MB Roland Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey

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.

Corn whiskey is not a product I go to very often. And even when I do, it is almost always Mellow Corn Bottled in Bond from Heaven Hill. But when I saw a half bottle on the shelf for less than $25 during my last visit to MB Roland, I was drawn to it and knew it would be coming home with me.

One of the things I don’t usually like about corn whiskey is that it just “tastes like corn.” Which is understandable, it has to be either unaged or aged in used barrels to minimize the flavor contributions of the barrel used. (Not to mention that if it used new barrels it would be basically bourbon.) But I think I like Mellow Corn because of the barrel. It is aged for at least four years in that used barrel and as such, it still gets an effect from it. And I think that aging might be one of the reasons why I was drawn to the bottle at MB Roland.

MB Roland Corn Whiskey is aged two years or more, which is two years more than many of the corn whiskeys I’ve had. But that isn’t the main reason I was interested in their corn whiskey. Instead it has everything to do with their process. One of my knocks against corn whiskey is that the flavor is not very complicated. It’s corn. That’s about it. But the fact that MB Roland’s process includes not adding water post distillation (still and barrel proof bottling) means that I have a reasonable expectation that every bit of flavor from the mash, fermentation and the barrel will come through. It’s one of the reasons I like their products. Every bit of the flavor lands in your glass. So it is just down to whether those flavors are good or not.

MB Roland Straight Corn whiskey

Purchase Info: $23.95 for a 375mL bottle at the MB Roland Distillery gift shop.

Price per Drink (50mL): $3.20

Details: 53.8% ABV. Batch 5. Mashbill: 95% White Corn 5% Malt. Aged in used bourbon barrels. “Aged At Least 2 years.”

Nose: Buttered corn, cooked cereal hints of cinnamon candy

Mouth: Popcorn, cinnamon red hots,

Finish: Bright and lively with a nice warm tingle that lasts for a while. Notes of milk chocolate and cinnamon red hots.

Thoughts: This is delicious. I was very surprised by the milk chocolate on the finish. Now I wish I had picked up a full sized bottle. Not only is it tasty to drink on its own, but I think I could have of a lot of fun with it in blending projects.


BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And hey, if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Heritage Barrel 2019

I’d like to thank the folks at Jack Daniel’s PR for providing this sample to me with no strings attached.

I grew up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in the 1980s. Looking back on it from a distance of 35 years or more, I am struck by a few of the things that stick out in my memories. I remember a lot of signs above the doors of stores, restaurants, and bars that had the name or logo of a beverage company covering most of the sign and the name of the establishment running across the top or bottom in much smaller letters. The stores were mostly 7-UP or Pepsi and the bars were usually Old Style or Pabst.

I remember a single phone booth in the town I grew up in. And I remember a single pop machine. The phone booth was on a corner across the street from the cafe and the pop machine was outside the grocery store. Both of those are gone now. The phone booth was lost to cellphones and the soda machine was killed by convenience stores that stay open 24 hours.

I remember going to the local bar with my mom to watch the Packer games on a Sunday afternoon. I would get a soda for during the game and another for playing video games on the arcade cabinets in the corner for after. I usually got one that was new or unable to be found in the town’s lone pop machine. things like New Coke, and Mandarin Orange or Apple Slice.

I remember a bottle of Jack Daniel’s that lived on top of our refrigerator. It was my Step-Dad’s favorite drink. That square-shouldered, black-labeled bottle was always just sort of there at the edge of my consciousness. And I always had a bit of a soft spot for it even though I never tried it until I was in college.

And because Jack Daniel’s was (and is) my Step-Dad’s favorite drink, I always keep an eye out for new products in their line. Initially, it was because I was buying it as a present. But as I became more of a whiskey fan, I started trying them too. Some of them I have really liked. Others less so. So when the PR folks for Jack Daniel’s offered me a sample of this year’s Heritage Barrel, I eagerly accepted.

This is the same whiskey as last year’s version just with an extra year of age on it. And just like last year, this whiskey was:

aged at the highest altitude of the Jack Daniel Distillery’s warmest barrelhouse, this year’s iteration of Heritage Barrel will have a greater depth of color and character for fans of the original run to enjoy. The rich vanilla, oak spice and sweet caramel flavors are derived from a unique barrel toasting you won’t find in any other Single Barrel expression. Each heritage barrel is slowly heated to achieve a deeper, richer toasted layer before being charred, evoking the barrels of the distillery’s earliest coopers.

Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Heritage Barrel 2019

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by Jack Daniel’s PR for review purposes. Suggested retail price is $64.99.

Price Per Drink (50mL): $4.33

Details: 50% ABV

Nose: Cinnamon, toffee, buckwheat honey, oak, green apple

Mouth: Sweet, tingly and warm on the mouth with brown sugar, caramel, and baking spice

Finish: Medium length and warmth. Lingering green apple, cinnamon, brown sugar.

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Thoughts: I really like this one. Very sweet and rich. I love the green apple notes that play alongside the sweet caramel and brown sugar notes. Add in the accessible price point and this will make a lovely gift for yourself or a loved one.


BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And hey, if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Batch C919

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

Well, the first snow picture of the year is here. Mostly because the first snow of the year is here. Don’t get too used to it, anything that I brought back from Kentucky in September was shot before I had to send back the fancy camera I rented for the trip. Look for warm summer photos in the middle of December and January.

I hate snow. And yes, I am aware that I live in almost exactly the perfectly wrong location for this. But this is where my family is and since I really don’t think I can manage to get them all to move to a warmer climate, I’m stuck here until I start to have GrandBabies. At which point I won’t even notice where I live since all of my attention will go there. In fact, if I ever suddenly stop updating this site, you can be assured that GrandBabies are probably the reason.

But enough of talk about the weather and the future. Let’s get back to the past and this sample that has been sitting on my shelf since the weather was warm enough to…dammit. I just can’t get away from the weather. Ugh. The first snow is the worst…

Let’s just jump straight to the notes before I whine some more.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C919

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. Locally Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sells for as low as $64.99 when not on sale.

Price Per Drink (50mL): $4.33

Details: 68.4% ABV. 12 years old

Nose: Sweet. Caramel vanilla, brown sugar, oak

Mouth: Hoo boy is this a hot one! As is to be expected from over 135° proof. Follows the nose with caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon and oak.

Finish: Hot and medium length. Lingering cinnamon and oak.

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Thoughts: As always, this is a very good pour. It is super high proof though so lucky it takes water really well. In fact, water makes this a much more pleasant pour.

I saved back a little of the last batch (B519) so if you are curious how this compares, they are very similar. This one has quite a bit more proof though so it is much hotter. You could almost drink B519 without water. C919 on the other hand, needs water.


BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And hey, if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2019

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

I can’t quite wrap my head around what year it is right now. All the things I’m working on in my freelance jobs are starting to have a 2020 date on it. All of the limited editions that I have on the editorial calendar are dated 2019. And when I see those items on the calendar, I start to think that I have fallen behind. Weirdly though, this is the earliest I’ve ever reviewed the Yellowstone Limited Edition.

2019 looks oddly strange to me these days. It’s like the numbers don’t really belong together. And that makes me think that maybe time is catching up to me. I have to do the math to decide what age I am these days. I'm always adding a year or two for some reason. All in all, I guess what I’m saying is: time, huh? that’s a thing that exists for me more than it used to.

And speaking of time, it’s about time I got to talking about tonight’s bourbon. (Feel free to groan, I understand.) This year’s edition of Yellowstone Limited Edition is a blend of Straight Bourbons aged nine and twelve years old. The press release has this to say:

“I tasted many quality, mature Kentucky Straight Bourbons in order to find the right two ages for this year’s release – I had a certain taste profile in mind and I sought those barrels that matched it,” says Steve Beam, head distiller at Limestone Branch Distillery. “The barrels I chose were in different parts of the rick house and each barrel’s unique location contributed to the taste profile and complexity of this bourbon. When combined, these extra-aged bourbons create a mature and complex bourbon with robust spice and oaky undertones.”

Yellowstone Limited Edition 2019

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

Price Per Drink (50mL): $6.67

Details: 9 year age statement, 50.5% ABV

Nose: Cherry Starburst, citrus, brown sugar, cinnamon, and oak.

Mouth: Cherry, vanilla, oak, and baking spice.

Finish: Warm and long. Lingering cinnamon and vanilla with hints of both fruit and pickle juice.

Thoughts: I really like this one. It is a bit fruity so if you don't like a fruit-forward flavor profile, be warned. Luckily I do like that. The Yellowstone Limited Editions are kind of a hard sell in this area, with local stores having editions going back to 2016 still on the shelves. So if I see this year's on the shelf I am going to pick it up. Otherwise, since they have all been good, I will be "forced" to buy a previous year's edition in order to "make room.” Look at me making a difference in my community.


BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And hey, if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

The Walking Dead Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

I would like to thanks the folks at Taylor and Diageo for providing tonight’s sample with no strings attached.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This is my favorite holiday of the year. I love the spooky theme of all the decorations. I love jack-o-lanterns. I love seeing the little kids in their costumes. And, I love the candy. 

Way back in college, I used to love the parties and the costumes too. But these days, I'm more grown-up. I sit at home, hand out candy to the few kids brave enough to head around the neighborhood, and watch a spooky movie. 

You wouldn't think I would be as happy for Halloween to get here as I am. Ignoring the calendar, before Halloween, it's Autumn. And even though I hate winter, I love Autumn. I love the crisp mornings with the hint of a warm afternoon. I love the fact that, on occasion, I can still get away with shorts and a t-shirt while doing lawn work. The idea that even if you get snow, it probably won't last. But after Halloween, it's winter. November in Minnesota means you are more likely to need a snow shovel than you are shorts. 

But in spite of all of that. In spite of the fact that it'll feel more like winter tomorrow than it does today, I still love Halloween. It feels good to indulge my inner child for one night and eat pizza, candy and drink some bourbon (though my inner child is probably too young for bourbon).

And that leads me to the most Halloween appropriate bourbon I think I’ve ever had. In line with San Diego ComicCon and the sudden end of The Walking Dead Comic, Diageo has released a tie-in bourbon. Now because of a lifelong irrational fear of zombies (George Romero’s films did a real number on me when I was about 10 years too young to be watching his movies), I’ve only read the first issue of the comic and have never seen the show. But I assume that there is some logical reason to do a tie in with a bourbon to the show, but in any case, I’m not here to judge the marketing. I’m here to taste the bourbon.

The Walking Dead Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was graciously provided by Diageo for review purposes. Suggested Retail price is $34.99 for a 750mL bottle.

Price Per Drink (50ml): $2.33

Details: 47% ABV.

Nose: Cherry cough drops, mint, cinnamon sugar

Mouth: Cinnamon, mint, cherry

Finish: Warm and of medium length. Lingering mint, cinnamon, and cherry.

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Thoughts: This is a fun novelty Bourbon. It's Halloween and I know I'll be having this in my glass for the rest of the night tonight just on the fun factor alone. But even beyond the novelty factor, this is a decent Bourbon. Not a world-beater by any stretch of the imagination, but if I tasted it in the store, I'd be bringing it home because it is decent and fun. And isn't tonight supposed to be fun anyway?


BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And don’t forget we are still taking submissions for our Oscar Getz Giveaway. Enter now.

Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7 year old

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

I tend to grade on a curve when it comes to whiskey. Not here on BourbonGuy. Here I just tell you if I like it or not. But in my buying habits, I certainly grade on a curve. And that curve is based entirely on price.

See, I am a freelancer and a dog-sitter by profession. Neither of these are the most lucrative of career choices. Don’t get me wrong, I love both of my jobs, it just means that I need to be frugal in my non-BourbonGuy whiskey spending (and in my BourbonGuy spending to be fair, but here I have an incentive to try new things and maybe stretch the budget now and then).

To that end, my wife and I have come up with a few “Tiers” to help us decide what we spend our money on. They aren’t official, but they really do describe how we judge bourbons and decide which bourbons to purchase again. For example, if a Tier I bourbon were to jump up to a Tier II or III price range, I’d certainly judge that bourbon more harshly than I had previously. It’s just human nature.

Tier I: “Cocktail Bourbon” Sub $25 I do not buy bourbons that I would not want to drink neat, not even for cocktails. Well not on purpose, at least. These are the bourbons that I feel comfortable using to make bitters or to cook with. Those that if I need to use 8 to 16 fluid ounces, I don’t feel too bad about it. Of course, I am also happy to use these in cocktails or just have a glass of.

Tier II: “Everyday Drinker” $25-$40 These are the bourbons I buy most often. Mostly because this is the price point that many bourbons fall in. These are the bourbons that I can grab on a whim. Any day that I want a pour of these, I am happy to do so. I might even have a second pour without thinking too hard about it if the mood arises.

Tier III: “Special Shelf” $40-$85 These are the bourbons that I keep on a secondary shelf where I won’t think to grab them all the time. These are the ones that I need to think a little harder about if I want to buy them. And if I decide to buy them, these are the ones I want to last a little longer.

Tier IV: “Second Opinion” $85-$135 These are the bourbons that I call my wife to get a second opinion as to whether we should buy it. She is also the accountant of the family so she can also tell me if that large a purchase is in the budget for a particular week.

Tier V: “Special Circumstance” Above $135 Anything over my Personal Price Ceiling™ is a “Special Circumstance” purchase. We might be on vacation. It might be a limited release from a producer that we trust isn’t going to put out a turd. It goes without saying that these are ones we save up for and need a unanimous decision on. These are the most harshly judged bourbons we buy. If I don’t really, really like it, I feel a little burned by the purchase. And a little less likely to spend that much money from a particular producer again.

So that brings me to tonight’s Bourbon. It is the recently released Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7-year-old. We are all aware that I used to sing the praises of the now discontinued Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 6-year-old Bourbon. It was one of my favorite value bourbons. It was almost the very definition of a Tier I bourbon. It competed very well with bourbons such as Wild Turkey 101 and Buffalo Trace on both price and taste. I loved cooking with it and was always happy to toss it in a cocktail. Hell, I’d bring it home by the case whenever I went to Kentucky for just those reasons. But to the dismay of many, in 2018 the 6-year-old Bonded Heaven Hill was discontinued.

In June of 2019, Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7-year-old was announced. It will be initially available in California, Texas, New York, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, South Carolina, and Colorado. It looks like if you live in one of those markets that you should start to see it in October. The suggested price for the new release is $39.99.

Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond 7-year-old Bourbon

Purchase Info: This sample bottle was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes. Suggested Retail price is $39.99 for a 750mL bottle.

Price Per Drink (50ml): $2.67

Details: 50% ABV. 7 year age statement. Distilled at D.S.P.-KY-1. Bottled at D.S.P.-KY-31.

Nose: mint, vanilla, cardamom, cotton candy.

Mouth: mint, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon.

Finish: on the short end of medium length. Notes of cinnamon, cardamom and oak

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Thoughts: There isn't much to say on this one. It’s fine. I like it. It is minty, with a bit of spice. I think I like Elijah Craig better, but this is fine too. I like it, but I don't think it holds up to other $40 Bourbons. In this market, $35-45 will get you Four Roses Single Barrel, the 1792 specialty bourbons, New Riff Bourbon, George Remus, Knob Creek Single Barrel, or Wild Turkey Rare Breed. All of which I like better than this.

But I'm assuming that you are looking to see how it compares to the discontinued Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 6-year-old, aren't you? Anticipating that, I pulled a bottle of my 6-year-old from the closet. And well, these are pretty similar. The six-year is a bit sweeter than the new seven-year. The seven-year is much mintier. Both have a nice hit of oak on the finish. If you loved the six-year, you should love this too as they are pretty similar with only minor differences... at least until you get to the checkout.


BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And don’t forget we are still taking submissions for our Oscar Getz Giveaway. Enter now.