Wayne and I recently visited the Starlight Distillery in Borden, IN for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it. Please see our visit story HERE. Thus, for this tasting, we decided to taste a recent Single Barrel release that we purchased during our visit: Starlight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Champagne Wine Barrels. We were intrigued by this one at the distillery and requested a small sample taste. That was enough for us to make the purchase. Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Starlight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Champagne Wine Barrels, Single Barrel
Mashbill – Carl T. Single Barrel Bourbons begins with their 3-grain and 4-grain mash bills. Undisclosed blend of: 1) 60% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley 2) 51% Corn, 20% Rye, 20% Malted Barley, 9% Wheat
Age – 4 years Proof – 117.8 Price Paid – $80.24 (with tax) Finished – Finished in Champagne Wine Barrels Other – Sweet Mash Fermentation, Distilled in Copper Pot Stills; uncut, and straight from the barrel without any filtration.
Appearance – Golden amber. They are somewhat slow to form but this spirit has terrific legs on the glass.
Aroma – Very inviting nose with the light brightness of summer fruits and maybe a hint of citrus. There is also the sweetness of vanilla cream. In addition, there is a warm baking spice aroma coming through.
TastedNeat – The bourbon comes forward clearly with notes of vanilla cream, light caramel, hints of grape, and nice baking spices. The finish is fascinating with somewhat of an effervescence that is almost popping with the flavor of grapes. It is like the perfect marriage of bourbon and champagne in a most unique way.
Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry makes it pop more and brings the grape forward. The front and middle of the palate is champagne-like while the finish has a warm bourbon hug with spices.
Tasted with a pecan – The pecan comes through like a candied pecan and the grape-like fruitiness is gone as is the effervescence. It is also much woodier an with a nice spice note. Different but still good.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Interestingly, the chocolate brought a lot of spice, such as white pepper, baking spices, and cinnamon. The effervescence returned as well and each pop seems a bit like a spice explosion.
Discussion and Final Notes
This is a story of bourbon meeting champagne and becoming great friends. In our minds, this shouldn’t be the case; however, in our mouths, this unique finishing creates a one-of-a-kind taste sensation. The feeling of effervescence and the taste of a traditional bourbon with hints of a light champagne taste is so interesting.
We love that the bourbon holds its own and in a really strong way. However, this does not detour the champagne from letting you know it has arrived at the party as well! This is a bottle that we will want to share with friends to see what they think and watch their reactions. It is truly different, in a great way, and a terrific addition to a bourbon collection.
Cheers, Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
Straight Bourbon Whiskey Requirements& Sweet Mash
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.
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.
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.
Last weekend, Wayne and I were headed to our annual family reunion at Lynnhurst Family Resort in Murray, KY, and the route took us through Hopkinsville, KY. If you know the Bourbon Trail, that means that Casey Jones Distillery was on the way. We couldn’t resist stopping by for a quick visit.
We didn’t even get to the front door, and we were warmly welcomed and thanked for visiting. We chatted about what might be new, what they were working on, and sought suggestions. We decided that we would do their next scheduled tasting. While waiting for the tasting to begin, we each enjoyed a cocktail in their bar area.
At Casey Jones, the tasting includes 10 small samples for $10. The challenge is that there are usually about 15 items available. The tasting leader describes what is being poured, and you decide if that will be one of your 10 samples. We enjoyed our choices, and the next challenge was determining what to purchase. We settled on a few new options as well as some favorites to replenish.
Selected for this Tasting
We selected the Casey Jones Barrel Cuts. Casey Jones Single Barrel Cut (white label) at 102.6 Proof and Casey Jones Double Barrel Cut (blue label) at 103.9 proof. Each was made using the Casey Jones’ Prohibition-era moonshine recipe of 50% Yellow Corn and 50% Cane Sugar. In addition, they were produced on the Authentic Square Pot Still. They were then finished in new, toasted #4 char wood-fired barrels. The double barrel (blue label) was then finished in their used bourbon barrels.
Casey Jones’ Authentic Square Pot Still
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Casey Jones Single Barrel Cut
Mashbill – 50% Yellow Corn and 50% Cane Sugar Age – NAS, Up to 4 years. Proof – 103.9 Price Paid – $58.29
Appearance – Copper with great legs.
Aroma – Butter, almost butterscotch, brown sugar, a hint of spice, and a bit of that #4 char coming forward. Sweet and inviting.
Tasted Neat – Surprisingly, not as sweet on the palate as it was on the nose. It has a great mouthfeel, very soft and smooth. It starts out as butterscotch then there is a long and warm finish of cinnamon.
Tasted with dried cranberry – The cran emphasized the butter and lightened the finish. The cinnamon is now a much lighter baking spice, perhaps more of a nutmeg.
Tasted with a pecan – The pecan truly took over and added a very woody note. The finish really lingers with a soft and warm baking spice.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Fascinating! There is usually a creaminess with the dark chocolate but not with this. In fact, the sweetness is gone and it is much spicier with a strong cinnamon finish.
Casey Jones Double Barrel Cut
Mashbill – 50% Yellow Corn and 50% Cane Sugar Age – NAS, Up to 4 years. Proof – 103.9 Price Paid – $58.29
Appearance – Copper with great legs
Aroma – Cocoa and honey with a light nuttiness. Very nice.
Tasted Neat – Very chocolate forward with a hint of cherry. The finish is light and tingling such as a pepper. Quite surprising and wonderful.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This brought the cherry forward but in a spicy way. The nuttiness is gone and so is the chocolate on the front. Instead, it finishes like a chocolate cherry cordial. Very interesting that the cranberry moved the spice more to the front.
Tasted with a pecan – Very pecan forward and with added notes of the barrel. The chocolate and cherry seems to have vanished and it seems like a totally different sip.
Tasted with dark chocolate – This helped bring the chocolate and cherry forward and the finish is very gentle now, it’s warm and lingering not truly spicy.
Discussion and Final Notes
The first one (white label) is so amazing on the nose. That buttery sweetness is so warm and inviting. The second one (blue label) has the fantastic chocolate and cherry nose. They are each terrific but if we could only smell one, we might have to go with the white label.
Similarly, each has a wonderful taste! Again, the white label is like buttered toffee but the blue label has chocolate, cherry and cinnamon. If we had to chose, we would go with the blue label on taste due to its added complexity.
Overall, we would have to make it a truly split decision. Each is terrific and a great addition to a collection. We highly recommend Casey Jones Distillery, which is just outside of Hopkinsville, KY. The Master Distiller is normally there and happy to answer questions, sign bottles, and visit. They often have food trucks on the weekend and cocktails are available in their bar. We have always had great experiences with all of their staff.
Cheers, Rebecca & Wayne
Photos by Rebecca Herman McBrayer
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.
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.
For this tasting, Wayne and I tasted the latest release from Green River Distilling – their Kentucky Straight Full Proof Bourbon. We purchased this bottle when we attended their Full Proof Release Event on June 7, 2024.
For the release event, we received a gift bag that included a bottle of Green River Full Proof in commemorative packaging and one of their newly redesigned Glencairn glasses, which is really beautiful.
Time to open the box for the surprise!
From Green River’s Press Release: Green River Full Proof is a blend of five-to-seven-year barrels selected from curated areas of Green River’s Owensboro tile warehouses and feature the same mash bill as Green River Kentucky Straight Bourbon. These original tile warehouses maintain both warm and cool temperatures, yielding unique proof variation and liquid maturation. The result is a pure expression offering a robust flavor profile which preserves the barrel character while bringing massive flavor to the palate.
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Green River Kentucky Straight Full Proof Bourbon
Mashbill – 70% Corn, 21% Rye, and 9% Malted Barley Age – A blend of 5-, 6-, and 7-year-old barrels Proof – 117.3 Price Paid – $49.99 Other – One of the coolest bottles around with the horseshoe base as a throwback to their historical DSP-KY-10
TastedNeat – The warmth of backing spices and like the nose, there is vanilla, citrus, honeysuckle, caramel, and dried cherry. On a second sip, cocoa and mint appear. The finish is lingering with more spicy notes of black pepper and cinnamon, a hint of fruit, and the barrel char is noticeable.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Light and bright. The citrus is more prominent and it is less spicy but still a finish of cinnamon.
Tasted with a pecan – A bit more woody and somewhat hot but not with a distinct spice. The citrus and other great notes seem to be gone.
Tasted with dark chocolate – That is really good. The light cocoa from the neat taste is coming through with more chocolate and the rye mint flavors. The finish remains very nice and oaky with the dark chocolate as well.
Discussion and Final Notes
This is a really good full proof. At 117.3 it is pretty easy to drink after the first acclimation sip. It has a wonderful range of flavors with a terrific body and mouthfeel. The blending of this was masterful as is evident from such a balanced taste profile.
Value – all day long! This is a 5-7-year blended full proof bourbon for under $50. It is very elegant and highly enjoyable. We might want to try this head-to-head with other full proofs / barrel strengths of a similar proof. This is not allocated and should be widely available.
We highly recommend trying this Green River Full Proof. For the price point, we plan to always have a “back up” on hand as well. This could easily become one of our regular pours.
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.
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.
“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.
Wayne and I have discussed our desire to do an American Single Malt Tasting for some time. Last weekend we picked up Bulleit’s offering and our interest in opening that bottle led us to do a full tasting. Ironically, we intended to taste only three; however, we started to see a meal pairing theme and decided to taste two additional ones following a break. It was incredibly interesting. If you haven’t tried American Single Malts, we hope that these tasting notes might encourage you to give at least one a try.
Selected for this Tasting
Part One: Bulleit Single Malt, Clermont Steep by Jim Beam, and Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey – by Limestone Branch
Part Two: New Riff Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey and Moving Pieces American Single Malt Whiskey – by Second Sight Distillery
Please be sure to read our approach to Tasting Whiskey if you haven’t already.
Bulleit Single Malt
Mashbill – 100% Malted Barley Age – NAS (at least 4 years) Proof – 90 Price Paid – $66.48
Color – Golden
Aroma – An inviting sweetness is on the nose much like honey, bright fruit scents such as apricot and citrus, as well as nutmeg and oak. It really encourages you to want to taste it.
Tasted Neat – The honey and sweetness from the nose are right there on the palate, those lead to the herbal/citrus flavors such as lemongrass and ginger. The finish has a hint of cocoa, cinnamon, and oak. The overall taste is really pleasant.
Tasted with dried cranberry – The sweetness faded while the lemon aspects came forward. It isn’t bad, just different.
Tasted with a pecan – The pecan eliminated the citrus and now the oak is dominant and there is an allspice finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Oddly, the chocolate brought out many bitter notes, perhaps a touch of malt, and the finish tastes like black pepper.
Overall, we enjoyed it neat or with the dried cranberry. It is very approachable and tastes a bit like summertime. If you have shied away from trying an American Single Malt, this might be a terrific option.
Clermont Steepby Jim Beam
Mashbill – 80% Standard Malted Barley, 20% Golden Pilsner Malted Barley Age – 5 years Proof – 94 Price Paid – $63.59
Color – Light Amber or Bronze
Aroma – Roasted barley and a light smokiness is first. A very toasted aroma. Also on the nose is a sweetness of caramel, oak, and baking chocolate or maybe coffee beans.
Tasted Neat – Very similar to the nose … sweet and earthy at the same time but with more spice. Caramel and toffee with barley, nuts, and charred oak. Also tasted a hint of honey and white pepper. Similar notes on its rather long finish with malted barley, caramel, oak, and pepper.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This negated many of the flavors but added pepper almost like pepper flavored Pop Rocks candy.
Tasted with a pecan – The earth tones are amplified with strong nutty notes and there is an additional woodiness with a light and smooth finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Fascinating as it really didn’t have much flavor at all with the dark chocolate.
Overall, we enjoyed it neat or with the pecan. This is an all-around good pour with terrific malt flavors and, again, an approachable choice for trying an American Single Malt.
Yellowstone American Single Malt Whiskey– by Limestone Branch
Mashbill – 100% Malted Barley Age – NAS (at least 4 years) Proof – 108 Price Paid – $54.49
Color – Light Amber
Aroma – Fruity with apricot or pear, floral scents perhaps honeysuckle, the malted barley is coming through in a cereal-like fashion. Great nose.
Tasted Neat – It begins with a lovely floral sweetness of honeysuckle, apricot, and caramel. The taste evolves to graham cracker and pastry crust then finishes with a combination of sweetness, oak, and white pepper.
Tasted with dried cranberry – Very nice as there was the sweetness of honey followed by a much more intense finish of oak and pepper.
Tasted with a pecan – This created a very smooth and sweet woodiness with a nice white pepper finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – This was not a good pairing as it made any flavors very harsh.
Overall, we enjoyed it neat or with the dried cranberry. In some ways, this drinks a bit more like a bourbon than the other two did and the fruity sweetness is very nice and welcoming.
Moving Pieces American Single Malt Whiskey– by Second Sight Distillery
Mashbill – 100% Malted Barley (5 types) Other – Crafted using 5 different malts and aged in small barrels before being blended to new 55 gallon barrels for its final finish. Age – 5 years Proof – 96 Price Paid – $106.00
Color – Very Dark Amber
Aroma – A burst of coffee and chocolate malt with the sweetness of brown sugar.
Tasted Neat – The dominate taste is a fantastic dark roast coffee but there is so much more going on. There are also raisins and a dark cherry with dark chocolate or perhaps a chocolate malted mocha. There is a very nice lingering finish of cinnamon that brings thoughts of oatmeal raisin cookies.
Tasted with dried cranberry – The cranberry brightened it a bit but also brought a hint of bitterness as if from the zest of an orange.
Tasted with a pecan – This pairing really brought forward the coffee and the chocolate together with a hint of white pepper on the finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – This negated the coffee and made the chocolate pretty dominant … like a chocolate covered caramel.
Overall, we enjoyed it neat as well as with the pecan or dark chocolate. Its name says it all … Moving Pieces … it changes quite a bit and remains dark and inviting throughout the pour. Quite amazing overall.
New Riff Kentucky Single Malt Whiskey
Mashbill – 100% Malted Barley (up to 6 types) Other – Various mashbills matured in a variety of casks for at least 7 years and then blended to create this concept. The six mashbills include: 100% Maris Otter, a classic British ale malt; 100% Golden Promise, a classic Scotch whisky malt; Barleywine-style, after high gravity, heavy bodied barleywine ales; Belgian quadrupel-style, in the fashion of rich, mellow Trappist ales; 100% Scottish peated barley malt, heavily smoked and pungent; 100% Chevallier Heirloom malted barley, an 1820s-vintage English variety.
Age – at least 7 years Proof – 113.8 Price Paid – $75.77
Color – Dark Amber
Aroma – There is sweetness and earthiness. Specifically, malted grains, dark chocolate, and coffee with hints of citrus and smoke. Very complex on the nose.
Tasted Neat – Sweet and earthy notes from the various barley and barrel treatments such as sherry and oak. Chocolate and cherries somewhat like a cherry cordial, soft caramel, coffee beans, and a light smokiness. On the finish there are light fruit and sherry notes with citrus, spice, and a bit of smokiness.
Tasted with dried cranberry – This muted the flavor profile and brought forward a harsh lime zest and a spicy finish.
Tasted with a pecan – This pairing is nice as the chocolate returns and it is a lot like a chocolate turtle, the barrel is present, and there is a nice and spicy finish.
Tasted with dark chocolate – Not very flavorful, only cinnamon and spices.
Overall, we enjoyed it neat and with the pecan. This is a complex pour that you need to take your time with to fully enjoy its nuances.
Discussion and Final Notes
While enjoying this extended tasting, we noted that each one was unique and also had some similarities. Also, what each paired well with provided an idea of how we might have an American Single Malt dinner pairing.
Bulleit is an afternoon salad luncheon outdoors with friends. It would also be great in the appetizer round of a pairing event. It’s bright and herbal nature would make it complement a salad or charcuterie board very well.
Clermont is hearty yet approachable. It could pair well with a cheese plate but for a dinner pairing we would enjoy it with a lovely steak to bring out that smoky char.
New Riff would be terrific with a dessert as it would complement the sweetness and bring some additional complexity. With it cherry cordial notes and nice cherry cheesecake might be fantastic with it.
Moving Pieces, with its strong, bold, coffee notes could be served with coffee, in coffee, or instead of coffee. If for dessert, a chocolate-focused desert would be very nice.
Yellowstone has a lot of flexibility and could be inserted into many portions of the dinner pairing lineup. We find it most relatable to an after dinner, after dessert drink. Sit back with friends, reminisce about the day, and enjoy a nice cigar.
So overall, we recommend all five and we have a place for them for whatever you were doing in your life on a particular day and if you want to have a phenomenal American Single Malt dinner, you could easily do it with these five selections.
If you haven’t tried American Single Malts, we hope that these tasting notes encourage you to give at least one a try.
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.
To be labeled American Single Malt Whiskey, the product must be distilled entirely at one U.S. distillery, and must be mashed, distilled, aged in the United States. The product also must be sourced from a fermented mash of 100% malted barley, at a distillation proof of 160° or less, and stored in oak barrels not exceeding 700 liters. In addition, allowable coloring, flavoring, and blending materials would be permitted.
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.
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.
Your Bourbon Journey 