Press Release: Old Forester Celebrates Repeal Day with First-Ever National Sweepstakes

December 2, 2021 / BSG / 0 Comments

Today, Old Forester has announced that in celebration of National Repeal Day (Dec. 5), Old Forester Distilling Co. will offer consumers nationwide the chance to purchase a rare bottle of Old Forester President’s Choice – a release that is typically only available for sale in-person at Old Forester Distillery and select Kentucky retailers. Making this the brand’s first-ever national sweepstakes for one of its most sought-after limited releases.

Fans can enter the sweepstakes starting at 9 a.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 2 through 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10 here* on the website (Florida and New York residents must enter here). All winners will be chosen on Dec. 13 and will receive an email notifying them of their win and will have a bottle of Old Forester President’s Choice reserved at the Old Forester Distillery in their name. Winners will have until Saturday, January 29, 2022 to pick up their bottle in-person at Old Forester Distillery. This year, fifth-generation Brown family member Campbell Brown, with the guidance of Master Taster Jackie Zykan, selected the single barrel for release. Brown is chairman of Brown-Forman Corporation.

You can read the full press release from the distillery below.

Image courtesy of Old Forester Distilling Company

Old Forester Celebrates Repeal Day with First-Ever National Sweepstakes

Louisville, Ky. (December 2, 2021) – In celebration of National Repeal Day, Old Forester Distilling Co is offering consumers nationwide the chance to win the opportunity to purchase a rare bottle of Old Forester President’s Choice.

It’s the first time the distillery has offered a national sweepstakes for one of its most sought-after bourbons.

“It’s often difficult for consumers to buy President’s Choice unless they happen to be at the distillery on the day it’s released,” Master Taster Jackie Zykan said. “We continue to look for ways to improve our systems to share these special bottles with our fans, and we believe this new approach can help us achieve just that.”

People who enter the sweepstakes are seeking to win the opportunity to purchase one bottle of President’s Choice. Consumers may enter the sweepstakes starting at 9 a.m. Dec. 2 through 5 p.m. December 10.

Consumers in New York and Florida may enter here; consumers in all other states may enter here

Winners will be chosen at random and notified on Dec. 13. Potential winners have the opportunity to purchase this special bottle from the Old Forester Distillery.

President’s Choice is a single barrel expression and among the finest whisky made by Old Forester, the only bourbon brand to exist before, during and after Prohibition — and made by the same Brown family of Louisville, Ky.

December 5, 1933, was the day Prohibition was repealed — a moment now celebrated annually.

The traditional release of President’s Choice dates back to 1890 when founder and president George Garvin Brown presented the first iteration of President’s Choice to the Governor of Kentucky.

This year, fifth-generation Brown family member Campbell Brown, with the guidance of Master Taster Jackie Zykan, selected the single barrel for release. Brown is chairman of Brown-Forman Corporation.

Old Forester President’s Choice retails for $179.99 in limited quantities.

Notes:

Aroma: On the nose, this barrel expresses itself as sweet and inviting with notes of creamy milk chocolate, baked apple and complemented by touches of toasted coconut and brown sugar.

Taste: The palate opens up beautifully with bright caramel that transitions to robust spices.

Finish: The bold and balanced flavor profile is followed at the end by notes of sweet vanilla cream and fresh anise to round out a lengthy clean finish of President’s Choice.

About Brown-Forman:

For 151 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, BenRiach, GlenDronach, Slane, and Fords Gin. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by over 4,800 employees and sold in more than 170 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit https://www.brown-forman.com/.

About Old Forester Bourbon:

Old Forester is Brown-Forman’s founding brand, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was so pure and consistent that he sealed it, signed it, and pledged, “There is nothing better in the market.”

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Please sip responsibly.

Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 52% Alc. by Vol., Old Forester Distilling Company at Louisville in Kentucky. OLD FORESTER is a registered trademark. ©2021 Brown-Forman. All rights reserved. Please do not share or forward this content with anyone under the legal drinking age.

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Press Release: Buffalo Trace Distillery Releasing Weller Single Barrel Bourbon

May 19, 2020 / BSG / 0 Comments

Today, details have been shared about the next limited release in the wildly popular Weller line out of Buffalo Trace Distillery. This is a 97 proof (48.5% ABV) single barrel bourbon. These bottles are also sure to be one of this year’s unicorns to hope for in your local liquor store raffles. Don’t expect to just find one hanging out on the shelf without a hefty markup from the SRP of $49.99 for this 750 ml bottle!

You can read the full press release from Buffalo Trace Distillery below.

Images courtesy of Buffalo Trace Distillery

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (May 19, 2020) A Weller Single Barrel offering is the latest addition in the storied Weller bourbon line from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Bottled at 97 proof, the Weller Single Barrel will be an annual release, starting this Summer.

“Many of our Weller fans have been asking for a single barrel bourbon for quite a while, and we’ve planned for this addition for a number of years, so we’re excited to be able to make this happen, said Joshua Steely, marketing manager, bourbon. “Our rye bourbon mash bill has a variety of options, like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Stagg Jr. George T. Stagg and E.H. Taylor, Jr. bourbons, so it’s nice to be able to offer some variety in our wheated bourbon mash bill as well.”

Tasting notes for the new expression describe the new Weller Single Barrel as having a nose of cherry and mint, fading to vanilla. Caramel and baking spices with hints of cocoa explode on the palate, with a finish of cinnamon, coffee, and a hint of pepper.

Weller Single Barrel joins the Weller line up of Weller Special Reserve, Weller Antique 107, Weller 12 years old, Weller Full Proof, Weller Craft Your Perfect Bourbon, and William Larue Weller, which is part of the Antique Collection, released each fall.

The Weller Single Barrel will be available starting in June this year, and although the offering will be limited, it will be released once per year. The packaging will contain a cork stopper, like the Weller Full Proof Bourbon released last year. Suggested retail pricing is $49.99.

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BSG Review: Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Rye Whiskey PLUS Bonus Bespoke Gin Tasting

May 18, 2020 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Rabbit Hole Distillery

Location: Louisville, KY

Parent Company: Pernod Ricard (as of June 2019)

Class: KY Straight Rye Whiskey

Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)

Age: 3+ years

Mash bill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley

Boxergrail rye whiskey was named in celebration of Louisville’s rich boxing heritage. Rabbit Hole says this Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is bold and unexpected like the prize fighters that have emerged from Louisville’s neighborhood gyms.

Boxergrail is aged in #3 wood-fired, toasted and charred new American Oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage and has a barrel entry proof of 110. It is aged just under four years and is non-chill filtered. This rye whiskey has a SRP just under $50 per 750 mL bottle.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Caramel

Nose: Vanilla, baking spices, oak, leather

Palate: Baking spices, oak, light caramel, lemon zest

Finish: Medium-long, lemon tea and baking spices

Boxergrail starts with an aroma that is mostly spices and leather. The vanilla is there up front, but subtle. Not at all unexpected for this 95/5 mash bill. When it hits the palate, those baking spices are dominating with hints of oak and the lightest of caramel flavor coming through the mid-palate. It then pulls in some lemon zest at the end before going down. The finish is medium-long and stays on the baking spice note before fading away into a nice lightly refreshing lemon tea. As with the Heigold high-rye bourbon from Rabbit Hole, I experienced almost no Kentucky hug with this finish, which made for an extremely easy sipping rye whiskey.

I enjoyed the familiar “95/5” baking spice notes from the nose to the palate. That is exactly what I would expect from just about any rye using that mash bill. However, the lemon tea finish was a nice way to round this one out that I don’t normally get on other rye whiskeys of the same 95/5 mash bill. This is a solid rye whiskey in the Rabbit Hole lineup and puts a nice little spin on the typical 95/5 flavor profile for me.

Buy/Try/Pass?

BSG Recommendation: Buy

BSG Score: 84/100

Disclaimer: Rabbit Hole provided this product in exchange for an honest review with no strings attached.

BSG Reviews: Scoring Explanation

BSG BONUS TASTING: Rabbit Hole Bespoke Gin

On April 27, 2020 Rabbit Hole announced that Bespoke Gin would be the newest addition and first non-American whiskey spirit added to their lineup. Bespoke Gin is 89 Proof (44.5% ABV) and it has a SRP of $49.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

I’ll be the first to admit that gin is not my forte when it comes to tasting spirits. However, this one grabbed my attention because of how it’s finished. I regularly venture into the realm of barrel finished whiskeys, but have recently been jumping in to see what other spirits can gain from being finished in whiskey barrels. I love beer aged in whiskey barrels, so why wouldn’t I try spirits aged in whiskey barrels, too?

Bespoke Gin starts its life as a London Dry Gin made using botanicals of angelica, coriander, juniper, lemon peel, licorice, orange peel, and orris root. Rabbit Hole imports this gin into Louisville and puts it to rest in thier Boxergrail rye whiskey barrels for 9 to 12 months. Anyone who has read my past reviews or heard me speak of my flavor preferences and dislikes will know that licorice is one note that turns me off of a whiskey faster than any other note. After reading the recipe for the London Dry Gin, I had a preconceived notion that this might not be the right barrel finished spirit for me.

I won’t pretend to be a gin expert, so there will be no full scale review of the spirit like I have done with the whiskey, but I will give you my thoughts from the perspective of a whiskey enthusiast.

The time in the rye barrel gives the spirit its golden color and imparts some very non-gin flavors into the spirit that seem to make it fit down my alley for the flavor profile. Surprisingly, I did not get any licorice notes, nor an overpowering juniper note that I had really expected to have dominated the flavor profile. I did get those citrus zest notes on both the nose and the palate, but also some honey and baking spices that undoubtedly were thanks to the Boxergrail rye barrel. So, what would my recommendation be for the Bespoke Gin from a whiskey drinkers perspective?

Buy/Try/Pass?

BSG Recommendation: Try

If I’m going to imbibe a gin-based cocktail or even a rocks pour, I would say give me this barrel finished gin all day over another non-barrel-aged London Dry Gin. Try it out in a bar first before jumping in on a whole bottle. You never know, maybe barrel aged gin is just what you need to open up another door in your journey.

Disclaimer: Rabbit Hole provided this product in exchange for an honest review with no strings attached.

BSG Reviews: Scoring Explanation

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Do Whiskey Review “Scores” Matter Anymore to Today’s Whiskey Consumer?

May 6, 2020 / BSG / 1 Comment

When I decided to start keeping track of tasting notes for myself, and then eventually adapting that into leading tasting events for others, I couldn’t quite make up my mind exactly how I wanted to categorize my final thoughts about what I was tasting. I wanted to be able to quickly look back at anything I have tried and be able to tell exactly how I felt about it without having to read back through the details about everything I had written. More about how and what I decided to include in my own reviews, later.

I’m a big fan of watching, reading and listening to what others think about the spirits I’m trying as well. With the vast number of whiskey options we have to choose from today, and the many sources of media available for us to be able to absorb information about those options, finding multiple reviews isn’t too difficult of a task these days. With taste being so subjective, finding opinions from various reviewers before deciding to spend your own money on something unknown is a great way to potentially help you save some money or potentially steer you toward something you may not have picked out on your own. Once you find other people that have similar taste preferences, you are probably going to keep referring to their judgments over those from other reviewers with different preferences.

The scoring topic piqued my interest again as I was hosting a virtual tasting event a few weeks ago during this COVID-19 stay-at-home order and again while watching Fred Minnick’s “Taste Along With A Bourbon Expert” segment during the Whiskey From Home simulcast event on May 2, 2020 that was organized by the Bourbon Pursuit Podcast team. Fred mentioned something about his recent thoughts regarding the 100 point scoring system that is widely focused on in the industry. He mentioned that he has been considering lately whether or not he should just stop using it when he reviews spirits because so many people get hung up on that number rather than focusing on the content of the tasting notes. Fred stated that he now feels scoring is more of crutch for the category.

Now, how did I make my decision on how to judge what I’m tasting? What were my options? There are countless podcasts, blogs and video review channels that have great content. What methods were other reviewers using to convey their final judgments?

I really enjoy watching several Youtube channels to see what others are saying about what I’m currently drinking, thinking about buying or simply wishing I had the opportunity to taste. There are so many methods that are used to convey the final judgment by different reviewers I like to follow (point scores, letter grades, thumbs up/down, recommend or not, etc.) In no particular order, from whiskey nerds to the everyday casual enthusiast, here are few of the Youtube channels that I enjoy. With some being more serious and others more light hearted, they all use different methods to convey their final thoughts.

As I was still trying to figure out exactly how I wanted to categorize or classify my final judgments on what I had already been writing tasting notes about, I ended up being asked to co-host the Rickhouse Reviews Podcast on the ABV Network. It was decided that the 100 point scale was going to be used for the final judgment when we were reviewing whiskeys for this podcast. Once that happened, I went ahead and started scoring my other reviews that were not part of the podcast using the 100 point scale as well for consistency in my tasting notes. Again, my interpretation of the 100 point scale is also unique to me.

Because of the lack of a universally accepted definition across the industry on what it takes to earn a certain score, I always felt that this wasn’t enough for me to keep track of when making a final judgment that could be shared with friends, readers, listeners and clients regardless of their whiskey tasting experience level. So, I started including a very simple one word judgment after the score line (see below) on my tasting notes sheet that I share with others when we have a tasting event. I found that most people I interact with care nothing about the number score, but are really more interested in the actual tasting notes and the final judgment.

My Final Judgment Classifications and Definitions:

Buy (would purchase a bottle to keep at home)
Try (would drink at a bar, but not keep a bottle a home)
Pass (*would not bother drinking again… not a good fit for my palate) *Unless it’s free, of course!

I still use a score in my reviews that are posted here on the BSG website, but I have been considering incorporating the final judgment here as well. Or, maybe I should take Fred’s advice and only report that final judgment along with my tasting notes instead of having a number score at all. What do you think? Do whiskey review scores really matter anymore to today’s whiskey consumer? If you are reading this, you are probably one of them! Chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below. Who knows, maybe you will help pique my interest with something new to consider. Cheers!

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Press Release: Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. 18 Year Old Marriage

May 5, 2020 / BSG / 0 Comments

Today, details have been shared about the next limited release in the wildly popular Colonel E.H. Taylor line out of Buffalo Trace Distillery. The “18 Year Marriage” release consists of a batch of barrels containing 3 Buffalo Trace mash bill recipes: wheated bourbon, rye bourbon #1 and rye bourbon #2. This is a 100 proof (50% ABV) bottled in bond bourbon. These are sure to be one of this year’s unicorns to hope for in your local liquor store raffles. Don’t expect to just find one hanging out on the shelf without a hefty markup from the SRP of $69.99 for this 750 ml bottle!

You can read the full press release from Buffalo Trace Distillery below.

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (May 5, 2020) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its homage to former Distillery owner Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a special release 18 year old bourbon whiskey which is a marriage of three mashbills, two rye bourbon mashbills and one wheated bourbon mashbill.

This 100 proof Bottled-In-Bond small batch bourbon was put into barrels in 2002. Barrels chosen for this special batch release matured using one of three Buffalo Trace mashbill recipes; wheated bourbon, rye bourbon #1 and rye bourbon #2. The whiskey from these 18-year-old barrels was married together to make this limited edition offering.

Tasting notes describe this bourbon as having a nose of vanilla butter cake, a taste of caramel and cinnamon, and a finish of toasted oak, cinnamon, and a hint of spearmint.

The Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection was first released in early 2011 and several subsequent releases such as Single Barrel, Barrel Proof, Straight Rye Whiskey, and Small Batch Bourbon have followed. A previous limited release, E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon, was named World Whiskey of the Year by renown whiskey reviewer Jim Murray in 2018.

Like some of the previous releases, this one-time-only bottling of E. H. Taylor, Jr 18 Year Old Marriage is very limited. Also consistent with past releases, this bottle displays a vintage label and is offered inside a distinct canister reminiscent of Taylor’s whiskey package from over one hundred years ago. These six bottle cases will be shipped in an impressive wooden box first used for the Cured Oak release in 2015. The boxes are modeled after the wooden crates used by Taylor to transport goods during the days before Prohibition.

Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor, Jr. is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the distillery that is known today as the Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses. In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.

This special bottling of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. 18 Year Old Marriage Bourbon Whiskey will be available starting in June in limited supply. The suggested retail price is $69.99 per 750 ml bottle.

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Barrel Strength Gentleman