Brian Haara
Bourbon. Law. Author.
Sipp’n Corn Bourbon Review – Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Fall 2022 Decanter.
The spring edition of Old Fitzgerald was a surprising 17 years old. People went nuts. Then Heaven Hill followed it up with a 19-year old release and enthusiasts clamored for it like no Old Fitzgerald before. For the smart few who open their bottle, will it be worth the $240 price tag? Plus, now with two extra-aged releases, are the days of 8 and 9-year Old Fitzgerald a thing of the past? Heaven Hill certainly keeps us on our toes for each Spring and Fall release.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Fall 2022
Bourbon: Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond Decanter Series
Edition: Fall 2022
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Age: 19 years
ABV: 50% (100 proof)
Cost: $240.00
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Copper penny with a red hue.
Nose:
I expected more oak with the gaudy age statement. It’s still deep with mature oak and leather, but it’s also nutty with butterscotch candy sweetness, rounded out with black tea and a heady, nectarous honeysuckle.
Taste:
The balance is remarkable. With a creamy, buttery texture, the spicy oak coats your mouth as it shifts to vanilla, toffee, and pralines, and then turns back to oak with the full array of baking spices.
Finish:
The finish has a gear shift that I love, but at first, I mistook it as a short, flat finish. After a quick burst it faded but then it rebounded with sustained warmth. It’s oak-driven and dry, still with a touch of cocoa as it fades.
Bottom Line
Pair this with the Spring 2022 release of Old Fitzgerald and you have two of the top ten bourbons of the year, easily. These are remarkable bourbons and strong buys.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Sipp’n Corn Tasting Notes – 15 Stars Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
One of this past fall’s newest bourbons was 15 Stars Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. 15 Stars is a merchant bottler with the good fortune of being able to source from Kentucky—which of course is getting easier, but not yet for the age obtained by 15 Stars. This 15 Stars bourbon is a blend of 7 and 15-year old bourbons, which is almost unheard of in the Kentucky sourced market.
15 Stars Tasting Notes
Whiskey: 15 Stars Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 53.5% (107 proof)
Cost: $140.00
Appearance:
Dark amber consistent with its age.
Nose:
The age is also evident in the aromas. The proof is hidden behind richly sweet aromas of caramel and vanilla that come with age, along with dark ripe fruit, brown sugar, cinnamon, leather and oak. The leather in particular had a subtly of old worn leather.
Taste:
Creamy and nutty with great vanilla and a little less caramel than I expected. The oakiness is exceptional. It also hides the proof, not that 107 is “high” anymore, but I still would not have guessed that it was over 100 proof.
Finish:
The finish is long, starting with brown sugar sweetness before shifting to a drying oak and more leather as it fades, with some cherry cola as it finally disappears.
Bottom Line
This is an impressive bourbon. My flavor memories can’t peg the source, which I suppose is a testament to the blending and creating something different than the distiller produces. Definitely be on the lookout for yourself or as a gift this season.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
2022 BRIAN’S BOOK AND A BOTTLE ™
You can make 2022 brighter with the right bottle of Bourbon or Rye Whiskey paired with Bourbon Justice. Think of these bottles for gifts as Holiday parties ramp up, for the whiskey enthusiast on your list, or just for treating yourself. Brian’s Book and a Bottle™ has the right suggestion for everyone on your list:
For your business partner: Bourbon Justice and Pursuit United because partners Kenny Coleman and Ryan Cecil are showing everyone how to do it right. You’ll show yourself to be the creative brain of the operation.
For your impossible family member: Bourbon Justice and Russell’s Reserve by Wild Turkey. Lord knows that we need to get back to solid roots and there’s hardly anything as solid as Jimmy Russell, Mater Distiller at Wild Turkey since 1954. Jimmy has been the heart and soul of Wild Turkey and he can tell you all about family.
For a host/hostess: Bourbon Justice and Wilderness Trail. Shane and Pat’s authenticity is evident in every bottle of Wilderness Trail, and your host will appreciate the low barrel entry proof sweet mash far more than that bottle of white wine that keeps getting regifted. Step up with the most memorable gift of the evening.
For your boss or other authority figure: Bourbon Justice and Old Elk. There may not be a distillery with a more diverse offering than Old Elk, with Bourbon, Rye, wheat whiskey, wheated Bourbon, barrel finished Bourbon, and more, giving you the opportunity to nail the perfect gift to showcase your wisdom. That sensibility and personalization will show that you are a crucial part of the team.
Where to find Bourbon Justice:
Best deal: Bourbon Justice is on a 50% off sale through Potomac until Dec. 31 with promotion code 6HLW22 — use this link: Potomac.
Fastest Shipping: Amazon is tough to beat — you know the drill: Amazon.
Signed by me: Visit A Taste of Kentucky in person or online for a signed book or tell them that you’d liked it personally inscribed and I’ll make it happen. They ship anywhere.
Please enjoy the Holidays responsibly!
Sipp’n Corn Tasting Notes – Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition
I’ve been a big fan of most of Steve and Paul Beam’s limited edition Yellowstone bourbon releases, and I’ve had an excellent private selection, but until now I haven’t really had their standard releases. I suppose that the “Landmark Edition” release isn’t exactly standard, at least insofar as this series of six bottles celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Yellowstone Bourbon brand with different scenes from the national park that inspired the brand.
But it’s probably the same bourbon used for the standard releases. I reached out to the brand manager for information about the bourbon itself. I asked for the mash bill; the age/ages contained in this small batch; and whether the blend included bourbon distilled at Limestone Branch, Lux Row, or perhaps a third area distillery that everyone knew was the source for Lux Row (or some combination). Unfortunately, despite several requests, I got nothing back.
I suppose sometimes it can be better to not know the source, but I’m still interested to see how Limestone Branch and Lux Row are coming along.
Bourbon: Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Edition: Landmark Edition celebrating Yellowstone’s 150th Anniversary
Distillery: Unknown
Age: Unstated
ABV: 46.5% (93 proof)
Cost: $42.99
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Light amber.
Nose:
Classic caramel with baking spice and nuttiness, along with faint orange zest and maybe some toasted marshmallow.
Taste:
More classic bourbon notes as predicted by the aromas: caramel and vanilla, baking spice, and a fair oak note, but young green oak. I lost the citrus but gained light fruit. This hits many of the marks without really exceeding any expectations.
Finish:
Crisp finish of oak and black pepper with a quick hit of heat.
Bottom Line
This is a nice standard bourbon, although too short on the finish. There’s no particular pizzazz and it doesn’t necessarily stand out, especially in the crowded $40-$50 range, where there are some absolute stunners. In contrast, every bottle from Limestone Branch has been beautiful, and some have been stunning. I have faith in Steve and Paul that the contents will one day match that beauty.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Sipp’n Corn Review – Blind Barrel Tasting Kit
I’ve always encouraged blind tastings. Most often it’s fun when you’re trying new bourbons, but it’s also a fantastic way to get real with a brand that you think is your favorite and to mix in a brand that you claim to not like so much. Blind tastings are, to put it paradoxically, eye-opening.
But it’s sort of impossible to do a blind tasting without help… Until now.
The Blind Barrel Tasting Kit from Blind Barrles provides the samples for a blind tasting for you with a subscription kit on a quarterly basis. The kit includes four 50 ml samples of craft whiskey brands, providing an opportunity to try new products instead of blind adherence to what you think is your favorite brand. And then when you fall in love with a new brand, scan the QR code for the reveal and you can order a bottle.
It ends up costing about $15 per sample which is reasonable not just for the variety and exposure to new whiskey, but economically for a “try before you buy” mindset. For my four samples, I ended up with a four grain bourbon that struck me as having lots of green wood and too herbal for my liking; a sweet, nutty bourbon that was creamy with a great cinnamon kick (it ended up being Kings County!) that I enjoyed tremendously; a wheat whiskey finished in Sherry casks that was heavy on the barrel finish in a balanced, layered way; and a Rye that stood out immediatley as a powerhouse Rye, although on the verge of too much pine for me. Other than Kings County, I had never had these brands (and hadn’t even heard of two of them), so I’ll keep the secret so as to not influence your guesses. I would buy two of these in a heartbeat, and I’d consider the Rye, so those are really nice odds.
Check out https://blindbarrels.com/ for the holiday season or just for fun. You’ll find the typical few usual suspects states who don’t like shipping, but fulfillment partners can deliver to 42 states, which is likely to have you covered.
Disclaimer: The brand managers kindly
sent me a sample for this review,
without any strings attached.
Thank you.
Brian Haara 