Brian Haara
Bourbon. Law. Author.
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The Ice Sphere Cometh.
Many whiskey enthusiasts are ice enthusiasts, too. They’re are on a quest for the perfect clear ice sphere whether it’s because of slower melting (due to shape and density) or just because they look fantastic. But grandiose plans aren’t fulfilled because clumsy DIY ways to create ice spheres are bulky and hit-or-miss. And all sorts of tips to create clear ice through directional freezing, filtering and boiling your water first, and adjusting temperatures so you don’t freeze too quickly, never achieve perfection.
There are plenty of commercially-available directional freezing kits. I supported a startup that actually makes extremely clear ice spheres, but it’s nearly impossible to remove the mold and the two-piece mold itself doesn’t create a tight enough seal, so the spheres sometimes have a seam around their equators.
About five years ago, I reviewed Tudor Ice, which sold purified distilled water after removing virtually all dissolved oxygen, packaged in large cube molds ready for at-home freezing. The cubes were truly clear, but the company didn’t get enough support and their dreams melted away.
Enter GE Appliances and its FirstBuild appliance incubator in Louisville. I was invited to FirstBuild last year for a personal tour and it’s nothing short of amazing. The microfactory had just produced a run of ventless open-hearth pizza ovens and other appliances in various stages of design were making their way toward being production ready.
FirstBuild has a digital space and physical space with the tools that startups could never acquire on their own. Innovation and inspiration where everywhere, and you if have an idea, this is the place to collaborate. This is where the Forge Clear Ice System was born.
Forge launched the funding phase last year for what it calls the world’s first heated ice press combined with a countertop ice maker. Step one is the ice maker, which takes only about four hours to create large, perfectly clear blocks of ice, with none of the waste of directional freezing kits. Eight of the blocks can be stored at a time. Step two takes just about one minute—without any preheating or recovery time—as the ice press transforms the block into a flawless sphere.
But like O’Neill’s tragedy, despair returns. With an MSRP of $1,499.00 for the base level Forge Clear Ice System, without the optional ice monogram feature, it’s cost-prohibitive for most home bars. This must be a stretch even for the highest-end whiskey bars too, especially now.
The silver lining for me was learning about FirstBuild. GE Appliances has been such an important part of Louisville and FirstBuild further proves its commitment to the city.
Check out FirstBuild here and the Forge Clear Ice System here.
Sipp’n Corn Tasting Notes: Four Gate Batch 6—The Kelvin Collaboration II.
Four Gate is back at it, leading the way with the most creative barrel finishes of any brand. For Batch 6, Four Gate used 12-year old high-rye (18% rye grain) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and finished some of it in Cognac barrels and some of it in dark rum barrels.
Batch 6—The Kelvin Collaboration II
Bourbon: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Cognac and Dark Rum Casks
Distillery: Undisclosed
Age: 12 years
ABV: 63.2% ABV (126.4 Proof)
Cost: $199.99
Appearance:
Deep amber-brown.
Nose:
There’s a lot going on here—the spice and dark fruits mingle together with a slight hint of barrel finishing and plenty of intensity.
Taste:
I’m not sure that I’m finding the Cognac influence, but the rum casks are there with sweetness and tropical fruit. It’s far more than that though; beyond additional sweetness as expected from caramel and vanilla, there are soft, warm, dark flavors of maple syrup and dark fruit, followed by baking spice as its creaminess coats the palate. There’s some heat here, but resist the temptation to add a few drops of water.
Finish:
Warmth that lasts with sweet creamy caramel chocolates and dries as it fades.
Bottom Line
Distribution is limited like Four Gate’s other releases (2,500 bottles just for Kentucky, Tennessee, and Seelbachs.com), so you’ll need to do a little work to find a bottle of The Kelvin Collaboration II. But like first five releases, it’s worth the extra effort.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Sipp’n Corn Tasting Notes: Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B520.
I was so happy to see that Heaven Hill decided to release a barrel proof version of its popular Larceny wheated bourbon, and I enjoyed its first release, Batch A120. I received a sample of Batch B520 last month and right off the bat it was impressive. After my standard three separate tastes and then a blind taste against some peer rivals, I’m saving the last pour to taste blind against this fall’s limited releases; it’s that good.
Larceny Barrel Proof B520 Tasting Notes
Bourbon: Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Age: NAS, but probably 6-8 years
ABV: 61.1% (122.2 proof)
Cost: $49.99
Appearance:
Dark amber. Very similar to Larceny Barrel Proof batch A120.
Nose:
Wonderfully sweet butterscotch with elegant herbal aromas, blackberry, and oak char. It’s mouthwatering like a wheated bourbon should be.
Taste:
The first sip seals the deal. It’s creamy with caramel, oak, honey, and vanilla driving the sweetness and the right amount of spice for balance.
Finish:
Medium in length with a fantastic swell.
Bottom Line
Larceny Barrel Proof continues to fire on all cylinders with B520 outshining A120. Larceny can really position itself as a market leader with its readily available standard Larceny and three regular releases per year of the Barrel Proof version. After completing my review, I tried batch B520 blind against two other wheated bourbons of similar age—one at 107 proof and the other at a cask strength of 113.3 proof. Larceny Barrel Proof crushed them.
Disclaimer: The brand managers
kindly sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Sipp’n Corn Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batches A120 and B520.
The first Elijah Craig 12-year Barrel Proof of 2020 was released in January and received immediate praise. My first tastes of it couldn’t quite get past the heat, and then with the distraction of recent world events, I never made it back for my third taste. Then I received the second batch of the year and the timing was perfect to compare the two.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A120 Tasting Notes
Bourbon: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Age: 12 years
ABV: 68.3% (136.6 proof)
Cost: $60.00
Appearance:
Deep brown with a copper glint.
Nose:
Hot aromas that ease back with a little time to more pleasant caramel, brown sugar, and oak.
Taste:
Brown sugar and cherry drive this bourbon, along with some dried dark fruit, cinnamon, black pepper, and char.
Finish:
Long, warm finish with caramel taking the lead.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Tasting Notes
Bourbon: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Age: 12 years
ABV: 63.6% (127.2 proof)
Cost: $60.00
Appearance:
Practically identical to A120—both have the same beautiful deep brown and copper.
Nose:
Really hides the high proof. Aromas are subtle compared to A120, but it has very inviting caramel, apple butter, brown sugar, and leather.
Taste:
Creamy sensation—caramel, cocoa, vanilla, slight cinnamon, and black pepper. There’s some heat, of course, and it does great with a splash of water. There’s a little less oak than A120, but I don’t miss it because of the wonderful balance.
Finish:
I loved the second wave on the finish. Sustained warmth with balance of caramel, coca, baking spice, and oak—oh the oak!
Bottom Line
A120 marked back-to-back super-high proofs—the final batch of 2019 (C919) weighed in at 136.8 proof, so at a tenth of a percentage lower ABV, Batch A120 is essentially the same proof. Batch C919 got some high accolades but it was too hot for me. Batch A120 shares some of those characteristics and it received even greater accolades, but for my tastes I need to tame this one down with water too. And with just a splash, Batch A120 roars to life. It retains its robustness and adds creaminess and complexity.
B520 is more in the proof range that I tend to like for cask strength and overall between the two, I preferred it. It’s balanced, creamy, and finishes strong. These are both such solid pours and they maintain the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof series easily on top of the regular-release barrel proof options. It’s the oldest regular barrel-proof release, yet it’s priced the lowest, and it routinely is a top-5 bourbon of the year. I always pick one up whenever I see it.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a bottle for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Brian Haara 