What's With All the Weird Faces? Why I Don't Rate Whiskeys Like the Usual Whiskey Person

May 31, 2022 Eric Burke

IMAGE: The four images I use for Ratings. A Heart means I love it. A smile means I like it. A Neutral face means I can see why others might like it, but it's not for me. A Frown means this is bad and I really do not like it.

What the hell is with all the funny faces? Why can’t you do something useful like give a whiskey a number score? You know, even a 1-10 would help us know if this whiskey is better than another whiskey.

This is just a small sampling of the sentiments I get in my email now and then. Don’t get me wrong, I love the passion that it takes to take the time to write to me. Hell, I just like to know that people are reading this. But as it has been…five years (?!? where has the time gone?) since I last wrote a post like this, I thought it might be time to explain my silliness to all of you who are new.

By the way, if you arrived in the last five years, WELCOME! The bar is in the corner, please pour yourself something nice from the fancy shelf.

So. Why don’t I use numerical scores? Well, everyone who writes about whiskey approaches things differently. Some reviewers like to use numbers. Numbers make a review feel scientific because you've done some math. Some reviewers like to use stars. Stars are easy to visualize and are familiar to Amazon shoppers everywhere. I like to use various cartoon faces and hearts because I'm silly. Probably too silly for my own good. The point is that any and/or all of these are correct. They all adequately represent how much or how little a reviewer liked any given whiskey. But no matter how a writer presents it, we as readers need to remember that the rating is still just a subjective opinion. Whiskey is subjective. There is no objectively bad whiskey. Someone out there likes everything that has been produced and they should not be shamed for that, even if you don’t agree with them.

It probably goes without saying, but I like Bourbon, Rye, Canadian whisky, craft whiskey, Irish whiskey, Gin, and a lot of cocktails. As a general rule, I don’t really like Scotch Whisky, though there are exceptions. Am I wrong that I don’t care for Scotch? No. My taste buds apply only to me. This is what I mean when I say there is no objectively bad whiskey, just whiskey that I don’t like. I’m not here to tell you if you should like a whiskey, only if I do or don’t. I judge whiskey, not people.

So, I like bourbon. I enjoy it in many different ways. Sometimes I enjoy thoughtfully tasting bourbon. I pour it into a nosing glass, sit down, concentrate, and try to tease out all the little smells and tastes that are hidden inside the glass. And if it is interesting, I'll probably like it. Other times, I want to enjoy bourbon in a rocks glass while playing cards or watching tv or conversing with friends. I'm not paying a lot of attention to it, but if it tastes good and it's acting as a social lubricant, I'll probably like it. Sometimes I enjoy it in a cocktail. Even if it isn't great neat, if it makes a killer Manhattan, I'll probably like it. And if I like it, then I'll tell you I like it. And then I'll put a little smiley face next to my thoughts on it.

Sometimes I find a bourbon that doesn't taste good and isn't all that interesting. Needless to say, I don't like these. I've gotten pretty good at knowing what I like, and since I buy a good percentage of the whiskey reviewed on the site, the odds are that I'm not buying too many duds. But occasionally one slips through, or I buy one specifically for research purposes. When that happens, I'll tell you I dislike it and put a little frowny face next to my thoughts.

Of course, some whiskeys are just...meh. There is nothing offensive about them. They don't taste bad. I don't dislike it, but I don't like it either. I can see why others might like it, but it's just sort of in the middle there for me. Just not to my tastes. In such a case I'll just drop a neutral face on it.

Very occasionally I'll drop a heart on something. This means I love it. No ifs, ands, or buts. I'd take this whiskey over almost any other.

So to recap:

IMAGE: The heart I use to show I love a whiskey.

A heart means I loved this whiskey. I'd have to pause and think (briefly) if forced to choose between it and my wife. (shhhh... don't tell her)

IMAGE: A Smile that I use to say i like something.

A smiley face means I liked the whiskey or I found it interesting while tasting it. Or I enjoyed myself while drinking it. Or I enjoyed the company I drank it with. Or I was having fun. Most bourbons and ryes will be in this category because, on at least some level, I like most bourbons and ryes I've tasted.

IMAGE: A neutral face I use to show that this whiskey is kinda meh.

A neutral face means meh. I didn't particularly like this whiskey, but I didn't hate it either. It wasn't for me. But you might like it.

IMAGE: A Frown with it's tongue out and x'd out eyes means I disliked this whiskey.

A frowny face means I really disliked this. I probably dumped it out or at least thought about dumping it out.

We all have different life experiences that color our perceptions. If you drink moonshine exclusively and you age it to a young age, that young whiskey may taste amazing to you. If however, you gave that very same whiskey to a person who exclusively drinks 12-year-old bourbon, they will probably vehemently disagree. The same thing goes for tasting notes. They are each informed by our own life experiences. I taste JuicyFruit gum when I taste Four Roses. Other people might taste Jackfruit, but I've never had a Jackfruit, so I say JuicyFruit. Some people might taste almond in a whiskey. I'm allergic to nuts, so I only have an academic idea of what almonds taste like. If I use it as a tasting note, it will have come from my wife (we do the notes together). The point is that everyone will like different things and has had different experiences to inform their tastes. And that's ok. In fact, it’s pretty cool. It gives us whiskey lovers something to talk about aside from the weather.

Did you enjoy this post? If so, maybe you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee in return. Go to ko-fi.com/bourbonguy to support. And thank you, BourbonGuy.com is solely supported via your generosity.

Of course, if you want to support BourbonGuy.com and get a little something back in return, you can always head over to BourbonGuyGifts.com and purchase some merch. I’ve made tasting journals, stickers, pins, and more.

Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof

April 28, 2022 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and the Ross & Squib Distillery for providing this review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof Aged 7 years 2022 limited release. And a bottle glamour shot. — Image elements courtesy Ross & Squibb Distillery.

Tonight is the NFL Draft. And while I only sort of follow NFL football, I am a college football diehard. And this is one event that cements the two together. And I love it. I used to watch the entire weekend way back when it was just Saturday and Sunday. I love it because I get to see the culmination of many of the storylines that ESPN has force-fed to us over the last few years on their college football shows. Whether it proves those stories correct or incorrect is part of what I find interesting. Team X decided to go with somebody from North Dakota State instead of an SEC or Big Ten powerhouse? Which paid shill is going to throw the biggest fit over that? The unintended drama is fun. Plus I like seeing kids have all their dreams come true.

And yes, I’m old enough that I refer to kids in their mid-20s as “kids.”

And what does that have to do with tonight’s whiskey? Well, for the longest time, MGP (now branded as Ross & Squibb) was a powerhouse in American Whiskey much like North Dakota State is a powerhouse in college football. There is no argument that they dominate their competition, but you’d have to be a pretty knowledgeable fan to know about it.

MGP supplied whiskey for the biggest rye brands in the country. Think Diageo’s Bulleit rye as an example. But they didn’t get much credit for that outside of hardcore fans. Mostly because no one wanted to tell anyone that what was in the bottle was purchased from a distillery in Indiana. These days that is changing as Ross & Squibb have their own brands that they produce. One of which is Rossville Union Rye.

Rossville Union is a rye that I find on the shelves quite often. I also see a lot of store picks of it as well. They tend to be very delicious. I pick them up quite often. There is a Barrel Proof offering that I really like but seldom see. And that’s because I recently learned that it is released annually as a limited edition product. (It’s probably good that I didn’t know that, or I’d have spent a lot more money on Rossville Union seeing as I would actually be purchasing those bottles when I saw them instead of saying “next time.”)

18,000 bottles were produced this year from a batch of 82 barrels. The final proof is 117.2° proof, it is age stated at 7 years old, and it retails for a suggested price of $69.99. Let’s see how it tastes.

Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was sent to me by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $69.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.67

Details: 58.6% ABV. 7 years old.

Nose: Herbal mint, cinnamon candies, cedar, and oak

Mouth: Hot, spicy, and sweet. Notes of herbal mint, cinnamon, cedar, vanilla, and hints of dark chocolate.

Finish: Long and warm. Notes of cinnamon candies, cedar, and mint.

Thoughts: This is delicious. So much so that, should I see them and if the store allows, I will be a jerk and buy two. Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof is just a deliciously-spicy rye that has enough age to notice but not so much that it takes over. I freakin’ love this one.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, 1st Edition

March 10, 2022 Eric Burke

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

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, Aged 17 years.

Heaven Hill has announced a new annual spring release to balance the fall release of Parker’s Heritage Collection. The first edition is age-stated at 17 years old and is a blend of “ultra-aged” bourbons between 17 and 20 years old. Here are the details as described by Heaven Hill:

“The Collection, a testament to Heaven Hill’s patience and ultra-aging techniques, will feature one of the six traditional American Whiskey mashbills produced by Heaven Hill, the only heritage distillery to produce this range. The first edition features Heaven Hill’s Bourbon mashbill comprised of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and bottled at a barrel proof of 118.2. With an age statement of 17 years, this release is made up of 28% 20-year-old barrels, 44% 19-year-old barrels, and 28% 17-year-old barrels pulled from Deatsville, Glencoe, Schenley, and Heaven Hill main campus warehouse locations.”

Of course, this is just the first release, and as you might expect with whiskey this old, attributes will vary by release. There is only so much old whiskey to go around, even for Heaven Hill who seems to have more than most. And if you are curious about the packaging and price they talk about that as well:

“Each Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 750ml bottle will be accompanied by a premium box in signature Heaven Hill blue with the double-H insignia stamped in gold to signify Heaven Hill. As will become a signature of the Collection, specific attributes such as warehouse site locations, production dates, mashbill percentage, and other designations will be noted prominently on the packaging. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 17-Year-Old Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey will launch nationally on a limited basis with an SRP of $274.99.”

So now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, let’s see how it tastes.

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, 1st Edition

Purchase info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $274.99.

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $18.33

Details: 59.1% ABV. Aged 17 years

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, mixed berries, nutmeg, and oak.

Mouth: Very rich. Caramel, vanilla, tobacco, chocolate, and nutmeg.

Finish: Long and warm. Lingering cocoa notes.

Thoughts: When I poured my sample into a Glencairn, the aroma filled the room. The glass was a foot away from my hand and I was already starting to pick up notes of caramel and vanilla. The nose is so rich that you could spend a happy evening just smelling this. But if you did, you would miss out on a very delicious whiskey. The mouth is just as nice as the nose. Typical Heaven Hill bourbon notes, but super concentrated. I love this. At over $18 per pour, I can't possibly afford it, but I do love it.

George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Rye

February 22, 2022 Eric Burke

I spent the entire day today getting a new batch of items ready for the online store. Looks like I should have them up sometime tomorrow if you are in the market for relatively inexpensive bourbon-themed tchotchkes. In addition to the posters and tasting journals, I’ve been getting sticker packs, lapel pins, and keychains photographed and ready to be posted for sale. Now all I need to do is get them listed.

I’ve been sitting on most of these items for over a year now, running three businesses keeps a guy busy, but I finally found a couple of days in a row where my other businesses were slow enough to allow me to get off my ass and do it. It’s a nice problem to have, I guess.

What I love about the various things I put up on the merch site is that it gives me an opportunity to flex my creative muscles a little bit. One of my day jobs is creating items, mostly junk mail, for plumbers and electricians. It pays the bills but isn’t very creatively fulfilling. With these items though, even though I hope others will like it, I’m mostly just doing things that I want to have and then ordering enough to help recoup the cost. Any extra goes to help keep BourbonGuy.com up and running.

Whoa. I just wanted to talk about creativity and it turned into an ad (BourbonGuyGifts.com if the ad worked…). Ah well. In any case, it was serendipitous that I was working on creative items today as tonight’s whiskey is a creative collaboration between two well-respected distillers. Nicole Austin of George Dickel has done an absolutely bang-up job over the last few years, introducing products such as Dickel Bourbon and the delicious George Dickel Bottled-in-Bond whiskeys. Todd Leopold is, to quote the bottle, “one of the most respected and acclaimed pioneers of American Whiskey” and a 2020 James Beard Award Nominee. I know him as the guy who’s been making the absinthe that I use in my Sazeracs since I first fell in love with Sazeracs many years ago.

Here is what the Dickel website has to say about it:

George Dickel has teamed up with the Leopold Bros to produce an innovative rye whisky offering.The release blends George Dickel’s column still rye produced at Cascade Hallow Distillery with Leopold Bros’ Three Chamber Rye to recreate a historic style. This union between column distilled rye and Three Chamber distilled rye turns back the hands of time, returning to an era that saw heavy-bodied rye whisky served at bars and saloons throughout America. The Cascade Hollow component of this blend is a never-before released traditional column still rye.

So on top of it being an interesting blend, this also contains our first taste of Dickel-distilled rye. The rye they sell now is sourced from MGP. So let’s see how it tastes.

George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Rye

Purchase Info: $139.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Chanhassen, MN.

Price per Drink (50 mL): $9.33

Details: 50% ABV.

Nose: Cedar, mint, floral cherry, and baking spices.

Mouth: Floral and herbal with notes of mint, cedar, cinnamon, and caramel.

Finish: Nice and warm. Medium to long. Notes of cherry, cedar, cinnamon, and spearmint.

IMAGE: a heart because I love this whiskey.

Thoughts: I was unsupervised at the liquor store for this one. After reading about it last week, I was so excited that I ignored the price when I saw it on the shelf. Luckily, this is so good that my wife/accountant has forgiven me for the splurge. It is one of those whiskies where you could just nose it all night long. And, bonus, you also get to drink it too! This is complex in all three phases, nose, mouth, and finish. And delicious to boot. I do not regret this purchase at all.

It will, however, be placed on the special shelf so it has a better chance of lasting a while.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: C921

November 4, 2021 Eric Burke

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

You know, I like Bourbon. I know that doesn’t come as a shock to most of you since, well, I do tend to write about it twice a week. But it is worth saying now and then when you are someone who acts as a critic. I love bourbon. Everything I write on this site stems from that. I won’t go so far as to say there is no bad bourbon, there is. (Cough…TerrePure…cough cough). But generally, I like bourbon. It’s one of the reasons the majority of products get a “like” rating. I just generally like the stuff. Occasionally there is one that I very much dislike. Like, it is bad. Or that really does nothing for me. It isn’t bad, but it isn’t for me. I don’t have this happen too often because I try really hard to only purchase things I’m pretty sure I’ll enjoy. I mean, I’m going to have the rest of the bottle left after the review and I can only use so much prop bourbon.

But every so often, something surprises me. I’ve been doing this long enough that when a sample of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof shows up, I know I’m going to really enjoy it. I expect that and have never been disappointed. It is just damn fine whiskey. But this time I was surprised. Read on to see why.

Eijah Craig Barrel Proof, C921

Purchase Info: This bottle was provided by the producer for review purposes. I have found previous editions locally for as low as $69.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine.

Price per Drink (50mL): $4.67

Details: 60.1% ABV. 12-years-old.

Nose: Caramel, mint, red fruits, chocolate, and vanilla.

Mouth: Warm, but not as hot as the proof would lead you to expect. Sweet with notes of caramel, vanilla, allspice, red fruits, and chocolate.

Finish: Medium-long and sweet. Notes of floral vanilla, chocolate and baking spices.

Thoughts: This is delicious. Even at 120 proof it is drinkable neat. Sweet caramel, vanilla, and chocolate throughout. Nice baking spice notes. It isn’t enough to say that I'm a big fan of this one. I love it.

Comparison to B521: In my opinion, there is no question that C921 is better in every way. It is richer in the mouth and on the nose. Sweeter, spicier, better mouthfeel. It's so good. Don't get me wrong, I really liked B521, but I love C921! If you run across it, do yourself a favor and buy it. This might be the best bourbon I've had this year.

In fact, I’m going to pull out a very seldom used award. I’m going to say that Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 is only the second recipient of the BourbonGuy.com Bourbon of the Year Award. I only give this to bourbons that are by far the best thing I’ve had all year. The last one was awarded way back in 2017. I haven’t had a bourbon that was that much better than every other bourbon since. But this one qualifies. Nice job Heaven Hill!

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V

July 15, 2021 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank ByrnePR and Lux Row for providing the review sample with no strings attached.

IMAGE: The 2021 edition of Remus Repeal Reserve (Series V). 100 proof.

Thanks to the magic that is Comixology Unlimited, I’ve found myself reading a lot of old comic books lately. For as long as I remember reading, I remember reading comic books. I’ve always read a wide variety of books. From novels to history textbooks, the fantastic to the non-fiction. I just love stories. I love reading them and I love writing them. It’s one of the reasons I start these reviews with as many personal anecdotes as I do. But comic books were always there in the mix of my reading choices. Lately, I’ve been digging deep into DC’s Vertigo lineup from the late 1980s and early 90s. I was too young to read these when they came out, but I was introduced to the Sandman in college and have revisited it periodically over intervening decades. Sometimes it’s nice to revisit something that you just know is going to be good.

I feel that way about tonight’s bourbon too. I’ve reviewed every iteration of Remus Repeal Reserve and I’ve liked every single one. MGP makes fantastic whiskey, even if their choice of namesake leaves a bit to be desired. (Speaking of rereading old content, I wrote about George Remus way back in 2017 during the first release of this product. I think it was pretty good. If you haven’t read it before, give it a look.)

Series V of Remus Repeal Reserve is a medley of two different MGP produced bourbons, their 21% Rye recipe (mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% barley malt) and their 36% Rye recipe (mash bill: 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% barley malt). They use a combination of ages of these recipes in order to make the final product. And as usual, they give you the percentage breakdown right on the front label. Series V is made from 9% 2005 Bourbon (21% Rye), 5% 2005 Bourbon (36% Rye), 19% 2006 Bourbon (21% Rye), 13% 2008 Bourbon (21% Rye) and 54% 2008 Bourbon (36% Rye).

Let’s dive in and see how it tastes.

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V, 2021

Purchase price: This sample was graciously provided by the producer for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $89.99. Releases September 2021.

Price per Drink (50mL): $6.00

Nose: Green apple, clove, caramel, nutmeg, and oak.

Mouth: Nice and spicy. Cinnamon, oak, caramel, and almond.

Finish: Spicy and long. Nutmeg, almond, black tea, oak, and caramel.

Thoughts: This is one to keep an eye out for. I've been a big fan of most editions of Remus Repeal Reserve, and I'm fully aware this might be recency bias, but I think this might be the best yet. This one is getting a heart. I love it and I'm really hoping to get my hands on another bottle when it releases in September.

Wilderness Trail Private Selections from the Party Source

April 6, 2021 Eric Burke

Private Selections or Store Picks can be a contentious topic. On one hand, you don’t know what you are going to get. Depending on the store, and the person doing the choosing, you might get something that is only a little different than the standard release. Or worse, something you don’t like as much as the standard release. And that comes down to who is doing the picking and if their palate aligns with yours. Some stores go all out and do an in-person tasting even to choose barrels, some get multiple samples sent to them for them to choose from, and some just want a barrel, any barrel, and get one chosen for them.

Of course, on the other hand, you don’t know what you are going to get! The surprise and excitement are part of the fun. It’s like opening a pack of baseball cards when I was a kid. Sure you got a lot of commons but once in a while, there was something really special in the pack you bought.

Personally, I’m aware of the first point, but I’m driven to buy by the second point. I bought a lot of baseball cards when I was a kid. Right up to the point where I discovered music and girls and traded the entire collection for some cassette tapes and a few issues of Playboy that one of my friends had swiped from his older brother. By the time I got into collecting again, I was more into comic books than baseball. But I never got over the thrill of buying something and have it turn out better than expected.

I think that is why I pick up at least one bottle of almost every Store Pick I run across. It scratches that same itch that I had as a kid. I mean you never know what you are going to get. It might be good, but it could be great. And plus, it makes a fun souvenir when you are traveling.

And speaking of traveling, tonight I’ll be looking at a couple of whiskeys from Wilderness Trail that I purchased the last time I traveled a long distance. I picked up both of these whiskeys at the Party Source (Bellevue, KY) in December 2020 and the notes were tasted in a hotel room in Duluth last month.

I’m realizing now that those are the only two nights I’ve spent outside my house since last March and it is an odd coincidence that these whiskeys were part of both trips.

Anyway, I picked up a single barrel version of both the Settler’s Select Rye and the Black Label Bourbon which is usually their small-batch product. Here is what the distillery website has to say about each:

Our Small Batch release mash bill is 64 percent corn, 24 percent rye and 12 percent malted barley using our yeast strains. We entered the cooper select, toasted and #4 char barrel at 110 proof after coming off the still around 137 proof. [For] our Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskeys…our three-grain recipe is 56 percent rye, 33 percent corn and 11 percent malted barley. Our rye mash bill is one we created for a broader balance of flavor to offset the typical high ryes commonly found.

Wilderness Trail “Black Label” Bourbon, picked by "Lion's Share"

Purchase Information: $64.99 for a 750 mL bottle, The Party Source, Bellevue, KY

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $4.33

Details: 57.5% ABV. Barrel#: 15F01-4. Aged: 4 years, 3 months. Barrel: ISC#4 Char & Toasted. Rickhouse: E-S08R12. Yeast: FermPro1.

Nose: Cinnamon, brown sugar, herbal mint, and a hint of oak

Mouth: Nice and spicy. Notes of Caramel, cinnamon, crisp apple, and oak.

Finish: Warm and on the longer side of medium. Notes of black tea, cinnamon, and honey.

Thoughts: This is a fantastic bottle of bourbon. My first sip caused me to breathe: "Oh, that's good" under my breath. It's complex, spicy, sweet, and fruity with a wonderful finish. I'm not sure who "Lion's Share" is, but they picked a fantastic bourbon.

Wilderness Trail Settler's Select Rye, picked by the Party Source.

Purchase Information: $64.99 for a 750 mL bottle, The Party Source, Bellevue, KY

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $4.33

Details: 56.5% ABV. Barrel#: 15L21-2. Aged: 4 years, 5 months. Barrel: ISC #4 Char & Toasted. Rickhouse: A-N04A7. Yeast: FermPro1.

Nose: Dominant mint. Brown sugar, baking spice, and black tea.

Mouth: Mint, Cherry pipe tobacco, honey, and allspice.

Finish: Very warm and medium length. Very minty, cherry pipe tobacco, lots of spice, honey.

Thoughts: If I could give a standing ovation in writing, I would. I'm in love. This is delicious! Since I live nowhere near where I bought this, it is going on the special shelf to be had only occasionally. I love the pipe tobacco notes, the mint, the spice. I'd keep gushing but I think I've made my point.

Knob Creek 12-Year-Old Cask Strength Bourbon

January 12, 2021 Eric Burke

IMAGE: The front label of Knob Creek Limited Edition Cask Strength Bourbon. 120.5 proof.

At just a hair over six feet tall, I am not the tallest person in the world, but I am the tallest in my family. I could literally look over a sea of in-laws, back when we could have holiday gatherings. I wasn’t just taller, but taller by a foot or more in some cases.

That’s right, I married into a family of short people.

And I’m here to tell you that this is a great thing. Sure, my wife asks me to get things off of the top shelf all the time but in return, I get a little something too. I have someone who can easily look on the bottom shelf at stores. Which is how we found this particular bottle.

We were at Total Wine to grab a handle of Wild Turkey 101. At $31 per 1.75-liter bottle, it’s the cheapest way to stock up on Wild Turkey within easy driving distance. And, as you do, as long as I was there I needed to browse the shelves. I noticed a couple of facings of Knob Creek 12-year-old down on the bottom shelf but didn’t think much of them as I’d already had it.

My wife, however, being much closer to the ground, noticed that each of the facings had a different price. One is almost twice the price of the other. After she pointed this out to me, I needed to take a closer look. It turns out that what I thought was two facings of Knob Creek 12 year old was in fact one facing of Knob Creek 12-year-old and one of Knob Creek 12-year-old Cask Strength. Obviously, this bottle came home with me.

I don’t feel too bad though as I’ve heard from friends that they also noticed the price difference without noticing the proof difference. To be fair to all of us, the labels look a lot alike. But enough of what the labels look like, let’s see how this one tastes.

Knob Creek 12-Year-Old Cask Strength Bourbon, Limited Edition

Purchase Info: $92.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN

Price per Drink (50mL): $6.20

Details: 60.25% ABV. 12 years old.

Nose: Caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla

Mouth: Spicy heat. Vanilla, caramel, oak, cinnamon red hots.

Finish: Medium to long with a big hit of oak initially which fades to reveal lingering cinnamon and mint.

Thoughts: I love this one. It's thick and chewy with the stereotypical bourbon notes that I just love. Damn. I really wish that I'd have bought two of these. But I'm guessing that my wife would have shot down the idea of spending about $250 when we had anticipated $35. Still though...

Later that day: OK, I couldn’t help myself. Right after I typed that, I went and looked at my local liquor store (Viking Liquor Barrel, Prior Lake, MN). And huzzah! They had it too. So I grabbed another one. This one had a higher proof (124.3) and a lower price ($84.99). I tasted them side-by-side and they are very similar with the higher proof one being a touch hotter and brighter. Still love it though. Really glad I got my hands on a second one.

Blog

Rossville Union 2022 Barrel Proof

Heaven Hill Heritage Collection, 1st Edition

George Dickel x Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Rye

Eijah Craig Barrel Proof, C921

Remus Repeal Reserve Series V, 2021

Wilderness Trail “Black Label” Bourbon, picked by "Lion's Share"

Wilderness Trail Settler's Select Rye, picked by the Party Source.

Knob Creek 12-Year-Old Cask Strength Bourbon, Limited Edition