Buffalo Trace Antique Collection: Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey

I’d like to thank the folks at Buffalo Trace for sending this sample with no strings attached.

It’s a gloomy day today. We had a touch of snow, but it doesn’t look like any will stick around. Still, it feels cold and dreary—the kind of day when you wish your house had a fireplace so you could curl up under a blanket, watching the flames dance. And as evening sets in, if you were to pour yourself a glass of wine or a couple of ounces of something brown, well, who could blame you? Let’s be honest: on a day like this, that hypothetical glass might pair perfectly with tonight’s whiskey.

It’s been six years since I last reviewed a member of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Back then, the suggested price hovered around $100; now, it’s climbed to $150. But really, what whiskey hasn’t gone up in price over the last six years? Not many. This time, I got my hands on a sample of the 18-year-old Sazerac Rye. To put it into perspective, this stuff has been aging in a barrel longer than I’ve been writing about whiskey. Heck, it’s been in that barrel longer than I’ve been drinking whiskey—I only started diving seriously into the whiskey world around 2010.

So, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Sazerac 18 Years Old

Purchase Info: This 100 mL sample was sent to me at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $149.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $10.00

Details: 45% ABV. 18 years old

Nose: Oak and leather lead the way, with notes of cinnamon and plum underneath.

Mouth: Leather, stone fruits, vanilla, cinnamon, and a hint of cedar.

Finish: Medium warmth and long. Notes of oak, cedar, cinnamon, and just the suggestion of anise.

Thoughts: The barrel really takes the stage on this one—which makes sense, given that the whiskey sat in there for the better part of two decades. In fact, the barrel influence is so prominent that it wasn’t until a couple of sips in that I started picking up the cedar notes I associate with rye spice. That said, even though I’m sensitive to overly oaky whiskies, I really enjoy this one. If I happen to see it in a local liquor store lottery, you can bet I’ll be adding my name to the list.

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Blind Barrels Craft Whiskey Subscription Box

I’d like to thank Blind Barrels for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Tonight’s bonus review isn’t about a whiskey, per se, but rather a whiskey subscription box experience. Blind Barrels reached out and asked if I’d be interested in taking a look at their offering. Since this doesn’t easily translate to just words on a page, I decided to have some fun and make a video about it. For those who’d rather read than watch, here are the key points.

Blind Barrels Subscription Box

Purchase Info: I received this sample box from the producer at no cost for review purposes. Individual boxes and quarterly subscriptions are priced at $69.99 each, plus shipping. An annual subscription for four boxes is also available for $199.99.

Details: This subscription showcases craft whiskey and includes four blind 50 mL samples per box. More information is available at BlindBarrels.com.

Thoughts: I go much more in-depth on my thoughts in the video above, but here’s the bottom line. As someone who’s practically drowning in whiskey bottles (not a bad problem to have, right?), this isn’t something I’d personally buy for myself. If you’re a whiskey veteran with shelves that look like a distillery showroom, you might feel the same. But if you’re in that phase where you’re still itching to try all the whiskey—where every bottle you haven’t tasted feels like an unsolved mystery—this could be right up your alley.

Blind Barrels sends you four surprise samples of craft whiskey every quarter, wrapped in a little mystery and a whole lot of fun. You need to click a QR code just to find out what you are tasting. Back when I was a wide-eyed enthusiast chasing every new release and suffering from serious FOMO, this would’ve been exactly what I’d have wanted. And let’s be honest, we all go through that phase in our whiskey journey—where discovering new, obscure whiskeys is like unearthing hidden treasure.

If that’s where you are, this box adds a touch of adventure to your sipping routine. Or if you have a whiskey lover in your life who’s already hard to shop for, this might just win you gift-giver of the year. Hell, even now, I’d love to get one. Because let’s face it, blind tastings are a fun little game where everyone wins. And this one? Definitely no exception.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Bib & Tucker: The Golden Spike

I’d like to thank Bib & Tucker and their PR team for providing these review samples with no strings attached.

Date night tonight, so we’re going to keep it short. I mean, I don’t want to let that 16-ounce, 30-day dry-aged ribeye wait. Yes, you can be jealous; it’s going to be a nice time (thank you gift card from dog clients). Of course, once we get home, we’d be hard-pressed not to enjoy a nice after-dinner drink. And I tell you what, tonight’s bourbon from Bib & Tucker would be a good choice.

The Golden Spike is a 15-year-old, limited-edition bourbon from Bib & Tucker. It is bottled at 100.8° proof and is available for sale in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. And of course, being Bib & Tucker, it has a fun bottle stopper, in this case, shaped like a train. But why a train, and where does the name The Golden Spike come from? Here is what the company has to say:

The first locomotive was introduced in America in 1830; just 15 years later, the first resolution was presented to Congress proposing a railroad that would stretch to the Pacific, connecting east and west. A 17.6 karat gold spike was used to complete the line connecting the intercontinental railroad, marking a transformative moment, and The Golden Spike celebrates the completion of this great achievement in American history.

Let’s see how this piece of history tastes, shall we?

Bib & Tucker: The Golden Spike 15-Year-Old Bourbon

Purchase Info: This 200 mL sample was provided at no charge for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $199.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $13.33

Details: 15 years old. 50.4% ABV. Distilled in Tennessee.

Nose: Toffee, leather, oak, and stone fruits.

Mouth: Toffee, cinnamon, cherry, oak, and leather.

Finish: Warm and medium-long with notes of stone fruits, cinnamon, oak, and a mineral note.

Thoughts: This is delicious. Probably the best product from Bib & Tucker that I've had—top two at least. It reminds me of a very good Dickel release, though I’ve got no info as to the provenance of the juice other than the “Distilled in TN” on the back label. I'm a fan. I'm digging the sweetness on the mouth and the spice. The finish hangs around. It’s just very tasty.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish & Woodinville Founder’s Find Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash

I’d like to thank Woodinville Whiskey Company for providing these review samples with no strings attached.

Writing this in the morning is a weird feeling. I look outside, and the fog is deep as the sun comes up. There’s coffee in my cup. I’ve finished feeding the dogs but haven’t fed myself yet. I’ve read the news, checked my email, and gotten a good start to the day. But here I am, trying to write about whiskey at a time of day when I’m normally not even thinking of it.

And why? Because I have plans. Like, outside-the-house plans. It’s okay, you can be shocked that the hermit is leaving his cave. It’s very strange for me, too. But the tattoo artist I like is in a different state, so I need to leave the house if I’m going to get more work done. So here we are: talking about two different whiskeys when I usually think about coffee.

That’s right, we’ve got another two-fer on our hands. These two whiskeys were both sent to me by the Woodinville Whiskey Company to help promote their upcoming release. If you are a Woodinville fan who was at their distillery a couple of weeks ago, you might already have tried/purchased them at their annual Harvest Release party. But if you aren’t, here is a little background info on them.

These are both limited releases. You can preorder them now on the Woodinville website. Both are over 100 proof, and both have deviated from the standard aging process in various ways. The Sauternes Cask Finish is pretty self-explanatory. Woodinville took the bourbon that they make and finished it in casks that previously held a sweet dessert wine from France. We’ve covered a few whiskeys that have used casks from this wine as a barrel finish in the past.

The Founder’s Find, though, is a little more complicated. First off, they did not distill this one; it was sourced from a distillery in Tennessee. Secondly, it isn’t a bourbon—well, at least not entirely. This is what is known as a “Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash,” which means that if it had been poured into a new, charred oak barrel, it would have been a bourbon. But in this case, the barrels weren’t new; they were reconditioned. This means that the previously used barrel was scraped clean of the char and burned again to make a new char layer. Some of the flavor of the barrel would have already been pulled from it due to the first use. The other unusual thing about this whiskey is that it’s a blend that happened partway through the aging process. About six years in, a small amount of 15-year-old bourbon that had been distilled in Indiana was added to it before it finished the last six years of its rest. Quoting the press release now:

Years ago, a group of renowned distillers proposed the use of these [reconditioned] barrels and began experimenting, only to be rebuffed by lawmakers. Which is how [Woodinville founder] Orlin uncovered this forgotten barrel in the back corner of a legendary rickhouse, patiently waiting for someone to notice and appreciate it.

So now that we’ve learned a bit about them, let’s jump into the tasting notes and see if these are any good, shall we?

Woodinville Bourbon Sauternes Finish

Purchase Info: This sample was sent for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $69.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.67

Details: 52.5% ABV. Finished in Sauternes wine casks.

Nose: Dried grains lead off, with notes of brown sugar, molasses, and red fruit following.

Mouth: Nice, thick mouthfeel with notes of cinnamon, brown sugar, vanilla, pear, and dried grains.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth, with notes of dried grains, vanilla, caramel, and a touch of both dried red fruits and fresh pears.

Thoughts: I’m neutral on this one. I'd love a touch less dried grain on all aspects of this. That said, this is not a flaw but a personal preference, and by no means do I think this should keep anyone from trying it—especially since there are a lot of people who enjoy the grain-forward style of bourbon. I do find it fun, though, that the final notes to fade are "wine" notes of pear and red fruit. Thematically, that’s just about perfect for a wine-cask-finished bourbon.

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Woodinville Founder's Find Whiskey from a Bourbon Mash

Purchase Info: This sample was sent for review purposes at no cost. The suggested retail price is $129.99.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $8.67

Details: 96% Tennessee whiskey aged for 12 years in reconditioned barrels (used and recharred) and 4% 15-year-old Indiana bourbon. 53.5% ABV.

Nose: Cinnamon, Flintstone Vitamins, and a touch of red fruit and oak.

Mouth: Caramel, cinnamon, red fruit, and oak notes follow a rich, thick mouthfeel.

Finish: Warm and long with notes of oak, leather, cinnamon, caramel, and red fruit.

Thoughts: The bottle says that the whiskey that the Woodinville founder discovered in Tennessee was "too extraordinary not to share." I agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly. This may not technically be a bourbon, but it has all the notes and characteristics that you would want in one. So much so that, even though I poured a glass after receiving the sample, I didn't notice that it was a "whiskey from a bourbon mash" until I went to record the details in my tasting notes. It's damn good. Lots of "dark" flavor notes and a rich mouthfeel. Really liking it.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Knob Creek Bourbon X Rye

Hey hey, it’s Bonus Post Day! Again!

If you ever talk to a Minnesotan in late October and mention snow, they’ll inevitably bring up the Halloween Blizzard of 1991, when 28 inches of snow buried trick-or-treaters as they braved the streets for candy. I lived through it 30 years ago, and I heard a lot about it yesterday as snow was once again predicted for Halloween.

But this time, it was just a dusting and seemed to have barely affected the kids going door-to-door. Of course, that doesn’t mean I had a lot of kids come to my house. No, I got just one. He was dressed as a dragon—a costume that fit nicely over a warm winter coat since it was below freezing once the sun went down. That made me sad. I don’t usually get many kids at my house, but the cold kept the little kids away, and they’re the most fun to give candy to.

Today, however, marks the start of a new month and the beginning of the holiday season. As far as I’m concerned, the time from Halloween to New Year’s is the best part of the year, and I’m hoping for plenty of festive cheer. So, since we’ve turned the page on Halloween, let’s turn it to whiskey—specifically, a new limited-time offering from Jim Beam’s Knob Creek brand.

Knob Creek Bourbon X Rye is a blend of straight whiskeys composed of 30% Knob Creek 9-year-old bourbon and 70% Knob Creek 7-year-old rye whiskey. It’s bottled at 113° proof and has a suggested retail price of $44.99 for a 750 mL bottle. The press release says it’s limited, but I bought it at Total Wine in August, and there are still some on the shelves today—so take that how you will.

Let’s dig in.

Knob Creek Bourbon X Rye

Purchase Info: $48.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.27

Details: 56.5% ABV. Blend includes 30% Knob Creek 9-year-old bourbon and 70% Knob Creek 7-year-old rye whiskey.

Nose: Cedar, mint, caramel, chocolate, and cinnamon.

Mouth: Cinnamon, mint, red fruits, citrus zest, cedar, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Warm and long with notes of cinnamon red hots, cedar, and spearmint.

Thoughts: This is really rye-forward, and I’m here for it. It’s got a nice balance of spicy and sweet, with cedar and mint being prominent throughout. This is quite tasty. Is it a replacement for the higher-proof Knob Creek Rye or Bourbon single barrel releases? I wouldn’t say so, as it’s sweeter than the rye but much more vibrant and spicy than the bourbon. It’s a third option that kind of splits the difference. So, do I like it? Well, let’s just say I hadn’t had this bottle open very long when I realized it was about half-empty, having become my go-to pour. I had to put it away so I’d have enough left for a review. So yeah, I’d say I like it quite a bit.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Larceny Barrel Proof C924 & Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

Covering both of the recent Heaven Hill Barrel Proof releases tonight, so let’s skip the chitchat and get down to business, shall we?

C924. By now, you probably know what that means in this context, but in case you don’t, let’s define it. C denotes the release order of the calendar year: A = first, B = second, C = third. 9 is the month of the release, September being the 9th month. 24 is the year of release (2024, in case you were unaware). Both bottles we’re looking at today are the third release of the year, both released in September 2024. Easy peasy.

Let’s dig in.

Larceny Barrel Proof, C924

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided at no charge by Heaven Hill for review purposes and to showcase the new bottle design. The suggested retail price is $64.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.33

Details: 62.55% ABV. Age: 6-8 Years. Mashbill: 68% Corn, 20% Wheat, 12% Malted Barley

Nose: Lots of vanilla and caramel with oak underneath.

Mouth: Very warm with notes of cinnamon, red fruit, vanilla, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Warm and of medium length with notes of oak, caramel, and cinnamon.

Thoughts: As always, this is delicious. I'm really enjoying the strong vanilla, caramel, and oak notes present throughout the tasting experience.

Comparison to the last batch: The nose on C924 is much more vibrant than B524, showing much less nutty nougat and more vanilla and caramel. B524 is much hotter in the mouth and finish. Overall, I prefer C924 for its sweetness and drinkability, as it’s less hot.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, C924

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided at no charge by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $74.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $5.00

Details: 64.5% ABV. Age: 11 Years.

Nose: Cinnamon candies, caramel, chocolate, and oak.

Mouth: Cinnamon candies, chocolate, caramel, and oak.

Finish: Warm and medium length. Notes of cinnamon, and chocolate with dusty oak appearing after a while.

Thoughts: This is incredibly drinkable neat, even at 129° proof. It has a nice sweetness to it. The chocolate and cinnamon notes are delicious. I’m a fan.

Comparison to last time: Very similar on the nose, with B524 having just a touch more "dark" notes. The mouth on B524 is a bit more vibrant than C924. Both are very good and quite similar, but if I had to choose, I’d go with B524.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Maker's Mark The Lost Recipe Series, Edition 01, 2024

This post is brought to you by…me, dammit. Yes, I still have a ton of samples that I should probably get to (and those will take up most of the coming weeks), but this one is something I recently picked up at Costco. At least in my area, Costco items don’t last long on the shelf, so since it’s timely, I thought it should jump the queue.

I know nothing about this particular product beyond what’s printed on the bottle. I reached out to Maker’s Mark PR, but they never returned my email. Here’s what I know from the label: it features the use of a finishing stave that used to be part of the Private Select program but was retired a few years ago—the “Roasted French Mocha” stave. I was always a big fan of that one, so it was nice to see it return. The label also says the series will feature recipe combinations that have never been used before and will include a retired stave in each recipe.

That’s what I know for sure. There are also rumors online that this particular release is a Costco exclusive. I know that’s the only place I’ve seen it. But I don’t visit a lot of liquor stores these days, so take that as you will.

Since there’s not much information available, let’s get to the important part: how does this one taste? Please keep in mind that I’m a Maker’s Mark fan, so if you’re not, you might want to grade on a curve with this one.

Maker's Mark The Lost Recipe Series, Edition 01, 2024

Purchase Info: $58.99 for a 700 mL bottle at Costco, Burnsville, MN

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.21

Details: 55.95% ABV. Makers Mark Private Select Stave Profile: 1-Baked American Pure 2, 3-Seared French Cuvée, and 6-Roasted French Mocha.

Nose: Chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and banana bread.

Mouth: Almond, chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, and red fruit.

Finish: Medium length and warm. Notes of almond, caramel, cinnamon, and oak.

Thoughts: This is incredibly drinkable neat. Even at about 112° proof, you don’t need water or ice. It’s sweet with nice baking spices. This is a very tasty pour, and I’m really enjoying it.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.

Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey

I’d like to thank Nearest Green Distillery and their PR team for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

In the last giveaway, I asked readers what they were looking for in future reviews. And I heard you. You all want more inexpensive whiskey. Who doesn’t?

The producers, that’s who. They really want you to know about the whiskeys that come with a suggested retail price of $5, $6, $7, or even up to $12 per pour! Personally, I don’t like paying that much. But, beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to samples. If they want me to taste expensive whiskey, I’m on board. I mean, who am I to argue about free whiskey? But you all want to learn more about the whiskeys that live at a price point I would personally pay. Now, if you’re like me, Wild Turkey 101 at about a buck-sixty per pour is pretty much the perfect price point.

So yes, I heard you. And it turns out that the folks at Nearest Green Distillery have heard you too. Their most recent release, which will be showing up in stores soon, was created with inclusivity in mind. With a suggested retail price just under $2 per pour, they are hoping to reach an audience they haven’t previously reached—namely, those who don’t want to spend a fortune for a decent whiskey. I’ll let them speak for themselves:

“Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey captures the spirit of my great-great-grandfather, Nearest Green, while still upholding our pillars of excellence and unmatched quality,” said (Master Blender) Victoria Eady Butler. “With this new brand, we’re not just expanding our offerings—we’re expanding the Uncle Nearest family, reaching new consumers who may not consider spending more than $50 on a bottle. Our goal is simple: To make Nearest Green a household name, bringing people together to honor our past while embracing the future of Tennessee Whiskey.”

Sounds good to me. Let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey

Purchase Info: This was provided by the producer at no cost for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $29.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $2.00

Details: 42% ABV.

Nose: Honey, mint, cotton candy, and a touch of oak.

Mouth: Nutmeg, cinnamon spice, honey, and vanilla.

Finish: Medium in length and warmth. Notes of oak, cinnamon, and caramel.

Thoughts: This is a really nice whiskey. There’s just enough bitterness on the finish to make you want to take another taste. It has more spice than I would have expected from an 84-proof whiskey, but at the same time, it offers a pleasant sweetness to balance the spice. And it works pretty well in an old fashioned if you’re craving one.

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If you want to support our work at BourbonGuy.com, please consider a one-time donation at ko-fi.com/bourbonguy or paypal.me/BourbonGuy. Or you could buy some merch that I’ve designed and/or built (tasting journals, t-shirts, stickers, pins, signs, posters, and more) at BourbonGuyGifts.com. Use code BOURBONGUYREADER at checkout for 5% off any order of $50 or more.