For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the latest release from Angel’s Envy – their Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. We purchased this bottle when at the distillery on National Bourbon Day. Our first thoughts were – what? wait? cask strength? bottled in bond? – how the heck??? After researching and locating the press release, their process for achieving this were revealed.
From Angel’s Envy Press Release: Master Distiller Owen Martin explained how they achieved a cask strength bottled at 100 proof. In the spring of 2018, before he was with the distillery, the team placed barrels filled with lower entry proof whiskey (103 proof) in a cooler warehouse. “Instead of withdrawing them at 100 proof, we let them mature further to prioritize flavor,” he said. “We drew the barrels at 98 to 99 proof and blended 27 low-proof barrels with two high-proof barrels from the same season to reach exactly 100 proof, creating Cask Strength Bottled-In-Bond.”
Not only is this their first Bottled-in-Bond, it is also their first unfinished spirit!
Label on the side of the bottle.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Mashbill – 72% Corn, 18% Rye, and 10% Malted Barley Barrel Entry Proof – 103 Age – NAS but reported at nearly 6 years (barreled in 2018) Proof – 100 Price Paid – $54.99 (375 ml bottle) Other – Cask Strength blending of 29 barrels
Appearance – Honey copper with great legs.
Aroma – Light and inviting. Warm brown sugar, vanilla cream pie, honey, candied pecans, and a hint of a fruit.
TastedNeat – Toasted brown sugar with hints of fruit, honey, and marshmallow. A light finish with nutmeg and caramelized brown sugar that makes you want another sip.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Very different taste profile. The brown sugar is absent and a tartness came forward with a fruitiness, such as a ripe green apple. This also added cinnamon to the finish.
Tasted with a pecan – The oak from the barrel came forward and the pecan also brings a dark cocoa taste with some caramel … like a dark chocolate turtle. There is a lot of cinnamon and oak on the finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Creamy chocolate caramel with a hint of cocoa and warm barrel notes. The finish is warm and pleasant with a nutmeg finish.
Discussion and Final Notes
This is a terrific bourbon and an outstanding bottled-in-bond. It is light, sweet, rich and complex. It takes you on a journey for your senses and memories as so many playful notes appear. Congrats to Angel’s Envy and Master Distiller, Owen Martin for this unique expression. To create your first non-finished bourbon as a bottled-in-bond AND cask strength is truly innovative. This has raised the bar for us when it comes to a bottled-in-bond experience.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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.
“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
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.
Wayne and I decided to revisit a couple selections from Penelope to further explore their interesting taste profiles. These selections are part of the Penelope Bourbon Cooper Series where they seek the perfect marriage of various cask finishes with their signature four grain straight bourbon whiskey.
Selected for this tasting: PenelopeRosé Cask Finish and PenelopeValencia.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
PenelopeRosé Cask Finish
Mashbill – 76% Corn, 14% Wheat, 7% Rye, 3% Malted Barley Finished – Rosé Cask is finished in hand-selected French Rosé wine casks from the Southern Rhône region Age – 4-5 years Proof – 94 Other – Non Chill-Filtered, #4 Staves, #2 Heads Price Paid – $59.94
Color – Golden Amber
Aroma – The rose wine is prevalent on the nose. There is also a light fruitiness, vanilla cream, and floral notes.
Tasted Neat – Rose wine is on the front of the palate followed by strawberry shortcake and vanilla cream with a finish of lingering nutmeg.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Fruit forward with floral notes as well as an herbal presence; very creamy.
Tasted with a pecan – Fruitiness is gone, heavier in white pepper, but still creamy.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Similar to the neat pour, but finishes with white pepper.
PenelopeValencia
Mashbill – 75% Corn, 15% Wheat, 7% Rye, 3% Malted Barley Finished – Valencia is finished in Vino de Naranja casks Age – 4-5 years Proof – 95 Other – Non Chill-Filtered, #4 Staves, #2 Heads Price Paid – $108.99
Color – Medium Amber.
Aroma – Toffee, orange cream, orange zest, and baking spices.
Tasted Neat – Floral notes and French vanilla on the front with burnt orange zest, moves to a rich fruit with pops of black and white pepper and a lovely creamy and savory finish where the orange peel reappears.
Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry negated the orange notes but brought in a hint of chocolate and remained creamy.
Tasted with a pecan – With pecan it is very woody up front and then the orange returns on the back end, but the creaminess was gone.
Tasted with dark chocolate – The dark chocolate enhanced the fruitiness and increased the boldness of the spices on the finish.
Discussion and Final Notes
Both are outstanding! While they are different from most bourbons, they remind you on the journey that they are indeed bourbons. Sometimes finishes such as these are too wine-forward or you lose the taste of the original spirit. That is not the case with these Penelope selections.
We are often asked what we drink in the summer. Well, we still drink bourbon! However, for those who want something a bit lighter and with tastes of summer in their bourbon, the Rose and Valencia could be great choices. Their aromas and tastes make you think of summertime vibes.
We highly recommend PenelopeRosé Cask Finish and PenelopeValencia as a great addition to any bourbon collection.
Cheers, Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Spirit Requirements
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.
Straight Bourbon Whiskey: Such whiskeys have all the requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, bottled at >= 80 proof. Straight bourbon means it is aged at least 2 years (and must have an age statement if less than 4).
For additional information on bourbon requirements, please read this post – Bourbon Whiskey.
NOTE: The 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.
We started the weekend on Friday night with the kick-off dinner, Spirited Bourbon Pairing Dinner at Green River Distillery. However, Saturday, May 11, was the big day – and BIG it was. The 2024 BBQ & Barrels event was amazing. There was competition BBQ in the streets, a great line-up of live music all day, a very interesting auto show, education sessions in the afternoon, followed by the bourbon festival. Of course, that doesn’t mean the day is complete until gathering with friends and an opportunity to view the Northern Lights. What a day! Something for everyone!
BBQ Competition and Street Fair
Cooking teams, BBQ competition, Food Trucks – this Street Fair lined 2nd Street in downtown Owensboro, KY. It was fun to walk and smell the amazing aromas coming off of those smoker. Wow – if only cameras had smell-a-vision!
On Friday we sampled one item and enjoyed a cocktail from Castle & Key.
Saturday we had the opportunity to sample from the various competition teams. So many yummy bites of smoked chicken, pork, bologna, ham, sausage, venison, etc. It is amazing how full you can get sampling with a toothpick!
Rob, Wayne, & April
Champions Motorcar Invitational
The car show was new this year. I’m not sure I would have been aware of it if I hadn’t known someone who was showing his 57 Chevy. While there weren’t as many cars in the field as one might expect, they were all incredibly different and quite stunning. Ultimately, 12 barrel head trophies were awarded.
Education Session with Evan Williams
We enrolled in the Master Class with Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (EWBE) Artisanal Distiller, Jodie Filiatreau. The BBQ & Barrels classes are a terrific value. Held one hour prior to the VIP entry for the bourbon tasting, the last two years there have been three options available and only $25 a ticket for a 45 minute session.
Jodie introduced himself and provide some background on his 42 years of experience, working his way up, of being a part of the Heaven Hill family-owned operation.
He then led us on a detailed tasting of two award-winning Evan Williams Bourbons made in distinctly different styles. The small cups, in the photo above, contained various elements, such as cherry, cinnamon, walnuts, etc. that might be on the nose or the palate of the two expressions. We were also provided a water dropper and were encouraged to try each a second time with a drop of water to see how it might open up differently.
First up was the Evan Williams Single Barrel made in column stills at the historic DSP-KY-1 Bernheim plant. This expression is 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. The notes provided were accurate for our palate as well – nose of dark caramel, sweet oak, and charred wood; taste of oak with honey, fruit notes of apple and orange, and a very nice spice.
Next was the Square 6 wheated bourbon made in the EWBE Artisanal Distillery using Vendome pot stills. We have tried and purchased the Square 6 previously and the wheated expression is one of our favorites. It is a blend of two mashbills. The first is 74% corn, 16% wheat, and 10% malted barley. The second is 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. This is bottled at 105 proof. All aspects of this is wonderful. The nose starts with caramel, vanilla, figs, cherries, and oak. The nose continues on the palate and adds confectioners’ sugar and walnuts. The walnuts continue on the finish as well as oak and cinnamon. It is a yummy flavor bomb.
Rebecca, Wayne, & Jodie
Lisa & Jodie
Jodie loves what he does and it shows in his excitement when talking about these spirits. It was really nice to meet him, hear his story, and taste these spirits again with his enthusiasm as an added bonus. After the session concluded, we were able to get pictures with him for us and our friend, Lisa Stinson.
Barrels Bourbon Festival– VIP
View of the BBQ & music festival from the Convention Center
The VIP ticket included the all-important one-hour early entry (3PM vs 4PM). Everything else aside, this is critical because it is much less crowded and this allows you to sample more easily and spend time talking with the various distillers. Of course, the passed heavy hors d’oeuvres and commemorative VIP BBQ and Barrels Glencairn tasting glass is very nice as well.
With 35 distilleries, we approached it somewhat methodically but also ensured we had time with some of our favorite people!
Rebecca, Kim, & Wayne: The Bard DistilleryBarry with RD One DistilleryAaron with Green River DistillingJustin with Spirits of French LickRebecca, Amine, & Wayne: Old Louisville Whiskey CoAJ of Casey Jones Distillery
There were legacy distilleries, craft distilleries, and some who were just getting started. It is wonderful to see everyone together and in a support environment.
Starlight DistilleryMichter’s DistilleryCoal Pick DistilleryWestern KY DistillingBrothers of the Leaf DistilleryEvan Williams Bourbon Experience
The crowds were substantial following the VIP hour but everyone was polite and friendly. People shared tables to visit and take a break. Distillers shared their stories, provided samples & tchotchkes, most were able to sell bottles a well. It was a great opportunity to be reminded of why we have enjoyed these folks while meeting new people and tasting new expressions.
We made our bottle purchases (pro tip: wait so you don’t have to carry!) and exited the event a little after 5PM. We enjoyed our time there and two hours was just about perfect for us.
Bourbon Friends & Northern Lights
It was a wonderful day and a beautiful evening; thus, we couldn’t let the fun end at the conclusion of the festival. Many of us gathered at about 8PM for a “bottle share” around the bonfire at one of the hotels on the river. Again, time with old friends and time to get to know new friends. That is what the bourbon journey is all about. Sharing a pour with stories, laughter, and even some cigars. I’ve said it before and will say it again – bourbon has an amazing culture and it is one that we feel immensely blessed to be a part of.
Lisa, Phil, Ann, & JeffSarah & LisaTori, Barry, Lisa, & Phil
This also happened to be a night where viewing the Northern Lights was a possibility. Being on the river, without excessive lights, was a lovely setting to gain a glimpse. We all looked, watched, and hoped for several hours. Ironically, it wasn’t until Wayne and I were walking back to our hotel at about midnight that we were finally able to capture the magical view. Wow – the Northern Lights truly placed a colorful bow on what had already been a perfect weekend.
The Glover Cary Bridge (also known as the Blue Bridge) connecting Indiana to Owensboro KY always has an amazing light display.
That’s a Wrap for BBQ & Barrels
Wow – what a wonderful weekend! We could not have asked for better weather. The event was well-organized and everyone we met was friendly and fun. It is always difficult to say what was the best part or the best memory. While the events were excellent, it is always the people who create the memories. Seeing folks that we haven’t seen for some time. Making new friends. Spending time with people who come from various locations and walks of like to share a common passion – bourbon.
If you haven’t been to Owensboro, KY or this BBQ & Barrels event, mark your calendar for 2025. The BBQ event has been a staple on the riverfront for decades and in 2023 the “barrels” portion was added. This year was the first time for the car show. With the live music, it is truly a festival atmosphere. There is something for everyone and that is why the attendance continues to grow. Bookmark their site, tickets usually go on sale late February or very early March.
Again, we highly recommend this event. If you haven’t attended a bourbon festival before, this is a terrific chance to do so in a non-overwhelming environment. And if your friends, spouse, or significant other are not “into bourbon” that’s ok because there is so much to do!
This was a great memory for Our Bourbon Journey – be sure to add it to yours!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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% Barley
Mash Bill E – 75% Corn, 20% Rye, 5% Barley
Yeast V – delicate fruit
1 – OBSV – delicate fruit and rye
6 – OESV – delicate fruit and caramel
Yeast K – slight spice
2 – OBSK – rye and baking spice
7 – OESK – baking spice
Yeast O – rich fruit
3 – OBSO – rich fruit
8 – OESO – rich fruit and vanilla
Yeast Q – floral essence
4 – OBSQ – rye and light floral character
9 – OESQ – delicate grains and floral character
Yeast F – herbal notes
9 – OBSF – delicate grains and floral character
10 – 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.
Aroma
Taste
#1 of Mash Bill B
W: OBSK; R: OBSK *SAME*
W: OBSV; R: OBSV *SAME*
#2 of Mash Bill B
W: OBSF; R: OBSV
W: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#1 of Mash Bill E
W: OESV; R: OESQ
W: OESQ; R: OESK
#2 of Mash Bill E
W: OESF; R: OESK
W: OESV; R: OESQ
#1 Preference
W: OESV; R: OBSK
W: OBSV; R: OBSV *SAME*
#2 Preference
W: OBSK; R: OESQ
W: OBSQ; R: OBSK
#3 Preference
W: OBSF; R: OBSV
W: OESQ; R: OESQ *SAME*
#4 Preference
W: OESF; R: OESK
W: 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.
Wayne and I enjoyed our recent visit at Casey Jones Distillery and especially LOVED sharing their special eclipse bottles with friends April 8th, during the Total Eclipse! Typically when we open new bottles, we like to do a formal “first taste” tasting and write up. Due to the eclipse festivities, we simply enjoyed them with friends, which is really how you should drink the spirits that you love. This past weekend, we decided to take some time with what we purchased recently.
Selected for this Tasting
Casey Jones Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon (375 ml), Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask (700 ml), and Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill 3 – all produced by Casey Jones Distillery. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Casey Jones Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Mashbill – 75% Corn, 10% Wheat, 10% Rye, 5% Malted Barley Age – at least 2 years Proof – 100 Other – We purchased the eclipse 2-pack with 375ml bottles Price Paid – $27.49
Color – Honey gold.
Aroma – Corn, a hint of honey, apple, and spices and wood.
Taste – Corn and vanilla lead the way to a crips green apple and a nice cinnamon and black pepper finish.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Sweet but with vanilla versus corn, the apple remains and, pepper is stronger on the finish.
Tasted with a pecan – The vanilla is very sweet and the oak comes through on the finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Very different. Toasted vanilla cream with a stronger black pepper finish.
Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask
Mashbill – 50% Corn, 50% Sugar Cane Age – Moonshine aged just under 7 years (barreled after 2017 Eclipse) Proof – 109 Other – It was aged in a Kelvin Cooperage #4 char, medium toast cask, offered uncut at cask strength, 700ml. Price Paid – $99.99
Color – Medium to dark amber.
Aroma – Vanilla, molasses, brown sugar, cherries, and a light spice such as white pepper and baking spices.
Taste – Sweet, great mouth feel, brown sugar, molasses, cherries, baking spices and oak .
Tasted with dried cranberry – This turned the sweet cherry to sour cherries – very interesting. Also, now there is cinnamon on the finish.
Tasted with a pecan – The cherry flavor now tastes and feels like brandy soaked cherries – very sweet. The spiciness and wood flavors are rather limited with the pecan.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Interesting, the sweetness has been eliminated but there is and it finishes with a pink peppercorn.
Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill 3
Mashbill – 26.5% Bloody Butcher Corn, 26.5% Yellow Corn, 35% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley Age – 4.5 years Proof – 113.5 Other – Authentic Square Pot Distilling, Barrel #931, Char 4, Toast M Price Paid – $99.99
Color – Medium amber.
Aroma – Inviting sweetness of vanilla cream, caramel, crème brûlée, and fruit notes of apple and/or pear. There seem to be hints of cloves and oak as well.
Taste – This has a terrific mouth feel and it is incredibly smooth. There’s caramel, honey, vanilla pie, and the crème brûlée that was on the nose. Very balanced with some sweet tea notes. A nice finish with cinnamon and a malted caramel.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This really brightened it up like fresh berries but it has a strong finish of black pepper.
Tasted with a pecan – The woodiness of the barrel is very prevalent. The pecan itself is present but more like the pecan used in a smoker. Overall, there is also some toasted marshmallow – terrific.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Very creamy and sweet, the cinnamon is more like a cinnamon roll.
Casey Jones Authentic Square Pot Still. Photo taken 12/18/22 during first visit.
Discussion and Final Notes
Casey Jones Total Eclipse Kentucky Straight Bourbon is very good but in this line-up, we might have to rank it third against its older brothers!
Casey Jones Single Barrel Eclipse Cask is phenomenal. It is still hard to believe that it is an aged moonshine. It has a wonderful sweetness yet very complex. It’s a beast – and we mean that in the best possible way. The primary “negative” is that it is likely sold out since it was quite limited when we visited April 6th. It is one of those times we really wish that we had purchased a back-up bottle!
Casey Jones Single Barrel Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Mash Bill 3 is fantastic! We are huge fans of good four-grain bourbons and this one ranks way up there on our list. In addition to the single barrel that we purchased, they also offer it in a small batch at 95 proof for $59.99. Since it has regular availability, we encourage you to make a visit and give it a try.
Honestly – we thoroughly enjoyed each one. AJ is making some terrific spirits at Casey Jones. Give them a try!
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 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.
Wayne and I regularly enjoy Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings and the Toasted Barrel stands out as a classic toasted offering. Last year at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, we were able to acquire a bottle of their 18-year-old and had not had an opportunity to open and taste it. Thus, we decided to taste and compare a trio of Elijah Craig for this tasting.
Selected for this Tasting
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, Elijah Craig Single Barrel #6334 18 year old, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof #A122 – all produced by Heaven Hill Distillery. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye Age – at least 4 years but typically 8-12 years Proof – 94 Other – Toasted Barrel Price Paid – $64.99
Color – Golden amber.
Aroma – Caramel, baking, spices, and classic toasted aromas of marshmallow.
Taste – A lovely sweetness of marshmallow and graham crackers with chocolate and caramel. Nutmeg and white pepper linger on the finish with a nice hint of smokiness.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Muted many of the flavors, only a light sweetness after the cranberry and even the spicy notes are limited.
Tasted with a pecan – Spicy notes really returned but more of a white pepper. The barrel and toasted oak is prevalent but the sweetness and toasted marshmallow is gone.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Much more balanced with a nice flavor profile, including a hint of pepper on the finish.
Elijah Craig Single Barrel #6334 18-Year-Old
Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye Age – 18 years Proof – 90 Other – Single Barrel Price Paid – $199.99
Color – Golden amber.
Aroma – Caramel and oak, then honey and brown sugar, followed by apple and cinnamon.
Taste – Very delicate but 18 years of oak come forward. Not as sweet as on the nose but vanilla cream and spiced apples are present. It finishes with rye spices, a touch of vanilla, and aged oak. A little higher proof might create more complexity and a more viscous mouth feel.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Not a huge difference with the cranberry but more tannins, less sweetness and spice, and somewhat of a tea flavor, perhaps cardamon.
Tasted with a pecan – The pecan made it quite bitter and it stripped away all of the delicate flavors.
Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate comes through and provides an elevated mouth feel.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof #A122
Mashbill – 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye Age – 12 years Proof – 120.8 Other – Barrel Proof Price Paid – $89.99
Color – Medium amber.
Aroma – Vanilla, caramel, light toffee, and light baking spice. A very pleasant nose.
Taste – Cherry, caramel, and baking spices with a hint of leather. The finish includes cinnamon, pepper, and lingering oak.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Heavy spices with a lot of cinnamon and pepper.
Tasted with a pecan – It is cinnamon on the front and pepper on the back.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Cherry came back and then cherry cinnamon pie with a buttery piecrust.
Discussion and Final Notes
We enjoyed each one. The Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is a pretty classic toasted barrel profile and exceptional for its price point. This particular Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is good but perhaps not as flavorful as other seasonal releases. The Elijah Craig 18-year-old is good but quite delicate and lacks the viscosity and complexity that we enjoy. Based on its availability and price point, it would be lower on our recommendation.
Our personal favorite of this specific trio leans toward the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. It has a great flavor profile and terrific price point with good availability.
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 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.
Your Bourbon Journey 