MB Roland Single Mash Whiskey: Mixed Grain

Paul and Merry Beth of MB Roland are my friends. Because I might be biased, I have decided to disclose that bias so that you can decide how much to trust the review. In the spirit of the upcoming holiday season, I am reviewing a bottle that they gave me as a gift. This was not intended by them as a review bottle, but I like it and wanted to share.

I had originally intended this to be Tuesday night’s post. But, then I went ahead and got sick. Not sure with what, but I’ve got a Covid test ordered just in case. After feeling great yesterday, I backslid today and feel pretty rough. So I’m going to keep this pretty short.

This was a gift from my friends at MB Roland. It wasn’t intended as a review bottle, they are just nice people. For ethical reasons, I only review things that friends make with a disclaimer stating it was made by my friends so that you can use that to weigh how biased I am. And I only do it when I really like something. That said, when this arrived on my doorstep a couple of months ago, I knew after the first sip that I wanted to let everyone else know how good it is. In fact, I walked right over to the edge of my yard with the bottle and two glasses and invited my neighbor to try it as well, knowing he has a sip of whiskey now and then.

He also enjoyed it, in case you were curious.

MB Roland Single Mash Whiskey: Mixed Grain

Purchase info: This was a gift from my friends at the distillery and was not intended as a review bottle. But I can’t help wanting to brag about my friends and how much I like this particular bottle that they made.

Details: Mash bill: 32% white corn, 32% wheat, 31% rye, 5% malted barley. 55.3% ABV.

Nose: Caramel, dried grain, wheat bread, coal fire smoke.

Mouth: Cinnamon, candy bar notes of caramel, nougat, and chocolate.

Finish: Medium length and warm. Follows the mouth with cinnamon and candy bar notes, as well as hints of the coal fire smoke without being "smoky."

Thoughts: This is such an easy drinking 110° proof that I almost never have it with ice. It's sweet, spicy, thick, and rich. It somehow has hints of coal fire smoke without actually being smoky. The grain shows through but it also has lovely caramel notes. I just really like it.

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Larceny Barrel Proof C920

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

Soooo…need a drink yet? Welcome to Election Day: Day Three and, at least as of the time of writing, we are no closer to knowing which fifty-ish percent of the population is going to get what they want. And if that isn’t reason enough to reach for a drink, realize that we might set a modern record for voter turnout as a percentage of the eligible population and still have about one-third of the eligible population not vote. That’s nuts to me, but then I live in a state with some of the highest voter turnout percentages in the last few elections.

Anyway, I hope your super-old white guy wins…unless you didn’t vote for my super-old white guy.

Tonight’s bourbon is the third batch of Larceny Barrel Proof, a cask strength version of Heaven Hill’s flagship wheated bourbon brand. The first two batches were extremely hot so much so that it prompted me to write the following for batch B520.

Wow! That's a hot one! This screams for water. And it doesn't suffer from even the addition of a fairly substantial splash. In fact, after trying a couple of different dilution levels, I think my favorite was 100° proof. Water brings out the sweet notes of caramel and brown sugar, tames the heat, transforms the individual spice notes on the mouth and finish into a more generic "baking spice" note, and allows the oak notes to move more to the forefront of the experience.

Let’s see if this trend continues.

Larceny Barrel Proof, Batch C920

Purchase info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. The suggested retail price is $49.99.

Price Per Drink (50 mL): $3.33

Details: Batch number: C920. 61.2% ABV

Nose: This is like a caramel drenched sugar cookie on the nose. Strong notes of caramel and vanilla with light baking spices.

Mouth: Warm with caramel, cinnamon, oak, and a touch of apple.

Finish: Warm and long with lingering notes of cinnamon and caramel.

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Thoughts: Good news, this isn’t nearly as hot as the last two have been. In fact, I just realized that my, admittedly tiny, pour that I’ve been having while I wrote tonight didn’t have any water in it at all. Huh, at 122.4° proof, maybe it being that drinkable isn’t great news.

This typifies exactly what my wife wants in a bourbon: sweet and oaks with lots of caramel. She wants it on the record that if she sees this, and it is allowed, she wants to buy two bottles. I also really like it in case you were curious.

Comparison with the last batch: C920 is much sweeter and caramel forward on the nose. B520 is much more spice forward and nutty on the mouth whereas C920 is sweeter and rounder, showing a lot more caramel. And of course, there are the previously mentioned relative levels of mouth burning.

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.

Kamiki and Umiki Japanese Whisky

I would like to thank Kamiki Whisky for providing tonight’s samples with no strings attached.

As I write this, it is election day in the United States. Theoretically, election season will be over after tonight. But since I was still getting emails and texts from people either asking for money or threatening me with a loss of “Law and Order” as of 15 minutes ago…I’m not convinced that this is the end of anything. All I can say is that over the course of the next week, I hope that half of you get what you want and that half of you do not. All the while, knowing that almost half of you don’t care one way or the other.

God, I love how statistics can be both accurate and complete nonsense at the same time.

Anyway, on to something that has nothing to do with the election, or even the United States: a couple of Japanese Whiskies. In this case, provided by Kamiki Whisky. Just so that we have it all out on the table, I know next to nothing about Japanese Whisky. Over the years, I’ve gathered that it is closest in style to Scotch whisky.

“But wait,” you are asking, “don’t you hate Scotch whisky? Why are you reviewing this then?”

Well, no. I don’t hate Scotch whisky. I’ve just found very few that I enjoyed. But I requested these samples mostly because I have tasted whiskies from Japan that I didn’t mind, and I thought the finishing on these sounded interesting. Both Kamiki and Umiki are malt whiskies that have been finished in casks made of non-standard wood. According to Master of Malt, the Kamiki is “a unique blended malt whisky made using Japanese malts whiskies combined with specially selected malt whiskies from around the world.” That blend is then finished in Japanese Cedar casks. Umiki, on the other hand, is cut with purified ocean water and then finished in Japanese Pine casks. Never having had the opportunity to taste a whiskey finished in either pine or cedar, I requested samples when they sent me a press release.

Let’s see how this goes.

Umiki Japanese Whisky

Purchase Info: Kamiki Whisky graciously provided this sample for review purposes. They do not list a suggested price, but Total Wine in Denver, CO lists it for $45.49

Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.07

Details: Blended malt using purified ocean water for dilution and Japanese Pine casks for finishing. 46% ABV.

Nose: Clean and fresh with dried apples and malted grains.

Mouth: Cinnamon, dried fruit, and malted grains.

Finish: Medium length with a gentle heat. Cinnamon, malted grain, and just a hint of smoke linger.

Thoughts: I'm of two minds about this whiskey. While on one hand, I think that I would happily drink this all night if I was with a friend that wanted it, I also think that it won't be one that I reach for very often. It isn't quite to my palate. But I still kinda like it.


Kamiki Japanese Whisky

Purchase Info: Kamiki Whisky graciously provided this sample for review purposes. They do not list a suggested price, but Total Wine in Madison, Wisconsin lists it for $65.99

Price per Drink (50 mL): $4.40

Details: Blended malt made using malts from Japan and around the world. Japanese Cedar casks for finishing. 48% ABV.

Nose: Antiseptic and metallic. Sugar sweetness underneath.

Mouth: Sweet, antiseptic, Caramel and malted grains.

Finish: Sweet and long. Antiseptic and metallic notes dominate.

Thoughts: I do not like this one. And it is for the same reason I don't like many Scotch Whiskies. I don't like antiseptic or metallic flavors. There is also a numbing sensation to this that I'm not thrilled with. I can accept that there are many people in the world that may love this. However, I am not among them.

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.

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2020

I’d like to thank Common Ground PR and Limestone Branch for providing a review sample to me with no strings attached.

If you aren’t from Minnesota and you want to know what the “normal” weather is like in the fall, just know that we got a foot of snow at my house last week and that last year I was sitting out on the deck with a drink during the same timeframe. That is to say, there is no “normal” fall weather in Minnesota. It may snow, you might be in shorts (even if those shorts are protesting the fact that you really shouldn’t be wearing shorts any longer).

But, in the words of the great Pauly Shore in the classic film Encino Man: “That’s boring dude, normal.”

I guess that’s what I like about many of the limited releases I get sent. There is no “normal” to them. They tend to change every year. Take the Yellowstone Limited Editions, in the past three years, there have been editions finished in wine casks, bourbons with no finishing and this year’s Armagnac cask finished bourbon. Here is what the distillery has to say about this year’s release:

“When I began working on this limited edition, I knew I wanted to finish our bourbon in a cask and I was looking for one that would add complexity and a dimension that expands the flavor profile,” says Steve Beam, master distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery. “Armagnac is a rustic, full-bodied spirit that contributes dark fruit notes, complementing the vanilla notes in the bourbon. Just like a chef adds spices to enhance flavors, I believe cask-finishing should be similar, where it simply enhances the natural flavors in the bourbon.”

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2020

Purchase Info: This sample was generously proved to me for review purposes by Common Ground PR and Limestone Branch Distillery. Suggested retail price is $99.99 for a 750 mL bottle.

Price Per Drink (50mL): $6.67

Details: 50.5% ABV. Finished in Armagnac casks. 7 years old.

Nose: Spearmint, almond, nutmeg, and oak.

Mouth: Nice cinnamon spice, almond, oak, honeydew melon, and brown sugar.

Finish: Long and warm with lingering notes of spearmint, melon, cinnamon spice, and floral herbs.

Thoughts: This is delicious. I really like the light touch that they've used on the Armagnac influence. If I wasn't looking for it, I might not have noticed it, showing up mainly on the finish for me. Regarding the price, my wife (the accountant) says that if she sees one of these, she is buying one. $100 is a lot of a bottle of bourbon, but if you have the means to splurge this one is one to splurge on.

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.

Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week and Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup

The cocktail syrup reviewed below was provided by Heaven Hill as part of a media kit announcing Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week. Also included was branded merchandise which I will be holding onto for a future giveaway. These were provided with no strings attached.

I’ll admit it. I’m late to letting folks know about this. In fact, I’d missed the press release when this was announced and only found out about it when a media kit arrived on my doorstep. I don’t normally reprint Press Releases, but I’ll be quoting the included Press Release below as I think that the cause they are promoting is a good one.

Dear Friend of Heaven Hill Distillery,

Welcome to the inaugural Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week. While we knew the original concept for this week would be great, as 2020 morphed into a banner year of unprecedented times we quickly understood the greater impact we could have on the hospitality industry. Many of our friends and family in this community have felt the effects of COVID-19, so to support them we have committed to raising up to $100,000 for the Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation from this week's events.

You'll see some familiar faces on our schedule at OldFashionedWeek.com, where you can register for events or donate. The event lineup includes 'Old Fashioned Bar Trivia' with Heaven Hill Distillery Ambassadors Bernie Lubbers and Jack Choate, 'The Art of Crafting Ice' with Portland-based bartender and author Jeffrey Morgenthaler, and ‘Elevating Your Home Bar’ with Devin Kennedy, bartender at Pouring Ribbons.

Chef Richard Blais headlines the week as host of an "Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour" on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Included in this media kit are several items to assist in your preparation of an Elijah Craig Old Fashioned, as well as other necessary cocktail accessories for your home bar. The Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Syrup was specifically formulated to highlight the flavor profile of Elijah Craig Bourbon within this classic cocktail. Starting at 8 p.m. eastern time, Chef Blais will take you through a night of discovering the Greatness Within® the hospitality community as he shares recipes, tips and tricks, and Q & A sessions with special guests. This live event will be available on OldFashionedWeek.com, as well as streamed on Elijah Craig's YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Join us as we raise a glass to celebrating one great cocktail for an even greater cause through Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week.

Though my own businesses have suffered throughout the pandemic, I know that there are others out there that have it worse than I do. I still have the income to pay the bills and even buy whiskey. Many, especially in the hospitality industry do not. If you have the means, please join me in helping out by making a donation to the Restaurant Workers Community foundation at OldFashionedWeek.com.

Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Cocktail Syrup

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided as part of a media kit. Pricing was not included but a google search showed it selling online for about $12.

Details: 4.06% ABV. 40 calories per 0.5 fl. oz.

Mouth: Orange, lemon, ginger, cinnamon, and a bitter note.

In an Old Fashioned: (I followed the recipe on the bottle of 2 oz Elijah Craig to 1 tablespoon of syrup in an ice-filled glass garnished with a cocktail cherry.) Sweet, cinnamon, ginger, Vanilla, mint. As they stated, it plays nicely with Elijah Craig in an old fashioned.

Thoughts: I like but don’t love this. It makes a sweeter Old fashioned than I, personally, care for. But then my favorite Non-Alcoholic drinks are black coffee and soda water with bitters in it. The flavors pair very nicely with Elijah Craig, so if you like a sweet Old Fashioned and don't feel like making a batch of simple syrup, then this is the perfect option for you. I probably wouldn't buy it for my home bar due to the sweetness level, but I can certainly see a place for it for those with a sweet tooth. Or for those who need to make a batch of Old Fashioneds for a gathering... Once we can have gatherings again.

Though when we can have gatherings again, I’ll probably be heading to a bar to have my favorite bartenders make it for me. And tip them generously for their work.

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.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Fall 2020 edition

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

Well, it finally caught up to me. That thing people have been talking about since Work From Home became a thing? It happened. I spent most of the week with no idea what day it was. This is why there was no post on Tuesday. I realized about a half-hour before I went to bed that it was Tuesday. And I should have known since I had a business call with a freelance client that day…which I also forgot.

I never expected that I would lose track of the days. I mean, I’ve been working from home for over five years now. But apparently, I relied on everyone else leaving the house to set my own internal clock. And it has been happening all week. Monday I thought it was Tuesday. Tuesday I thought it was Monday. Yesterday I thought it was Friday. Which also carried over into today. If this post goes up on time, it will be a minor miracle.

But guess who hasn’t forgotten what time of year it is? That’s right Heaven Hill. They are back with yet another edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond. This edition is 14 years old, was distilled in the fall of 2005, and bottled in fall 2020. the suggested retail price is $140 continuing their trend of $10 per year of age.

But let’s see how it tastes before I forget to finish this thing.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Fall 2020 edition

Purchase Price: Heaven Hill graciously provided this sample for review purposes. The suggested retail price is about $140.

Price per Drink (50mL): $9.33

Details: Fall 2005, Bottled Fall 2020, 50% ABV, 14-year-old

Nose: Caramel, mint, a stack of dry oak, and a hint of cherry.

Mouth: Strong oak presence. Nice spice. Sweet caramel and vanilla. Cinnamon and mint.

Finish: Sweet and on the longer side of medium. Notes of caramel, cinnamon, and almond.

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Thoughts: This is absolutely delicious. I'm sensing a trend that these might just have delicious as their baseline. I've been happy with every sample I've had. If I ever see one in a store priced anywhere near retail, I plan to pounce. Of course, as that is unlikely to happen in my neck of the woods, I'll be happy with the sample they sent.

Comparison to Spring 2020 edition: Fall 2020 is much sweeter on the nose with more oak. Spring 2020 Shows more fruit notes, whereas Fall 2020 is more oak and caramel forward. Fall 2020 has the butter finish.

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.