It was a horrible, no-good two years for in-person spirits occasions (make that in-person occasions of any type), however issues are lastly, fortunately beginning to return to regular. Chris famous (with some shock) that Whiskies of the World held its San Francisco occasion final fall however at a lowered scale. Washington, D.C.’s well-known Jack Rose Eating Saloon was having none of that for his or her Premier Drams occasion held in June. In the event that they have been going to deliver again their world-class whiskey competition, it was going to be simply as large, if not larger, than earlier years.
The third operating of the competition pulled no punches, increasing to a neighboring, two-story restaurant house and internet hosting much more manufacturers than earlier years, all providing a formidable number of uncommon bottles from single casks to distillery exclusives to ultra-premium restricted editions you’d be fortunate to seek out on even the perfect liquor retailer shelf. Hell, Willett introduced a 17-year-old single barrel bourbon. And so they don’t even actually do whiskey festivals. Possibly my tolerance waned in the course of the pandemic (I doubt that), however I drank with function for the competition’s complete three hours and there have been nonetheless a dozen or so bottles I regretted not attending to strive. Ah effectively, there’s all the time subsequent yr (fingers crossed).
Transient tasting notes on every part I sampled, to the perfect of my recollection, are beneath.
Tasting Report: Jack Rose Premier Drams 2022
Scotch
Glenmorangie The Lighthouse 12 Years Outdated – A mixture of 80% bourbon- and 20% sherry-aged single malt bottled to commemorate the brand new Lighthouse distillery, accessible solely within the present store in Scotland. Nicely-balanced and chic with that traditional honeyed, custardy character married to wealthy stone fruit, citrus, and darkish baking spice. A
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 9.215 – Produced by Glen Grant and aged in first-fill bourbon casks for 17 years. Vibrant and lemony on the nostril with a palate that’s initially gentle and grassy earlier than constructing with intensely candy notes of powdered sugar, vanilla cream icing, and toffee. B+
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 83.78 – One other well-aged Speyside providing from (closed) Convalmore, aged 18 years in first-fill casks. Earthy on the nostril with a little bit of lemon biscuit. The palate sees extra citrus together with buttery fruit pastry and a few delicate tropical notes. B+
Benriach Cask Version 1997 – Aged in ex-oloroso casks for twenty-four years and bottled at cask energy. Attractive unique spices on the nostril with a sultry palate of leather-based, sandalwood, and darkish stewed fruit that concludes with a protracted end of roasted nuts and darkish berries. The standout scotch of the afternoon. A
GlenAllachie 12 Years Outdated PX Single Cask – Bottled completely for ImpEx, aged in a Pedro Ximenez puncheon, and bottled at cask energy. Intense darkish fruits on the nostril and a rush of alcohol. Large and daring on the palate with beneficiant heat and thick, candy notes of darkish raisins and black cherry. Lengthy warming end with extra syrupy darkish fruits. A-
GlenDronach Cask Bottling Batch 18 2005 Cask 1928 – Aged 14 years in a Pedro Ximenez puncheon and bottled at cask energy. I definitely agree with Chris’s evaluate that this drinks a lot older with unique sandalwood and incense notes and a wholesome quantity of darkish, well-aged barrel character that provide an important distinction to the brighter, intense sherry parts. Stunning stuff. A
Bourbon
Wilderness Path Household Reserve Single Barrel – A brand new cask energy model of Wilderness Path’s 6-year-old single barrel bourbon. This takes the bonded providing I tasted in 2020 and kicks it up a stage with larger and bolder baking spice on the nostril and a wealthy, candy palate accented by notes of apple pie and darkish caramel. A-
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Sequence #7 – Returning to this one after reviewing it earlier this summer season, and I’m nonetheless struck by how distinctive the Canadian part has made it. Nonetheless has a great deal of fruit, barrel-driven sweetness, and a novel floral aspect. However on this sampling the end reveals a bit extra spice. A-
Willett Household Property Single Barrel Bourbon 17 Years Outdated – This was in all probability the largest unicorn of the occasion, which explains why the road was ten occasions longer than another sales space. A 17-year-old single barrel bourbon from an unknown mashbill and producer bottled below Willett’s Household Property label. A nostril of previous furnishings and leather-based is sultry with balanced oak. The palate is equally well-built with wealthy brown sugar sweetness and leathery notes of dried apricot and orange peel. The end relents considerably with an exuberance of spice cupboard and drying oak, however nonetheless a standout providing alone definitely worth the worth of admission. A
Willett Household Property Single Barrel Bourbon 8 Years Outdated “Have a good time Willett” – A considerably uncommon instance of Willett’s house-distilled bourbon and the oldest I’ve but encountered. This one is very earthy on the nostril with clay and muddled mint that finally provides method to some peach pie. The palate is heavy with an nearly tart, citrus-dominated sweetness and secondary notes of damp tobacco, clove, and seasoned oak. B+
Nelson’s Inexperienced Brier Belle Meade Black Belle – A part of the distillery’s Craftsmen Cask sequence (all of which have been accessible for tasting). That is MGP-sourced bourbon completed in an imperial stout cask from BlackStone Brewery and bottled at cask energy. The nostril showcases large baking spice and darkish berry notes with a wealthy, malty palate that turns unusually tart on the end. B
Widow Jane The Vaults Aged 15 Years – A mix of 15 to 17 yr previous sourced bourbons completed in Adirondack Oak casks (a brand new one for me) which have been air seasoned for a whopping 42 months. That is completely executed, older bourbon. Spicy and wealthy on the nostril with darkish purple fruits, baking chocolate, and a creamy vanilla-filled palate. Cherry Garcia ice cream in a bottle, as I discussed (I believe) to blender Lisa Wicker. The standout bourbon of the afternoon. A+
Milam & Greene Fortress Hill Batch 2 – Chris referred to as this one “a wonderful whiskey from begin to end”, and I need to agree. Exceedingly approachable at a beneficiant proof, with a lush palate chocked stuffed with well-aged bourbon notes: raisin, darkish chocolate, mushy baking spice, and previous barn flooring. A
Tumblin’ Cube Single Barrel Bourbon – A (probably) 5-year-old single barrel, barrel proof expression distilled by MGP. Candy and spicy and displaying a stunning quantity of youth with notes of cream corn and many purple pepper. B
Rye
Hughes Belle of Bedford Rye Single Barrel – A ten-year-old, single barrel MGP-distilled rye chosen by the model proprietor for the occasion. Nicely-balanced with a giant layer of fruit cake and many heat rye spice. A-
Bardstown Bourbon Co. Single Barrel Rye – One of many extra distinctive choices of the occasion was a single cask, cask energy 95/5 rye distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Co. and offered as an “unfinished pattern” forward of its eventual launch below the Origin Sequence label. Impressively approachable at cask energy with a wealthy, syrupy palate and delicate earthy spice. Texture is spot on, however as it’s now, the flavors are surprisingly subdued. B+
Sagamore Spirit Blended Rye Cognac End – 4-year-old rye completed for 8 months in a Cognac cask. The nostril is moderately subdued with a delicate mixture of traditional rye notes. The palate provides up a brighter, fruitier dimension from the ending cask with some extra wood-driven complexity. B+
Sagamore Spirit fifth Anniversary American Whiskey – That is Sagamore-distilled rye whiskey bottled at 83 proof. Balanced with a lush, candy palate, it’s a bit underpowered, particularly in comparison with the Bottled-in-Bond expression, however there’s nonetheless a good quantity of peppery rye and baking spice on supply. A bit sharp on the end. B+
Willett Household Property Single Barrel Rye 8 Years Outdated – Willett’s house-distilled rye whiskey and one of many oldest rye whiskeys from the distillery I’ve encountered. This one is a scorcher, stuffed with traditional Willett jackfruit notes on the nostril. Some seasoned wooden and fruitcake parts on the palate saved all that intense sweetness from going completely off the rails. A-
New Riff Balboa Rye – Considered one of New Riff’s earliest “riffs” on conventional American whiskey, made with a uncommon heirloom Balboa rye grain and bottled in bond. Large on the nostril with wooden spices, creamy caramel, dried fruits, and cocoa. The palate is well-balanced and honeyed with vibrant stone fruits, orange zest, rye spice, and mushy oak notes. A-
World Whisky
Single Cask Nation Milk & Honey Single Cask 3 Years Outdated – Single malt from Israel’s Milk & Honey Distillery aged in an ex-Laphroaig cask. A beautiful whisky with a silky, creamy physique showcasing delicate smoke alongside bolder orange marmalade and sweet apple notes that give method to a beneficiant salty and candy end. A-
Takamine Koji Whiskey 8 Years Outdated – Made utilizing koji mildew throughout fermentation, this can be a vibrant and full of life whiskey with loads of summery citrus character on the nostril. The palate stands out for its light wooden affect which appears to permit extra of the gingery and fruity distillery character to shine by way of. B+
Ohishi Tokubetsu Reserve – An oddly previous tasting and funky whisky, even for a rice-based providing. Numerous heavy sherry notes and an uncommon little bit of spice on the midpalate I couldn’t fairly place. Earthy and tart on the end. B
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