bourbon

Visit to Second Sight Spirits

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By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

July 31, 2022, Wayne and I visited Second Sight Spirits for the first time. We were in Cincinnati for a weekend event with the Reds and planned three distillery visits within our allotted time. Second Sight was our final stop on a Sunday afternoon.

Located in Ludlow, KY which is just south of Cincinnati, OH, on the south side of the Ohio River, this quaint town is approximately 2 square miles and was incorporated in 1864. Elm St., where Second Sight is located, is definitely a happening part of this small community.

Distillery Tour & Visit

We learned that founders Rick Couch and Carus Waggoner have been friends since grade school. Their backgrounds of Rick being a mechanical engineer and Carus an industrial designer let them to careers on the Las Vegas Strip. Carus shared stories of their time in Vegas and working on Cirque Du Soleil’s LOVE as well as Viva Elvis. I won’t share the full story of how they got involved with assembling a very large still, you will need to go on the tour to hear all about that!

He shared their story of living their vision of creating an artisan distillery to focus on local products in a fun and innovative way. We followed their distillation process, toured the rick closet and storage area. All that they do is accomplished in a very small footprint.

The energy and creativity of Rick and Carus are found in every aspect of their business. Not only do they create a fun and creative experience for visitors, but every employee that we have spoken with always says it is truly a family and they love being a part of it. The culture that they have created helps them to achieve their goal of being a company that excites, engages, and entertains.

Time and time again, when people ask about our favorite distillery or experience along the Trail, Wayne always says that his most memorable and most unique is Second Sight Spirits. We highly recommend that you carve out time in your Trail planning to include a visit to Ludlow, KY!

Photos from the tour: Worm crafted from an old street lamp and other parts found on Craig’s List. Their Rick Closet – perfect for their small barrel sizes. Special spices and grains in containers. Founder Carus Waggoner sharing their story. The Mystic Mustache Ride (yes, it runs) in the bar area of the lounge.

Gift Shop

They have a great selection of shirts. We purchased a pin for my distillery hat, an ornament for our bourbon tree, a glass, and T-shirts.

Bottles Available for Sale

In addition to their Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Second Sight Spirits also produce a Hazelnut Liquor (Queen MAB) and several varieties of rum including: unbarreled rum, spiced rum, smoked cherry rum, and bourbon barreled rum. We opted to bring home a variety of their spirits.

You can review our tasting notes of Second Sight Spirits Oak Eye Bourbon here.

Distillery Trail Statistics


Second Sight Spirits was our 13th new distillery. It is on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour Northern area. It was our 5th craft distillery and our 9th Kentucky Bourbon Trail stamp.





Pro Tip: Plan to visit other nearby distilleries. With advance planning, it is possible to create a terrific 3-4 day weekend trip.

Pensive Distilling 4.0 miles
New Riff Distilling 5.6 miles

South/East
Augusta Distillery 44.5 miles
Old Pogue Distillery 61.9 miles

South/West
Boone County Distilling 17 miles
Neeley Family Distillery 42.8 miles

February 2024 Oak Eye Bourbon Tasting

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02/20/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon from Second Sight Spirits in Ludlow, KY. We have had this bottle for quite some times as we purchased it on our first visit to the distillery July 30, 2022.

What is Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey? Bourbon whiskey must be made in the USA from at least 51% corn. 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. In addition, it must be free from added substances (except water) and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof. To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information, read Bourbon Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.

Second Sight Spirits

Oak Eye Kentucky Bourbon



Mashbill – 72% Corn, 16% Wheat, 5% Rye, and 7% Malted Barley
Age – 1.8 years
Proof – 92.1
Barrel – 15 gallon with Char Level 3 and 115 entry proof
Price Paid – $33 for 375ml





Color – copper

Aroma – honey, grains, barley, sweet cereal.

Tasted Neat – wheat, barley, honey with cinnamon and nutmeg on the lingering finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  added pops of citrus (perhaps orange zest) but no longer grain-forward.

Tasted with a pecan –  the grains return in a strong way but the fruit is gone and the original cinnamon finish is very light.

Tasted with dark chocolate – as with chocolate, it is creamy; however, it reduced a lot of the original character of this spirit. That said, it is very smooth and stands up as a solid bourbon.  

Discussion and Final Notes

Nice color, great nose, and the viscosity produces lingering legs. If you enjoy tasting multiple grains in your bourbon, you will certainly enjoy this pour. While it drinks terrifically as a neat pour, we can envision it being great in an Old Fashioned with walnut bitters.

If you have the opportunity to try a pour of Oak Eye, please do! Better yet, make a trip to Second Sight Spirits and enjoy the entire experience of what founders, Rick Couch and Carus Waggoner, have brought to Ludlow, KY.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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.

Bourbon Whiskey

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02/18/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

American – Bourbon is considered America’s only native spirit, and it originated in the late 1700s. During the Civil war, bourbon was used as currency due to ease of transport. By the end of the Civil War, there were over 4,000 bourbon distilleries in the USA.

What’s in a name? – There are several theories on how Bourbon got its name; however, the most common thoughts are that it is derived from the French Bourbon dynasty, from Bourbon County in Kentucky, or perhaps Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

“All bourbon is whiskey but not all whiskey is bourbon.”

Whiskey (generic) must be made from cereal grains, distilled below 190 proof, placed into an oak container, and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof.

To be Bourbon, additional requirements must be satisfied, and this is in accordance with Title 27 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). This was further acknowledged by the US Congress May 4, 1964, when it declared Bourbon a “distinctive product of the United States.”

Bourbon Requirements include that it must be made in the USA with a mashbill that contains at least 51% corn. It must be distilled at a maximum of 160 proof (80% ABV).  It then must be placed into a new, charred oak container at a maximum of 125 proof (62.5% ABV). In addition, it must be free from added substances (except water) and bottled at a minimum of 80 proof (40% ABV).

Straight bourbon whiskey is a subcategory of bourbon 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.

To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky.

Common Taste Profiles for Bourbon

Taste influences: Bourbon can have a wide range of aromas and tastes. It is thought that 70-75% of the flavor is derived from the barrel and taste is also influenced by how long it remains in the barrel and the temperature of where the barrel was stored. Another source of the flavor is the mashbill and the specific grains because the use of rye versus wheat will derive a different profile. The yeast strain used in fermentation also influences the taste profile.

Common tastes identified: The most common flavor note from bourbon is a sweetness, often vanilla and caramel. Notes of wood are prevalent as well and that might include oak, almonds, and pecans. Sometimes there are spicy flavors such as pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Other times fruit and floral flavors emerge such as apple, pear, cherry, figs, raisins, dates, and rose. Naturally, the grains used will be part of the flavors identified and that might be corn, rye, wheat, barely, etc.

As you can see, the flavor combinations are endless and can be quite complex. It is also important to note that you can have five people in a room, tasting the same bourbon, and they might each identify different things and that is OK! Our nose, personal palates, and even learned experiences and memories all influence what we taste. This is what makes bourbon such an interesting drink and how it can generate a lot of conversation between friends.

Green River Rye Whiskey Launch Party

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By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

February 1, 2024, Wayne and I ventured to Owensboro, KY to partake in Green River Distillery’s launch of their rye whiskey.  We had secured the final VIP Tour of the day and arrived early to take in the festivities.

When we arrived and checked in, we were greeted with a donut.  What?? But not any ordinary donut. These were by the local Gramps Coffee and Donuts. Each donut was dipped in a delicious homemade glaze that is made with the newly released Green River Rye Whiskey. It was then topped with pecans and a dab of whipped cream for that small creamy bite. Wow – just wow!

We then ventured to the bar to see what specialty cocktails were available. Not surprising, one of the featured drinks was an Old Fashioned made with the Green River Rye – it was very good. Read our tasting notes here.

VIP Distillery Tour



We had the last VIP tour of the day, and it was with none other than the amazing National Brand Ambassador, Caryn Wells. The tour was fantastic.  Caryn shared history with us along the way.  We got to drink the “high wine” off the still (just over 140 proof) and it was fantastic.

She shared a wonderful “full circle” story while we were in the fermentation room.  Originally, there were Cedar fermentation tanks in that room. However, they were sold by Charles Medley to Maker’s Mark back in the 90’s.  Ironically, Maker’s Mark Master Distiller at the time, Steve Nally, supervised their disassembly and reassembly.  For those who do not know, Steve is now the Master Distiller at Bardstown Bourbon Company – the parent company of Green River since July of 2022. Pro-tip: Caryn shared that if you visit Maker’s, look for the wood that is slightly slimmer than the others, that is from Green River.


We then went to Rickhouse B where all the single barrels are selected. It was there that we got to try the rye.  In addition, we were able to barrel thieve rye and bourbon.  Amazingly good and we were able to keep the Glencairn as a souvenir. We learned that they rye is a blend of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old barrels.

Back in the guest center we chatted and talked more about whiskey with Caryn and the other tour guests that we met. It was getting late, and they needed to close but first we had to each get our bottle of newly released Green River Rye Whiskey in commemorative packaging. The packaging was quite creative and both Caryn and Aaron, their Master Distiller, signed our boxes and bottles.

We had a truly wonderful evening and it was difficulty to say goodbye. Wayne and I look forward to our next visit at Green River Distilling.

Gift Shop



We have been here several times and always make a stop in their gift shop. We picked up another bottle of Green River Rye Whiskey and Wayne was able to get some very nice Green River socks and a package of their coffee. We then noticed that they had a few of the limited edition signed event prints and got one of those as well. We look forward to having it framed to hang in our bourbon room.


Commemorative Packaging for the Green River Rye Whiskey

Distillery Trail Statistics

Green River Distilling is the closest distillery to us and one of our favorite places to visit. This was our 7th visit and our 112th distillery experience. Our first visit was November 13, 2021 where Caryn Wells led us through a guided tasting and discussion about this history of the distillery.

Visit to Augusta Distillery

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By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

January 27, 2024, Wayne and I took a 250 mile journey to Augusta, Kentucky. It is about two hours Northeast of Louisville and less than an hour Southeast of Cincinnati. Augusta is a very small town along the south bank of the Ohio River with a population of approximately 1100 people. It is interesting to note that Augusta has a ferry that has operated since 1798 and that is now on our “must do” list when we make our return visit. Fun fact: George Clooney graduated from Augusta High School and his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, called Augusta home the Rosemary Clooney Museum is open to the public.

Distillery Visit

On this trip to Augusta Distillery, we opted to not take the “pardon our dust” tour and instead did a terrific tasting flight. The flight included Augusta Old Route 8, Buckner’s 10-year Single Barrel, and River Proof Series 24 (a wheated bourbon). We enjoyed each of them and decided to take one of each home with us. We later did a more in-depth tasting of the three expressions and you can read about that here.

Their build-out plans look amazing! We look forward to visiting them again once they are further along.

Gift Shop

We love a great gift shop and for a new facility, they had a really nice offering and a good variety. From shirts to hats to glassware. Our purchases included a Glencairn and a Christmas Ornament. They didn’t have a distillery pin for my hat but perhaps they will in the future.

Bottles Available for Sale

They had a terrific display of their offerings.

Distillery Trail Statistics


Augusta Distillery is our 55th new distillery and our 109th distillery experience. It was added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour after we completed our book with 42 distilleries. Even so, we were able to get the book stamped: it is our 26th craft distillery and our 44th Kentucky Bourbon Trail stamp.

Pro Tip: Old Pogue Distillery is a mere 17 miles due East. Be sure to give them a visit as well!

February 2024 Augusta Distillery Bourbon Tasting

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02/07/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

For this tasting, Wayne and I decided to taste and compare three selections from one of the newest members of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour: Augusta Distillery. We purchased these when we visited the distillery January 27, 2024. You can read about our visit here.

They are all Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. 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.

Augusta River Proof Series 24

Mashbill – 51% Corn, 45% Wheat, 4% Malted Barley
Proof – 120.4
Aged – 24 months
Other – Single Barrel
Awards – Silver at 2023 World Spirits Competition
Price Paid – $49.99

Color – light copper
Aroma – honey, citrus, a hint of caramel, and fennel
Taste – fennel, caramel, light baking spice, cinnamon on the finish; it drinks more like 105-110 versus 120; Tasted with dried cranberry – more caramel, spices in the middle but then finishes smooth with light nutmeg; Tasted with a pecan – very spicy on the front and with less sweetness, a slight hint of chocolate and caramel with a pecan; Tasted with dark chocolate – the caramel is back, baking spice in the middle.

General Notes – A fairly complex drink for a two-year-old bourbon. Carmel, warm spices, and a gentle finish of fennel. Doesn’t drink like 120 proof and is a great price point.

Augusta Old Route 8


Mashbill – 74% Corn, 18% Rye, 8% malted barley
Proof – 121.1
Aged – 8 Years
Specifics – Bottle 176 of Barrel 60; Single Barrel, Unfiltered, Cask Strength
Awards – Gold at 2023 World Spirits Competition
Price Paid – $114.99

Color – dark amber
Aroma – caramel, baking spices, bit of smokiness
Taste – caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar, oak, with a pleasant peppery finish; Tasted with dried cranberry – brought out the smokiness from the aroma as well as oak, sweetness is very limited; Tasted with a pecan – creaminess on the front and a very peppery finish; Tasted with dark chocolate – A bit of sweetness but many of the other flavors got lost.

General Notes – If you enjoy oak and smokiness with a hint of pepper, this would hit those marks. We would love to try this in a smoked Old Fashioned. This also might be extremely complimentary to pair with the right cigar.

Augusta Buckner’s 10-Year-Old

Mashbill – 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 10 Years
Proof – 125
Specifics – Bottle 129 of Barrel 47; Single Barrel, Unfiltered, Cask Strength
Price Paid – $149.99

Color – medium amber
Aroma – an inviting sweetness such as honey and vanilla with hints of cinnamon and brown sugar
Taste – very cinnamon forward, caramel, baking spices, oaky; Tasted with dried cranberry – smoky, but it now tastes more like it smelled regarding brown sugar and cinnamon; Tasted with a pecan – hot with cinnamon, everything else seems to be missing now; Tasted with dark chocolate – back to being an inviting sweetness of honey with some light brown sugar and cinnamon.

General Notes – We each enjoyed the nose and drinking it neat. However, the cranberry added some interesting notes.

Comparison and Ranking

Aroma
  Wayne: Augusta 8, River Proof Series 24, Buckner 10
  Rebecca: Buckner 10, Augusta 8, River Proof Series 24  
Taste
  Wayne: Augusta 8, Buckner 10, River Proof Series 24
  Rebecca: Buckner 10, River Proof Series 24, Augusta 8
Overall
  Wayne: River Proof Series 24, Augusta 8, Buckner 10
  Rebecca: River Proof Series 24, Augusta 8, Buckner 10 

Discussion – The River Proof Series 24 exceeded our expectations and it’s the one that has the most distinct individual flavor. If we could only buy one bottle at the distillery, we would go with this one based on value and complexity. However, if your friend has a bottle of Augusta 8 or Buckner’s 10 or if you see them on a bar menu, give them a try and let us know what you think.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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.

January 2024 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting

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01/31/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

For this tasting, Wayne and I decided to select three Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys. 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 this tasting, we selected expressions from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour: The Bard Distillery, Bluegrass Distillers, and James E. Pepper Distilling Co.

The Bard: Cinder & Smoke


Mash Grains – Corn, Rye, Malted Barley
Proof – 94
Age – At least 4 years






Color – Medium Amber
Aroma – Honey, baking spices, smoke
Taste – Honey, caramel, vanilla, brown sugar; Tasted with dried cranberry – very similar but there is a buttery taste and the black pepper finish is gone; Tasted with a pecan – baking spice, caramel, and some light oak; Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy, buttery, caramel.
Finish – lingering with black pepper
General Notes – Solid bourbon with a nice balance of tastes.

Bluegrass Distillers: Bottled-in-Bond


Mashbill – 75% yellow corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley
Proof – 100
Aged – At least 4 years







Color – Medium amber
Aroma – Honey, salted caramel, vanilla, green tea, light fruit
Taste – Honey, pear, oak, butterscotch; Tasted with dried cranberry – more fruitiness again a very light caramel with a really smooth finish with a hint of cinnamon; Tasted with a pecan – more buttery with the pecan, less cinnamon, finish is very light now; Tasted with dark chocolate – strong pepper on the finish.
Finish – Lingering baking spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon as well as black pepper
General Notes – Very nice, full-bodied, drinks like it would be a warm hug in the cold

James E. Pepper: Decanter Barrel Proof

Note – this decanter is a recreation of a historic bottle from 1945
Mash grains – Corn, rye, malted barley, malted rye
Age – average of 5.5 years
Bottled – from barrel, uncut, unfiltered
Proof – 105.7






Color – Darker amber
Aroma – Strong caramel, toasted oak, fruit and nuts
Taste –  Cherry, raisins, caramel, citrus, toasted oak, cinnamon; Tasted with dried cranberry – the fruit is a little different and less forward, buttery, cinnamon finish; Tasted with a pecan – baking spices with caramel and a hint of cocoa and a light cinnamon finish; Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy, buttery caramel, a little bit of cinnamon and baking spices, would like pair well with a dessert
Finish – dried fruits, rye spice, cinnamon
General Notes – Beautiful bottle with an inviting complexity, a great pour

Comparison and Ranking

Aroma
  Wayne: Bluegrass, James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke
  Rebecca: James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke, Bluegrass  
Taste
  Wayne: James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke, Bluegrass
  Rebecca: James E Pepper, Cinder & Smoke, Bluegrass

Discussion – We enjoyed each of these even though they are incredibly different. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that we love bourbon so much – they are all labeled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and they are each their own unique offering. What they have in common is that each have rye as their second grain.

**James E Pepper is right in the midst of our favorite profile. It is caramel and fruity with just the right pop of baking spices.
**Cinder & Smoke is loaded with honey, caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar with the added interest of smoke and black pepper.
**Bluegrass BIB is honey, pear, oaky, and finishes with nutmeg and black pepper.

How to chose? For a cocktail, we know that Cinder & Smoke is amazing in an Old Fashioned (especially a smoked one). Overall, it will depend on your day and what you are in the mood to enjoy. Today, we rank them as listed above. However, the great thing about bourbon is that if we do this again in a few months, the ranking could very well be completely different.

We recommend them all and they would be terrific additions to a bourbon collection, especially since they are so different. Have you tried any of these? What did you think?

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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.

January 2024 Rye Whiskey Tasting

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01/17/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

What constitutes a rye whiskey? The US guidelines for rye whiskey are very similar to those of bourbon except that it must be at least 51% rye. In addition, rye whiskey often has other grains, such as wheat, corn, and barley. Rye whiskey must be distilled to no more than 160 proof, or 80% alcohol by volume (ABV) and it must be aged in new, charred-oak barrels. For additional information, read Rye Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.

For this tasting, we selected rye whiskey from Jim Beam, MB Roland, and Still630.

Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Distillery – Jim Beam, Clermont, Kentucky
Aged for seven years in charred barrels and bottled at 100 proof.
Mashbill – 55% rye, 35% corn, and 10% malt
Color – medium amber
Aroma – sweetness of rye grass; hint of mint; caramel; ginger; green apple
Taste – W: baking spices – nutmeg; R:less sweet, slight mint, tea, hint of dill and white pepper; with dried cranberry – W: nutmeg is stronger; R: rye grass and sweetness is back; with a pecan – W: leads with nutmeg; R: spicy/cinnamon, lost “flavor”
Finish – warm linger; light spices and vanilla
General Notes – A very solid pour of rye whiskey

MB Roland Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Distillery – MB Roland, Pembroke, Kentucky
Single Barrel, Still and Barrel Proof
110.2 Proof
Mashbill – 68% rye, 27% white corn, 5% malted barley
Color – medium to dark amber
Aroma – W: cherry sweetness; R: roasted nuts, sweetness of rye grass, brown sugar, clove, robust
Taste – W: nuttiness, rye grass, then coffee;  R: caramel covered nut, rye, mint, cocoa, buttery, all spice; with dried cranberry – W: rye grass bomb with mint & no finish; R:  HOT and lost much of flavor profile; with a pecan – W: rye and cinnamon; R:  rye and cinnamon
Finish – W: coffee;  R:  warm, sweet, rye and cinnamon spice
General Notes – This rye takes you on a journey of sweetness and spice and everything nice!

Still630 Rally Point Straight Rye Whiskey

Special Evansville Bourbon Society Barrel Pick
Distillery – Still630, St. Louis, Missouri
Single Barrel, Cask Strength
123 Proof; 4.75 years old
Mashbill – undisclosed
Color – medium to dark amber
Aroma – W: caramel, sweet, smokiness; R: mint, sweet, rye
Taste – W: rye, mint; R: mint, dill, sweet rye; with dried cranberry – W: very sweet rye grass, warmer; R: dark choc mint, citrus/orange, cinnamon; with a pecan – W: strong rye grass;  R: much hotter, bitter choc
Finish – W:  warm cinnamon;  R:  warm cinnamon
General Notes – A terrific cask strength rye and it is easy to see why they have won so many awards and typically sell out of RallyPoint

Comparison and Ranking


Aroma
  Wayne: MBR, KC, S630
  Rebecca: MBR, S630, KC  
Taste
  Wayne: MBR, KC, S630
  Rebecca: MBR, S630, KC


Discussion
We enjoyed all three of these rye whiskeys. Knob Creek Rye is solid and easy very accessible with a terrific price point. The RallyPoint Rye was terrific and somewhat different from many Kentucky ryes. Since its proof was much higher than the others, we also added some water to balance it. Overall, that didn’t change the experience from our viewpoint. It is somewhat difficult to obtain and that kept us from ranking it higher. MB Roland makes a fantastic rye whiskey. It was the most unique of the three and also the most complex. As noted earlier, this rye takes you on a journey of sweetness and spice and everything nice!  All things considered, we selected MB Roland Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey as our #1 pick.

All three are excellent options when considering a rye whiskey, and we certainly recommend each of them.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The whiskey 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.

January 2024 Wheated Bourbon Tasting

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01/10/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

What constitutes a wheated bourbon? First, it must meet all the standards to be bourbon.  Second, it is common that the second largest percentage of the mashbill is wheat.  However, there is no percentage requirement for wheat.  Thus, after the minimum of 51% corn is achieved, the remaining mashbill will likely be a mixture of wheat and barley. In essence, the wheat takes the place of the more common ingredient of rye.

For this tasting, we selected Castle & Key, Weller Special Reserve, and Maker’s Mark 101

Castle & Key Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Released in 2023; Batch 1; bottle 03788; 5 years old; 99 proof
Mashbill – 73% White Corn, 10% Wheat, 17% Malted Barley
Color – medium amber
Aroma – orange zest, caramel, vanilla, baking spice/nutmeg, golden delicious apple
Taste – oak, baking spice/allspice, cherry, cinnamon, honey, raisin, dates; Tasted with dried cranberry – pulled cinnamon forward, with the sweetness of wheat; Tasted with a pecan – nutty, light cinnamon, ginger/gingerbread
Finish – warm, lasting, creamy, vanilla, toasted oak
General Notes – A very good bourbon that is different, even for a wheated, and pleasant to drink.

Weller – The Original Wheated Bourbon – Special Reserve

Aged 7-8 years; 90 proof
Mashbill – 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley.
Color – medium amber
Aroma – honey, caramel, floral/honeysuckle
Taste – honey, vanilla, light baking spices, butterscotch, light oak; Tasted with dried cranberry – less sweet, more spicy, slight oakiness; Tasted with a pecan – smooth, creamy, caramel, baking spices
Finish – gentle hug, nice warmth, honeysuckle
General Notes – A very good bourbon that is smooth and very easy to drink.


Maker’s Mark 101

Approximately 6 years old, 101 proof
Mashbill – 70% corn, 16% wheat, and 14% malted barley.
Color – medium amber
Aroma – cherry, vanilla, caramel … caramel corn, apricot, spice
Taste – cherry, caramel, buttery, nutmeg; Tasted with dried cranberry – cherry is stronger, baking spice comes forward; Tasted with a pecan – fruit is gone, nutmeg appears, and a woodiness
Finish – creamy, gentle, lasting
General Notes – Surprised by it being so cherry forward and smoother than we anticipated.


Comparison and Ranking


Aroma
  Wayne: WSW, C&K, MM
  Rebecca: MM, WSW, C&K  
Taste
  Wayne: WSW, C&K, MM
  Rebecca: MM, C&K, WSW


Discussion
We enjoyed all three of these wheated bourbons. It was interesting to see their differences and similarities. The most “different” of the three was the Castle & Key as its nose had the strong citrus. The Weller SR is incredibly easy to drink on every level. Maker’s Mark 101 was our biggest surprise as it tended to have a bit more complexity and we didn’t anticipate such a strong cherry component. Contributing to our “winning” selection was price and availability. All things considered, we selected Maker’s Mark 101 as our #1 pick.

You can’t go wrong with any of these options, and we certainly recommend each of them.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The whiskey 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.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival 2023 – VIP Experience

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10/05/23
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Before closing the books on the 2023 Kentucky Bourbon Festival, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the VIP experience. There were three VIP options to select from: Bourbon Enthusiast ($495), The Flask Force ($595), and The Decanter Club ($1195). After reviewing the benefits versus costs of each, we determined that The Flask Force was the best fit for us.

At a minimum, I highly recommend getting a ticket that includes a one-hour early entry.  While there are still many people in line to get in and then at the distiller tents who are selling special offerings, it is still a much lighter feeling than when the main gates open.  For us, it also meant we left the festival at 5PM each day versus 6PM because six hours is about our limit.

The next fantastic benefit is the access to the the VIP Penthouse Tent. When it was warm and air-conditioning sounded good, we would he’d to the tent.  There were tables, chairs, and sofas for relaxing and visiting with other bourbon fans.  There were also quite a few tables and chairs outdoors to eat, drink, and visit.

We expected “small bites” to be offered throughout the day. In all honesty, the bites might have been small but they were plentiful and there was a large variety each day. Each bite was an amazing quality – fantastic work by the catering company. We never had to eat elsewhere and most days we were so full from our meal in the VIP tent that we opted not to go out for dinner in the evening. 

For beverages, the ice cold bottled water was incredibly welcomed! If you are at a bourbon festival and it is warm, you must stay hydrated. If cocktails are more your style, the VIP tent also had a daily cocktail awaiting you upon arrival – or anytime you wanted it. There were three stations for bourbon.  They each had neat pours and one had cocktails.  One of them had a wheel that you could spin to determine your pour, which could have been a Pappy. Another had rare pours scheduled throughout the day.  This provided an opportunity to not only taste something not readily available but also to have a meet-and-greet with the master distiller and/or brand ambassador. 

The VIP tent included complimentary bottle lockers, which are essential if you plan to buy any bourbon on site.  The VIP area also had upgraded portable restrooms.

The VIP Pass also included a ticket for the Opening Night Bourbon in the Air event. We absolutely loved that event and more details are in the “Day 1” post. 

Finally, there is the “swag” that was part of The Flask Force VIP Pass. 

2023 Bardstown Bourbon Company single barrel KBF bottle – signed by hall of fame master distiller, Steve Nally.

Glencairn “Skye” cut crystal whiskey tumbler.

Limited edition 2023 Flask Force tee shirt.

Collectable 2023 Flask Force credential and lanyard.

A Jacob Bromwell pewter flask – unfortunately, there was a snag in the delivery and it is supposed to be mailed to us at some point.

Also included in the swag bag was a collectible coin set and some special KBF coffee.

All in all, we loved The Flask Force experience.  It was the perfect fit for us. In a sea of 40,000 people, it is very nice to feel a wee bit special. We hope that the Kentucky Bourbon Festival continues to add levels of VIP options and that we have the opportunity to acquire the coveted tickets for 2024.

Cheers,
Rebecca