Wolves Malted Barley Series - Lot 2 - Review

The Details

Wolves

The Malted Barley Series

California Single Malt Whiskey

Lot No. 2

11 Years Aged (Distilled in 2012)

9 Barrel Blend

Distilled, Produced and Bottled by Wolves

Ukiah, California

55% Alc/Vol / 110 Proof

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Limited to 2100 bottles

Price: $305

Poured Neat in a Glencairn Glass

Appearance: Deep Gold

Nose: Honey, Vanilla, Milk Chocolate, Barley Wine

Palate: Warm Chocolate, Plum, Raisin, Honey, Vanilla Bean

Finish: Warm powerful Linger with White Pepper tones

Overall: First sip will make you take a step back. Not in a negative way, but in a very unique way. A profile that not many will associate with whiskey, but rather with beer. Barley Wine, creates a super fun profile and experience throughout this entire pour. It's always a great time when you're able to step away from the "norm" and get into something like this. As most know, I want to try it all. This is another winner in my book. Lot 1 was delicious, but I think this Lot 2 takes it to a whole new level.

"The price of being a sheep is boredom.

The price of being a wolf is loneliness.

Choose one or the other with great care."

I urge you to give a look to what Wolves is doing in California. Check out their website HERE One of their previous releases took my Number 1 spot in the Rye Category last year (2022). An incredible collaboration with Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.

I'd love to take a moment to thank the folks at Wolves and to Life of Lux for providing this bottle. As most are aware, all of my reviews are unbiased and I take great pride in being able to try so many different variations on whiskey.

Library Rating: 8.8 / 10

Found North 18 Year Cask Strength Whisky - Batch 7 - Review

The Details

Found North

Cask Strength Whisky

Aged 18 Years

Batch 007 / Bottle 371

Matured in Hungarian Oak

Distilled in Canada

Bottled by Found North Whisky

Dover, New Hampshire

65.9% Alc/Vol / 131.8 Proof

Mashbill: 83% Corn / 16% Rye / 1% Malted Barley

Price: $160

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Tawny

Nose: Apple, Butterscotch, Cherry, Honey, Oak and Vanilla

Palate: Cornbread, Caramel Apples, Honey, Vanilla, Mature Oak

Finish: Long, Warm and a slight Peppery Spice

Overall: Despite having almost the entire vertical, for some reason, this is my first formal review of a product from Found North. Not sure what happened there. HA. Every expression I've had has been fantastic. My group, The Bourbon Thieves, went to Dover last year to pick a single barrel and fell even more in love with the brand, the people and of course, the whisky. Yes, I left the "e" out for a reason. Canadians spell it this way, and as an homage and a tip of the hat from Found North, they do as well. 18 Years. This product is old enough to vote. Let me tell you, there's nothing immature about what's going on here. At 131.8 Proof, be sure to sip in moderation. Now, that may be difficult once you try it. So many bourbon notes as well as some fruits will take over the palate. I get almost a dessert profile to start followed up by savory cornbread. Who doesn't like eating their dessert first?

If you have yet to find your North, check them out HERE

A big thank you to Nick and Zach Taylor for always thinking of sending The Library some of the best samples.

Library Rating: 8.5 / 10

Bluebird Distilling Double Barrel Bourbon - Review

The Details

Bluebird Distilling

Double Barrel Bourbon

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Double Aged in Charred New American Oak Barrels

Aged 7 Years (5 years in charred new American Oak Barrels & 2 years in heavy toast lightly charred barrels from a different Cooperage)

Distilled and Bottled by Bluebird Distilling

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

Alcohol by Volume: 50 / 100 Proof

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 20% Rye, 10% Wheat, 10% Malted Barley

Price: $70

Poured Neat in a Stölzle Nosing Glass

Appearance: Mahogany

Nose: Leather, Tobacco, Dr. Pepper

Palate: Milk Chocolate, Marshmallow, Graham Crackers, Cinnamon and Honey

Finish: Warm medium linger with a sweet and spiced completion

Overall: I'm not going to lie, I had never heard of Bluebird Distilling until just a couple weeks back when their Sales Manager, Anthony (great name) reached out and asked if I'd be interested in trying what they had to offer. If you know me, you know my goal is to try as much as possible and it's very rare I turn down an opportunity like this. So, game on!

From the first "pop" of the cork to the initial drips hitting my glass, I could pick up so much flavor on the nose. Dr. Pepper was one of those notes. Now, Dr. Pepper boasts 23 flavors. I haven't a clue what most of those are, but I'm sure Cola, Sweet Cream, Dark Cherry and Vanilla are four of them. Between the cola and the Leather and Tobacco, I was already raising an eyebrow with a grin on my face. One of those happy grins, like I knew something special was coming. The first sip didn't carry those same notes, but rather notes I'm quite familiar when it comes to Double Barrel expressions. Those s'mores tones of marshmallow, milk chocolate and grahams mixed with a touch of cinnamon spice filled my palate. I did have a few sips to make sure the flavors didn't dry out or lose its luster. Sure enough, a delightful experience from sip to sip. The finish was perfect on this hot summer afternoon in the Carolinas. A warm, medium linger with a blend of sweet and spice closed out each sip.

There are some Craft Distilleries out there that I feel, "rush" the process. A Double Barreling generally tells me they were hiding something...like youth. I'll tell you, that's not the case of what's going on here. 5 years in the initial barrel, followed by another 2 years in the secondary barrel isn't the whole story. The second barrel is actually from a different Cooperage. I'm sure this plays a big part in soaking up all those different wood sugars through expansion and contraction for so long. A delightful pour and experience.

If you are like me and haven't heard of Bluebird Distilling until now, do yourself a favor and check out their detailed website by clicking HERE

A big thank you to Anthony and the rest of the team at Bluebird for reaching out and letting me try your product with no strings attached. I also can't wait to get into that coffee! Cheers.

Library Rating: 8.3 / 10