Review – M&O Smoking’ in the COWS Room by Todd Sarver

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One of the great opportunities with COWS is to get truly unique experiences. We are not aware of any other group that is taking the barrels from barrel picks and filling them with another distillery’s distillate to create unicorn bottles. COWS did this recently with High Bank and created a popular bottle.

COWS is doing it again with M&O Spirits in Ashville, Ohio. You will recall in May 2022, COWS released its Bulleit pick, “Fruity and the Yeast” – which was, as the name suggests, was heavy on the fruit and bread notes and was proofed at 104.

COWS then collaborated with Doug McLaughlin, the master distiller at M&O. We sampled a few barrels and settled on one of their Smoke whiskey barrels that had a prevalent nose and flavor profile of breakfast: maple syrup, waffles, vanilla notes.

And what better than to add some of fruit to breakfast – so we took the distillate in the M&O barrel and put it in the Bulleit barrel…and waited.

This release will be M&O’s first barrel strength single barrel – ever – and it’s a COWS pick.  As well as their first double barreled product.

NAME – M&O, Smokin’ in the COWS Room

PROOF – 123.1

MASH BILL – 58% Ohio corn; 14% Ohio rye; 10.5% Ohio wheat; 17.5% malted barley

COLOR – Old Oak (1.8 on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart) – very dark

NOSE – The maple and waffles (or pancakes if you are so inclined) hit you first followed by soft vanilla, almonds, light strawberry or sweet cherry, and a subtle oak. Given the proof, there is surprisingly little ethanol on the nose.

TASTE – This is extremely viscous. It hugs the glass and coats the tongue. The maple syrup and waffles hit right up front then dissipates into a light caramel as it hits the middle of the palate. There is a cinnamon note that runs from the front to the finish. The middle is where the fruit notes emerge – a light strawberry or sweet cherry glaze. The waffles continue to be present through the middle as well.

FINISH – I would describe this as a long finish. Basically, sit back and enjoy breakfast. The maple, fruit, nuttiness, waffles, cinnamon all continue or reappear. A wisp of smokiness also appears on the finish.

REVIEW – Mission accomplished. Imagine, if you will, sitting in a small-town diner on a Saturday morning ordering breakfast – and that is what is captured in this bottle.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – If you are not acquainted with M&O, you are missing out. They are generally open to the public on Saturdays from noon-4p, and it is worth the trip down to have Doug show you around and to sample their lineup.

We are very excited about this bottle. COWS will be holding a 4-course meal and with a tasting of an M&O product with each course led by M&O’s master distiller, Doug McLaughlin at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City. The event will be on Wednesday evening, May 17. Be on the lookout for reservations for this event being posted soon.

The Smokin’ in the COWS Room reservations will also be posted soon. If you attend the M&O event, you will be able to pick up your bottle(s) there.

COWS Yellowstone Single Barrel Pick by Joe Martyniuk

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This was an exciting pick for the COWS group as it was held outside at the Yellowstone facility in a gazebo overlooking their grain fields.  The fresh air, along with […]

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Review – High Bank, Trail of Unicorn Tears, Double Oaked Barrel Proof by Todd Sarver

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Let down by the OHLQ bottle lottery…again? Santa forget to drop that Pappy off at your place?  Well, here is your opportunity to catch a true unicorn. You will recall […]

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COWS Old Forester Single Barrel, Barrel Proof Pick Review by Todd Sarver

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While we all like surprises during the holiday season – the earlier than expected release of the COWS Single Barrel, Barrel Proof is a great way to ring in the New Year.  This pick, which COWS obtained when another group backed out, was the holy grail of picks for the COWS founder, Eric Smith.  Accordingly, it is appropriately named: “COWS Founder’s Favorite.” While it is hard to go wrong with an Old Forester Barrel Proof pick, we think this one is truly special.

Make sure you put in the comments any bottles that you would like me to review.

NAME – Old Forester Single Barrel, Barrel Proof

PROOF – 131

AGE – 5 years, 9 months

COLOR – Auburn, polished mahogany (1.5 on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

NOSE – There is a lot going on.  Right up front there is Banana Foster with a coating of brown sugar and a French Vanilla cream.  The sweetness is balanced out by soft worn leather and oak char.

TASTE – The palate is complex and a fun ride.  This is a very buttery bourbon with a great mouth feel. On the front I get a creamy banana pudding with a sprinkle of brown sugar.  That transitions into a chocolate covered cherry note in the middle before fading into a leather note on the back. The banana note reappears as well.  While you certainly get some heat from the proof point on this pick – it does not drink like a 130+ proof bourbon

FINISH – I would describe this as a longer finish.  While the oak and leather notes linger on the back, after a little bit a soft banana note reappears.  You certainly get some peppery spice notes, but it is not overwhelming.

REVIEW – Again, it is hard to go wrong on an Old Forester Barrel Proof pick.  We had 3 barrels to choose from.  And while it was a tight vote initially between barrels 2 & 3, our pick (barrel 3) had a much more complex and unique aroma and taste profile and the higher proof point.  Ian, our Old Forester guide on the pick, commented that he liked our pick as it has a unique profile versus the usual Old Forester.  This is one you will definitely not want to miss.

FINAL COMMENTS – The mash bill for Old Forester is 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley.  With that level of rye, this is generally regarded as a “high rye” Kentucky bourbon.  While you get some heat from the rye and the proof point, overall this is a complex, balanced pour.

Reviewed by Todd Sarver

Ezra Brooks COWS Pick Review

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Watershed Bourbon Wine Barrel Pinot Noir Cask Finished Review

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Sunday Evening Review

 

This week’s review is for a limited release from Watershed Distillery that will be available at their upcoming 1st Annual Booty Hunt on October 29th. This Watershed Bourbon finished in Pinot Noir barrels. So without further ado I will stick out my pinkie and get to sipping.

 

Make sure you put in the comments any bottles that you would like me to review.

 

NAME – Watershed Bourbon Pinot Noir Wine Barrel Finished Whiskey

 

PROOF – 94

 

AGE – No age statement did get from the distillery that it is at least 6 years old, 3 years in its home barrel and at least 3 years in the Pinot Noir cask

 

COLOR – rose gold (1.7 burnt amber on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Canned plums syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla ice cream, sweet oak, aged leather

 

TASTE – Raisins, aged oak, leather, tobacco leaf, and baking spices

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium finish. This is where you taste the Pinot Noir influence with a dry dark red wine note. The length of this finish at 94 proof is pretty impressive.

 

REVIEW – To be honest thought that due to the 3 years in a Pinot Noir Cask it would taste like a high proofed wine. It does not at all and shocked by just the slight wine notes that come in for me in the finish. This is a very enjoyable pour but to distinguish individual tasting notes was very difficult. It seems to have several notes melding together to create its own experience.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – This bottle was given to me to review by Watershed Distillery. Also as mentioned before, Watershed is having an event on October 29th from 8am to 2pm called the Booty Hunt. There will be a raffle for empty bourbon barrels, rare bourbon bottles and also some local vendors. Here is what they said about the event:

 

Join the hunt for unique products, limited releases, and other one-of-a-kind Watershed rarities available one day only while supplies last. See you tharr!

 

Here is the link for more information – Watershed Booty Hunt | Watershed (watersheddistillery.com)

Whiskey War Double Oaked COWS Pick “D.O. or Die” Review

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Sunday Evening Review

 

There is only one time you can be first and the COWS got that chance and took it. The COWS are the first public barrel pick with the High Bank Distillery. The group got to pick a Whiskey War Double Oak barrel and now it is time to let you know what we picked taste like. Stay tuned until the end with information of when and where you will be able to get yours.

 

Make sure you put in the comments any bottles that you would like me to review.

 

NAME – Whiskey War Double Oak Single Barrel – “D.O. or Die”

 

PROOF – 100

 

AGE – 5+ years (oldest juice to come out of High Bank so far)

 

COLOR – Dark Amber (1.6 mahogany, henna notes on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – The signature Whiskey War ginger note along with vanilla crème, saddle leather, aged oak, butterscotch, raisins and toasted almonds.

 

TASTE – Right away you notice that this whiskey coats your tongue like a thick syrup. The ginger is still there but it climbs into the backseat to let sweet caramel, vanilla bean, raisin and leather drive. The aged oak is still there along with a hint of dark chocolate, roasted coffee, and cinnamon.

 

FINISH – I would call this a long finish. Sit back for awhile as this finish lingers for a good bit of time. The dark chocolate, caramel and rye spice linger and linger.

 

REVIEW – This is a very good double oaked whiskey that doesn’t get overly sweet like some do from other distilleries. There is enough spice and earthy notes that ride along with the sweet notes to make it very interesting and highly enjoyable. The finish is something to behold on a 100 proof whiskey that isn’t even 6 years old yet. It is long and very enjoyable. In my opinion the best double oaked Whiskey War to come out of High Bank Distillery.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – If this review isn’t enough for you, here is the tasting notes from Adam Hines the Master Distiller of High Bank Distillery:

 

Sweet vanilla caramel nose with notes of leathery oak. Accompanied by a sugary white pepper caramel that ends with a raisin and mint tea finish.

The COWS have been honored and lucky to get some pretty exciting experiences. This is one of the biggest honors when the distillery comes to you and ask you to be the first to do a barrel pick with one of, if not the, hottest distillery in America after winning best blended whiskey at the San Francisco World Spirits competition 2 years in a row. This will absolutely be a bottle that you will want to have in your collection for numerous reasons. The price for the bottle is $69.99 plus tax and the link to purchase this will hit the COWS Facebook group page at 11am on Friday, October 21st. There will be a limit of 1 bottle on the first day to give everyone a chance to get this special bottle. The nice part is you can go to High Bank Distillery right after purchasing online and pick up the bottle. All bottles will need to be picked up at High Bank Distillery and there will not be any special arrangements for pick up or delivery that can be made by High Bank Distillery or the Central Ohio Whiskey Society.

Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Review

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Sunday Evening Review

 

This week SER reviews a newer release from Fred B. Noe Distillery, Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well 184 months aged (15 years for those mathematically challenged) edition. This came in with a fair bit of fanfare. Let’s find out if it holds up to the hype.

 

This review was a request from a member so make sure you put in the comments any bottles that you would like me to review.

 

NAME – Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well

 

PROOF – 108

 

AGE – 15 years but this is a blend of 15 year and 16 year bourbon

 

COLOR – Aged Hickory bark (1.8 old oak on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Classic scents are here in spades. Caramel, cinnamon stick, vanilla, aged oak but I think the classic cherry note leans more to a strawberry taffy. There is the smell of a tobacco barn, some maple syrup and roasted coffee beans.

 

TASTE – The age of this whiskey shows on the palate. Old oak, leather, tobacco, along with cinnamon, maple syrup and raisins.

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium finish. Slight disappointment is this whiskey is thinner than expected for a 15 year bourbon and I think it hurts the length of the finish. That said it is very pleasant. Aged oak, roasted peanut, and leather linger until the end.

 

REVIEW – Don’t know if this is influenced by something but this is what I think Baker’s would taste like if it was 15 years old. That’s a very good thing. Makes since as the proof if very close and both from Beam. I appreciate the tamed down Beam peanut in this whiskey and all the darker notes that I really enjoy.  Really the only think that makes this a very good bourbon versus a spectacular bourbon is the mouth feel and longer finish.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – Here is from the press release for Hardin’s Creek:

 

Hardin’s Creek is an ongoing series of annual releases, featuring some of James B. Beam Distilling Co.’s rarest and most unique liquids and grounded in the rich experience and distilling expertise of James B. Beam Distilling Co. Each set of releases will showcase the breadth and depth of the James B. Beam Distilling Co’s whiskey-making credentials inclusive of age, blending, mash bill, distillation, barrels, rackhouse locations, and more. This year’s inaugural Hardin’s Creek series will launch with two expressions: Jacob’s Well™ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a thoughtful blend of two ultra-aged bourbons, and Colonel James B. Beam™ Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a carefully crafted young whiskey.

 

The Fred B. Noe Distillery was thoughtfully named after seventh-generation Master Distiller Fred Noe, with the intent of producing new-to-world innovative products as part of the next generation of whiskey such as Little Book® and Booker’s®. On May 12, 2022, Freddie Noe was officially named the Master Distiller of the Fred B. Noe Distillery, announced by his father Master Distiller Fred Noe. This is significant as it is the first time in Beam history that there are two family members, working alongside one another, sharing the Master Distiller title at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. homestead in Clermont, KY.

 

Today the Beam name is synonymous with bourbon, and that all started with Johannes Jacob Beam, the forefather of America’s first family of bourbon. In 1795, Jacob Beam set down roots in the foothills of Western Kentucky. He started with a sturdy but humble well to draw water from a nearby creek. That water powered a mill – the mill to grind fields of corn – which formed Jacob Beam’s earliest mashes. That creek – Hardin’s Creek – became the first source of his family’s enduring legacy.

Knob Creek Rye Barrel Pick Review

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NAME – Knob Creek Single Barrel Rye – “COWS Did It On The Creek, Too”

AGE – 9 Years
PROOF – 115
NOSE – Vanilla, sweet oak, rye spice, toasted brown sugar

TASTE – Your nose doesn’t lie to you on this one. Right up front you get a nice mix of vanilla and rye spice. As the vanilla and rye spice subside, hints of sweet oak and toasted brown sugar make their way in. Up to this point, you’d think you have a really solid traditional Rye. Just know, you better buckle in for the finish.

FINISH – I would call this a medium to long finish. The finish is what brings this rye full-circle. The vanilla, oak, and rye spice hang around to finish it off. But just when you think you’re ready for that tight Kentucky hug of a deep rye finish, a surprising sweet note comes in with hints of Granny Smith apple and dark Bing Cherry. Those notes hang around with the rye spice to give this juice a very well-rounded finish.

REVIEW – After much deliberation, we decided on the juice that will be coming to the COWS. I believe the exact words from the group were something like “This one isn’t like the rest. This one is special.” I think our pick team was right on it with this one. This is a rye that up until the finish is a great rye and then that well-balanced, sweet & spice finish bring this juice to another level.

FINAL COMMENTS – After a great experience (lunch, in-depth tour and even a pull of new malted Rye straight from the still at the Fred B. Noe Distillery) we decided on a name that is a nod to Beam Suntory (parent company of Jim Beam & Maker’s Mark) & our previous pick at Maker’s Mark. That’s where get “COWS Did It On The Creek, Too”. This was a great experience with a great pick team, I hope everyone is ready for a fantastic rye to make it to the COWS.

Thanks to the review from Alex Odenweller, our fabulous leader of the pick team for this great rye.

Castle & Key Bourbon Review

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Sunday Evening Review

 

This week as I made my way down to do an Ezra Brooks Cask Strength barrel pick at Lux Row I was forced to storm the castle (walk into the gift shop) of the Old Taylor Distillery that is home of Castle & Key. I went to pick up the fairly recently released bourbon that is now on batch 3. Not many liked the first batch as I heard. Let’s see if they figured anything out and batch 3 is the charm.

 

Make sure you put in the comments any bottles that you would like me to review.

 

NAME – Castle & Key Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon

 

PROOF – 96

 

AGE – 4 years

 

COLOR – autumn hay (1.3 russet muscat on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Lemon tart, powder sugar, toasted corn bread, caramel ice cream topping

 

TASTE – Cooked caramel, toasted oak, vanilla ice cream, lemon zest, croissant, rye spice, slight floral notes

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium finish. The caramel, oak and a pepper note continue through the end. Gets a bit drying at the end. Just enough you want another sip.

 

REVIEW – This is summer in a glass. A lot of lemon citrus throughout the nose and the palate. For 96 proof and only 4 years old thought it was pretty oily and really clung to the sides of the glass. For $50 this juice along with a very thick and beautiful bottle presentation is more than worth it on this batch. We are nearing the end of summer and this is the perfect bourbon to take you into fall.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – The mash bill is 73% White Corn, 10% Rye, and 17% Malted Barley. This would have been put in the barrel back when Marianne Eaves was still the master distiller.

 

This is the first proprietary bourbon to be distilled and released by Castle & Key from the historic Old Taylor Distillery in nearly five decades. Castle & Key has been more widely known as a contract distiller, working with brands like Pinhook and more recently Blue Run.

 

To me the only other distillery the rivals Castle & Key for the beauty of the grounds is Maker’s Mark. This place is a must visit even if who are with is not into spirits at all. By the way you can rent the grounds for a wedding or other event for $40k if you’re interested.