OF 1870 Sunday Evening Review

Old Forester 1870 Review

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This week I am reviewing Old Forester 1870 which has to be the least talked about bottle of the Whiskey Row series. The 1870 signifies the year that George Garvin Brown, founder of Old Forester, began blending or batching bourbon from 3 different distilleries from 3 different towns in an effort of creating consistency. Consistency is one thing but to mean anything it needs to be consistently good. Let’s find out if Old Forester succeeded.

 

Don’t forget to post in the comments any whiskey you would like me to review in the future.

 

NAME – Old Forester 1870

 

PROOF – 90 Proof

 

AGE – non-age stated (rumored at 4 – 4 ½ years)

 

COLOR – aged copper penny (1.5 auburn, polished mahogany on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Very fruit forward with the traditional Old Forester cherry note. Also, pear, orange zest, vanilla, oak, chocolate, and a little peanut.

 

TASTE – Oak comes on stronger on the palate, still the cherry, vanilla and now caramel comes to the party. Slight bit of tobacco and peanut drift in.

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium finish. Oak, tobacco, some bitter chocolate, and a very slight citrus note. Pretty good finish for how thin the mouthfeel is with this bourbon.

 

REVIEW – This is a good bourbon that is pleasant to drink and punches above its 90 proof weight. I do understand why it gets lost against the likes of Old Forester’s 1910 and 1920. If you have the full lineup don’t forget about this 1870 and even sneak it in with friends unknowingly and see what they think.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – The original batching of 1870 was done by Marianne (Barnes) Eaves when she was the understudy of Master Distiller Chris Morris of Brown-Foreman. Instead of coming from 3 distilleries from 3 different towns, this is blended coming from 3 different warehouses, each barrel originating from a different day of production, with a different barrel entry proof and a different age profile. This was the first release of the Whiskey Row Series.

To find out more, visit the Old Forester 1870 page.

You can look at all the past Sunday Evenings Reviews and I would still love to hear what your personal reviews are from each of the whiskies reviewed.

Hayner Bourbon Sunday Evening Review

Hayner Bourbon Review

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Who doesn’t love a comeback story? We have one for you today as I review Hayner Bourbon from Troy, Ohio. A distillery being brought back after 100 years of being dormant due to prohibition. Let’s fine out if it was worth bringing back.

 

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

 

NAME – Hayner Bourbon

 

PROOF – 90

 

AGE – non-age stated – but it is a blend of 13 year, 4 year and 3 year bourbon

 

COLOR – 14 karat gold (1.4, tawny on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Cherry pie crust, amber honey, vanilla, toasted oak, very slight tobacco and also corn bread

 

TASTE – At first taste at the very front is caramelized sugar like the crust on a crème brûlée, Traverse City cherries, pie crust, slight pecan with touch of cinnamon and rye spice. There is a toasted oak that finishes it off.

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium finish. A toasted oak stave with vanilla and caramel.

 

REVIEW – It’s always a crap shoot with brand new distilleries but this initial blended bourbon is really good. The blend is well done as you get notes from an older whiskey with the 13 year and then some of the youthful notes from the 3- and 4-year bourbons. For a 90 proofer it packs a lot of flavor, a very good nose and a decent finish.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – Want to thank Hayner Distilling for sending me this sample. Here is the story: 155 years ago Lewis Hayner opened a small distillery on the banks of the Miami River in Troy, Ohio. Hayner Distilling grew into one of the largest distilleries in Ohio and the largest mail order whiskey business in America. Known for their superior Bourbon and Ryes, Hayner was shipped directly to doorsteps all across America.  Like all distilleries Hayner Distilling closed in 1920 with prohibition. From a few surviving bottles we analyzed the original whiskey and working with Bardstown Bourbon Company created a blend complimentary to the original Hayner. (directly from website)

 

The first whiskey put out from its rebirth was June 4th of this year. They are brand new but seem to be doing a lot of things right. They are very transparent about their blend which is:

 

40% Kentucky 13 Year Bourbon

MASH BILL: Corn 74% / Rye 18% / Malted Barley 8%

 

25% Bardstown Bourbon Co. 4  Year Bourbon

MASH BILL: Corn 78%  / Rye 10% / Malted Barley 12%

 

20% MGPI 4 Year Bourbon

MASH BILL: Corn 51% / Wheat 45% / Malted Barley 4%

15% Bardstown Bourbon Co. 3 Year Bourbon

MASH BILL: Corn 60% / Rye 40%

 

Guessing there is an NDA on why they can say where the juice from the 13 year is from but if I was a betting man, I would say it is Heaven Hill. The transparency is absolutely great for those with a deep passion for bourbon that likes to see these things.

 

They also at the distillery location in Troy, Ohio will postmark the top of the bottle with a date that’s special to you such as the birth of a child, anniversary or any other date like when the next time either the Bengals or the Browns win a Super Bowl….Sorry, you have to win it once to have a next time. So, it would be when they win their first Super Bowl. Details, details.

 

Those that have signed up for the September meeting will get to taste this very bourbon then. I think you will like it.

To find out more check it out here – Hayner Bourbon

You can look at all the past Sunday Evenings Reviews and I would still love to hear what your personal reviews are from each of the whiskies reviewed.

Flatrock Corn Whiskey Sunday Evening Review

Flatrock Distilling Corn Whiskey Review

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Ohio continues to start new distilleries, and all have taken different paths to what they want their product to be. Today I’m going to review another distillery in Ohio that is taking a road less traveled. Flatrock Distilling is producing a Pot Distilled Sweet Corn Ohio Whiskey using a sweet corn mash. I was assured I have never tasted anything like this before. That can be good, or it can be really bad. Let’s see how this turns out.

 

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

 

NAME – Flatrock Distilling Corn Whiskey

 

PROOF – 100

 

AGE – non-age stated – but website says 1 year

 

COLOR – Brewed black tea (1.4, tawny on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Sweet fermented corn, grape jelly and a tickle of charred oak

 

TASTE – Corn bread with honey with grape jelly and again just a whisper of charred oak.

 

FINISH – I would call this a short to medium finish. The grape note runs to the end and then it turns a bit sour.

 

REVIEW – The shocking part of this bourbon is the color for a 1 year aged whiskey and its softness. With its age and being done in a pot still, many other whiskeys that young and distilled this way is harsh and spiky. This isn’t. The rest of this is not a type whiskey to drink neat. This is a cocktail or put in Coke type whiskey. With 100 proof it has the proof to stand up to being a cocktail or in Coke but it doesn’t have the complexity or age to be something you drink neat.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – First I want to thank Flatrock Distillery for providing me this to review. There is no doubt that the goal of Flatrock Distillery is not to be the next Pappy 23 or try and win San Francisco. They are taking a similar path as Smoky Mountain Moonshine but with higher proof and also not afraid to put out flavored whiskey that is also young. My guess is they will be popular where people want to support local and wouldn’t drink whiskey neat anyway.

To find out more check it out here – Flatrock Distillery

You can look at all the past Sunday Evenings Reviews and I would still love to hear what your personal reviews are from each of the whiskies reviewed.

COWS Makers Mark Private Selection

Maker’s Mark Private Selection “COWS Did It On The Lakeside” Review

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When you go to do a Maker’s Mark Private Selection it is an attack of the senses. Maker’s Mark is stunningly beautiful distillery and then when they took us to a newly finished tasting house that over looks one of the lakes that provides the water for Maker’s Mark, you needed to remember that you are facing the task of creating the best outcome out of 1001 different possibilities. You also remember that this will be going into the Community Batch that raises money for the Lee Initiative.

 

Time to put on the game face!

 

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

 

NAME – Maker’s Mark Private Selection “COWS Did It On The Lakeside”

 

PROOF – Waiting for the final number and will update when I get. Probably about 111

 

AGE – non-age stated but Maker’s Mark Cask ages around 6 years and then the staves rest in the barrel for 9 weeks in a temperature-controlled limestone cellar

 

Stave Profile – 2 – Baked American Pure, 3 – Seared French Cuvee, 2 – Maker’s Mark 46, 2 – Roasted French Mendiant, 1 – Toasted French Spice

 

COLOR – dark toasted oak (1.4 tawny on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart)

 

NOSE – Sweet caramel, cherry pipe tobacco, newly tanned leather, dried plums, hint of Hershey chocolate

 

TASTE – Sweet Montmorency dried red cherries, pear, toffee into a caramel syrup, chocolate chips in a crème brulee, tanned leather and a sweet tobacco. There is also a charred oak that finds its way in the back of the palate. An oily and viscus mouth feel.

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium to long finish. The cherry and chocolate runs to the end with the tobacco, leather and charred oak.

 

REVIEW – One of the goals that we went into the exercise was to make this a complex and well-rounded bourbon but also, we wanted ours to be viscus that many times is missing in several of the Private Selections as groups chase certain taste profiles. You could tell they don’t hear that very much when we specifically wanted a oily and viscus mouth feel. I feel the group wildly succeeded in our pursuit. I would put this Private Selection up against any of them and as we know there are a lot of good ones out there. The thing about this that separates it from the pack is it is more than a 1 or 2 trick pony and leaning into making sure the entire experience was considered.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – First I want to thank Maker’s Mark for giving us an incredible experience, allowing us to put together this ridiculously good bourbon and for adding this to their Community Batch. Our goal and my hope is this bottle will provide an attack on the senses for you like what we experiences at Maker’s Mark if you are lucky enough to get one.

To find out more check it out here – Maker’s Mark Private Selection

You can look at all the past Sunday Evenings Reviews and I would still love to hear what your personal reviews are from each of the whiskies reviewed.

4 Different Good Times Bourbon Expressions Reviewed

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This is going to be a little bit of an off-profile type review this week as I get to explore some Good Times Bourbon thanks to the samples provided by Alex Cinovoj. This is going to be an adventure for me as I have never had or know much about Good Times Bourbon, but I sure hope they are DYNOMITE!

 

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

 

I will be reviewing 4 different expressions from Good Times. They are:

 

NAME – Murder Hornet Peach

 

PROOF – 120

 

AGE – 6 year rye and then finished in peach brandy barrels

 

COLOR – 1.2 cheastnutplorsoso sherry on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart

 

NOSE – Brown sugar with canned peach syrup. Also, a floral note along with a light honey

 

TASTE – Not a shock that it is canned peaches in syrup right at the start. A little bit of that grassy note letting you know it is a rye.

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium finish. The peach doesn’t stay in the finish, and you are just left with the grassy note.

 

NAME – High Honey Corn

 

PROOF – 118

 

AGE – 8.5 year MGP High Corn mashbill finished in honey barrels

 

COLOR – 1.4 tawny on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart

 

NOSE – Roasted sweet corn on the cob, vanilla, honey, sweet tobacco

 

TASTE – Honey is subdued on the nose but not the palate. Big blast of wildflower honey in the front. After the initial blast vanilla, corn pudding and toasted oak. This is viscus and a creamy mouth feel.

 

FINISH – I would call this a medium to long finish. The vanilla and toasted oak linger until the end.

 

NAME – Homer WINO

 

PROOF – 114

 

AGE – 5.5 year MGP 45% wheat mash bill finished in Tawny Port wine barrels

 

COLOR – 1.3 russetmuscat on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart

 

NOSE – Butterscotch, milk chocolate, vanilla, toasted oak

 

TASTE – Butterscotch, bitter dark chocolate, vanilla, almond, age toasted oak

 

FINISH – I would call this a long finish. Do not get any of the grape notes of the tawny port barrels until the end. Aged oak is also there at the end.

 

NAME – The Rat Pack

 

PROOF – 120

 

AGE – 5 Year MGP 51% rye finished in Grand Marnier cask with Luxardo cherries

 

COLOR – 1.6 mahogany, henna notes on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart

 

NOSE – Milk chocolate candy with the orange flavored center, toasted oak, peanut, tart cherry, a dash of cocoa

 

TASTE – Some caramel, milk chocolate, oak, slight orange. Really need to dig to find any cherry.

 

FINISH – I would call this a long finish. The bitter chocolate and tobacco

 

 

REVIEW –The best of the bunch was by far is Homer WINO. The other three are playful expressions that I would put in the “dessert whiskey” category. Sweet and pleasant but not much attention to balance. Liked the proof points on all. Homer WINO is a legit finished whiskey. There is balance and complexity. I’m also impressed that they didn’t feel it had to be a tawny wine bomb to be good.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – Again thanks to Alex Cinovoj for these samples. I really compare this to the craft beer scene. Everyone is in the space trying to stick out from the crowd in a very very crowded craft beer scene. Bourbon is also getting crowded and some of the same things I have seen with craft beer is now coming into bourbon. Not all is bad but not all is good either. It is also all to personal taste. You ate a barbeque dinner, and you are settling around a fire for the night, nothing wrong with the Murder Hornet Peach to just chill with. None of these are going to win any prestigious awards or be respected by bourbon aficionados but that is okay. You may try one and say, “This is DYNOMITE!”

To find out more check it out here – Good Times Bourbon

You can look at all the past Sunday Evenings Reviews and I would still love to hear what your personal reviews are from each of the whiskies reviewed.

Whiskey War DO Batch 2 - Does it stack up

Whiskey War Doubled Oaked Batch 02 Review

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For a couple years whenever, someone said there was no good bourbon coming out of Ohio. First, I would look at them a bit sideways but then I would tell them to go to High Bank and get a pour of the Whiskey War Double Oaked. That ended the discussion. For me it was the bar for all Ohio whiskey to measure to. Now Master Distiller Adam Hines is ready to put out Batch 2 of the Whiskey War Double Oaked. The big question now, will it stack up?

 

I’m going to compare it to Batch 1 Whiskey War Double Oaked (Batch 1) and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition Blended Whiskey of the Year Whiskey War Barrel Proof Batch 12 (BP Batch 12). I know, I have a hard job.

 

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

 

NAME – Whiskey War Doubled Oaked Batch 02

 

PROOF – 100 (Batch 1 – 100 proof and BP Batch 12 – 117 proof)

 

AGE – no age statement – website says 2 1/2 years old in original barrel and then spends another 18 months in a new oak barrel for a total of at least 4 years.

 

COLOR – reddish bronze (1.5 tawny on the Whiskey Magazine Color Chart) (Batch 1 is identical color and BP Batch 12 is a shade lighter 1.4 copper)

 

NOSE – This is rye forward on the nose. Caramel drizzled pretzel, Madagascar vanilla bean, toasted oak and Grenadine.  (Batch 1 nose is very different. Butter, caramel, deep oak and even a balsamic note.  BP Batch 12 has more in common than Batch 1 on the nose. Batch 2 has just a bit more oak and overall, slightly deeper notes than BP Batch 12)

 

TASTE – Hello caramel and oak. Big blast of both right up front. Then comes the cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, peanut shell and cigar tobacco (Batch1 has different sweetness. Closer to butterscotch. It is buttery and more of a cherry note. BP Batch 12 again similar notes to Batch 2. Batch 2 just has just a deeper profile and fuller taste profile)

 

FINISH – I would call this a long finish. The oak stays along with cigar tobacco dipped in simple syrup. Very pleasant finish that leaves no bitterness at the end. (Batch 1 also has a long finish but is more leather, tobacco and caramel.  BP Batch 12 again with a long finish with more of charred oak, tobacco, and some peanut)

 

REVIEW – If you know Hines, you know he doesn’t want to do the same thing and is always tinkering in an effort to find something even better. Its why a 3-year-old distillery won arguably the most prestigious whiskey competition in the world. Its why this Double Oaked product is not a carbon copy of Batch 1. Its different no doubt, Hines knew that and was fine with it. If you have been trying to find, now one of the hardest to find bottles in the game, Barrel Proof Batch 12 and just want the knob turned up to 11 on the flavors and an even longer better finish, this is your jam.

 

FINAL COMMENTS – I appreciate High Bank for giving me this bottle to review. What I also appreciate is what Hines has done for Ohio whiskey. He has forced all Ohio whiskey distilleries to up their game and force them not to be happy with the status quo. I will also tell you another thing, the next batch of Double Oaked won’t taste like the other 2 and to me that is fine. As a consumer if I want the same, I will buy Wild Turkey 101 and know it will taste the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. One of the reasons a lot of people reading this has more than 1 bottle of whiskey on their shelf is because they like variety. That is what Hines has done with all of his different varieties. He has the guts to try things like blending whiskey with port wine, finish whiskey with a wine barrel no one has ever heard of in the Sangiovese finished and, in this case, not put out a facsimile of a previous batch. To me that’s the way I like things to stack up.

 

If you would like this product, it will be released to the public for sale online and in our retail shop starting at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 22nd. The bottles must be picked up in person at our retail shop located at High Bank Distillery Co. in Grandview at 1051 Goodale Blvd. The price per bottle is $64.99 with a limit of 2 bottles per person in what is an expected high demand. Find out more here Double Oaked Batch #2 Release — High Bank Distillery Co. (highbankco.com) 

To find out more check it out here – High Bank Distillery

You can look at all the past Sunday Evenings Reviews and I would still love to hear what your personal reviews are from each of the whiskies reviewed.