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| Hello, that is one among our (virtually) every day tastings. Santé! |
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September 27, 2024
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A couple of extra American whiskies
We have been fairly impressed by American malts and ryes recently, and by the truth that, typically, they handle to face out with out relying too closely on these ‘alien’ casks that different nations typically use to the purpose of extra to flavour their whiskies. Briefly, sufficient with the barriques, lengthy reside the barrels!
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Louis XVI of Bourbon, King of France on the time
when the well-known Bourbon County in Kentucky
adopted his household identify in 1785. Sadly,
that didn’t carry him a lot luck… |
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Stranahan’s ‘Blue Peak’ (43%, OB, USA, single malt, +/-2024) 
From Colorado. One of many pioneers of American malt, Stranahan’s was talked about fairly a bit round fifteen years in the past (I feel). They appear somewhat quiet in Europe today, although. We actually loved a ‘Batch 112’ ten years in the past (WF 86). This Blue Peak is aged for 4 years in new American oak, adopted by a ‘solera end’, although I’ve no clue what that truly entails. Some form of barrel homogenisation? A perpetual vat? Spanish ex-solera butts? Color: darkish gold. Nostril: younger, with fairly a gift woodiness, however not misplaced on this setting. A great deal of cinnamon and nutmeg, adopted by ginger, cocoa, barely acidic espresso (or mocha), and black tea. It’s pretty dry and austere, with none apparent beams. By which I imply, no blatant vanilla or coconut. Mouth: nonetheless fairly austere, dry, woody, with teas, then brown sugar, barely unripe fruits, and oak spices. It steadily turns into extra fruity, with apples and plums. End: not very lengthy, with no main shifts, however a return of that cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg trio in direction of the tip. Feedback: younger, no frills, and superb in my ebook.
SGP:551 – 84 factors. |
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Sonoma ‘California Rye’ (46.5%, OB, USA, 2024) 
By no means been upset by these Sonoma whiskies, which I first found in a small grocery within the… Napa Valley. Their ‘Sonoma County Rye’ was wonderful as nicely (WF 86). That mentioned, this bottle states ‘a mix of straight rye whiskeys’, which is a bit puzzling. Is it sourced? Color: gold. Nostril: I might have to start out watching out for these ryes. Gorgeous oranges, bitter oranges, hints of juniper, caraway, vanilla cream, and coriander… No, I’m not describing a gin. Mouth: the combination of those spices and aged triple-sec is fairly irresistible, not less than for me. A stunning freshness, all very easy. End: a little bit of honey and maple syrup are available in to spherical out the sweetness. Some speculoos within the aftertaste (not very Californian, that) and extra wooden spices. Feedback: we actually ought to start out a world rye membership.
SGP:651 – 86 factors. |
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… and since we’re persistent, or not less than we attempt to be…
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Michter’s 10 yo ‘Kentucky Straight Rye’ (46.4%, OB, USA, +/-2024) 
This single barrel Rye carries the ‘Straight’ designation, which suggests it has been aged for not less than two years, not that it’s 100% rye—although it’s, in fact, largely rye (not less than 51%). With out ‘Straight’, there wouldn’t be any minimal ageing requirement. Color: amber. Nostril: completely lovely, with apricots, varnish, and glue (which we like), rose petals, jasmine, mango, flambéed bananas, a gentler juniper contact, well-balanced vanilla, and honey. The stability right here is impeccable. Mouth: there’s an actual bourbon-like high quality, however with extra cooked and recent fruits. The bananas return (assume banana tarte), alongside plums, peaches, and pears, all wrapped in honey, with that beautiful varnish notice we’re so keen on. End: somewhat lengthy and delightfully fruity. Lavender sweets, honey, pear, and a contact of juniper. Feedback: Michter’s now distils on their very own, nevertheless it’s unclear if this batch is from their very own manufacturing. However frankly, that is wonderful, recent, and cheerful. Undoubtedly not a rye-bomb, although.
SGP:651 – 88 factors. |
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By no means Say Die ‘Barrel Power’ (60.5%, OB, Kentucky Straight Bourbon, barrel, cask #8) 
Billed as having ‘Kentucky provenance, English character’, although one would possibly cheekily add ‘and French taster’. What might presumably go incorrect? Intriguingly, it’s distilled in Kentucky and completed in England—although by ‘completed’, they fortunately don’t imply ‘consumed’. Constituted of 75% corn, so we’re anticipating sweetness. Color: deep gold. Nostril: neat, it’s all about milk chocolate and pancake syrup. With water: just a few oily touches (peanut), gentle earthiness, pistachios, and an Italian-style hazelnut liqueur notice. Mouth (neat): highly regarded, leaning in direction of grain territory, with a mountain of jelly infants and a splash of espresso liqueur. With water: reminds one among North British, however with a bit extra spine. Apple juice, corn syrup, vanilla, and sweets. End: not very lengthy, actually all concerning the sweets—English sweets, in fact. A frappuccino notice lingers within the aftertaste—these cheeky Individuals! Feedback: a high-powered bourbon with a lightweight construction. I in all probability ought to have tasted this earlier than the ryes, my mistake. Mea culpa.
SGP:720 – 79 factors. |
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Leiper’s Fork 4 yo ‘bottled in bond’ (50%, OB, Tennessee Whiskey, new American oak #4, +/-2024) 
With a mashbill of 70% corn, we’re venturing into acquainted territory. Color: deep gold. Nostril: there’s that basic sweet sweetness and maple syrup, however right here it’s bolstered by extra vanilla and a little bit of construction from the oak. A contact of apple juice as nicely, which is somewhat nice. With water: a lot the identical. Mouth (neat): toasted brioche, adopted by a properly earthy and rooty facet. Cooked turnips with honey, or one thing alongside these traces, then a return of syrup—cane or agave maybe. With water: the wooden asserts itself extra, with ginger, turmeric, after which a dose of sugar. End: a little bit of rye now comes via, alongside a touch of soppy rum. The maple syrup makes a reappearance within the aftertaste. Feedback: it’s pleasurable, although I discover spirits so closely dominated by corn a bit missing in construction. Nonetheless, sure, it’s fairly good.
SGP:730 – 81 factors. |
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Heaven’s Door ‘Schlumberger Choice 6’ (59.4%, OB, Tennessee, Straight Bourbon whiskey, single barrel, cask #28897)
A 5-year-old bottling for Germany, and sure, co-created by none apart from Bob Dylan—between Bob Dylan and Beyoncé, nicely, I’m not torn in any respect! Color: full gold. Nostril: mint and liquorice over wooden shavings and ripe apples. As they are saying, it speaks—and it speaks nicely. With water: a slice of rye bread and nonetheless a little bit of sawdust, however that’s not a foul factor in any respect. Some beautiful forest notes, mushrooms, moss—certainly it’s actually fairly good. Mouth (neat): highly effective, well-balanced, in the same vein to Leiper’s Fork however with extra honey and a touch of saffron. Additionally a contact of pine resin. Fairly pleasurable. With water: water works wonders, bringing out varnish (the other of what normally occurs) and honeyed baked fruits, with a little bit of grated ginger. End: somewhat lengthy, with saffron making a notable return. A barely dry, matte notice within the aftertaste, because of the younger wooden. Feedback: the reply, my good friend…
SGP:651 – 83 factors. |
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Westward ‘Pinot Noir Cask’ (45%, OB, USA, single malt, +/-2023)
This little gem, ‘powered by Diageo/Distill Ventures’, was completed for 2 years in Oregon Pinot Noir casks. In case you’re going so as to add wine, would possibly as nicely preserve it native, proper? Color: gold, much less pink than earlier batches. Nostril: the actual triumph right here, in my view, is that you just don’t really scent the pink wine. As a substitute, you get oranges (with out that sangria notice), Oriental pastries, honey, orange blossom, rustic bread, pumpernickel, a touch of earthy tobacco, a fragile contact of wooden glue, and pink pepper. It’s all spot-on. Mouth: the form of whisky I wish to dislike—in case you catch my drift. But it surely’s really a tad sweeter than anticipated, but superbly balanced with a slight vinegary edge, a contact of recreation, and that ‘outdated rag’ and black cherry notice that’s so typical of a very good Pinot Noir. Essentially the most baffling factor is there’s no conflict in any respect—it have to be some kind of magic. End: lengthy, with pumpernickel and gingerbread. A touch of cherry liqueur (guignolet) lingers, with beautiful spices within the aftertaste. Feedback: I’m virtually ashamed of how a lot I like this. Shh, don’t inform anybody—particularly not the Burgundians.
SGP:651 – 87 factors. |
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Heritage Distilling Co. 5 yo 2018/2023 (61.15%, American Single Cask, chocolate malted barley, USA, new oak heavy char, cask #0003, 223 bottles) 
Nicely, right here we’re again in Washington State. These people completely floored us again in August with their 2016 100% rye beneath the identical banner (WF 91). Only a fast notice, ‘chocolate malt’ refers to closely roasted malt and has nothing to do with precise chocolate. Color: reddish amber. Nostril: wham, proper within the face. Tar, espresso grounds, earth, new plastic, fig and tomato leaves, and an outdated tea field… What on earth is that this? With water: somewhat amusing, all of it settles down a bit, however then we get some beautiful notes of spinach, sorrel, wild garlic, thyme, marjoram… and sure, some chocolate. Mouth (neat): extremely unbelievable. A great deal of myrtle, smoke, barely acidic tar, a bit of untamed moutai, fish inventory, plastic… It’s so bonkers that you just begin to surprise if there’s some nuclear waste in right here as nicely (are you alright, S.?). With water: nonetheless completely mad. Vin Jaune, mustard, glue, plastics, seawater… End: very lengthy, salty, and acidic, with a powerful sorrel, olive, and black garlic character. Feedback: to begin with, is that this even authorized? And secondly, is it ethical? By no means tasted something like this. PS: I find it irresistible.
SGP:283 – 90 factors. |
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Proper, let’s not less than attempt to discover some type of redemption, we will not keep like this…
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2BAR Spirits 4 yo 2019/2023 (58.94%, American Single Cask, Straight Bourbon whiskey, ex-red wine end, USA, cask #0005, 286 bottles)
We’re nonetheless on the West Coast, this time in Seattle. The point out of a pink wine end is at all times a bit daunting, however there are the odd nice surprises – as we have seen with Westward. By the best way, 2BAR Spirits declare their aim is straightforward: ‘make a rattling advantageous whiskey’. Honest sufficient. Color: reddish amber. Nostril: they’re beginning to get a bit boring with their implausible juices. Strawberry tarte, chestnut honey, recent malt, orange jam, maple syrup. No pink berries, save for a contact of cooked strawberry. With water: a literal explosion of morello cherry. Unlikely, however beautiful, particularly since we’re somewhat keen on cherries. Mouth (neat): you may really feel the wine, however it’s also possible to really feel the bourbon’s ‘malty’ character, or so it appears. Black tea, spices, cracked pepper, cherry jam. With water: brioche, walnuts, cherries, pepper, and Blanc de Noirs Champagne. They’re infuriatingly good, actually. Certainly, they have to be utilizing some type of AI, particularly since they’re up within the Pacific Northwest. End: lengthy, textured, elegant, virtually creamy. Cherry marmalade with honey and pepper. Solely the aftertaste is a tad chocolatey and drying, with a reasonably robust tannic notice. Feedback: the right counterpart to the Heritage Distilling Co., it’s like watching Magnificence and the Beast over again. In any case, this entire sequence by ‘American Single Cask’ is of an extremely excessive commonplace and, most significantly, splendidly entertaining for a taster who would possibly sometimes really feel a tad jaded. However I think about, alas, that they don’t have tens of millions of barrels.
SGP:561 – 90 factors. |
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