Category: BSG Reviews (Page 5 of 6)

BSG Review: Maker’s 46

December 31, 2018 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Maker’s Mark Distillery

Location: Star Hill Farm, Loretto, KY

Parent Company: Beam Suntory

Class: KY Bourbon Whisky Barrel Finished with Oak Staves

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)

Age: NAS (appx. 6 years)

Mashbill: 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley

Maker’s 46 got its name from the number used to describe the profile of the seared French oak staves that are used in the extra aging process. The profile number 46 refers to the specific charring rate and temperature development in the staves that bring out the additional flavors in the wood that Bill Samuels, Jr. was looking for when creating this unique Maker’s Mark expression. This whisky starts out as the standard Maker’s Mark bourbon at barrel strength that is removed from its barrel. The seared French oak staves are then inserted into the barrel before refilling the barrels for an additional amount of time for extra aging.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Deep amber, darker than standard Maker’s Mark

Nose: Cherries, oak, caramel, fresh pastries

Palate: Caramel, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet desserts, buttery, heavy oak. Very enjoyable and balanced. More interesting on the palate than the standard Maker’s Mark bourbon.

Finish: Spice forward with the oak and some leather on the back end. Not too short, but not exceptionally long on the finish either.

Maker’s 46 is definitely more refined than the standard Maker’s Mark bourbon. It is a welcomed addition to the bar next to the original. The nose is absolutely the strongest part of this experience. Die hard Maker’s Mark flavor profile lovers could be a little turned off by the bolder finish in this one. I definitely recommend it to those looking for a little more complexity than the standard offering.

BSG Score: 88/100

BSG Review: Larceny

October 11, 2018 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Old Fitzgerald Distillery

Location: Bardstown, KY

Parent Company: Heaven Hill

Class: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age: NAS

Mashbill: Undisclosed

According to Heaven Hill: “Larceny Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey has its origins in the long and colorful history of John E. Fitzgerald and the Old Fitzgerald brand. According to lore, John E. Fitzgerald built a distillery on the banks of the Kentucky River in the 1870s and sold his fine bourbon to the rail lines, steamships and private clubs. The Old Fitzgerald brand was first registered in the 1880s by S.C. Herbst, and was eventually sold to Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle during Prohibition. Pappy moved production of Old Fitz to his distillery where it became the first great wheated bourbon and eventually one of the most popular brands in the world.”

The truth behind the legend: “Revealed in a family biography of Pappy Van Winkle, John E. Fitzgerald was not actually the man he has always been portrayed as. He was in fact a bonded treasury agent, who at the time were the only people legally allowed to carry the keys to the barrel storage rickhouses. Mr. Fitzgerald apparently had a particularly discerning palate for fine bourbon, and would use his rickhouse keys to gain access to the best barrels, which eventually became known around the distillery as ‘Fitzgerald Barrels’. Herbst, and then Pappy, immortalized the man who had both the keys and the fine taste by naming the brand Old Fitzgerald. Now, Larceny Kentucky straight bourbon honors both the superb taste of this lawless treasury agent and the legacy of the Old Fitzgerald brand.”

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Copper

Nose: Oak, toffee, caramel, leather, overripe banana.

Palate: Oak, black pepper, tobacco.

Finish: Initial burn, but not hot on the way down. Long lasting deeper burn after it’s down for a while (a nice “Kentucky hug”).

You may be interested to know that the bottle shape is perfect for nesting right beside that of the Maker’s Mark classic bottle. I’m not sure if that was by coincidence or on purpose, but many people will say that this is the bourbon of choice for those that have a less than enthusiastic feeling toward Maker’s Mark.

BSG Score: 89/100

BSG Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

September 17, 2018 / BSG / 0 Comments

Distilled By: Woodford Reserve Distillery

Location: Versailles, KY

Parent Company: Brown-Forman Distillers Company

Class: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Proof: 90.4 (45.2% ABV)

Age: NAS

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

Woodford Reserve describes this expression as: “An innovative approach to twice-barreled bourbon creates the rich and colorful flavor of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Uniquely matured in separate, charred oak barrels – the second barrel deeply toasted before a light charring – extracts additional amounts of soft, sweet oak character.” This bourbon was first released in February 2012, a full 15 years after the release of the original Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Dark Copper

Nose: Toasted marshmallows, vanilla, maple syrup, sweet corn, oak

Palate: Vanilla and oak, dried fruits like apples and cherries, a hint of leather on the back end.

Finish: A mild amount of heat, oak, tobacco and leather at first, then giving way to a peppery ending for this long, lingering finish.

My overall thoughts on this one are, first, the color is so much more deep and rich than the original Distiller’s Select. It is much more intense on the nose and in the flavors as well. On a side note, this bourbon goes great with a backyard BBQ that includes smoked meats. Every time I drink this, my mind goes straight to wanting some brisket burnt ends! I definitely prefer this one over the Jim Beam Double Oak offering. This is quickly becoming one of my go-to comfort bourbons now. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is a great bourbon to enjoy neat and even holds up very well with an ice ball on a hot day! I can see myself always keeping a bottle in my personal collection.

BSG Score: 93/100

BSG Review: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

September 3, 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: 115 (57.5% ABV)

Age: NAS

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

This is the third release in the Whiskey Row Series and is a celebration of the legacy of company president Owsley Brown I, who was granted a permit in 1920 to bottle medicinal whiskey during Prohibition. The typical barrel proof after aging during that time was 115 proof, thus the reason it was chosen for this expression.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Dark amber

Nose: Graham crackers, brown sugar, black cherry, oak, caramel and the high alcohol content definitely tingles the nose.

Palate: The graham cracker and brown sugar are present early, with the fruit and oak notes coming in not far behind. I get the spicier pepper notes and some nuttiness as it moves further back on the tongue.

Finish: Black pepper, cinnamon, dark chocolate and charred oak are all present in this long finish.

This is definitely my favorite of the Whiskey Row series now. When I first tried it, it was a very close second to the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond. Since drinking them all several more times, I have come to absolutely love this 1920 Prohibition Style above the others. This is something I can say will always have a place in my bar. It is readily available and, though the price is a little on the high side (around $60 in my area), I can see it being widely accepted by those that enjoy high proof bourbons.

Check out the BSG Review for the rest of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series (1870, 1897, 1910) and the movie tie-in release, Statesman.

BSG Score: 92/100

BSG Review: Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond

August 25, 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: 100 (50% ABV)

Age: NAS (at least 4 years old)

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

This 100-proof second release of the Whiskey Row Series was called Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond in honor of the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. The Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 was introduced to curb the growing trend of rectifiers adulterating whiskey with additives such as tobacco, iodine and wood chips in an effort to shortcut the flavoring and coloring that is normally acquired through aging. A whiskey now labeled as “bonded” cannot have any additives other than water. The distillate must be a product of one distiller in one distilling season. It must also be aged in a government-supervised warehouse for at least four years before bottled at exactly 100 proof. Old Forster is the oldest continually-operated distillery in the United States and was the first to sell their bourbon exclusively in sealed bottles, beginning in 1870.

BSG REVIEW:

Color: Copper with thin, light legs down the glass

Nose: Heavy caramel, vanilla and coffee, some light floral and fruit notes. A little alcohol burn.

Palate: Black cherry, vanilla, caramel and just enough oak and spice to keep it interesting.

Finish: Long and sweet with a little spiciness to round it out. Savory for more than a minute after it’s down.

The Old Forster 1897 Bottled in Bond is a worthy tribute to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. It’s right in line with the flavor profile I expected after reviewing the first release in the Whiskey Row Series: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch. However, the increased proof of the Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond gives this release a slight edge over the 1870 Original Batch in complexity.

Check out the BSG Review for the rest of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series (1870, 1920, 1910) and the movie tie-in release, Statesman.

BSG Score: 89/100

Category: BSG Reviews (Page 5 of 6)

BSG Review: Maker’s 46

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Larceny

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond

BSG REVIEW:

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