kentucky

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.

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.

February 2024 Green River Rye Whiskey Tasting

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February 13, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the latest release from Green River Distilling – their Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey. We purchased this bottle when we attended their Rye Launch Party on February 1, 2024. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already. 

Green River – the whiskey without regrets!

Green River Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey



Mashbill – 95% Rye and 5% Malted Barley
Age – A blend of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old barrels
Proof – 95
Price Paid – $37.99
Other – One of the coolest bottles around with the horseshoe base as a throwback to their historical DSP-KY-10

Color – golden amber

Aroma – doesn’t have a typical rye note on the nose; a lot of sweetness comes through such as honey, brown sugar, and a sweet fruit.


Tasted Neat – citrus, like a sweet orange marmalade with honey and graham crackers, fresh rye grass but not as expected for a 95% rye, fruitiness but with a nice rye spice and oak finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  reduced the sweetness and mostly muted the rye spice.

Tasted with a pecan –  A new type of sweetness now, such as caramel and chocolate, but with pepper, cinnamon, and maybe some oak on the finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy sweetness of caramel, but with a stronger presence of baking spices and then pepper for the finish.  

Discussion and Final Notes

This is rye provides a really nice ride. It is a 95% rye that drinks quite similarly to a bourbon. You know it is rye from the rye grass, slight mint, and rye spices; however, the sweet citrus fruit – such as orange marmalade plus the graham cracker tricks your mind to thinking about bourbon.

If we had friends over that said they absolutely do not like rye, I would pour them a taste of the Green River to see if we could change their mind.

This whiskey is also at a great price point of under $40 and should be readily available through regular distribution channels. I believe Green River is now in 25 states, so look for it on the shelves of your local liquor store.

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Spirit Requirements

What is a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey? 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. To add “Kentucky” to the label, it must be aged for at least one year in the state of Kentucky. For additional information, read Rye Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.

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.

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.