Broken Barrel Americana - Review

The Details

Broken Barrel

Straight American Whiskey

Finished with Broken Barrel Staves

NAS (No Age Statement)

Distilled in Indiana & Kentucky

100 Proof

Mash Bill: 80% Corn, 14% Rye, 6% Malted Barley

Oak Bill: 40% Charred American Oak, 40% Toasted American Oak, 20% American Apple Brandy Cask

Price: $40

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Amber

Nose: Caramel Flan, Vanilla Custard, Warm Apple Pie, Cinnamon

Palate: Fried Apples, Toasted Marshmallows, Milk Chocolate, Honey and Vanilla

Finish: Warm, medium linger - coats both sides of the palate with cinnamon and rye spices

Overall: Have you been to Cracker Barrel? If you answered yes, you've most likely had the Fried Apples that's offered with the other 97 items you get for breakfast. Well folks, that's exactly where this pour takes me. The name "Americana" couldn't be more on point. "As American as apple pie", right? So much going on here as the toasted barrel staves create a chocolatey and s'mores-like flavor just behind the apples. It works, trust me.

Broken Barrel continues to impress me with each release. It takes a lot to experiment and put your name behind some of these creations, but they continue to nail it each time. Certainly something for everyone with their portfolio of releases. Give them a look here.

A huge thank you to Seth for getting this bottle to me. Despite a great friendship, I still stand firm on being unbiased and 100% honest with my reviews. If I like it, you'll know.

Library Rating: 8.3 / 10

S.E. Callahan's Distiller's Select Bourbon - Review

The Details

S.E. Callahan's Distiller's Select

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Produced in Small Batches

Batch 51 / Bottle 222

Aged 3+ Years

Hand Bottled by Tennessee Hills Distillery

Jonesborough, Tennessee

90 Proof

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Price: $35

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Gold

Nose: Vanilla, Honey, Milk Chocolate, Toasted Oak

Palate: Flakey Pastry, Sweet Vanilla Cream, Baking Spices

Finish: Medium-Long, Viscous Linger with noticeable Baking Spices

Overall: This bottle was a very generous gift from two amazing whiskey lovers who thought I'd like it. Mission accomplished. I had never heard of S.E. Callahan's nor had I heard of Tennessee Hills Distillery, but I sure do now. This was a very pleasant surprise especially at the price point. One of the easiest sipping pours I've had and really full of flavor. Nothing too complex, but as I said, flavors that last and a viscous oily coating that lingers for a while. I'd love to dig a bit deeper into this distillery and find out more, so I guess a trip is certainly in order.

Library Rating: 7.8 / 10

Oaklore Story Series - Single Barrel Bourbon Finished in a Honey Cask - Review

The Details

Oaklore Distilling Company

Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in a Honey Cask

Chapter 2022

No Age Statement

Distilled in Kentucky

Produced and Bottled by Oaklore Distilling Co.

Matthews, North Carolina

100 Proof

Mashbill: 75% Corn / 21% Rye / 4% Malted Barley

Price: ~$110

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Amber

Nose: Sweet Cream, Vanilla Bean, Almonds, Honey, Sweet Corn

Palate: Fig, Green Apples, Almonds, Corn Flakes Cereal, Honey Drizzle

Finish: Warm, medium spiced linger with a medium-long coating

Overall: Let me start by saying this brand new North Carolina distillery is only minutes from my house and it took me far too long to get over and check it out. Next, the folks at Oaklore are welcoming and ready to share their story with you as you taste through their spirits lineup which includes Vodka, Gin, Bourbon and Rye. The story of two whiskey enthusiasts chatting each morning while they awaited their kid's school bus turned into opening a distillery. You can find more than the Cliff's Notes on their website here. From what I understand, this "Story Series" is a limited annual release where there will be different experimental cask finishes.

Let me get into my overall impression before I get even more sidetracked. With Honey Finishing becoming all the "buzz" and delivering some amazing offerings, I was more than happy to try this expression prior to purchase. The initial thought as I raised my glass to my nose was sweetness. Swirling the bourbon for a second or two and raising it back up provided what I can really only describe as Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal. The honey, corn flakes, almonds and sweet cream took me directly to sitting at the kitchen table for breakfast. That's not a bad thing, right? As is the case with many pours, I was hoping the palate followed the nose with a little more substance (although I love the sweet factor). Well, job well done. Hints of ripe figs, green apples, almonds and drizzled honey rounded out my palate. You know the garnishes on a charcuterie board? Yeah, this is exactly that (minus the meats and cheeses, of course). The finish coats your throat much like a cough drop without any medicinal undertones and continues to be warm throughout with quite a nice baking spiced linger.

I'm looking forward to upcoming releases from these guys and the fact they are only 5 miles from my house is as much of a bonus as I can think of.

Library Rating: 8.1 / 10