If you've had... Elijah Craig Edition

I was looking for something to pull out of the ol’ whiskey closet during the last snowstorm when I got my eyes on something that I wasn’t expecting. I noticed the distinctive plastic lid of the old-style Elijah Craig bottle. Now, I had no idea that I’d stashed one of these away and even less idea that I hadn’t already finished it. But here we are. When the roads are slick and travel is not advised, sometimes you gotta make do with what you have on hand.

And it turns out that I had something pretty interesting on hand. It was a bottle of Elijah Craig Small batch from 2015. According to the piece of tape I put on the bottle before I stashed it away, I bought it in very early January 2016 at Total Wine for a cost of $21.99. This would have been the last version of Elijah Craig before Heaven Hill removed its 12-year-old age statement. So obviously I cracked that bad boy open. Annnnd…was reminded that it was very dry and tannic. Probably one reason I left it up there and forgot about it. But I did have an idea. I thought that it might be fun to put it up against two recent Elijah Craig expressions and see how it stacks up. Did Heaven Hill make the right choice when they changed and expanded the product? To find out I set each of these up in my patented If You’ve Had… style where we compare one product to a similar product in order to find the differences.

What’s that? You haven’t been around long enough to know what the If You’ve Had… series is? Well here is a quick cheat sheet to bring you up to speed. The setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc.” Each section below is written comparing all of the whiskeys in the line-up to one of their peers. So if you've had Whiskey A, but not Whiskey B, C, or D, then the Whiskey A section will be the most useful to you. You may notice that there are different tasting notes here as compared to the usual reviews. That is because I am literally going from one bourbon to the other and recording my impressions of the difference. This article purely describes the differences between the various bourbons. I try to write this so that there are no value judgments. This way you get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

So without further ado, I present the ninth installment of the If You’ve Had… series. Plus, afterward, I’ll let you know my thoughts on the current state of Elijah Craig when compared to the 2015 version.

If you've had Elijah Craig Small Batch (2023) then...

Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Small Batch (2015) is: about the same color, visually. 2015’s nose shows much more sharp oak compared to 2023's cinnamon/nutmeg/baking spices. The mouth of 2015 is hot and very strongly oaky to the exclusion of almost everything else. Whereas the 2023 is full of baking spices. The finish of 2015 is also tannic and bitter compared to 2023’s fruit and spice.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (C922) is: visually much darker in color. The nosing experience is very similar between the two with the Barrel Proof version showing more alcohol burn in the nostrils. The mouth of the Barrel Proof is much hotter, but also sweeter and the notes, while similar to 2023, pop more. The finish of the Barrel Proof shows more oak and lasts longer.

If you've had Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Small Batch (2015) then...

Elijah Craig Small Batch (2023) is: visually very similar in color. The nose shows more cinnamon and baking spice that is hidden behind 2015’s oak. The mouth of 2023 is more gentle and shows more sweetness and baking spice. The finish shows less oak than the 2015 version.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (C922) is: visually darker in color. The nose of the Barrel Proof shows a similar level of oak but also shows more sweetness and chocolate. In the mouth, Barrel Proof is hotter but also sweeter and shows more baking spice. The finish is hotter and shows more sweetness and spice to complement its oak.

If you've had Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (C922) then...

Elijah Craig Small Batch (2023) is: visually lighter in color. The nose is very similar showing much less alcohol in the nostrils. In the mouth, 2023 is more gentle and shows more fruit and less sweetness. The finish of 2023 is shorter and shows more fermented fruit notes.

Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Small Batch (2015) is: visually much lighter in color. 2015’s nose is similar but shows less sweetness. 2015’s mouth is more gentle but shows its oak more as the Barrel Proof also shows off chocolate and sweet notes to go along with its oak. The finish of 2015 is drier and shows off the oak more.

So... Thoughts:

Is it worth trying to hunt for the unicorn that is the old 12-year-old Elijah Craig? In my opinion? Fuck. No! At least not a bottle of the 2015 release, like I have here. My bottle was from the last release before it lost its age statement and I can only describe it as over-oaked. I'm not a fan, personally though my wife enjoys it. Obviously, I like oak. I just want it to be a supporting flavor not the only flavor like it is in the 2015 version. The Barrel Proof still has a lot of oak but it also has a lot of chocolate, sweetness, and spice that accompanies the oak. I also prefer the standard Elijah Craig Small Batch that is on shelves currently. I don’t need everything to have a lot of oak so I enjoy that they allow Small Batch to showcase the cinnamon, baking spice, and fruit. Both the Barrel Proof and Small Batch are satisfying complements to one another. Whereas the old 12-year-old Elijah Craig from 2015 is kinda just a one-note oak bomb. Some people, like a gentleman I was chatting with in the liquor store, love the "overpowering oak" (his words) that these old bottles have. I don't. So after seven years I can look back and feel that, as far as I’m concerned, Heaven Hill made the right choice by removing the age statement and allowing the flavor to drive the brand, not the age.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that all of the old 12-year-old bottles were as dry and tannic as this release was. I was upset when they removed the age statement. But I’ve been part of a round-table that compared various editions of the 12-year-old Elijah Craig and this one was my least favorite of the group. Some of the even earlier ones were delicious. So I’m mostly just shitting on this particular release, not the entire history. But if the age statement was holding them back from making an even better product, or products in this case, then I think it was probably the right call.

My Ranking:

1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (12 year old)

2. Elijah Craig Small Batch (2023)

3. Elijah Craig 12-Year-Old Small Batch (2015) - Distant 3rd.

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If You've Had...the Evan Williams Edition

Quick Disclaimer: the 1783 bottle used in this article was provided for review purposes. It was reviewed here.

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I thought I was done with these posts, not because I don’t like doing them, but I’d done all of the ones I could think of. Luckily you guys are smarter than I am and when a reader requested I do one on the Evan Williams, I felt like it was time to jump back in on this series. But, seeing as it has been almost two years since I last did one of these posts, I’m thinking a little explanation is in order.

I think that one of the best ways to really learn the differences between bourbons is to compare them head-to-head. That's the theory behind the If You've Had... series. The setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc. Each section below is written comparing all of the whiskeys in the line-up to one of their peers. So if you've had Whiskey A, but not Whiskeys B through E, then the Whiskey A section will be the most useful to you. You may notice that there are different tasting notes here as compared to the usual reviews. That is because I am literally going from one bourbon to the other and recording my impressions of the difference. This article purely describing the differences between the various bourbons. I try to write this so that there are no value judgments. This way you get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

Tonight we are featuring the Evan Williams family of bourbons. We are looking at the 80 proof Evan Williams Green Label (which, rumor has it, has been discontinued*), the 86 proof Black Label, the new 90 proof 1783 Small Batch, Bottled-in-Bond, and the 2013 vintage of Evan Williams Single Barrel. So without further ado, I present the eighth installment of the If You’ve Had… series. 

If you've had Evan Williams Green Label, then…

Evan Williams Black Label: is slightly sweeter on the nose. The mouth on Black Label is similar, just a touch spicier. The finishes are basically identical.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch: is spicier on the nose, showing more cinnamon. Evan Williams 1783 has a thicker mouthfeel and shows more baking spice and caramel. The finish follows and is longer than Green Label.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond: is sweeter on the nose with more baking spice and hints of chocolate. The mouth on Bonded is much spicier, showing more cinnamon, caramel and chocolate. The finish is much warmer.

Evan Williams Single Barrel (2013 vintage): is richer, showing more oak and floral notes. The mouth follows showing more floral and melon notes. The finish is similar in warmth and length but brings the floral and melon notes along.

If you've had Evan Williams Black Label, then…

Evan Williams Green Label: is less sweet and more grain forward on the nose. Green Label has a thinner mouthfeel and is slightly sweeter showing less spice on the mouth. The finishes are virtually identical.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch: has less cinnamon and more caramel. 1783 also has a floral hint when compared to Black Label. 1783 has a more robust flavor profile showing much more spice and caramel. The finish shows more cinnamon and is longer.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond: is sweeter on the nose showing more vanilla and chocolate. The mouth shows more cinnamon, caramel, vanilla, and chocolate notes. The finish is longer.

Evan Williams Single Barrel (2013 vintage): is very similar on the nose, showing a few more floral notes. The mouth shows more fruit and floral notes. The finish follows the mouth showing more cinnamon, fruit, and floral notes.

If you've had Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch, then…

Evan Williams Green Label: is more grain-forward on the nose, showing a lot more corn. The mouthfeel is thinner and the flavor is more grain-forward. The finish is shorter.

Evan Williams Black Label: has less of an alcohol burn and shows more dried grain notes on the nose. Black Label has less spicy heat than 1783 but has a more pronounced cinnamon flavor. The mouthfeel is thinner and the finish is shorter.

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond: is sweeter, nuttier, and has more cocoa on the nose. Bonded is warmer in the mouth showing more baking spice and chocolate notes. The finish on Bonded is longer.

Evan Williams Single Barrel (2013 vintage): is very similar, though showing more floral notes, on the nose. The mouth on Single Barrel (2013) shows more fruity and floral notes which follows into the finish.

If you've had Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, then…

Evan Williams Green Label: has much more dried corn on the nose. Green Label has a much thinner mouthfeel and a less concentrated flavor profile. The finish is more gentle and shorter.

Evan Williams Black Label: is very similar, though slightly mintier, on the nose. Black Label has a thinner mouthfeel and a gentler, less concentrated spice to the mouth. The finish is more gentle and is shorter.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch: shows more floral notes on the nose. 1783 has a thicker mouthfeel and shows more caramel and a pronounced floral note when compared to Bonded. The finish of 1783 is more floral and mintier.

Evan Williams Single Barrel (2013 vintage): is much fruitier and more floral on the nose. Single Barrel (2013) is much fruitier and more floral with more cinnamon on the mouth and that difference follows into the finish.

If you've had Evan Williams Single Barrel (2013 vintage), then…

Evan Williams Green Label: shows much more dried corn influence on the nose. Green label is sweeter on the mouth and shows more cinnamon spice and grain influence. The finishes are fairly similar in length and heat.

Evan Williams Black Label: is very similar, showing more vanilla, on the nose. Black Label is sweeter on the mouth, showing more classic bourbon "caramel/vanilla" notes. The mouthfeel on Black Label is thinner and the finish is longer.

Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch: is spicier on the nose, showing prominent cinnamon notes. The mouth on 1783 is richer, with a thicker mouthfeel and more concentrated flavor profile. There is more caramel and cinnamon spice on the mouth. The finish is longer.

Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond: shows mores cocoa and vanilla on the nose. Bonded is warmer in the mouth, showing more nutty and cocoa notes. The finish is longer and warmer.

Conclusions:

• Single Barrel (2013 vintage) really reminds me of an Old Forester Bourbon when compared with the rest of this line-up.

• Green Label, Black Label, and Bottled-in-Bond are all very similar, basically differing in how concentrated the flavors are and how long the finish is.

• 1783 Small Batch is an outlier with a slightly different flavor profile when compared head-to-head with the others. 1783 is more floral whereas the other three are more "stereotypical" caramel/vanilla bourbon notes.

• Green Label and Black Label are remarkably similar bourbons with only very slight differences between them. I can see why they could be considered duplicates in the Evan Williams line-up. If Green Label was your go-to before it was discontinued, you shouldn’t notice much difference if you switch to Black Label. Even the price per bottle is only a dollar different. (Current price for Black Label at Binny’s is $13.99 per 750 mL. I bought Green Label from them in December for $12.99 per 750mL.)

*As of the time of writing, I am waiting for confirmation on that fact from Heaven Hill and will update if I hear back from them.

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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.

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If You've Had...the Very Old Barton Edition

I’m having a very hard time believing that it has been over two years since I last did one of these posts. It has been so long that I’m thinking a little explanation is in order.

I think that one of the best ways to really learn the differences between bourbons is to compare them head-to-head. That's the theory behind the If You've Had... series. The setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc. Each section is written as compared to one of the whiskeys. So if you've had that one, but not the others, then that section will be of the most use to you. I try to write this so that there are no value judgments. This way you get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

Up tonight is the family of Very Old Barton bourbons. I’m featuring the 80 proof, the 86 proof, the 90 proof and the 100 proof versions. The 100 proof was until recently a Bonded bourbon, but is no longer. So without further ado, I present the seventh installment of the If You’ve Had… series. 

If you’ve had the 80° proof, then the...

86° proof is: similar on the nose, spicier and sweeter on the mouth and spicier on the finish.

90° proof is: sweeter on the nose. It is sharper and shows more caramel on the mouth. The finish is warmer and more flavorful, showing more spice, mint and sweetness.

100° proof is: sweeter and more fruity on the nose. The mouth is much spicier and shows more caramel. The finish is warmer, spicier and has more lingering caramel.

If you’ve had the 86° proof, then the…

80° proof is: more grain forward and shows more cinnamon on the nose and mouth. The finish has less heat but shows more cinnamon flavor.

90° proof is: much sweeter on the nose showing more vanilla sugar cookie. The spice levels on the mouth are similar, but the 90° proof has more concentrated vanilla and caramel. The finish has a hint more spice, but otherwise is very similar.

100° proof is: sweeter on the nose. The mouth and finish are warmer, spicier and sweeter showing more cinnamon and a bit more fruit.

If you’ve had the 90° proof, then the...

80° proof is: more grain forward and shows more cinnamon on the nose and mouth. The finish is drier and more grain forward.

86° proof is: similar, though less sweet on the nose. The mouth similar though the caramel and vanilla flavors aren’t quite as pronounced.

100° proof is: very similar on the nose. The mouth and finish are warmer, spicier and show more fruit.

If you’ve had the 100° proof, then the…

80° proof is: drier and shows more grain on the nose. The mouthfeel is thinner and the mouth shows more grain and less spice. The finish is muted by comparison.

86° proof is: drier on the nose. The mouthfeel is thinner. The mouth is less warm. The finish is less sweet and shows a touch more grain.

90° proof is: showing less wood and less caramel on the nose. The mouth and finish are similar in flavor but less concentrated.

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If You've Had... the Jim Beam Edition

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I've always envisioned this site as a place where people can come to learn. Learn a little history. Learn a little about what they like. Learn what they should check out (whether it is bourbon or not). And ultimately learn enough to make informed decisions about where they put their money.

Of course, I write tasting notes. And tasting notes are a great way for you to get an idea of my feelings on a particular whiskey. Or at least, an impression of how I felt about something on a particular day. And cumulatively, they can certainly tell you a lot about the types of things that I'm reminded of. But they aren't always a great way to compare whiskeys one to another unless I happen to be reviewing a couple at a time.

To that end, for the last year and a half or so, I've been running a series on the blog that I call "If you've had...". The setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc. Each section is written as compared to one of the whiskeys in the lineup. So if you've had that one, but not the others, then that section will be of the most use to you. Remember there are no value judgments here. You get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

This is the sixth entry in the series and it is by far the biggest. We did this over the course of four nights and the spit cup was our best friend (seriously, each night used 4-8 ounces of whiskey, we'd be dead otherwise). Tonight we are discussing a large portion of the Jim Beam line of products. I chose seven bourbons that are labeled with the Jim Beam name. Jim Beam White Label, Jim Beam Black, Jim Beam Double Oak, Jim Beam Devil's Cut, Jim Beam Bonded, a local store pick of Jim Beam Single Barrel and Jim Beam Choice. Normal caveats with the Single Barrel, your mileage may vary. Especially since this is a store pick. I included the Choice even though it has been discontinued because maybe that was your only exposure to Jim Beam and you've been wondering if you were missing anything. I'm ordering these by proof. Please remember these are notes as compared to one another

If you've had Jim Beam White Label then...

Jim Beam Choice is: a little fruitier on the nose. The mouth shows less dried grain, more bubblegum, and a touch more oak. The finish is a little longer and has a touch more baking spice.

Jim Beam Black is: very similar on the nose, maybe a touch sweeter. The mouth shows fewer cereal grains, but more spice. The finish shows more oak tannins.  

Jim Beam Double Oak is: sweeter on the nose showing less dried grain. The mouth shows more cocoa, oak, and cinnamon. The finish shows more cinnamon and oak.

Jim Beam Devil's Cut: shows less grain and more spice on the nose. The mouth is fruitier with more baking spice. The finish shows less grain.

Jim Beam Single Barrel (store pick) is: more herbal on the nose. Similar, but with less pronounced grain and more cinnamon and oak. The mouthfeel is more viscous and the finish is warmer and longer. 

Jim Beam Bonded is: fuller on the nose showing more pronounced fruit gum and spice. The mouth is more viscous and sweeter, showing less grain and more spice. the finish is warmer with more spice.

If you've had Jim Beam Choice then...

Jim Beam White Label: shows more grain on the nose, mouth, and finish. 

Jim Beam Black is: sweeter on the nose, showing more caramel. The mouth shows more baking spice and oak tannins. The finish features more oak and spice. 

Jim Beam Double Oak is: a little fruitier on the nose and shows more oak. The mouth shows less dried grain and more almond and oak. The finish is warmer, longer and has more oak.

Jim Beam Devil's Cut is: very similar on the nose, maybe showing it's proof with a little more alcohol. The mouth is more peppery and shows more baking spice. The finish is warmer and longer.

Jim Beam Single Barrel (store pick) is: more herbal on the nose, showing less grain. The mouth shows more cinnamon and clove. The finish is hotter with more intense flavor. 

Jim Beam Bonded: shows more caramel and spice on the nose. The mouthfeel is more viscous and the mouth showcases more intense flavors of spice, chocolate, and leather. The finish is warmer with more spice and oak flavors. 

If you've had Jim Beam Black then...

Jim Beam White Label is: very similar on the nose. The mouth shows more grain and fruit. The finish shows less oak and more grain. 

Jim Beam Choice is: showing more cereal on the nose. The mouth shows more mint and grain, but less oak. The finish is more grain-forward.

Jim Beam Double Oak is: sweeter on the nose showing more maple. The mouth is sweeter, with more vanilla and caramel. the finish has less oak and is sweeter.

Jim Beam Devil's Cut is: similar on the nose, though it shows a few more herbal notes. The mouth has more "burn" as it shows off it's higher proof. It also shows more fruit and grain. The finish has more baking spice, but less heat.

Jim Beam Single Barrel (store pick) is: more herbal on the nose. The mouth has more ripe fruit and caramel. The finish has more concentrated flavors. 

Jim Beam Bonded is: sweeter on the nose showing more vanilla and less oak. The mouth is less fruity and nuttier with more cinnamon. The finish follows the mouth. 

If you've had Jim Beam Double Oak then...

Jim Beam White Label is: more grain forward on the nose mouth and finish.  

Jim Beam Choice: shows less caramel and almond on the nose. The mouth shows more grain and less oak and almond. the finish is less spicy with less oak.

Jim Beam Black is: less sweet and oakier on the nose. the mouth is drier with more oak. The finish shows more oak. 

Jim Beam Devil's Cut is: drier with more grain on the nose. The mouth shows more baking spices and oak. The finish is drier, showing more dark chocolate. 

Jim Beam Single Barrel (store pick) is: more herbal and sweeter on the nose. The mouth is sweeter, showing more baking spice and caramel. It has a fuller finish with more concentrated flavors. 

Jim Beam Bonded is: shows more fruit gum and spice on the nose. The mouth shows more grain and less chocolate. The finish is spicier with more grain and peanut.

If you've had Jim Beam Devil's Cut then...

Jim Beam White Label is: more grain-forward on the nose. The mouth is softer and more grain-forward. The finish is gentler with more grain and less oak. 

Jim Beam Choice is: very similar on the nose. The mouth is more gentle showing more grain. The finish also shows more grain and is more bitter.

Jim Beam Black is: fruitier on the nose. The mouth shows more oak and the finish is warmer, oakier and a bit more bitter.  

Jim Beam Double Oak is: sweeter on the nose, showing more caramel and vanilla. The mouth is sweeter with more grain notes. The finish is sweeter showing more grain and less heat. .

Jim Beam Single Barrel (store pick) is: more herbal and sweeter on the nose. The mouth is hotter, spicier and sweeter on the mouth. the finish is longer, warmer and more herbal.

Jim Beam Bonded is: fruitier and sweeter on the nose. The mouth is spicier and hotter with more peanut. The finish is hotter showing more peanut. 

If you've had Jim Beam Single Barrel then...

Jim Beam White Label is: less complex with less sweetness on the nose. The mouth is less sweet and shows much more dried grain. The mouthfeel is thinner and the finish shows more grain and mint.  

Jim Beam Choice is: drier, showing more oak and (strangely) more grain on the nose. The mouth has more mint and grain. The finish is gentler. 

Jim Beam Black is: similar on the nose, though showing some green apple and more oak. The mouth has more baking spice, peanut, and oak. The finish shows more peanut and oak. 

Jim Beam Double Oak: shows more chocolate on the nose. the mouth shows more peanut and oak. The finish follows the mouth. 

Jim Beam Devil's Cut is: a touch oakier on the nose. The mouth shows more green apple and oak. The finish has more baking spice.

Jim Beam Bonded is: showing less oak and more bubblegum. the mouth is hotter with more baking spice. The finish is warmer with more cinnamon red hot candies.

If you've had Jim Beam Bonded then...

Jim Beam White Label is: grassier on the nose with some more mint and grain. The mouthfeel is thinner, showing more grain. The finish is shorter with more bitter grain flavors.

Jim Beam Choice is: drier on the nose. The mouthfeel is thinner and the flavors more delicate. The finish is gentler and shows more grain. 

Jim Beam Black is: drier on the nose, showing more oak. The mouthfeel is thinner and less sweetness and more oak. The finish shows more oak and less peanut. 

Jim Beam Double Oak is: sweeter on the nose, showing more maple. The mouth is sweeter, showing chocolate notes. The finish is sweeter and has less peanut. 

Jim Beam Devil's Cut is: drier on the nose. The mouth is drier with less spice and peanut. The finish is drier with less peanut.

Jim Beam Single Barrel (store pick) is: more herbal and sweeter. The mouth is sweeter, with a thinner mouthfeel. The finish is sweeter with more herbal notes. 

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If You've Had...Heaven Hill Edition

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I like learning things. I'm sure you do too, otherwise, why would you waste your time learning about bourbon? One of the best ways to really learn the differences between bourbons is to compare them head-to-head. That's the theory behind the If You've Had... series. 

In case you missed it last time, the setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc. Each section is written as compared to one of the whiskeys. So if you've had that one, but not the others, then that section will be of the most use to you. Remember there are no value judgments here. You get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

Up tonight is the family of Heaven Hill-branded bourbons. Heaven Hill Black is a three-year-old bourbon bottled at 80 proof, Heaven Hill Green is a six-year-old bourbon bottled at 90 proof, and Heaven Hill White is a six-year-old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon bottled at 100 proof. So without further ado, I present the fifth installment of the If You’ve Had… series. 

If you've had Heaven Hill Black, then...

Heaven Hill Green is: similar on the nose, but with less grain influence. It shows less grain in the mouth but has more heat, mint, baking and pepper spices, and oak. The finish is longer, warmer, and shows more oak.

Heaven Hill White is: much sweeter on the nose, showing much more maple and caramel and less grain. The mouth is much spicier, showing both baking and pepper spices. It also presents more fruit and oak. The finish is longer, warmer, and sweeter with more baking spice and wintergreen.

If you've had Heaven Hill Green, then...

Heaven Hill Black is: similar on the nose, but showing more grain and much less oak influence. The mouth shows much younger: less oak, more grain, with a certain new-make quality about it. The finish is smoother and softer with more lingering grain and cotton candy.

Heaven Hill White is: sweeter on the nose, showing more caramel. The mouth is similar, though sweeter showing bubble gum that the green doesn't have. The finish is warmer and shows more spice.

If you've had Heaven Hill White, then...

Heaven Hill Black is: similar on the nose, but showing more grain influence. The mouth shows more grain bitterness. The finish is smoother, softer and more gentle.

Heaven Hill Green is: slightly less sweet on the nose. It is slightly softer on the mouth and slightly less sweet. The finish is sweeter but less spicy.

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If You've Had... Bulleit Bourbon Edition

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My Goodness! I can't believe that it has been almost a year since I last did one of these! I love these posts. They are just the most fun to do the tastings for. And if you like them too, then I have good news: I've got two more for sure on the editorial calendar and another two that will depend on the availability of products. So without further ado, I present the fourth installment of the If You’ve Had… series. 

In case you missed it last time, the setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc. Each section is written as compared to one of the whiskeys. So if you've had that one, but not the others then that section will be of the most use to you. Remember there are no value judgments here. You get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

Up tonight is the Bulleit Bourbon family. Bulleit Bourbon, Bulleit 10-Year-Old Bourbon, and Bulleit Barrel-Strength Bourbon. 

If you’ve had Bulleit Bourbon then…

Bulleit 10 Year is: less floral and drier on the nose. The mouth has more complex flavor with more peppery heat, baking spice, and cocoa notes. The finish is longer with more baking spice.

Bulleit Barrel-Strength is: similar on the nose though more concentrated while showing more baking spice and oak. It shows more floral notes in the mouth and is hotter due to the higher alcohol content. The finish is longer, warmer and shows more floral and baking spice.

If you’ve had Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon then…

Bulleit Bourbon: shows more cinnamon candies and less cocoa on the nose. The mouth is much less floral with a finish that is slightly shorter and less spicy.

Bulleit Barrel-Strength is: sweeter and less floral on the nose but shows more cinnamon. The mouth is sweeter and hotter with less oak presence. The finish is longer and warmer.

If you’ve had Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon then…

Bulleit Bourbon is: similar on the nose, though it does show more black tea. The mouth is much less hot, with less spice but seems sweeter because of that. The finish is shorter. 

Bulleit 10 Year is: Oakier on the nose. The mouth has less heat but more oak and cocoa notes. The finish is shorter, with less heat, but is more floral. 

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Buffalo Trace Store pick: Westport Whiskey & Wine

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Back in September, I met up with a fellow blogger for his first trip to the Party Source. It's in the Kentucky part of the Cincinnati Metro area, and he'd just moved to Ohio. We'd never met in real life before, and I'm always up for a bit of whiskey shopping, so I was more than willing to make the drive from Louisville to Cincinnati.

And boy did I fill my cart. I didn't get anything too special, but everything I did get was unavailable here in Minnesota, so that made it special to me. I must have bought like eight to ten bottles of bourbon. I doubt I spent more than $12 on most of them. It was fun. A lot of chatting. A bunch of shopping. Good times had all around. 

So of course, after heading back to Louisville, we decided that since we were driving right past Westport Whiskey and Wine that, well, we'd probably better stop in. I mean we are right there. It'd be a shame to have to drive all the way back over here, wouldn't it? (Not going to mention we were visiting a friend later in the week that lives about 15 minutes from there...)

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After we had convinced ourselves that this was, indeed, the best course of action we stopped in and took a look around. WW&W is not a huge mega-store. It's a nice sized store that has a decent selection and has had a private selection of one sort or another, every time I visit. I can't remember what we actually went in looking for, but I'm pretty sure we didn't find it. What I found instead was a liter bottle of a store pick Buffalo Trace. I hadn't picked up a Buffalo Trace for a while, so when they offered me a sample, I was pretty sure that I was going to buying it if it was at all good. And it was. It was very good. 

Or well as good as anything can be in a tiny disposable plastic shot glass. 

Buffalo Trace Private Selection, Westport Whiskey & Wine

Purchase Info: $37.99 for a one-liter bottle at Westport Whiskey and Wine, Louisville, KY.

Details: Barrel # 111, 45% ABV

Nose: Cinnamon sugar, crisp apples,and almonds.

Mouth: Fresh Green apple, almond, and baking spices rounded out by vanilla and oak.

Finish: Warm with lingering vanilla and apple. 

Thoughts: This is a tasty variation on the Buffalo Trace flavor profile. This is a good example of why I like store picks. 

If you've had standard Buffalo Trace, then the store pick is...

Fruitier on the nose with more prominent cinnamon. The mouth is softer with more fruit and spice, but with less pronounced almond notes. The finish is a little warmer. 

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If You've Had... Heaven Hill Bonded Bourbons edition

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Tonight I finally get around to presenting the If You’ve Had… that inspired the whole idea, Heaven Hill’s line of bonded bourbons. Heaven Hill has a lot of bourbons in their bonded stable. I believe I got all of the readily available ones (even if only in Kentucky). But in any case, there are enough that these were compared to one another over the course of a few days. 

As a refresher, the setup is like this: "If you've had Whiskey A then Whiskey B is..." hotter, spicier, sweeter, more floral, etc. Each section is written as compared to one of the whiskeys. So if you've had that one, but not the others then that section will be of the most use to you. Remember there are no value judgments here. You get to decide based on what you know of Whiskey A if Whiskey B sounds like something you'd want to try.

Up tonight are the ones I had on hand, or could buy locally, including: Evan Williams Bottled in Bond, JTS Brown Bottled in Bond, JW Dant Bottled in Bond, Heaven Hill (6 year old) Bottled in Bond, Old Fitzgerald (wheated) Bottled in Bond and Henry McKenna (10 year old, single barrel) Bottled in Bond. Your mileage may vary on that last one being a single barrel product.

If you’ve had Evan Williams Bottled in Bond then…

JTS Brown is: more grain forward on the nose, mouth and finish. The finish is more bitter. 

JW Dant is: more caramel forward on the nose. It shows more caramel and floral notes in the mouth and the finish is more tannic.

Heaven Hill 6 year Bottled in Bond is: fruitier on the nose. It’s sweeter, warmer and more complex in the mouth. And has a longer and warmer finish.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is: more floral on the nose. It is softer and sweeter on entry, but hotter and rougher on the finish.

Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled in Bond is: hotter and shows more oak on the nose. It is sweeter, hotter, fruitier and shows more oak in the mouth and has more oak on the finish.

If you’ve had JTS Brown Bottled in Bond then…

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is: oakier on the nose. It’s breadier and sweeter, showing more vanilla and caramel in the mouth and shows more oak on the finish.

JW Dant is: very caramel forward by comparison. It is sweeter, more caramel/toffee forward and hotter in the mouth. 

Heaven Hill 6 year Bottled in Bond is: softer and sweeter, showing more caramel and oak. The finish is warmer and longer

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is: softer and more flavorful on entry, transitioning to a hotter and sweeter experience as it moves back. It has a much longer and warmer finish.

Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled in Bond is: Spicier and fruitier on the nose. Sweeter and spicier in the mouth with a warmer finish.

If you’ve had Heaven Hill 6 Year Bottled in Bond then…

JTS Brown is: much more grain forward on the nose. More vegetal and grain forward, showing more ethanol on both the mouth and finish. 

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is: very similar on the nose. It shows more mint and baking spice in the mouth and has a shorter finish.

JW Dant is: sweeter on the nose. It shows more butterscotch pudding and baking spice in the mouth and has a more tannic finish.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is: sweeter in the nose. It shows more mint and is more grain forward on the mouth. The finish is much hotter.

Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled in Bond is: sweeter and a little more complex on the nose, showing more oak. It’s hotter with more oak flavors in the mouth and is hotter and longer on the finish.

If you’ve had JW Dant Bottled in Bond then…

JTS Brown is: more vegetal and rougher on both the mouth and finish. 

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is: less sweet on the nose. It’s maltier and shows more baking spices in the mouth. It’s less tannic on the finish.

Heaven Hill 6 year Bottled in Bond is: sweeter and fruitier with more caramel and oak in the mouth with a less tannic finish.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is: softer and sweeter on the nose. It is softer and less flavorful in the mouth and more vegetal on the finish.

Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled in Bond is: spicier and less sweet on the nose. Sweeter in the mouth and shows more oak. It’s hotter and oakier on the finish.

If you’ve had Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond then…

JTS Brown is: mintier, showing less caramel on the nose. It’s hotter and rougher on entry and shows more grain and baking spice in the mouth. The finish is more bitter. 

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is: less floral on the nose and shows more brown sugar and baking spice in the mouth. The mouth is hotter on entry but softer on the finish.

JW Dant is: much more butterscotch forward on the nose. It is sweeter and shows more butterscotch and baking spices in the mouth. The finish is longer with a lingering baking spice.

Heaven Hill 6 year Bottled in Bond is: softer on the nose. It is sweeter on the mouth showing more baking spice. The finish is less hot and harsh.

Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled in Bond is: fruitier with more oak on the nose. The mouth is sweeter, fruitier and shows more oak and baking spice. The finish is richer showing more oak and baking spice.

If you’ve had Henry McKenna 10 year Bottled in Bond then…

JTS Brown is: more grain forward on the nose, shows more grain and ethanol on the mouth and has a finish that shows more bitter grain flavors. 

Evan Williams Bottled in Bond is: similar on the nose but shows less oak. The mouth isn’t as sweet and shows more grain and baking spices. The finish is shorter.

JW Dant is: sweeter on the nose showing butterscotch and a touch of campfire smoke. It is less sweet on the mouth, even though Dant’s primary point of difference on flavor is more butterscotch. Dant has a softer, but more tannic finish.

Heaven Hill 6 year Bottled in Bond is: less sweet on the nose. It shows more sweet grains and less oak on the mouth and has a softer and less oak forward finish.

Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is: less spicy and more sugar sweet on the nose. It is softer and more grain forward on the mouth. It is hotter and more grain forward on the finish.

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