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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

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

Barrel Strength Gentleman

Page 6 of 8

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:

BSG Review: Maker’s 46

BSG REVIEW:

BSG Review: Larceny

BSG REVIEW:

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