Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish - Review

Stats

Thomas S. Moore - Extended Cask Finish

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Casks

NAS - No Age Statement

Barton 1792 Distillery - Bardstown, Kentucky

95.3 Proof

Mash Bill: Undisclosed

Retail Price: $70

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Dark Amber

Nose: That Cabernet grape smell immediately hits my nose and tingles the senses. Some oak and creamy vanilla move forward the more it's swirled and opened.

Palate: A creamy delight! The Cab cask takes me on a bit of a journey. The caramel and vanilla is countered each sip with the bold dark red grape and an incredible tannic oak taste. This repeats with each sip.

Finish: Without a doubt, one of the most mellow and pleasant finishes I've come across in a bourbon in quite some time. The oily coating is enjoyable and the linger lasts a nice bit of time.

Overall: Without having researched much about this new line from Barton 1792, I must say, I am quite impressed. I believe the proof is exactly where it should be and the entire start-to-finish is an experience. The Cab finish is just the icing on the cake.

Library Rating: 8.8 / 10

Fiddler Georgia Heartwood - Review

Stats

Fiddler - Georgia Heartwood

Bourbon Whiskey Refinished with Hand-Harvested Charred Oak Staves

NAS - No Age Statement

ASW Distillery - Atlanta, GA

117.4 Proof, Non Chill Filtered

Mash Bill: 51% Corn / 45% Wheat / 4% Malted Barley (Forged)

Retail Price: $75

JAX 2020 Single Barrel Selection

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Caramel, Toffee, Vanilla, Cinnamon and a nice recurring Oak scent.

Palate: Frosted Flakes cereal....They're Grrrrrrreat! Sweet Cream, Honey and Vanilla Bean.

Finish: Mellow, Oily Coating and a Medium Linger. Caramel flavor throughout the entire experience.

Overall: JAX is a very reputable spirits store in Georgia and this Single Barrel Selection lives up to that excellent reputation. The 45% Wheat in this mash, sweetens this up more than you realize. The Proof may be 117.4 but because of that sweetness, this drinks around 105. The perfect back-porch sippin' bourbon. That is exactly how I'm enjoying this right now. A beautiful 80 degree Spring day in the Carolinas. Fiddler Georgia Heartwood is the real deal.

Library Rating: 8.7 / 10

Blue Note Premium Small Batch 9 Year Bourbon - Review

Stats

Blue Note - Premium Small Batch

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Aged a minimum of 9 Years

B.R. Distilling Company - Crafted in Memphis, TN

93 Proof, Unfiltered

Mash Bill: A proprietary blend of two mash bills:

84% Corn / 8% Rye / 8% Malted Barley

70% Corn / 22% Rye / 8% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $48

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Caramel

Nose: Vanilla and a great oak scent. There is a wonderful candy-like sweetness that I can only describe as marzipan.

Palate: Maple syrup deliciousness. I'm talking about the top-shelf maple syrup with absolutely no disrespect to the store brands. This pour has a sweet, viscous feel and a slight touch of toasted graham cracker.

Finish: The finish is long, oily and thick with a lasting linger.

Overall: I purchased this bottle on a whim and I couldn't be more impressed when I dove into it. There is a great deal of complexity which I really wasn't expecting. An age statement of 9 years at this retail price is almost a steal in my opinion. My rule-of-thumb is generally $10 for each year stated on the label. Obviously there are a few exceptions, but it's good to have a benchmark. I'm a fan and I look forward to trying and enjoying more of their expressions.

Library Rating: 8.1 / 10