High West Campfire

Somewhere along the way I happened upon a bottle of High West Campfire on closeout for less than 40 bones. Normally this bottle would be $75 if not on special. I seem to recall picking it up as an NCABC overstock, but who knows where I actually got it. At any rate, Campfire is a blend of Bourbon, Rye, and Scotch which is 46% ABV. The idea behind the bottle is to have smoky notes which bring to mind a campfire. The aroma is filled with subtle peat smoke, menthol, low wafting alcohol, brown sugar, leather, and black pepper. The flavor also has restrained peat, brown sugar, orange zest, leather, black pepper, and hints of menthol. The finish is even with lasting light smoke, black pepper, and warming alcohol lasting into the aftertaste. I must say at under 40 bucks this is worth the price of admission all day everyday. However at $75 I’d be looking for a single malt instead. It’s too pedestrian to command the higher price point which may explain why I was able to snag a wonderful deal. If you happen upon this at less than full boat, snag it and give it a whirl. If I see it at that price again I will buy all I can!

Heaven Hill 6 Year Bottled-In-Bond

I’m not exactly sure when I picked up Heaven Hill 6 Year Bottled-In-Bond. It could have been from a friend after they visited Kentucky or I might have had someone pick it up in Kentucky. At any rate it was years ago and likely 15 bucks. At one time this 100 proof Bourbon was only sold in Kentucky and then it was discontinued to roll out the current Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond. So this is really tasting notes on a dusty which is no longer produced. I’ve had this opened for quite some time and have enjoyed it so as the bottle nears the bitter end I figured it was time to pen some notes. The aroma is filled with brown sugar, caramel, leather, oak, and peppery spice. The flavor starts with a sweet brown sugar and caramel presence which is quickly encroached upon with more of that leather, oak, and black pepper spice. The finish is lasting brown sugar and pepper with hints of oak and leather lasting long and pleasantly into the aftertaste. The post consumption warming is restrained and will make you surprised this rings in at 100 proof. This is not the most complex Bourbon on the planet, but this punches much higher on the scale than it’s 15 buck price tag. Perhaps that is why they rebranded it and now it has an MSRP of 50 bones. I doubt any of this lurks on the shelf anymore, but should you find it at the original price buy all you can find and give me a call so I can take any you might not desire off your hands.

Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary

Happened upon a bottle of Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary and knew the 50 bottle needed to follow me home. I’ve been a fan of Wild Turkey since before I could legally purchase alcohol and little did I know back in the day that Jimmy was likely the reason why we enjoyed it so much. It’s rare for someone to find a job they love and do it for over 70 years. Anyway, this is an 8 year-old Bourbon and rings in at 101 proof (as it should be). The aroma was reminiscent of Wild Turkey, but if I didn’t know for certain this was a Turkey bottle I’m not sure I would have figured it out because it is a little more restrained. It starts with brown sugar, leather, oak, vanilla, and orange, but at a restrained pace. The flavor is also slightly restrained, but is spicy and delicious. It starts with an undercurrent of black peppery and rye spice followed by more brown sugar, oak, vanilla, and a bit of chocolate. The finish is pleasant and lasting with light black pepper and chocolate fading into the aftertaste. Alcohol is notable throughout, but only becomes prevalent in the post consumption warming. I read a review recently where someone compared this bottle to standard 101 Wild Turkey and while 101 is less expensive, this isn’t a bottle which will break the bank. It’s likely no longer available as it was bottled to celebrate an important anniversary, but if you should find one gathering dust on the shelf, buy it to honor Jimmy. Cheers to 70 years!

Elijah Craig Toasted Rye

I was kinda excited when Elijah Craig released their 94 proof Toasted Rye. Most everything coming from Elijah Craig is tasty and this Rye proved to not be an exception to that rule. The only thing that I dislike about this bottle is the $56 price point at NCABC. Typically you can find a tasty Rye for an affordable prices and while this isn’t extravagant, every penny counts. Let’s get to what matters, the aroma and flavor. For this Rye the aroma was filled with rye spice, toasted oak, almonds, and a background of brown sugar. The flavor was more delicious rye spice, leather, toasted oak, chocolate, black pepper, and of course brown sugar. The finish was rye, chocolate, and brown sugar with a bit of alcohol thrown in for good measure. The post consumption warming from alcohol was low and pleasant. This was definitely a tasty bottle and likely worth the price of admission, but I can think of another bottle which is the same price point that I enjoy just a smidge more. Anyway, if you can find this out and about at 50 beans or less, bring it home. Even at it’s current price point it is still a wise decision.

Lagavulin Offerman Edition Charred Oak Cask

It’s rare a celebrity endorsed alcohol is worthy of your hard earned dollar, but Lagavulin flipped the script with their Offerman Editions. The Charred Oak Cask is aged 11 years and clocks in at 46% ABV. I forget the price point, but it was a bargain since a buddy ordered it from out of state. For grins let’s call it 75 bucks. With Lagavulin being an Islay distillery you know this is going to be a smoke show from the jump. The aroma is filled with peaty smoke up front with sweet honey, leather, and oak not far behind. The flavor is nicely delicate with honey, leather, oak, black pepper, apricot, and of course that signature peat smoke. The finish is quite nice with lingering smoke long and pleasant into the aftertaste. The warming post consumption is pleasant and when coupled with the smoke leaves you with the impression of a perfect Scotch to enjoy by the fire. With this being released two years ago in 2023, the chances of finding a bottle are slim. So if you see it, snag it, it’s a nice glass.

Chattanooga Whiskey 91 – Straight Bourbon Whiskey

A buddy is a huge fan of Chattanooga Whiskey so when I spied a bottle of 91 Tennessee High Malt Straight Bourbon Whiskey for 30 something bucks at NCABC I decided to bring it home. I wasn’t sure what to expect and after my friend’s glowing commentary expected it might be a game changer. On the label they let you know this is a young Bourbon, but that it is aged greater than 2 years. At 91 proof this is just below my preferred alcohol content, but very close so I thought it might turn out to be my cup of tea. The aroma was filled with brown sugar, leather, honey, and toast with a slight hint of alcohol. The flavor was more brown sugar, black pepper, leather, honey, toasted oak, and a light bit of vanilla pudding. The finish leaves you with a lingering presence of honey and brown sugar tempered by the black pepper and leather which fade into the aftertaste. There is a bit of alcohol in the flavor at a low level, but the only real indicator of the proof is the pleasant post consumption warming. I must say as a daily drinker this one is a nice drop. I’d certainly pick up another bottle and some of their other offerings after this showing. The price point is good and despite being young, the bottle had a nice complexity. If you see a bottle, give it a whirl.

Note: Haven’t posted in a while. We had a pesky hurricane back last fall and I’ve been finishing off picks so I haven’t spent time documenting them as they left the building. More to come…

Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey

When I spotted a bottle of Ezra Brooks Straight Rye Whiskey on special at the ABC I knew I had to bring a bottle home. I forget what I paid, but it seems like it was 10 or so bucks. It’s currently not in the NC ABC price lists so I’m starting to wonder if it may have been discontinued. This 90 proof rye is no slouch. The aroma was filled with brown sugar, spicy rye, leather, oak, and a hint of chocolate. The flavor was very nice with spicy rye, brown sugar, tobacco, leather, oak, and again a slight presence of chocolate. The finish was dry with lasting rye and black pepper spice into the aftertaste. The warming of alcohol post consumption was restrained and pleasant. I’d make this a house staple all day everyday. This packs a flavor punch way above the price point so if you see a bottle bring it home and give it a whirl.

Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit

Happened to get lucky enough to secure a group pick bottle of Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit. This is not exactly a bargain bottle of Bourbon at 65 bones per bottle. This 101 proof was bottled on 10-26-23, barrel no. 0028, warehouse TY-K, and rick no. 20. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I figured knowing the group this would be a great bottle. I poured the first glass and was surprised at how subdued it was for being a Wild Turkey product. The aroma was filled with brown sugar, oak, leather, light alcohol pepper spice, hints of rye, and a definite nose of alcohol. The flavor was nicely smooth with more brown sugar, hints of citrus, oak, leather, more black pepper, some cinnamon notes, and a light taste of alcohol. The finish was light lasting brown sugar, black pepper, leather, and oak into the aftertaste with a nice alcohol warmth in the finality of the flavor. While I expected this to be a butt kicker, it was oh so much more with the complexity of the aroma and flavor so well done and enjoyable. I may have to seek out other bottles if I spot them on the shelf at a similar price point. Pick one up if you get a chance, I doubt you will be disappointed.

Speyburn Companion Cask Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

When I happened upon a discounted bottle of Speyburn Companion Cask how could I say no? The NCABC price is normally 40 beans, but this was discounted to less than 24 bucks so I snagged a bottle. With an ABV of 46% this Scotch is aged in a Bourbon cask, supposedly from Buffalo Trace. The aroma was light with hints of citrus, apple, leather, oak, light black pepper spice, and cinnamon all at a very low and interesting level. The flavor was quite nice with more hints of citrus, apples, leather, oak, black pepper, cinnamon, all coupled to an underlying honey sweetness. The finish was even with long lingering presence of oak, leather, and black pepper. The only real presence of alcohol was in the warming which occurs post consumption. This is an extremely easy drinking Scotch which should prove as a good, budget friendly, gateway bottle for someone to try to begin their journey into Speyside Scotch. I know if I run into another bottle I’ll likely pick it up, especially if the price point is reduced. Even if it was full boat it’s complex enough to be worth the price of admission. Pick one up and give it a whirl if you happen to find it in your local store.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Was selected to be able to purchase a pick of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and while Woodford Reserve is not typically a Bourbon I love I figured why not take a chance. I forget the price point, but currently a bottle is $65 at NC ABC. I opened it up expecting it to be standard WR, only with more dominant characteristics and was surprised at what I received in the 45.2% abv bottle. The aroma was oak, but mellow smooth oak, not harsh and freshly toasted. Lurking not far behind where leather and black pepper and a notable presence of alcohol. Further in the back was the sweet notes of brown sugar and honey. The flavor was more muted with a notable aged oak presence, leather, black pepper, low brown sugar and caramel. The finish was filled with oak, caramel, and black pepper and the warmth from alcohol was pleasant and not overdone. If I find one of these out and about at a slightly lower price point than NC ABC I will certainly snag it for comparison. This one was an eye opener for me as I typically don’t love Woodford Reserve. This bottle had a nice complexity and once opened didn’t take very long to become a memory. Pick one up if you find it and give it a whirl.