Barrell Bourbon Cask Finish Series: Mizunara

 

We're going to tell you right up front that everything we have tasted from Barrell Craft Spirits so far has been delicious.  The Mizunara Oak Cask Finish Series we are tasting today is no exception to our expectations.  It is the color of pure, unrefinded honey and the 100 mL sample bottle proves that good things come in small packages.

Barrell Craft Spirits are the leaders in blended whiskeys, producing winner after winner, often using unique mash bills and differing aged whiskey to create something that is definitely palate pleasing.  The mash bill on this bottle is 76% corn, 20% rye and 4% malted barley.  This "Edition 001" release is comprised of the following bourbons:  Indiana - 6, 7 and 9 years old, Tennessee - 8 and 14 years old and 8 year old Kentucky bourbon.  The final blend is then matured further in Mizunara (Japanese Oak) barrels, further adding to the flavors and memorable drinking experience.  Mizunara Oak must be a minimum of 200 years old before it can be used for aging casks.  In many cases, the trees can reach an age of 500 years.

Tasted neat, this selection presented clay earth, maple syrup, ripe strawberries, honey and leather.  There is a lot going on here and we strongly encourage you to play with this by adding a drop or two of water or tasting it with a singular ice cube.  It's almost insane what other aromas and flavors come to the surface with the water addition.  Honey, barn wood, mint, cookie dough and herbs are dominant flavors, but that also changes with a couple of drops of water.  This whiskey has a considerable finish that invites you back for another sip.  Love this!

ABV:  58.21% (116.42 proof)

Distillery:  Barrell Craft Spirits

Suggested retail price:  $84.99

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

Bull Run Distilling Pinot Noir Finished American Whiskey

Lee Medoff, founder and head distiller at Bull Run Distilling Company in Portland, Oregon, is setting the Pacific Northwest on fire with his distinctive spirits.  While being a professional distiller since 1998, he started Bull Run Distillery in 2010 after setting his sights on creating a pure malt Oregon whiskey.  The distillery currently produces a barrel strength bourbon, vodka, gin and a nice selection of whiskeys.  Today we look at the Bull Run Distilling Pinot Noir Finished American Whiskey aged 15 years.  

The age statemen from Bull Run on the Pinot Noir finished whiskey varies, depending on the batch.  But we tasted the 15 year offering that includes an additional 8 month of finished aging in Pinot Noir casks.  The initial mash bill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley spends the first part of its life in former bourbon casks.  We are fans of finished bourbons (especially in red wine casks) so we were excited to taste and provide our thoughts on this one.  Bull Run used the prestigious Seguin-Moreau cooperage for the aging casks and the result is a huge hit!

Medium to dark crimson color with mahogany colors and stunningly beautiful.  Aromas of cherry syrup, ripe berries, barn wood, vanilla and tea offered a mouth-watering introduction.  Tasted neat in a Glencairn, inviting flavors of fine leather, oak, cherry compote, clove and herbs brought a very welcoming potpourri that really dance on the taste buds.  The finish was impressively smooth and satisfying.  There are some great whiskey and bourbons coming out of Oregon currently, and this one is no exception.  For the finished whiskey fan, this is your wake up call.  Check out Bull Run Distilling Company!

ABV:  58.17% (116.34 proof)

Distillery:  Bull Run Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $48.95

Drink the Bottles score:  95/100

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Mizunara Barrel

 

We won't lie.  This was a fun one for us!  It's not every day you get to taste a 6-year-old Kentucky bourbon that is finished in Mizunara Oak Shochu barrels.  We're going to break that down in just a second. There's a lot to unwrap here.

The World Whiskey Society (WWS) has only been around since 2020, but they are creating a huge footprint in the whiskey world with their extremely unique and innovative products.  First of all, you can't help but notice their exquisite packaging.  If ever there was a "cool bottle" story, it resonates with the offerings from WWS.  The labels are sophisticated and appealing.  The unique bottle toppers are secretly sought after by collectors.  So what about what is in this bottle?  Let's take a look.

So what is Mizunara Oak and what in the heck is Shochu?  Mizunara oak, or Japanese oak, is incredibly expensive and rare.  It grows in distinct pockets in northern Japan and it is very difficult to work with.  We should mention that you also have to be patient, as it can take between 200 - 400+ years for the Mizunara tree to mature so it can be used for barrels.  Let that little fact sink in!  And what about the Shochu?  Shochu is a distilled spirit from Japan that is commonly made from rice, buckwheat, brown sugar, barley, sweet potatoes, carrots, chestnut, sesame seeds or potatoes (or any combination of these).  

When WWS society set out to offer this finished bourbon, they thought the entire process through and kudos to their marketing folks.  Obviously we're going Japanese-themed here, right down to the Samurai bottle stopper.  

Auburn and medium brown in the bottle, aromas of dried Asian cooking spices, floral incense, toasted nuts and sweet oak are dominant.  Tasted neat, we went back and forth on what each of us tasted - sweet chilis, coconut, light oak, toasted bread, hard maple candy, cinnamon stick, vanilla cream, molasses and mixed berry compote.  Like we said previously, there's a lot going on here.  We argued back and forth (in fun) a bit about who was right.  But, at the end of the day, you have to just accept that this is a delicious bottle.  

The brown water in this bottle was sourced from Bardstown Bourbon Company with a mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley.  At 108 proof this is in a great spot with the age statement and extra finishing.  If you're a finished bourbon fan or have always been curious about Mizunara Oak finished whiskey, you need to check this out!

ABV:  54.0% (108 proof)

Distillery:  Bardstown Bourbon Company

Suggested retail price:  $124.00

Drink The Bottles score:  94/100

McLaughlin Distillery 3799 Bourbon

 

In a quaint house-turned-distillery (or world headquarters as the sign states) is a local Sewickley, Pennsylvania distiller who is producing local craft bourbon, whiskey and flavored moonshines.  Owner Kim McLaughlin follows his family's distilling traditions and pours his heart and soul into each barrel.  McLaughlin Distillery will tell you up front that they aren't the biggest and they don't have the fanciest machinery.  But what they do have is a passion for making distilled spirits that represent this southwest Pennsylvania borough while using oak from the North to age their spirits.

The 3799 Bourbon has a beautiful dense chestnut-orange color.  While we don't know the age statement of this bourbon, it is the distillery's most popular offering.  The nose presents chocolate covered almonds, green earth, vanilla and dark tea.  Swirling really opens this up and we tasted this neat.  In the mouth was almond crunch, hayloft earthiness, hints of semi-sweet chocolate and carmel.  The initial sip gives you a hug and then quickly falls off to a smoother finish that leaves you curious about the next sip.

We will be re-visiting this with a few drops of water and a cube at a later date.  The McLaughlin Distillery team offers four cocktail recipes on their website for this bourbon, so that might be a fun way to share this with friends as well.  We like what Kim and company are doing and we would love to see what some older bourbons are offering from them.

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  McLaughlin Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $69.99

Drink The Bottles score:  88/100

Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Town Branch Distillery is Lexington, Kentucky's first new distillery built post-Prohibition.  Located on the banks of the Elkhorn Creek, the area's limestone water is rivaled to be some of the best in the world for distilled spirits.  Town Branch is part of the Lexington Brewing and Distilling Co and they make one of our favorite beers, which we tasted many years ago - Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.  We will fight anyone who thinks that isn't one of the best bourbon aged beers on the market!

This is the Town Branch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and one of their first released distilled products.  Pleasant dark honey color with aromas of caramelized sugar, biscuits, dry earth and bright fruits.  You get a really warm Kentucky hug from this bourbon and flavors of cedar box, cherry preserves, green chiles with a semi-sweet and long caramel finish, including a hint of orchard fruits.  Tasted neat, as always.  This is a solid daily drinker and one that would be great for cocktails.

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  Town Branch Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $39.99

Drink The Bottles score:  90/100

 

2023 Flora Springs Soliloquy White Wine

The long days of summer are here and that means it is white wine season!  Historically, we have only tasted red wines from Flora Springs Winery, so we were excited to have the opportunity to try something new to us and this one was timed perfectly with the hot weather.  The Flora Springs Soliloquy White Wine is a blend of primarily Sauvignon Blanc with Chardonnay and the lesser known Malvasia added for complexity and flavors.  This is one of Flora Springs flagship wines and it is quickly noticeable why it carries that identity.

Pale gold in the glass with hints of greenish blue on the rim, this wine is immediately identifiable as primarily Sauvignon Blanc by the familiar meadow grass, floral and stone fruit aromas.  We tasted this slightly chilled to take advantage of the full tasting experience, but there is no doubt this would be a porch sipping or pool party wine served well chilled.  Citrus fruit, vanilla, and apples are dominant with honeycomb and sea salt showing up in the very pleasant and medium finish.  The acidity is perfect and this isn't overly bright like some Sauvignon Blanc wines tend to be.  We love what Flora Springs has done here and think this is a real winner!

ABV:  14.2%

Napa Valley, CA

631 cases produced

Suggested retail price:  $70.00

Drink The Bottles score:  92/100

 

Westward Single Malt Whiskey

If you don't have the three of four minutes to read our entire review of this whiskey, we will cut to the chase.   This is quite possibly the best single malt whiskey we have tasted in 2024.  Now, if you want to know why then keep reading.  The Westward Single Malt Whiskey is what they call their original whiskey.  It is 100% malted barley from the Pacific Northwest and aged in heavy and light charred oak barrels.  The great northwest is known for exceptional barley crops and that is evident in what we are tasting today.  

Medium to dark copper in color, this single malt whiskey carries distintive aromas and flavors that represent the waters of the Pacific Northwest, which is the foundation for what Westward produces.  Aromas include a basket of fresh picked peaches, orange bitters, maple candy, roasted nuts, lemon-lime soda and tree bark.  There is a lot going on here!  In the mouth is a mesmerizing and colorful palate consisting of caramelized sugar, peaches, lemon zest, macadamia nut, hints of caramel and hay field.  It's mouth filling and you embrace this with each sip.  The finish is on the fruity and floral side and is absolutely stunningly smooth.  

We take several factors into consideration when determining an overall "score" for a bottle.  We always tell folks not to get too caught up in scores.  Hopefully our descriptions will tell the story.  The bottled product, packaging, label, availability, price, value and more go into helping us calculate a score.  This one is nearly perfect in the single malt whiskey category.  It's absolutely a standout and delicious.

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  Westward Whiskey Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $74.95

Drink The Bottles score:  99/100

 

Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Oak Series: French Oak

 

A Smith Bowman Distillery out of Fredericksburg, Virginian has been turning some heads with their limited edition whiskey offerings.  This is the Abraham Bowman Limited Oak Series: French Oak Whiskey that was available through the distillery via lottery due to its exclusive nature.  The distillery has crafted about two dozen special limited release bottles and you quickly understand why these are so popular with whiskey enthusiasts and collectors.

Gorgeous saddle brown color, this twelve year aged whiskey is a blend of their best barrels aged in French Oak, with and without char.  Tasted neat, aromas of freshly baked biscuits, vanilla extract, cherry cobbler and chewy caramel dominate the the nose.  This is instantly mouth-watering and equally matched by the beaming flavors of cherry cordial, lightly tanned leather, vanilla cream, spice cabinet and stone fruits.  It covers the tongue and leaves a very long and lovely finish.  We had the opportunity to share this with some local bourbon and whiskey lovers and it was an instant hit!  While this particular bottle was only avaialble for a limited time via online lottery, you'll want to be on the lookout for future limited edition releases.  Incredible!

ABV:  50.0% (100 proof)

Distillery:  A Smith Bowman Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $79.99

Drink The bottles score:  96/100

Traveller Whiskey from Buffalo Trace

We re-tasted Traveller Whiskey, a collaboration from Buffalo Trace Distillery and country music superstar Chris Stapleton, under the direction of master distiller Harlen Wheatley.  This is a blended whiskey and one that we think you will enjoy.  Don't buy this thinking you are getting a bottle of Buffalo Trace bourbon!  

ABV:  45.0% (90 proof)

Distillery:  Buffalo Trace Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $39.99

Drink The Bottles score:  87/100

Firefly Distillery Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey

We don't have an opportunity to taste many flavored whiskies, but it's always fun and interesting to see how one brand compares over another.  Flavored whiskey is great for the novice whiskey drinker who wants to try whiskey without getting the familiar burn or "hug" from the bottle.  It is also fantastic in festive and summertime cocktails and for creating your own signature drink.  This is Firefly Distillery Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey and it is definitely one of the better flavored whiskey offerings we have tasted in a very long time.  

Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt are the co-founders of Firefly Distillery, bringing their experience from years working in the wine business to a venture that included not only traditional distilled spirits like whiskey, rum, gin and moonshine, but also ready-to-drink cocktails.  The Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey is a selection from their Tom and Huck Distillers series and it features "good ol' southern charm in a bottle".  That's our moniker for this whiskey, not theirs.  

Unlike many other flavored whiskey on the market, this one actually has real berries in the flavoring.  The folks who brought you sweet tea vodka (yes, it's them!) have this blackberry whiskey dialed in.  Light auburn/chestnut color with a cloud of mystique at first glance.  The nose isn't a fruit bomb, which we like.  It is more subtle at first, suggesting this would be tasty not only in a cocktail, but also enjoyed over rocks on a hot summer evening.  There are some vanilla and carmel syrup notes as well.  On the palate is a distinct but restrained blackberry taste with vanilla, baking spices and graham cracker.  It's really a very well made flavored whiskey.  We gave a shot at this recipe.  Keep in mind, we are not mixologists!

• 2 ounces of Firefly Steel Feathers Blackberry Whiskey
• 3 ounces of ginger ale
• 1/2 lime
• 1 sugar cube
• Serve over ice

But you really can't beat mixing this with some semi-sweet lemonade.  Tone down the sugar in the lemonade to get a better taste of the whiskey.  Add a sprig of mint and you're all set!

ABV:  35.0% (70 proof)

Distillery:  Firefly Distillery

Suggested retail price:  $24.99

Drink The Bottles score:  87/100

We compared Steel Feathers against the new Crown Royal Blackberry Whiskey in this four minute video below.  They are both 70 proof and the results were clear from the start.  Crown Royal does not live up to the hype!   If you want a quality flavored whiskey, search from Steel Feathers from Firefly Distillery.

Check out the head-to-head blackberry whiskey review.

 

Seacrets Distilling Company - Orange and Lemon Drop Vodkas

 

If you don't vacation on the east coast, you may not know that Ocean City, MD is a hotbed of tourist activity in the summer months.  But it is also a one-of-a-kind distillery, producing award-winning rum, whiskey, vodka and gin.  We were fortunate to taste these Seacrets Distilling Company flavored vodkas, just in time for the hot summer weather and they are really something special.  Whether or not you consider yourself a vodka consumer, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised by what Seacrets is producing here.  

If you've been around here for awhile, you know that we taste everything neat - at least initially.  It can be tough to taste vodka and gin neat, as they are at the lower end of our "hey, lets' drink that today" list.  And too often you have to filter out the dozens of flavored vodka that sit on the shelf produced by the companies who are sloshing out a zillion barrels per year.  So when we had the opportunity to taste this one, we were pretty excited to try something off of our beaten path.

Seacrets uses their small batch premium vodka as the base here.  They add over 500 pounds of fresh blood oranges and navel oranges and let the magic begin.  The peels are also steeped for a shorter time for additional flavor and removed prior to the fruit.  After filtering out the fruit, they add natural cane sweetener to create the perfect balance of flavor and sweetness.  We have to tell you.  This really made us shake our heads and smile.  It tastes absolutely pure, flavorful and like a breath of summer in a glass.  And a bonus......... it's gluten free!

We went on to pour this over ice and sip it and we even started experimenting a bit with this liquor.  Four parts of this orange vodka to 1/2 ounce of cream of coconut had us reminiscing to our childhood, eating orange cream popsicles on our bikes.  Their website has a great orange crush recipe you need to check out.  I know we will be trying it!

ABV:  35.0% (70 proof)

Distillery:  Seacrets Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $24.99

Drink The Bottles score:  88/100

If you love lemon flavored vodka, this is the one you need to put on your list!  It's incredibly tasty, affordable, not made with artifical flavors and makes a great John Daly (you know, iced tea and lemon flavored vodka)!  Again, this one starts with the Seacrets Distilling Company small batch (and award winning) vodka and fresh whole lemons (over 500 pounds) are introduced to the distillate.  Natural cane sweetener is introduced (lemons are sour folks!) and when the aroma, flavors and colors are just right, this goes into the gluten free stunner.  

Tasted neat, on ice and in some experimental cocktails, this lemon flavored vodka rose to the occasion for making us both giddy and impressed.  Pale gold in color, incredible wafting aromas of lemon and spring breezes greeted us at every sip.  This one just tastes "right".  It's light, it's very flavorful and you don't get a guilty or full feeling when tasting it.  There is literally no burn at the back end we ended up mixing this with a wide array of accoutrements - triple sec, orange juice, blueberry juice, iced tea, ginger bear and cranberry juice to name a few.  While some of these drink concoctions were better than others, the Lemon Drop vodka never disappointed.  

We're hoping to visit the distillery sometime in the near future.  Leighton Moore is the owner/founder and he spared no attention to detail when creating this work of art.  Everything in the distillery is an antique from 1933 (the year Prohibition ended) or earlier.  That includes the doors, windows, lighting, bricks and more.  No detail was spared.

We love what is happening with Seacrets Distilling Company.  They have an amazing venue and some really delicious products.  In less than 10 years they have created a bold footprint in the beverage industry and on the east coast.  Look for unique and great products to keep rolling out of here.  

ABV:  35.0% (70 proof)

Distillery:  Seacrets Distilling Company

Suggested retail price:  $24.99

Drink The Bottles score:  92/100