Nose: Granny Smith apples | Pear | Caramel corn | Floral with an herbal undertone

Palate: Mouth-warming cinnamon spice | Green apple | Baking spices | Caramel chews | Grainy undertone with a crisp delivery of flavors

Finish: Cinnamon spice overflows from the palate | Summer fruit | Grassy note | Medium length with floral undertones

First introduced in 2018, Cask Strength Four Grain batches are released on an ongoing basis and available year-round. At two years old, the bourbon offers a pleasant array of flavors but still shows its age. Its herbal underpinnings are the most prominent, with apple and pear notes mingling in. The bourbon’s 110.2 proofpoint allows for the richness of flavor to carry through, and it goes down quite easily which might be due to the combination of both wheat and rye in the mashbill. While it is a pleasant sip, I think additional aging would round out some of the grain and herbal notes allowing for heavier caramel and fruit flavors to come forward.

The Bootleg Series is an annual release by Heaven’s Door Spirits. For the 2020 release aptly labeled Volume 2, the company chose to finish a 15 year straight bourbon in used Jamaciain rum pot still casks that had previously held rum for 30 years. Each of the less than 3,000 bottles is adorned with Bob Dylan’s painting, Sunset, Monument Valley. The end result is a whiskey that is heavily influenced by the barrels it was finished in. This rum influence carries throughout the entire sip with it being extra notable in the palate. The rum finish helps soften the age of the whiskey, allowing it to highlight more of the sweeter notes versus drier oak and earthy notes you’re sometimes apt to see in a 15 year old bourbon. While the price tag is exorbitant for a rum finished bourbon, even one that utilizes older finishing casks than you typically see, lovers of rum barrel finished whiskeys will be delighted with the resulting pour.

Nose: Rich caramel | Vanilla extract | Aged oak | Black cherry | Cola | Excellent

Palate: Rich black cherry | Black raspberries | Plum | Thick vanilla | Charred oak | Rich & robust

Finish: Black cherry | Vanilla bean maple syrup | Aged, slightly tannic oak | Touch of leather | Dash of pepper

There continues to be a wealth of 13 year old bourbon available on the market and here is yet another. Blue Run is following their own 13 Year Bourbon release with a series of ten 13.5 year old single barrels. Barrel #5 continues the high point of their previous release set, impressing with a 130 proof black cherry bomb.

On the back of a traditional bourbon flavor profile of vanilla, caramel, and oak, Barrel #5 greatly intensifies the flavors. Where their previous release sought elegance and layers of depth, Barrel’s #5’s impressive 130 proof is potently robust. Its vanilla, caramel, and oak notes make an impact and are joined by a dark cherry component, forming a cask strength bourbon that gets so much right. Its price and availability will most likely be a thorn in anyone’s side looking for a bottle, but at least in this case, the bourbon backs up the cost (and work involved) in obtaining one.

Nose: Apricot | Pear | Peach | Faint rye spice | Wafts of floral scents | Quite light overall

Palate: Light plum & cherry | Mild baking spice | Fruity & approachable

Finish: Bold rye spice | Cinnamon | Light barrel char | Fleeting mint

S.N. Pike's Magnolia Whiskey is a forgotten Cincinnati brand that was lost to time. Revived by Columbus, Ohio resident Ed Carey, a retired real estate agent and bourbon fan, he partnered with Noble Cut Distillery to help make it happen. Sourced from an undisclosed distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, gives the whiskey a familiar feeling, yet its fruit-forward and not-too-sweet flavor profile works in tandem with the brand’s refreshed marketing aesthetics. Leaning hard into approachability, the whiskey is light but very drinkable thanks to its summer and stone fruit flavor profile. With a burst of rye spice on the finish, the whiskey works. It may not try to challenge you, but works well and is an easy going sipper.

Nose: Burnt oak | Toasted grain | Fresh cracked wheat | Baked bananas | Fresh corn | Intriguing light scents with a touch of smoke

Palate: Summer peaches | Toffee | Toasted oak | Vanilla | White peppercorn | Light caramel | Banana Souffle | Light but well balanced

Finish: White peppercorn | Peaches in vanilla cream sauce | Light oak and leather | Flash of sweet cinnamon  

S.N. Pike’s Magnolia originally acted as a rectifier starting in 1849 in Cincinnati. E.B. Carey has revived the name with the goal being “to act in the Samuel Pike tradition as a rectifier seeking out and blending special quality bourbon and whiskey.” For their first wheated bourbon, the brand strikes a middle ground delivering a sip that’s full of nuanced flavors yet is on the lighter side. While it would be nice to see this bottled at about 10 proof points higher, the bourbon delivers easy sipping flavors that will please wheated and non-wheated bourbon drinkers alike.

S.N. Pike’s Magnolia Wheated Bourbon Batch 01 is a limited run of just 6,000 bottles.

Nose: Aged oak | Clove | Baked bread | Roasted malt | Bananas Foster | Light rye spice | Faint hints of tequila | Unique scent combination with clear barrel finishing influence

Palate: Heavy malt | Faint vanilla | Rye spice | Dabs of brown sugar | Oak | Light tequila notes interwoven in | Densely packed flavors

Finish: Rye spice | Malted barley | Oak | Baking chocolate | Cigar box | Lingering heat | Earthy

Chattanooga Whiskey is known for their willingness to push the envelope of what it means to distill and age whiskey. Aging a high malt bourbon for 3 years and finishing it in rare Extra-Anejo Tequila barrels for 7 months isn’t a common occurrence. It’s rightfully part of the distillery's Experimental Single Batch Series, as the three barrels that made up this release provide a tasting experience that is equally as unique. Even though this whiskey spent a total of just over 3.5 years in barrels, you would think it was more based on the sip. And what a sip it is. It will challenge even the most experienced whiskey drinker due to the amount of scents and flavors this packs in. If you’re a fan of unique barrel finished bourbons, this is one to try to track down.

Nose: Green Jolly Rancher | Granny Smith apples | Peach | Pepper | Mild cinnamon |

Palate: Caramel popcorn | Candy corn | Cinnamon bark |

Finish: Rye spice | Burnt popcorn | Toasted grain | Cocoa powder

‍Wheel Horse Rye Batch 1 made an impression on us at first because of its $28 price point. It certainly helped get its foot in the door, but was welcomed to stay thanks to its pleasing straightforward flavors and pure drinkability. Surprisingly, Wheel Horse Batch 3 isn’t the carbon copy as you’d might expect.

Out of the gate, Batch 3's aroma is steller thanks to its sweet apple scents contrasted by pepper and cinnamon. It’s followed by a palate that isn’t overly flashy but enjoyable due to a combination of caramel popcorn and candy corn. The finish is the oddball here, bordering on unique and even strange. Traditional rye spice goes up against toasted and burnt notes that might be polarizing to many. It’s not a dealbreaker but poses more of a challenge than Batch 1. Creeping into the $30 range still makes Wheel Horse Rye a great deal, but departing that magic $28 price point hurts a little. Both Wheel Horse Rye and Bourbon continue to leave their mark and my interest in them continues.

Nose: Light fruit punch | Fresh grain | Vanilla | Corn | Intriguing youthful & prominent vegetative notes

Palate: Light vanilla | Oak | Cream of wheat | Brown sugar | Dab of rye spice | Noticeably thin watery mouthfeel

Finish: Sweet vanilla | Flash of white peppercorn | Traces of caramel | Light rye spice | Short

Wonderland Spirits based out of Muskegon, Michigan, describes their spirits as being crafted from the desire to embrace the splendor of these great lands and surrounding seas, and created for those who want to live a life untethered. According to the company, Wonderland Blend of Straight Whiskeys is “a custom blend of local whiskeys from hand-selected barrels – 100 percent Michigan rye and Michigan wheat whiskeys, combined with 100% corn bourbon whiskey, aged separately and small batch blended” at the company's Muskegon distillery. While the sip opens with an interesting nose, the palate and finish are noticeably thin and short. The overall sip isn’t necessarily bad, however the choice of the company to bottle this blend of whiskeys at 84 proof clearly has a pronounced impact. I can see people from Michigan appreciating the backstory, however as a general sipping whiskey, this falls short.

Nose: Rye spice | Peppered oak | Corn | Sweet vanilla | Cereal grain | Surprisingly lighter scents for the proof

Palate: Toasted brown sugar | Summer fruit cocktail | Light syrup | Rye spice | Green peppercorn| | Touch of vanilla | Good mouthfeel with a nice balance of sweet and spice

Finish: Rye spice | Light oak | Touch of leather | Sweet vanilla | Light heat | Pleasing way to end the sip

Wonderland Blend of Straight Whiskeys Cask Strength is a blend of three “100 percent grained whiskeys including 100 percent Michigan rye and Michigan wheat whiskeys, combined with 100% corn bourbon whiskey, aged separately and small batch blended” at the company's Muskegon distillery. While this is the same process that the standard edition follows, the two share few other similarities. Whereas the standard edition’s palate is lacking due to a majority of the sip being thin and short, the cask strength edition thankfully corrects course for the brand. A bold spice weaves throughout and is blanched out by vanilla and other sweet notes throughout the sip. Skip the standard edition altogether and start with this cask strength edition if you’re curious about the brand, as you’ll be pleasantly surprised  by the resulting sip. You can read more in the company’s press release.

Nose: Caramel cream candy | Mixed nuts with dried fruit | Forest moss | Charred oak

Palate: Dried raspberries | Light toasted coconut | Sugar cookie | Toasted oak | Faint clove | Cereal grain

Finish: Brown Sugar | Toasted almonds | Thick oak | Mild tannins | Hint of lemon

I’ve been admittedly hard on the previous four batches of Larceny Barrel Proof. While still receiving high marks with its robust pour, they were never as dynamic as I thought they could be. Batch B521 goes a long way towards correcting this, forgoing much of the typical brown sugar, rich vanilla, mild cinnamon, and heavy oak found in many barrel proof bourbons and certainly the previous four batches of Larceny Barrel Proof. Sure there are remnants of those flavors here, but they take a backseat to much more interesting flavors not found in the previous editions. Now there will be debate about how effective these new flavors are and how well they work with one another, but the pieces are starting to fall in place. There’s no denying the promising new direction this whiskey is headed as Heaven Hill continues to fine-tune this diamond in the rough barrel proof bourbon.

Nose: Creamy malt | Baking spice | Rye spice | Warm vanilla | Light oak | Inviting

Palate: Sweet cream | Rye spice | Vanilla | Light summer fruits | Hint of dry leather | Wonderful oily mouthfeel that delivers a silky sip

Finish: Rye spice | Light sweet vanilla | Oak | Leather | White peppercorn | Nicely balanced end to the sip

To say this is a unique whiskey would be a major understatement. In order to create Three Chambers Rye, Leopold Bros. re-engineered a Three Chamber Still from old manuscripts that they found. The family-owned distillery grew the heritage grain Abruzzi rye that was favored by pre-Prohibition distilleries to bring back to life a style of whiskey that hadn’t been seen in decades. The end result is a whiskey that delivers at every part of the sip.

The word I keep coming back to with this Bottled in Bond rye is balanced. For a whiskey that was barreled in the fall of 2016 , not a hint of youth is present. Instead the sip presents a wonderful mixture of rye spice and sweet creamy flavors, that makes it hard to put down the glass. It needs to be noted that the asking price is incredibly high, however the price of admission is justified in this case. While the initial run of Three Chambers Rye produced was only 5,280 bottles, I very much look forward to seeing where the company is able to take this rye in the future.

Nose: Rye spice | Sweet corn | Muted vanilla | Fresh oak | Light peach crumble | Youthful sweet and spice notes | Nice opening to the sip

Palate: Muted vanilla | Light caramel | White peppercorn | Faint summer fruits | Light overall

Finish: Rye spice | White peppercorn | Light oak and leather | Surprising amount of lingering heat

Based out of Denver, Colorado, Mythology’s philosophy is that “we each form our own Mythology through travel, connecting with others and our experiences.” The company blends several different whiskeys, each labeled with a different man and animal on front in the theme of the company encouraging everyone to “discover your spirit animal.” The company's Hell Bear Whiskey is a blend of straight rye and straight bourbons that each bring forth a distinct mashbill to the blend.

The first thing to catch the eye is the light color of the whiskey, reminiscent of many American malts. The sip opens with a very appealing nose that draws you in, however this is also where the whiskey peaks. The flavors present in the palate and finish are pleasing, however they come across as a tad muted and light. The end result is that you're left wanting just a bit more every time you have a sip.

The bottle being reviewed is #26630

Nose: Fresh baked donuts | Honeycomb cereal | Light caramel | Cherry cola | Pine

Palate: Cinnamon | Cornbread | Vanilla | Caramel | Faintly herbal

Finish: Rye spice | Amaretto | Mild oak | Medium length

Founded by three Colorado natives that “seek out experiences through travel and adventure,” Mythology Distillery is based on the stories that happen in life. The company’s Best Friend Bourbon in particular highlights the bond a man and a dog share and the special moments they experience.

Using a blend of three different mashbills that range from 2-15 years definitely has the potential to create something special. Surprisingly, Mythology Best Friend Bourbon is fairly straightforward considering its parts. Its sweet palate goes down quite easy and is contrasted by a spicy finish, but I still wished for more. Instead what I got was a more traditional style bourbon that is approachable and reliable, just like man’s best friend. 10% of proceeds from all bottles sold out of the company’s taproom will be donated to Mountain Pet Rescue.

Nose: Toasted walnuts | Dark maple syrup | Barrel char

Palate: Walnut | Vanilla | Light maple | Earthy | Slightly buttery mouthfeel

Finish: Chocolate ganache | Hints of fruit medley | Nutty aftertaste

This is the second walnut influenced bourbon I’ve tasted this year and I’ve found that the flavors work surprisingly well with one another. The complexity and heaviness of the walnut flavors works well in conjunction with bourbon’s vanilla and oak base. The dark and rich flavors are quite pleasing to sip on, especially as an after-dinner drink.

Cooper’s Daughter Spirits, located in New York’s lush Hudson Valley, is a woman-owned and family-operated distillery that sources their ingredients locally. Interestingly, they also have their own cooperage on site. So when they print “Farm to Cask” on their label, it's more than a marketing slogan. While they are a working distillery, they don’t focus on promoting their base spirits and instead highlight their unique finishing and fusions: Lilac Liquor, Rhubarb & Honey Vodka, Thai Basil Liqueur, and Smoke Maple Bourbon.

My one caveat of Cooper’s Daughter Bourbon Finished in Black Walnut Syrup Barrels would be its proof. A higher proof would certainly ramp up its boldness, but from what I can gather, that is not the company’s M.O. Because their flavor medleys are so out of the ordinary, featuring them a touch lighter allows their spirits to be more palatable and act as more of a gentle sipper. I certainly get that, as Cooper’s Daughter Bourbon Finished in Black Walnut Syrup Barrels is exactly that.

Nose: Toasted nut | Wasabi | Toasted oak | Coconut | Very interesting

Palate: Rush of rye spice | Roasted nuts | Barrel char | Rich caramel | Toasted oak | Big flavor

Finish: Warming rye spice | Caramel chews | Graham cracker | Light grain | Pipe tobacco

Located in Denver, Colorado, Mile High Spirits is a company that states, “We take our spirits seriously, but not ourselves.” Distilled in a German copper still and then aged in Denver, the Single Barrel is a unique taste of the company’s bourbon at barrel proof. What the bourbon lacks in refinement, it makes up for in waves of intrigue. It’s a complex pour with loads of flavor that will have you chewing on every sip. At $50, it’s an easy recommendation and one that has me thirsting for more as I am sure each single barrel offers something a bit different than the last.