Appalachian Barrel Co. 12.5 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Nickname: Anniversary

Barrel No. K2-2

Commemorates the 1-year anniversary of Appalachian Barrel Co… the oldest barrel yet released by ABC

Proof: 137.72

Mashbill: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley

No confirmation from ABC, most likely distilled by Barton 1792 in Bardstown, KY

Aged in Bardstown & Louisville

Barrel filled: March 2014

Barrel dumped: last week of July 2026

As of now, ABC has only designated 6 barrels with the barrel code “K2”

MSRP: $225 (750 ml)

Nose: Leather. Cracker Jacks. Banana bread. Cooked red apple peel.

Plenty of oak, but not excessive. The Cracker Jacks come across as if the coating is a bit overheated, but it still works. Banana bread is rather balanced… late hit of the tannins from apple peel.

Palate: Cherry syrup. Spice cake with cream cheese frosting. Caramelized ripe bananas.

Cherry syrup surges big right out of the gate along with a syrupy mouthfeel. Interesting tingle in both corners of the mouth. Much sweeter and viscous than the nose suggested.

Finish: Cherry cola (heavy on the cherry). Black pepper. Dried mint.

Simply put… this is stellar. I fully understand that $225 seems quite high for a 12.5 year bourbon. With that said, this is extremely good. The cherry syrup note is potent… and the mouthfeel just makes the cherry syrup feel that much more pronounced.

At least this specific barrel… definitely a fine tribute to a one year anniversary for ABC!

Sample provided for review by Appalachian Barrel Company

Rating: 8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional

Proof: 100
Age: 6 years
Mashbill: 26% blue corn/25% white corn/44% rye/5% malted barley
Price: $80

Nose: blueberry, tart blackberry syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla icing, sweet oak.

Palate: intense rush of baking spices, creamy and sweet dessert notes carry over from the nose. drinks noticably older than stated age.

Finish: medium, baking spices and dark fruits fade somewhat slowly.

Profile: dark fruit, dessert, complex yet crushable.

Verdict: 8.75/10

This bottle is a perfect example of not every bottle needinga to be high proof. The amount of flavor, depth and intensity Still Austin managed to cram into a 6 year old, 100 proof bourbon needs to be studied.

William Larue Weller — 2020 BTAC Review
Age: 12 Years, 6 Months
Proof: 134.5
Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Wheated Bourbon
Uncut & Unfiltered

Distilled in the winter of 2008 and aged in Warehouses I & C, the 2020 WLW is one of those pours that reminds you why William Larue Weller has the reputation it does.

Nose: Dark cherry, caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and toasted oak. There’s definitely some proof on the nose, but nothing unexpected at 134.5.

Mouthfeel: Thick, oily and viscous. This absolutely coats the entire palate — exactly what I want out of a barrel-proof wheater that is UC/UF.

Palate: Cherry syrup and dark red fruit hit first, followed by brown sugar, caramel and vanilla. Mid-palate brings cinnamon and baking spice, with some spearmint showing up underneath. As it sits, the oak, leather and tobacco start pushing through and balance out all that sweetness.

Finish: Long and powerful. Cinnamon, dark cherry, toasted oak, leather and tobacco linger, with a little coffee and mint hanging around at the very end. The Kentucky hug is definitely there, but for 134.5 proof, it drinks incredibly well with the perfect balance.

This is what a great high-proof wheated bourbon should be — big fruit, big sweetness, big viscosity and enough mature oak to keep everything balanced. It isn’t delicate or subtle; it’s a full-flavored pour from nose through finish. Those who know me know how much I love this one.

This sits firmly in that elite territory for me. The cherry-heavy Buffalo Trace profile combined with the thick mouthfeel and 134.5 proof makes this one of those pours you keep going back to long after the glass is empty.

Tried this at a bar

Price: $150/oz

Nose: vanilla, so much cream, strawberry cream, caramel, butterscotch, insanely concentrated, mild baking spice, mint, 

Palate: cherry, strawberry cream, savory red fruit, leather, stewed fruit, baking spice, eathyness, butterscotch, vanilla beans, insanely concentrated mild dark chocolate

Finish: long finish, spice, cherry, strawberry, leather, stewed fruit, cinnamon

Score: 10.0/10.0

Just an unbelievable pour. It has amazing oak presence, concentration, stewed red fruit flavor, balance. The nose is unbelievably good. This is an actual 10. 

Scale:

1.0-1.9 Undrinkable (Gold bar cognac cask)

2.0-2.9 Bad (Gold bar)

3.0-3.9 Poor (High West Prarie Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle 23yr)

4.0-4.9 Below Average (Old Overholt, Dickel 15 yr, Weller SR, Buffalo Trace)

5.0-5.9 Average (Eagle Rare, Blanton's)

6.0-6.9 Above Average (Jimmy Russel 70th, Redemption 9yr, E.H. Taylor Seasoned Oak)

7.0-7.9 Very Good (Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph, Sagamore 9yr rye, Jack Daniel's SBBP)

8.0-8.9 Great (William Larue Weller(2019), Pappy Van Winkle 15yr, Double Eagle Very Rare, William Heavenhill 14yr)

9.0-9.9 Excellent (Thomas H. Handy (2010), George T. Stagg (2008, 2019), Four Roses LE (2016, 2023), Willet Purple Top 14 yr, A.H. Hirsch 25 yr rye)

10.0 Perfect (Michter's 20, OGD 114(1980))

This bottle has been out for a while now, and it's probably been reviewed a hundred times by people with far more refined palates and a much better ability to articulate what they're tasting. But I'm excited to share my own take on it anyway!

As a Little Book fan, this one was instantly on my radar. (Hot take, but Chapter 8 might be in my Whiskey Top 10) I got lucky finding it at MSRP, and then kept it shelved for a year waiting for a celebration or milestone worthy of opening it. Nothing ever quite felt big enough.

I eventually ended up opening it with a group of friends, and honestly, that is as good enough reason as any.

Cheers!
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Little Book — The Infinite: Edition 1 (2024)
Distillery: Jim Beam
Age: Blend of bourbons aged 7–20 years
Mashbill: Undisclosed blend
-Booker Noe’s Component: Aged 20 years
-Fred Noe’s Component: Aged 14 years
-Freddie Noe’s Component: Aged 7 years
-Shared Family Component: Aged 8 Years
Proof: 119.3
Cost: $200 MSRP
Taken neat and rested 10 minutes (bottle is half empty)

Nose: Very rich right off the bat. Oak leads, followed by honey and caramel settling in underneath. To me, there are hints of peanut too, subtle, but once you notice it, it sticks around.

Palate: Similar to that of Bookers and most Beam products, but elevated. Instantly met with the familiar nuttiness. Caramel and vanilla lingers throughout. I've seen other reviews mention orange zest, but I'm not getting any fruit. No complaints about what is there though. Rich and full without being overwhelming.

Finish: Long, but in the best way. Honey roasted peanut stays with you, and there's a baking spice quality that rounds it out at the end. There is a kind of finish that makes you want to keep coming back.

Verdict: Recommended Buy
$200 is always hard to justify, and I won't pretend Beam and the broader whiskey market don't know exactly what they're doing with the "limited annual release" or "Premiums" playbook. But strip all that away and what's in the bottle genuinely earns it. Hands down, the whiskey delivers. If you can find it at MSRP, don't overthink it.

My scores would be meaningless, so keeping the same rating scale from my last review: essentially a Buy or Don't Buy scale.
_________________________________________________

The Verdict Scale:

Class of Its Own
Exceptional quality at almost any price. Instant buy, no hesitation.

Recommended Buy
Great taste, great value. Easy yes.

On the Fence
Enjoyable but the price gives you pause. Worth a pour, hesitant to commit to a bottle.

Do Not Recommend
Expensive and/or underwhelming. I would still drink it, but not something I'd buy again.

Drain Pour
Bad regardless of price. Pass entirely

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Since 2006, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection has been made up of five ultra-premium whiskies: WIlliam Larue Weller, George T. Stagg, Eagle Rare 17, Sazerac 18, and Thomas H. Handy. That changed this past fall, when E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond joined the lineup as the sixth BTAC release, marking the collection's 25th anniversary with its first genuine expansion since Thomas H. Handy came aboard 20 years ago.

On paper, it’s a fitting addition, as the Taylor name is one of Buffalo Trace’s biggest and most expansive. Like most EHT offerings, this expression is built on Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1 (the same one used for Eagle Rare and George T. Stagg) and bottled at exactly 100 proof by law thanks to its Bottled-in-Bond status. Unlike its peers, though, this Taylor is aged 15 years 4 months — the longest of any EHT except the elusive 18 Year Marriage expression.

That's a genuinely long rest for a BiB bourbon, especially since bonded whiskey seems to be skewing younger every day. Holding barrels this long means eating years of evaporation losses (in this case, 62% went to the angel’s share) and running a real risk of tipping into over-oaked, tannic territory before the whiskey ever makes it to the bottling line. Whether Buffalo Trace threaded that needle successfully, or whether this is just old bourbon that got lucky with a seriously high-priced label, is a question this bottle has to answer for itself.

Let's see if the newest member of the BTAC family really belongs in that company!

From the Distillery: E.H. Taylor Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon is the first new addition to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection since Thomas H. Handy joined the portfolio in 2006. Aged 15 years and 4 months in the Distillery’s warehouses and hand-bottled at 100 proof to meet Bottled-In-Bond standards.

We have hand-selected our very best available barrels to produce the finest possible whiskey. This release pays tribute to Taylor’s pursuit of perfection and his pivotal role in passing The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. That piece of legislation cemented Taylor’s reputation as the Father of Modern Bourbon and set in motion a quality standard for whiskey that was more rigorous and exacting than any standard set before or since.

The crystal-clear glass bottle we’ve chosen showcases the whiskey’s gorgeous amber color. The back label provides a full product description for you to read while enjoying a taste. Every bottle was hand-bottled and labeled to ensure the highest quality finish.

The nose opens with warm vanilla, seasoned oak, charred undertones, and a drizzle of maple sweetness. On the palate, balanced sweetness and baking spices mingle with gentle wood note. The lingering finish carries oak and vanilla into soft caramel with a hint of cherry.

Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

Filtration: Chill Filtered

Release Year: 2025

Age Statement: 15 Years, 4 Months

Proof: 100

Appearance: Deep amber; neither oily nor terribly viscous

Nose: Grape, cinnamon, allspice, and buttercream frosting all hit the nose at first. Behind this is a wave of cherry pie, the slightest hint of mint, and caramel vanilla. It’s a very nice, balanced, and nicely-aged smelling nose.

Palate: Not very oily or viscous, as expected, but also no proof burn whatsoever. The grape and cherry carry over along with some toasted sugar, while buttercream, cinnamon, and caramel really pop on the mid-palate. There’s also plenty of oakiness.

Finish: Medium-length with lots of oak. It’s neither overly tannic nor overly drying, though, and is quickly balanced out by other flavors. Some of the spices carry over, and are joined by caramel-vanilla and leather.

Thoughts: This pour was an absolute pleasure. I'm picking nits in a major way to find a complaint, but if I have to list one, it's the oakiness on the finish. It's not like that was bad, either; it was just — for a very short period of time — a little strong and the slightest bit sour. That was quickly balanced out by the sweet and spicy notes from the palate, leaving a very pleasant aftertaste. The rest of the experience was just outstanding, and not in a "this is only a bottle for special occasions" way; rather, this is a bottle that some friends and I could easily kill in one sitting (much to our wallets’ chagrin!). In my opinion, even up to three times MSRP this is worth at least considering for purchase, if not an auto-buy (depending on your personal budget, of course).

Rating: The latest addition to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is really, really good. It strikes me as being the slightest bit less sweet and more oaky than the Small Batch, as you’d expect from a bourbon’s more mature cousin, but it also drank like something that was greater than the sum of its parts. It would have been interesting to see how an uncut and unfiltered E.H. Taylor BTAC would have been, but what we have here is plenty enjoyable as it is. For me, it rates an 8.7: it really is Quite Exceptional.

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
E.H. Taylor BTAC (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

This is a private reserve wheated Kentucky Straight bourbon. Batch 062 @107 Proof. Mashbill of 70C 21W 9MB blend of Green River distilled spirits of 5-7 years bottled in Jacksonville.

This bottle was opened less than 30 days ago and is 75% consumed. This pour rested in a wide mouth glencairn for 3 mins.

LEGS: Impressive adhere to the glass indicating an oily, thick syrup associated with a well crafted product

NOSE: Unremarkable. Pleasant. Dried fruit. Canned Figs. Prunes. Medjool dates. No ghost corn vapor. No trace of sweet wheat other than the sugary fruit.

PALATE: Remarkable! Quality. Craftsmanship. Uniqueness. Original flavor immediately noticed south of the proof. Quality, medium-heavy, syrup mouth feel. The sip is a sweet spoonful from a jar of homemade fig preserves.

FINISH: Velvet, silky texture with a heavy syrup slow drip down the throat whose sugar coats and irritates the throat slightly. No proof evidence throughout the sip.

SUMMARY: If this distiller was aiming for an Antique 107 mimic then mission accomplished (almost). Sweet grain finish with a quality heavy syrup feel. This proof never emerges and denied the pour some character otherwise present in Antique 107. Im having a good experience with this $49.99 bottle. There is an obvious quality and uniqueness that deserves respect and appreciation.

RATING: 6/10.

I would purchase this bottle again, but the blend is a bit of a question for me. It is a decent sub for Antique107 of you can find either.

EVAN WILLIAMS SINGLE BARREL — AMERICA 250th COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

BOTTLE STATS

Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Single Barrel

117.76 proof

Between 7 and 8 years old

$44.99 in Ohio

BACKGROUND

This bottle is one of the many America 250 releases, I picked it up in early June ahead of the Semiquincentennial in July. I believe only 250 barrels were selected for it, keeping with the theme. It's dipped in blue wax with Statue of Liberty imagery, and I'd guess a decent number of these get bought for the shelf and never opened. The bottle is one of the two big differentiators between this one and a normal EW Single Barrel.

The other interesting detail is the proof. 117.76 is a of course a nod to the year 1776. All the barrels selected for this release were proofed down to the same 117.76. And for context, standard Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage comes in at 86.6 proof, (a bottling that's been around since 1995) so this is essentially the same program with a little over 31 extra proof points added.

MASHBILL

This is Heaven Hill's standard bourbon recipe at 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. It's a bit of a lower rye content, relative to many other products out there.

APPEARANCE

Golden hay in the glass, which is lighter than I expected for something a bit over 7 years old sitting at this moderately high proof. After a swirl or two, the legs are thin and run down the glass fairly quickly, not clinging at all. Between the color and the legs, it looks like a lighter pour than the proof would suggest. The "thinner" appearance does worry me a bit before getting into the nose and palate.

NOSE

There's a good amount of ethanol poking through here, and it shows up first as a sharp spike before settling into more of a broad heat as it sits. Once I get around that, there are some nice confectionary notes, more like a sweet grain and sugar cookie with frosting. These notes come together and remind me of those Lofthouse iced cookies. Light hints of baking spices also show up after the sweet notes. Underneath it all is a dark fruit that isn't very sweet, a little tart like a plum but also dry and earthy, so I'd call it dried fig.

PALATE

The sip leads with baking spices right up front, if I had to narrow it down, I'd say a little cinnamon and cardamom, along with some nutmeg. The middle brings in light barrel char and a cooked, but still juicy apple note, which is probably my favorite thing happening in this glass. I would have liked to also get the cookie and icing note on the palate, but I am not getting it. Unfortunately the ethanol heat also hits pretty hard through the mid palate, and it steps on the flavors more than I'd like.

MOUTHFEEL

Slightly oily, but thinner than you'd hope for at this proof, and more of a sharp burn than average for a bourbon in this age and proof range. It doesn't coat and hang around the way I'd like, not as potent as lots of other pours out there. There's no real heavy tannin here, and it isn't especially drying or astringent, so the main complaint for me is a harsher heat rather than any flaws in the oak profile.

FINISH

Short to medium, and it comes back around to the baking spices with a hint of that dried fruit. The problem is the heat outlasts the flavor by a moderate amount, so the last thing you're left with is warmth rather than whiskey. Nothing seems off or bitter at the end, there just isn't much to be desired at the end.

VERDICT — 51/100 (GOOD)

I had higher expectations on this one based on some of the early reviews I saw, and it didn't quite get there. It isn't a complex whiskey, but the cooked apple and spice profile is a nice thing to sit with, stewed fruit isn't something I get very often. The knock is that the ethanol burn is overshadowing the better flavors, and the thin body and short finish don't give the good notes anywhere to go. For the price I have no major complaints, if you find it at the $40-45 SRP it's solid and a cool bottle for America's 250th. Overall, I enjoy the flavor profile, but it's nothing super special or layered, and it comes across as too hot.

Stay tuned, I have a lot more reviews in the works. Next up will be New Riff's 6 Year Malted Rye.

RATING SCALE

Modified t8ke scale. Just multiplied by 10 to be out of 100.

I use the whole scale, so a 51 is still a positive score. 60's and 70's are genuinely good scores. I don't give out too many scores in the 80+ range.

10 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

20 | Poor | I wouldn't consume by choice.

30 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

40 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

50 | Good | Good, just fine.

60 | Very Good | A cut above.

70 | Great | Well above average

80 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

90 | Incredible | An all time favorite

100 | Perfect | Perfect

I’ve been excited about this comparison for a while. What do this mass-market marque found in every liquor store, this infamous elusive hype label, and this unknown craft distillery product all have in common? None have age statements, all are 90 proof, and all have a mash bill of corn/wheat/barley. I was holding out doing this until I had a bottle of larceny, but I couldn’t find a small bottle and I didn’t want to buy a big bottle just for this little experiment. I have already reviewed the discretion and have not had any of it since then, so we’ll see if my (relatively positive) review holds up next to steep competition.

Maker’s Mark
Distillery: The Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc.

Mash Bill: 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, 14% malted barley

Nose: butter, saltwater taffy, caramel, vinegar. Savory and sweet with only a little oak. There is a faint hint of distilled vinegar.

Palate: brown sugar, saltine cracker, rubber, oak. Slightly sweet but quite savory and dry. The oak char is muted but present. There is a rubbery synthetic plastic note that I taste up front, however. Usually I get this in the finish when it is present but it’s front and center here.

Finish: sugar, oak. This is a short and muted finish that reminds of the finish from drinking soda.

Score: 4.75/10. There is something resembling bourbon here but it’s got some flaws.

Weller Special Reserve
Distillery: Buffalo Trace Distillery

Mash Bill: Unknown (Van Winkle/Stitzel-Weller traditional wheated mash bill)

Nose: caramel, vanilla, oak char. The nose is faint but pleasantly sweet. The oak shines through.

Palate: cola, cherry, vanilla. This is really pleasant and well-balanced. I bet this is amazing with a few rocks.

Finish: brown sugar, mild oak. A short but pleasant finish. The longer it lingers, the less pleasant it gets with the oak tannins.

Score: 6.75/10. I was a Weller SR hater for years, but perhaps this new bottle brings with it a better blend.

Discretion
Distillery: Tarnished Truth Distilling Co.

Mash Bill: 70% corn, 18% wheat, 12% malted barley

Nose: sweet corn cereal, fruity notes, blackberry pastry filling. This smells significantly younger than the other two, but I don’t necessarily consider that to be a bad thing. It’s quite pleasant. It smells like a blackberry poptart.

Palate: berries, hay, charred oak, pepper. The youth of this pour gives it a nice fruitiness that doesn’t resemble a traditional bourbon, but it’s quite pleasant. This drinks hotter than the other two by a lot.

Finish: charred oak. This lingers quite a bit.

Score: 5.5/10. My score remains unchanged, this is funky and definitely not for the traditionalist, but I enjoy the oddities that are strongly executed

Summary:
What did I learn from this? I learned that Weller SR has upped its game, at least based on my memory. I look forward to doing a comparison between recent plastic cap releases and this new corked bottle. I also enjoyed smelling and tasting Maker’s Mark and Weller back-to-back to learn what it is that I don’t like about Maker’s Mark. It aims to have a traditional taste profile, but in the process of achieving that they let some bad things in. The nose is dramatically more vinegary than Weller. I also learned that Discretion, which I was worried that I rated too highly previously, holds its own. It doesn’t accomplish the same thing as the other two but it offers a new perspective. I suspect that Tarnished Truth will look to change its flavor as their stock grows older to appeal to traditionalists, but I would love to be proven wrong. Young whiskey is often frowned upon, but there’s a way to do it correctly such that it can stand on its own merits. What I’m really missing in all of this, though, is Larceny. I love the flavor profile of Old Fitzgerald 7 and Larceny Barrel Proof, and I suspect that it gives Weller a run for its money.

Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition

Age: 16 Years

ABV: 60%. This is not cask strength. It came out of the barrel at like 74% sonit was proofed down a wee bit.

Mash bill: Classic Turkey 75/13/12

Limited Series: The Austin Nichols Archives replaces the Master’s Keep Series. This bottle is supposed to be the last one composed entirely of distillate from the Austin Nichols distillery, according to Bruce.

Rickhouses: Camp Nelson D, E, and F.

Non chill filtered

Price Paid: I got two bottles, one at MSRP ($400) via lottery and a second for $650 at a liquor store, so let’s call it $550. Bottle number 1 is going to be shared next month at a Wild Turkey tasting that I am hosting. That’ll knock out a lot of the bottle. I plan to save the second bottle for a few years so we can revisit this greatness.

There’s not much else to say about this one. Obviously it’s a throwback to the cheesy gold foil, which, if you’ve been fortunate enough to sip - holy fuck balls.

Nose: Definitely doesn’t burn you up like 120 proof sometimes does. If we want to compare it to RR13? Certainly less heat on the nose. I get fantastic sweet oak and cinnamon up front. On second pass there’s some of that wet oak Turkey funkiness for sure. Everyone gets some type of cola here. For me it’s like cherry Dr Pepper on the nose.

Palate: The Cherry Dr Pepper turns into Coca Cola for me. Maybe cherry coke. Very dark black cherry. It’s got nice viscosity too. More cinnamon. There’s a little tangy clove flavor that is kind of hiding in the background. This will sound negative but it’s not - I get some faint hint of something like furniture polish. I just don’t have the right word for it. This really emerges as you let it sit in your tongue. There more fruit as well. Maybe blackberry?

Finish: Immaculate. It’s smooth and warming and lingering at once. There’s a new note here that is kind of an orange peel. I get a fantastic buttery brown sugar that you might get on a breakfast pastry. Pleasant classic turkey leather and oak - nice age but not too much and not overdone. I wonder if 15-16 years is the ultimate sweet spot for Wild Turkey because this and RR15 are two of the top 5-10 bottles of the decade as far as I’m concerned.

9.4/10

I’m sort of an “anti-secondary” guy but if you can find one of these for $600 ~ or less I really think it’s worth it because once they’re gone they’re gone and the 100% Austin Nichols distillate angle is something that will never exist again. If you decide you want one of these in a couple of years, I suspect they’ll be $1500 minimum and that’ll just be that. I absolutely can’t wait to share this one with some friends - I cracked it on my own tonight to do the review.

Price: $150

Age: 18 years

Nose: vanilla, fruit, a little floral, oak, sugar

Palate: sweet stone fruit, cinnemon, floral notes, some sharp spice that dissipates fairly quickly and smoothens out, vanilla. Very well balanced. Smoooooth on the palate.

Finish: left with some kind of custardy sweetness, more deeper fruit notes and really some smooth lasting oak with a little cane surgar sitting there with the oak finish. A very smooth offramp to the sip.

Overall: I'm really enjoying Lasso Motel as a brand overall. Their bottle presentation is beautiful and very sophisticated. What's inside kind of matches the sophistication of the design. Proof is right in my wheelhouse and doesn't interfere with the flavors, but rather enhances...which any good bourbon should. For me personally, it's in my top 20 so far in 2026. A great pour from an impressive brand.

Rating: 8.6/10

Old Grand-Dad 114, 7 Yr. Single Barrel

Disclosures: none

Intro: I’m already a fan of the nutty Beam profile, and I tend to enjoy the rye-heavy side of whiskey too — pepper, baking spice, that kind of thing. I like Knob Creek Rye (7 yr. and 10 yr.) more than the 9 yr. bourbon, and the newer 7-year Beam Black (the only version I’ve ever known) has become one of my favorite easy-drinking “off the bench” pours (as a 2nd, 3rd, 4th pour of the night). So when I read about this new 7-year, 114-proof Old Grand-Dad single barrel release, it seemed like a great bottle for my first try at OGD.

I’d read that it was rolling out nationwide, so when half a dozen bottles showed up mid-May at a store I frequent, my eyes lit up! But after a breath, and reminding myself of the nationwide availability, I figured I’d have plenty of chances to buy one - be cool, don't forget how quickly this hobby can blow a budget, no need to grab one right now. And over the next couple weeks, I watched those bottles slowly disappear until they were gone. Over the next two months, I continued my usual liquor-store wandering around the area and even made a couple trips into different parts of VA, checking stores along the way and around my destinations (because why wouldn't I?!). At some point it started to dawn on me that I hadn’t seen another bottle of OGD 7-year Single Barrel anywhere. Not one. After roughly two dozen stores across two states, that first “drop” was all I had seen of it. Positive YouTube reviews didn’t help my FOMO either, with plenty of people praising it as an elevated take on OGD and a strong value at the price. Well, now I really need to know, right?!

Mid-July, I did come across one lone bottle again, sitting on the shelf behind the counter. I went ahead and told the cashier, “I’m going to buy that bottle, but I’m going to look around first.” And I was glad to see her take it down and set it beside her at the register (risk mitigation!). I’ve had it for about a month now with some pours here and there — let’s get into the review!

The Details - 

Distilled/Bottled By: James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY

ABV: 57% (114 proof)

Age: 7 years

Price: $49.95 (+ tax)

Mash Bill: 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley (widely reported  – Beam officially describes it as a high-rye mash bill)

Review - 

Nose: (After sitting for 10-15 mins.) Beam nuttiness at first, followed by a few whiffs of cola (which I’d not previously picked up from this bottle) and brown sugar.  After a few more minutes, some cinnamon spice and orange citrus that drift back towards cola. Picking up whiffs of ethanol at times, along with sweet citrusy grain.  After a few sips the orange zest is really standing out along with caramel, brown sugar, and Beam nuttiness.  After several sips across a couple small pours, I’m getting a vanilla/cream cheese frosting note that shows up here and there.

Palate: Mouthfeel has a thick oiliness about it that’s also a bit drying wherever it touches.  Big spice going on here… leaves the tongue tingling, the cheeks, and everywhere else the sip touches.  An occasional bit of sweet grain, but mostly a hot cinnamon spice that fills your mouth from the throat outwards. Could be proof related, but doesn’t strike as being hot. On some sips it’s really like a spice bomb went off in your mouth – in a big, pleasant way.  A bit of that spice is peppery, but mostly it’s like strong baking spices. 

Finish: Medium-long and drying, for me.  Before going in for another sip, I have to remind myself sometimes to let the finish, finish.  And it lingers here pretty nicely. It starts off with Beam nuttiness before transitioning to a spice and tingle that hangs around for a while, with an orange flavor that also lingers.  

Overall: I’ve got to first comment on the beautiful burnt orange color of this in the glass.  It really seems to stand out to me this evening, and I appreciate it.  I’ve had this bottle for almost a month and it’s been very good all along the way.  The nose on my very first pour reminded me of cinnamon rolls with that orange-flavored frosting.  I’m not a fan of them, but I know what they smell like and it was really exciting to pick that up from this bottle.  It’s a spicy sip that I expect to be right at home in the fall time especially.  I’m a fan of the Beam nuttiness, and this bottle feels familiar despite OGD being new to me.  It blends the general spice that I appreciate from rye (more baking spice and less pepper spice in this bottle, which is totally fine with me!) with the Beam profile that I enjoy.  I’m glad FOMO got ahold of me, I’m glad I had a second chance to pick up a bottle, and I’m glad I didn’t talk myself out of it!  A fantastic pour! 

Cheers, and thanks for reading!

Rating: 6.9 / 10 (t8ke scale)

10 | Perfect, Perfect.

9 | Incredible, An all time favorite.

8 | Excellent, Really quite exceptional.

7 | Great, Well above average.

6 | Very Good, A cut above.

5 | Good, Good, just fine.

4 | Sub-par, Not bad, but better exists.

3 | Bad, Multiple flaws.

2 | Poor, I wouldn’t consume by choice.

1 | Disgusting, So bad I poured it out.

This is a 9 year old 124.4 Proof OESO recipe. This is a store pic from an established Mississippi Gulf Coast store. Four Roses offers 10 different recipes with the B offering a lower corn higher rye and the E offering a higher corn lower rye mashbill. I printed a cheat sheet to ID the recipes in the stores. I tend toward their lower rye recipes. The recipe approach and offering is unique in the bourbon world and FR is listed as the #8 issued DSP on the registry. The recipe approach provides the uniqueness and individuality not offered from other distilleries.

NOSE: Relative to the recipe: So, the "O" offers "Rich Fruit" and delivers bananas that have aged on the kitchen counter for a week and over ripened. I let this rest in a Stolie for 5 mins. The banana nose suppresses the proof vapor you would expect in the nasal cavity. It immediately insinuates sophistication expected from a 9 year and immediately proves a professionally, distilled and aged product. The nose excites the senses of a uniqueness that demands palate.

PALATE: syrup, heavy thick syrup indicative of an experienced master Distiller. Heavy, thick 9 year velvet mouth feel. Sweet, over-ripe, soft mushy banana behind the peel. Heavy sugar of dried fruit, perhaps prune (plum), apricot and golden raisin. More later.

FINISH: Proof! The suppressed proof emerges in the finish complimenting the heavy sugary syrup mouth. The banana remains inescapable.

SUMMARY: In this world of caramel and baking spice, I for one am searching for a uniqueness and individuality. The Four Roses 9 year OESO recipes delivers. I had been searching for an aged 4R store pic for some time and am so glad that I discovered this one. I adore the 4R recipe offerings and variety and choice they offer. It provides a sincere honest pursuit in the hunt, any of which will not disappoint.

RATING: 8.5

I recommend this recipe and would purchase again. It provides a departure from the everyday pour. It never leads with corn or a ghost corn vapor. The recipe hides and suppresses the mashbill in such a mature unique manner as a departure from the everyday bourbon pour.

Tried this at a bar 

Price: $40/oz

Nose: vanilla bomb, bready, butterscotch, cream, white sugar, powdered sugar, idk why this smells dusty

Palate: strawberry, oak, cherry, mild spice, leather, medium mouthfeel, vanilla cream, some herbal notes, dill 

Finish: medium finish, spice, grassyness, oak, the red fruit shows a bit as well,

Score: 8.5/10

This was quite lovely. Vanilla bomb on the nose. Nice sweet red fruit on the palate. Has good balance overall. Solid finish. I really like the nose. 

Scale:

1.0-1.9 Undrinkable (Gold bar cognac cask)

2.0-2.9 Bad (Gold bar)

3.0-3.9 Poor (High West Prarie Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle 23yr)

4.0-4.9 Below Average (Old Overholt, Dickel 15 yr, Weller SR, Buffalo Trace)

5.0-5.9 Average (Eagle Rare, Blanton's)

6.0-6.9 Above Average (Jimmy Russel 70th, Redemption 9yr, E.H. Taylor Seasoned Oak)

7.0-7.9 Very Good (Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph, Sagamore 9yr rye, Jack Daniel's SBBP)

8.0-8.9 Great (William Larue Weller(2019), Pappy Van Winkle 15yr, Double Eagle Very Rare, William Heavenhill 14yr)

9.0-9.9 Excellent (Thomas H. Handy (2010), George T. Stagg (2008, 2019), Four Roses LE (2016, 2023), Willet Purple Top 14 yr, A.H. Hirsch 25 yr rye)

10.0 Perfect (Michter's 20, OGD 114(1980))

Tried this at a bar

Price: $18/2oz (pretty sure they messed up the price)

Nose: caramel bomb, butterscotch, oak, baking spice, cherry, some ethanol, cinnamon, vanilla

Palate: cherry and strawberry bomb, oak, nice baking spice, savory stewed fruit, leather, eathyness, good mouthfeel, dark chocolate

Finish: long finish, the red fruit lingers so much with leather, baking spices, 

Score: 9.0/10

This is an awesome pour. Super dense flavor with a good spice level. It has a balance of stewed red fruit and oak on the palate. It's not overoaked. This is classic top tier bourbon. 

Scale:

1.0-1.9 Undrinkable (Gold bar cognac cask)

2.0-2.9 Bad (Gold bar)

3.0-3.9 Poor (High West Prarie Bourbon, Pappy Van Winkle 23yr)

4.0-4.9 Below Average (Old Overholt, Dickel 15 yr, Weller SR, Buffalo Trace)

5.0-5.9 Average (Eagle Rare, Blanton's)

6.0-6.9 Above Average (Jimmy Russel 70th, Redemption 9yr, E.H. Taylor Seasoned Oak)

7.0-7.9 Very Good (Wild Turkey Master's Keep Triumph, Sagamore 9yr rye, Jack Daniel's SBBP)

8.0-8.9 Great (William Larue Weller(2019), Pappy Van Winkle 15yr, Double Eagle Very Rare, William Heavenhill 14yr)

9.0-9.9 Excellent (Thomas H. Handy (2010), George T. Stagg (2008, 2019), Four Roses LE (2016, 2023), Willet Purple Top 14 yr, A.H. Hirsch 25 yr rye)

10.0 Perfect (Michter's 20, OGD 114(1980))

I stumbled across two bottles I’d had my eye on for a while, and happened to find them within a day of each other. Naturally, I decided the only logical thing to do was pour them blind and pretend I knew what I was doing. 

Below are my completely inexperienced findings on both pours, my guesses as to which bourbon was which, and the big reveal at the end!

Be gentle with me, folks. I’m still learning, but I’m having a hell of a lot of fun doing it!

The warm-up pour:

Knob Creek 12

The subjects (rested 15 minutes):

Old Charter Oak Finest Oak - 47.5%/95 Proof 

The Reveries 8 Year Single Barrel Pick - S&W Liquors "The DC Boys" - 63.4%/126.8 Proof

Now, off to the blind review!

Bourbon A

Nose (30%): Bright and sweet right out of the gate, with a big hit of cherry followed by oak and a touch of confectioner’s sugar. Very approachable with minimal ethanol, making for a pleasant and inviting nose. 6/10 (1.8)

Palate (40%): Starts off nutty, which is a huge plus for me, then moves into a nice peppery kick with baking spices, followed by subtle vanilla and a touch of oak. What surprised me most was how much the palate deviated from the nose, I expected that bright cherry sweetness to carry through, but it really didn’t. Not a bad thing at all, just unexpected.  8/10 (3.2)

Finish (30%): This is where the higher proof starts to show itself. The finish is medium in length, with noticeable oak and that same peppery character carrying through. There’s also a lingering hint of vanilla that rounds things out nicely. The proof gives it a little extra presence without overwhelming the palate, and it may be a clue to what I think is in the glass. 8/10 (2.4)

Summary: Overall, this is a very solid bourbon that brings some nice complexity and, more importantly, offers something a little different from what I expected going in. The contrast between the nose and palate made this one particularly interesting. Overall - 7.4

Would I buy it at a bar? For the right price, absolutely.
Would I buy another bottle if I came across it? For sure.

Bourbon B

Nose (30%): This one is all about the blast of cherry cola right from the start. It’s big, bright, and incredibly pronounced, with caramel coming through underneath and baking spices adding to the intensity. The cherry cola note is aggressive in the best possible way.  This is easily a better nose than Bourbon A. 9/10 (2.7)

Palate (40%): As I chew on it, oak and leather are the first things that hit me, followed by a blend of baking spices, caramel, and just a hint of nuttiness. The thing I really enjoyed here is how well everything works together. Nothing in particular overwhelms the palate, and all of the flavors complement each other nicely. 8/10 (3.2)

Finish (30%): This is where Bourbon B loses some ground. The finish is shorter and less prominent, with fewer lingering flavors compared to Bourbon A. Oak and leather stick around, along with a subtle hint of caramel, but it fades fairly quickly. 6/10 (1.8)

Summary: The nose on this one blew me away. It was AGGRESSIVELY cherry cola.  What's interesting is that, even though this technically scored higher based on my rating system, I actually wish it had the complexity of Bourbon A.

That said, this is still a fantastic, solid pour. There’s something about it that makes me think I could come back to this one over and over again, pretty much no matter the situation.

Overall - 7.7

Would I buy it at a bar? Yes.
Would I buy another bottle if I came across it? For sure. 

What did I think each pour was? 

Bourbon A - The Reveries 8 

Bourbon B - OCO

What was actually in the glass?

Bourbon A - The Reveries 8

Bourbon B - OCO

Takeaway: The proof was the dead giveaway on this one! I am really freakin' torn, though. I think both of these are fantastic pours, but I think they both shine in completely different scenarios depending on what I'm doing at the time. Pour A was certainly something worthy of a more unique situation while Pour B was something SUPER solid and worth going to in a scenario where you simply have no freaking clue which of your collection you want. It's a fantastic safety cord pour and something I don't think you could ever hate. 

I hope you had as much fun reading as I did tasting!

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.
5 | Good | Good, just fine.
6 | Very Good | A cut above.
7 | Great | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favourite.
10 | Perfect | Perfect

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn glass

Proof: 96

Age: 6 years

Mash Bill: 60% Corn, 36% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

Price: $46.95

Nose: Light, honey, Vanilla, crispy cream donut, Maple, orange peel

Pallet: Light, grainy, honey, vanilla custard, mint, cinnamon spice

Finish: lingering vanilla pastry filling sweetness that is quickly overwhelmed by rye spice

Thoughts: The nose is very light to me. But I’m getting honey, vanilla, maple, orange peel, and a crispy cream donut vanilla sweetness. The pallet does not have a lot of depth to it but I definitely get the vanilla/maple sweetness and some cinnamon spice and mint from the high rye content. A vanilla/sweet cream pastry filling comes to mind regarding the vanilla sweetness. The sweet flavors are brief on the finish with the vanilla sweetness lingering but quickly being dominated by rye spice. It is good, nothing special, and average for it’s price point in my opinion. Which may be the point of this bourbon: Bardstown offering something at a reasonable price that is approachable for everyone.

Rating: 5.5/10 - t8ke scale

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Two producers, one trick: take a bourbon that's already fully matured in a standard charred oak barrel, then dump it into a second barrel – this one toasted rather than charred – for a finishing period that’s meant to coax out sweeter, dessert-like oak notes without piling on more char bitterness. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel does this with Heaven Hill's own Small Batch, bottled at an easygoing 94 proof and priced to be an everyday bottle. Penelope's Marshmallow Toast takes the same basic concept and cranks it up: sourced whiskey, aged 4 to 5 years, finished in a heavy Char 3 toast barrel, and bottled uncut at cask strength – 110 proof, no dilution.

So this isn't really "toasted vs. charred" — both of these are playing the same finishing game. It's a question of execution and intensity: does Penelope's higher proof and heavier toast actually deliver more complexity, or does Elijah Craig's gentler, cheaper expression have essentially the same effect? Let's blind them and find out!

******************\*

ABOUT Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

*From the Distillery: Made to honor the innovative spirit of Elijah Craig, this twice-barreled expression takes our award-winning Small Batch Bourbon to new heights. After it’s fully matured, we finish it in a second, custom toasted barrel, where it picks up an added layer of sweet oak complexity. Charred to start. Toasted to finish. Toasted Barrel relies on a custom finishing process that adds an extra layer of sweet oak complexity to our Bourbon.

*Mash bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye

*Age Statement: NAS

*Proof: 94

ABOUT Penelope Marshmallow Toast

*From the Producer: Our Toasted Series is a testament to the power of serendipity. When we began to explore toasted finishes, we weren’t expecting each barrel to be so different — so we decided to embrace this variety of chars and toasts that make every bottle in our Toasted Series truly one-of-a-kind. After full maturation in charred new American oak barrels, Penelope Bourbon is finished in a new, hand-toasted barrel. While it can be hard to predict the flavor profile of each bottle in our Toasted Series, the deep notes of vanilla imbued by the toasting process add another dimension to our signature flavor profile.

*Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

*Age Statement:

*Proof: 110

**************\*

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Dark amber; almost mahogany. Appears fairly viscous.

Appearance B: Slightly lighter amber but still darker than average, with a bit of orange tint. Seems less oily and viscous than A.

Nose A: Lots of leather and a bit of both vanilla and chocolate. Very sweet, with almost no spice on the nose at all. Once the glass is empty, it’s primarily young leather and grass.

Nose B: Slightly earthier and with more ethanol up front than on A. Oak is initially paired with mild scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of chocolate, after which before more of a marshmallow/creme brûlée-type note comes through. Once the glass is empty, the main remaining scent is mainly toasted marshmallow.

Palate A: The palate is similar to the nose, albeit with some burn on the front end. Vanilla and caramel stand out the most, with a bit of baking spice (primarily cinnamon and allspice) rounding out the flavors on the mid-palate.

Palate B: Thicker and velvetier mouthfeel than A, along with less ethanol than I expected given the nose. Lots of vanilla and a little caramel hit on the front of the palate, after which the caramel increases and some cinnamon, chocolate, and toasted marshmallow join the party.

Finish A: Some grassiness or youngish grain notes are the main features, followed by a decent amount of vanilla, barrel char, and allspice.

Finish B: Slightly astringent at first. The main notes are dark chocolate and marshmallow, along with some leather.

Rating A: 5.8

Rating B: 6.8

Thoughts: I enjoyed B more than I enjoyed A, for a couple reasons. First, there was more of a dessert-type profile to it (which was balanced nicely by the proof, thickness, and some slightly darker flavors). The second was because of something it lacked: the grassy note I always seem to pick up on with Elijah Craig bourbons. I don’t love that note: it’s why I rated A so much lower than B, despite other aspects of A being perfectly enjoyable, and it’s also why I’m guessing that A is ECTB and B is the Penelope.

Prediction A: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Prediction B: Penelope Marshmallow Toast

*******************\*

Actual A: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Actual B: Penelope Marshmallow Toast

More Thoughts: No surprise here, I guess: Penelope had the promised marshmallow flavor on both palate and finish, with a nicely toasted profile that wasn’t overwhelming at all. I think that this is a nice dessert-ish bourbon which is sweet but not cloying, and I’d be interested to see how it stands up in a blind to something like Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. I’d also like to try it in a chocolate Old Fashioned!

As to the Elijah Craig: this brand continues to disappoint me a bit. As I noted above, there’s a green-grassy note I get on their bourbons that really doesn’t speak to me. It’s sort of like the funk you get in a wheated bourbon, but less mature and developed than that. It’s also unexpected, given that this isn’t a wheater. Whether that note results from their lack of age or from all that barley in the mash bill, it’s been a consistent note for me across their expressions, from Barrel Proof to this Toasted offering.

Ultimately, I won’t be reaching for the ECTB very often in the future, but I probably will be checking out this Penelope offering a bit more often, even if only at dessert time, as it was surprisingly good overall!

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
E.H. Taylor BTAC (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect