroma – The nose is very inviting. There is a pleasant sweetness of rich caramel, vanilla cream, honey, and a hint of cotton candy. Then the barrel characteristics appear with oak, grain, and a light smoke.

Tasted Neat – There is a lot going on with this bourbon. Coffee flavor awakens your senses. Next is the sweetness of caramel, dark fruit, with honey. There is also roasted peanuts and thoughts of cinnamon toast followed by oak and leather. Wow! Really terrific.

Finish – The finish is long with cinnamon, honey, caramel, a slight oak, and nuttiness along with leather and white pepper. The finish persists in an amazingly pleasant way.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Wayne and I differed on our experience with the dried cranberry. He felt the spice really picked up while I felt it smoothed a bit and the leather was present. We agreed that it was less sweet, the coffee notes faded, and the finish was quite shortened.

Tasted with a pecan – The coffee notes returned and it also had dark chocolate, cinnamon, and wood flavors. The finish was medium in length, not as pronounced as when drinking it neat.

Tasted with dark chocolate – A lot of woodiness with white pepper on the palate. The finish is somewhat muted but still present.

Tasted with a few drops of water – Steve Nally mentioned in a video that he suggests drinking this on ice. We decided to add a few drops of water to see if there was a notable shift. The water opened up the nose and the aromas were quite pronounced; however, the flavors were not as prominent as when we originally tasted it neat. Not bad, but we definitely preferred it neat overall.

Discussion and Final Notes

We thoroughly enjoyed this pour! It is a sensational journey on the nose and palate. In summary, the nose provides irresistible allure, offering a delightful blend of rich caramel, vanilla cream, honey, and a hint of cotton candy. Soon, the bold character of the barrel emerges, bringing notes of oak, grain, and a delicate hint of smoke. This bourbon presents a complexity that tantalizes the senses. A rush of coffee flavor invigorates the palate, followed by a symphony of caramel sweetness, dark fruit, and honey. Roasted peanuts and the memory of cinnamon toast dance gracefully before yielding to the embrace of oak and leather. Remarkable! The finish lingers endlessly, weaving together cinnamon, honey, caramel, subtle oak, and a touch of nuttiness, while hints of leather and white pepper add depth. The finish leaves a lasting impression of sheer pleasure.

As is evident from our summary, we are thrilled to have this bottle and a “back-up” bottle. If you are fortunate to locate this 2024 Bardstown Collection by Bardstown Bourbon Co, we highly recommend that you make the investment. We will enjoy this for years to come.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Kentucky 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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: The bourbon in this review was 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.

July 2024 Evan Williams 23 Year Old Tasting

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July 30, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Last weekend, Wayne and I each selected a bottle not-yet-opened that we wanted to taste. Wayne selected the Evan Williams 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. I was very pleased with his choice! We originally tasted this offering on National Bourbon Day, June 14th, and had the opportunity to purchase it at the Evan Williams “A Toast to Bourbon” dinner.

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

Evan Williams 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Age – 23 Years
Proof – 107
Price Paid – $399.99 (plus tax)

Color – Dark copper with very nice legs on the glass.

Aroma – Deep and dark come to mind first, including dark chocolate. Spice and honey blend in an inviting way. It is evident this is an older bourbon based on the aged oak notes. But then the sweetness surprises you with vanilla, marshmallow, and crème brûlée. Allspice, nutmeg, and leather add another dimension. What a nose!

Tasted Neat –  Similar to the nose, the tannins from the wood come forward to start, but the sweetness will not be denied. There is vanilla cream, sweet corn, rich cherry, and a lovely honey. Next, rich notes of dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and marshmallow are present. Finally, warm leather, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon let you know this bourbon has some great barrel influence.

Finish – There is a medium length finish. The finish includes sweet notes such as toffee, the richness of dark chocolate, some dryness from the tannins including oak, licorice, tobacco, and orange peels, plus a bit of black pepper.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The sweetness of the dried cranberry created a strong oak presence with leather and the finish was greatly reduced.

Tasted with a pecan – This brought the dark chocolate front and center with a hint of cinnamon and tobacco. Again, the finish is very short.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate actually removed the dark chocolate notes and replaced it with mostly a light cinnamon without a lot of taste and virtually no finish.

Discussion and Final Notes

We definitely preferred drinking this neat. The pecan wasn’t bad and this might be good with a steak or perhaps a nice cigar. But when having a bourbon of this maturity, we will savor and enjoy it neat and on its own.

Obviously, this is an expensive bottle of bourbon. There are not a lot of bourbons offered at 23 years and even fewer that have such an inviting nose, amazing journey on the palate, and a great finish. Given the price of some 20+ year bourbons, we find this to be of good value. While this would not be an “every-day-drinker,” we are thrilled to have it and will enjoy it whenever we feel the desire to dive into some extra age and complexity. With the warm notes from the barrel, we plan to enjoy this once the weather gets cooler. It could be that perfect pour to sink into on a cold night.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spirit Requirements

Kentucky 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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: The bourbon in this review was 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.

July 2024 Booker’s 2024-01 & -02 Tasting

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July 14, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

We picked up a bottle of the Booker’s 2024-01 Springfield Batch in April and enjoyed it so much that we needed to snag another one. Last month we were able to get a bottle of the Booker’s 2024-02 The Beam House Batch during a quick stop at the James B. Beam American Outpost. We have been wanting to try the latest one and decided that we might as well do a formal tasting of each.

The cards of the Batch Story and Master Distiller Notes are always fascinating for us; thus, sharing them below.

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

Booker’s 2024-01, Springfield Batch

Mashbill – 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Age – 7 years, 7 Months, 8 days
Other – Barrel-strength bourbon, bottled uncut and unfiltered
Proof – 124.5
Price Paid – $111.29 (with tax)

Appearance – Deep amber and with a lot of legs.

Aroma – Bold and spicy, brown sugar and vanilla, oak with a light smokiness.

Tasted Neat – The bold baking spices are noted immediately. It has the sweetness of brown sugar with hints of vanilla and a bit of nuttiness. A very nice and long finish of cinnamon spice, oak, and a hint of leather.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Interestingly, Wayne felt that the cranberry intensified the spiciness while I thought it made it smoother. There is definitely a dominate taste of cinnamon with the cranberry and the sweeter notes of brown sugar and vanilla disappeared.

Tasted with a pecan – The brown sugar returned with the addition of dark chocolate. The finish is medium with dark chocolate, cinnamon, oak, and leather.

Tasted with dark chocolate – This seems to have muted many of the flavors. Instead, there is a symphony of spices alternating and coming to life such as white, black, and red pepper as well a cinnamon. Very long finish of all things pepper.

Booker’s 2024-02, The Beam House Batch

Mashbill – 77% Corn, 13% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Age – 7 years, 2 Months, 22 days
Other – Barrel-strength bourbon, bottled uncut and unfiltered
Proof – 126.4
Price Paid – $121.90 (with tax)

Appearance – Deep amber and with a lot of legs.

Aroma – Caramel, vanilla, peanuts, and apple.

Tasted Neat – The first thought is sweet. It tastes much like its nose with vanilla, caramel, peanuts, and apple. It is reminiscent of being at the fair and each a caramel apple rolled in crushed peanuts. The finish is long with cinnamon, apple, a hint of citrus, and lingering oak.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The caramel is gone but the apple is more present and the cinnamon is gentle on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – This really enhance the oak flavors and brought some baking spices toward the front of the palate. The caramel apple is there but it seems to be sprinkled with cinnamon. The finish is very woody.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The sweetness is now muted and black pepper and a stronger cinnamon have taken the place of the caramel apple. The finish continues to be oaky but with enhanced spices.

Discussion and Final Notes

Springfield Batch and Beam House Batch couldn’t be more different on the nose and palate when you consider they are the same mashbill, by the same distiller, similar age, similar proof, etc. Again, this is one of the many things that we love about bourbon!

We love the brown sugar, cinnamon and leather notes in the Springfield Batch. However, we also find the caramel apple and crushed peanuts of the Beam House Batch to be quite tasty.

Springfield provides a rather “traditional” Booker’s experience of a bold flavor profile yet with the sweet notes that we have come to expect in a great bourbon. While Beam House Batch is certainly from the same family, it has a sweeter profile than typically expected and with the addition of apple.

For us, we are big fans of Booker’s and appreciate what Fred Noe does to curate the best barrels for each batch to tell a special story. These are no different. As is common for us, we try to buy and have a back-up bottle of each batch. That is our recommendation for Springfield and Beam House. Find them while they are available as they will be great additions for your collection.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky 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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: 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.

June 2024 W.H. McBrayer Batch 4 Tasting

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June 12, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Wayne and I anticipated the release of W.H. McBrayer Batch 4 and were excited when we got the email saying it was ready for ordering. We were unable to complete the pick up at Revival Vintage Spirits this time so we had it shipped to us. It arrived pretty quickly. Unfortunately, I was unable to sample it because of recent knee replacement surgery. Aye! We had to wait about ten days. Needless to say, we were very excited when I could partake and we didn’t waste any time popping the seal on one of the bottles we purchased.

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

W.H. McBrayer Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch 4

Mashbill – 88.4% Bloody Butcher Corn, 5.8% Heirloom Rye, 5.8% Malted Barley
Age – NAS; a blend of 5-7-year-old barrels
Proof – 106
Price Paid – $100

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Burnt caramel, vanilla cream, honeysuckle, cherry, oak, nutmeg, and leather. 

Tasted Neat –  It drinks like a mature bourbon and carries a lot of complexity. Cherry, tobacco, vanilla cream, and oak. The finish was cinnamon, black pepper, leather, and oak.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry brightened up the overall taste of it by bringing more fragrant notes such as orange zest versus the deep dark notes when tasting it neat.

Tasted with a pecan – The pecan was similar to drinking it neat except that there was the addition of a hint of dark cocoa and the spice level was higher.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Very rich and reminiscent of a dark chocolate turtle. The spice is somewhat reduced and the finish is tobacco and nutmeg. Very nice.

General Notes: Neat remained our favorite way to drink it but the dark chocolate was excellent as well. In addition, the brightness that the cranberry brought forward was very nice. This batch is super flavorful overall and would be excellent with a steak dinner before or perhaps afterwards with a nice cigar.  

Comparison of W.H. McBrayer Batches 1-4

Bill McBrayer asked for our opinion across the four batches. We explained that we only had one unopened bottle of Batch 1 and we were holding onto it for sentimental reasons. He was kind enough to send us a small sample of Batch 1 so we could taste and compare all four batches.

This was several days after our original tasting of Batch 4. We nosed and tasted each batch. We then waited 15 minutes to allow them to open fully and nosed and tasted them again. The notes below are from the final tasting.

Batch 1
2021
Aged 4 Years, 4.5 Months
103.6 Proof

Batch 2
2022
Blend of five 4-year-old barrels and one 5-year-old barrel
100 Proof
Batch 3
2023
Blend of six 5-year-old barrels, two 6-year-old barrels, and two 4-year-old barrels
103.5 Proof		Batch 4
2024
Blend of 5-7-year-old barrels
106 Proof

Nose:
*Wayne: Butterscotch, creamy vanilla, baking spice
*Rebecca: Carmel, vanilla cream, leather, baking spices		Nose:
*Wayne: Vanilla, honeysuckle, baking spices
*Rebecca: Caramel, honeysuckle, baking spices		Nose:
*Wayne: Honeysuckle, leather, vanilla
*Rebecca: Cherry, caramel, cinnamon

Nose:
*Wayne: Honeysuckle, vanilla, leather
*Rebecca: Cherry, vanilla cream, leather, baking spices
Nose Rank:
*Wayne: 4
*Rebecca: 2		Nose Rank:
*Wayne: 2
*Rebecca: 4		Nose Rank:
*Wayne: 3
*Rebecca: 3		This was our favorite nose!
Tasted Neat:
*Wayne: Tobacco, butterscotch, cinnamon
*Rebecca: Caramel, vanilla cream, leather, nutmeg

Tasted Neat:
*Wayne: Tobacco, cinnamon, black pepper, leather
*Rebecca: Vanilla, honey, tobacco, cinnamon
Tasted Neat:
*Wayne: Leather, tobacco, pepper, cinnamon
*Rebecca: Cherry, apple, cinnamon, leather
Tasted Neat:
*Wayne: Tobacco, vanilla, leather, black pepper
*Rebecca: Cherry, vanilla, tobacco, leather, cinnamon, black pepper, oak
Taste Rank:
*Wayne: 3
*Rebecca: 2		Taste Rank:
*Wayne: 4
*Rebecca: 4		Taste Rank:
*Wayne: 2
*Rebecca: 3		This was our favorite taste profile!




Throughout the tasting process, we nosed and tasted one at a time. We wrote our findings individually and shared with one another afterwards. We have found that sharing too soon can overly influence one another.






Discussion and Final Notes

We weren’t surprised that we selected Batch 4 overall. It has had more of an opportunity to mature. Each batch of W.H. McBrayer has been outstanding and Batch 4 simply raised the bar a bit with its additional maturity. The original heirloom mashbill creates a bourbon that is unlike others on the market today. If you appreciate a complex flavor profile as indicated in our notes, you will most likely enjoy this as well.

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.

The bottom line, McBrayer Legacy Spirits treat their brands like family because it is part of their family heritage. They have taken it slowly and carefully as they entered the highly competitive spirits market and have a terrific long-rang plan. In addition to W.H. McBrayer, they also offer a Bottled-in-Bond (Old McBrayer Bourbon) and Cedar Brook. These brands are not currently distributed but you can simply join their Legacy Club to be alerted to each bottle launch where you will have an opportunity to purchase it online. As of this posting, there is currently availability for Old McBrayer BIB 2023 and W.H. McBrayer 2024. We sincerely hope you will have the opportunity to taste the heritage of this brand.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Note: Wayne McBrayer is not affiliated with McBrayer Legacy Spirits. They are cousins, friends, and great people. We support their bourbon journey and respect what they are doing to resurrect a 150-year-old brand that is part of their family lineage.

Spirit Requirements

Kentucky 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).
In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

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.

June 2024 Green River Full Proof Tasting

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June 9, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Green River – The Whiskey Without Regrets!

For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the latest release from Green River Distilling – their Kentucky Straight Full Proof Bourbon. We purchased this bottle when we attended their Full Proof Release Event on June 7, 2024.

For the release event, we received a gift bag that included a bottle of Green River Full Proof in commemorative packaging and one of their newly redesigned Glencairn glasses, which is really beautiful.

Time to open the box for the surprise!

From Green River’s Press Release: Green River Full Proof is a blend of five-to-seven-year barrels selected from curated areas of Green River’s Owensboro tile warehouses and feature the same mash bill as Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon. These original tile warehouses maintain both warm and cool temperatures, yielding unique proof variation and liquid maturation. The result is a pure expression offering a robust flavor profile which preserves the barrel character while bringing massive flavor to the palate.

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

Green River Kentucky Straight Full Proof Bourbon


Mashbill – 70% Corn, 21% Rye, and 9% Malted Barley
Age – A blend of 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old barrels
Proof – 117.3
Price Paid – $49.99
Other – One of the coolest bottles around with the horseshoe base as a throwback to their historical DSP-KY-10

Color – Dark Golden Amber

Aroma – Caramel, vanilla, citrus, honeysuckle, cherry, light mint, baking spices.

Tasted Neat – The warmth of backing spices and like the nose, there is vanilla, citrus, honeysuckle, caramel, and dried cherry. On a second sip, cocoa and mint appear. The finish is lingering with more spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon, a hint of fruit, and the barrel char is noticeable.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  Light and bright. The citrus is more prominent and it is less spicy but still a finish of cinnamon.

Tasted with a pecan – A bit more woody and somewhat hot but not with a distinct spice. The citrus and other great notes seem to be gone.

Tasted with dark chocolate – That is really good. The light cocoa from the neat taste is coming through with more chocolate and the rye mint flavors. The finish remains very nice and oaky with the dark chocolate as well.

Discussion and Final Notes


This is a really good full proof. At 117.3 it is pretty easy to drink after the first acclimation sip. It has a wonderful range of flavors with a terrific body and mouthfeel. The blending of this was masterful as is evident from such a balanced taste profile.

Value – all day long! This is a 5-7-year blended full proof bourbon for under $50. It is very elegant and highly enjoyable. We might want to try this head-to-head with other full proofs / barrel strengths of a similar proof. This is not allocated and should be widely available.

We highly recommend trying this Green River Full Proof. For the price point, we plan to always have a “back up” on hand as well. This could easily become one of our regular pours.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Requirements

Kentucky 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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

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

June 2024 The Barons of Whiskey Tasting

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June 6, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

“The Barons of Whiskey” was a group of men that helped make Kentucky bourbon legendary, ushering in bourbon’s golden age more than 100 years ago. Wayne and I recently enjoyed a tasting of two of the three: Bond & Lillard and W.B. Saffell. Unfortunately, we have been unable to locate Old Ripy.

These are two of the three Barons of Whiskey line: Bond & Lillard anad WB Saffell.


Bond & Lillard was a trusted name in the pre-Prohibition whiskey industry. It was first distilled by John Bond in what was then called, Cedar Run, KY now known as Anderson County, in 1820. A veteran of the American Revolutionary War, Bond moved his distilling operation closer to Lawrenceburg, KY after the war. The brand gained international attention in 1904 when it won the Grand Prize at the St. Louis World’s Fair for its flavor, strength, and appearance.

W.B. Saffell pays tribute to William Butler Saffell, who began distilling as a teenager and built his first distillery in 1889. This bourbon is inspired by the delicate spirit he produced at the time and is the first in the collection to have legendary Master Distiller Eddie Russell working on the spirit.

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

Bond & Lillard Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – Non-age-stated; reportedly aged at least 7 years
Proof – 100
Other – 375 ml bottle
Price Paid – $59.94

Color – Honey Amber

Aroma – Lemon zest, honeysuckle, vanilla, toffee, cardamom. 

Tasted Neat – Lemon zest, green apple, honey, cardamom with a cinnamon finish. 

Tasted with dried cranberry – Toasted oak, citrus gone, white pepper finish. 

Tasted with a pecan – Citrus returned, honey forward, and quite oaky. 

Tasted with dark chocolate – Green apple returned, sweetness is more of a caramel, slight oak. 

WB Saffell Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey


Mashbill – 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – Non-age-stated; reportedly blends of 6, 8, 10, and 12 years
Proof – 107
Other – 375 ml bottle
Price Paid – $58.85

Color – Light Amber and Copper

Aroma – Sweet and rich. Dark caramel, molasses, nutmeg, and apricot.

Tasted Neat – Caramel, vanilla, maple syrup, dark chocolate, baking spices. The finish is long and warm with caramel, bits of citrus, cinnamon, and black pepper. 

Tasted with dried cranberry – Butterscotch with pepper on the back. 

Tasted with a pecan – Creamy, smooth, pepper is gone. 

Tasted with dark chocolate – Sweet butterscotch, very creamy. 

Discussion and Final Notes

Bond & Lillard smells and tastes like summertime. With the lemon zest and honeysuckle on the nose, and even its golden hue, it invites you to enjoy it in the sunshine. As you dive into it, your senses really linger on the citrus, green apple, honey, and floral notes while surprising you with a nice cinnamon finish.

W.B. Saffell is rich, creamy, and incredibly flavorful. When thinking of seasons, this screams Fall Festival. The aromas of dark caramel, molasses, nutmeg, and apricot urge you to give it a try. One taste and you are not disappointed as the caramel opens up to include vanilla, maple syrup, and dark chocolate. Its long and warm finish is amazing with pops of caramel, citrus, and then cinnamon and black pepper.

Each expression is unique and worthwhile. We certainly enjoyed them and recommend each as a nice addition to your collection.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Spirit Requirements

Kentucky 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).
In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: 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.

May 2024 Kentucky Derby Tasting

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May 5, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Woodford Reserve Bottle Neck Wrapper

In honor of the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby, Saturday May 4, 2024, Wayne and I tasted a THEME of bourbon inspired by this iconic event. In addition to the annual Woodford Reserve release, we also opened and tasted two special bottles.

Selected for this Tasting

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 150; 1974 James B. Beam 100th Kentucky Derby Decanter; and Evan Williams Kentucky Derby Festival 2023.

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

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby 150

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mashbill – 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malt
Age – NAS; KSBW is at least 4 years
Proof – 90.4
Other – The whiskey is also triple distilled and has a low proof when it enters the barrel to mature for at least six years.
Price Paid – $37.59

Color – Light to Medium Amber

Aroma – Surprised by the amount of ethanol at first as this is pretty low proof. Once we go past that notes of honey, vanilla, light baking spices, hints of oak.

Tasted Neat –  Very light and with limited viscosity. Similar to the nose, there is vanilla, honey, orange zest, and a woodiness. The finish is dry with pepper and oak.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry brought the orange zest very forward, less sweetness, and the finish is also lighter.

Tasted with a pecan – Tobacco leads the way but there is also strong wood notes and a light hint of cocoa powder.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Very similar to when it was tasted neat except that the chocolate has added a creaminess.

We both liked it best with the cranberry as it had a very nice brightness; however, due to the tobacco notes, we might want to taste it with a cigar as well.

1974 James B. Beam 100th Kentucky Derby Decanter


Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mashbill – 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malt (estimated based on today’s Jim Beam white label)
Age – 100 months (8.33 years) when bottled in 1974
Proof – 86
Price Paid – Gifted from Family Collection
Other – From “A Guide To Jim Beam Bottles” by Cembura & Avery: The 100th anniversary of the famed Kentucky Derby Classic is honored with a bottle bearing cameos of the first winner Aristides in 1875 and Cannonade in 1974. Red roses fill the numerals. The back list the names and dates of previous winners. Height 7.5 inches. Originally sold for $10.00.

Color – Dark Amber

Aroma – Lovely nose … sweet and rich at the same time. There is a nice wood note with caramel, buttered popcorn, and baking spices and perhaps a hint of fruit.

Tasted Neat – Caramel and oak with a vanilla custard and cinnamon. The fruit from the aroma seems to be dried apricot and there is a hint of citrus as well. The finish lingers nicely with cinnamon and oak. It has a lot more character and complexity than we typically see today in an 86 proof bourbon.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  This took away the sweetness and brought the baking spices forward with more woodiness.

Tasted with a pecan – Very rich as the caramel turns darker and the wood became quite dominant. The finish is black pepper and oak.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The caramel returned and there is cinnamon more mid-palate. Finishes with a strong woodiness and cinnamon.

Neat would be preferred but with the pecan was very nice.

Evan Williams Kentucky Derby Festival 2023

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mashbill – 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye
Barreled 10/27/15; Bottled 01/20/23; Barrel #5
Age – 7.24 years
Proof – 119
Other – Dipped in iridescent teal wax. The bottle also features a special face label with the Kentucky Derby Festival logo in teal and gold, and each bottle comes with a 2023 Pegasus Pin in an envelope. Only 800 bottles were released.
Price Paid – $84.79

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Vanilla, cherry, floral, and perhaps tea.

Tasted Neat –  Caramel, honey, vanilla custard, and a hint of cherry. The finish has nutmeg and a light mint.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This really brightened it up. Now there is citrus coming forward such as orange or lemon zest, still with a hint of cherry and the finish is very nice and with a pleasant cinnamon.

Tasted with a pecan – Now there is chocolate covered cherries with nutmeg and an additional woodiness. Very nice.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The cherry got really bold in the middle with a hint of chocolate but there wasn’t much of a finish.

This is a great bottle and we liked it neat but some of the other options were also very interesting.

Discussion and Final Notes

For a nose preference, it was clearly Jim Beam, Evan Williams, then Woodford.

From a taste perspective, it is hard to compare something that was distilled and barreled in 1966 to today’s products. Based on the older products that we have been able to taste, they tend to have a bit more character than today’s exact counterpart.

The 1974 bottle of Jim Beam was fantastic. If you can get your hands on an unopened decanter of this vintage, we highly recommend giving it a try. And, if ever in Northern Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati you will find Covington, KY and the home of Revival Vintage Bottle Shop where each day you might have an opportunity to taste from a dusty bottle! From a current Jim Beam offering, we would recommend the Jim Beam Black 7 Year as a good substitute.

The 2023 Derby Festival bottle by Evan Williams is truly terrific. We have also had several of their single barrels and since finding this specific bottle might be a challenge, give their single barrel a try.

Woodford Reserve, at least for us, is not preferred for drinking neat. However, it is fantastic in cocktails as its taste holds up very even though it is a lower proof. If you love the Kentucky Derby, you will want to collect their beautiful commemorative bottles.

Everyone has a different palate and different taste preferences. We are confident that at least one of these would be great for most people.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky 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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

NOTE: 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.

April 2024 Neeley Family Distillery Tasting

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04/30/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

If you have spoken with us about our bourbon journey and favorite distilleries, you have certainly heard us talk about the Neeley Family Distillery in Sparta, KY. Our first visit was very planned as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail; however, we almost always “stop by” when traveling to or from the Cincinnati, OH area! We are HUGE fans of their spirits and ensure that we have a good amount to tide us over to our next visit. Thus, it was well past time for Wayne and I to do a formal tasting of the goodness that Royce Neeley puts into a barrel! Last weekend, we did a two-day tasting, and we hope to inspire you to give them a try if you haven’t already!

Selected for this Tasting

Day 1: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – wheated (barrel 635), Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – wheated, specially aged barrel (barrel 85), Sweet Thumped Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (barrel 754).

Day 2: PawPaw’s Birthday Barrel Bottled-in-Bond, Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Madeira casks, The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey French Cognac Finish

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

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Wheated (barrel 635)

Mashbill – 76% Corn, 19% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley
Age – 46 months
Proof – 112.7
Other – Single barrel, triple pot distilled, non chill filtered, sweet mash, barrel char 2, barrel size 25 gal, yeast strand A-1.
Price Paid – $41.39 (375ml)

Color – Medium amber

Aroma – Sweet corn, wheat, vanilla, brown sugar, and a bit of smokiness.

Taste –  Barley, brown sugar, butterscotch, vanilla cream, almost a crème brûlée.

Tasted with dried cranberry – It brightened the taste to almost an effervescence, less sweetness, but lot of cinnamon.

Tasted with a pecan – A hint of chocolate, oak, brown sugar, with black pepper on the finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Creamy caramel, chocolate covered nut, with a sweet finish of toasted brown sugar.

Neeley’s wheated bourbon is always a favorite of ours. Perhaps it is the triple pot still approach or the way they treat the grains, but always fantastic.

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Wheated (barrel 85)


Mashbill – 76% Corn, 19% Wheat, 5% Malted Barley
Age – 52 months
Proof – 111
Other – Single barrel, triple pot distilled, non chill filtered, sweet mash, barrel char 3, barrel size 30 gal, eight-year air seasoned barrel, yeast strand A-1.
Price Paid – $51.74 (375ml)

Color – Medium amber 

Aroma – The nose is complex with caramel, fruit, baking spices, some vanilla malt, brown sugar or even a bit of molasses, a very mature nose. 

Taste –  Wheat, barley, caramel, dark fruit notes, and a really nice finish of black pepper that goes well with the sweet notes.

Tasted with dried cranberry – A hint of chocolate but there is cinnamon on the front and more of a sweet finish. Great mouth feel – feels creamy … almost buttery.

Tasted with a pecan – This muted some of the flavor and brought some spices forward; somewhat of a spicy chocolate caramel.

Tasted with dark chocolate – This brought the chocolate, like a chocolate covered caramel with sea salt on it. Maybe a little bit of cherry in the middle.



We are very pleased that we purchased several of these bottles because it was a very limited barrel treatment. As noted on the tag, the barrel was aged outdoors for EIGHT years. While the treatment of the oak barrel is quite present in the taste profile, it doesn’t dominate in a negative way. Instead, it brings out a cornucopia of flavors.

Sweet Thumped Rye – Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (barrel 754)

Mashbill – 65% Rye
Age – 28 months
Proof – 108.9
Other – Single barrel, triple pot distilled, non chill filtered, sweet mash, barrel char 3, barrel size 25 gal.
Price Paid – $42.39 (375ml)

Color – Medium to dark amber.

Aroma – Rye sweetness dominates, mint, herbal tea, a light baking spice, floral notes, very fresh, very natural, and inviting.

Taste –  Mint, rye grass, floral, tea, light spice, pleasant rye bread and white pepper finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Very floral with a white pepper finish, very nice.

Tasted with a pecan – Mellow and it brings it all together sweetness and it is just really good.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Chocolate, caramel, mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Neeley’s rye is outstanding. One of the most pleasant and enjoyable ryes to drink. As we were tasting, we kept wondering why we didn’t pull it off the shelf more often. Answer – we do not have a back-up bottle. On our next trip, we will remedy that!

PawPaw’s Birthday Barrel Bottled-in-Bond


Mashbill – Uncertain
Age – at least 4 years
Proof – 100
Other – Bottled-in-Bond
Price Paid – $106

Color – light to med amber

Aroma – Stone fruit, nuttiness, orange zest, floral notes, and light baking spices.

Taste –  Caramel, toasted brown sugar, orange zest and cinnamon on the finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry is bringing a fruitiness forward, more citrus, and less cinnamon.

Tasted with a pecan – Chocolate malt – very nice with the pecan.

Tasted with dark chocolate – A great creaminess, a bit less chocolate than the pecan brought but the finish is more like a warm cinnamon roll.

Wayne, Rebecca, & PawPaw 2023
PawPaw signing our bottle

Overall, it’s a fantastic bottled-in-bond as it is rich in flavor and a lot of complexity. It is damn good. This bottle will forever be incredibly special to us. We purchased it at the 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Festival and we got Bottle #1. Most importantly, PawPaw was there – he signed the bottle and we got a picture with him.

We really hope (pretty please) that an annual release of a Birthday Barrel in honor of PawPaw’s birthday will continue.

Hidden Barn Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Madeira Casks

Mashbill – 70% Corn, 20% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Age – at least 4 years
Proof – 100
Other – Finished in Madeira Casks
Price Paid – $103.49

Color – dark amber

Aroma – The wine really comes forward on the nose as well as a creamy vanilla and some baking spices.

Taste – Honey, brown sugar, cherry, chocolate, light undertones of the madeira cask and a light yet warm finish. Very nice taste and overall experience.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  This did nothing to enhance it and it made it oddly bitter with a stronger cinnamon on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – This moved the focus to the spicy side and any hint of the Madeira is gone.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Much better with the dark chocolate as it added a creamy sweetness and the taste of chocolate dipped grapes with a nice warm finish.

This was our first time to taste a Hidden Barn bourbon. It was very good, and we liked it neat the best as that focused on the spirit and the finishing with the Madeira.

The Old Jett Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey French Cognac Finish


Mashbill – High Rye Bourbon
Age – At least 4 years
Proof – 109.9
Other – Finished in French Oak Cognac Barrels for 7 Months
Price Paid – $123.41

Color – golden

Aroma – The cognac is there and the French Oak is bringing a strong vanilla note forward. Also, sweet corn, raisins, and toasted marshmallows.

Taste –  Vanilla, vanilla cream pie with a nice pastry note, buttered raisin toast, the cognac is complementing it very well and there is also a lovely finish of baking spices, pepper, and oak.

Tasted with dried cranberry – With the cranberry, it lost the delicate notes and shifted to stronger fruits and french vanilla.

Tasted with a pecan – The pecan brought some French Oak notes forward as well as chocolate and caramel.

Tasted with dark chocolate – This is different and in a good way. Almost like chocolate covered grapes. This makes me want to have a pour of this with a dessert or instead of dessert.

The cognac and French Oak play very well together. In addition to being a good option after dinner, it might also pair well with a cigar.

Discussion and Final Notes

We have wanted to do this tasting for some time; however, we have a substantial “shelf” of Neeley’s spirits and selecting a few for a tasting can be a challenge. Thus, we decided on six and completed the tasting over two days.

Bottom line – they are all fantastic. You really cannot go wrong with a nice pour of a Neeley Family Distillery bourbon or rye. Perhaps it is the family tradition, using sweet mash, being triple pot distilled, or non-chill filtered, or a fine combination of everything they do. We only know that we personally enjoy each one.

Royce Neeley is truly a Master Distiller and continually produces some terrific spirits at Neeley Family Distillery. Give them a try!

Cheers – and always drink responsibly!
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Sweet Mash, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Rye Whiskey, Bottled-in-Bond

Sweet Mash: Sweet mash is a process in distillation that does not use the sour mash as a starter for fermentation. Instead, only fresh yeast is used. Using sweet mash has the benefit of more control over specific ingredients and the ability to use lower temperatures for fermentation. However, it does require more maintenance and extreme cleanliness to avoid contamination. For more information, please read this post – Four Stages of Making Spirits.

Kentucky 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). In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky. 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.

Bottled-in-Bond: must be produced in a single distillation season by a single distillery; must mature in a U.S. bonded warehouse for a minimum of four years; and the aged spirit must be bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). For additional information on Bottled-in-Bond requirements, please read this post – Bottled in Bond.

NOTE: The spirits 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.

April 2024 Four Roses Recipe Tasting

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04/23/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Last July, following a fantastic two-day 2023 Bardstown Bourbon Collection Mint Julep Tour, Wayne and I stopped by the gift shop of the Four Roses bottling facility in Coxs Creek, KY because we heard they had released the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience boxed set and wanted to get one to try at some point.

Wayne and I enjoy Four Roses and often have people ask, “What is your favorite recipe?” We really didn’t know because we haven’t purchased a single barrel bottle that we didn’t enjoy. This past weekend, we had the time to devote to this experience and it was very fascinating and sometimes surprising.

Selected for this Tasting

This tasting was boxed and ready for us – the Four Roses Ten Recipe Tasting Experience that is produced by Four Roses Distillery. The set includes ten 50 ml bottles, one of each recipe. The retail price at the gift shop for the set was $129.00

As discussed in Bourbon Yeast Flavors, Four Roses Bourbon produces a wide range of flavors by blending various yeast strains and mash bills. The use two mash bills – Mash Bill B emphasizes rye, while Mash Bill E prioritizes corn. Five yeast strains impart unique characteristics. These elements are combined to create ten distinct recipes as indicated on the table below.

Mash Bill B – 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% BarleyMash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Barley
Yeast V – delicate fruit1 – OBSV – delicate fruit and rye6 – OESV – delicate fruit and caramel
Yeast K – slight spice2 – OBSK – rye and baking spice7 – OESK – baking spice
Yeast O – rich fruit3 – OBSO – rich fruit8 – OESO – rich fruit and vanilla
Yeast Q – floral essence4 – OBSQ – rye and light floral character9 – OESQ – delicate grains and floral character
Yeast F – herbal notes9 – OBSF – delicate grains and floral character10 – OESF – light grain and mint
The four-character recipe: O for distilled at Four Roses, B or E for the Mash Bill, S for Straight Whiskey, and the final letter (V, K, O, Q, or F) for the yeast strain.

Four Roses Mash Bill B

Mash Bill B – 60% Corn, 35% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Age – at least 4 years (straight whiskey)
Proof – 104

We did the aroma individually, wrote down our notes, and then shared with one another. We did the same with the tasting portion. We also had the Four Roses recipe table. Our conversation and knowledge of the table certainly could have influenced our results.

Recipe 01 – OBSV:
***Aroma: Wayne – pear and chocolate; Rebecca – berries
***Taste: Wayne – honey and cinnamon; Rebecca – pear, herbal, and cinnamon
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – long baking spices
Recipe 02 – OBSK:
***Aroma: Wayne – honey and rye ; Rebecca – rye bread and baking spices
***Taste: Wayne – honey and rye; Rebecca – rye bread with honey butter on it
***Finish: Wayne – warm baking spices; Rebecca – light, warm cinnamon
Recipe 03 – OBSO:
***Aroma: Wayne – apple; Rebecca – plum and ripe apples
***Taste: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – plum and fig
***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg; Rebecca – nutmeg with white pepper
Recipe 04 – OBSQ:
***Aroma: Wayne – honeysuckle and cinnamon; Rebecca – light cherry and rose
***Taste: Wayne – disappointed, didn’t like; Rebecca – honeysuckle and rye
***Finish: Wayne – NA; Rebecca – light white pepper
Recipe 05 – OBSF:
***Aroma: Wayne – honey, light fruit, and mint; Rebecca – rye, mint, and tea
***Taste: Wayne – tea, mint, and honey; Rebecca – mint tea and rye bread
***Finish: Wayne – light; Rebecca – cinnamon

Favorite Aromas: Wayne – OBSV and OBSK; Rebecca – OBSO and OBSV
Favorite Tastes: Wayne – OBSK and OBSO; Rebecca – OBSV and OBSK
Favorite Overall: Wayne – OBSK and OBSV; Rebecca – OBSV and OBSO

Four Roses Mash Bill E


Mash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Malted Barley
Age – at least 4 years (straight whiskey)
Proof – 104

The same as the other, we did the aroma individually, wrote down our notes, and then shared with one another. We did the same with the tasting portion. We also had the Four Roses recipe table. Our conversation and knowledge of the table certainly could have influenced our results.

Recipe 06 – OESV:
***Aroma: Wayne – vanilla, honey, baking spices; Rebecca – caramel, pear, baking spice
***Taste: Wayne – fruit and honey; Rebecca – caramel and pear
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – warm nutmeg and light pepper
Recipe 07 – OESK:
***Aroma: Wayne – honey, vanilla, baking spice; Rebecca – vanilla and allspice
***Taste: Wayne – honeysuckle and cinnamon; Rebecca – baking spices
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon and pepper; Rebecca – light cinnamon
Recipe 08 – OESO:
***Aroma: Wayne – honeysuckle, vanilla, baking spice; Rebecca – vanilla cream and raspberry
***Taste: Wayne – spicy and honeysuckle; Rebecca – vanilla cream pie with berries on top
***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg and ginger; Rebecca – white pepper
Recipe 09 – OESQ:
***Aroma: Wayne – caramel, honey, vanilla; Rebecca – corn, lavender, and light spice
***Taste: Wayne – wild honey, nutmeg, cinnamon; Rebecca – buttered corn and lavender
***Finish: Wayne – nutmeg and cinnamon; Rebecca – nutmeg
Recipe 10 – OESF:
***Aroma: Wayne – rich vanilla, caramel, slight mint; Rebecca – herbal mint tea and baking spices
***Taste: Wayne – cinnamon and mint; Rebecca – sweet mint tea
***Finish: Wayne – cinnamon; Rebecca – nutmeg

Favorite Aromas: Wayne – OESK and OESF; Rebecca – OESV and OESO
Favorite Tastes: Wayne – OESK and OESV; Rebecca – OESO and OESV
Favorite Overall: Wayne – OESK and OESV; Rebecca – OESO and OESV

Blind Tasting Comparison

Note: The blind tasting was completed on Sunday, the day after the initial tasting.

This turned out to be much more challenging than we anticipated. It was our first blind tasting, and even so, we did break it into 5-pour sets based on Mash Bill B and Mash Bill E.

We started with the “B” group for aroma. This was a silent approach and we did not speak until we each had our top two. We then identified what was on the bottom of the glass but still did not know which one it was. Next we replicated the same approach for the “E” group. Finally, we took the top four that we had each selected and personally ranked them 1-4. Still, no idea which was which.

We repeated this exact process for the tasting component. This took much longer because we drank quite a bit of water between recipes to clear our palates.

Once we completed the process, we looked up the codes for each pour. We found it interesting that we each leaned more toward the Mash Bill B (higher rye) and that our taste tended to align more with one another than our nose. Below are our results.

AromaTaste
#1 of Mash Bill BW: OBSK; R: OBSK *SAME*W: OBSV; R: OBSV *SAME*
#2 of Mash Bill BW: OBSF; R: OBSVW: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#1 of Mash Bill EW: OESV; R: OESQW: OESQ; R: OESK
#2 of Mash Bill EW: OESF; R: OESKW: OESV; R: OESQ
#1 PreferenceW: OESV; R: OBSKW: OBSV; R: OBSV *SAME*
#2 PreferenceW: OBSK; R: OESQW: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#3 PreferenceW: OBSF; R: OBSVW: OESQ; R: OESQ *SAME*
#4 PreferenceW: OESF; R: OESKW: OESV; R: OESK
W = Wayne; R = Rebecca

We learned that information absolutely influences your palate. That could be what we have watched or read regarding other similar tastings, what the distiller states we might find, and even our ongoing conversation throughout a tasting as that makes it a shared versus individual experience.

Just for Fun – A Bit of Blending

Just for fun, we decided to try some blending. Except for single barrel offerings, most of the Four Roses expressions are expertly blended under the watchful palate of Brent Elliott, Master Distiller. We were curious to see what we might find by blending our top taste choices.

Wayne:
OBSV with OBSQ – Aroma of mint, cherry, baking spice; Taste of honey and cinnamon
OESQ with OESV – Aroma of honey and vanilla; Taste of honey, mint, and vanilla
All Four – Aroma of honey and vanilla; Taste of mint, rye, and cinnamon

Rebecca:
OBSV with OBSK – Aroma of berries, plum, rye, and mint; Taste of fruit, honey, plum, and finished with cinnamon and nutmeg
OESK with OESQ – Aroma of caramel, vanilla, berries, and tea; Taste of caramel, corn, vanilla cream, mint and finished with nutmeg and pepper
All Four – Aroma of rye bread, caramel, and fruitiness; Taste of caramel, vanilla, honey, fruit and finished with nutmeg

This was super fun to do some “blending” at home. It was interesting to see which characteristics had the strength to rise to the top over such a wide range of aromas and tastes happening. On a side note, we each took our remaining six recipes and poured them into a Glencairn to sip on throughout the day.

Discussion and Final Notes

As fans of Four Roses, we really enjoyed this challenge/experience. We now better understand their approach to bourbon and blending and this brought us a greater appreciation for the Small Batch and Small Batch Select (although they are typically 6-7 years old) expressions and helped us to better understand why we might prefer one single barrel over another.

Speaking of single barrels, these samples and tastes will likely never perfectly match a single barrel; although, there should be a family resemblance. A single barrel is selected for its specific characteristics. These samples are straight whiskey and likely in the four-year range. Single barrels are typically aged 7-9 years. An older single barrel should have additional barrel notes. Plus, if you purchase a store picked single barrel, that will have the characteristics of what that selection team desired.

Since we have one more set, we plan to do this again in 6-12 months; however, we will approach it differently to make it a new experience. Perhaps comparing yeast strain as the primary or head-to-head challenges in a bracket system. A bracket approach might be nice as we could do it over several days and avoid palate fatigue. We will let you know when that happens!

Meanwhile, enjoy Four Roses because surely there is a small batch or single barrel that aligns with your palate.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Kentucky 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).
In addition, to be Kentucky Straight Bourbon, it has the additional requirement that it must be produced and aged at least 1 year in the state of Kentucky.

For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.

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