Spirits Archives - Page 4 of 16 - First Pour Cocktails

Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish

Posted on February 5, 2023February 5, 2023 by Nick

As some of you might remember, my last experience with an r/Bourbon pick was a bit, well, unaligned with my palate. Since then, I enjoyed their Old Elk Wheat pick (“Bullwinkle” as my father calls it) but also had received a subsequent sample of a pick from a high profile brand that I was left unimpressed by. All that said, this doesn’t mean they’re bad picks. In fact, realizing you don’t share a palate with someone is one of the most useful things you can learn while tasting any spirit or beverage. So I figured I’d give it one more go with one of their most recent picks, Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish

Disclosure: This pick was purchased by a friend who provide me a 2 oz sample to enjoy. The photo was provided by t8ke, who is nothing short of wonderful to communicate with.

Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish

Sight: Deep copper

Smell: Sweet honeyed grape notes waft up with tinges of bright starfruit and green apples. There’s a pleasant cinnamon spice with hints of cloves that adds to a vanilla and caramelized sugar note. Light peaches and cream with a bit of oak joins in, but the warm honey notes are really a nice consistent backbone, with an almost fresh baked white cake element to it.

Sip: The body is smooth and nicely viscous, with a nice weight. The start has plenty of spice and honeyed notes, while roasted apples and poached pears pick up in the background. The oak notes play a nice baking spice background, and there’s an interesting char and vanilla notes in the background. A hint of sweetness keeps it all tied together.

Savor: The ending pops with this beautiful creamy, aromatic vanilla that laces with green apples, poached pear, baking spices, and honey. The finish has this lingering oak spice and char, but it has this pretty sort of vanilla cream that runs in the background. Despite some warmth, it really is mouthcoating and creamy in the best sort of ways.

Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish is fun, fruity, and creamy in all the right ways. It has a really intriguing aromatic, natural vanilla flavor that with the creaminess really brings it through. While this is an expensive bottle, it’s delivering complexity and dessert sweetness that really deliver on sip over sip. The flavors here are really great, and overall, it’s an enjoyable sipper.

In Cocktails:

Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish in a Manhattan creates a storm of caramel and honeyed notes. The initial burst of sweetness gives way to some of the poaching spices and honey, but the result is sweet and slightly muddled. While I lacked any additional bourbon to continue to experiment, I can’t help but feel this would make a really beautiful Old Fashioned base. Still this doesn’t really feel like a bourbon for making a cocktail out of, but rather one better enjoyed neat.

As a reminder, our testing procedure is to make Manhattans. If you buy a bottle of this, don’t make a Manhattan out of it. It clearly isn’t the best choice of drink. Rather I recommend thinking about a using a honey liqueur or Benedictine to make an old fashioned (which I would test for you if I had any more left). Simply put, avoid red wine / sweet vermouth here – it’s a poor fit.

In Review – Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish

Barrell Whiskey Private Barrel – r/Bourbon German Ice Wine Finish is so good neat. It pulls you in with a nose that drives home how tasty it’s going to be. Then it does one of the most important things that a whiskey can do, it delivers. Baking spices, honeyed notes, and plenty of pome fruit make this a ride worth taking. Now obviously, you’re not going to find this bottle (r/Bourbon sells out every week thanks to over 200,000 signups), but it should give you an idea about what Barrell can do with a German Ice Wine finish and a bit more confidence if you see one on the shelves of your local retailer.

While the quality is there, this brings us to the issue of price. While Barrell’s finishes whiskey clearly show great flavors even at the high price, this bottle comes in at close to $130 (after tax and shipping). That’s a lot, and is borderline starting range for Little Book / Midwinter Night’s Dram (if you can find them). This isn’t to say you shouldn’t consider buying an ice wine finished barrel product, but definitely check out your local retailer where you might be able to find one closer to $100 (thanks to avoiding shipping).

Want to Try r/Bourbon Picks for Yourself?

Plantation Original Dark Rum

Posted on February 3, 2023January 17, 2023 by Nick

Rum starts lower than bourbon when it comes to cost, so finding reasonable rums for cocktails at under $20 isn’t a huge stretch. We’ve previously expressed our fondness for Plantation’s other offering, Plantation 3 Star. Slightly up the chain from a cost perspective, and with significantly more aging, is their Plantation Original Dark Rum. Sliding in at under $20, is this an addition your bar needs?

Plantation Original Dark Rum

Rum Info – Per Plantation’s Website:

Alc./Vol. : 40%
Origin : Barbados and Jamaica
Raw material : Molasses
Fermentation :
- Barbados : 72 hours
- Jamaica : 2 weeks
Distillation :
- Barbados : Twin Column and Pot Still
- Jamaica : Pot Still (John Dore)
Ageing : Blend of Barbados 1-3 year old, Jamaican Pot Still High Ester 10-15 year old, Finally blended into a wooden vat to age for 3 to 6 months in the southwest of France
Volatile Substances : 160 g/hL AA
Dosage : 15 g/L
Cane sugar caramel E150a (% vol) : Between 0% and 0.1%

Sight: Deep gold (Color Adjusted)

Smell: Caramelized tropical fruit and funky molasses rum ester come out at the start. The nose is sweet with fermenting bananas, overripe pineapple, and a mélange of orange notes. The brown sugar and caramel notes are rather prevalent as well. Possibly a hint of spice and red candies.

Sip: Lightly toasted banana and coconut lead things off in a thinner mouthfeel. The caramel notes come in, and the body is relatively smooth, light, and slightly funky. Touches of tropical fruit, like mango and pineapple hide in the roasted sugar and oak notes. There’s a subtle dryness here.

Savor: The slightly dry nature carries over with a good amount of caramelized sugar notes, for a bitter sweet sort of experience. The aged oak notes and sugar have hints of tropical fruits and rum ester.

Plantation Original Dark Rum is simple and easy going. When individuals think of dark rums, the blend of Jamaican and Barbados here does a good job of accomplishing a balance of each. It isn’t complex, but it also hits the right notes. Which makes it enjoyable, if a bit common in it’s presentation.

In Cocktails

In a Daiquiri the brown sugar notes come out with some of the more earthy, woodsy notes. The tropical fruit flavors come out in full effect with a cotton candy sort of note. The lime balances things and the body is relatively even. Overall, it’s a nice daiquiri that leans into the sugar side of things, but does it with aplomb.

In Review – Plantation Original Dark Rum

Plantation Original Dark Rum is simple, well put together, and easy-going. Is it the most interesting rum you’ll have? No. As a solo sipper, it certainly isn’t something you’d want to slog through. Does it make a lights out cocktail? Not particularly. What it does do is make a solid, well rounded drink that combines both Barbados and Jamaican notes. The key feature here is that it sits under $20. At that price point, this is a no brainer for a bottle to start your home bar with.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch B520

Posted on February 1, 2023January 15, 2023 by Nick

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof was one of the first bourbons that captured my attention in a way that I felt the need to try to obtain a bottle of it. The reviews discussed soaring notes of caramels, brown sugar, toasty oak, and amazing desserts. They spoke as though the burn doesn’t exist, and that it tastes like dessert. It took me over a year to track down a bottle here in a Ohio, so did Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch B520 live up to the hype that sent me down this bourbon rabbit hole?

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch B520

Sight: A solid tawny

Smell: The nose is massive out of the gate. It explodes with vanilla, spice, massive cherries, pepper, and tons of oak. Caramel drizzles through the whole thing and sweet notes of graham cracker and baked snickerdoodles come through. The nose has some heat to it, giving away it’s proof. The vanilla almost has a creaminess and hides a cigar box like note.

Sip: The start of the sip is full bodied with a little bit of sweetness. It opens with a quick disappearing of fruitiness, followed by caramel and vanilla bean, before spice finally begins to build. The flavors of bruleed sugar mix with cigar box and toasted oak. The spice continues to build moving to clove, dark chocolate, and cinnamon territory that head for touches of roasted or slightly burnt notes. Heat sneaks into the picture and some floral characteristics of ethanol flit around the edge with some dried cherries and freeze dried strawberry.

Savor: The end shows a pop of red fruit before it slides massively into oak and spice. The finish lingers with a cigar box / toasted tobacco element.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a big, bruising puncher of a barrel proofer that delivers on flavor with a side of power. There’s some really amazing vanilla and caramel notes that come out of this bourbon. The spice and baked good notes are also impressive. All things consider, it’s powerful, a bit hot, and truly tasty. It has enough complexity to keep you coming back, but enough heat to remind you what it is.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan Elijah Craig Barrel Proof adds a richness to the body with plenty of the caramel and vanilla that make it since on it’s own. The spice becomes super charged, and leaves the fruitiness in the back seat. A truly interesting coffee and toasted marshmallow like note come out at the ending. The vermouth struggles to keep up here, and the bitters actually super charge the oak. While it’s does make a decent Manhattan, you can make a better Manhattan with a cheaper whiskey.

In Review – Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B520

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B520 is incredibly interesting on it’s own, but is a little aggressive for work in cocktails. The result is mostly as intended, a beautiful bourbon for drinking one neat. As such, the way we recommend you drink it is neat. If you feel the need for a higher proof bourbon to do some of the work, give

George Dickel Rye Whiskey

Posted on January 27, 2023January 15, 2023 by Nick

When someone told me that George Dickel Rye Whiskey was an amazing rye at $20, I was skeptical. I bold this, because most people associate Dickel with a particular flavor of minerality that is occasionally construed as ‘Flintstone’s Vitamins’. This doesn’t sound like the kind of thing you’d want in a Fancy Free or Manhattan. Yet, somehow, amazingly, George Dickel Rye became one of my breakout bottles of 2022, and possibly became the top rye we’d recommend for your bar.

George Dickel Rye Whiskey

Distilled in Lawrenceburg, Indiana at 95% Rye – 5% Malted Barley, George Dickel Rye Whiskey is an MGP product. It does however go through a charcoal mellowing process where it’s filtered through maple charcoal to finish it. The specifics of where the aging actually occurs is fairly vague, however it is aged in a char #4 barrel with a #2 head. The proof is 90 (45% A.B.V.)

Sight: Amber

Smell: Vanilla, minerality, and dill jump out from the start. There are notes like fresh plums and carrot juice. There’s a bit of caramel going on here as well and maybe some orange marmalade.

Sip: The palate is light with honeyed sweet, vanilla, and dill coming right out. There are pleasant notes of spice, oak, and tobacco. The palate isn’t incredibly complex, but it is warm and inviting in it’s spicing and has a telltale minerality and orange chalk candy note.

Savor: The ending pulls in more dill, vanilla, and a good amount of minerality. It lingers gently.

George Dickel Rye Whiskey is tasty if a little straightforward for drinking on it’s own. The flavors have a minerality that compliments the vanilla and dill characteristics. The other notes are more fleeting but not unpleasant. Overall, it’s tasty, but not the more in depth rye ever.

In Cocktails

George Dickel Rye Whiskey plays well in a Manhattan adding it’s vanilla and herbal notes with a bit of spice. The sweetness also works well with the fruitiness in the vermouth. The finish is spiced, honeyed, and with a little bit of minerality. Overall, it’s a decent Manhattan that won’t have anyone writing home about it. Combine this with the love it or hate it reputation of Dickel, and it’s a polarizing a choice if it’s the only rye in your bar.

It’s worth talking about the amazing depth that it adds in the right context. Where more brown sugar forward ryes don’t pop in the Fancy Free, Dickel is positively eye opening. The minerality, herbal notes, and spice burst beautifully with the orange and maraschino. Again, this is a particular application, so we don’t recommend this as an indicator of versatility.

In Review – George Dickel Rye Whiskey

George Dickel Rye Whiskey is a wonderful choice of rye whiskey with a characteristically Dickel slant. The Dickel characteristic is really the tipping point of the value of this. If you find you like charcoal mellowed whiskies, this could make for an amazing bar addition, and a rye we absolutely recommend you try once. If you’re not a fan of those flavors, this might be a struggle even at $20. All that said, we recommend you at least try it and consider stocking your bar with it.

1792 Full Proof – L&W Single Barrel Select

Posted on January 25, 2023January 15, 2023 by Nick

Our final bottle (for now) as we travel through Barton’s 1792 series is 1792 Full Proof. Where as the small batch comes in at 93.7 proof and the Bottled In Bond is an obvious 100 proof, the Full Proof tips the scale at a whopping 125 proof. This additional proof should result in additional flavor, but can it avoid the extra burn. As a note, this particular bottle is a store pick, 1792 Full Proof – L&W Single Barrel Select.

1792 Full Proof – L&W Single Barrel Select

Sight: Burnished

Smell: Bombastic hits of charred oak lead things off before being backfilled with plenty of vanilla and caramel. Pops of fruit waft out, with an almost fermented like note of booze, implying blackberries and plums that have been steeped in corn mash. There’s a sort of jammy strawberry note that comes and goes as well with a hint of fresh baked danish too it.

Sip: The heat isn’t quite instant, but it starts building from the word go, and there’s a richness of the body that continues throughout. The build up of heat is a real issue as things continue, blowing our flavors that show up early. There’s a beautiful rich chocolate and strawberry note that pulls through, with a hint of baked pastry. The sweetness of deep brown sugar and roasted oak come through to add to the mix. Additional notes of fruit and buckwheat honey randomly appear.

Savor: The ending delivers on a complex mix of grilled strawberry, roasting oak, and baking spices with a touch of burnt marshmallow and plenty of tannin. It lingers for what feels like forever with a just a touch of burn.

1792 Full Proof – L&W Single Barrel Select is bold, rich, and powerfully flavored. This particular bottle bursts with rich pastry, oak, sugar, and complex berry notes. The vanilla and caramel really deliver all the way through, with strong toasted sugars coming through on the end. The overall sippability of this whiskey is on point.

Compared to 1792 Small Batch

The nose on 1792 Full Proof is like getting hit by force of nature. The power of the smells are simply turning 1792 Small Batch to 11, and then adding in a whole extra set. That said, the nose has a tendency to run hot, and the occasional nose burn is likely. The palate is a fire storm, and outside of the high burn from the alcohol, the flavors are all cranked up to the max as well. The result is something powerful, aggressive, and interesting.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan, the flavor profile explodes in a gorgeous and heavenly way. The caramel notes jump to the front, bringing a creamy and rich caramel that cedes into a beautiful fruit forward profile of strawberries, dried raspberries, and figs. The oak and spice bring up the rear drive a massive burnt marshmallow and spice ending. The overall result is a bold, enticing Manhattan that is unapologetic in it’s flavors. If anything, this Manhattan is so big, you might wonder if it still needs to be turned down.

In Review – 1792 Full Proof L&W Single Barrel Select

1792 Full Proof L&W Single Barrel Select is frankly bonkers in a good way. While there’s nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, toned down about this pick, it’s also can be tamed. The flavors explode forward in a beautiful mix of fruit, sweet treacle’s, and spices. With the strength, it means both ice and cocktails are not detriments, but benefits to unlocking the flavors. While unfortunately this barrel is long gone, we recommend you try 1792 FP

Averell Damson Gin Liqueur

Posted on January 20, 2023January 9, 2023 by Nick

While almost all gin is clear (or lightly colored if aged), there are a handful of exceptions. Amongst them is damson / sloe gin. This variant is made with a variety of native plums, known as sloes or damsons (Prunus Damascena). While these are technically related to plums, they fell out of popularity compared to the varieties you find in stores. While less common, they’re often made into delicious, spicy products like jams or damson gins (such as Averell Damson Gin Liqueur).

Averell Damson Gin*

Sight: An opaque, slightly burnt, caramelly brown with a tint of brick.

Smell: Deep notes of dried plum macerated in caramel and herbs drift out to lead things off. A bit of spice joins in, giving an almost holiday like spicing to the mix. As it builds, herbal notes begin to try to even things out with bit of bay leaf and ginger, before the fresh brightness of plum comes through.

Sip: The flavor is sweet and caramelized with plenty of Christmas like spicing. Notes of cinnamon, clove, and allspice compliment dried plum notes and pops of fresh plum skin. An acidity carries throughout, giving it a beautiful character.

Savor: The ending is full of bright fruit, but it lingers with a slightly bitter spice and plum skin notes.

Averell Damson Gin is not the kind of thing you would typically drink on it’s own, although in sips it isn’t bad. The complex plum flavor mixed with the botanicals of the gin and the spicing lead to a unique flavor that begs to be used a modifier. The autumnal and holiday spice is simply lovely, and the ginger gives a good kick.

In Cocktails

In a Sloe Gin Fizz it delivers a bright and spicy pop of plum flavor. While the lemon seems like it would tip the brightness over the edge, it actually helps add a different form of acidity that adds levity. The richness of the sugary notes and the bubbles of club work well, and it feels like a great seasonal transition cocktail. We also call for Averell Damson Gin in our I Am Dracula, I Bid You Welcome, where it adds spicing and compliments the fruitiness of port.

In Review – Averell Damson Gin

Averell Damson Gin is a unique and distinctly un-gin like flavor. The spice and fruitiness of the liqueur means that it delivers massive amounts of holiday like spicing with a pop of bright plum in every sip. This lends it well to a lot of intriguing propositions when trying to craft new cocktails. There are however a few downsides. First, after opening it won’t last indefinitely like normal gin. You can expect that after a year the oxidation will significantly impact flavors. Secondly, there aren’t a ton of cocktails that call for Sloe / Damson gin, meaning you’ll be trying to work through a bottle for a while depending on your usage rate. That said, Averill’s version is very reasonably priced in the mid $20 range.

*Note – this bottle has undergone a packaging change since taking and reviewing our bottle. We have no reason to believe the contents of the bottle have changed.

1792 Bottled In Bond

Posted on January 18, 2023January 8, 2023 by Nick

We’re continuing on in our exploration of 1792’s bourbon with 1792 Bottled In Bond. Distilled in one season, this bourbon is bottled at 50% A.B.V. and has spent a minimum of four years in a government bonded warehouse. Age aside, the biggest step up from their Small Batch is the additional 6ish proof points. So is it worth hunting down for that slight extra?

1792 Bottled In Bond

Sight: Deep Copper

Smell: Caramel notes come through at the start but lean more into jammy raspberries and candied orange with plenty of spice. There’s a heat that gives way to spicy charred oak, cigar box, tobacco, and a slightly earthy green walnut note. Other touches of powder sugar remain but the nose is tight.

Sip: The bottled in bond starts of bready, with a bit of a yeasty character, and then goes full on into an unexpected melange of fruit. Everything from peaches to plums to candy apple runs through, and a honeyed sort of note kicks in for good measure. Oak and spice complement here, giving a nice background to the almost candied like character of the fruit.

Savor: The finish pulls back from the candied fruit tart character, and delivers a more balanced cigar box and char ending with just a bit of brown sugar.

1792 Bottled In Bond is completely unlike it’s nose and all of the place in the flavor profile. The bready start to the flavor profile giving way into fruit is particularly unexpected given that it doesn’t seem to have any sort of indication on the nose that it’s going to head in that direction. The flavors are on point, layered, and don’t suffer from the increase in proof. Overall, it’s an interesting expansion over the Small Batch.

Compared to 1792 Small Batch

Despite the significant increase in proof, the nose is almost tight, refusing to give up much. What it does show are slightly more leans into fruit, and a more earthy character than it’s sibling. Small Batch better captures some of the sweet and spice notes, but doesn’t deliver anywhere near the layering of fruit flavor or complexity. There’s a lot to like here in the increase that actually adds some value.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan 1792 Bottled In Bond pulls in more of that crazy fruit forward character with a little yeasty bread characteristics. There’s a bit of appearance of banana, but then tons of plums, peaches, and honeyed orange come forward combining with the berried and vanilla notes of the vermouth. The oak and vanilla come out to play as things carry on, and the finish has a slight tropical fruit character laced with a good tinge of oak notes. As Manhattan’s go, it’s very solid, but a little muddled due to the sheer number of fruit notes.

In Review – 1792 Bottled In Bond

1792 Bottled In Bond is a bit inconsistent, but generally quite good. As a straight sipper goes, it’s got some depth, but gets a bit confused on the palate. The nose is incredibly inviting, and in a cocktail it makes a nice mix of yeasty and fruity notes to invite one in. The challenge with 1792 is that you have to go out of your way to find it. While it does a lot of great things, the challenge to find a bottle might not be worth the squeeze. The end result is a bottle that you should try if you can find it at MSRP on the shelf, but not one you need to hunt. Instead, you can purchase a bottle of Four Roses Single Barrel and get amazing depth without the hunt.

El Dorado 5

Posted on January 13, 2023January 4, 2023 by Nick

We love El Dorado 3, it remains our go to lightly aged rum for making drinks. We’ve also gushed about their 12 as well. In between these offerings are two very reasonably priced offerings, El Dorado 5 and El Dorado 8. Aged at least 5 years, this rum promises to offer darker sugar notes in addition to some of the tropical fruit we love. So is it worth it?

El Dorado 5

Sight: A pleasant caramelly deep copper.

Smell: Caramel and brown sugar mix with light wood and a touch of funk. Tropical fruit and caramelized banana joins in and a hint of ethanol burn pops in and out. A good mix of spice and pepper comes through.

Sip: The body is light but swims with ester soaked wood and caramel right out of the gate. That lightly funky wood note is joined by a green plantain and plenty of caramel and oak spices. There’s a slight dryness here that shows off some of the tropical fruit flavors in a bit of a spotlight, and the boozy notes give a bit of roughness.

Savor: The finish leans into the cask flavors, with more tannin, dried charred burnt brown sugar, and a bit of tropical fruitiness.

El Dorado 5 is fine as sipping goes, with a drier character than the nose would imply. The lightness of the body keeps it from becoming overbearing, but also harms it from establishing any sort of complexity or return value. At a price point in the low $20’s this isn’t unexpected, and shouldn’t be your target application for this rum.

In Cocktails

In a daiquiri the El Dorado 5 works a perfect foil against the lime, exploding with sweet caramelized tropical fruits and touches of honeyed notes. The brown sugar really explodes giving a balanced sweetness against the lime. While it still isn’t the most exciting daiquiri, it’s sweet and delicious.

In Review- El Dorado 5

El Dorado 5 is a simple and straightforward aged rum. At a price point in the low $20 range, it works great for workhorse duty in cocktails. While using it, it doesn’t really include a lot of complexity. For that reason, this isn’t a stand alone in your bar, but rather an addition. For that reason, consider pairing it with an Appleton Estate Reserve or Doorly X.O. to get the full effect of rum complexity.

1792 Single Barrel

Posted on January 11, 2023January 3, 2023 by Nick

I happened to find that 1792 Small Batch was one of my favorite bourbons last year, and the next progression of this was to try their single barrel. While with some brands, you won’t be able to find anything beyond the basic offering at opening (Weller Special Reserve, Buffalo Trace, etc), other brands are thankfully quite findable well after opening and sometimes for days afterward. Barton’s 1792 Single Barrel falls into this category (at least outside of Ohio) and is frequently a store pick. Our particular bottle is actually a non-store pick, so is it worth your time to pick one up if you see one?

1792 Single Barrel

Sight: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry

Smell: Caramel, butterscotch, and powder sugar combine with cooked cherries. Hints of heat and orange marmalade interject with a bit of dark chocolate. Spices and oak run through the background, but the heat seems pervasive.

Sip: Slight fruit leads off (almost raspberry like), a little bit of caramel starts to creep in, and the mouthfeel is thin comparatively. There’s a bit of heat that kicks up before oak and spice notes jump in. The evolution leads more into the oak and spice side of things toward the back of the palate.

Savor: The finish pulls in more charred oak with a hint of clove and spice. The finish lingers with a slightly tannic nature.

1792 Single Barrel is much more barrel orientated than it’s Small Batch cousin, and brings complex flavors of oak and spice. The mouthfeel belies it though, giving a thin character as it dances across the palate. The oak comes on heavy throughout, and lingers on the ending with considerable strength. While there’s a bit to unpack here, complexity isn’t it’s strong suit.

1792 Single Barrel Compared with 1792 Small Batch

While the nose is indeed fuller, the ethanol is equally punchy to the increase in aroma. This makes it a touch sniff comparatively, where the small batch almost more willing reveals it’s secrets and depth. 1792 Small Batch is a bit more balanced toward fruit and away from oak in the palate as well. A slightly sweet nature of the fresh fruit notes is a bit contrast with the heavy caramel and oak of the single barrel.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan, 1792 Single Barrel delivers more of the same. The initial punch is actually nicely balanced caramel and red fruit (most likely helped by the vermouth), but moving into charred barrel territory with lots of spice. The ending maintains a similar tannic note with more spice. Overall, it makes a very serviceable Manhattan.

In Review – 1792 Single Barrel

1792 Single Barrel is a nice, solid bourbon. Where it struggles is that it doesn’t quite bring anything revolutionary to the party, and in some ways, doesn’t live up to it’s little brother Small Batch. The result is a bottle that’s not only harder to find, but also more expensive. The hype generated by Full Proof likely has a good deal to do with explaining this. With that said, we can’t recommend you add 1792 Single Barrel to your collection, but it’s worth a try if you find that you like other Barton products.

Macchu Pisco

Posted on January 6, 2023January 2, 2023 by Nick

Let’s start with the obvious – buying Pisco in Ohio is hard. There are currently two (2) Pisco available in the state that aren’t on special order or delisted. To put that in perspective, Macchu Pisco’s parent company makes three (3) Pisco’s on their own! So is their entry level offering worth your time, or should you consider a trip out of state or to Peru to find your Pisco?

Macchu Pisco

Sight: Clear

Smell: A bit of burn, but clear fermented grape flavors come through, mixed with hints of tropical fruit and vanilla. There’s a bit of ethanol and cotton candy floating around in the nose as well. There’s almost something a bit oatmeal cookie and sherry going on.

Sip: The body is moderate and somewhat viscous. There are notes of shortbread and fermented grape coming through. Touches of slate and vanilla come out as well, with a hint of pithy citrus and tropical fruit.

Savor: The ending has a bit of burn and ethanol note, but there’s also a decent amount of golden raisin. The ending is quite dry as well.

Macchu Pisco is an interest and wide ranging pisco. As Peruvian brandy goes it seems to be nice, but it’s one of my first. That said, the flavors are dynamic, and the texture is solid. There’s a bit of heat, but it’s clearly meant for mixing, not necessarily sipping.

In Cocktails

In a a Pisco Sour, Macchu Pisco is floral and grape forward without adding a whole lot of complexity. Some of the vanilla like notes carry forward, helped by the sweetness, and a bit of the tropical fruit comes out. The slightly raisined nature is there as well, with a bit of floral note. Overall, it makes a solid, if not overtly complicated cocktail.

In Review – Macchu Pisco

Macchu Pisco is reasonably interesting and priced that you can buy it, use it, and get an idea of what Pisco could be. This means that as an offering to stock on your bar, it works in exactly the capacity it should. Now, if you have a number of Pisco enthusiasts in your life, you should probably ask them for an idea of what you should use. If however, you’re like me, and you live in Ohio, this is one of two available Piscos, and it’s servicable for cocktails.

Larceny Barrel Proof (A122)

Posted on January 4, 2023January 2, 2023 by Nick

Some of the easiest Heaven Hill barrel proof releases to obtain are the three times a year Elijah Craig & Larceny Barrel Proof offerings. While Elijah Craig is their standard bourbon offering, their Larceny Barrel Proof represents their wheated offering. While opinions have suggested in years past that the Elijah Craig release has been the better, higher proof of the two, recent opinions are shifting to show that Larceny might be getting the upper hand. Their release from the first trimester of 2022 was A122, where the discussion of which is better started, so does it live up to the hype, and should you consider making it for cocktails.

Larceny Barrel Proof (A122)

Proof: 124.4 (A.B.V. – 62.2%)
Age: No Age Statement (NAS) – reportedly 6-8 years.
Mash Bill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley
Secondary Nicknames: LBP A122

Sight: Auburn – Mahogany

Smell: Beautiful notes of vanilla and toasted oak waft out of the nose with a smack of gamey leather. Dark chocolate, roasted peanuts, and a rick house note run though. A ribbon of caramel comes through with a bit of black cherry and blackberry. The nose leans savory and sweet with plenty of oak influence, and less fruit. A moderate amount of heat can be noted, although it’s more of a slow burn than a whack of ethanol.

Sip: There’s a pleasant sort of smooth, sweet caramel / vanilla oak note that settles in for a while as it warms up. It eventually starts to give way toward deeper charred notes, blackberry tea, cigar, hazelnut, and mild spice. The oak is heavy, slightly funky, a touch bitter, and there is heat that gradually creeps in.

Savor: The finish is warm, pulling in cinnamon, clove, and deeply charred oak. As the finish continues, it pulls in some char, caramel, and cigar notes. It leans dry as it goes with a bit of plum skin. Lingering warmth – per their website – is an apt description.

Larceny Barrel Proof A122 is a deliciously oaky and unapologetic barrel proof wheated offering. The caramel and vanilla notes are a real highlight here, and they balance out some of the weight of the oak, while not getting lost. The nutty and fruity elements are present, but they’re pretty subdued, and usually masquerading as a fruit adjacent item (like tea). As a straight sipper, it’s tasty, if slightly leaning into the oak / sweet element side of things.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan, the oaky nature takes center stage, showing off the oak and its vanilla. The red fruit in the vermouth shows up and the spice comes in with a nice like pop. Despite this, caramel that shows up in the neat poor isn’t as obvious in the cocktail at first blush. Instead, as it heats up, caramel and butterscotch notes come forward. Overall, the oak dominates, and the overall character of the drink is very aggressively toward the aged wood side of the spectrum. Sadly, the Larceny Barrel Proof Manhattan feels unbalanced.

In Review – Larceny Barrel Proof (A122)

Larceny Barrel Proof A122 is good neat, and a bit unhinged in a standard cocktail. This isn’t to say it’s bad, but it isn’t particularly versatile. For those that love heavily oaked offerings, like Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, this should be a slam dunk (and is coincidentally a Heaven Hill offering). For those that prefer fruitier, floral, or dessert like flavors, you can probably avoid this one.

Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon

Posted on December 21, 2022January 3, 2023 by Nick

Released after Passover annually, Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon is made with the same high quality grains as W.L. Weller. As it is kosher, it is only run after all other non-kosher spirit has been cleaned from the line, and then barreled in specific kosher barrels. The whiskey is aged for 7 years, and bottled at 94 proof. The result of all this work with the Chicago Rabbinical Counsel (cRc) is a bottle that retails near $40, and is immediately horded in the current bourbon community. So is it worth the hunt?

Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon

Age: 7 Years
Proof: 94 (47% A.B.V.)

Sight: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry

Smell: The nose starts with a well rounded mix of cherries slathered in caramel sauce and dripped with a bit of vanilla whipped cream. It gives way to a mix of baking spice and stone fruit with a touch of toasted croissant. There’s a little twinge of heat, but it’s more of a brightness than a hotness. Subtle touches of marmalade and berries are in the background with a slight musky note.

Sip: The body starts off light and smooth, before building toward a more moderate, slightly warm steady point. A ton of baked cherries and vanilla come out with a nice amount of caramel. There’s some spice that comes in here, more general cinnamon with light clove, and a good amount of toasty oak. Touches of almond get involved with a bit of pastry marzipan thing.

Savor: The ending carries forward the cherries, toasted oak, slight almond, and a good hint of spice. The finish lingers pleasantly without being aggressive.

Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat is really delightful, with a beautiful emphasis toward the cherries, vanilla, and caramel notes. The touches of almond and toasty oak keep things mellow and still delivers a ton of flavor. The easy going nature means you’re not fighting the proof to enjoy the underlying flavors. While it isn’t overly complex, it feels elegant and well balanced.

In Cocktails

In a Manhattan it provides some really beautiful soaring caramel and vanilla creme notes that open up into preserved cherries and hints of blackberry. Plum skin and spice join in, and give it a bit of a kick. Pastry crème and almond round out the background and finish with a little hint of oak. The flavors are clear, concise, and inviting. The drink ends up being a bit more elegant than many barrel proof fans will enjoy, but will lend itself to more vermouth choices.

Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon Compared to Old Weller Antique

While Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon is obviously proofed down, this gives it a little more room to open up to fruitier notes (more stone fruit / marmalade) and more of the floral vanilla / caramel. It still has spice there, but it’s not the dominating cinnamon that W.L. Weller Antique sometimes gives off. This is a much more gentle, subtle, inviting pour on initial impression.

Looking at the side by side, the W.L. Weller Antique screams caramel, cherries, and cinnamon out loud, and then likes to keep the flavor turned up. It has some more fig and dark fruit notes than the Kosher. The finish takes that cinnamon and just keeps it going, where the Kosher is a little more toward the caramel and vanilla notes with a bit of almond. Overall, both are good, but I’d give the edge to the Kosher Wheat, depending on my mood and activity based.

In Review – Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon

As a seasonal release, Buffalo Trace Kosher Wheat Bourbon really doesn’t have an ordinary spot on your bar. Given it’s slightly unique pedigree, you can probably supplant it with normal Buffalo Trace or Weller Special Reserve / Antique, which you probably have to do unless you’re stockpiling it between seasons. That said, I think it is slightly better than either Weller and Buffalo trace for what it offers, but not enough so to justify the mark ups that connect to these Kosher bottles. At $40, this feels about right. At the $90 it can command in the secondary, it’s just beyond the pail for anyone but the most ardent of Buffalo Trace enthusiasts.