Category: BSG Reviews (Page 4 of 6)

BSG Review: Lee W. Sinclair 4 Grain Bourbon

August 5, 2019 / BSG / 2 Comments

Distilled By: Spirits of French Lick Distillery

Location: West Baden, IN

Parent Company: N/A

Class: IN Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Age: 2 Years

Mashbill: 60% Corn, 17% Wheat, 13% Oat, 10% Caramel Malt

This 4-grain Indiana Straight Bourbon is double pot distilled and aged in Kelvin Cooperage #2 char, medium-plus toasted barrels. The barrels were stored for aging in their barrel chai/cellar at the distillery in West Baden, IN. The SoFL Master Distiller, Alan Bishop, is a humble and extremely passionate craftsman in both the science and art of distilling. Ironically, even though he doesn’t like to call himself a “Master” distiller, his approach to creating spirits is nothing short of masterful. Check out Alan’s personal blog, The Alchemist Cabinet , where you can read all about his passions, mostly revolving around distilling and farming and the history of each.

BSG REVIEW

Color: Light-medium amber

Nose: Sweet… vanilla, caramel, and coconut… yes, coconut

Palate: Vanilla, light oak, and coconut again, plus a hint of stone fruits

Finish: Medium length, mostly caramel at the end

Lee W. Sinclair is an easy, light drinking bourbon that is sure to please even the most inexperienced bourbon drinkers in addition to the most experienced palates. Moreover, this may even be a good gateway bourbon to bring in some of the non-peaty-scotch fans due to its lack of heavy barrel notes. It really is something to be proud of, period, especially for such a young craft distillery. With Lee W. Sinclair bourbon being 100% their make, it’s easy to notice the differentiation SoFL is starting to develop in their own unique flavor profile as compared to the more familiar KY bourbon flavor profiles. As a result, my final score really surprised me. My brain kept saying, “This is only 2-years-old!”

Now, I can’t wait to try this bourbon in the upcoming bottled-in-bond expression to be released in 2020. Keep an eye on this distillery in the years to come. In all, I’m convinced that Spirits of French Lick is doing something right and they are definitely out to make a name for themselves in the world of bourbon.

Watch for more BSG reviews of the products coming out of the Spirits of French Lick Distillery.

BSG Score: 86/100

Disclaimer: SoFL provided this product in exchange for an honest review with no strings attached. Another bottle was purchased and used in the photograph for this post.

BSG Review: Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength

April 15, 2019 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Undisclosed (Likely sourced from Heaven Hill Distillery)

Location: Bardstown, KY

Parent Company: Luxco

Class: KY Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 117 (58.5% ABV)

Age: 7 Years

Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley

This Old Ezra 7 Year is an unusual barrel strength offering from Luxco. A (likely) Heaven Hill sourced 7-year-old high proof bourbon is just what I need! It has become one of the most popular high proof everyday sipping bourbons of 2018. The price is right and the flavor is undeniably satisfying.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Rich Copper

Nose: Vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, oak

Palate: Apple, hint of cherry, caramel, oak, pepper

Finish: Long and dry, candied apples, vanilla, oak. Has a nice hot Kentucky hug.

I think this is a great example of how a distillery can use really good sourced whiskies to fill the gap while waiting for their own distillate to be ready. This is my favorite Luxco bourbon on the market right now. The Blood Oath Pacts are amazing works of art, but not all of them hit the mark for a wide audience (however, this guy really enjoys them so far). If this flavor profile is anything like what we can expect down the road once Lux Row Distillers has enough aged product to start releasing their own distillate, I will be a very happy consumer.

BSG Score: 89/100

BSG Review: Evan Williams Master Blend

February 11, 2019 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Old Evan Williams Distillery

Location: Bardstown, KY / Louisville, KY

Parent Company: Heaven Hill

Class: KY Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 90 (45% ABV)

Age: NAS

Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley

This is a special blend of Evan Williams 23-Year-Old, Single Barrel, 1783, White Label Bottled-in-Bond, and Signature Black Label straight bourbons. This bottle is harder to find outside of the Heaven Hill Heritage Center and Evan Williams Bourbon Experience gift shops. I know some people that have found it in liquor stores around the Louisville, KY area, but it is not widely distributed elsewhere. I picked up my bottle at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience gift shop in July of 2018.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Deep copper color with long, thin legs down the glass

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, honey, black tea, floral, nutmeg, oak

Palate: Black pepper, cinnamon, black tea, caramel, vanilla, oak

Finish: Long with lingering spiciness, though the sweetness is still recognizable throughout. It gives a gentle, warm Kentucky hug as it make its way down.

I think this is a great example of how the different offerings by one distillery can give a unique experience when blended together properly. Not all of these individual bourbons are favorites of mine, but a few of them are absolutely some of the regulars that I continue to keep in my collection.

BSG Score: 82/100

BSG Review: Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky

December 31, 2018 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Old Forester / Brown-Forman

Location: Louisville, KY

Parent Company: Brown-Forman Distillers Company

Class: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

Proof: 93 (46.5% ABV)

Age: NAS (5-6 years)

Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

1910 Old Fine Whisky is the final expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series. According to Jackie Zykan, Old Forester Master Taster, this is a double-barreled bourbon that finishes its aging (6-9 months) in a barrel that is so deeply charred (burned approximately 55 seconds) that it is on the brink of disintegration. This release pays homage to the twice-barreled (due to a street fire that shut the Old Forester bottling line down in 1910) “Very Old Fine Whisky.”

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Bronze, long-thin legs down the glass

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, very sweet cake-like aroma

Palate: Thick feeling, sugary, caramel, vanilla, cherry, toasted marshmallow, graham crackers, a little chocolate, oak

Finish: Heavy oak, light caramel and vanilla, leather, very long finish

To some, it seamed odd that Old Forester decided to release the 1910 after the 1920. Of the 4 years in the Whiskey Row series, this is the only one that was released out of chronological order (1870, 1897, 1920, 1910). I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series releases, including the extra movie tie-in release, Statesman. Depending on the day, the 1910 and the 1920 will flip in my order of preference. If I’m in the mood for a high proof bourbon, I’ll reach for the 1920 every time. However, the 1910 is an incredibly complex and enjoyable 93 proof old fine whisky.

According to Old Forester, the 1910 was so popular that they sold an entire year’s worth of inventory in just 60 days. They sold 318% of the launch volume that was sold with the 1920 (which previously held the record for the brand). Because it takes 6-9 months in the second barrel, they say it will likely be summer 2019 before the second batch is ready to be bottled and released.

Check out the BSG Review for the rest of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series (1870, 1897, 1920) and the movie tie-in release, Statesman.

BSG Score: 90/100

BSG Review: Old Forester Statesman

December 31, 2018 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Old Forester / Brown-Forman

Location: Louisville, KY

Parent Company: Brown-Forman Distillers Company

Class: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky

Proof: 95 (47.5% ABV)

Age: NAS (5-6 years)

Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley

It is sometimes debated wether or not this bottle should be considered a part of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series. Statesman was inspired by the film “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” and was aged in the warmest places in the warehouse, aka the top floors. They say true character is only revealed after little heat and this product is intended to offer a balance of heat and spice.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Golden/Brown, long-wide legs on the glass

Nose: Musty, charred oak bomb

Palate: Stone fruit, cherry, toasted marshmallow, light oak

Finish: Dry, a little caramel, medium-long finish with lingering pepper notes.

This release is a bit of an under appreciated one, probably because many consumers may consider it a gimmick with the movie tie-in. However, I found it to be a unique and enjoyable bourbon. I can’t say it is as good as some of the stand out offerings in the Whiskey Row series (like the 1920 and the 1910), but is definitely worthy of a try if you have an affinity for the oaky, peppery side of the bourbon flavor spectrum. Coming in at 95 proof, Statesman has just enough punch to stand up to a cube or two if you want to tame the oak flavor down a bit without losing all of the spiciness as well.

Check out the BSG Review for all of the releases in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series (1870, 1897, 1920, 1910).

BSG Score: 88/100

Category: BSG Reviews (Page 4 of 6)

BSG Review: Lee W. Sinclair 4 Grain Bourbon

BSG REVIEW

BSG Review: Old Ezra 7 Year Barrel Strength

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Evan Williams Master Blend

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Old Forester Statesman

BSG REVIEW:

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Please follow & like us :)

Patreon

Please follow & like us :)

Patreon

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Enjoy the BSG site? Please help spread the word :)