Mashbill – 70% Corn, 15% Wheat & 15% Toasted Barley Malt
Age – 5 years
Proof – 109.6 (cask strength)
Other – Non-Chill Filtered for a Robust Profile and Mouthfeel, Pot Distilled for a Pre-Prohibition Style that is Full Bodied, has a Low Distillation Proof of 137* for Depth of Flavor, Low Barrel Entry Proof at 110* for a rounded Palette and is a Limited Release.
Specifics – Barrel 452; Bottle 149 of 201

Price Paid – $105 (average of total auction price of $210; MSRP $85)

Color – Medium Amber

Aroma – Very inviting with caramel, vanilla, toffee, a light butterscotch with a hint of smokiness and cherry.

Tasted Neat – Similar to the nose with note of butterscotch, caramel, baking spices, cinnamon, and a hint of dark cherry.

Finish – Pleasant and lasting with baking spices, cinnamon, and notes of wood that linger in a great way.

Tasted with dried cranberry – This muted most of the great flavors and eliminated the sweetness. The baking spices remained and there is an addition of black pepper on the finish.

Tasted with a pecan – Very nice as the butterscotch returned with the addition of a very nice dark chocolate. The finish has more wood and oak flavor that previously.

Tasted with dark chocolate – The chocolate really increased the spice notes but not in a bad way. It also added a creaminess that was pleasant.

Mashbill – 95% Rye, 5% Malted Rye
Age – 4 years
Proof – 114.4
Other – Bourbon Women Peacock Preferred Pick
Price Paid – $105 (average of total auction price of $210; MSRP $80)

Color – Amber hue

Aroma – Rye grass, brown sugar, pears, and mint tea.

Tasted Neat –  Rye grass spices and cinnamon greet you with the first sip. Great mouth feel and there is a sweetness of pears and then a hint of oak and a slight smokiness.

Finish – The finish is very similar in that it begins spicy then leads into the pear and a bit of caramel and finally with a slight coolness of mint coupled by a sweet but smoky oakiness. Great finish.

Tasted with dried cranberry – Surprising as it created a rather sour note and the spices and rye grass way back. Not unpleasant but not great either.

Tasted with a pecan – As sometimes happens, the pecan amplified the spices and brought a lot of black pepper forward. The finish was very short as well.

Tasted with dark chocolate – Not very flavorful with the dark chocolate. It was creamy and with black pepper on the finish.

Discussion and Final Notes

Cheers,
Rebecca & Wayne

_{Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer}

Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskey Requirements

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.

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.

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.