Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon

Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon review:

Four Roses Single Barrel.  For the record, the bottle was labeled;  Warehouse # RN, Barrel #67-6Q

I sampled this with a splash of water.  Since this whiskey is 100 proof, a bit of water is suitable to open the flavors and allow the whiskey to reveal itself.

Nose:  Blackberry, carrot, sweet potato, shortbread, burnt sugar, citrus, honeysuckle, straw, alfalfa.

Taste:  Pear, orange peel, oak, spice, date, nutmeg, bitter clove, caramel, toffee.  

Finish:  Long, woody, herbs, toasty pecan, thyme.  Wonderfully cake-y,  and  loaded with herbal and earthy attributes.    

Overall: One of the best Four Roses Single Barrels I have tasted.  A genuine single barrel whiskey will vary with different barrels.  While I have never been disappointed with any Four Roses Single Barrel expressions, this is one of the most well balanced, forward flavored, warm, and feisty ones yet.  Cheers!  

Henry Mckenna single barrel bourbon whiskey.

This is an affordable, and well made bourbon.  Part of the Heaven Hill Distilleries family.  They are an independent, family owned and operated company.

I first tried this bourbon as part of a flight of bourbons at a local establishment.  I made a note to get a bottle after the first sip!   I found it to be warm, sweet, rich, and developed.  Notes as follows.

Nose:  spongecake, peach, burnt sugar, maple, cedar, touch of clove

Taste:  wood, pine, oak, not as sweet as the nose, pear, pecan,

Finish:  medium, smooth, nice oak, hints of tobacco and leather

A very worthwhile sipper. Would also make a fine Old Fashioned.  I recommend everyone have a bottle of this in their bar.  Sure to please your guests.  Cheers!

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon

Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon Review.


Yes, yes.  I am so pleased to review this bourbon.   A very fine bourbon for a mid-range price.    I believe this is a must have bourbon for everyone's bar.....sure to please.

Tasting notes:

Nose:  Apricot, honeysuckle, clove.   A whiff of warm waffles.  Prominent cedar.  Nutmeg.  Rose, rose-hips.  A nice marshmallow.

Taste:  Banana.  Spice.  Cinnamon.  Maple.  A bit of grape candy.  Basil.  Cardamom.

Finish:  Woody tannins.  Burnt wood.  Yellow cake.  Pecans.  Root-beer.

A wonderful, smooth, yet powerful small batch bourbon.   Full flavored.   Very approachable, and lively whiskey.  Cheers!

Knob Creek, Small Batch Bourbon

Hello and salutations!

Bourbon.  Yes!  Bourbon.   The quintessential American whiskey!   A very specific set of rules (laws), guide the production and distribution of bourbon whiskey.   I love the stuff!  No doubt.    Sweet, woody, with spice, vanilla, toffee, and various  fruit and oak notes,,bourbon is a first class whiskey, and should be deeply explored by any whiskey enthusiast.

Knob Creek, Small Batch Bourbon is a wonderful introduction  to the wold of premium bourbons.  My tasting notes follow.

Nose:  Brown sugar.  Orange.  Vanilla.  Apricot.  Pears.   Also a sort of alfalfa and hay note.

Taste:  Spongecake.   Caramel,  spice.  Oak.  A piney, resinous taste.  Sweet, cider taste.

Finnish:  Apple-wood.  Herb/bitter.  Cinnamon.  Fragrant oak.  Juicy Fruit gum.

This is the bourbon that first got me interested in premium bourbon.   Seems to be an honest, well crafted bourbon.   Full flavored, quality, and rich.   Overall experience is rich, flavorful, forward flavored, perhaps a bit much for bourbon noobs, but spot on for anyone interested in experiencing premium, aged, bourbon,

Old Weller Antique

Also called Old Weller 107, it is a classically tasting bourbon, high proof, rich, full bodied, and best of all, very affordable.

 I rarely drink whiskey with ice, that's just me.  But many whiskeys need some diluting, whether with ice or with still water.   To fully enjoy this whiskey, make sure you properly lower the proof to release some of what is inside!

I recommend 1/4 ounce spring water, (not tap water, the chlorine and other chemicals ruin the whiskey), to a 2 ounce pour.  Give it a stir and let it sit a moment.  Now nose it.  I get, citrus, apple, apricot, some blossom, very nice.

Now give it a taste.  Be sure to take in enough to coat your tongue, and your entire mouth.   Notice the fruit forward taste.  A nice oak and caramel taste is also prominent.   Taste the strong wheat, the vanilla, and a hint of spice.

Experience the finish....this takes patience and proper attention.     Crisp, and spicy, the finish is no wimp, very pungent and vigorous.

A HUGE bang for the buck, I highly recommend everyone having a bottle of this in their collection!  

*Note:  There are as many descriptions for the flavors and sensations experienced drinking whiskey as there are people in this world!   Taste what you taste, feel what you feel, regardless of what some expert says!

Belle Meade Bourbon Review

Belle Meade Bourbon

from Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery

Chas. & W.A. Nelson, Proprietors

Nashville, Tenn.

I was at my local drinking establishment last summer, when I asked my regular bartender if he had any new or interesting whiskey to try.   He said, “Indeed I do”, and poured me a glass of Belle Meade Bourbon.  I was hooked.  My taste review will come shortly, but I was quite enamored with this bourbon.  I went to look for it at the liquor store only to find out it is not normally available in Michigan. I have my sources, so I was able to acquire a bottle.   I am savoring it and only having some occasionally, at least until I get another bottle.

The nose:  A bit of apple, banana, some peach.  (side note, did you know that sometimes one nostril or the other is better at smelling, it changes.  So give multiple smells and use both nostrils alternately).  There is even a hint of berry, as well as some vanilla and spice.

Palette:   Rich, yet light.  Nice oak notes.  Apple, sweet caramel, some bitter spice.  A firmly middle of the road flavor, in a good way.  A bit of rye also shows up.   Not pale, but not too sugary.  

Finish:  Woody, spice, not a really long finish by any means.  After a bit, the charred oak finally reveals itself.

Overall:  A smooth and satisfying bourbon.    For spring and summer sipping.   I prefer deeper and richer stuff for colder weather.  For 90 proof, it is very mellow, I only add a tiny splash of water.  Eminently drinkable, and tasty, but different enough to be a must try for any serious whisky drinker.  

First Whiskey Review

First whiskey review:

I love blogging about whiskey. Whiskey lends itself well to blogging; I enjoy it. Other people enjoy it. It is wonderful to share. It is a social, culinary, olfactory, cultural, and of course intoxicating creation, with a myriad of characteristics and qualities. I am ready to further the existence of my whiskey blog with some whiskey reviews. It is more difficult than I thought to decide which whiskey to feature as my first review. Like it defines me somehow. Bullshit! There are so many whiskeys, so many platates, so many moods.....let the drinker be the final judge of what they like and when they like it!

The world is loaded with wonderful, high quality, yet affordable bourbons, it can be overwhelming for a novice to embark upon the sojourn that is bourbon appreciation.

In describing whiskey, I am of the school of thought that all pretense is off the table. Please describe what you see/smell/taste, even if it is in your own terms. Don't be constricted to some narrow, strict list of terms. If it smells like old rubber, then say so. If it smells like a musty catchers mitt, than say so. If you taste hints of peaches, then say so. If it tastes like apricots and freshly hewn 2x4s, so be it. If the finish is oily, or astringent, then say so.

Knob Creek, Small Batch Bourbon:

This was one of the first bourbons I started drinking as I moved past the bottom shelf stuff. Along with Makers Mark, this is a good choice for introducing oneself to “better” bourbons.

Nose: Very friendly. Sweet, apricot, and rosebud. A bit hot, (it is 100 proof), somewhat sharp.

Palate: A nice warm glow. That is the first thing I taste. Then some wonderful oak, some cinnamon, fruit; a bit of apple and apricot. A nice, broad maltiness sort of supports the aforementioned notes.

Finish: (This is the hardest for me to describe; figuring out what constitutes the finish). Quite sweet. Oak, and even maple flavors linger. Herbs and a bit of spice hold the end. Not the longest finish, but decent for sure.

Overall: Knob Creek is a fine bourbon, great for sipping, can be well utilized in a cocktail, and is a respectable addition to one's list. If you are out and about, many bars will have Knob Creek, it will serve you well!

But....with all due respect to The Jim Beam Corp, (the makers of Knob Creek), I think it's a bit overpriced.

Where to drink whiskey

Drinking whiskey, to me, is about relaxation, and perhaps some good conversation.  A loud sports bar?  No.  A frenetic nightclub?  Nope.  I like a dimly lit, friendly, casual to upscale bar, with a good whiskey selection, a knowledgeable barkeep, and an acquaintance, new or old to talk with.   This is the ideal place to imbibe.

In Ann Arbor, a few places instantly come to mind.

The Ravens Club fits the bill nicely.  While it can get pretty busy on the weekends, it is always a pleasure to sip a glass of bourbon, scotch, or any of the other fine whiskeys they have in their vast selection.  Some really good cocktails are just waiting for your request as well.  Their signature house made, hand pulled Old Fashioned is not to be missed.   Other original, superbly crafted, cocktails are ever changing on the menu.  Tasty food offering are to be had; a nice charcuterie boards, cheese plates, as well as other fine small and large plate snacks or dinners, a great way to enhance the enjoyment of good whiskey.

The Last Word, with it's speakeasy-like location, dim lighting, fine whiskey selection, and small, but well made cuisine menu, is another of my "go to" spots for a whiskey or other libation.  Veer off from whiskey long enough to enjoy the Last Word Cocktail, a Gin based prohibition-era cocktail originally developed at the Detroit Athletic Club.

Bring a friend, or make a friend, at either of these unique Ann Arbor bars, and have a whisky for me!  Cheers!

Songs about drink

Booze and song have always gone together.  The good, the bad, and the ugly, there are so many songs about alcohol.   The Kinks song, Alcohol, is a jazzy, pop song, espousing the darker side of drinking.  http://youtu.be/ea-MVgC_jz4

The song Moon of Alabama is known to many by The Doors version.   Lotte Lenya recorded it many years before The Doors.
http://youtu.be/X4IzqG7oP18

This one is great to sing along to:  The Days of Wine and Roses
http://youtu.be/tKuWGF8oyyk

I hope my Ann Arbor friends, (and beyond!), join me in exploring the wonderful world of whiskey.

Let's try and get things going by inviting you to share your review/opinion of a favorite whiskey of yours.

I'll go first:  Old Weller bourbon.   A wheated bourbon, 107 proof, a great value for the price!   Sweet, malty, a full flavored, and smooth palette for the proof.  As is my custom, I recommend drinking neat, with a small splash of water to open up the flavor.

So, what does it mean to drink and enjoy whiskey?  That is the question, and the answer is, hopefully, a never-ending quest by me, you, and the other old souls who imbibe in the malty, smokey, woody, wonderful goodness that is whiskey.  So let us undertake the search for meaning, truth, love, and life, with our taste, smell, and all our senses, as we explore and live in the amazing world of whiskey, (and occasionally other spirits).