[CDATA[ amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_enable_interest_ads = "true"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "modernthirstc-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "auto"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "a605ff51e1453cfa02de68c264fd03bc"; amzn_assoc_emphasize_categories = "284507"; amzn_assoc_fallback_mode = {"type":"search","value":"Whiskey"}; amzn_assoc_default_category = "All"; // ]]> Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. Larceny is a bourbon produced by the Heaven Hill distillery made from a mash bill that is 20 percent wheat. If I tasted this flight again, theres a very good chance Id have different results. #4 barrel char. Both mash bills are utilized for this bottling. Russells Reserve has been hitting my sweet spot of late, and many, including myself, thought this would definitely be in the running. This whiskey is also BIB and is bottled at 50% ABV. Our tester found that the 12-year is a little rough around the edges neat it is meant to be an affordable bourbon, after all but dropping in an ice cube really opens up its sweet wheat side. Lots of rye spices mingle with sweet vanilla on the palate here. The spice gets a little peppery as a final cut if citrus arrives to help the end slowly fade out. The whiskey is NAS, but is believed to be four to eight years old. This is such a dynamic whiskey, Minnick says. Drink it in a highball or mix up old fashioneds for a few months. Yes, aging and blending can have a big impact on taste. Get This Headphone Stand, Complete Guide to Buying Boots This Season, You've Never Heard of 2022's Most-Awarded Whiskey, Tasting WhistlePig's New 21-Year-Old Single Malt, The Best New Whiskey Releases of 2023 (So Far), Psst, Pappy Van Winkle Is Doubling Production, How to Build Your Own Bottle of Whiskey Online, Is Fireball Whiskey? This year, as I did last year, I solicited nominations from Bourbon Pursuit listeners, who are an engaged bourbon consumer base that understand what everyday truly means. Neither is particularly better than the other. It was a great taste but will never pay that much for it again. Buy as much as you can as this price isnt going to last. A store near me does private barrel selections of OWA and they are outstanding. brands are now allocated and outside of the consumer's reach. Theyve also led the way in transparency. Its estimated that there are over 3,500 historic brands of bourbon in the United States. According to their story, back in the day, John E. Fitzgerald used his privilege of holding the keys to Pappy Van Winkles bonded warehouse, where the Old Fitzgerald bourbons were kept, to steal the best casks for himself. I drink so much Makers with BBQ, he says. Old Forester with darker banana, apple, and cherry, while Buffalo Trace with brighter, vibrant, and tropical peach, cherry, and pineapple. On the nose, Larceny is sweet, offering fruit notes of peach and apricot along with candied citrus zest, and cinnamon. Mouth: Caramel, black tea, vanilla, clove and cinnamon. Pick up *several* bottles of 46 Cask Strength! It's a whisky I could drink any time and not get bored with and the 92 proof makes it a prime candidate for cocktails. Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml is a rich and bold red wine sourced from the best vineyards across California. Evan William's Black Label is hard to beat for the money. Old Forester packs a banana note that I thought could dominate the competition if I happened to be in a banana mood. Makers Mark could double their price and people would still buy it by the case. Am looking forward to trying some of the others you listed. This juice is hand-selected to be small batched to match a six-year-old age profile. The titular old grand-dad here is the one and only Basil Hayden. The mash bill here, made entirely of non-GMO grains, is 65 percent corn, 30 percent rye and 5 percent malted barley. Age statement in the double digits for $40 or less? If you come across its charged, barrel-proof older sibling, be sure to pick up a bottle, too.. From your daily sipper to the best bottle to bring to a party, here are the best bourbons to drink in 2023. Bourbon drinkers who enjoy spice and dark fruit will be fans of this release. 2020 ModernThirst. But I worried its subtleties could get lost in a deep field, which this was. I didnt find this note, however, and it failed to impress in the field. (Read the recap.). But I spent last season working the phones and visiting many stores, and I will not do that again. On the palate, the whiskey is smooth and sweet, with vanilla and caramel and a little dried fruit. After 20 years, they, too, begin to deteriorate- and they do it quickly. Yes, Ancient Age is the same mash bill, barrel, and barrel proof as Blantons. With no effort and normal market prices, I can have Makers, Larceny, and OWA. 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Really young wheat whiskey(4-5 years and younger)can be harsh and almost astringent, while rye-based bourbons tend to have a spicy characteristic that offsets that at a younger age. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond won the taste for Best Everyday Bourbon. Perhaps thats why it was in the running to win it all. Each of its releases makes clear what went into it distillery location, whiskey age, proof, etc. I W Harper Kentucky Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey, NAS, 41% ABV, is based on a mash bill of 73% corn, 18% rye and 9% malted barley. Basil Haydens is a well-crafted bourbon thats pulled from specific barrels, blended, cut down to proof, and small-batch bottled under the watchful eyes of Jim Beams masters. So, I added it. The juice is the same stuff that goes into Woodford, although this entry is blended with different barrels for an end product thats a great, basic bourbon at a great price. Similar to the straight version, it is smoother, with a little more citrus on the nose and palate and a little dried peach on the finish. Average Price: $26. This was a single release of only 2,500 bottles. Very Old Barton, owned by the Sazerac Company, is produced in Bardstown, Kentucky. It is 115 proof and reminiscent of the style of bourbon distilled by the brand during the prohibition era. Ninety-nine percent of Dickel products are officially Tennessee Whisky, not bourbon. Theres a clear taste of the honey, vanilla, and toffee carrying the sip towards a very subdued spice and oak. Today we tasted Larceny and Old Forester, watch and see which one we liked best Egg nog spices kick this sip off. At $30 per bottle, this is another excellent value for a classic bourbon. This Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey bears no age statement and is bottled at 90 proof. The finish is long, honey sweet, with cinnamon and maple syrup notes. This bourbon may benefit from some airtime. I drink bourbon. Average Price: $90. Minnick has a unique use for one of bourbons classic names. This is a BETA experience. #4 barrel char. First released in 2021, Dickel 8-Year Bourbon is the company's first official foray into bourbon whiskey, and it's a value-driven powerhouse. The finish is rich and powerful, with classic bourbon notes of sweet caramel, dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper, with a slight but persistent bitter note on the end. Distillery: Old Forester (Brown-Forman) City: Louisville, KY Style: Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey ABV: 46.5% (93 proof) Availability: Limited, 375 ml bottles, $50 MSRP Jim Vorel is a. The finish is medium length, sweet and spicy, with notes of dried stone fruit, vanilla and caramel, along with spice notes of nutmeg, clove and allspice. Average Price: $40. The 15 YO, and possibly the NAS version, are distilled at the Bernheim distillery, now owned by Heaven Hill, and matured in the Stitzel-Weller warehouses in Shively, Kentucky. It's a robust whiskey that pulls off the wheated softness without becoming weak and spineless. Larceny is 45% alcohol by volume, whereas Maker's Mark has 45%. As the bourbon opens up, rye spice emerges along with a pronounced alcohol burn. Elijah Craig Small Batch is layered in vanilla and often so soft on the palate. After about 7 years, they start becoming nice sips. While Eagle Rare made it through the nomination stage, when it come to buy at the retailer, Westport Whiskey & Wine did not have it. Here we go.. Look, I know Jack says Tennessee whiskey on the label, but theres an argument made for it being bourbon. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Weller Antique 107 Blanton's Henry McKenna 10 Year Noah's Mill 1. ABV: 45.2% Subscribe to his YouTube Channel to watch his Best American Whiskey taste off December 20. But it was not in the cards. Larceny is based on a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley. Flavor Profile: Sweet There are a variety of Very Old Barton bourbons on the market including an 80 proof, an 86 proof and a 90 proof. Single Barrel: A bourbon made using single barrels, providing a higher range of variation in flavor and the chance at specific, unique characteristics. But its so much cheaper that who cares? And in Division Two we have Old Forester Signature 100 proof up against Wild Turkey 101. Weve highlighted that time and again. Elmer T Lee (Wish it was still as easy to find as it was a few years ago) 2. Now, thanks to rising whiskey prices and a consistently strong product, the brand shortened to OGD by fans has a cult following. This spirit seems to drink higher than 104 proof due to overwhelming spice. The result is that both the W L Weller Special Reserve and the Old Weller Antique Original 107 brand straight wheated bourbon whiskey often sell at three times or more of their list price. Flavor is smooth and a bit musty, with hints of vanilla, banana, cinnamon and a dash of charred oak spice providing a bitter note. Yet, it always sort of baffles me when people go on about Evan Williams (which is the same mash bill as Elijah Craig at Heaven Hill) but not this. It has a suggested MSRP of $150, and Reserve Bar is your best bet for snagging a bottle. Old Forester is richer, so it's less prevalent in this comparison, but it's definitely still there on its own without Jack Daniel's to cover it up. Larceny Bourbon is a decent sipping bourbon. Wheated Bourbon Throwdown: Larceny vs. W.L. [CDATA[ At the end of 2018, Kentucky had over 7.5 million barrels of bourbon being matured, along with 600,000 barrels of other spirits. Its essentially a barrel finished bourbon, and that extra spice is a nice kick to an otherwise soft, wheated profile. No, this isnt a single barrel expression. I usually find Makers Mark to be sweet. This is a classic bourbon thats been around for a long time. Weller CYPB, Weller Full Proof, Redemption Wheated, Wilderness Trail Wheated Mash Bill etc, would all be added. The marrying of the corn with the Christmas-y spices helps usher in a long, warming, and satisfying end that embraces you in a classic Kentucky hug.. Old Forester 100 proof. Yes. These became known as the Fitzgerald Barrels. Larceny is a wheated bourbon made from a blend of selected barrels made in honor of this legend. On the palate, there is sweetness, candied orange zest, semisweet chocolate, along with cinnamon and cloves. Looking for something on the cheap? and all are worth seeking out. Bernheim wheated whiskey a bit harsh imo. That bottling is aged at least four years in new, charred American oak. But this victory goes to the sister product of Henry McKenna 10-year-old, which won Best Whisky and Best Bourbon at San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and will compete against McKenna for my Best American Whiskey December 20. The dram leans into a honey-sweet edge with the oak, mild spice, and hint of dark chocolate popping at the end. And the 2014 Parkers Heritage Original Batch Wheat Whiskey really showed what that mash bill is capable of with age and proof. Had a shot in Kentucky a few years back when it was introduced. Its a good, inexpensive, wheated everyday sipper.. Flavor Profile: Vanilla & Sweet Old Grand-Dad is based on the high-rye bourbon recipe made famous by Basil Hayden its his picture on the bottle. It is an heir to the Old Fitzgerald franchise; one of the first wheated bourbons. Of course, its pretty good, too. Where we have full reviews, scores, or tasting notes, I have included links: // < ! To learn more about responsible consumption, please visit, Sign up for the Distiller Newsletter for new bottle & feature updates, Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon 90 Proof, Very Old Barton 100 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Evan Williams White Label Bottled in Bond Bourbon. Old Elk Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon . Old Forester is the more dark, banana-y, oaky, apple-y and earthy bourbon. The bourbon is made by Jim Beam, and retails for around $20 per bottle. I recently did a blind taste test comparing some Wheaters and surprisingly rated Makers 46 as my top pick among Makers Mark, Larceny, Old Weller Antique, and Bernheim (a pure wheat whiskey). Theres no way around it, Wild Turkey 101 is great for the money. This is an easy drinking whiskey with a classic bourbon nose and taste and a smooth mouthfeel. Rate, Review and Discover spirits! In my early review days, I wanted to compare anything and everything that seemed similar. It's not lacking in sweetness, with tasting notes of nougat, figs, dates and caramel corn. Best I ever had was a couple weeks ago in a Chicago speakeasy the Office. Note: the portfolio for Rebel Yell all received a makeover with updated labels in April 2019. // < ! The mash bill consists of 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley. Last year, I tasted a dozen bourbons that were widely available and selected Ezra Brooks 7-year-old Cask Strength. Give the whiskey a few minutes to open up and for the alcohol burn to dissipate. Its excellent. Retail - $55; Secondary - $90+ Evan Williams 23 Year Old Bourbon - T2. George Dickel 15 Year Single Barrel . Name: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Whisky Age: NAS Proof: 115 Proof (57.5% abv) Type: Straight bourbon whiskey Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley Producer: Brown-Forman Corporation Website: https://www.oldforester.com/products/old-forester-1910-old-fine-whisky/ Glassware: Glencairn Review Nose: Honey, caramel, wintergreen, almond. That works out to 1.75 barrels of bourbon per resident or over 500 bottles of whiskey per capita. That leaves lots of expressions of excellent bourbon, many made by those same national producers, which are available only on a regional basis or have limited distribution. Its 100 proof retains a full body and mixes bonafides without lighting your mouth on fire. Charles is a 50-year veteran of the Kentucky distilling industry and his familys history is closely intertwined with Kentucky bourbon. A rich leather note, along with some pepper, emerges at the end and lingers. If you get a chance to visit Loretto, pick up a bottle of the Makers 46 Cask Strength sometime. Today, Evan Williams Bourbon is distilled only blocks from the site of his original distillery. It's our best overall bourbon not by way of life-altering tasting notes which include marmalade, honey and maple but by stuffing the stat sheet in a way no other bourbon can. Theyre also all made in the same distillery (Jim Beam). Hope I can find some of them here in the Pac-NW. Weller, and to a lesser extent Old Fitzgerald, has been caught up in the cult frenzy that now surrounds Pappy Van Winkle. Booker's 25th (Probably gets some subconscious points from knowing it was a one-time release) Now, Top 5 that are fairly available (or sufficiently bunkered): 1. Its also killer if you want to make a $20 Manhattan. Sazerac 18 typically demands the highest price in the Buffalo Antique Collection line. I have a couple of them in my bunker. So funky, so rich with cornbread and a honey butter, the only reason it did not win this tasting was it lacked the finish of the winner. I like it. Fortunately, we can still fall back on some tried and true value bourbons. Hi Dave! This is Buffalo Traces higher-rye bourbon mash bill even though its not that high comparatively. You may opt-out by. Vanilla and toffee are present with a sense of the wheat. Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Louisville, KY The sip edges into orange zest territory with dark spices accentuated by nice toffee sweetness and a dusting of dark cacao powder when water is added. . Thanks for a great article. So the second way to look at it is really what this site is focused on- how it tastes. This is not a new phenomenon and it plays a large role in blended bourbons. Unfortunately, the surging popularity of bourbon has made most any wheater over 6 years old nearly impossible to find. Bourbon, the Great American Spirit, is not as simple as one might think. The biggest surprise of the blind tasting since I had previously disliked it. Founded in 1783 as the first commercial distillery in Kentucky, Evan Williams built his distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. The bourbon category has never been more popular than it is right now. But that is why I taste blind: I dont want to be influenced by brand name. These are two of my favorite daily drinkers both coming in at roughly the same proof, roughly the same price, and both readily available from respected distilleries.
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