See how light this shit is? That will very often mean it is too young or tastes harsh. INCORRECT on this account for a damn interesting reason.
0 Comments
Want to hear one of the craziest stories I'm aware of in the Whiskey World that ends in an amazing product? Hold on to your butts.
"MEN WHO BELIEVED IN FREEDOM AND GOOD BOOZE WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES, FORGING THE BEDROCK OF THIS REPUBLIC, AND IN DOING SO, CREATED A NEW SPECIES OF MAN: THE AMERICAN. AMERICANS CONQUERED THE WESTERN FRONTIER. MEN OF PISS AND VINEGAR WHO TAMED THE WILD, BATTLED THE ELEMENTS, AND ESTABLISHED THE FIRST AMERICAN SALOONS. IT’S IN THIS FINE TRADITION THAT MEMBERS OF THE VETERAN COMMUNITY PRESENT TO YOU: LEADSLINGERS’ WHISKEY." Leadslingers Whiskey Web Page
Cooper's remains one of the only major distilleries that governs their process from start to finish. The name comes from the profession of raising and creating their own barrels, and in that function, they serve other distilleries, providing thousands of barrels a year.
Since 1945 they've been refining the coopering craft, passing the master craftsmanship that eventually lends whiskey half of its flavor and all of its color to the next generation of barrel raisers. Cooper's Craft Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a weird one. While sensible in price (I got it for less than 23 bucks in TN) it's intensely different flavors depend on how you take your drink. I always do a test in all these reviews room temp and neat, as well as with ice, and occasionally (if it's a liqueur type whiskey) from a chilled bottle. Cooper's surprised me in a couple ways. We all know and love it. Even if you've never had it (hard to believe) you know what it is. You at least know someone that doesn't just "like" it. They love it. And if you're the one weirdo in the room unfamiliar, I'll learn ya somethin' about it.
Bernheim Wheat Whiskey is a product of Heaven Hill Distillery (read: Larceny, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, etc.), and its claim to fame is being the only new truly different variety of whiskey since Prohibition. And it’s fantastic. It has an incredibly light and bright taste, making drinking this almost dangerously easy. Being a “Straight Whiskey,” it meets the criteria of bourbon; 2 years in a new charred-oak barrel, barreled at 160 proof (80% Alc/Vol), with no coloring or blending agents in the process. The difference is, instead of the mandatory 51% corn requirement in what is legally allowed to be called “Bourbon,” Bernheim Wheat Whiskey uses 51% Soft Winter Wheat. Further, Bernheim is a “Small Batch” (which to Heaven Hill means, 100 or less barrels dumped), and all whiskey used is aged no less than 7 years, granting the ability to proudly display their 7 year age statement on every bottle in a day and age that age statements are getting rare.
Blanton’s is very special for several reasons. I love a whiskey with a cool story, some unique trait, or attached to a great personal memory, and Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon hits every mark for me in a lot of ways. This will be somewhat of a personal tale, so if you just want the tasting notes, I’ll highlight them beneath all my gushy expository.
Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is one of those bourbons that has a lot going for it. It has great taste, great quality, good price, and an interesting story.
Alright, to start off, I’m not a huge fan of Rye being the main flavor in whiskey. All whiskies are not equal to me, and the mash has a lot to do with that personal preference. My bottle of Crown Royal Rye, in this case, was a gift from someone who picked it up thinking it was the regular Canadian Whisky and was “disgusted” when he tasted it. Realizing his mistake (in his opinion) he gave it to me saying it’d just sit in his cupboard. So again, bias out of the way, I prefer, in this order per the mash, Wheat, Corn, Barley, Rye. I love them all, but love some more. Just like your parents if you have siblings, it’s only natural preference. By the way, if you don’t believe your parents have a favorite, you ain’t it.
Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a product of the Stitzel-Weller Distillery. It is the only whiskey I know of that uses the Solera Method of blending, which is to say, it takes from their oldest stock of whiskey to constantly refresh and refill newer stock, never taking enough to empty the older barrels, to ensure the oldest of their whiskies are infused in every new barrel. This process, usually reserved for wine, also ensures their flavor profile never changes down the line of production.
|