RY3 16 Year Light Whiskey - Review

The Details

RY3 Whiskey

Light Whiskey

Single Barrel

Aged 16 Years

Cask Strength

Limited Edition

Batch: PR#008 / Bottle 104

Handcrafted, Blended and Bottled by

Phenomenal Spirits - Virginia Beach, Virginia

68.6 ABV / 137.2 Proof

Mashbill: Not Specified

Price: $95

Poured Neat in a Stölzle Nosing Glass

Appearance: Light Golden Amber

Nose: Caramel Coffee Cake, Vanilla Custard, Flakey Pastry

Palate: Creamy Caramel, Vanilla Pound Cake, Buttered Roll, Touch of Holiday Spice

Finish: Warm, Lingering and Viscous with a White Pepper Spice.

Overall: Have you ever been hugged so perfectly you just didn't want to be released? Well, the term "hug" in whiskey pertains to the warmth, linger and full experience on the palate. That's what is going on here. A full and embracing hug. The dessert-like sweet flavors are on full display here as well. The 137.2 Proof shouldn't be viewed as deterrent to any mid or lower proof fanatics out there. Give it a taste and see for yourself. I try not to use the phrase, "it doesn't drink its proof", but this is a clear example of why that phrase is such a cliché.

Some may not be well versed when it comes to Light Whiskey. What is it? What makes it Light? Is it a diet option? Well, a couple things to consider:

1) Distilled between 160 and 190 Proof, whereas Bourbon must be distilled below 160.

2) Must be aged in new and uncharred oak containers OR used oak containers, whereas Bourbon must be aged in new charred oak containers.

The flavors tend to come across as a "lighter" or sweeter tone due to the wood sugars and chemical reactions being mostly spent on those used barrels/containers. Also, Light Whiskey tends to carry a higher age statement most of the time because of the lack of reaction in these secondary or new uncharred containers/barrels.

Karthik & Matt, thank you kindly for getting this bottle to me to try. You guys are Phenomenal! As always, my reviews are always unbiased and couldn't be any more genuine.

Library Rating: 8.5 / 10

Heaven's Door Homesick Blues - Review

Stats

Heaven's Door

Homesick Blues

Minnesota Wheated Bourbon Whiskey

Bottled by Heaven's Door Spirits - Memphis, TN

Distilled in Minnesota

Aged 7 Years

122.7 Proof

Mash Bill: 70% Corn, 30% Wheat

Retail Price: $80

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber / Dark Orange

Nose: Honey, Vanilla, Sweet Cream

Palate: Honey Bunches of Oats, Touch of Cinnamon and Cream

Finish: Warm, Smooth, Viscous and Lingering

Overall: It's no secret, I'm a Wheated Bourbon fannatic. They say the first step is admitting this. Heaven's Door comes through yet again with a delicious sipper called Homesick Blues. 7 Year Bourbon from...Minnesota? Yeah, you read that right. I'm loving the fact so many different bourbon sources across the country are starting to emerge. Distilled only about 150 miles from Bob Dylan's birthplace in Minnesota and also is home to some of the wildest climate fluctuations from season to season. We're talking -80F all the way to 110+F . Imagine what that's doing to the liquid in these barrels. Some incredible expansion and contraction happening here. The bourbon certainly picks up a ton of the oak influence and shows its sweet characteristics. Honey Bunches of Oats is the best way I can describe the flavors happening on my palate. A remarkable example showcasing the fact that not all bourbon needs to come from Kentucky.

Pre-Orders are going on now for this very limited release. You can check it out by clicking HERE.

Thank you again to the team at Heaven's Door for allowing me to sip and share my honest opinions of these new releases. Much love!

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10

Southern Star Paragon - Single Barrel - Carolina Panthers Limited Series - Review

The Details

Southern Star

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Single Barrel

Selected by the Carolina Panthers

Cask Strength Wheated

Aged 5.2 Years

Barrel 2167-63 / Bottle 38 of 200

Distilled, Aged and Bottled by Southern Distilling Company

Statesville, North Carolina

54.9% Alc/Vol / 109.8 Proof

Mashbill: 70% Corn / 16% Wheat / 14% Malted Barley

Price: $100

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Appearance: Tawny

Nose: Fresh Baked Cinnamon Roll (Brown Sugar, Fresh Doughy Dough, Vanilla Icing, Cinnamon and a touch of Nutmeg

Palate: Molasses, Brown Sugar, Sweet Cream Frosting, Burnt Caramel

Finish: Warm Lingering and Viscous mouthfeel with a Nutmeg Spice

Overall: Southern Star. Carolina Panthers. Whiskey. North Carolina. Football. Partnership. 6 Single Barrels. What else can I add here? Oh, DELICIOUS!

You’ve seen me post one of my favorite Wheated Bourbons, Paragon, many times prior, and while each Single Barrel I’ve had has been amazing, there’s just something extra special about this very limited release. This has to be my new favorite barrel ever released from Southern Star. A Wheated bourbon with a mash bill of 70% Corn, 16% Wheat, 14% Malted Barley and aged 5.2 Years with a proof of 109.8, this Single Barrel Selection is everything I look for. Every box has been checked. With a flavor profile like this, it's one for all the competitions, trust me.

Press Release: STATESVILLE, N.C. Proudly made in North Carolina, Southern Star bourbon is building on its partnership with the Carolina Panthers with a limited release whiskey commemorating the team's 2003 NFC Championship season. Six unique single barrels of Southern Star Paragon were carefully selected and bottled with commemorative labeling that celebrates the team's achievements. Fewer than 1,000 bottles will be offered beginning Oct. 20, exclusively available in the Carolinas and debuting with a special event at Southern Distilling Company that day.

"As a longtime Panthers fan, I'm thrilled to celebrate the 20* anniversary of our team's first NFC championship," said Southern Distilling co-founder and CEO Pete Barger. "I grew up here, and it's where my wife Vienna and I have raised our family and started our business. We're proud to have grown tremendously and earned national recognition, and it's a privilege to celebrate our success alongside the Panthers in this way. I can't wait for us to share this release honoring the 2003 team

- and I'll be keeping a bottle on hand to raise a glass to future success, too!"

All bottles will feature a specially designed Carolina Panthers label unlike anything previously released in conjunction with the NFL. Each bottle will be numbered by hand, with the first 150 bottles on sale at Southern Distilling Company in Statesville, N.C., beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct.

20, with a Panthers Legend on-site to autograph bottles.

With so few bottles available, fans are encouraged to pick up a bottle before they sell out, either at the distillery or at select North Carolina ABC stores and South Carolina retailers.

Barger, who grew up in the Carolinas rooting for the Panthers, led the barrel pick process of identifying six exceptional barrels of Paragon bourbon, each an exemplar of the distillery's signature whiskey. While each barrel will have unique characteristics thanks to the aging process, Paragon Single Barrels are sweet with fruity florals and ripe apple notes on the nose; the palate bursts with vanilla, honey, subtle hints of walnuts and a rich texture. - End

Check out what Southern Distilling has to offer and book a tour HERE

A big shout out to the team at Southern Distilling for such an incredible bottle. As always, all of my reviews are completely unbiased and honest...the way it should be!

Library Rating: 8.9 / 10