A. Smith Bowman 10 Year Cask Strength - Review

Stats

A. Smith Bowman

Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey

10 Years Old

Produced by A. Smith Bowman Distillery - Fredericksburg, Virginia

141.1 Proof

Mash Bill: Undisclosed

Small Batch - Batch 1

Retail Price: $100

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Creaminess, Green Apple, Nectarines, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar and Charred Oak

Palate: Viscous and sweetness upfront. Tons of Vanilla and Brown Sugar with hints of Apple Pie and Caramel.

Finish: Extra long finish with a warm oily coating.

Overall: This bottle was provided by Sazerac and for that I'm grateful. In no way did this gift persuade my opinion or my review. I keep things real in the Library and let me tell you, this Cask Strength is the real deal. I know the accessibility of this bottle is not ideal, but if there is a chance to try it in a bar or at a friend's house, I strongly recommend it. I was expecting a high volume of heat before popping the cork. At 141.1 Proof, who wouldn't? Almost zero ethanol on the nose and that lead to a fully complex palate witch is when it started getting warm. Not hot. The warm hug stays with you throughout the entire tasting. A coating that is very much welcomed because after, comes even more flavors. When the warmth starts to fade, the true and typical bourbon flavors start to shine even more. It honestly created an exceptional experience.

Library Rating: 9.4 / 10

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey - Review

Stats

Pikesville

Straight Ry Whiskey

At Least 6 Years Old

Heaven Hill Distillery - Distilled & Bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky

110 Proof

Mash Bill: 51% Rye / 39% Corn / 10% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $50

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Caramel apples, allspice, nutmeg and oak

Palate: Vanilla, cherries (reminds me of a Cherry Vanilla Coke), some cinnamon and pepper spice.

Finish: Medium linger with a warm coating

Overall: Believe it or not, this is my first time diving into Pikesville. I've had it on my shelf for far too long and today was the day. Based on my fandom of Heaven Hill, I had no doubts this would be a solid pour. I wasn't expecting the flavors I picked up though. The heavy cherry influence is very welcomed and very much enjoyed. The finish is a perfect warm hug that sticks around for just the right amount of time.

Library Rating: 8.2 / 10

Sam Houston 15 Year - Review

Stats

Sam Houston

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

15 Years Old

Sourced - Undisclosed / Distilled & Aged in Bardstown, Kentucky

103 Proof / Non-Chill Filtered

Mash Bill: 74% Corn / 18% Rye / 8% Malted Barley

Batch KY-1 (3 Barrels) / Bottle 309 of 510

Barreled 04/06

Retail Price: $150

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Dark Amber

Nose: Creamy, flakey pastry with tones of vanilla, butterscotch, caramel and oak.

Palate: Vanilla, cinnamon, cream and toasted marshmallow.

Finish: Viscous (oily) with a nice warm linger.

Overall: This bottle was a gift from Sam Houston for helping to choose the barrels that went into this batch. There were 15 Influencers involved, and I think we all nailed it! This entire process was completely humbling and had me enjoying every sip that went into it. Overall, the end result is nothing less than a brilliant bottle and pour. Very well blended and full of complexity, this bottle is one that isn't going to last very long in the Library.

Note: This custom, limited-edition box of Sam Houston 15 Year Old Bourbon is a gift for helping curate Release No.6 - It is not available for purchase.

Library Rating: 9.2 / 10