Category: American Whiskey

Whiskey produced in the United States of America

Wathen’s Single Barrel

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, American Whiskey, Bourbon, SourcedLeave a comment

Wathen's SB

Price: $40 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Sourced / Medley Family

Region: Kentucky

47% ABV

Mashbill: 77% corn, 10% rye, 13% barley

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: Undisclosed

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Bubblegum, corn mash, oak, vanilla, sugary

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body

Palate/Taste: Vanilla heavy, oak, caramel, the vanilla really dominates, maybe a bit of clove

Finish: Medium warmth and length, oak, pepper, vanilla, and a bit of citrus

Thoughts: Vanilla heavy bourbon, without a lot of complexity or depth you’d get from a single barrel normally. Not bad, but middle of the road stuff.

Score: 77 out of 100

Isaac Bowman Port Finished Bourbon

On By MajorHopIn American Whiskey, BourbonLeave a comment

Isaac Bowman Port Finished Bourbon

Price: $40 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Buffalo Trace & Bowman / Sazerac

Region: Kentucky / Virginia

46% ABV

Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: New charred oak, finished in port barrels

Chill Filtered: Undisclosed

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Mint, oak, chocolate, leather, pepper and cinnamon

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied

Palate/Taste: Corn, vanilla, oak, port wine, chocolate, bacon, brown sugar

Finish: Light to medium warmth and length, caramel, coffee, plums, and chocolate

Thoughts: The port wasn’t overpowering, which actually made for a nice bourbon with dark fruit notes.

Score: 81 out of 100

Joseph Magnus Single Barrel PX Cask

On By MajorHopIn 80-84, American Whiskey, Bourbon, MGPLeave a comment

Joseph Magnus PX Cask

Price: $140 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: MGP / Joseph Magnus

Region: Indiana / DC

49.55% ABV

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: New charred oak, finished in PX Sherry casks

Chill Filtered: No

Color: Copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Apples, peaches, corn mash, caramel, citrus, oak, and light toffee

Mouthfeel: Medium body and syrupy

Palate/Taste: Sherry, pepper, oak, leather, jamy fruit, chocolate, and coffee

Finish: Medium warmth and long lasting, PX sherry with leathery cinnamon

Thoughts: A nice change up of the usual bourbon notes, with fruit front and center, and the texture taking on some of the syrupy feel from the PX. That said I’d rate this about the same as the regular Magnus release.

Score: 83 out of 100

Stagg Jr. Batch 8

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Bourbon, Buffalo TraceLeave a comment

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Paid: $45 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Buffalo Trace / Sazerac

Region: Kentucky

64.75% ABV

Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill #1

Aged For: NAS

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color: Deep copper

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Cherry cola, oak, pepper, tobacco, lychee, leather, and spices

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, dry

Palate/Taste: Tobacco, oak, chocolate, cola, cherries, and pepper

Finish: Warm and dry with a medium to long finish. Vanilla, oak, corn mash, and chocolate

Thoughts: You can’t go wrong with the new releases of Stagg Jr, however batch 9 that came after was a bit better overall.

Score: 85 out of 100

George Dickel 9 Year Single Barrel Twin Liquors

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Bourbon, George DickelLeave a comment

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Price: $40 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: George Dickel / Diageo

Region: Tennessee

51.5% ABV

Mashbill: 84% corn, 8% rye, 8% barley

Aged For: 9 years

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: Yes

Barrel and Bottle #: 05A04 B1-5-24, #32 Store Pick: Twin Liquors, Bottled 2016

Color: Tawny

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Minerally, vitamins, oak, brown sugar, honey, vanilla

Mouthfeel: Medium and silky

Palate/Taste: Oak and toffee, flan, cherry, vitamins, pepper, chocolate, coffee

Finish: Medium warmth and length. Minerals, leather, oak, chocolate, and toasted walnuts with vitamins and earth.

Thoughts: At initial tasting I found the minerality off-putting, but as I continued to sip and explore this really grew on me a lot.

Score: 85 out of 100

Wild Turkey Longbranch

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, American Whiskey, Bourbon, Wild TurkeyLeave a comment

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Paid: $36 for 750 ml

Distilled/Owned by: Wild Turkey / Campari

Region: Kentucky

43% ABV

Mashbill: 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% barley

Aged For: NAS, stated to be around 8 years

Cask Type: New charred oak

Chill Filtered: Filtered with charcoal made from oak and Texas Mesquite

Color: Light amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Cinnamon, chili oil, cherry, toasted oak, caramel, and redhots candy

Mouthfeel: Light bodied

Palate/Taste: Vanilla, oak, cinnamon, fruit, and sweet corn

Finish: Light warmth and medium length, mellow corn, oak, and spices with a hint of fruit

Thoughts: It’s a lighter more fruity version of Turkey that is aimed at the Gentleman Jack crowd, in that respect it is a success. However, for my own palate it is a bit light.

Score: 78 out of 100

Westland American Single Malt

On By MajorHopIn 75-79, American Single Malt, American Whiskey, WestlandLeave a comment

Westland Single Malt

Price: $70 or 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Westland / Remy Cointreau

Region: Washington

46% ABV

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Aged For: Minimum 24 months

Cask Type: New American oak and ex-bourbon

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Dark gold

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn.

Nose: Peaches and cream, honey, malt, citrus, sugar, salt, and hay

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Sour almonds, citrus, salt, malt, cream, vanilla, and jasmine

Finish: Good warmth and length, cherry, citrus, floral, malt, and honey

Thoughts: Similar to its Scottish brethren and I like Westland’s base malt. I do think that if it were aged longer (6-8 years minimum) my score would be in the 80s as opposed to where it is now.

Score: 76 out of 100