• Review Donations
  • About
  • BJCP
  • NRA
  • Refuse To Be A Victim

Bangers and Mash

~ firearms and fermentation

Bangers and Mash

Monthly Archives: June 2020

Knob Creek Rye

25 Thursday Jun 2020

Posted by Bangers and Mash in Bourbon, Whiskey

≈ Leave a comment

Not sure why I haven’t posted about Knob Creek Rye in the past, but I snagged a bottle the last time it went on sale at NCABC. The price of admission at the time was $32, but it can often be found for a few dollars less. This is a 100 proof rye which is an alcohol level I prefer, not too hot, not too mild. The aroma has what you want out of a rye and is filled with rye spice, brown sugar, and light black pepper coupled to a very nice oak presence. The flavor is similar, but contains a syrupy peach not, more rye spice, light pepper, and oak. The finish lasts very nice with peaches and rye fading slowing into the aftertaste. The alcohol is restrained from start to finish with only a mild warming post consumption. This is a very nice rye and should be one to keep in the bar. There are rye whiskeys which are more complex and with a higher price point and those destined for mixing at a lower price point. This one exists right in the middle. If you haven’t had it, pick up a bottle and give it a whirl.

kc_straight_rye_1845_hero_site_shadow

Oban Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

20 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by Bangers and Mash in Scotch

≈ Leave a comment

The first time I heard about Oban Little Bay was when a person from NC was complaining their local ABC would not bring the bottle. They would only get it if he agreed to purchase a case. Fast forward a few years and now Little Bay can be found in many ABC store, but the price of admission is $78. At that price I was not willing to give it a whirl. Somewhere along the way I happened upon a bottle for around $40 so I knew I had to bring it home. At 86 proof (43% abv) this is a restrained bottle of Scotch. The aroma presents with chocolate, candy, light citrus, spice, leather, and oak. The flavor also has chocolate, citrus, light smoke, leather, oak, spice, and breadcrust. The finish fades into light alcohol with light chocolate and leather with subtle sweetness long and pleasantly into the aftertaste. At $40 this is a no brainer. At NCABC prices it is a maybe. It’s a very nice bottle with good complexity, but by the time I get to 80 beans it’s time to take off the training wheels. This could use a boost in complexity to draw those dollars out of my wallet. If you find it at a midpoint price I’d say snag it, it is quite tasty!

little-bay

Hatozaki Small Batch

13 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by Bangers and Mash in Scotch, Whiskey

≈ Leave a comment

I happened upon a bottle of Hatozaki Small Batch at Costco with a sub $30 price point so I figured why not. Imagine my shock when it showed up on NC at $60 per bottle. The alcohol level is 46%. Anyway, knowing this was a Japanese Whiskey I expected it to be very similar to a Speyside Scotch and it was. Unfortunately it was more like a little brother than a twin. The aroma presented as floral and fruity with peaches (think canned peaches), slight oak, hint of sherry, and a light bit of citrus coupled to restrained alcohol. The flavor was similar with slightly sweet peaches, light pepper spice, low oak, hints of leather, and a mild presence of alcohol. The finish was peaches, pepper spice, and light alcohol fading into the aftertaste. The bottle is tasty, but a bit boring and lacking in complexity. At the $30 I paid my thought was I would not want to pay more for this level of complexity. At $60 I would be upset at the price of admission. So if you want to give this one a whirl I suggest you check to see if your Costco might have a deal. Otherwise I don’t think I’d spend the money for this level of complexity.

hatozaki-small-batch-bottle-and-box-2-copy-1

Knob Creek Quarter Oak

09 Tuesday Jun 2020

Posted by Bangers and Mash in Bourbon

≈ Leave a comment

It took quite some time to locate a bottle of Knob Creek Quarter Oak after it was released. I had seen it on the shelf and neglected to purchase a bottle. The next time I checked it was sold out. Eventually I happened upon a bottle and so I knew it was time to bring it home. The Bourbon is created by taking four year old juice which had been aged in 13 gallon quarter casks and blending with standard KC juice. The result is supposedly a Bourbon with more oak due to the reduced size of the cask. At 100 proof this limited release Bourbon isn’t a high proof and with a price point of 50 beans it isn’t going to break the bank. Many had raved about how good Quarter Oak was so I had high expectations when I poured a glass. The aroma was filled with honey, oak, and pepper spice coupled to brown sugar and cinnamon with a hint of leather. The flavor was pepper, cinnamon, oak, honey, brown sugar, and leather with the leather lasting far into the aftertaste. Also present at the end was oak and brown sugar with pepper and a lasting presence of alcohol. While certainly tasty, I was expecting more from this bottle. The price of admission was affordable, but at $15 more than standard KC, I might be inclined to just buy KC. If you can find a bottle, snag it and give it a whirl if you are a KC fan. Otherwise don’t get too broken up if you missed it.

knob-creek-quarter-oak-1

Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel

07 Sunday Jun 2020

Posted by Bangers and Mash in Bourbon

≈ Leave a comment

Hancock’s President’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey is a Buffalo Trace product which hits the glass at 88.9 proof. Many say it is the same mash bill as Blanton’s, but actually better and for a lower price. Not sure what I paid, but it can often be located for $35-40 in some places. On the secondary market it can bring twice to three times that amount. The cork separated from the wood so I had to glue the cork back into place, but it did not affect the flavor of the Bourbon. At first I was slightly disappointed with the flavor, but over time it grew on me. The aroma was brown sugar, grapes, candy, slight spice, and low alcohol. The flavor was more brown sugar, cinnamon spice, grape, candy, and low alcohol. The aftertaste was lingering spice and brown sugar and a smooth alcohol presence. The complexity was lower than I would expect, but at the $35 price point just about right. If you happen upon a bottle at a reasonable price, pick it up. Otherwise no reason to go out of your way to try to locate.

brbon_han1_600x

Early Times Bottled-In-Bond

05 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by Bangers and Mash in Bourbon

≈ Leave a comment

Not sure where I happened to pick up Early Times Bottled-In-Bond, but I’ll let the cat out of the bag early and say I am sure glad I did. Of course it rings in at 100 proof and in most markets the 1 liter bottle is under $30. The aroma is filled with a beautiful presence of leather, deep caramel, oak, brown sugar, and citrus. The flavor has a chocolate note, with oak, caramel, brown sugar, more citrus, and a light lasting spice note. The finish is pleasant chocolate and caramel with a lasting low warming of alcohol just enough to let you know you are alive. This bottle is a breath of fresh air and should not be passed if you get an opportunity to purchase. Will it blow your socks off your feet? Probably not, but it is great neat and any Boubon snob would be glad to have in their glass. Go get some and thank me later!

hero-home-mobile

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 173 other subscribers

Recent but not forgotten!

  • Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
  • The Quiet Man 8 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey
  • Compass Box Artist Blend
  • Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon
  • New Riff Single Barrel Bourbon
  • Clyde May’s 5 Year Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
  • Ardbeg Wee Beastie
  • Rebel Distiller’s Collection Bourbon Whiskey
  • Blade And Bow Bourbon Whiskey
  • Ezra Books Distiller’s Collection Bourbon Whiskey
  • Russell’s Reserve 6 Year Old Rye
  • Smoke Wagon Small Batch Bourbon
  • Stellum Rye
  • Stellum Bourbon
  • Redwood Empire Lost Monarch
  • Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon
  • Wheat Penny Barrel Proof Bourbon Whiskey
  • Jim Beam Double Oak Twice Barreled Bourbon
  • Redwood Empire Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
  • Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Casks and Port Casks
  • Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Rye
  • Pinhook Rye’d On Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
  • Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey
  • Maker’s Mark 46 Cask Strength
  • Bulleit Bourbon Single Barrel NC

Wayback Machine

June 2020
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Apr   Jul »

Oldies But Goodies!

  • January 2023
  • November 2022
  • September 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012

Categories

  • AHA
  • Ammo
  • Archery
  • BDoY
  • Beer
  • Bersa
  • BJCP
  • Bourbon
  • Buckwheat
  • Champagne
  • Cicerone
  • Cider
  • Colt
  • Competition
  • Concealed
  • Cyser
  • Dan Wesson
  • Fermentation
  • FFL
  • GABF
  • Glock
  • Gluten
  • H&R
  • Henry
  • Homebrew
  • Instructor
  • Kimber
  • Kombucha
  • Long gun
  • Mead
  • NRA
  • Optics
  • Pistol
  • Port
  • Prohibition
  • Range
  • Refuse To Be A Victim
  • Remington
  • Rossi
  • Ruger
  • Rum
  • Rye
  • S&W
  • Safe
  • Sake
  • Scotch
  • Sorghum
  • Spirits
  • Steven's
  • Taurus
  • Tequila
  • Uberti
  • Uncategorized
  • Walther
  • Wheat
  • Whiskey
  • Winchester
  • Wine
  • Witbier

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Where It Be?

Bangers and Mash - Stats

  • 136,887 hits

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Bangers and Mash
    • Join 108 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Bangers and Mash
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...