Category: 85-89

Reviews with a final score between 85-89. Really good stuff. B+ grade.

Dartigalongue XO Armagnac

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Armagnac, Brandy, DartigalongueLeave a comment

img_20180712_155637

Paid: $50 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Dartigalongue

Region: Bas Armagnac, France

40% ABV

Grapes: Undisclosed

Aged For: XO statement

Cask Type: French oak

Color: Auburn

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Brown sugar, port wine, oak, tobacco, leather, dark chocolate, and figs

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: PX sherry, blackberry, blueberry, caramel, oak, raisins

Finish: Light warmth and medium length, coffee, oak, and port wine notes

Thoughts: An extremely fruity brandy, that still has the sugary caramel sweetness with a nice bit of chocolate to round it out. Excellent for the price.

Score: 85 out of 100

Stagg Jr. Batch 8

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

img_20180711_204343

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

img_20180711_215752

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

Domaine d’Ognoas XO Astor Select

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Armagnac, Brandy, Domaine d'OgnoasLeave a comment

Maker:0x4c,Date:2018-1-12,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

Paid: $60 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Domaine d’Ognoas

Region: Bas Armagnac, France

40% ABV

Grapes: A blend of Ugni blanc, Baco 22A, Folle blanche, and Le colombard

Aged For: XO age stated

Cask Type: French oak

Store Select: Astor Wines & Spirits

Color: Dark amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Candied grapes, sugar, raisins, dates, figs, PX sherry, caramel, and leather

Mouthfeel: Medium body

Palate/Taste: Caramel, brown sugar, sherry, raisins, pastry crust, vanilla, walnuts

Finish: Light warmth and long finish, vanilla, maple, and butter flavors

Thoughts: Very fruity and sweet, with more of a mouthfeel and lasting finish than the 80 proof would suggest, highly recommended, especially for the price.

Score: 85 out of 100

Chateau de Ravignan 29-Year 1988

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Armagnac, Brandy, Chateau RavignanLeave a comment

Maker:0x4c,Date:2018-1-12,Ver:4,Lens:Kan03,Act:Lar01,E-Y

Paid: $100 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Chateau de Ravignan

Region: Bas Armagnac, France

41.5% ABV

Grapes: Undisclosed

Aged For: 29 years (Distilled 1988)

Cask Type: French oak

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

Color: Deep brown

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Rich custard, old oak, caramelized grapes, vanilla, molasses, brown sugar

Mouthfeel: Medium body, midway between wet and dry

Palate/Taste: Blackberry jam, oak, pipe tobacco, caramel, vanilla, leather, molasses

Finish: Medium warmth and lasting, leather, heavy oak, toffee, chocolate, and blueberry with a hint of cherry

Thoughts: The oak has had a lot of influence on this one, a nice deep dark flavor profile

Score: 87 out of 100

 

Elijah Craig Barrel Select

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, American Whiskey, Bourbon, Heaven HillLeave a comment

EC Barrel Select

Paid: $30 for 200ml

Distilled/Owned by: Heaven Hill

Region: Kentucky

62.5% ABV

Aged For: NAS

Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye

Cask Type: New charred oak, Char #3

Chill Filtered: No

 

 

Color: Amber

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Thick oak, caramel, vanilla, coffee, sweet brown sugar, cinnamon

Feel: Full bodied

Taste: Dark chocolate, brown sugar, oak, pepper, baking spice, sweet corn

Finish: Medium warmth, good length, chocolate, toffee, espresso, vanilla, sugar, apple, caramel

Thoughts: Very similar to Elijah Craig barrel proof, I think its basically a gift shop exclusive single barrel version of it. If you like ECBP, you’ll likely enjoy this, although it is pricey at $30 for 200ml.

Score: 85 out of 100

Longrow Red 13 Malbec Cask Matured

On By MajorHopIn 85-89, Campbeltown, Scotch, SpringbankLeave a comment

Longrow Red 13 Malbec

Paid: $105 for 750ml

Distilled/Owned by: Springbank

Region: Campbeltown

51.3% ABV

Aged For: 13 Years

Mashbill: 100% malted barley

Cask Type: Ex-bourbon for 12 years, finished 15 months in fresh Malbec barriques

Chill Filtered: No

Color Added: No

 

 

Color: Amber with a red tinge

Drank: Neat, in a glencairn

Nose: Oranges, strawberry, liquorish, earthy, costal spray, peat, caramel

Feel:Full bodied

Taste: Fruits and berries followed by vanilla cream, cranberry, cherry, smoke

Finish: Long lasting, medium warmth, leather, pepper, butter cream, smoke, dried oranges

Thoughts: If you like berries and citrus smothered in peat smoke, this release is for you. The vanilla cream is a nice backdrop with just the right amount of pepper.

Score: 87 out of 100