Some great, well aged MGP bourbon and rye came out of Maryland via Seelbach’s. This was the oldest and best (to my taste) of the bunch. Old and a low proof barrel proof are generally right up my alley.
Age: 16 years
Proof: 97.8
Notes: Very old very leather. Not too sweet, good mouth feel for the proof. Plenty of oak and tobacco.
Stars: 3 - Excellent whiskey: I would be willing to hunt down a bottle
I thought I bought a backup but I can’t find it.
Barrell sourced some great barrels from Willett a while back. This is one of them. Apparently I forgot to take a picture.
Age: 8 year
Proof: 118.6 proof
Notes: Huge bubble gum note. Nice spice on the finish. Bit of mint.
Stars: 3 - Excellent whiskey: I would be willing to hunt down a bottle
Thanks to the folks at Fee Brother’s for sending me some of their new Lime bitters!
I’ve really been enjoying these for brighter cocktails as the weather warms up here in Texas.
Replacing the lime juice in a Kentucky Mule with a few dashes of bitters has been great and leaves more room for whiskey!
I’ve also used it in some Oaxaca Old Fashioneds both alone and paired with their Habanero bitters for a spicy twist.
Age: NAS
Proof: 133.4
Notes: Cherry cola, plenty of spice, a nice oak note that makes it taste a little older, some vanilla on the long spicy finish
Stars: 3 - Excellent whiskey: I would be willing to hunt down a bottle
TL;DR: Amazing bottle, I will miss it but not as much as I’ll miss Bob’s
Thanks to the folks at Bardstown for the samples! No star rating since I didn’t buy these.
Blend Components: 43% 9 year rye/20% 8 year rye/17% 14 year bourbon/15% 10 year bourbon/5% 11 year bourbon
Proof: 110
Notes: Leads with plenty of spice with cinnamon, rye spice and something else I can’t quite place (they said ginger). The pear and honey from the single malt come through nicely on the mid palate. Some dark fruit, caramel and a slight nuttiness as well. Long warm finish with more spice, some oak and a bit of sweetness.
Age: NAS
Proof: 92
Notes: Pear, honey, faint spice, sublte oak that is more present on the finish.
TL;DR: Another great collaboration release from Bardstown! Definitely going to grab a bottle of this one if/when they hit Texas.
Age: 15 years
Abv: 130.8 proof
Nose: Heat! Dry oak, brown sugar, chocolate, spice
Taste: Starts hot then dives into chocolate, caramel, rich oak, cinnamon and vanilla. Great mouthfeel.
Finish: Medium length with a burst of heat then lingering caramel and spice
Nose: Tamed but not muted with brown sugar and oak notes.
Taste: Brighter and easier to drink with caramel, chocolate, oak and warm spice notes. Very viscous mouthfeel
Finish: Medium length finish with sweet caramel and hints of spice.
2 - Very good whiskey: I would want to have a bottle
TL;DR: Hot, great notes under the heat though, current prices are too crazy though
Age: 6 years
Proof: 117 proof
Barrel No: 3266
Price: $130
Nose: Fruit jam, honey wheat bread, vanilla cream, faint baking spices
Taste: Butterscotch, honey, sweet cream, wheat bread and faint spice with very little oak. Great mouthfeel.
Finish: A bit of young grain and oak come through on the finish but otherwise it is more of the same.
3 - Excellent whiskey: I would be willing to hunt down a bottle
The nose on this is fantastic but unfortunately the nose is the best part of the dram and it sort of fell off from there. The taste was very, on par with many a solid Weller Antique pick, and the finish reminded me how young this bottle was. If I had to pick I’d go with an underwhelming nose building up to an excellent finish instead of the other way around.
When I had a chance to get a backup on one of these I went with its brother Highway Kind without a second thought.
TL;DR: Fantastic nose that winds down from there. Overall great dram but the price and scarcity make it not worth hunting.
Age: 33 years
Proof: 92.4 (cask strength)
Notes: Sweet and rich up front with pear, dried fruit and sweet vanilla. Spice and oak come in towards the end and especially on the finish. It makes you want to take the next sip. The mouthfeel is excellent, especially given the proof.
Stars: 3 - Excellent whiskey: I would be willing to hunt down a bottle
Everything I want scotch to be (well aged, NCF, cask strength). This is the best North Star release I’ve had so far!
