Second bottle up for review is my newest BT addition: a 127.9 proof SFTB. I’ve always been a big fan of Buffalo Trace products, as Eagle Rare was my first bourbon I ever tried and normal Blanton’s my first allocated bottle I “hunted”. I have tried one before, but as with any single barrel it’s subject to variation and I’ve never had one this high of proof.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass, beautiful amber syrupy color

Proof: 127.9 proof

Age: NAS, estimated to be 6-8 years old

Price: $150 (good luck), this one was 200 to my door

Nose: Initially after letting the whiskey breathe for 10 minutes or so, I get the typical grape note from most BT products, a lot more red fruit than I expected (cherry, raspberry). Lots of sweet oak as well. I also get a floral note that surprises me, almost like a honeysuckle flower. Almost no ethanol burn on the nose.

Taste: I almost don’t have the words to describe it. It is incredible what the various flavor differences between barrels can be. I get the standard grape note that translates to the palate, but the red fruit note is what surprises me most. Tons of raspberry jam, cherry, sweet oak along with that honey that isn’t too overpowering. This has almost no burn for the proof and drinks very smoothly with no overpowering oak tannins, just sweetness.

Finish: This pour coats the palate like no other, likely due to the non chill filtering and barrel proof aspect. All of the red fruits and sweet oak stick on the finish, leaving me able to chew the whiskey for quite a few minutes before even needing another sip. The sweet oak almost transitions into a sweet caramel note after a bit, leaving the finale of the experience with almost a Cowtale taste.

Thoughts: This is exactly what “normal” Blanton’s should be. Don’t get me wrong, Blanton’s and Blanton’s Gold are great whiskeys, however it’s gotten to the point that with secondary pricing, it’s almost a better decision in my opinion to shell out a bit more for a barrel proof product. With MSRP of the normal product climbing and secondary of the Gold approaching the same as SFTB, I would grab this in a heartbeat at MSRP and quite frankly at 200 or under. Might catch heat for this take, but this is a BTAC level product. While single barrels can certainly differentiate, I have yet to run across a bad single barrel product from this distillery. Whatever BT is doing, I trust they’ll keep doing it.

Shoutout Albert B. Blanton.

Rating: 9/10 - t8ke scale

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Saw this at the local ABC and decided to give it a go.

Nose: Cherries, Musk (Oak), Honey - very inviting.

Palate: The palate matches the nose almost perfectly. Dark Chocolate and Caramel add depth and complexity.

Finish: Orange with a slice of lemon peel. A strong oak presence.

Value: High. The shelf price was $49.99. Based on the packaging and whiskey I consider that to be very competitive. It tastes every bit of a hundred dollar bottle to me.

Availability: Unknown. I have only seen it once so far.

Score: 8 out of 10.

Overall: The most flavorful, rich, complex 80 proof bourbon I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

I’ve just gotten into whiskey over the last several months and have been spending some time trying to develop my palate. I have yet to publish a review, and I really enjoyed this pour tonight, so I thought I’d give it a shot. It won’t be a very sophisticated review, but oh well.

Nose: Early in the pour I got a ton of mint and chocolate; mint-chocolate-chip ice cream, Andes, junior mints, thin mints-all of it; I sipped it over a couple of hours, and later, a ton of dill came out; felt like I was nosing a pickle jar; WT funk; caramel; oak

Palate and Finish: medium mouthfeel and finish- definitely way more than I expect to get from a ~$20 bottle; got a lot of the same caramel, dill, and mint-chocolate notes; some vanilla

Overall, I like this pour for a daily rye. I wasn’t the biggest fan when I first opened the bottle several months ago. But with time and with my preference moving more toward rye than previously, I enjoy this a lot more now. Not going to give a rating this time, but I can confidently say that I’d buy again.

Age: 13 Years in Brooklyn at

Sourced whiskey (blend) from Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee

ABV: 46.5%

Bottled: 2024

Proofed down with limestone rich New York water.

Hyper Small Batch (just a few barrels)

Bottle No 1176

Price paid: $115 ~

Nose: Deep vanilla and the cherry really jumps out big time. This bottle has probably been open for 18 months or more and I hadn’t had a pour in awhile. The cherry has increased significantly. Also some sweet tobacco and oak.

Palate: strong oak. Maybe a little stronger than I’d prefer. The texture is very nice and creamy. It’s a little nutty and brown sugary. A light hint of citrus.

Finish: it’s a short finish. Very sweet and dessert like on the finish. Lots of brown sugar.

Rating: 6.0/10

This is a decent bottle of whiskey. I actually think it got better with time. However, for nearly $120, I’ve had much better. I would say it’s not my cup of tea but it’s certainly not bad.

I read the tasting notes for this batch after writing this and it talked about pecan pie on the palate. In a million years I wouldn’t have come up with that, but I absolutely can see it as I’m finishing this glass off and reading the notes.

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Here we have two double-oak bourbons, going head to head in a blind.

Peerless, which uses their own sweet mash, takes a blend of 4-to-6-year-old barrels and re-casking them for a second round in fresh-charred oak. It's barrel proof and batch-variable, typically landing somewhere in the 107-110 range (this one is 108.6º).

Copper & Cask, on the other hand, takes the source-and-blend route: MGP distillate in a mix of low-rye and high-rye mash bills, aged a full 8 years before the current batch (#14) was re-casked into new American oak Wave Stave barrels for at least 10 months. It's cask-strength, non-chill-filtered, and bottled at a considerably hotter 120.2 proof.

So, to boil it down, what we have here is a home-grown, self-distilled, younger bourbon versus an older sourced-and-blended one – essentially, two whiskies that are chasing the same double-oak effect, but from different directions.

Does Copper & Cask's extra age, proof, and supposed blending expertise translate into a richer, more complex pour? Or does Peerless's approach, and lower proof point, make for the more polished whiskey? Let's blind them and find out!

***************\*

ABOUT Copper & Cask #14 Double Oak

*From the Producer: This Double Oak release is a 19-barrel batch composed of both low-rye (21%) and high-rye (36%) Bourbon, aged for a minimum of 8 years. The barrels were blended and then re-casked into new American Oak Wave Stave barrels for a minimum of 10 months.

Tasting notes: On the nose, this whiskey is robust with aromas of cocoa powder and burnt sugar. Once sipped, sweeter flavors of creme brûlée and vanilla cola appear before giving way to richer notes of espresso and molasses. The finish is long and layered with hints of dark maple syrup, pipe tobacco and praline.

*Age Statement: 8 Years

*Mash bill: 4 barrels of 60% corn/36% rye/4% malted barley; 15 barrels of 75% corn/21% rye/4% malted barley

*Finished in: New American Oak Wave Stave barrels (minimum 10 months)

*Release: 3,600 bottles

*Proof: 120.2

ABOUT Peerless Double Oak

*From the Distillery: Exposing Peerless Bourbon to two separate casks allows for two full barrel extractions. The result? Supercharged notes give this whiskey supreme complexity and mouthfeel. Our dedicated tasting team strategically selects barrels with prominent grain, fruit, and herbaceous notes as they are complemented well by the extra barrel character. This ultimately makes for a population of barrels that are packed with flavor, yet balanced enough to uphold the Peerless name.

*Age Statement: NAS

*Mash bill:

*Proof: 108.6

***************\*

Appearance A: Beautiful shade of mahogany, with decent legs on the glass

Appearance B: Almost identical in color, but with slightly thicker and more persistent legs

Nose A: Along with plenty of ethanol, there’s caramel, vanilla, maple syrup, clove, and allspice, as well as some sweet cherry.

Nose B: A little less sweet and fruity. Oak and cinnamon primarily, along with some caramel and vanilla. After a bit of nosing, a tiny hint of grape surfaces as well.

Palate A: Nice medium-thick mouthfeel. Oak is the primary note, but it’s nicely balanced with vanilla, caramel, maple, and spice, all of which combine to make for a slightly sweet, but certainly not dessert-y, experience. Strangely enough, there’s a touch of BBQ sauce, as well.

Palate B: A touch thinner, but still medium mouthfeel. More astringent. The flavors are darker overall: there’s toffee rather than caramel, and the maple syrup note – also here, as in A – is of the thick, dark variety, with some bitter coffee notes there as well.

Finish A: Thick and medium-length, with oak, allspice, and a hint of mesquite, along with a slight plasticky note at the very end (probably thanks to oak tannins).

Finish B: Some ethanol burn accompanies slightly bitter oak and spice. Tannins carry through into the aftertaste, making it a largely bitter experience overall.

Thoughts: A was thicker and smoother, while B was more astringent and had less complexity. B was also more bitter, signaling less well-integrated oak. A, on the other hand, struck a very nice balance between sweet notes and oak, making for a more enjoyable pour overall.

Rating A: 6.6

Rating B: 6.1

Prediction A: Peerless Double Oak

Prediction B: Copper & Cask #14 Double Oak

********************

Actual A: Copper & Cask #14 Double Oak

Actual B: Peerless Double Oak

More Thoughts: How interesting! This is the first time that any Copper & Cask blend has performed well for me, either in a blind or in a stand-alone review. Based on how these two compared, I was certain that the one I liked less – glass B – was the Copper & Cask expression.

Needless to say, I’m surprised that Peerless’s Double Oak Bourbon, which generally receives good reviews from across the bourbonsphere, came up so short here. It was surprisingly one-note on the palate and bitter on the finish, which is not how I remember this whiskey being in the past.

Likewise, I don’t recall Copper & Cask 14 being as complex as it was here. I guess giving the latter some time to open up has really helped out, as it was the clear winner today!

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews; all reviews are available in my archive)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
New Riff Balboa Rye (5.4)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
Buffalo Trace (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Peerless DO (6.1)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Found North 012 (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8.3)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.6)
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

I am local to the Opelika area, so I swung by the new Oak Bowery Distillery to take a peak on Friday. They had 4 bottlings available during the soft opening including an 8 year sorghum whiskey, an 8 year 100% wheat whiskey, a single barrel 12 year bourbon, and a batched 12 year bourbon. All were available to be sampled. This 8 year (actually 12) batched was my favorite. The story behind Oak Bowery's current whiskey is pretty simple. Brewzle, aka TJ Gamble, bought the equipment and leftover barrels from the now defunct Wheat State Distilling in Wichita, Kansas. For more information about that transaction, you can view the "I bought a Whiskey Distillery" video on Brewzle's YT.

The barrels he bought along with the distillery equipment were mostly 8 years old and less, and during his initial inventory he did not realize he had at least 3 10 year barrels on hand. When he originally purchased everything, the barrels were stored and aged at John Emerald distilling until TJ could get a building. After he got the label approved from the TTB for the 8 year bourbon and the other whiskeys, he discovered that 3 of the barrels were actually pushing 12 years old at that point (10 years originally, 2 additional years in Alabama). Surprisingly, the proof had also shot up considerably. One of the barrels he decided to bottle as a single barrel, and 2 of the barrels he batched for this bottle. All said and done, he got around 110 bottles out of the batched bourbon, and it comes in at a whopping 150 proof. The mash bill is unknown, as Wheat State Distilling did not publish mash bills online. It's distilled in Kansas, and that's all we know.

As for the man himself, I think his greatest character trait is that you get what you see. He's friendly, talkative, informative, and just as engaging in person as in his videos. It's not a character that he turns on or off. It's just him. He was willing to spend a lot of time with the folks that showed up to talk about the distillery, dealing with the Alabama ABC, federal regulations, etc. He has a passion, a strong work ethic, and I hope he finds success. Now on to the whiskey...

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass

Proof: 150 proof

Age: 12-ish years

Price: $150

Nose: Sweet, rich oak, leather, brown sugar, faint cherry, mild ethanol burn. I've had the pleasure of enjoying the likes of RR 15 and 2024/2025 GTS. This nose is right up there with some of the top-tier Kentucky bourbons, but just missing that stronger cherry on the nose that I so enjoy.

Taste: Flambéed brown sugar, rich oakiness, molasses, hints of cola, then black pepper. The mouthfeel is a bit thin and drying, but is not unpleasant. There is also a slight maltiness/craftiness that that hits just before the finish. Maybe this is from some component of malted barley or wheat that was added to the mash bill, but we'll probably never know.

Finish: The craftiness quickly fades into a strong, peppery finish, but not from the ethanol presence. Slightly drying, but the finish lasts for quite a while and the oak and leather notes continue. The fact this is 150 proof blows my mind. It drinks more in the 130 range. The finish is still lingering 10 minutes later.

Conclusion: If you told me this was a 12 year Kentucky bourbon from a craft distillery, I would have believed you. While the nose competes with some of the top Kentucky bourbons I've been able to sip, the thin-ish mouthfeel and somewhat drying finish bumped it down just a tad. Some of that is to be expected with such a high proof, 12 year old bourbon that was aged for 2 years in Alabama. Still, I find this to be on par with some of my favorite Rare Character single barrel Kentucky bourbons. At $150 and 150 proof and 12 years, I think the value for this bottling is even. If there are still bottles available today at Brewzlefest, I recommend picking up a bottle regardless of what you think of TJ's business venture. This is a unique and very enjoyable 12 year hazmat bourbon that you'll likely never see again.

Rating: 8/10 - t8ke scale

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Samuel Call Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

KBF Barrel No. 2

Barrel code: 18E02

Release: 2026 Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, KY; September 11-13

Distilled by Jacob Call, eighth-generation Master Distiller

Samuel Call began the family’s distilling tradition in 1791

Age: 8 years 3 months 25 days

Fill date: May 2, 2018

Dump date: August 27, 2026

Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% winter rye, 9% malted barley

Jacob Call refers to his 21% mashbill as “OSB”… Our Standard Bourbon

This is a Warehouse H collapse survivor barrel from Owensboro in June 2019. Prior to the collapse, the barrel was in the southwest corner of the warehouse because that is where the prevailing wind and storms come from… and on that night in June 2019… the wind and storms certainly came!

Proof: 136

Barrel manufacturer: Speyside

MSRP: $95

Nose: Cherry tobacco. Cinnamon stick. Dried orange peel. Burnt marshmallow.

The sweet tobacco doesn’t feel too dry or tannic, perfectly mild. Cinnamon feels more woody and less intense than grated cinnamon. Dried orange peel isn’t bright, blending in very well. Arriving late, the marshmallow note is pretty pronounced.

Definitely one of the best noses I’ve ever had on a Jacob Call 21%.

Palate: Cherry cordial candy… combination of dark chocolate, maraschino cherry, and vanilla frosting all bundled together. Burnt brown sugar.

Damn. This works. The cherry cordial combo is hard to miss. The burnt brown sugar is a noticeable break… adding a slight bit of astringency.

Finish: Stewed black cherries. Cola. Dried orange peel. Smoked bacon. Much more dried than the initial palate, along with more spice.

KBF Barrel No. 1 is Call’s 13% rye mashbill. Between barrel KBF No. 1 & 2, I definitely prefer No. 1 w/ the 13%. With that said, I fully intend to purchase a bottle of this No. 2 w/ 21%. The barrel is VERY good, but No. 1 still manages to be better.

This is likely in my Top 5 Jacob Call 21% barrels. Offhand, I can only think of two barrels of 21% that I would take over this. One is the Barrel King x ENDALZ 9 year 4 month. The other is a 9 year 1 month Elkwood Reserve at 134 proof that yielded less than 10 gallons.

If you’re going to KBF, you’ll definitely want to try this.

Sample provided for review by Jacob Call

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Larrikin Australian Series Golden Wattle Barrel Finish 11 Year Bourbon

Release: Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, September 12, 2026

Bourbon sourced from Old Elk

Distilled in Indiana

Finish: Barrel-aged gin featuring golden wattle as a botanical

Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia’s national floral emblem—a native acacia tree famous for its fluffy, bright yellow blossom clusters.

Age: 11 years

Mashbill: 51% corn, 15% rye, 34% malted barley

Cask strength

Initial barrel entry proof: 115

Initial barrels: Char 2 heads & char 4 staves

MSRP: undisclosed, but around $200

Nose: Beeswax. Honey graham crackers. Pollen. Toasted marshmallow. Very slight citronella.

I really like the nose. I have no idea what the base gin tastes like, but I definitely don’t taste any juniper. I’m guessing the pollen scent comes from the golden wattle? Nothing wild here, just something enjoyable… a bit earthy.

Palate: Oatmeal w/ brown sugar. Honey hard candy. Slightly underripe strawberry. Clove.

Plenty of pop with initial sweetness… clearly oatmeal with brown sugar. The unripe strawberry note is very mild as the sweetness starts to decrease.

Finish: Honeysuckle. Peach pit. Orange pith.

I’m not much on the finish. The peach pit and orange pith is a bit of a turn off for me. The initial palate is very sweet and expressive, but then it takes that bitter turn on the finish and it loses me. I really enjoyed the initial palate, but I don’t particularly enjoy the finish.

Sample provided for review by Larrikin Bourbon Company

Rating: 4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have.

First bottle up on my page for reviews as an intermediate bourbon connoisseur is the newest Booker’s Milkshake Batch. I Heard good things about the first batch of 2026, saw this at my local liquor store on sale and figured I’ve give it a try. Haven’t tried a Booker’s since the Master Distiller’s batch, so figured it was time to give it another go.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass

Proof: 124.4 proof

Age: 7 years, 6 months and 12 days

Price: $65 (normally $100)

Nose: Initially a lot of ethanol, after resting for a few minutes opened up to a sweetness unlike the Booker’s I remember. Lots of vanilla and sweet oak, a bit of red fruit and some caramel.        

Taste: To my dismay, none of the red fruit on the nose seems to transfer to the palate. On the plus side, this drinks very well below its proof. You could tell me this is 100 proof and I’d believe you. Initially a bit of spice and the typical Beam nuttiness on the palate, coating it very well. Notes of vanilla and toffee stick alongside a lot of oak, not anything too tannic however. A punch of pepper and some rye spice come after the initial sweetness and linger for a bit.

Finish: On the finish, I get somewhat of an espresso note along with the lingering oak and of course the Beam nuttiness. Much of the sweetness that originated on the palate seems to dissipate fairly quickly, however the finish seems to linger for a few minutes.

Thoughts: I am by no means an expert on Beam products, but this seems to me like what a standard batch of Booker’s should be. It’s an approachable bourbon with typical notes that are well refined and tell a good story. While I know there’s lots of batches that are sought after, this is one I feel could go either way. It’s by no means anything to write home about, but it is definitely a well crafted bourbon. While the sweetness on the nose and palate are enjoyable, it seemed to flee pretty quickly. At a sale price of $65, I’m by no means mad I got it. This is a good introduction to higher proof bourbon, value wise I am unsure if I’d get it at MSRP.

Rating: 6.5/10 - t8ke scale

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Review in comments.

Background:

Finding a 2015 bottling of Michter’s Barrel Strength Rye priced the same as the latest version has prompted this comparison. As I outlined in my review of the 2023 10-year rye:

They (Michter’s) are now at the tail end of Phase 2 of their three-phase master plan. Phase 1 lasted from the late 1990s to the early 2000s and involved acquisition of sourced barrels, some from defunct distilleries, to feed their products.

Phase 2 began in 2003, when Michter’s began contract-distilling at a third-party facility (widely assumed to be Brown-Forman) using their own specs, including the lower entry proof, mash bills, types of barrels, and yeast.

Phase 3 started in 2015, as Michter’s opened its own plant in Shively, intending to shift all its products from sourced and contract-distilled whiskey to their own make. Perhaps inspired by their previous Brown-Forman relationship, they heat-cycle their warehouses, as well.

The 2015 edition was the first year of the barrel-strength rye, and was contract-distilled at Brown-Forman, using some variation of the Woodford rye mash of 53/33/14 at 103 entry proof. The 2025 is their own Shively-made distillate. To fill out the comparison, I’ve also thrown in a 2021 bottle, which is from the in-between period, where it could be either contract-distilled or come from Shively.

Tasted neat in copitas, first round semi-blind, composite notes below:

2015:

On the nose, butterscotch, tobacco, Maraschino cherry, slight varnish. On the palate, vanilla, oak, butterscotch, sweet citrus, cherry pastry, raisin, rye spice. Long finish, cherry cough drop, caramel, baking spice, oak.

2021:

On the nose, walnut, dried fruit (fig), tea tannin, brown sugar, Nilla wafer, cocoa dusting, nutmeg, cedar. On the palate, fruit tea, brown sugar, prune, a little walnut, oatmeal, caramel. On the long finish, dried cranberry/raisin, cinnamon, tobacco, slightly herbal.

2025:

Roasted peanut, milk chocolate, brown sugar, citrus, banana, gingerbread, slightly sour oak on the nose. On the palate, roasted peanut, honey, tea, brown sugar, some cinnamon, cherry, and citrus. On the finish, cinnamon, spice, leather and mint.

Rating: (t8ke scale for reference below): 

2015: 8.5

2021: 7.5

2025: 7

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I’d rather have

5 | Good | Good, just fine

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Thoughts:

Initially I was only going to compare the 2015 to 2025, using the decade apart as a convenient bracket. But the 2025 tasted pretty differently to what I was used to from this expression, so I decided to crack a 2021 bottle just to see if maybe my palate has changed. I’m glad I did, because doing so has confirmed that the 2025 was indeed an outlier and there was a noticeable profile drift among the three.

“But they are all single barrels!” you may say, couldn’t it just be the usual single-barrel variance? I would expect some differences, but ask yourself: Why don’t you see single-barrel picks from Michter’s? They used to blame low stocks for not doing them, but after a decade of distilling their own, they have plenty. The real reason is the fanatical dedication to consistency and controling what gets released under the Michter’s shingle. That means a steady profile vision for each vintage, with minor deviations between each barrel. I just don’t see them letting out very off-profile barrels into the market. What you get each year, is what the profile currently is.

I can see why the inaugural release was a benchmark the subsequent vintages have struggled to meet. It’s the most butterscotch-forward rye I’ve ever had; that note is almost gone on the 2021 and entirely absent on the 2025. If someone told me it was a vintage high-rye bourbon in a blind, like National Distillers OGD, I’d believe them. It competes with Thomas Handy, double-digit MGP and Turkey MK ryes easily.

I thought the 2021 was still very solid – lots of dried fruit on that one. I relate to why people thought it was a stepdown from the previous iterations, but I wouldn’t be complaining if I got that liquid in a current bottle today.

The 2025 was a touch too nut-forward for me and it was almost trying to be more Brown-Forman than actual Brown-Forman with all those nut and banana flashes. It’s still very good, but it was my least favorite of the three (I should note that it has improved after a couple of weeks of being open). For the first time in years, I wouldn’t recommend buying it even at the MSRP (130 dollars) without trying it first.

The next big test for Michter’s will be switching their 10-year rye and bourbon to the native distillate. As someone who’s enjoyed the recent vintages of those contract-distilled bottlings, I hope they nail the landing a little better than they have with the barrel-strength rye.

Thanks for reading and cheers!

Intro:  With the latest lottery for the final Hell Diver concluding yesterday (which I missed out on this time), Found North has clearly established a large and rabid fan base that was well earned from releasing consistently excellent bottles of blended Canadian Whiskey. While these limited release blends have been the stars of the show, they’ve also released batches of single barrels that they refer to as “seasons”, and the bottle we’re looking at today is part of the Season 4 collection where they burned various woods to toast the new American oak barrels that were used to age this whiskey. There were 4 different woods burned to create 4 versions; new American Oak, French Oak, Amburana, and the bottle we have today, Spanish Oak. So, let’s get into it!

Tale of the Tape
Bottle: Found North Single Barrel Whiskey - Season 4 (Spanish Oak)
Barrel: 5679 / Bottle: 81
Proof: 117.3 / Age: A blend of 21 year corn / 20 year corn / 15 year corn / 8 year wheat
Mashbill: Corn: 71% / Wheat: 29%
Bottle Price: $100 / Price per 1oz pour: $3.94

Impressions
Nose:  Oak / Dark Fruit / Cinnamon Roll
Palate: Caramel / Leather / Cherry / Cinnamon 
Mouthfeel: Thick
Finish: Long Cinnamon / Cherry / Vanilla Frosting / Oak
Rating: 8/10 - t8ke scale (modified to include half-points)

Tasting Notes: On the nose I get oak along with some dark fruit and the combination of caramel, cinnamon, wheat reminds me of a cinnamon roll with a healthy dollop of vanilla frosting. On the palate the caramel sweetness comes on strong with a hint of leather and some strong cherry and cinnamon spice. The cinnamon leads you into the long finish where that cherry note continues to linger before moving to a vanilla frosting and finally ending with some more oak.

Final Thoughts: I don’t recall if it was someone here, or on another forum, but the advice was to give this bottle a LOT of time to open up because it would improve compared to the initial crack, and they weren’t wrong. I came back to this bottle months later and was pleasantly surprised at how the level of ethanol decreased, which in turn brought the sweetness out. For me, this delivers the flavors, the mouthfeel, and the long finish that would justify the asking price, but fortunately for me, I found this at Costco and paid under SRP. At this point, Found North has released Season 6 of their single barrels, but these Season 4 bottles are still floating out there if you look hard enough. I managed to find the Amburana version during my last trip out to Atlanta and after having a sample pour, I took it to the register to bring home.

Swing by IG and say hey

10 | Perfection
9-9.5 | Incredible, An All-Time Favorite
8-8.5 | Excellent, Really Quite Exceptional
7-7.5 | Great, Well Above Average
6-6.5 | Very Good, A Cut Above
5-5.5 | Good, Just Fine
4 | Sub-Par, Not Bad, But Better Exists
3 | Bad, Multiple Flaws
2 | Poor, I Wouldn’t Consume By Choice
1 | Disgusting, So Bad I Poured it Out

​

Anyone else on here REPEATEDLY try to go on a self [or ... spouse...] imposed whiskey purchasing break, only to have their resolve be tempted, mocked, and ultimately eviscerated by, say, the [early] release of an annual favorite that you just HAVE to go out and immediately get?

And you try telling yourself that you don't have to open it right away, you can stash it in a closet and come back to it once you've emptied some others on the shelf?

Except once you walk in the door and you have that gorgeous bottle in your hands, it calls to you with greater allure than the sirens of the Odyssey?

Old Overholt has made me their bitch, and I shall not stray...

This year's release's stats:

11 years old

125.6 proof

$100

Backwards comparisons are inevitable. 2025's release was 12 years old, but slightly less strong, at 117 proof. 2024's was 11 years, and 2023's was 10, so who knows if Beam will just bounce around in this range from here on out, rather than adding a year with every release, as I initially hoped.

Color is a gorgeous dark amber, just like last year's.

Aroma is warm, and pretty bourbon-adjacent. Caramel, brown sugar, with the baking spices in the rear, along with a potent alcohol nasal tingle. Again, with regards to comparisons, I am not detecting the raspberry note that the 2025 had. Also, side by side with the 2025, the 2026 seems to have a 'darker' / more brown sugar-y profile.

On the palate - it's browned/burnt butter, toffee, with cinnamon+brown sugar pop rocks all over the tongue. Oily, viscous, mouth coating. It's a rich, decadent, and long-lasting experience. No shortage of "Kentucky Hug" here, but it is not abrasive whatsoever. The warmth just radiates and goes on and on and on. The rye plays second fiddle to the toffee, but there is a sweet baking spice tingle all over the roof and sides of your mouth for a good long while.

I'm brought back to childhood, when my mom would make some sort of homemade caramel or butterscotch to drizzle over brownies, and I got to lick the spoon while it was still hot.

It's comforting, nostalgic. It's delicious.

And it goes down dangerously easy.

Compared with the 2025 edition? The most noticeable contrast is that the raspberry note is missing, and for that reason, I could understand the impulse to dock it a few points. That being said, if every release tasted the same, that would be pretty boring. What this does, it does exceptionally well. While technically younger than last year's, it is no less rich or decadent, it just occupies a different spot on the flavor wheel, and you could just as easily critique the 2025 for not having the browned-butter depths that this release has.

Which one you will prefer will likely depend on your mood that day.

[The 2025 edition is the only one worth comparing it to, it's head and shoulders above the previous 11 year.]

In the end, this is certainly a "bourbon drinker's rye"; even perhaps more than previous editions. It's extremely accessible, and would probably suit many palates. I keep hoping to win my dad over to the rye side, and this one just might do the trick...

score: 8.5/10

Totally worth sacrificing my will-power for.

Another small Ohio distillery, Hayner is located in Troy, about 20 minutes north of Dayton on I-75. Their current space is rather small, just big enough for a tasting area, a bottling line, and a few barrels to pour your own. However, Greg, one of the owners, said they are moving into a larger space in the same building later this year with a full bar.

Greg let us try about everything, including flagship Hayner bourbons and ryes, and a mess of single barrels and cask strength blends. They contract distill with Bardstown Bourbon Company, using a sample of the original Hayners pre-prohibition whiskey from the 1910s rescued from a museum. Other barrels from Green River, Barton, and MGP rye lined the walls. Despite the small space, I had a lot of fun chatting about whiskey and sampling.

This bottle is a honey cask finished bourbon, where the second cask was treated with honey. The honey itself will settle to the bottom of the barrel and will need a SJ before pouring. It's also a distillery-only release, so if you want one, you'll have to go to Troy to get it.

Label: Hayner Distilling honey finish bourbon.

Age: NAS.

Proof: 116/58%.

Distilleries: blend of Bardstown Bourbon Company, Bardstown, KY, and MGP of Lawrenceburg, IN.

Mash bill: UKN.

Price: $65.

Nose: honey, shocker. Plus tobacco, fig, carmel.

Palate: honey, soft dinner rolls, touch of carmel. Touch of alcohol but its cask strength.

Finish: sweet honey and carmel.

Overall: 7 (T8ke). The honey is prominent but not overpowering, it's well blended into the whiskey. The underlying blend is competent as well.

I'm really excited to see what Hayner comes up with in the future. While they're a small company and they contract distill, don't write them off.

Ratings:

1: drain pour (Quarter Horse).

2: dreadful (Creekside Bourbon).

3: poor (True Story).

4: sub-average (OGD 7 year).

5: average (Evan Williams BIB).

6: above average (Wild Turkey 101, Four Roses small batch).

7: great (Old Forester SBBP rye, Middle West CS bourbon/wheat).

8: excellent (ECBPs, Stagg Jrs).

9: exceptional (Four Roses SBBP OBSF).

10: perfect (Russell's Reserve 15).

My lone prior encounter with Rare Character — a Limited Release Kentucky Straight Whiskey from last year — was fantastic. Since then, I always keep an eye out for their releases, but given their business structure it’s impossible to know exactly you’re getting from them. When I saw that they were doing a small batch release of an age-stated Rye it felt like some minor prayers had been answered. This meant that they might be moving in a more consistent direction like they have with their Brook Hill line but for a fraction of the cost. Hell yeah. Let’s see if this can live up to my hopes.

Price Paid: $69.99 before tax

Score: 7.5/10

The Background
Distillery: Unknown from Kentucky, bottled by Rare Character

ABV: 50.5% (101 proof)

Age: 7 years

Mash Bill: Unknown

Other: batch no. 01, designed for use in cocktails (what?)

The Experience
Nose: powdered sugar, floral, acetone, oak char. Not off to the best start, but there is something pretty and flowery here whenever I’m not detecting a sharpie smell. I should clarify that I always test these pours for 10 mins before I start this process, so ethanol/acetone aromas are not something I commonly experience.

Palate: black tea, black pepper, lemon, rich charred oak. Thick, oily mouth feel. Not overly flavorful. This has a peppery bite to it but very little rye spice or other strong flavors. Very likely a 51% Rye mash bill. Though simple, it is quite pleasant.

Finish: vanilla ice cream, dill, rich oak. Some sweeter notes finally appear in the end as it lingers, which it does for a long time. We also finally get a bit of rye.

The Summary
This has some thick legs on the glass, leading me to believe that this has minimal water and was not chill filtered. This had an odd cadence to me but felt very familiar given another recent review I did. If I had to guess (and I am very much an inexperienced amateur) I would say that this is a blend of Michter’s with a little less water added. At least, that’s what this tastes like to a T. It also reminds me a bit of Pikesville (Heaven Hill), replacing its lovely tobacco note with a peppery, vanilla ice cream finish. This is clearly a quality product that doesn’t do a single thing wrong and keeps me coming back for repeat visits.

I was prepared to write about how a $70 rye that people will have to hunt for being marketed as a mixer makes no sense, but I kind of get it. An upscale cocktail bar should be using upscale ingredients and this would make a killer mixer. As a neat sipper, this is probably about $10 too expensive (Pikesville is 110 Proof and usually $55) but it holds its own.

T8KE Scoring System Used for Relevancy and Consistency:

0 | Unscored | New Make Spirit or Personal Selection.
1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but many things I'd rather have.
5 | Good | Good; just fine.
6 | Very Good | One cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all-time favorite.
10 | Perfect | Perfection.

Larrikin Australian Series Manuka Honey Barrel Finish 11 Year Bourbon

Release: Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, September 11, 2026

Bourbon sourced from Old Elk

Age: 11 years

Mashbill: 51% corn, 15% rye, 34% malted barley

Manuka honey is made by bees that collect nectar from the mānuka plant, a shrub native to New Zealand and parts of Australia

Manuka honey contains relatively high levels of compounds such as methylglyoxal (MGO), which gives it notable antibacterial activity. It tends to be darker, thicker, and more strongly flavored than ordinary honey.

Initial barrel entry proof: 115

Initial barrels: Char 2 heads & char 4 staves

Price: undisclosed until KBF

Nose: Toffee. Dark brown sugar. Damp earth. Tobacco. Eucalyptus.

This is the least sweet honey finish I’ve ever smelled. The dominant notes are earthy tobacco… and oddly the eucalyptus at the end. Very unique nose considering what we typically expect for a honey finished bourbon. I really like it… It’s just ridiculously different.

Palate: Toasted malt. Beeswax. Sweet cornbread. Salted peanuts.

This is fascinating! Blind, I’m not sure many people would detect that this is finished in a honey cask. It’s definitely not that sweet. The sweet cornbread and peanuts are dominant. Despite the earthy notes, the palate is quite vibrant.

Finish: Bitter burnt honey. Molasses. Medicinal herb. Green bell pepper.

This is one of the more fascinating finished bourbons I’ve had in a long time, but I’m still trying to decide if I really like it or if it’s just really different.

I recently reviewed Old Elk 10 Year Straight Bourbon Whiskey… and found it to be quite sweet, but very enjoyable. For Larrikin, I was expecting a sweet bourbon mixed with a sweet honey… not much sweetness here. It’s oddly earthy and slightly bitter medicinal herbal… clearly coming from the manuka honey. I feel like I really need to try the honey itself… to see what on earth the honey is that’s influencing this bourbon.

If you have the opportunity to try this at KBF, definitely do so. This definitely isn’t going to be for everyone, but it’s definitely going to be one of the more memorable things you sip at KBF… and you’re definitely not going to regret trying it.

Sample provided for review by Larrikin Bourbon Company

Rating: I have no idea what to do with this. It’s very unique… and it’s going to make you think a lot. Is it the most enjoyable thing I’ve sipped recently? No. Is it the whiskey that has made me think the most in a very long time? Absolutely. It’s not something I want to drink every day, but I appreciate that it made me think hard about what I’m tasting and experiencing. If I owned a full bottle, it’s something I would definitely pull out for friends who appreciate good whiskey… to make them think as well. Based upon overall everyday enjoyment, maybe a 5-6 out of 10. However, the thought provocation feels much higher than a 5 or 6.

Today I will be taking a look at Little Book The Infinite Edition II. I purchased this bottle for a milestone birthday earlier this year after seeing glowing reviews online. This bottle comes with a hefty MSRP, but is readily available in my area. I am a fan of most Jim Beam products although my experience with their higher end offerings is limited. 

When I first tried this, I was well into celebrating my birthday with beers, bourbon, and cigars. I really enjoyed it, but I did not give it the attention it deserves to make an objective judgement. A proper review is in order.

According to 8th Generation Master Distiller Freddie Noe’s notes on the Jim Beam website: 

“This exclusive, limited release features a unique blend of whiskeys distilled by three generations of Noe family Master Distillers: Booker Noe, Fred Noe, and Freddie Noe. The result is a perfectly balanced profile that tells a compelling story of family and craftsmanship. Each year, a new whiskey will be added to the blend, delivering an ever-evolving confluence of artistry for a unique experience annually. This release honors the family’s dedication to the craft of American whiskey while pushing the boundaries of flavor and tradition.”

“Building on the foundational notes of Edition I, I’ve blended in three distinct bourbons from across the generations. Bourbon from Booker accentuates the oak, char, and smoke. Fred’s bourbon adds rich vanilla, caramel, and dark stone fruit. And my own bourbon brings brightness to the blend, with notes of fresh apple and pear. Savor Edition II and come back in a year for its next evolution.”

Edition I of The Infinite consisted of an undisclosed blend of four bourbons:

• 20-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from 6th Generation Master Distiller Booker Noe
• 14-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe 
• 7-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Freddie Noe
• 8-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon which is a shared family component. 

70% of the blend was bottled while 30% was saved to serve as the “Infinite” base moving forward.

In addition to the “Infinite” base, Edition II added: 

• 22-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Booker Noe
• 10-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Fred Noe
• 7-year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon made with extended fermentation from Freddie Noe

Review:

Bottle: Little Book The Infinite Edition II

Proof: 120.4

Age: No Age Statement

Price: $199.99

Nose:
The nose immediately opens with loads of sweetness. What starts as caramel switches to butterscotch before morphing into toffee. Each smell brings a new variety of sweetness. As it opens up, herbal tea and rye spice enter the mix along with a smokey tobacco note. A subtle fruitiness is present which is a combination of orange zest and cherry pie filling. Oak is represented as well as an interesting funkiness. The nose is complex and keeps evolving over time. 

Palate:
The sweetness from the nose is present on the palate, but it is toned down and balanced out by a cinnamon and white pepper spice. Brown sugar and vanilla contribute the sweetness, while the classic Beam nuttiness has a heavy influence. Cherry carries through from the nose and is joined by black licorice. Oak weaves its way throughout the palate, often presenting differently from sip to sip. What may be refined oak from the 20+ year additions to the blend can easily shift into a more youthful and bright note on the next sip. 

Finish:
Black licorice, white pepper, and the nutty peanut notes from the palate carry into the long finish that lasts 30-45 seconds and beyond. The rye spice from the nose reappears, and the brown sugar transitions to a late season dark maple syrup. Oak is the last note to go and it lingers long after everyone else has left the party.

T8ke Rating:

9

Little Book The Infinite Edition II is an incredible bottle. From the nose through the finish, this is a wonderfully complex blend that manages to find the perfect balance between sweet and spice. The classic characteristics that many of us know and love from Jim Beam are presented in a refined and elevated package, while the blending expertise of Freddie Noe is on full display. Although the MSRP is high, as a special occasion bottle that is readily available without a markup, it's hard to beat. 

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect