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April 2024 Elijah Craig Trio Tasting

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04/09/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

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.

First Visit to Cascade Hollow Distilling

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April 4, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer




August 19, 2023, Wayne and I were in Tennessee for a family wedding. Of course, we decided that this was a great opportunity to visit a few Tennessee distilleries. This led us to Cascade Hollow Distilling – home of George Dickel Whisky – in Tullahoma, TN.





Tour of the Cascade Hollow Distillery

Our guide was very knowledgeable and energetic and that made the tour great. She started out by letting us know that we should keep our eyes open for wildlife, including copperhead snakes and minks. OK!

The tour was woven with stories of the history of George Dickel. It started initially in Nashville, TN but really took off when the Cascade Hollow Distillery opened in 1878 and George purchased a large share.

At Cascade Hollow, they have a specialized charcoal mellowing process. They cold chill the distillate to 40 degrees before starting the slow steep through the charcoal. Also interesting, their mellowing vats are layered with virgin wool blankets to achieve a slow, uniform flow. To learn more about the Tennessee Whiskey classification, please review this post.

At the conclusion of the distillery tour, we returned to the “Post Office” and entered a somewhat hidden back room for our tasting.

Fun Facts

Dickel is one of the few American Whisky’s that doesn’t use the “e” in whiskey. George Dickel was a big fan of Scotch, and it does not use the “e” so George wanted to emulate that tradition. In addition to using the Lincoln County Method of maple charcoal filtration, Dickel also uses wool blankets as a secondary filtration.

Gift Shop

They have an extensive gift shop and a wonderful area to have a cocktail. However, we were on a tight schedule as we had a wedding later in the evening. So it was a quick shop to gather up our favorites such as pins, ornaments, a glencairn, and of course – some whisky!! Happy to get a couple of bottles that were signed by the Master Distiller, Nicole Austin.

We did a formal tasting of the 15- and 17-year-old whiskys. You can read about that HERE.

Distillery Trail Statistics

While it is not easy to get to, we recommend it as it is worth the effort to visit.

Cascade Hollow Distilling, in Tullahoma, TN, was our 3rd Tennessee Distillery, 52nd distillery, and 84th distillery visit or event.

In addition to this visit and a family wedding, we visited 2 other distilleries over the weekend – Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniels.

Pro Tip: Plan to visit other nearby distilleries. With advance planning, it is possible to create a terrific weekend trip with multiple distilleries on the Tennessee Whiskey Trail.

Happy Trails!
Rebecca

April 2024 George Dickel Tasting

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04/02/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Wayne and I recently selected two Dickel offerings for a formal tasting. We had the opportunity to visit Cascade Hollow Distilling last August and that is where we acquired these particular bottles. You can read about our visit here.

Selected for this Tasting

George Dickel 15-Year Single Barrel Tennessee Whisky and George Dickel 17-Year Cask Strength Reserve Tennessee Whisky. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

George Dickel 15-Year Single Barrel Tennessee Whisky

Mashbill – 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Age – at least 15 years
Proof – 93.4
Other – Single Barrel
Price Paid – $80.00

Color – Dark copper

Aroma – Sweetness of caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and cherry, with a nice oak, nutmeg, and light smokiness.

Taste –  Very mellow yet a full body. Sweetness of vanilla, toffee, berry, and cocoa. Finishes with nutmeg, a woodiness, a hint of leather, and a light spice.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry brought forward more smokiness but less sweetness. No real finish.

Tasted with a pecan – The pecan brought the sweetness back and the toffee and chocolate returned while the smokiness is lessened.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Now there are stronger baking spices and a Heath Bar effect with chocolate covered toffee.  

George Dickel 17-Year Cask Strength Reserve Tennessee Whisky

Mashbill – 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley
Age – 17 years
Proof – 92
Other – Cask Strength Reserve
Price Paid – $350.00

Color – Medium copper

Aroma – Caramel, vanilla, honey, fruit, leather, light smokiness.

Taste –  Toffee, vanilla, honey, sweet fruits, nutmeg, and dark chocolate, with smokiness and allspice on the finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry took some the sweetness away and muted all the flavors. Now there is basically no finish.

Tasted with a pecan – The pecan made it spicier but the toffee notes returned. A hint of white pepper on the finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate is interesting as it didn’t do much on the taste but the creaminess is very nice.

Discussion and Final Notes

Interestingly, there are many similarities between the two and we enjoyed each of them.
***15-year-old: Loved the sweetness of vanilla, toffee, berry, and cocoa. Finishes with nutmeg, a woodiness, a hint of leather, and a light spice.
***17-year-old: Really enjoyed the toffee, vanilla, honey, sweet fruits, nutmeg, and dark chocolate, with smokiness and allspice on the finish.

About 15 minutes after we concluded our tasting, our empty glasses were still in front of us. As we often like to do, we revisited the aroma of each empty glass.
***15-year-old: The smokiness is more apparent and what you notice first; however, then there is a lovely sweetness that shines through.
***17-year-old: The first note is toffee and chocolate and those aromas are very pronounced. In addition, there is a cherry-toasted-marshmallow aroma that is divine.

Our recommendation: If you have an opportunity to try either of these, please do so. The 15-year-old is easier to find in stores. Considering the tasting experience, availability, AND the price difference ($80 vs $350), we recommend the 15-year-old. It provides an exceptional pour of Tennessee Whiskey at a good value.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Tennessee Whiskey

Tennessee Whiskey starts with the same requirements as Bourbon.  It must be made 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).

There are two additional requirements that make it unique. First, it must be made in the state of Tennessee.  Second, it must be filtered through maple charcoal prior to aging. The charcoal filtering is often accomplished using the Lincoln County Process.

For additional information, please read this post – Tennessee Whiskey.

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

Recent Visit with Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey

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March 28, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Rebecca & Wayne enjoying a Chocolate Cherry Cordial

February 23, 2024, Wayne and I decided to enjoy the Frankfort and Lawrenceburg areas in Kentucky. We only had one scheduled visit that day and it wasn’t until 5PM. It is amazing all the places you can visit in a single day.

Our first stop was at Wild Turkey. We cannot wait until their Visitor Center “refresh” is completed and they are offering tours again. We were told that would be very soon. Meanwhile, the people at their outpost are terrific.

We selected a few items to purchase and then enjoyed a fantastic cocktail – a Chocolate Cherry Cordial made with Russell’s 10 Year. I asked if Jimmy Russell might stop in and was told that our best bet would be after lunch. We decided not to wander too far so we could make a return trip later in the day.

We departed and just went with the flow. Our first stop was Lawrenceburg Bourbon, which is just down the road. Then we revisited Four Roses, Woodford Reserve, and Castle & Key. It was a lovely day to enjoy the beauty of the area. We had worked a good “loop” and the timing seemed good to return to Wild Turkey. As we approached the building, a few folks said – “Hey, someone is in there signing bottles and taking pictures.” In our minds, that could only be one person!

Visit with Jimmy Russell


We walked in to see Mr. Jimmy Russell and his lovely wife Joretta greeting visitors. We waited for our opportunity to speak with them. They were incredibly gracious and you could tell that Jimmy loved meeting people and sharing stories.

We took photos with him and he signed items for us. We stayed and talked with him whenever someone else wasn’t waiting for the opportunity. This was truly a dream come true and I admit to getting a bit emotional to finally meet him.

Jimmy got into a great conversation with Wayne about Judge McBrayer. He had someone grab publication where he looked up an article about Cedar Brook and was trying to find something about the Judge but couldn’t put his finger on it. It was a special conversation.

Wayne asked him if he loved the aromas of walking through a distillery as much as we do. He share that he really doesn’t notice the great smells because his nose is trained to look for something that is wrong or out of place. Then he knows there is an issue. Wayne also asked which of their bourbons was his favorite. He quickly noted that the Russell’s 10 Year is his pick!

He also signed my Bourbon Trail hat! This really made my day. I could have stayed longer but we really needed a bite to eat before our scheduled evening event.

What a fantastic experience to meet the “Buddha of Bourbon” who has enjoyed an amazing 60+ years making Wild Turkey whiskey! It should be no surprise that he is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. He was also granted a Lifetime Honorary Membership to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s Board of Directors. Read more of his story here.

Great Finds to Bring Home




In the morning, we selected the Russell’s Single Barrel and the Russell’s 10 Year. In the afternoon, we ha the opportunity to acquire the month’s personal selection by Eddie Russell of Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel.





We also got this amazing crystal decanter and a terrific Wild Turkey sign for our Bourbon Room.

This was a great memory for Our Bourbon Journey!

Cheers!
Rebecca

March 2024 Holladay Distillery Tasting

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03/26/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer 

Wayne and I became familiar with the Holladay Distillery and their bourbons while watching Mike Veach & Matt Kohorst tastings on the BourbonVeach YouTube channel. We first watched their tasting of the Soft Red Wheat and later the Rickhouse Proof. They each sounded amazing! We kept an eye out at our local liquor stores and have acquired three bottles over the last few months. We have also reviewed the Holladay Distillery website and now want to make time to visit there this summer! We hope you enjoy our tasting notes and want to give them a try as well.

Selected for this Tasting

Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond, Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Rickhouse Proof Small Batch Reserve. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.

Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond

Mashbill – 73% Corn, 15% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 6 years
Proof – 100
Other – Bottled in Bond
Price Paid – $69.99

Color – Medium amber

Aroma – Sweetness is the first thought, caramel, vanilla, fruity – perhaps a nice crisp apple.

Taste –  Very similar to the nose with one exception, it’s got baking spices on the finish. Sweet caramel, vanilla, and apple. Light cinnamon and a pleasant oak on the finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – The baking spices became pronounced on the front and the oak is gone. Still very pleasant. It’s almost like being at Cracker Barrel when you order that little bowl of baked cinnamon apples as a side dish.

Tasted with a pecan – The oak is more pronounced and there is still a lite cinnamon on the back.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Beside the mouth feel being great, most of the sweet notes are gone and a strong hit of cinnamon.

Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey


Mashbill – 73% Corn, 15% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 6
Proof – 100
Other – Bottled in Bond
Price Paid – $64.99

Color – Medium amber. 

Aroma – The sweetness of that soft red wheat is coming through as well as red fruits, vanilla, and a pleasant woodiness.

Taste – Great mouth feel to match the viscosity/legs as demonstrated on the glass. Much like the nose, the soft red wheat is present with sweet caramel and creamy vanilla, a juicy red apple, a hint of cinnamon with a light yet long finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Less sweet, the cinnamon is hitting the mid-palate while the apple seems to be the finish. Not bad – but interesting.

Tasted with a pecan – The caramel and vanilla have returned but the fruit is muted and the baking spices are stronger.

Tasted with dark chocolate – There’s no sweetness or fruit and limited woodiness, but baking spices on the finish. Different yet still pleasant.

Ben Holladay Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Rickhouse Proof Small Batch Reserve

Mashbill – 73% Corn, 15% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Age – 6 years
Proof – 120.1
Other – Small Batch Reserve
Price Paid – $74.99

Color – Medium to dark amber .

Aroma – Brown sugar, cherry or perhaps another red fruit.

Taste – Caramel, French vanilla, butterscotch, cinnamon, and other baking spices. It is 120.1 proof but it doesn’t drink like we just did a 20-point jump.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Muted the sweetness and amplified the cinnamon. Perhaps a hint of cherry or apple.

Tasted with a pecan – Creamy, juicy apple, woodiness, and a lot more baking spices on the finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Again, very creamy with baking spices, apple, and chocolate. Almost like a chocolate cake with creamy vanilla icing and crumble of apples and cinnamon on top. It is very good with dark chocolate.

Discussion and Final Notes

One thing is for certain, when you taste each of these, you know they are family. While they are each quite distinct, they have some common aromas and tastes that remind you that they are related.

On the nose, each had a lovely sweetness – either caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, or red fruits. The Soft Red Wheat also included that particular grain and the Rickhouse Proof seemed to bring more of the barrel notes and brown sugar. All inviting!

On the palate, they were very true to their nose and that doesn’t always happen. All had terrific viscosity with a very soft and creamy mouth feel. The BIB leaned in with sweet caramel, vanilla, and apple. The Wheated BIB was a bit more pronounced with sweet caramel and creamy vanilla as well as a juicy red apple. The Rickhouse Proof had more pop with its proof and the sweetness leaned more toward french vanilla and butterscotch.

On the finish, all were soft and lingering. The BIB and Wheated BIB lingered with a hint of cinnamon an oak. The Rickhouse Proof had was stronger with the baking spices and woodiness.

Our recommendation: If you find these locally, certainly give at least one a try. Align your selection to what your palate most enjoys. If you can’t decide, get them all as they will be a great addition to your bourbon collection. For us, we now know that we want a back-up bottle of each one plus a visit to the distillery!

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Missouri Bourbon Whiskey, Straight Bourbon, Bottled-in-Bond

Basic requirements of bourbon: Made in the U.S, distilled at <= 160 proof, barreled at <= 125 proof, aged in new, charred oak containers, free from additives (except water), and bottled at >= 80 proof.

Missouri Bourbon or Missouri Bourbon Whiskey must meet all federal requirements for bourbon AND the 2019 laws to include Missouri on the label: must be mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled in the state of Missouri; aged in oak barrels manufactured in Missouri; and, as of January 1, 2020 – made with corn exclusively grown in Missouri.

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.

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 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.

First Visit to Glenns Creek Distilling

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By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

February 23, 2024, Wayne and I had made plans to explore Lawrenceburg and Frankfort, KY. We have been there numerous times; however, mostly for the purpose of completing the Kentucky Bourbon Trail or for another event. For this trip, we determined that we would focus our bookings at places that we had not yet experienced. This led us to Glenns Creek Distilling.

Connection to the Old Crow Distillery

For anyone who is not aware, Jim Beam acquired Old Crow in 1987 from National Distillers. Following the acquisition, Jim Beam stopped production at the Old Crow distillery and now uses a portion of the property to age bourbon. The Old Crow label is owned and produced by Jim Beam, but it is now based on the Jim Beam mashbill.

In 2013, Glenns Creek Distillery began operations in part of the former Old Crow Distillery. The 30-year abandonment of historic distillery buildings evoked a mix of sadness and curiosity. Intrigued by their past, a group led by David Meier has delved into the history of the Old Crow Distillery, seeking to understand its role in bourbon production. They have created a new bourbon in the style of the distillery’s founder, honoring his legacy. The team is committed to restoring and preserving these architectural treasures, ensuring their appreciation for generations to come.

Private Experience with the Distiller

When looking for distillery experiences, I often seek those that seem different or above and beyond the normal distillery tours. While the basic tours are great, when you have completed over 100 distillery experiences, it is important see a different side and learn from someone new to us.

This approach led me to book the Private Experience with the Distiller at Glenns Creek. Friday evening was available and that seemed to be a perfect way to conclude our day. Being a private experience, we knew that we could really spend quality time learning. The description was intriguing …
—Because this is a private experience, we can modify it to meet your interests.
—In this experience, we will dive deeper into the process of distilling bourbon and other spirits.
—This is the experience for the true bourbon aficionado.
—This private experience makes a great gift. (and it was part of Wayne’s birthday gift!)

We first watched a video about the Old Crow Distillery. It was very informative. Next, we entered the distillery and joined owner/distiller, David Meier, at the tasting table. He led us in conversation about many of their bourbons, labeling, and an overall love of what they do and the historic facility in which they operate. We tasted, chatted, asked questions, and had a wonderful time.

He walked us through their production area, the mash, the stills, aging, etc. Throughout, David was a breath of fresh air, openly sharing his knowledge, personal opinions, and passion for what they are doing at Glenns Creek. There was time to be serious and time for pure laughter.

Very few pictures were taken as we were totally engaged in conversation. What a wonderful two hours. We are so happy that David purchased the former Old Crow distillery and has brought it to life by making spirits and sharing their story. If you haven’t visited there, put it on your list.

Gift Shop



The choices were abundant for items to take home. For this trip, we decided on the challenge coin ornament, a lovely pictorial book on the Old Crow Distillery, and their in-house roasted coffee (now one of Wayne’s favorites!).



Bottle Purchases

We decided to purchase Glenns Creek OCD #5, SWHEAT, and Cafe Ole. Each is a Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Please refer to our post regarding the Glenns Creek Tasting Notes for additional information.

Other Options for Glenns Creek Experiences

They currently offer four experiences. In addition to the one we booked, the ones below are also available. We look forward to joining them on a Ground Walk in the near future.

The Visitor Experience is a one-hour tasting while seated inside the distillery. This experience is offered frequently. Website Description: This is an experience unlike any other distillery. What we lack in shine and polish we make up for with humor and wit mixed in with a good bit of information you will not hear at other distilleries. It is NOT a tour. You will be sitting inside the distillery, and you will have an opportunity to sample 5 of our distilled spirits and sit with one of our distillers (everyone here is a distiller). We do not have a set script and prefer to have a dialog with guests and answer any questions they may have regarding the process of cooking, fermenting, distilling, and aging of our spirits. We build and operate the stills and other equipment and we can explain the still operation. We will review the history of this legacy distillery and the famous brand that was distilled here for over 100 years.

The Unoaked Experience is currently available on Friday and Saturday at noon. Website Description: During the Unoaked Experience you will have an opportunity to sample some unaged distilled spirits (they have never been in a barrel) and their aged counterparts while sitting with one of our distillers in the distillery. After this tasting, you will have an understanding of what the barrel does to a distilled spirit. We build and operate the stills and other equipment and we can explain the still operation. We will review the history of this legacy distillery and the famous brand that was distilled here for over 100 years.

The Grounds Walk and Tasting is available as scheduled. Always check the calendar. Website Description: This is a limited opportunity to walk the grounds of this iconic distillery that was built in the 1870s. On this walking tour, you will learn the history of The Old Crow Distillery and an explanation of how the top-selling bourbon was made here. The grounds walk is approximately 1 hour and will be rain or shine so please be prepared for the weather conditions. You will be walking on rough terrain. The grounds walk is followed by a visitor experience where you will be able to sample 5 of our distilled spirits.

Distillery Trail Statistics



Glenns Creek Distilling, in Frankfort, KY, was our 57th distillery visit. On Friday and Saturday, in addition to Glenns Creek, we visited 5 of the 7 distilleries listed below.

Pro Tip: Plan to visit other nearby distilleries. With advance planning, it is possible to create a terrific 3-4-day weekend trip with the distilleries in the Frankfort and Lawrenceburg areas.



Frankfort, KY
Castle & Key Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery
J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery
Whiskey Thief Distilling




Lawrenceburg, KY Area
Wild Turkey Distillery
Four Roses Distillery
Woodford Reserve Distillery

Happy Trails!
Rebecca

March 2024 Glenns Creek Tasting

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03/19/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

David Meier with Wayne & Rebecca




Wayne and I visited Glenns Creek Distilling 02/23/24 and had a very informative and enjoyable visit with the owner and Master Distiller, David Meier. We selected three of their expressions to take home and they are the subject of our tasting notes for today.



Selected for this Tasting

Glenns Creek OCD #5, SWHEAT, and Cafe Ole. Each is a Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already. 

Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

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.

Glenns Creek OCD #5 Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

Mashbill – Corn 85%, Rye 10%, Barley Malt 5%

Age – 44 months

Proof – 103.2

Price Paid – $70.00

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Cherry and corn are dominate with vanilla and baking spices as well.

Taste –  Corn, cherry, vanilla, with light baking spices. It has a lot of viscosity and that which is demonstrated about the legs on the glass as well. The finish is a pleasant warm hug.

Tasted with dried cranberry – A bit less corn but the cherry, vanilla, and baking spices remained.

Tasted with a pecan – Many of the earlier flavors seem to have been muted and replaced with a woodiness, light fruit, cinnamon and a white pepper finish.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Turned up the volume on the baking spices and it has a longer finish that lingers with chocolate.

Notes – Very nice, a lot of complexity. 

Glenns Creek SWEAT Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey


Mashbill – Corn 85%, Wheat 10%, Barley Malt 5%

Age – 42 months

Proof – 100

Price Paid – $68.00

Color – Light Amber

Aroma – Many sweet notes including corn, caramel, and cherry.

Taste –  Corn, the nuttiness of marzipan, and cinnamon on the finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Removed the corn and other flavor nuances and replaced it with stronger baking spices and light pepper.

Tasted with a pecan – Corn, woodiness, and caramel. Similar to a tub of buttered popcorn that has caramel and chocolate drizzled over it.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Baking spices, a hint of corn at the beginning.

Notes: Enjoyable. Corn forward so it somewhat loses the common wheat flavors. 

Glenns Creek Cafe Ole Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey


Mashbill – Corn 85%, Rye 10%, Roasted Barley Malt 5%

Age – 56 months

Proof – 105.8

Price Paid – $68.00

Color – Darker Amber

Aroma – Coffee, chocolate, rich caramel, butterscotch … like you walked into an amazing coffee shop.

Taste –  Coffee, chocolate, a fantastic mocha.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Not appealing as it removes the terrific mocha notes and brings out more of a cherry cough syrup.

Tasted with a pecan – Back to chocolate and coffee with a bit of woodiness.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Chocolate but lost the coffee. Instead, there is cherry, baking spices, and a white pepper finish.  

Notes: This would be an awesome after dinner drink. You could add it to a nice cup of coffee and top it off with whipped cream.

Final Notes and Discussion

While they are all very good and recommended, our personal preference order would be: Cafe Ole, OCD #5, and SWEAT. The first two are somewhat of a toss up but the Cafe Ole edged to the front due to its uniqueness.

The SWEAT is a very nice bourbon. Since it is so corn forward, the wheat takes a bit of a back seat. Love it as a bourbon but it wouldn’t rank high for us in the specific wheated bourbon category.

OCD #5 is terrific. Good level of complexity, excellent flavor profile, very enjoyable.

The Cafe Ole is phenomenal. It is complex with the coffee mocha nuances. It would make a great alternative for an after dinner drink if you didn’t want to have coffee, brandy, or even dessert after dinner. A neat pour of this would be fantastic.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

NOTE: The bourbons in this review were 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.

Feb 2024 Special Event at T.B. Ripy Home

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03/18/24
By Wayne McBrayer

The T.B. Ripy Home in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky is a place I have wanted to visit for the last couple of years. The Ripy house is located near where the McBrayer family owned a house many years ago and the two families were friends. For my 58th birthday, my wife bought tickets so we could hear Brad Bonds and Shannon Smith talk about Revival Vintage Bottle Shop, and the laws pertaining to the purchasing and selling of dusty bottles. It was a night I’ll never forget.

We got there early and were greeted by the owner of the house George Geoghegan lll who was happy that “McBrayer’s were in the house.” The event was on the main floor, which is the only floor that is currently used. A walking tour later would explain the reasons why. It was also raining so we made a point to drive by the next day to get exterior pictures of the house.

Presentation by Brad Bonds and Shannon Smith


We sat down toward the back of the room for the event. The owner decided to sit with us for the night as Brad and Shannon talked about their business and the passion they both have for bourbon. We sampled a 1973 Jim Beam comparing it to the current Jim Beam white as well as a 1969 Kentucky Tavern and and the current version of it. Both older versions were far superior with the 1969 Kentucky Tavern being my favorite of the 4. 

T.B. Ripy Home Tour

After the tasting, the owner led us on the tour of the house.  The estate was built in 1888 and is an expansive 11,000 square feet with 24 rooms!  The family reacquired the Queen Anne Style Mansion in 2010 with the intent of restoring the whole house.  The previous owner wrecked the upper levels of the house in ways that I couldn’t have dreamed of doing.  Painting over mahogany wood, putting up ugly wallpaper, cutting down ceiling high chimneys and the list goes on and on.  I didn’t take pictures of the upper area as it was a night tour and we were using cellphone flashlights to light away in the upper parts of the house. However, Rebecca captured a few photos of the main level.

Always Great People!

The night was wonderful and the people we met were great.  Ran into one of the descendants of the Hatfield family, met Joani Clark, who we connected with on Facebook and is a friend of the McBrayer family, chatted with Shannon Smith during the tour of the house and talked with Brad’s wife Katie Marie. 

Photos of the T.B. Ripy Home

Since it was an evening event and it was pouring down rain, we returned the next morning to capture some photos of the exterior of the house. It is stunning!

Plan a Visit!

I would recommend a tour or better yet, go to one of their whiskey events that they have.  The T.B. Ripy Home webpage has a listing of what’s coming up.

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

March 2024 Old Fitzgerald 1976 Decanter Tasting

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March 17, 2024
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Wayne and I were married March 17, 2020. Yesterday, Wayne surprised me with an early anniversary gift. It was an unopened bicentennial decanter of Old Fitzgerald. It had remained in a clear plastic carton and the bottle is pristine!

He shared that he spotted this bootle during our visit to Northern Kentucky and the Revival Vintage Bottle Shop in late January. He later contacted Brad Bonds and made the purchase.

About the Bottle: 1976 Old Fitzgerald American Sons of St. Patrick Bicentennial

The 1976 Old Fitzgerald American Sons of St. Patrick Bicentennial is a ceramic decanter that celebrates the 1976 American Sons of St. Patrick Bicentennial. The decanter is made of genuine porcelain by Fitzgerald Distillery, Inc. and is about 9 1/8 inches tall. The decanter is part of the Old Fitzgerald Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bicentennial bottling series and contains whiskey distilled at Stitzel-Weller.

Images on the decanter include: Com. John Barry, “Father of the Navy;” Maj. General John Sullivan; General Andrew Lewis, “Idol of the Army;” Andrew Jackson, First Irish President; Gustavus Conyngham, “The Dunkirk Pirate;” Col. John P. Fitzgerald, Finest Horseman in the Revolution; Tim Murphy, Hero of Bemis Heights 1777; Richard Montgomery, Hero at Quebec 1775; and Margaret Corbin at Ft. Washington, Nov 15, 1776.

Opening a Vintage Bottle

Opening a vintage bottle always requires care; however, even with the utmost care, corks can be brittle and break. This happened with this bottle on first touch of the ceramic lid.

Following what we had observed previously, I carefully placed toothpicks around the edge of the cork and carefully used a knife to loosen it. Unfortunately, I should have stuck the toothpicks in further as the cork broke off.

From this point, the main option was to allow the cork to fall into the bottle. We then strained it into a large glass a bit at a time to ensure removal of cork. An additional strain into a decanter was the final step.

The bourbon was clear, cork-free, and ready to drink!

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

Tasting Notes: Old Fitzgerald American Sons of St. Patrick Decanter

Mashbill – The researched mashbill for Old Fitzgerald Prime in the early 1970s was 70% Corn, 20% Wheat, and 10% Malted Barley.

Age – According to bourbon historian, Michael Veach, Old Fitz Prime was typically a blend of 4-8 year-old-whiskey with mostly 6-year-old.

Distilled – If this whiskey was bottled around 1976, and the dominate age was 6 years, it was likely distilled and barreled around 1970.

Proof – 86

Color – Deep golden to light amber.

Aroma – Caramel, apples, brown sugar, and vanilla.

Tasted Neat – Like a cinnamon candy apple that you get at the fair with a hint of leather and a very long and pleasant finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry –  Leather, tobacco, and a hint of apple.

Tasted with a pecan –  Apple, chocolate, baking spices, and tobacco.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Baking spices, apple, with light pepper on the finish.  

Additional note – About an hour after we finished the tasting, our empty glasses remained in front of us. The aroma from the glass carried a strong nose of tobacco and nothing else. It was fascinating.

Discussion and Final Notes

Tasting from a dusty bottle is always a unique experience. You quickly learn that what was made then may not taste like it does today. We have never owned a bottle of Old Fitzgerald but have had the opportunity to taste it. As wonderful as it is today, there is something about tasting history that brings it to a new level.

If you have the opportunity to taste Old Fitzgerald from this era, we highly recommend it. And if you do, let us know what you thought.

A huge thank you to our friend and bourbon historian, Michael Veach, who identified the bourbon as Old Fitzgerald Prime and the historical age of this bourbon at time of bottling.


If you are ever in the Northern Kentucky or Cincinnati area, please make plans to stop by and visit Revival Vintage Bottle Shop. It is an experience like none other.

When you first enter, you aren’t sure where to looks because you are surrounded by amazing dusty bottles that represent the history of spirits. They have great specials each day to taste these amazing dusty bottles.

If you decide you would like to take one home, Brad Bonds will guide you toward a great decision!

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Spirt Requirements

This bottle contains 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, read Bourbon Whiskey, part of the Sunday Spirit Notes.

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.

March 2024 Irish Whiskey Tasting

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03/14/24
By Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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

Irish whiskey is made from a high grain mash of barley, wheat, and corn. The exact quantities of each grain depend on the type of whiskey. The most common primary grain is barley.  The barley and be malted, un-malted, or a combination of each.

The Irish Whiskey Act of 1980 defines the basic requirements for Irish whiskey. The act protects Irish whiskey by statute law and provides regulations and labeling for the spirit. The requirements include: produced and aged in Ireland; made from cereal grains that are fermented with yeast; distilled no higher than 94.8% ABV (proof of 189.6); aged in wooden casks for a minimum of three years; free of added substances with the exception of water and caramel coloring; bottled at a minimum ABV of 40% (proof of 80). For more information, please read Irish Whiskey.

Irish Whiskey for this Tasting

For this tasting, we selected expressions from Bushmills, Tullamore DEW, Jameson, Ha’Penny, and Redbreast.

Bushmills


Type – Malt Irish Whiskey; Made in pot stills at one distillery with only water and malted barley.
Distillation – Triple Distilled
Proof – 80
Age – Minimum of 3 years in seasoned bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry casks
Price Paid – $24.98

Color – light gold
Aroma – light citrus, apples, cinnamon
Taste – a hint of tea, citrus, vanilla, melon, honey, Granny Smith apple, with cinnamon on the finish
Tasted with dried cranberry – added a pepper flavor as well as allspice.
Tasted with a pecan – chocolate really came forward and the spice is gone.
Tasted with dark chocolate – creamy, buttery, caramel.

Tullamore DEW


Type – Blended Irish Whiskey; made from three styles of Irish whiskey, including grain, malt, and pot still. 
Distillation – Triple Distilled
Proof – 80
Age – Non-age statement (NAS); aged in Oloroso Sherry and old bourbon oak casks
Price Paid – $24.98

Color – light gold
Aroma – grains, sweetness such as toffee and fruit
Taste – citrus, spice, vanilla, honey, earthy
Tasted with dried cranberry – slight fruitiness comes through and there is a berry and orange flavor as well.
Tasted with a pecan – citrus and a slight white pepper on the back
Tasted with dark chocolate – did not add anything to the flavor and seemed to mute it quite a bit.

Jameson

Type – Blended Irish Whiskey; the whiskey is a blend from both column and pot stills.
Distillation – Triple Distilled
Proof – 80
Age – Non-age statement (NAS)
Price Paid – $28.98
Color – light gold

Aroma – tea, floral, light spice, herbs
Taste – citrus – perhaps grapefruit, herbal, light spices, somewhat floral.
Tasted with dried cranberry – a pop of citrus came through with some pepper on the finish.
Tasted with a pecan – citrus again but the pepper is gone.
Tasted with dark chocolate – not much difference except there is white pepper on the finish.

Ha’Penny

Type – Unsure
Proof – 86
Age – Non-age statement (NAS) blend of 4–10-year-old whiskies from four types of barrels… Bourbon, Port, Sherry and Double Charred. 
Price Paid – $54.99

Color – light gold
Aroma – honey, chocolate, dates, vanilla
Taste – grain, dates, clove, berries, chocolate, cinnamon.
Tasted with dried cranberry – a lot of citrus with the cranberry.
Tasted with a pecan – chocolate, similar to a chocolate covered orange.
Tasted with dark chocolate – no change, did not enhance or detract.

Redbreast 12 Year

Type – Pot Still Irish Whiskey; Denotes it was made from malted and un-malted barley and distilled only in a pot still.
Distillation – Triple Distilled
Proof – 80
Age – 12 years
Price Paid – $73.99

Color – light gold
Aroma – brown sugar, herbal, light spice, fruit
Taste – tea, citrus, maybe lemon tea, fruit, spicy notes, some toasted flavors.
Tasted with dried cranberry – not a lot of change but somewhat of a bubbly mouth fee.
Tasted with a pecan – adds a note of chocolate.
Tasted with dark chocolate – almost added the zest of a lemon or orange.

Discussion and Final Notes

**Bushmills: Clean, crisp, citrus, easy to drink, readily available, only $25.
**Tulamore: Nice, citrus, spice, vanilla, honey, earthy, easy to drink, readily available, only $25.
**Jameson: Good, grapefruit, herbal, light spices, somewhat floral, easy to drink, readily available, under $30.
**Ha’Penny: Very good, grain, dates, clove, berries, chocolate, cinnamon, smooth to drink, haven’t seen it in bars or prevalent in liquor stores (we acquired it on our Town Branch Distillery visit), a bit higher price point at $55.
**Redbreast: Excellent, tea, citrus, maybe lemon tea, fruit, spicy notes, some toasted flavors, very pleasant drink, readily available, highest price point at $74 but it is a 12-year-old.

Recommendations
All of these are good pours of Irish Whiskey. If you just want to shoot a few on St. Patty’s Day, we recommend going with any of the lower priced items. If you want to drink it neat and seek to acquire more of a taste for Irish Whiskey, Red Breast 12-year-old was the standout for this particular lineup.

Cheers,
Rebecca

Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer

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