Town Branch Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey

 

Lexington Brewing & Distilling Company produces some of our favorite products from both the brewing and distilling sides of things.  Their bourbon barrel ale is an absolute game changer in the beer arena.  So far, every one of their whiskeys have resonated with us and our readers, and this one is no exception.  This is the Overproof Kentucky Straight Whiskey under the Town Branch label.  

This is a smart blend of four Kentucky straight whiskeys:  Bourbon Whiskey (70%), Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (10%), Double Oak Whiskey (10%) and Rye Whiskey (10%).  At just 10% Rye and the remaining liquid Bourbon, this is incredibly smooth and flavorful with a finish that is literally mouth-watering.  The mash bills on these whiskeys is:  Bourbon (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% barley), Wheated Bourbon (70% corn, 22% wheat, 8% barley), Double Oak (72% corn, 15% rye, 13% barley finsihes in 90% rye, 5% corn, 5% barley barrels) and Rye (90% rye, 5% corn, 5% barley).  The whiskey ages from four to eight years old.

Those are a lot of numbers to digest, so lets get to the important stuff.  What did we think?

Tasted from a small sample bottle (you can see that in the video below), we tasted this three ..... yes THREE times!  After filming, we finished this bottle because we kept finding new descriptors and the last tasting was after we let this sit in a Glencairn (neat) for about 45 minutes.  Initially we discovered cotton candy, sweet hard candy, fig Newtons and clove on the nose.  There was a nicely balanced proportion of sweetness up front that carried through to the chewy and savory flavors.  Golden raisin, flavored honey sticks, baking spice and pumpkin pie spice rounded out the layers palate-pleasing goodness.  Another bonus about this bottle?  It is an incredible value!

Check out our 3 minute YouTube video!

ABV:  52.0% (104 proof)

Distillery:  Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.

Suggested retail price:  $39.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Row 94 Straight Bourbon Whiskey

It's no secret that sometimes celebrity-endorsed products don't work out.  The celebrity walks away with a sack of cash and the company behind the madness is stuck trying to convince consumers that the product is worth spending their hard-earned money.  Unfortunately, the result is often having an abundance of non-selling product sitting on shelves for months upon months.  That will NOT be the case here.  We tasted and thoroughly enjoyed Row 94 Straight Bourbon Whiskey, distilled by Green River Distilling Company and endorsed by country and bluegrass superstar Dierks Bentley.  The name comes from Nashville's Music Row and the year that Bentley fell in love with country.  The Thunderbird logo represent his album Riser.

When we first popped this cork, we knew we were in for a ride.  Gold-orange in the glass, this bourbon is full of orange marmalade and sweet chocolate aromas.  In the mouth is a savory and bright candy bomb, framed by chocolate covered orange cookies, Italian sweet chocolate, Biscoff cookie butter, island fruits and toffee.  The mash bill is 70% Kentucky grown corn, 21% rye and 9% malted and row barley.  We are huge fans of Green River Distilling, so we had a sneaky suspicion we were going to be instant fans of this bourbon.  And we are.  And you will be too. 

Gimmick?  Hardly.  Flavorful and worth the price?  No doubt.  Will Bentley and Green River produce additional expressions?  Time will tell.  But, if they do, we will be first in line to try them!

Check out our YouTube review of Row 94!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  Green River Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $49.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

 

2019 Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée

 

The Red Mountain AVA of Benton County, Washington produces some of the finest grapes of the region, cultivating into wines that have unique expressions and Old World charm.  The 2019 Hedges Family Estate La Haute Cuvée is a fine example of terroir and the feel of a wine that could be cellared for 15+ years.  Winemaker Sara Goedhart has nearly 10 years as head winemaker at Hedges Family Estate and her twenty plus years in the business is evident in the bottle we have today.

Gorgeous, deep eggplant color that oozes to the edge of the glass.  This wine was not decanted but it was provided about twenty minutes of air time in the glass prior to tasting.  The first thing we noticed about this wine was how herbaceous it is and not the fruit bomb we may have been expecting.  Again, Old World style here all the way.  Fresh blackberries, dark chocolate shavings, pencil lead, mocha and leather blended effortlessly, each trying to take their turns to shine but not overpowering one another.  On the tongue is a satisfying, mouth-coating offering that offered more black fruits, baked Shiitake mushroom, garden herbs, fennel and damp earth.  

This is one of those wines that surprised us, but in the loveliest way possible.  It spent over 2 years in oak and the tannins are refined and minute.  Our recommendation?  Buy a half or whole case of this wine, open a bottle per year and see how it continues to develop.  We think there could likely be fifty more descriptors that could come out of this bottle.  It's a real treat.

ABV:  13.5%

Appellation:  Red Mountain AVA

Winery:  Hedges Family Estate

652 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $75.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100 

William Larue Weller 2024 Bourbon

 

While we can't say for certain that the 2024 release of William Larue Weller is the best BTAC bottle, it sure put a smile on our face and made us really take notice.  It's not often that we get to taste the hard-to-find releases from the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, but this was very exciting for us and we had heard grumblings from several sources that this year's expression was delicious.  They weren't wrong.

At just over 12 years, this bourbon aged in barrels on the lower levels of the rickhouse after entering at 114 proof before the long and important nap.  Fruit basket, floral notes with oak and homemade caramel candies on the nose.  "Wow" was the first thing that Mutt said and he picked up shoe leather, toffee, spice and sweet tobacco.  Jeff called this a fruit bomb with caramel and a nice lingering spice along with chocolate covered candies.  Honeysuckle, orange rind and chocolate nose.  Both guys agreed that the orange marmalade and chocolate really shined through on the tongue.  Lightly toasted marshmallow comes through on the finish and you feel the higher proof come through to give you that welcoming and warm Kentucky hug.  While we wouldn't pay crazy secondary or museum prices for this bottle, we would snag this all day long if we happened to find one close to MSRP.  It's lovely.

Check out our YouTube video review!

ABV:  62.90% (125.8 proof)

Distillery:  Buffalo Trace Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $149.99

Drink The Bottles score:  95/100

Eagle Rare 17 Year 2024

 

The 2024 BTAC (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection) has just been released and whiskey enthusiasts are scrambling to make back alley deals and beg with their buddies at the liquor store to find these bottles for them.  Without a doubt, the BTAC bottles are some of the most difficult to capture (especially at MSRP) and there is always a frenzy around the release dates every year.

This is the Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon, offered at 101 proof and highly allocated.  Compared to the standard 10 year Eagle Rare at 90 proof, this one packs a little more punch and depth, due largely in part to the additional 7 years in the barrel.  The age statement on this is actually 17 years and 4 months for the 2024 release.  We tasted this from a 100 mL sample bottle neat in Glencairn glasses... multiple times.  It's amazing how quickly that sample bottle will run out!

On the nose we didn't get the herbal tea that we often experience from Eagle Rare 10 Year.  That's more prevalent on single barrel selections we have tasted.  Sometimes with bourbon that is aged in the 15-plus timeframe, you get an overly oaky char bomb, but we were pleasantly surprised that while the whiskey showed its age in oak notes, it wasn't over the top and it added to the complexity of the flavors.  Biscuit, chewy roasted marshmallow, graham cracker, stewed plum, toasty oats and cinnamon on the nose.  On the palate is more of the same but adding in cherry pie filling and cherry cola at mid palate.  This has the viscosity of apricot juice and it is absolutely mouth-coating.  The finish is memorable and warm. 

We generally don't review bourbons that are so allocated, but we are thrilled to have this opportunity.  Even if you can't find this bottle to add to your whiskey library, we highly encourage you to find a bar that has it and get yourself a 2 ounce pour.  It's an incredible experience!

Check out our YouTube video review!

ABV:  50.5% (101 proof)

Distillery:  Buffalo Trace Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $149.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey

 

This is one of those bottles that we have had "in que" for sometime and for whatever reason, we kept pushing it further to the back of the line.  Shame on us!  Mutt had never tasted O.H. Ingram and Jeff thought the previous Ingram bottle was fantastic.  Today we have the O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey and my God.......... what a treat!

It's not very often that we are at a loss for words.  This whiskey took us by complete surprise and threw us for a loop - in a good way.  Tasted neat from Glencairn glasses initially, and then once the camera stopped rolling (see video below) we dug into this even more.  And then we tasted it again the next day.  It goes without saying that we cannot wait to share this bottle with some folks in the local bourbon clubs.

Medium honey color and a nose like nothing we have ever experienced.  Jeff said that in a blind tasting, he may not be able to pick this out as a rye whiskey.  On the nose is orange marmelande, fruit basket, barn wood, mixed fruit Certs and Mentos.  There is so much going on here and this bottle flooded Jeff with childhood memories, causing him to tell everyone that this is "Christmas in a glass".  

On the palate is floral bouquet, dusty leather, vanilla cream and hard sugary candy.  This drinks more like a 110 - 115 proof whiskey but is not peppery at all.  It has an incredibly soft and fruity finish and this is a bottle you and a few friends could get lost in easily.  If we ever hear of anyone using this as a mixer we will disown you!  Best served neat or over one small ice cube.  O.H. Ingram has once again proved that "river aging" whiskey is not a gimmick.  It's the real deal and this is a label you want in your home bar.  Fantastic!

ABV:  49.0% (98 proof)

Distillery:  O.H. Ingram

Suggested retail price:  $69.99

Drink The Bottles score:  96/100

Spirit Hound Distillers Colorado Bourbon Whiskey

 

Due north of Boulder, Colorado sits a small town of about 2200 residents and an unsuspecting distillery, born out of the reamins of and old motorcycle repair shop.  Head distiller and co-founder CraigEngelhorn (aka Hair of the Dog) had a dream to take his home-brewed beer hobby to the next level.  With the help of some like-minded friends, Spirit Hound Distillers was born.

Today we're tasting two expressions from Spirit Hound.  The first up is the Barrel Project Bourbon, a single barrel bourbon finished in Amercan single malt whiskey barrels.  We should first start by pointing out that every time SHD (Spirit Hound Distillers) refers to WHISKEY, the use the alternative, sans "e".  We don't.  We are "E" people through and through.  But we all have the same love for the stuff in the bottle.

This is a really nice lower entry proof bourbon that is as laid back as a Coloradan on a holiday weekend.  Light to medium brown, full of buttery maple syrup and vanilla bean on the nose.  It's very inviting!  Cherries, strawberry, eucalyptus and baked sweet potatoes play nice with each other mid palate, leading to a mild peppery finish that you won't soon forget.  This isn't just a win for SHD or Colorado, but for the whiskey community as a whole.  

ABV:  43.0% (86 proof)

Distillery:  Spirit Hound Distillers

Suggested retail price:  $67.99

Drink The Bottles score:  91/100

Now this is the epitome of Colorado, at least to us.  This limited-release is a straight malt whiskey finished in Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) barrels from Founders Brewing of Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Despite its lighter color, this whiskey shows off some deep aromas of country road, chocolate and vanilla.  On the palate is quite the pleasant surprise with vanilla, mocha bits, very milk oak, charred mixed nuts and cardimom.  The finish throws some heat your way to make sure you're paying attention.  Don't let the proof fool you.  This bottle is one to take note of and one that probably won't last long at your home bar!

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  Spirit Hound Distillers

Suggested retail price:  $71.99

Drink The Bottles score:  89/100

Lux Row Small Batch Rye PX Sherry Cask Finish

 

Our friends at Lux Row Distillers have another hit on their hands!  This new, limited-release bottle is their Small Batch Rye finished in PX Sherry Casks.  For finished whiskey lovers, this is one you'll want to seek out.  For straight rye fans, this one will appeal to you as well.  So many distilleries are finishing whiskey in about every type of previously-used spirits container you can think of, and Lux Row has this talent fine-tuned.

Tasted from sample, this is brown sugar in color.  On the nose is a sweeter fruity note, fig pudding, hints of flower bouquet and grape.  We dug right into this one and found that the palate was not as sweet as we had anticipated or that was hinted from the nose.  Mutt got spice up front while Jeff took note of the espresso bean taste.  The spice tapered off quickly and suggested cinnamon stick, fig and roasted nuts (specifically cashews) on the back end.  This was literally mouth-watering.

While this is a limited release, it is available at the distillery and will be released in select markets in January 2025.   Check out our YouTube video review below.

ABV:  56.0% (112 proof)

Distillery:  Lux Row Distillers

Suggested retail price:  $59.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon Series VIII

 

The newest batch of Remus Repeal Reserve is hitting shelves now and there's a lot to be excited about with this Series VIII release.  Master Distiller Ian Stirsman made some changes by blind tasting this and ultimately deciding on 101 proof and by also using a higher proportion of high rye recipe bourbon than in previous releases.  While some Remus Repeal Reserve releases have had more components in the final blend, the ten-to-seventeen year old aged bourbons really fire on all cylinders and have created a fantastic pour.

Series VIII is comprised of 9% 2007 bourbon (21% rye), 24% 2014 bourbon (21% rye) and 67% 2014 bourbon (36% rye).  The older bourbon definitely shows it hand in this expression, displaying aromas of cherry syrup, fine bound book leather, roasted nuts, vanilla and overly ripe plums.  It is mouth-watering and immediately eye-opening and it is reminiscent of your dad's bourbon that he purchased twenty years ago and occasionally sipped on when mom was away.

The initial taste offered elements of cherry cordial, light mocha beans, dried fruits, baking spice and light pepper.  Very silky on the palate and easy to approach for another sip..... and another.  It's sweet but stays in check by the pepper and oaky balance that rounds out the finish.  This is an fine example of the art of blending, tasting, testing and presenting the best effort of that work.  The Remus Repeal Reserve series has been increasingly popular over the years and this is a testament to why you need to try to find this for your home bar!

ABV:  50.5% (101 proof)

Distillery:  Ross & Squibb 

Suggested retail price:  $99.99

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100

Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey

 

One thing you know about us is that we love unique.  And since Jeff has been heavily involved in wine for so many years, this whiskey caught his attention.  To our knowlege, this is the first whiskey aged in the "sur lie" method, or at least the only one currently on the market.  This method of aging wine (and now spirits for this example) was introduced by the French to incorporate more complex flavors and aromas to the product.  Let's take a look at this bottle and see how this process faired for the Redemption Sur Lee Straight Rye Whiskey.

The first thing we noticed is how Redemption knocked it out of the park with the label and packaging.  While some may find the label too busy, we really like how the label explains the entire process from mashing to enjoying a glass of this straight rye whiskey.  Education is a big part of this bottle as it is isolated from everything else on the market.  The 95% rye and 5% mash bill, non-chill filtered three year whiskey drinks more like a 5-6 year due to the "sur lie" method and periodic rolling of the barrels.  

Hazy golden color, similar of a sultry summer sunset right before it disappears over the horizon.  We weren't expecting a heavily roasted marshmallow aroma, but it was instantly mouth-watering.  Dry straw, evergreen needles, and caramel chews also made an appearance.  This is incredibly viscous and if that's your thing, you're going to savor this whiskey!  Light brown sugar, orange marmalade, sweet grain and hints of star anise on the palate led to a really nice push of rye with medium heat on the finish.  The mouthfeel is what really stood out to us as far as uniqueness of this bottle.  The "on the lees" method of aging created the viscosity but time and subsequent batches of this whiskey will tell whether or not sur lie aging added enough flavor for the distillery to abandon the practice.  Either way, we really enjoyed this one and hope you do too!

ABV:  47.0% (94 proof)

Distillery:  MGP for Redemption

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  90/100

Still Austin Whiskey Company - Cask Strength Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys

 

If you've been following the whiskey world for any period of time, you no doubt have heard the phrases "grain to glass" and "craft distillery".  For whiskey enthusiasts, these phrases have a cult-like following as many view the grain to glass designation as the best and only way to truly make whiskey and appreciate the craft involved, beginning to end.  While we know that not every distillery has the ability to make this their practice, we certainly appreciate keeping everything in-house when possible.  To us, it often improves the quality and overall production of the spirits.

Still Austin Whiskey Company was the brain child of recent retiree Cleveland Seals and he sought the help of his son Chris to explore the reality of whether or not to open a distillery.  The pair drew closer, spent a ton of time together, drank a lot of whiskey, had deep conversations and eventually arrived to the decision that the Texas hill country needed a distillery.. But not just any distillery.  They wanted to craft a product that was completely representative of the area, with local sourced grains and the ability to oversee what goes into every bottle from start to finish.  

We had the opportunity to explore two of Still Austin's cask strength offerings - their bourbon and their rye whiskey.  The bourbon has a minimum of a 2 year age statement while the rye isn't disclosed just yet.  For you whiskey snobs, you've probably already clicked off of this article after reading the previous sentence.  But if you were patient and openminded enough to stick around, let us just say this:  color.   Look at the color.  Do these bottles look like they've been sitting in char #3 barrels for only 2 years?  Nope.  That's the beauty of the hill country weather.  The fluctuations, going from one extreme to another, really give the barrels a work out and many people argue that the whiskey tends to age in half the time as many other parts of the country.  Let's take a look!

The Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey is an enchanting, pecan-colored whiskey featuring an eye-catching label of "The Musician", created by Austin artist Marc Burkhardt.  Burkhardt creates all of the original label which adds to the appeal.  The mash bill contains Texas grains consisting of white corn (70%), rye (25%) and malted barley (5%).  First aromas feel like we are in grandma's kitchen as she whips up some homemade biscuits with fresh blackberry jam.  There's a lovely minty and sweetness that arrives after some time out of the bottle and in the glass.  On the palate we noticed reduced brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ripe stone fruits and mint.  The finish was very warm and the mint really came through.  Thoroughly impressed with this.  Still Austin's first bottle release of any spirit was in 2020 during the height of Covid.  We really hope they are keeping some barrels in storage as we would love to see what a 6, 8 or 10 year Still Austin would taste like (assuming the Angel's Share wouldn't grab all of the liquid!).

ABV:  59.0% (118 proof)

Distillery:  Still Austin Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $60.00

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

The Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey is an inviting hickory-colored and aromatic whiskey that is mouth-watering and beautiful.  Made from 100% Texas rye, this is a blend of the best-of-the-best rye barrels from Master Blender Nancy Fraley.  If you know the name, you know her work and there were not shortcuts here.  This is beautiful.  Berry pie, cinnamon and tropical fruits on the nose.  Mint, pencil shavings, lemon meringue, whip creeme and almond cookies with plenty of spice on the tongue.  There is a hint of mint and apricots on the very long and satisfying finish.  Rye fans, you'll want to get your hands on this!

ABV:  58.0% (116 proof)

Distillery:  Still Austin Whiskey

Suggested retail price:  $65.00

Drink The Bottles score:  93/100