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Bardstown Raises the Bar Significantly with Release Number Four of its Discovery series. Video Review Transcription: Say hello to Bardstown Discovery Series 4. Released in 2020 this bottle is a blend of three bourbons from Kentucky and carries a rather impressive 115 proof statement. But what set’s this bottle apart from other premium bottles on the market is the ages of the three Kentucky bourbons used in this blend. Discovery series 4 is composed of 55% 13 year-old barrels, 37% 15 year-old barrels, and 8% 10 year-old barrels. That means on paper Discovery Series 4 is a 115 proof 12.5 year-old Kentucky bourbon. That pretty much sounds like a bourbon lovers wet dream, at least until you see it’s $130 price tag. Luckily what’s in the bottle is as just as impressive as what’s on the label. From nose to finish this a robust and complex bourbon with primary notes of sweet oak, caramel, chocolate, baking spices, and an array of secondary notes that you could spend hours trying to nail down. As a whole Bardstown Discovery Series 4 is one of the best bourbon experiences you can have at any price point. Out of the 379 miles that span the great state of Kentucky, I’d be willing walk every single mile to find another bottle at its suggested retail price of $129.99. In fact, I’m going to end this review right now and go pick-up another bottle while I still can. Thank you for checking out this review. Cheers all. Final Score: 379 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (One of a kind of bourbon)

Old Forester 1870, 1897, 1910 and 1920 reviewed and ranked to help guide your purchasing decision. About Old Forester's Whiskey Row The Whiskey Row series was originally launched in 2014 by Old Forester to provide a premium bourbon experience that represent it's 150 year-old distilling lineage. Each expression's taste profile is unique and developed to highlight a key moment in Old Forester's history. There are four bottles that make up the Whisky Row Series: Old Forester 1870 "Original Batch" Old Forester 1897 "Bottled-in-Bond" Old Forester 1910 "Old Fine Whiskey" Old Forester 1920 "Prohibition Style Whiskey" Like many premium offerings from other prominent distillers, you can expect to pay a little more for one of these bottles, and some are easier to find than others. To help you decide what bottle to hunt down first, we decided to do a side-by-side tasting of each bottle to see how they compare. To make sure we did our homework thoroughly, we conducted three tastings over a two week period. Below is everything we think you need to know about each Whiskey Row expression and how they compare to one another. Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Availability: Widely Available Brand Owner: Brown-Forman Category: Mid/Top Shelf Released: 2014 Age: Non-Age-Stated Proof: 90 MSRP: $44.99 1870 Tasting Notes Nose: Notes of caramel, brown sugar, charred oak, and rye spice are the most dominate. There's a surprising amount of heat that's noticeable. Palate: Mouthfeel is on the thin to light side. Notes of Oak, caramel, and rye are the most prominent and blend together nicely. Subtle floral notes make their presence felt in the mid palate. Finish: Oak and rye are dominate followed by notes of baking spice. There's a short and subtle warmth to this bottle that almost feels gentle in it's approach. Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Availability: Widely Available Brand Owner: Brown-Forman Category: Mid/Top Shelf Released: 2015 Age: Minmum 4 Years Proof: 100 MSRP: $49.99 1897 Tasting Notes Nose: Notes of sweet caramel, apple, rye, and oak are noticeable right out of the glass. Overall it's a pleasant and sweet experience. Palate: Nice mouthfeel. Robust notes of caramel, sweet oak, and vanilla move from the front to back palate. Dark fruit notes round things out nicely. Finish: This is a bottle that leaves you with a warm glow after each sip. Notes of caramel and rye wash over you to provide an experience that's both sweet and spicy. Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whiskey Availability: Moderate Availability Brand Owner: Brown-Forman Category: Mid/Top Shelf Released: 2018 Age: Non-Age-Stated Proof: 93 MSRP: $54.99 1910 Tasting Notes Nose: Notes of Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, oak, and a little smokiness jumps out of the glass. The notes combine together to create a sweet BBQ-ish note. The experience is eyebrow raising, in the best way possible. Palate: A creamy smooth mouthfeel greets you right away. Followed by pronounced notes of vanilla, burnt caramel, and sweet oak in the front pallet. Notes of cherry and smoked wood round the experience out. Finish: Sweet oak, smoked wood char, and brown sugar round out the experience with a healthy amount of warmth. It's a unique bourbon experience that leaves a lingering impression. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Availability: Widely Available Brand Owner: Brown-Forman Category: Mid/Top Shelf Released: 2015 Age: Non-Age-Stated Proof: 115 MSRP: $59.99 1920 Tasting Notes Nose: Notes of dark fruit and wood spice hit first. Followed by burnt caramel and subtle hints of rye. A little heat is noticeable but it helps bring everything together to provide a memorable experience. Palate: This is a bourbon that knows how to make a statement. It's mouthfeel is oily and coats your mouth with strong notes of dark fruit, burnt caramel, and wood spice. There's a wide range of secondary notes that provide a complex and unique experience that's somehow balanced and very enjoyable. Finish: The oily nature of this bourbon provides a long lasting experience that's full of sweet dark fruit, brown sugar, and wood spice. Its 115 proof shines through, providing a complex array of secondary notes that linger for just the right amount of time after each sip. Whiskey Row Bottle Rankings If there's one thing we've learned during this comparison review, it's that Old Forester's Whiskey Row delivers on providing a premium bourbon experience. If we were to head to the store today and could only buy one of these bottles, here's how we'd prioritize our purchasing decision. #1 - 1910 Old Fine Whiskey Final Thoughts: 1910 arguably provides the the most unique taste profile in the Whiskey Row series. It has a unique sweet smokiness to it that's unlike any other bourbon we've reviewed at BRBNRY. If you're someone who enjoys whiskeys with a thick and creamy mouthful and unique taste profiles, this is the bottle for you. Value: Old Forester 1910's suggested retail price of $54.99 is a great value for such a high quality and unique bourbon experience. #2 - 1920 Prohibition Style Final Thoughts: 1920 Prohibition Style is the boldest and most complex of the Whiskey Row series. If you're someone who likes to sit down and spend time dissecting the nuances of good bourbon, it's hard to go wrong with this bottle. Value: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is a great value at its suggested MSRP of $59.99. It's a high proof bourbon that delivers a unique and complex experience with bold tasting notes. #3 - 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Final Thoughts: Out of all the Whiskey Row bottles 1897 Bottled-in-Bond surprised us the most during this comparison review. Its tasting notes are robust and full, it has a great mouthfeel, and provides a memorable finish. If you're a fan of Old Forester's standard bourbon offerings don't pass up this bottle. Value: At $49.99 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond is a good buy and may even deserve "sleeper" status among the Whiskey Row series. #4 - 1870 Original Batch Final Thoughts: Old Forester 1870 Original has what most folks would describe as a traditional bourbon taste profile. Of the four Whiskey Row expressions, it's the lowest proof, has the lightest mouthfeel, and has the shortest finish. Value: At a suggested retail price of $44.99, it's hard to say 1870 is a good value for a premium offering from Old Forester. It's by no means a bad bottle, it just doesn't stand compared to it's Whiskey Row siblings.

A Searchable Reference Guide of Minimum Prices for more than 700 Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys. Trying to Find actual MSRP prices for bourbon and rye whiskeys can be painful. Online retail prices have been on a 5 year trip to the moon, secondary prices are beyond bloated, and not every state enforces state minimum prices. Luckily there are several states that provide regularly updated state minimum pricing for bourbon and rye whiskeys (among other spirits). They're usually buried on a state government website which often means they aren't that easiest to find for quick reference. With this in mind, we decided to create an easily searchable database for what we consider to be fair market prices for more than 700 bourbon and rye whiskeys. Our list includes the most common suggested market price based on comparing state minimum prices from multiple states. Please keep in mind that state minimum prices typically vary from state-to-state, so what you see in our reference guide maybe a little more or less than what you find in your state. Because this is a beta version of the BRBNRY Price Guide, please know that it maybe a little buggy from a user experience standpoint. Click the icon below to head to the BRBNRY Price Guide. You can also access it through the main menu bar.

The last release of Woodford's Masters Collection from 2020 is a true masterpiece. About Woodford's Master's Collection Each year Woodford releases two expressions as part of the Masters Collection, a batch proof expression with a traditional bourbon taste profile, and an "experimental" bourbon expression with a unique taste profile. Both releases are limited and are only offered for the year they are released. Very Fine Rare Bourbon is Woodford's "experimental" release of the 2020 Masters Collection. Bottle Info & Vitals Availability: Very Rare Brand Owner: Brown-Forman Category: Top Shelf Type: 2020 Limited Release Age: Not-Age-Stated, but 17 year barrels are used Proof: 90.4 MSRP: $129.99 Fair Market Price: $199.99 Tasting Notes Nose: Notes of cherry, vanilla, sweet oak, and malted rye flow out of the glass. There's almost no noticeable heat. Notes are robust and full to the point that your mouth starts to water almost immediately. Palate: Mouthfeel is smooth and oily. Notes of sweet oak, vanilla, and malted rye hit up front. Followed by dark fruit, brown sugar, and malted chocolate in the mid to back palate. A little wood spice is present but it's pleasantly mild. Overall, its a unique and compelling experience. Finish: Smooth with the gentlest of Kentucky hugs. Notes of sweet oak and brown sugar persist with hints of malted chocolate. This is a hard bottle to put down. Final Thoughts Over the years bourbon enthusiasts who haven't enjoyed the Master's Collection's "experimental" releases due to their non-traditional taste profiles, finally have a release that should sooth their pallets. According to Woodford Reserve, they used 17-year-old barrels to create the blend for Very Fine Rare Bourbon, which helps to explain it's more traditional based bourbon taste profile. But it also has notes of malt and chocolate that feel like they were extracted directly from 2019's Master's Collection release Malted Chocolate Rye. For all intense of purposes Very Fine Rare Bourbon is an oak forward experience, but it cascades across dominate notes of caramel, vanilla, and subtle notes of malted rye and chocolate. It's a well balanced and memorable experience. "Over the years bourbon enthusiasts who haven't enjoyed the Master's Collection's "experimental" releases due to their non-traditional taste profiles, finally have a release that should sooth their pallets." Woodford Reserve now has a crown jewel for its Master's Collection with this bottle. Very Fine Rare Bourbon is one of the best limited releases from any major distiller in recent memory (that I can think of at least). It's $130 price tag is steep, but well worth it due to it's uniqueness, traditional bourbon profile, and overall quality. A fair market price is around $200, but I wouldn't recommend going much higher than that. Good luck hunting. Final Score: 357 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (One of a Kind of bourbon experience) Woodford Reserve Very Rare Fine Bourbon Photo Gallery

Lux Row Distillers' Old Ezra 7 Year is an outstanding example of substance and style. Tasting Notes Nose: Caramel, dark cherry, and oak forward. Sweet notes of Caramel and cherry are the most dominate. There's a good amount of heat, but it's not distracting. Overall, the nose is like an unexpected long hard kiss. It'll make you blush and smile a little sheepishly. Palate: Silky smooth mouthfeel. Tasting notes are sharp and complex but balanced. Notes of sweet corn, caramel, and cherry rush from the front to the back of your palate. It's a great overall experience. Finish: A sweet Kentucky hug that's full of cinnamon and oak spice. You feel it's warmth long after each sip. This is a bourbon that wants to slow dance with you long into the night. Bottle Info & Vitals Availability: Moderate to Rare Brand Owner: Luxco / Lux Row Distillers Category: Top Shelf Type: Barrel Strength Age: 7 Years Proof: 117 MSRP: $39.99 Fair Market Price: $59.99 Final Thoughts: First let me say that Old Ezra 7 Year is one of the very best looking bottles on the market today. Pictures simply don't do it justice, its label design is just flat out gorgeous. Obviously none of this matters if the juice in the bottle isn't any good. Luckily Old Ezra 7 Year is a fantastic bourbon experience. More on that in a minute. Bourbon offerings from Lux Row Distillers typically don't generate a lot of attention in the bourbon community, outside of say their limited release Blood Oath series. Old Ezra 7 Year is slowly starting to change that. In 2019 Whiskey Advocate named it to their prestigious top 20 whiskeys of year, ironically coming in at number 7 on the list. Ever since then Older Ezra 7 Year has been a bottle most enthusiasts keep an eye out for. After spending some time with this bottle, it's easy to see why Whiskey Advocate shined some much deserved light on Old Ezra 7 Year. It's an intense and robust traditional bourbon experience that rushes over you with a sweet taste profile. Its 117 proof comes through a little stronger than some folks might like, but I find that it adds to the overall robustness of this bourbon. If you're someone who loves traditional bourbon taste profiles, and appreciates a premium high proofed whiskey experience, Old Ezra 7 Year has it all in spades. One problem regarding this bottle is that pricing can be all over the place. With that in mind, we think paying anything under $60 is fair price, but wouldn't recommend paying much more beyond that for a bottle. Final Rating: 279 out of 379 Kentucky Miles ( Great experience from nose to finish ) Old Ezra 7 Year Photo Gallery

A guide to help answer common questions surrounding Buffalo Trace's core allocated bourbons. A Quick Note This guide is intended for folks who are just starting their bourbon journey, or the dedicated Jim Beam fan who's secretly Buffalo Trace curious. If you're a seasoned bourbon enthusiast, you're probably not going to learn anything you don't already know. Just being honest with you. The Mash Bills Buffalo Trace Distillery uses three mash bills (recipes) to produce its entire bourbon portfolio. They famously do not disclose the full ingredients of their mash bills, but they do provide information on which mash bill is used for each bourbon they produce. Here's how the three mash bills breakdown: Mash Bill #1: Low Rye Mash Bill #2: High Rye Wheated Mash: Replaces rye grains with wheat Knowing what mash bill is used in Buffalo Trace's bourbons can help you navigate its portfolio more efficiently. This is important because a majority of their bourbon's can be hard, if not impossible to find. Knowing what mash bill you prefer will help focus your efforts and hopefully save you some time and money. The Allocation Affect: It's no secret that Buffalo Trace Distillery produces some of the most sought after bottles on the market today. Almost every bourbon in their portfolio is allocated. This means a majority of Buffalo Trace's bourbons are released in controlled quantities to ensure they're distributed more broadly across the country. In theory allocation is suppose to help ensure that more bottles get into more hands of consumers. But extreme demand for Buffalo Trace's most sought after bourbons means they often sellout within hours of hitting store shelves. When demand is up and supply is down, stores can charge more money for bottles if state-minimum-prices aren't enforced in their state. So how is someone suppose to navigate availability and know what's a fair market price to pay for a bottle? That's where this buyers guide comes in. Below is a list of Buffalo Trace's core bourbon portfolio, the rarity of each bottle, it's market suggested retail price (MSRP), and our recommendation for a fair market price (FMP) for each bottle. Ancient Age Kentucky Straight Bourbon Availability: Very Common Category: Bottom Shelf Mash Bill: Mash Bill #2 MSRP: $10.99 for 750 ML FMP: $10.99 Overall Value: Dollar-for-dollar Ancient age is one of the best value bourbons on the market under $20. Ancient doesn't carry an age statement and it's only 80 proof, but it comes from same mash bill (#2) as Blanton's and Rockhill Farms. Two of Buffalo Trace's most desirable bottles of bourbon. Its sweet and amble rye spice notes will surprise you. Our recommendation would be to splurge and spend $14 for a one liter bottle (as scene above) instead @10.99 for a 750 ML bottle. This is a bottle worth picking up based on its low price point and overall quality alone. If it's not your cup of tea, it makes a great Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Ancient doesn't carry an age statement and it's only 80 proof, but it comes from same mash bill (#2) as Blanton's and Rockhill Farms. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Availability: Moderate Category: Mid to Top Shelf Mash Bill: Mash Bill #1 MSRP: $25.99 FMP: $25.99 to $34.99 Overall Value: Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon is 90 proof and non-age stated, but rumored to use barrels between 4 to 6 years old. You'd probably expect that this bottle would need to be pretty damn good to carry the Buffalo Trace name, and you'd be right. Its caramel forward taste profile is a legit crowd pleaser. Bottles of Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon tend to sell quickly, but restock often. If you're persistent you'll find a bottle. Pricing is where things can get murky with this bottle. At its suggested retail price of under $26, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a great value. But we've seen online retail prices as high $50, which is a steep price to pay for any non-age stated straight bourbon. The most we'd recommend paying for bottle of Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon is $35. Eagle Rare 10 Year Availability: Rare to Moderate Category: Mid to Top Shelf Mash Bill: Mash Bill #1 MSRP: $31.99 FMP: $31.99 to $39.99 Overall Value: Eagle Rare is a 90 proof 10-year-old straight Kentucky bourbon. It's currently one of only a select few bottles in Buffalo Trace's core allocated bourbon portfolio to carry an age statement. Eagle Rare isn't the easiest bottle to find, but it does restock often enough that it's realistically obtainable. Finding a bottle will require a legit amount of persistence, but it's worth the hunt for the right price. At its suggested retail price of under $32, Eagle Rare provides a great traditional bourbon experience. It's 10 year age statement really shines through. Online retail prices can reach as high as $70 a bottle, which is honestly a little absurd. Any price under $40 is a great value for a bottle of Eagle Rare. Eagle Rare isn't the easiest bottle to find, but it does restock often enough that it's realistically obtainable. Weller Special Reserve Availability: Rare to Moderate Category: Mid Shelf Mash Bill: Wheated Mash Bill MSRP: $22.99 FMP: $22.99 to $34.99 Overall Value: Weller Special Reserve is a 90 proof wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace, and it's the entry point for the vaunted Weller line-up. Special Reserve is a solid bourbon with prominent notes of vanilla, caramel, and sweet fruit. The biggest challenge with Weller Special Reserve is its availability and pricing. Over the last several years any bottle with the name "Weller" on it typically sells out immediately. In states where minimum state prices aren't enforced, bottles of Weller Special Reserve can go for as much as $70 a bottle. As good as Weller Special Reserve is, it's not $70 good. We'd recommend trying a bottle of Larceny or Wyoming Small Batch Bourbon before significantly over paying for Weller Special Reserve. If neither of those bottles knock your socks off, don't expect Weller Special Reserve to be much better. Weller Antique 107 Availability: Rare to Moderate Category: Mid to Top Shelf Mash Bill: Wheated Mash Bill MSRP: $49.99 FMP: $49.99 to $69.99 Overall Value: Weller Antique 107, as the name suggests, is a 107 proof wheated bourbon from Buffalo Trace. Its popularity is partially due to the fact that some bourbon enthusiasts believe it's a close sibling to one of the most popular bourbon's in the world, Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year. Buffalo Trace has never openly confirmed or denied if there's any relationship between the two bourbons. Weller Antique 107 is a robust and flavorful bourbon that has a fruit and vanilla forward taste profile. If you aren't a fan of higher proof whiskeys, approach this bourbon slowly by adding a little water or ice to get acclimated to it. If you're lucky enough to find a bottle sitting on a shelf, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 to $80 a bottle. Online retail prices range between an alarming $100 to $180 or more. In our opinion Weller Antique 107 is a good value at $70 or less. EH Taylor Small Batch Availability: Rare Category: Top Shelf Mash Bill: Mash Bill # 1 MSRP: $38.99 FMP: $38.99 to $69.99 Overall Value: EH Taylor Small Batch is bottled-in-bond bourbon and carries a 100 proof statement. Although it's not age stated, it's bottled-in-bond status means it's at least 4 years. Fan's of EH Taylor Small Batch love it for its unique butterscotch and caramel forward taste profile. Unfortunately EH Taylor Small Batch can be one of the hardest bottles to get your hands on. While it's regularly released throughout the year, it doesn't seem to be released in large quantities like Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon or Weller Special Reserve. In the wild you can expect to pay anywhere from $40 to $125 a bottle. Of all the Buffalo Trace bourbons in this guide, EH Taylor Small Batch is probably our favorite. But even with that in mind, we believe there's a point of diminishing returns. In our opinion a fair market value for EH Taylor Small Batch is between $40 and $70. Fan's of EH Taylor Small Batch love it for its unique butterscotch and caramel forward taste profile. Stagg Jr. Availability: Limited Edition, Very Rare Category: Top Shelf Mash Bill: Mash Bill # 1 MSRP: $46.99 FMP: $46.99 to $89.99 Overall Value: Stagg Jr. is a beast of a bourbon. While it's proof statement varies from batch-to-batch, it generally exceeds 125. If you don't have much experience with high proof whiskeys, this isn't a bottle we'd recommend cutting your teeth on. For example Batch 15 (pictured above), which was released at the end of 2020, carries a proof statement of 131.1. That's a tall later to climb for even the most seasoned of bourbon enthusiasts. With that being said, if you're someone who enjoys an intense and robust whiskey experience, it doesn't get much better than Stagg. Buffalo Trace typically releases Stagg Jr. twice a year. Each batch is rumored to be between 8 and 9 years old. The best way to find a bottle is to search the internet for release dates and then start monitoring your local liquor stores politely and religiously. The suggested retail price of Stagg Jr. is less than $50, but don't be surprised if you see prices as high as $100 a bottle. If you decide to purchase from an online retailer, you can expect to pay between $150 to $250 a bottle. Because the quality of Stagg Jr. varies from batch to batch, we'd recommend paying between $50 and $90 no matter how you choose to buy. The best way to find a bottle [of Stagg Jr.] is to search the internet for release dates and then start monitoring your local stores. Blanton's Single Barrel Availability: Very Rare Category: Top Shelf Mash Bill: Mash Bill #2 MSRP: $54.99 FMP: $54.99 to $79.99 Overall Value: Blanton's is a 93 proof single barrel bourbon rumored to be between 6 to 8 years old. If you ask just about any bourbon hunter which Buffalo Trace product is at the top of their wish list, it's Blanton's Single Barrel. If you've never had Blanton's before and wondering what all the hype is about, here's a simple way to think about it. For the better part of 20 years Blanton's was pretty much one of the only bottles of bourbon you'd buy for special occasions or recommend to someone who wasn't a "bourbon drinker". As bourbon has exploded in popularity over the past 5 to 7 years, Blanton's continued to be one of the most talked about bottles to get your hands on. Which essentially perpetuated Blanton's popularity to ridiculous heights. Blanton's pretty much drops year round and is technically obtainable for that reason. The issue is that most stores only receive a case or two and avid bourbon hunters are usually waiting in long lines on shipment days to pick them up. It's not uncommon for Blanton's in my area (NE Ohio) to sellout within minutes of being available. For state's that don't enforce state minimum-prices, a bottle of Blanton's Single Barrel typically starts around $90, but MSRP is $54.99. Online prices of Blanton's range from $150 to $250 a bottle. In our opinion a fair price to pay for a bottle of Blanton's is between $55 and $80. If you ask just about any bourbon hunter which Buffalo Trace product is at the top of their wish list, it's Blanton's Single Barrel. Before We Go Good luck on your bourbon journey and let us know on our Facebook page if this guide was helpful or... if it just wasn't. Either way we'd love to hear your thoughts and stories about hunting these bottles down.

The last 2020 batch of Stagg Jr. is a near perfect swan song from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Tasting Notes Nose: Notes of caramel, cherry, sweet oak, and vanilla dance out of the glass full of pomp and circumstance. There's a fair amount of heat at first, but if you let the glass sit for a few minutes, it evens itself out nicely. Overall an amazing experience. Palate: The mouthfeel is pleasantly full and thick. Rich and robust notes of cherry and vanilla grab your attention right away. Followed closely by notes of sweet oak and rye in the mid-to-back palate. Overall an outstanding traditional bourbon taste profile. Finish: Dark fruit notes and oak spice lead to a warm and soothing Kentucky hug. Each sip is memorable and long lasting. Availability & Price At a suggested retail price of under $50 it's hard to think of a better dollar-for-dollar bourbon experience than Batch 15. That's if you can find it. First released in December of 2020, bottles are still available but they're hard to find. Most folks have to resort to Facebook groups or online retail sites to purchase a bottle of Stagg Jr Batch 15. In those spaces prices usually range between $150 to $250 a bottle. So what's the price point of diminishing returns for a bottle of Stagg Jr. Batch 15? Personally speaking, I'd say $90 would be the highest I'd be willing to pay for another bottle of Batch 15, and that would only be through a reputable online retailer. With Wild Turkey's Rare Breed, Old Forrest's 1920, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof all easier to find and at better price points, I think paying above $90 for a bottle of Batch 15 feels a little irresponsible. Final Thoughts Stagg Jr. Batch 15 isn't for the faint of heart. Its 131.1 proof statement might be too much to handle for the unacquainted. But if you're patient and spend some time getting acclimated to this absolute beast of a bourbon, its beauty shines through. It provides a stunning bourbon experience that's full of robust and rich tasting notes from noise to finish. If you're lucky enough to find a bottle of Batch 15 at its suggest MSRP of under $50, there isn't a better dollar-for-dollar "high proof" bourbon on the market right now (that we've reviewed at least). If you can handle the 131.1 proof statement, Batch 15 is a near perfect traditional bourbon experience from Buffalo Trace. "If you're patient and spend some time getting acclimated to this absolute beast of a bourbon, its beauty shines through." Final Score: 355 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (A remarkable bourbon experience) Stagg Jr. Batch 15 Photo Gallery

New Riff leverages a unique mash bill to create a truly one of a kind bourbon experience. A little background on this bottle before we get to the tasting notes. New Riff currently offers two "Malster" bottles in its portfolio, Malted Rye and Malted Wheat. Both expressions are produced using unique mash bills based on recipes from the New Riff Distilling team's background in craft beer brewing. The mash bill for the Malted Wheat version of Malster is unlike anything I've ever seen before: 65% Corn 18% Bohemian Floor Malted Wheat 10% Unmalted Wheat 7% Dark Wheat Don't let all the various wheat grains intimidate you. I don't know what they are either. Just know that If you like "wheated" bourbons, New Riff probably had you in mind when they put this mash bill together. Tasting Notes: Nose: Oak and grain forward, with light notes of caramel and vanilla. There's a fair amount of heat and a minty note that creeps in and out of the glass. Palate: The mouthfeel is full and creamy. It has a light and airy texture to it, but it's not thin by any means. Notes of oak and caramel hit up front but fade quickly to more dominate notes of mint and chocolate in the mid to back palate. Finish: This is a bourbon that coats your entire mouth and packs a surprising amount of spice. Notes of oak and cocoa quickly develop into a minty spice that lingers long after each sip. This is a bottle that punches above its 100 proof statement. The mash bill for the Malted Wheat version of Malster is unlike anything I've ever seen before... Final Thoughts There's a lot to like about New Riff's Malster Malted Wheat. It has a unique mash bill, carries a reasonable MSRP of $49.99, and it's bottled-in-bond. According to New Riff Malster Malted Wheat carries a minimum age statement of at least five years. Which is one more year than legally required by the Bottled-in-Bond act. So, what's not to like? The answer to that question comes down to personal taste. Malster Malted Wheat is without question a high quality bourbon. If you're fan of New Riff Distillery or enjoy quality whiskeys with unique taste profiles, Malster Malted Wheat is a great buy at its suggested retail price of $50. It provides a unique tasting experience but most importantly it still tastes a like a New Riff bourbon. Unfortunately for me, I'm just not a fan of "minty" notes in bourbon or rye whiskeys. I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on this bottle, but the next time I see Malster Malted Wheat sitting on the shelf, I'll leave it for someone else to enjoy. Final Score: 191 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (Reasonably priced, high-quality bourbon) New Riff Malster with Malted Wheat Photo Gallery

One of Heaven Hill's most anticipated limited releases makes its 2021 debut. Tasting Notes Nose: Robust vanilla, cheery, and caramel notes make their presence known immediately. Followed by soft orange zest that comes through a little spicy. Palate: Caramel and dark fruit notes dominate the front palate. The mid palate is oak forward followed by hints of cocoa. The back palate is a blend of oak and orange zest. Finish: Great mouthfeel, thick and chewy. Orange zest notes from the back palate turn into a slightly dry peppery oak experience in the finish. It has a warm long Kentucky hug that'll make just about anyone blush. Final Thoughts Batch A121 is the first release of Elijah Craig's Barrel Proof expressions for 2021. It clocks in at 123.6 proof, which is actually low based on previous releases, but don't let that fool you. Batch A121 provides the robust tasting notes and great overall experience I've come to expect from this annual limited release series. This is the first Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch I've had where dark fruits, orange zest, and dry oak are dominate in both the palate and finish. They come together to provide a slightly sweet, but zesty and peppery experience. It's a rather odd pairing of tasting notes for sure, but some how it all works. I found myself appreciating this bottle more and more after each pour. Batch A121 provides robust tasting notes and a great overall experience. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof retails for around $70. At that price point batch A121 is a great value for Heaven Hill fans and anyone who enjoys the experience of an intense high proofed bourbon. In my opinion the first 2021 release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a little unexpected but a sign of great things to come from Heaven Hill this year. It's well worth the hunt and adding to your bar or collection. Final Score: 250 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (Unexpected but great experience overall ) Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A121 Photo Gallery

Barrel Craft Spirits brings the exclusivity of store and private barrels picks to its portfolio in stunning fashion. Blend A40i Tasting Notes Nose: Robust notes of nutmeg, chocolate, and caramel rush out of the glass. Soft charred oak rounds things out. There's minimal heat, but spice from the nutmeg tickles your nose. It's a great overall experience. Palate: Pronounced notes of caramel, brown sugar, and chocolate make themselves known in the front and mid palate. The back palate is full of nutmeg and sweet oak. Each note blends together to create an outstanding and unique flavor profile. Finish: Each sip coats your mouth with creamy notes of nutmeg, caramel, and oak. Light chocolate notes linger on the tall end of each sip, before cinnamon spice slow dances its way to a long and memorable "Kentucky hug". The Barrell Bourbon Private Release Story Barrell Craft Spirits is a non-distiller producer and doesn't distill their own whiskey, which mean they can't technically offer private single barrel selects to stores, organizations, or states. So instead they decided to produce 49 unique barrel strength blends and offer them through a private release program. Each blend is limited to between 150 and 180 bottles. It's honestly a genius move on their part. Barrell Craft Spirits already producers some of the best bourbon and rye whiskey blends in the world, and with their PrivateRelease program they're playing to all of their strengths. Selecting and blending bourbon barrels to produce world class bourbon. The good news doesn't stop there. All 49 of the Private Release blends include age statements and the percentages of every barrel that goes into each bottling. Barrell Craft Spirits is putting it all out there and letting the chips fall where they may. Amen to that. All 49 of Barrell's private release blends include age statements and the percentages of every barrel that goes into each bottle. Final Thoughts Private Release blend A40i is a fantastic bourbon. It's dominate chocolaty caramel and nutmeg spice notes are well balanced and unique, but still maintain a bourbon taste profile. It's mouth feel is excellent and it has a memorable finish. Barrell Private Release bottles retail for $110 and in my opinion that's money well spent. With that being said, all 49 blends are different and chances are you won't be able to find blend A40i by the time you've read this review. Luckily Barrell Craft Spirits provides tasting notes and age statements for each blend on its website. Even if you don't plan on buying a bottle, it's a lot of fun to just nerd out on all of the information they provide. Click here to view Barrell's full Private Release blends and where they can be found. I hope the bourbon industry is taking note of what Barrell is doing with it's Private Release program. They're providing consumers with what they want, exclusive and unique bourbons with information about the barrels that go into each bottle. Not a lot folks in the bourbon industry seem to be willing to do that anymore. If the other 48 Private Release blends resemble the quality of blend A40i, Barrell is about to make a lot of people happy. Final Score: 284 out of 379 Kentucky Miles (Outstanding bourbon and worth the price of admission) Barrell Private Release Blend A40i Photo Gallery

The fourth edition of Booker's Little Book is a true family affair. Tasting Notes Nose: Buttery caramel and sweet oak pour out of the glass. Followed by notes of butterscotch and a vanilla. Heat is present, but nicely balances the experience as a whole. Palate: Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Buttery caramel and toasted oak hit first, followed by floral and vanilla in the mid palate. Brown sugar and rye spice dominate the back palate. What's really impressive is how the tasting notes flow flawlessly together. Finish: Floral notes carry over to the finish along with notes of burnt caramel and sweet oak. Rye spice brings things home. The whole experience reminds me of when someone hugs you a little too hard, but you kind of like it. Final Thoughts This was my first Little Book experience and I had zero expectations walking into it. I didn't read any reviews about Chapter 04 "Lesson's Honored" before hand, and I didn't ask any of my friends about it. Why did I want to go into this review with a blank slate? Simply put, I'm just tired of being disappointed by expensive limited release bottles. Little Book Chapter 04 "Lessons Learned" retails for $124.99, but that's not what I paid for my bottle. All of my local liquor stores sold out within 4 hours of its release. That doesn't mean that this bottle is any good, it just means hardcore whiskey taters in my area bought it up like toilet paper during the beginning of the pandemic. I purchased my bottle of Little Book Chapter 04 from a trusted online retailer and paid $199 excluding shipping, taxes, and other ridiculous fees. That's a significant mark-up but I'd been saving up for this bottle and took the financial hit. For those who don't know, Little Book is a limited annual release from Jim Beam Distillery that features personally selected whiskeys by Master Distiller Freddie Noe. Each release has a story behind it, and pays homage the Noe family's legacy of distilling whiskey. Little Book Chapter 04 "Lessons Learned" features three straight whiskeys selected by Freddie Noe to honor his father, Fred Noe: 4 year old bourbon made with brown rice 8 year old “high-rye” straight rye 7 year old straight bourbon To illustrate just how deep Freddie Noe went with the meaning behind this bottle, he choose blue as the color of its tag (pictured below) because it's the color of his father's beloved Kentucky Wildcats. Why did I want to go into this review with a blank slate? Simply put, I'm just tired of being disappointed by expensive limited release bottles. I'm a sucker for a good story and Little Book Chapter 04 "Lessons Learned" is an absolute page turner. It's a hard bottle to put down. I'm about half way through "Lessons Learned" and I feel like I'm just getting to know this whiskey. I'm taking my time though and appreciating each pour. I know once this bottle is gone the chances of me finding another one at a reasonable price point are almost nonexistent. At its suggested retail price of $124.99 Little Book Chapter 04 "Lessons Learned" is an outstanding whiskey experience. Once you starting hitting prices above $160 though, I'd recommend looking for a bottle of Bookers Bourbon instead. Final Score: 288 out 379 Kentucky Miles (Outstanding whiskey experience) Little Book Chapter 04 "Lessons" Learned Photo Gallery

All is fair in love and bourbon. The Story Woodford Reserve Double Oaked (WRDO) was the first bourbon that really got its hooks into me. It was the first bourbon that made me think bourbon could be special! So today, it gets a Valentine. Love gives and takes, but bourbon is just a rental. WRDO, I love our talks, the hours of quiet conversation, how you help me stop and gather the pieces of my mind. I drink and the bourbon whispers, “Go for it” Woodford Reserve Double Oaked smirks and says, “Risk is the price you pay for opportunities...to drink bourbon!” Woodford Reserve Double Oaked says, “Just sit with me here. Tell me what you need!” Do you need to laugh? Do you need to cry? Do you need to think? Yes- do those things with bourbon. When my working day is done, and the house is quiet, sometimes there is bourbon and it is there for me. Happy Valentines Day Bourbon, and to all of you out there in Bourbon World. Love gives and takes, but bourbon is just a rental. WRDO, I love our talks, the hours of quiet conversation, how you help me stop and gather the pieces of my mind. Review It‘s oaked and delicious. My first tip for drinking this beloved WRDO, is to let it breathe a bit before you judge it. If you crowd WRDO it just won’t open up to you. Also, I've found the more time you spend with this bottle, the more you learn to appreciate it. And the good news is, you don't need to worry about bringing WRDO home to drink with the family. It‘s composed, complex, and has the poise to never embarrass you. Tasting Notes Nose: A fair amount of heat is present. It's an oaky experience out of the glass. Palate: By the 6th sip and after 30 minutes to open to the air, you get sweet dark fruit notes, full of brown sugar and Oak. Finish: The WRDO finish is world class. The memory of barrel wood lingers on the tongue and then slowly fades. Final Score: 248 out of 379 Kentucky Miles ( a great bourbon experience ) Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Photo Gallery