Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Pauillac Barriques - Review

Stats

Coalition Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey

Finished in Pauillac Barrels

Aged 5 Years (Finished for up to 9 Months)

Distilled, Aged & Bottled by Kentucky Artisan Distillery

Crestwood, Kentucky

92.6 Proof

Mash Bill: 100% Rye (10% Malted Rye)

Retail Price: $80

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Dark Honey / Amber

Nose: Black and White Pepper, Slight Anise, Dark Cherry and Ripe Plum

Palate: BOLD! Cherry, Plum, Roasted Almonds and a beautiful Pepper Spice

Finish: Long Warm Linger with a Spicy Coating

Overall: This is much more than just a fancy bottle. And I'll tell you, the bottle really does stand out. From the first whiff, I knew this was going to be something I really enjoyed. My love for wine and whiskey come full circle with this particular offering. I also think this is the perfect time of year to try this for the first time. A warming sensation and the almost immediate response to lick your lips has me reaching for another sip. I'm looking forward to finding other Coalition Barrel Finishes to try.

I'd like to thank the folks at Coalition for giving me the opportunity to try this and provide my unbiased feedback.

Library Rating: 8.5 / 10

Millstone 12 Year Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky - Review

Stats

Millstone - Dutch Single Malt Whisky

Sherry Cask

Aged 12 Years

Distilled, Aged & Bottled by Zuidam Distillers

BV Baarle Nassau, The Netherlands

92 Proof

Mash Bill: Single Malt

Retail Price: $125

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Gold

Nose: Oaky, Bakers Chocolate, Tobacco and Dark Cherry

Palate: Oak, Stone Fruit and Vanilla with light Tannins

Finish: Medium Long Linger with hints of Cinnamon Apples

Overall: Let me start by saying when I visited Amsterdam a few years back, I was pressured by a Liquor Store Owner into purchasing a Zuidam Dutch Whisky Sample Box. I'm actually glad to have picked that up as it really opened my eyes to whisky from other regions. Since, I've never turned away a whisky based on which country it was distilled. Back to the 12 Year Review before I take more trips down memory lane. Overall, I really appreciate the age statement on this release. The flavors all compliment each other and the overall experience is quite nice. I can find myself sipping on this with a meat and cheese board on a late spring or early summer day, but also by the fire during a chilly autumn evening with a cigar. Thank you to Zuidam for the opportunity to try this particular offering.

Library Rating: 8.1 / 10

Bardstown Bourbon Company 2021 Phifer Pavitt Reserve - Review

Stats

Bardstown Bourbon Company - Tennessee Straight Bourbon

Finished in Phifer Pavitt Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels

Collaborative Series

NAS (No Age Statement) - 10 Years Min + Finished for 18 Months

Bardstown Bourbon Company - Bardstown, KY

100 Proof - Cask Strength

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

Retail Price: $125

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Dark Cherry Red

Nose: Dark Cherry, Plum and Dark Chocolate

Palate: Dark Chocolate, Oak, Molasses, and of course, Cabernet

Finish: Calm, Mellow, a slight linger with hints of dark chocolate.

Overall: I won't lie. I've only had the Fusion Series releases from Bardstown and I do enjoy those. So pulling the trigger on a bottle for more than twice that price was tough. It was one of those moments I knew I may not come across again. So here we go. The nose really paved the way to the plate on this pour. There are very few finished bourbons which I've tried that I can say that about. The Dark Chocolate and Cherry paint the picture. Late morning (as I'm sipping), early afternoon, evening or after dinner, this is a winner. It's not overloaded with sweetness, but still gives you that feeling that you had dessert. I don't mind the price point at $125 because i recognize the added effort and time spent finishing to reach this level of flavor. One of the top-5 pours on my finished bourbon list thus far.

Library Rating: 8.6 / 10