Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon (Batch 1) - Review

Stats

Castle & Key

Small Batch Straight Bourbon

Batch 1 - Bottle 06666

Castle & Key Distillery - Frankfort, Kentucky

Aged 4 Years

98 Proof

Mash Bill: 73% White Corn, 10% Rye, 17% Malted Barley

Retail Price: ~$45

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Deep Gold

Nose: Grain and Corn forward, Green Apples, Botanicals, Honeysuckle

Palate: Floral, Corn Cereal, Buttered Popcorn, Hint of Honey

Finish: Warm, light linger. Somewhat thin (not very viscous).

Overall: From the colors to the design, the beauty of this bottle draws everyone in. A heavy cork, the perfect "pop" and off we go with this inaugural bourbon release from Castle & Key.

Quick History: In 2014 Wes Murry and Will Arvin purchased the Old Taylor Distillery with the vision to restore it and still capture so much of its rich history. Enter Castle & Key Distillery.

After being such a fan of Castle & Key's Restoration Rye, I knew I had to jump on this release as quickly as I could. So much buzz circulated this Batch 1 in the Bourbon World. And why not? A new bourbon on the scene with the right group of people behind it and at a great price. Sign me up all day long. The nose sets the mood here. A "fresh" fruit smell along with a ton of botanical flair and a touch of honey started to make me smile a bit. The smell reminded me of some of their seasonal Gin releases and that's in no means a bad thing, but certainly unique. The taste actually followed suit with the nose which also brought forth flavors of buttered popcorn. Many may think all this is due to a lack of age, but I honestly believe it's something new and something different that was trying to be achieved. Again: Unique. The finish was the only thing that seemed subpar which in turn affected my overall score. It seemed "thin" to me. Now, I'm in no way influenced by proof. I go where the flavor is. I don't believe the viscosity would change dramatically with the absence of water here so I don't feel a higher proof would change much on the finish, but I'd always be willing to try it at cask strength :wink wink: I'm looking forward to trying Batch 2 if I can get my hands on it sometime soon. From what I've been reading, the notes are completely different and I'm all about trying everything!

I also look forward to what the future holds for Castle & Key. Keep up the good work.

Library Rating: 7.6 / 10

King's Family Distillery Honey Barrel Finish - Review

Stats

King's Family Distillery

Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Honey Barrel Batch 2

King's Family Distillery - Sevierville, Tennessee

NAS - Over 4 Years

115.6 Proof

Distilled in Indiana

Mash Bill: Undisclosed

Retail Price: ~$125

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Honey (Duh), Dark Fruits, Vanilla Bean, Leather and Oak

Palate: Earthy, Honey, Oak, Plentiful Dark Fruits and Toasted Caramel

Finish: Short to Medium Linger with a nice Raw Honey Coating

Overall: Right away, I was very excited to have had the opportunity to purchase this bottle after receiving an email from the King's Family Distillery newsletter. I'm a fan of Honey Barrel Finishes and this one certainly didn't disappoint. Well balanced and completely easy drinking with a great all-around flavor.The honey is not overpowering and leaves a beautiful coating on the throat. Sweet & Savory in a bottle! This bottle happened to be one of the first bottles of King's Family that graced the Library. I also ordered their Batch 15 Wheated Bourbon which I've yet to pop the cork. That will not be far behind, I can promise you. I look forward to what the future holds and for all the new releases.

Library Rating: 8.5 / 10

Puncher's Chance The D12stance - Review

Stats

Puncher's Chance - The D12stance

Wolf Spirit Distillery - Eugene, Oregon

Straight Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels

Aged 12 Years

96 Proof

Distilled in Tennessee

Mash Bill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $120

Limited to 70 Barrels

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Tawny

Nose: Earthy, Dark Red Wine, Creamy Corn, Black Pepper, Toasted Oak

Palate: Ripe Cherry, Vanilla, Leather, Citrus Zest, A touch of Chocolate

Finish: Medium Linger with a Warm, Sweet and Viscous mouthfeel.

Overall: I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't surprised by this second offering from Puncher's Chance. From my experience, the finishing of bourbon is usually done on a more youthful distillate, but here we have a 12 year finished bourbon. It works! The Cab creates an entirely unique experience when it comes to the palate. The more I sip, the more the flavors of Dark Cherry, Vanilla and Leather dance around with a beautiful Citrus Zest. I'm leaning towards a Blood Orange type flavor, but that keeps changing the more I dig deeper. The great folks at Puncher's Chance actually sent me a 100mL bottle to review, (and I'm super thankful), but that just wasn't enough as I kept sipping with a smile on my face. I immediately browsed their website and secured a full bottle just based on those few sips I had. I'm very happy I made that decision. The bottle design is gorgeous and stands out perfectly. I'm ready to go the Distance!

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10